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Skateboarding News

Say hello to the virtual reality skateboard simulator

virtual_skateboarding

I’m pretty sure that the first question asked in this new BBC technology video feature will be met with the same answer: Me mate.

This new virtual reality skateboarding simulator that has been developed at the Tokyo Institute of Technology has been designed to gives the rider a close feeling of what it’s like to actually skateboard. Or does it?

I can’t seem to remember my body being turned into a vibrator over the last few sessions, although I am looking forward to a cobble sesh this weekend. At least the presenter didn’t push mongo.

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Skateboarding News

What is your vision for the future of skateboarding?

The BBC are currently running a competition for artists to bring their visions of the years ahead to their creative department. One of the cartoons that arose this morning from their feature included skateboarding monks. They are actually sat on wheeled decks as opposed to pushing them.

The results made me think of what skateboarding could be in the future considering that only 37 years ago in 1976, Alan Gelfand first delivered the ollie that would transform skateboard tricks forever. Since that ollie, our scene has successfully invented an entire book full of tricks, skateparks have evolved into plaza’s, twelve year old’s are making 1080’s on megaramps, and technology has allowed us to skate better by shaping the shoes, decks, trucks and wheels over the years.

The list is endless, but the question is: What is your vision for the future of skateboarding? What will be the most talked about trick, and what will your children be skating in 2060?

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Skateboarding News

Watch footage of Prince Charles skateboarding

There’s nothing like archive footage of the Royal Family gegging in on the skate scene. Entertain yourself with this golden footage of Prince Charles skating Kentish Town’s curves in the late 70’s.

princecharles_skateboarding

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Features Music

A Celebration Of British Punk Rock is coming…

Written by James Sherry

As we approach the 35th anniversary of the Sex Pistols incendiary and landscape changing ‘Nevermind The Bollocks’ album, expect to see lots of nostalgia and media coverage of what is still to many the most exciting musical and cultural youth explosion to ever detonate across the UK.

We’ve all heard the story before, seen a million documentaries, wheeling in the same talking heads, the same archive footage. Thankfully, the forthcoming three-part documentary ‘Punk Britannia’ digs far deeper than the usual punk programming affair. Part one deals with the pre-punk years of ’74-’76, focusing on the ‘pub rock’ explosion that saw the start of the musical landscape shifting away from the bloated prog years and moving back towards short-sharp three-minute power pop songs – out of the stadiums and back into sweaty red-hot back rooms of pubs, with bands like Joe Strummer’s first band The 101ers, Kilburn And The Highroads, Dr. Feelgood etc and looks set to be possibly the most interesting programme of the three as this is an era that hasn’t been detailed as much and is easily as exciting.

Last night Crossfire was lucky enough to attend a private screening of the second part of the series at Soho House in central London. Rubbing shoulders with such essential punk players as The Damned’s Captain Sensible and Brian James, Gaye Advert from The Adverts, John Cooper Clark and Mark Stewart from The Pop Group, among others, free BBC wine was necked and all the old punks piled into the cinema for youths and memories to be re-lived. And whilst in this second part the story does focus on the already very well-told story of The Pistols, The Clash and The Jam etc, what is refreshing about this show is it does spread its wings further and the equally important likes of Sham 69, UK Subs and Stiff Little Fingers also feature heavily.

The third part, however, charts much previously unexplored (by the BBC at least) territory and focuses on the post-punk years of The Fall, PIL, The Pop Group, Crass, Joy Division etc and looks set to wrap up a very worthy look at all the different aspects of the original punk explosion. Don’t miss it!

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Skateboarding News

Christian Hosoi and friends skate the BBC

This classic little edit is from the vaults. Christian Hosoi and friends skating at the BBC building in White City, London back in the 80’s.

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Music News

We support Zane Lowe on this one

So, this is the moment at Glastonbury Festival last night where Lauren Laverne gets rightfully trumped by Zane Lowe after talking crap about Beyonce and Kool and the Gang without even letting him speak about his favourite band QOTSA (who absolutely killed it btw).

Well done Zane Lowe, we would have done the same.

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Skateboarding News

BBC ask skateboarders to take part in documentary

A new documentary based on why people develop certain skills is being produced for TV by the BBC and they are looking for skateboarders to take part this coming Monday 21st February at London Bridge skatepark.

You will be asked questions that focus on why we take risks in pursuing the desire to learn skill so if this is for you then get down there and contact Geoff at Rubicon skate schools found at www.rubiconskateboards.co.uk

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Skateboarding News

Save BaySixty6 Campaign on BBC Radio

The on-going fight to keep Bay 66 under the Westway has hit the airwaves as Gaby Roslin and Paul Ross interviewed Chris Bailey of the Westway Development Trust on Monday’s Breakfast Show on BBC London.

The interview is primarily concerned with the location of the park, which as the BBC reporter points out, appears to have already been decided by the Westway Development Trust looks set to change as office space and gardening centres are likely to be more profitable.

It’s good to see that both Gaby and Paul challenge Chris’ statements with both the social and cultural significance of the park’s current location, backing this up with words from a 9 year old local skateboarder called Alex. As we know, the current location of Baysixty6 is where thousands of young people across the UK are accustomed to going to on a regular basis throughout the year. To change the location of one of country’s most important skateparks would have gross consequences to the scene no matter what.

It remains up to us skateboarders to let our voices and opinions be heard and convince those planning on relocating or closing the park that it is in the best interest of the city of London to let this cultural institution stay where it is.

To listen to the show, follow this link and skip ahead to the 2:16:20 mark to get straight into the discussion.

For those of you who have been directed here by the radio show, please join the Save BaySixty6 Facebook page where you will find continually updated information and please sign the petition here.