The second I received this deck, I knew I would like it. It might seem superficial, but those graphics make me smile- A tree made of ants. (Eothen have also got a dope logo of some dudes sleeping upright which can be found on other products c.f. Wheels).
Anyway, we all know graphics are only the tip of an iceberg when it comes to the quality of a deck, so let me describe this piece of carpentry the best I can. It measures up at 7.5 inches, but I know that there are also 7.75 and 8 inch models out there. The Ant Tree deck has a mellow concave with virtually straight rails, a slim round nose and tail. The wood isn’t pressed so flat that you’ll be sweating bullets trying to get some pop out of it, and the finish is clean. Eothen might still be a small operation, but what they offer is far from bland. Good decks mean good skating.
8/10
All I can remember was a Moroccan pimp in a polyester beige suit screaming, “Fuck! Yeah! You wanna dance baby? Fuck!!!” at the top of his lungs over the disco beat of ‘Young hearts run free’- the swan song of one-hit-wonder Candi Staton…
I broke the ice with my own version of current events: An American man was being charged with hate crimes and having his name added to the sex-offenders data base for urinating on a woman. Ha! Like an old 8 track slowed to a stop, my audience groaned and silence prevailed…
I turned down the offer, but I knew this man had the right stuff to go with expensive chocolates. Over each of our desserts we introduced ourselves. He was here to accompany a very lady whose husband could not make it. His loss… Apparently the Moroccan was a good friend of the husband and only standing in a service, sort of like a chaperon. I mentioned I worked with the youth, mostly skateboarders. His eyes lit up, slightly glazed from his stick, and he confessed:
The polyester pimp was quiet for a moment- perhaps the hashish smoke had blurred his train of thought… “He run away like a wild dok! His beautiful woman with the big boobies,” he made voluptuous round gestures with his hands, “She is with me now!”
The ‘Sky High’ is a dope mid-top shoe that is ready to skate from the get go. It’s my second attempt at riding Lakai skate shoes and so far I’m pretty pleased. No funky bubbles, lace savers or bottle openers- Just comfortable and functional skate shoes. Ok, the laces snapped and the sole wore through a bit quicker than usual, but the ollie areas are solid and the shoe doesn’t go all soft on you after a couple of hours. I liked them and I think you will too!
Before there were professionals in skateboarding, there were amateurs. Before there were shots of 20 stair ollies, there were shots of little 3 stairs. And, before we rushed to the shop for the latest Koston 7’s (yup! They’re coming…), there were the Koston 1’s. A direct hit amongst skaters all around the world, the premiere professional skate shoe form Es reflects it’s owners flawless style. The Es Koston 1 is the shit, so if you ever get the chance to ride or own a pair, don’t hesitate. They’re comfy, durable and nice to look at, so I don’t really think much else need be said.
You can review videos, decks, clothes, shoes, trucks and bearings, but wheels just elude me… I seriously don’t know what needs to be said about those blobs of urethane that support our weight and wobbling. Alright, so Karma put out these 53mm wheels. They are basic white, round and feel a little soft to the touch. If that sort of description rocks your boat then support British skating and spend some money on these. I heard that if you pay for these in cash, take them home and plant one in your garden, a huge Karma tree will grow in that spot and sprout loads of Karma goodies for you and your friends to share. Wowee! 
Here are the newest bearings from American FKD. The blues are Abec 3, the reds are Abec 5 and the golds spin fast at Abec 7. Each set come in an aesthetic saw disk box with a little bottle of lube to keep the speed at high. Stefan Janoski rides for FKD Bearings now, so they must be good for something…
Full of British pride, I will proclaim that this book is a rip off of Harry Bastard’s Spot Guide book. But, I won’t. What these 4 Frenchmen have come up with is a skateboarders A-Z or Lonely Planet guide to all the skatespots within the Hexagone. Ever wondered where that obscure full pipe is in Cliché’s ‘Bon Appetit!’? Or, where Bastien grew up skating? Get Finest and find out. The book covers various regions and goes into great detail with the street address of each spot, its difficulty rating, what it’s made of, etc… Oh and all the pictures are in colour. Even if I found a few of the spots featured were pure shite i.e. very poorly made skateparks that even Dan Cates would have difficulty with, I can’t blame them because at the end of the day the locals from some oblique little village either skate that mouldy bank or don’t skate at all! Plus there are a few gems in this book that will definitely have you scratching your head as to why you’ve never seen them before. So, hats off to the team for getting off their arses and travelling over 40000km in a year for our future pleasure. 
When people think about the UK skate scene, 9 out of 10 times they will think, “Blueprint… Rain… Harsh spots…” They aren’t entirely wrong, but the world doesn’t revolve around Dan Magee’s mixing table and Ches’ after-party portfolio. There are skaters out there, in the rain, skating harsh spots, but getting no coverage. Well, Matt Hirst as put a stop all that with ‘Etcetera’- a mish-mash combo of raw footage that highlights the talent of Jerome Campbell, Mike Wright, Moggins (of N26 Forum fame) and Jonny McNair. You’ve probably never heard of any of these guys, but everyone is allowed their 15 minutes of fame, and don’t be surprised if these kids hog the limelight a little longer…
How do you review a wheel? They’re round. They’re hard or soft, fat or thin, big or small… Well, these Dream Wheels from Eothen are round, hard (101A), and 53mm wide. Oh, and they’re black. I could tell you that the logo is pretty cool- a dude sleeping peacefully- but I doubt that’ll help your tricks improve. Anyway, these wheels are rad and I very nearly landed a half cab manual, backside 180 switch around to half cab out, and they didn’t flatspot so I guess they’re worth it. Eothen needs your support so try and hook yourself up with some goodies A.S.A.P.
I have always chosen the tougher and subsequently stronger variety of truck throughout my skateboarding years. Your ‘lightest ever’ truck just wasn’t an option during my youth because every session involved many gaps, stairs and rough ledges. However, as I have grown old and rusty, the 10+ stairs over yesteryear are long gone and I now enjoy brushing up on my flatground tricks and manual prowess. It was time for a change in truck, so along came Royal.