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Skateboarding Product Reviews

Tom Asta Signature Colourway éS

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Tom Asta’s new Accel Slim on éS is about to hit your local skate shop. This signature colourway, influenced by the colors of the American flag with red and blue accents, come with a tongue ventilation system to keep your feet cool and a 400 NBS outsole providing flex and grip for the perfect flick.

Search them out, vote with your feet and support skater owned.

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Skateboarding Product Reviews

éS Sal 20 shoe review

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Had a taste of shoe heaven yet this year? If not, you’re about to find some. The history of the original Sal 23 started as the very first éS shoe when they launched back in 1995 – at the time it was a bona fide classic, the first pro skate shoe for Sal Barbier that spread like wildfire throughout the scene that was not only admired for its fashion statement, the functionality of the shoe was 100% built for skateboarding by skateboarders.

This period was golden. Skateboarding was raw, the real underground. None of Michael Jordan’s people were anywhere near our scene at the time, although said sports pro did share the same basketball number with Sal – the 23, a number that most 90s skaters will never forget due to this shoe. This new re-issue sees his infamous number switched to 20, paying homage to éS celebrating a sterling 20 strong years in the skater owned shoe game. Only a hardcore few will want their 23 back, but the double decade will do nicely.

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Rightful big ups to éS for their achievements aside, let’s go back to functionality, because it’s rare these days for any skate shoe company to issue a shoe that has an ollie patch. Most companies want you to skate every day so that your Mum has to buy you a new pair and replace them fast – it’s a sucker marketing strategy, sneaky too. Barbier and the dudes at Sole Tech wanted a shoe that lasted. It’s a beautiful touch and one that you will appreciate when you slip these on and start pushing.

“I wanted a rubber piece on the side so it wouldn’t rip up. I kind of liked that, because I don’t always like wearing ’em when they’re brand new.” explains Sal in a previous interview. “By the time most skate shoes break in, you have to get a new pair because they’re all ripped up. I worked on the design of the whole shoe, the sole, the logo, everything, around 1994-95.”

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We had a delivery of the Sal 20 here recently and have spent 3 weeks in them now. The first obvious observation is that they are now made thinner than the OGs (thankfully), but back then everything in skateboarding was wide – apart from wheels. They are comfy too. None of this waiting for the shoe to be ready for a sesh, these are lit straight out of the box. I personally like to stick the laces behind the tongue allowing the logo to represent, like a number plate. Surrounded by smooth suede with perforation holes in front of the first lace, these are super simple, but perfectly efficient for street or mini ramp skating.

All you need to know is that these are 100% skateboarding. éS have brought a classic back from their wonderful archives and re-issued them in style. You need a pair in your life. Support skater owned brands so the next wave of hard working skaters can get what they deserve.

It’s worth noting that these come up a little small, so I opted for a half size up and they were perfect. Find them in your local skate shop this month in three colourways.

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Skateboarding News

éS Sal 20 web doc

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Those who remember the Etnies Sal 23 shoe back in the day know that it was a game changer. They were an innovative skater owned shoe choice, backed with the skills of Sal Barbier who was pushing skateboarding forwards at a rate of knots.

Watch this new éS web doc on the history of the shoe that they’ve re-issued this week and look out for them on your travels.

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Skateboarding News

Bearded and Slightly Beweirded with John Rattray

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Scottish pro John Rattray treats us to a different perspective of himself skating today and growing a beard in this new clip from his Predatory Bird blog. In his own words:

Every now and again Jupiter and Venus are in conjunction in the western sky. Rare shit like that occasionally coincides with me getting a trick that might be worth dropping off at Zero and dumping into the Cold War folder. In between those scarce moments, in order to avoid plunging into the deathly-dark pit of boredom and depression, I tend to make videos inspired by skateboarding. This video is a collection of self-portrait clips shot over the course of a 3 month period in which I completely forgot to shave. The more observant among you may glimpse flashes of severe joy and inner pain throughout.

P.S. It doesn’t have to be Jupiter and Venus, it could be any rare celestial configuration, a blue moon for example.

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Skateboarding News

Menikmati bonus edit by French Fred

Fred Mortagne uploaded some of the footage filmed for the bonus edit on the éS Menikmati film. Enjoy this edit featuring Koston, Saari, Burnquist, Creager, Rodrigo TX, McCrank and Penny from 2000.

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Skateboarding Product Reviews

éS Pledge shirt review

es_pledge_shirt_blueThe Pledge shirt by éS should deal with a British summer on 2 levels. Over the last 3 weeks, the weather has blown, hot, cold, hot, cold and somehow this shirt has sat right in the middle of it all and saved my skin. Due to its 100% cotton lightweight design, this baby blue number has provided warmth when the sun has disappeared and has tackled the heat with the sleeves rolled up with ease.

It comes with a double lining so when you get it out of the wash it doesn’t fall apart and is easy on the iron. It also has minimal branding and a tasty front pocket if you need to stash smokes or cards.

éS have some great lines of clothing out right now and this shirt comes highly recommended this summer. Treat yourself this weekend, you only live once.

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Line Check July 2011

UK skate shops are stacked with new decks, wheels, clothing, shoes, hats and more right now so here’s our monthly gathering of what we think are the best options throughout July. Explore below for a selection of products available from Skate Mental, Girl, Superdead, Heroin, Drawing Boards, Volcom, Foundation, Unabomber, Chocolate, Crayon, Toy Machine, Fourstar, Altamont, DVS, Lakai, Kr3w, éS and Emerica.

If you would like your product considered for inclusion in this zine, get in touch here.

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Skateboarding Product Reviews

Line Check June 2011

We have been sent a mammoth amount of product for inclusion in this month’s Line Check so enjoy June’s selection that you can find in your local skate shop this month from Death, Blueprint, Superdead, Witchcraft, Girl, Pig, Addict, éS, Emerica, Dekline, Etnies, Lovenskate, Unabomber, Heathen, Volcom and Fourstar.

If you would like to send us product for inclusion in next month’s round up, contact us from the link at the bottom of the page.

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Skateboarding News

Ben Raemers gets a Free Lunch

benraemersIt’s always an honour to watch this man in action on or off a board as you are guaranteed that a smile will hit your face. Ben Raemers appears on Shred or Die’s Free Lunch video feature this week and discusses shitting himself, baboons fingers, fisherman’s friends, David Byrne, The Muska, strange birds that go bump in the night and plenty more.

Go Essex!

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Skateboarding News

Ben Raemers documentary

benraemersEssex coverboy Ben Raemers is subjected to a web documentary this week from his shoe company.

Watch the 3 part series right here that covers various characteristics of the UK’s most talked about UK skater right now.