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Skateboarding News

Watch: Crailtap’s Year In Review!

Yes! If there was one edit (other than Andy Evans’) that was guaranteed to be super fun and filled with good vibes then it was the inevitable round up from the Crailtap camp.

“Carroll said if we got it out before February we’re good.”

Just about. No one would care if it was late anyway. This is must see shit so watch it and feel good about the weekend. Skateboarding is fun yo.

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Skateboarding News

Watch: Matt Hunt’s 2010 Throwaway Footage

Matt Hunt spent a good deal of 2010 filming some of the UK’s finest, including Joe Gavin, Leo Smith, Jed Coldwell, Adam Moss, Joe Ventham, Isaac Blease, Jak Pietryga, Ali Drummond, Neil Worthington, Owen Hopkins and Pete Adams.

Here is a collection of unseen bangers thrown online for the benefit of your eyes. Go and look at it.

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Features Home Skateboarding

Reflections 2010: Dave Allen

One of Britain’s finest exports, the Hertfordshire Baby Rhino and coping slayer known as Dave Allen has been making quite an impact on the Atlanta scene in Georgia over in the USA. This year his name has been cropping up a little more frequently as his Death From Above pro model for Death Skateboards dropped and the kind of frontside feeble that’ll make any other grown man cry was featured on the ATL Skater website as one of the photos of the year.

He joins us today for another series of personal reflections on the year that has just past. Have a read below and keep scrolling to find his top five video edits of the year too. Boom!

Photo: Nick Scott

Best personal moment of 2010?

After what seemed like a forever of uncertainty, signing the paperwork and getting the keys to our house. Stoked.

Favourite skate trip?

I think it was when Zorlac was over here and we went drove down to Columbus for the Georgia Bowlriders. Myself, Nick, Will Boatwright and Shawn Coffman. We laughed all the way there and back. Shawn had the quote of the day “I don’t give a shit where we eat Dave” You probably had to be there I guess.

Favourite song or album?

I went to a club for a friend’s birthday and this dude was playing live. It’s not my usual taste but it left an impression on me for some reason.

Most satisfying trick filmed or landed and at what spot?

I’ve filmed some bits for the new Death video, but the most satisfying was shooting an invert fakie in the pool at Brook Run. It felt the nuts.

Newest trick learnt?

I re-learnt how to go in forwards on feeble grinds again just like the boss (Zorlac) does.

Favourite trick or line witnessed?

Grant Taylor at Mountain park, he’d just got back from King of the Road and was just cruising around doing more stuff in one line than I could hope to do ever.

Skate DVD you watched the most?

Creature Hesh Law

Your MVP of the year?

What the fuck is an MVP?

Fresh blood tip for 2011?

Obvious one, Grant Taylor. I’ve witnessed it first hand. He is the real deal. And Kevin Kowalski, don’t underestimate this kiddie.

What are you looking forward to most about 2011?

Skating again. I had knee surgery at the beggining of November, so I’ll be ready to start again in the new year at the new park they are building at the end of the street.

Smashing Up The Car

When I clicked on this I knew it was gonna be good. It’s worth watching just for hearing Renton Millar laugh. He loves this sort of stuff and I’ve never met anyone that gets off on the noise of stuff being smashed as much as him.

Stratosphere Skate Shop Halloween Edit

Crazy shit going down in this clip. Pure fun reminder of what skateboarding is really about.

Rumble In Ramona – The Final Stand

This one is a re-edit from the Thrasher website of the 2009 Rumble which they posted right before the 2010 one. I like it because it rekindled all the memories I had of what a good time it was. So much stuff went down and it was amazing to hook up with people I hadn’t seen in years.

Protec Pool Party – Jeff Grosso 28 Block Slider

Have you ever even done a boardslide? This one takes the piss, he passes the mental point and sticks with it. I sat up and watched this comp on a live feed and I was glad I did. Amazing to think he’s been to hell and back and he can still skate like a demon. Jeff Grosso will always be one of my heroes.

We Are The Music Makers

OK, so it’s not exactly new, but I love this scene. I was stoked when it appeared in Video Days.

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Skateboarding News

Watch: Etnies 2010 Montage

As with what seems to be expected with skate company edits in January, Etnies have raided their hard drives and tapes and compiled a montage of some of their favourite stuff from the year just gone.

But as it’s Etnies, they’ve gone a little extra to bringing us the very best of what a 12 month round up can be and have posted a nice blog post complete with photos and memories of the year taken and written by Sam McGuire.

Click this link to have a read of his favourite moments working with the Etnies team and watch the awesome montage below. The clip features skating from Davis Torgerson, Jose Rojo, Willow, Sean Malto, Kyle Leeper, Tyler Bledsoe and Mikey Taylor.

2010 End of the year montage from etnies europe on Vimeo.

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Reflections 2010: Dan Wileman

For years, Dan Wileman has remained an absolutely massive blip on our radar due to his idiosyncratic trick selection, balls out style and how often he comes to our jams and walks away with some cash. Our Xmas Jam in December was no exception, as he slayed the rail in the way only he could manage, smiling while saying “ha, I haven’t seen these in a while” as we handed over the Crossfire pounds. If he didn’t have such huge support from his family of sponsors we’d fear that the taxman would question why his bank was filled with DIY cash.

In 2010, Dan has maintained his position as one of the Bristol’s finest, ripping hard despite injury for Crayon Skateboards, 50-50, Venture Trucks and Hubba Wheels. Read below as he reflects with us on the twelve months that have just past.

What important lesson have you learnt from 2010?

Aint really learnt shit this year to be honest, but peace to the haters.

Best personal moment of 2010?

Being sung Happy Birthday at Basel by the whole arena and being caked in the face for getting best trick on my birthday.

Best skate trip of 2010?

Either Basel or the shop comp in Switzerland, both were on par. Rad crew and it’s funny times going anywhere with Kohran and four litres of rum. Couldn’t skate because of my foot so just got pissed  and watched Fiddy represent. So sick.

Best song/album of 2010?

Skitz and Buggsy ina system buggsy coming straight outta Bristol and is one of the most chilled heads you have ever met. Killing it in UK hip hop scene.

Most satisfying trick landed/filmed?

Probably front feebs down this rail in Kent on the Venture tour. I think the biggest rail I’ve front feebed before was at Playstation so this was the first street rail for the front feebs and it came pretty easy so I want to step it up to a bigger one.

Newest trick learnt?

Nollie bigspin noseblunt.

Most watched video of 2010?

Motive – Dimensions or Bristol’s Finest.

Skater of the year?

Chris Jones I reckon, him or Dylan Hughes; he kills it more than anyone I see skate, he’s gotta be most underrated skater. Well,  maybe not underrated but he should be making bare cash money.

Fresh Blood tip for 2011?

Barber or Tom Gibbs, watch out yo. And Dave Snaddon AKA DJ Mind State with his tunes big in the game, watch this space.

What are you looking forward to doing in 2011?

L.A. in February, gonna chill and skate with Benny. Gonna be sick.

Torey Pudwill – Hallelujah

Safest dude I’ve ever met. He was in bristol on his 16th birthday, we got him well pissed on tequila he spewed every where. Genius on the plank and cool as fuck off it.

Venture UK in Kent

One of the funniest trips I’ve been on. Mad crew and well productive; this was only like a three or four day tour. Sick as, big up Shiner.

Crayon – Malaga 2010

Another funny ass trip. Sunshine in January is always good and Leo’s reaction to the board being flung into the shop is priceless. Big up Symeon Jamal AKA Syme AKA L.A gangster and big up Crayon.

Basel on a Budget

Yet another funny mish, ended up being mad English crew in Basel.  The last day there was this bit at the park with all balloons and there was like forty litres of booze and two bottles of rum and everyone but us and two dudes and a chick behind bar left. We got right on it. I took a HD mini cam with me and Crissy Oliver made one of the funniest edits. Lost a memory card with loads more footage on it due to the booze in the bar but ey, good times…

Sean Smith – Haze Wheels

Sean Smith… BADMAN.

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Features Home Skateboarding

Reflections 2010: Luan Oliveira

At the beginning of 2010 Luan Oliveira turned pro for Flip Skateboards after a monsterous section that pushed street skateboarding’s ever redefined boundaries in Extremely Sorry, smashing the Tampa Am competition more than once and producing one of the most banging Bangin! edits to ever come from The Berrics. You’d think after the Hooters party to celebrate his deserved professional status he’d be taking it easy but when skating is as natural and fun as it is for Luan, undoubtedly one of the most exciting skaters of our time, you’d be wrong to think he’s doing anything other than smashing it.

Read below as he takes a little time out to reflect on his first year being pro and the five video edits he’s been watching all year to get him pumped for the session.

Photo: Andrew Shusterman

Favourite Skate Trip of 2010?

Flip West Coast Tour.

Favourite Song or album?

Jay-Z – On To The Next One

Gnarliest story?

Ask Ben Nordberg! He will tell you about the pillow one!

Newest trick learnt?

SS Flip BS Crooked

Skate DVD you watched the most?

Flip – Extremely Sorry

Fresh Blood tip for 2011?

ANDREW FUCKING LANGI

What are you looking forward to most in 2011?

Be happy, film a lot, shoot photos and have fun!

Rodrigo TX – Give Me My Money Chico

Rodrigo’s part is fucking sick. I like his style, the way he skates and the type of songs he puts in his video parts.

CGK – Allday Iapi Everyday

Me and my friends made this video a long time ago and it seems pretty good, as you can see we have a lot of fun, haha that’s what skateboarding is for us!

Rodrigo Petersen – Give Me My Money Chico

Rodrigo Petersen is a gnarly man. He has so much pop and he’s such a good guy, I love to hang out with him. By the way, the song is perfect for a video part… OBRIGAAAAAAAA.

Antwuan Dixon – Baker 3

Antwuan Dixon is amazing. After Tom Penny he is the best ‘hands down’ on skateboarder. I like to watch this part before I go skate, the song is fucking sick and he is gnarly.

Cezar Gordo – Matriz #3

Inspiration right here man. Cesar Simonetto Daz Pozzolo AKA Gordo is fucking gnarly. This part is old, like four years ago. For Brazilians, this is the shit right here…the way he skates and his attitude make him one of the best skaters in Brazil, that’s why I like to watch him and skate with him.

RESPECT GORDO, MATRIZ FOREVER… EH NOIS!

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Skateboarding News

Thrasher’s King Of The Road 2010 Incoming!

For 2011, Thrasher have made the bold decision to embrace the digital overlord’s rule and release 2010’s King Of The Road in a series of online webisodes, each one guaranteed to be filled with unadulterated plank-loving debauchary.

For a taste of what to come, watch Grant Taylor utilise the firm head of his Nike SB team mate Justin Brock for one of the gnarliest nose bonks you’ve ever seen.

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Features Home Skateboarding

The Crossfire Xmas Jam 2010

The official Crossfire Xmas Jam 2010 edit by Alan Christensen. Filmed by Alan Christensen, Nick Richards and Joe Moynihan.

Words: Stanley
Photography: Tom Halliday and Dom Marley

Over the past eight years a lot has happened within the cozy sphere of living we call skateboarding. Shiny discs with easter eggs came in and locked VHS up in the junk room only to be touched by the boney skeletal finger of the digital grim reaper a couple years later, we lost a couple magazines, we gained a few new ones, scooters are selling more than skateboards for the first time ever and yet skate companies are being born as if an entire generation of UK skateboarders missed out on the business studies lesson where they covered contraception. It’s all a little confusing and unsettling to be honest. So, at the end of another confusing year we decided that there was only one thing we could possibly do. Invite you all to Bay 66 and go skateboarding. What else?

There really wasn’t any alternative; for a start we do it every year, and every year we love it more than ever. But more importantly, a jam is still one of the most positive things one can involve themselves in for skateboarding regardless of whatever the economical climate currently looks like. A jam provides UK skateboarders of all ages with a place to meet like-minded creatives and explore the myriad of ways in which one can get rad on their wheely-board, which sounds awesome enough, but on top of that you will always meet new friends, witness amazing talent and be reminded just how rewarding skateboarding is. We’re sure most of you know this already, but given the sad circumstances that surrounded the park in which we always – with great pleasure – hold all of our annual festive jams, it feels appropriate to point out just how effective these events are at giving the young people of the UK something postive to focus their attention on. So, in another attempt to remind the youth that there’s a lot more to life than drugs, disrespecting women and riding shitty little scooters we invited you all to London’s beloved sheltered park (hopefully not for the last time) and you all came and smashed it. As in, totally, totally smashed it. Good work.

After some trouble with the sound system which led to myself, Zac and Brewster twiddling knobs like Dickfingers does whenever he has nothing better to do, we finally had Brewster’s charming vocal stylings flooding into the ears of the London yoof. Good thing too, as it was high time for them to start throwing themselves over the little driveway for the chance of a fresh Blueprint deck and fifty quids worth of Slam City Skates vouchers. And throw themselves they did, in a kind of bizarre mature manner. Sure there was havoc, but maybe the 100 little Alfies that normally walk in the way and cock things up spent this winter with the snaking scooter crews in concrete parks throughout the country, meaning that the havoc was kind of controlled. Orderly queues were formed and boards were flying everywhere and we more stoked and impressed with the standards of the unsponsored jam than ever before.

We weren’t too stoked on the theft of Alex Diss’ tapes from the unsponsored jam though. Zorlac compensates his loss by being rad. (Photo: Tom Halliday)

Below: Darius Trabalza is sick. Watch out for him. (Photo: Tom Halliday)

We genuinely had to ask most of the winners if they were sponsored or not, especially considering how many pros and ams were sneaking in runs before their time. Daryl Dominguez got up early as if he intended to eat the driveway for breakfast, but it was the young and very smiley Darius Trabalsza who got the worm with a positively monstrous hardflip over the box to flat in a way that would impress Daryl himself. Huge catch and caught proper bolts. Brewster and I had little trouble awarding Darius with the prize, he really got the idea of a competition going and he fully earned his deck and should also earn your attention in the future. Look out for that smiley dude.

Before we followed the schedule to the next spot, a couple of unashamed moshers were trying their hand at the ski jump to such ridiculous results that we almost contemplated throwing the entire schedule out the window and have a gnarliest backflip competition on the launch ramp. One backflip later though and our mosher tendencies were more than satisfied, permitting us to stop kidding ourselves and return to where all the good stuff was happening: BaySixty6’s new hip with the long jersey quarter on top of it. A perfect setting for some Busenitz grind action and maybe even some Cory Kennedy hip flip trick ridiculousness. Things were kicking off straight away as the obstacle was given its first Xmas Jam treatment, with Felipe Dalcin going in hard for a mighty kickflip noseslide sadly nailing it just after the whistle. With Brewster in charge Crossfire minutes are just 60 seconds long I’m afraid; Spanky runs a tight ship that’s for sure. A shame for Felipe as it was an early contender for trick of the day, but Jason Cloete’s stream of smooth technical wizardry (landing bigger flips cleaner than Marc Johnson) set the consistency level for the rest of the unsponsored comp, if you’re gonna win you’re going to have be better than this kid. It’s remarkable that he hasn’t landed a proper sponsor yet, though that fact might have something to do with how much of a sleazy bastard he was at the after party (props though, standard). Whatever you’ve heard about Jason Cloete, what you need to know is the little shitbag kills it.

Below: Jason Cloete prior to all the sleaze (Photo: Tom Halliday)

Indeed, the Cloete show continued as the jam took it to BaySixty6’s newer, gnarlier, Amazonian waterfall of a Wembley/Euro/Step Up gap. Backside 360 kickflips, triple kickflips and more first try bedwetters, probably before people learnt to get out the way of the landing area too. When it did though, Baystation 666 was subjected to technical madness at its very raddest. Drawing Boards’ Isaac Miller took his opportunity to front 360 and backside heel as fluidly and nonchalantly as one would nollie over a crack in the pavement. We originally had some doubts at how many unsponsored kids could tackle the new Euro beast but in just 20 minutes we had our uncertainties handed to us on a plate as Jamal Breniss tore the gap a new backside (this kid can also stick a mean sticker around; the decorations you see in these pictures before you are courtesy of myself, Jerome, Jamal and a couple of other helpful gents… next time you see them around, high five them for braving the cold. Except for me, I’m a scumbag and probably deserved it.). It was Harry King who took the biscuit though who with his solo late-flip fueled demonstration that left even Cloete’s head spinning.

In a year where ADHD ran riot over the Firefox generation we felt it right to conclude the unsponsored jam on whatever obstacle they wanted to skate, providing it was on the big driveway and me and Brewster could see it. So as we strained our eyes over the fog of fried chicken in the spectators stand many of you took it to the rail, manual pad and hubba ledge and we realised that judging this one could be a little difficult. Luckily Jamie ‘Arghhh’ Morley was saving his game changers for the pro comp and the unsponsored crowd stuck mostly to the rail like slippery glue. Though a few sneaky sponsored sorts tried to blag themselves a Blueprint deck it was John Howlett who impressed us with his consistency and extensive bag of tricks; no matter how many great feeble grinds were on display, no one trick wonder was walking away with this particularly awesome Nick Jensen deck. Look out for Howlett leaping out of a taco in a Mile End near you.

Below: New moves, same ol’ Smithy. (Seq: Dom Marley)

After a short breather (Brewster went out for some fresh tobacco scented air while I stayed in getting high off the fumes from the fried chicken boxes) it was time for the sponsored jam. First up, back to the mini-driveway and as the guestlist continued getting checked off it was those that got in early that were obviously warmed up enough to smash it. Daryl Dominguez went straight in and hammering down all the tricks he has on lock – 360 flip, lateflips, hardflip, all perfect. Isaac Miller was busy snaking all the unsponsored kids on the Wembley gap but his lofty heelflip to flat literally came out of no where, then dusted off like it was nothing. 2011 will be his year for sure. Now, this paragraph cannot be complete without mentioning Gav Coughlan, who sped through the park and landed on a monster frontside flip too many times without rolling away. When he finally conquered the beast we had already moved onto the next obstacle after drill sergeant Brewster announced time was up, but big up Gav for sticking to it. We were stoked on what the Irish powerhouse brought to the event. This obstacle was Daryl’s from the beginning however, he sleepwalked his way to the first batch of Crossfire pounds dished out.

By the time we hit up the hip again our massive guestlist was more or less fully checked off apart from a few notable names (Korahn Gayle probably thought he was supposed to get on a plane or something and missed it) so things were about to take a turn for the awesome. The entire spot got attacked from all angles; Crayon’s Paul ‘Barber’ Cooper got things going on top with that frontsmith of his that’s one of the finest in this country, Witchcraft’s Jamie ‘Arghhh’ Morley took a different route and boardslid his way into the jersey quarter the hard way (the only way the pirate knows) and Smithy shutdown the actual hip with that nollie bigger spin heelflip he was stoked on in his Reflections. The hip got a thorough seeing to but a face-off emerged between Kill City’s Jake Collins and Blind’s Chris Oliver. Chroliver could have shut the day down with his balls-out backtail and mach-ten kickflip 5-0 across the entire ledge (and if you haven’t got off your arse and seen Chris skate in person yet then sort it out, it’ll change your life) but Jake just kept pulling out bangers that we had no choice but to give him the Crossfire pounds. Crooks to regular, ninja finger backsmith, backtail, backlip and a ‘proper’ mayday in under twenty minutes? This guy is amazing.

Below: Dan ‘270’ Wileman getting paper. (Photo: Tom Halliday)

Now, originally our schedule was intent on taking a Delorean back to the 90s with a recession-friendly best trick over the smashed up bin but given how many gnar-hunters were on the scene we had a little re-arranging session and decided to conclude the sponsored jam on the behemoth that is Bay 66’s famous vert wall. Firstly though, we took it back to the ADHD-encouraging driveway and let the sponsored heads run riot. The rail was tackled by the Blueprint crew with ease as Nick Jensen cruised around, Tom Knox summoned up a hurricane and Smithy boardslide-shoved his way into a few high fives. Daryl got tech on the rail with a ninja-catch flip frontboard but took one for the team while trying a trick front shove boardslide. I couldn’t sleep for days after watching that unfortunate credit card disaster. Yowzers. Good thing Jamie Morley and Dan Wileman were on the scene to remedy pain with gnar. Jamie took a break from photographing the dead animals near Portobello Road to catch a ridiculous kickflip out of a perfect 50-50 down the hubba ledge. They don’t call him ‘Kickflip’ for nothing kids. Dan Wileman doesn’t have a nickname yet but considering how many times I’ve seen him earn money from these variations I’m gonna start calling him ‘270’. No one does it better. £50 each, now on to the vert wall.

As we hoped, shit got REAL on the vert wall. Luke Jarvis was obviously waiting for this moment to arrive and we’re already taking bets on whether he has some sort of telekinetic speed device in that green hat of his… no one can move that fast naturally. Before we could even set up flashes he was there killing it and setting the bar high. As high as the Westway would allow anyway. Amidst dogpissers aplenty, Alex Lally got some training in for the following mini ramp jam, Ewan Bower got amongst it and Daryl fucking Dominguez confirmed his position as the undisputable ruler of BaySixty6. After playing around with what looked like a potentially groundbreaking hardflip he stomped down a kickflip fakie from the quarter (serving under the bloody reign of a severed pig’s head courtesy of Lee Dainton) and grafted away towards and elusive but eventually rewarding alley-oopbackside flip straight into the gullet of the beast. To quote the editor of the official Crossfire Xmas Jam edit Alan Christensen “best trick of the day hands down”. Like all the hammers, it was just outside of time, plus who else could have taken the vert wall monies but the young Sam Beckett. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Sam is one of the best skaters in the UK right now and you should all recognise this. Floating a backside flip across the entire wall and not missing a single air in twenty minutes? Deny it if you can.

Daryl Dominguez shutting down BaySixty6’s vert wall. Utter madness. (Seq: Dom Marley)

Below: Nowick breaking the necks of observers. (Photo: Tom Halliday)

By this point and despite the cold we were all starting to get a little sweaty, so it could only mean one thing: time for one full hour of Slayer and bodies flying around in Baystation’s famous miniramp lovingly sponsored by Flip, Ricta and Mob Grip. And fly they did; an increasingly smashed Brewster called for high flyers and blunt 360 flips in, which combined resulted in a lot of smashed shins and tooth chippers. Or was that the product toss? Either way, shit was going down and the riffs were kicking off so there I was, standing on the corner with a notebook trying to make sense of what was going on while occasionally getting out the way of Jed Cullen’s nose-scratching airs. Judging by how illegible my notes are, it’s safe to say that everyone killed it.

Alex Lally got his post-Ben Nordberg miniramp moves on (bigspin back disasters, pop into sugarcane) and generally just ruled the liptricks, Sam Beckett continued his reign over all things transition, Barber got involved with some smooth operator lines and Kill City’s miniramp shredders Sam Pulley and Jake Collins more or less ran the ship for the first half hour with Jake getting the first ‘proper’ trick on the awkward extension (frontside disaster… mad!).

But once again, the miniramp jamp nearly turned into the Greg Nowick show, not that we’re complaining… that miniramp is absolutely his, but Jed Cullen avoided the snakes and and pulled some bonkers stuff out of his deep trick bag, all miles above the coping and so the MVP prize purse was split between the two. Best trick could only have gone to whoever first landed the elusive blunt 360 flip and since Daewon wasn’t around this took a little longer. Eventually Chris Coombs snuck a perfect one in between runs and walked away with £50. This year’s jam was the business!

Zac, Brewster and the miniramp rulers. (Photo: Tom Halliday)

Just gathering what I can recall from the day is getting the blood flowing again, what an absolutely terrific day for skateboarding in London. No matter how many kids were stuck inside playing Call of Duty or clogging up skatepark traffic on scooters the turnout for this year was nothing but skateboarders down for skateboarding and the atmosphere proved it. The good vibes flowed throughout the day and out of glasses at the unplanned and very messy afterparty. It was a great thing to be a part of. Big thanks to all of you that came down and had a good time with us, thanks to all the sponsors and support from the great companies that make this country so rad, all the riders they brought with them, Brewster for strong MCing, all the good folk at Bay 66, the friendly staff at Mau Mau’s, Tom Halliday and Dom Marley for capturing souls and Alan Christensen and Nick Richards for watching the entire event through a viewfinder. And of course, big thanks to Zac for not letting a gnarly spinal injury stop him throwing one of my favourite skate events of the year.

Try and spot the product they’re fighting over. (Photo: Tom Halliday)

Enjoy the rest of the photos not included above in the gallery below and stay tuned for the official edit coming VERY soon (little bit of technical trouble and logistical nightmares delviering it all thanks to that bitch Mother Nature). Oh, and if you thought you were safe after the night raids feature dropped last week, sorry, but Tom Halliday took a whole bunch more. Scroll further down for messiness and bring on Xmas 2011, but remember, if we don’t act now it might not be at Bay 66. Sign the petition here if you haven’t already and let’s keep our favourite park in London.

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Photos by Tom Halliday and Dom Marley. Double click to full-screen.

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Free Downloads

Free Downloads – Best Of 2010

This year we introduced a bi-monthly feature that’s as difficult to understand as it is to do… the ‘Free Downloads‘. Every couple of weeks we send our ears on a mission around the internet looking for the best new (or old) music that’s being given away for free, then round up the best ten for you to come along and take as many of them as you see fit. All for free. Simple, huh?

In addition to that we also introduced the ‘Crossfader‘ interview, where we hunt down the DJs and producers that have been rocking our earphones the most and ask them to provide a free mix for us. The results have been more exciting than we could have ever imagined.

So here is the very best, objectively decided by you guys listening, of all the sound we’ve had up in our cloud this year. Below are the 15 most listened to/downloaded tracks that we featured in this section, as well as all four Crossfader Mixes, from Stereo:Type, C.R.S.T., Submerse and The Count & Sinden. Enjoy!

Former Ghosts – Chin Up by Crossfire Music

Mr. Oizo & Gaspard Augé – Tricycle Express by Crossfire Music

Chromeo – Don’t Turn The Lights On by Crossfire Music

Weezer – Memories by Crossfire Music

Aphex Twin – On by Crossfire Music

Black Mountain – Hair Song by Crossfire Music

Huoratron – gBay by Crossfire Music

Grinderman – Heathen Child by Crossfire Music

Dels – Trumpalump (Joe Goddard Remix) by Crossfire Music

Gruff Rhys – Shark Ridden Waters by Crossfire Music

Wiley – It’s Wiley by Crossfire Music

Dipset – Salute by Crossfire Music

J-Dilla – Sycamore by Crossfire Music

Rustie – Inside Pikachu’s Cunt by Crossfire Music

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Spottie (Outkast Cover) by Crossfire Music

Stereotype – Crossfire Mixtape by Crossfire Music

C.R.S.T Dubplates 2 Mixtape by C.R.S.T

Submerse – Crossfire Mix by Crossfire Music

The Count & Sinden Mix by Crossfire Music

Categories
Features Skateboarding

Reflections 2010: Boots

Portrait by Rob Shaw.

What a year for Mr. Boots Hopkins! Not many people can say that they’ve been married, had the cover of Sidewalk and had a pro board out for one of the UK’s best companies in their entire lifetime, let alone in just one year. Yet all this was achieved this year by a man who chooses to go by the name of a high street pharmacy chain (or the footwear choice of a certain Puss) while frequently destroying street spots across the UK on the regs.

We found Boots to be a perfect candidate for another set of Reflections, so enjoy his favourite moments and video edits from 2010 right here.

Best personal moment of 2010?

My wedding day, getting the cover of Sidewalk and getting a pro board were the best moments of the year for me, stoked on them all.

Favourite skate trip?

The Summer Death Skateboards tour was really fun, good times with the fuck ups camping and filming at some sick spots, same time next year!

Song/album?

Metallica’s Ride The Lightening

Most satisfying trick filmed?

In the middle of filming for the next Death video ‘Ordinary Madness‘, so I have been filming as much as I can. I dunno if satisfying is the right word, maybe relieved is; whenever I make the trick, I’m so glad its over, especially if it’s taken a couple of hours. I’ll be satisfied when the deadline comes hopefully.

Newest trick learnt?

No comply

Best trick or line you witnessed?

Anything Josh Cox ever does is my favourite. The guy knows his way around a skateboard, just watch his warm up line at Mile End. Piss take.

Skate DVD you watched the most?

Stay Gold and Origin, but Heath Kirchart’s part in Stay Gold is the best.

Fresh Blood tip for 2011?

Josh Cox. Rory Milanes. Karim Bakthoui, just wait for the Slam video!

What are you looking forward to most in 2011?

Same again… travelling, skating new places, moving to cardiff, spending time with the wife, not working too much. Keeping it real.

John Demar – Be Here Now

Stumbled across this the other day, good style, lipslides through water, good tune. This part is sick and I look forward to seeing more from this guy.

Nick Jensen X Hold Tight Henry – Lakai Ad

Nick Jensen’s Lakai commercial. I don’t need to say why this is amazing, watch it and you’ll know.

Randy Ploesser – High 5

Randy Ploesser High 5. The dude kickflips onto a polejam and other interesting and sick stuff in this clip.

Dylan Reider – Gravis Part

Dylan Rieder’s Gravis part. Definitely the best thing I have seen in 2010, 5 minutes of straight bangers and does the best front tail flip out you will probably ever see.
Portrait by Rob Shaw

T-Mo and Friends

T-Mo and his buddies. I love this clip, especially the coffin grind over the rainbow rail, unbelievable. I’m just jealous I can’t skate there…