The never ending skills of Daewon Song have graced The Berrics this week with a new Battle Commander section that you will probably need to watch twice.
In related news, the Almost 5-Incher video has been released on i-tunes this week with Daewon’s section blowing minds as usual and DVS are going through changes that may unfortunately see Mr Song move on to another shoe company. Speaking on the bankruptcy issue that has forced DVS to find a new backer this month, Daewon told ESPN:
“DVS Shoes is doing everything possible to get it back up and moving. I’ve been with them (DVS) for 15 years and started Matix Clothing with them as well. I always try to support my sponsors to the fullest, thick and thin. If things don’t work out then I’m gonna have to find a new home for shoes but I always stay positive and hope for the best.”
Mike Anderson skates the streets of Dubai in this latest clip from Matix and Krooked. The two brands have joint forces for a new cothing collab this week so take a peep at the shirts and shorts that are part of the Spring 2012 Matix catalogue.
There’s nothing like ending a year with a discussion with arguably skateboarding’s finest technically gifted, all rounder. Enjoy Daewon Song’s end of 2011 round up and expect more ground breaking magic from his big bag of tricks next year.
So, let’s reminisce as far back as January with your New Year’s Dae edit, how long did that part take to put together and what was your most enjoyable trick from it?
That part had footage from 2 years back. I never got to use it and as soon as the Berrics mentioned doing the New Years Dae part I started filming for another 3 months. The funnest trick in there was the 360 flip in that narrow full pipe! I got worked but it was so worth it and fun.
Other than that edit, what are the most satisfying personal moments of 2011?
Any day where all my friends are off of work and we go skatepark hopping! We don’t get to hang out all of the time and skate so these times are fun. Taking my son bowling for his Birthday and getting that hug too!
Over the years, what skate trip was most memorable looking back?
Australia was the worst and the best! First off, I was with a lot of friends filming for the DVS Skate More video. That trip was insane. Hot, annoying and crazy! We had a few of the worst people on that trip but traveling with Gabe (aka Beergut), Daniel Castillo and Colin Kennedy who now works for the Berrics and did the New Years Dae edit was fun. On that trip I also remember trying to fight Reda from meeting him for the first time. We became really close friends from then on. So much fun!
What music did you listen to mostly throughout 2011?
I’m backing the old Mobb Deep album or a lot of Radiohead songs! It’s real slow but I need that in my life. I also listened to the Alaska in Winter album a lot which was the song in my New Year’s Dae part.
If there’s one story to tell from this year that none of us would know, what is it?
The smoke alarm went off for all the hotel rooms and I unplugged the fire alarm in my room because it was loud! Ten minutes later, six fire trucks show up and two cops! I’m thinking what the f#@k is going on!! They want people to evacuate …….and then I’m thinking my alarm was going off because it’s serious! Well, they finally came to my room and look around and spot that I unplugged the alarm. They look at me in rage and explain that “as soon as you did that, it notified the Fire dept and the cops!” Wow, I used the wrong firewood and the smoke set it it off and I was charged an additional fee! Haha!
OK, let’s talk tricks. What was the most satisfying trick that you made this year?
I got one trick filmed at a manny drop/manny b4 in Torrance. They put a gate around it! Kind of sketchy but at least I got it and maybe try it again somewhere else. It’s a 180 fakie manny fakie bigspin heel to manny.
What are the newest tricks in the bag?
Backside 360 ollie nose wheelie and lasers a little more consistent on transition.
What’s the trick that got away?
Switch bs 360 ollies!
Best trick that you witnessed in 2011?
My homie Jon’s double laser heel at Paramount skatepark! He works at the airport, has 4 kids and still handles business.
If you had to pick one person, who would be your MVP of the year in skateboarding?
I wanna give it up to Torey Pudwill! He handled business and me and him have a lot of new plans with DVS!
What are you looking forward to most about 2012 personally?
Filming for my new Almost part and working on new projects for DVS and MATIX, just enjoying the simple things in life and loving my son!
What are your top 3 skate video edits of all time?
1. John Cardiel – Transworld part
2. Sean Sheffey Life video
3. PJ Ladd – Wonderful, Horrible Life
Do you watch many skate videos these days or are you glued to the web?
I just watch everything! YouTube kids that are having too much fun and freedom!
Let’s wrap this up with a message for kids wanting to get sponsored out there…
Focus on fun and then get up and try! Do what you feel, not what you see!
Back in 2007 Spanish skater Manolo Robles was added to the Alai team with a welcome edit that had the web talking about his amazing technical ability on a skateboard. In 2011 Manolo has a new welcome edit for Matix and his skills have of course only got better and better.
Enjoy this edit that has not even been posted on the Matix site yet and scroll down for more footage from Manolo that if you have not seen already you will be stoked to watch.
Just before old man winter came and hit us with the cold cane last year, Matix were busy ensuring their riders soak up every drop the sun could have possibly offered by sending them on a skate trip to Spain where the rain and the man with the cane didn’t even make it through customs.
Have a gander below to see some Spanish shralping from Danny Brady, Torey Pudwill, Flo Mirtain, Ricardo Paterno and Vivien Feil.
Coming straight outta Walthamstow, Jak Pietryga is best known for lurking around the big smoke and killing it for The Harmony on a daily basis. This year however, he got the closer in Morph’s southern fried and zooted flick, ‘Yam Dat‘ and more or less confirmed on several trips around the continent that he has one of the raddest switch f/s bigspins you’ve ever seen this side of Mike Carroll.
He shared his thoughts and favourite moments of the year with us in this installment of Reflections.
Best personal moment of 2010?
Surviving last years new years party.
Fave skate trip?
It’s gotta be The Harmony trip to Berlin. Had a sick crew come out there with us, Buddle got involved, it was all round good times. Had the usual Harmony luck with the weather as it was pissing it down most days but we carried on regardless, basically just skated the skatehalle demo park. The days the sun decided to make an appearance were really productive though so hold tight for the edit dropping soon!
Best song/ Best album?
I’m not really one for going out and buying albums really but Morph lent me the new Giggs album ‘Let Em Av It’ and it’s a banger.
Most satisfying trick filmed/made and at what spot?
That would have to be my ender from ‘Yam Dat‘. The switch biggy down Aviva 9. Kinda went there with the trick in mind thinking it’s in the bag, because I always do that trick and it wouldn’t give me much grief, then I started grieving! You know… start getting close then lose it etc. So when it eventually went down, it went from being a trick I didn’t really rate myself, to something I was proper stoked on.
Newest trick learnt?
900 to manny.
Fave trick/line you witnessed?
I would have said Smithy’s switch noseblunt to bk lip but he already mentioned that trick in his Reflections. Errrrr, I reckon watching Barney Page and Joe Gavin skating the cheddar block at Southbank is up there. Doing new tricks on a block I thought had been absolutely rinsed off already. Yeah it was pretty impressive, think that edit should be dropping soon also.
The Harmony changing to Rock Solid Distribution, I’m pretty keen on that. Going away on more trips and getting a part together for an upcoming video.
The Harmony x Etnies – Joe Gavin’s Shoe Launch
Always enjoy going up to Manchester. There was a party gong on for the shoe launch as well so it was a good weekend, went to a graffiti comp an all. It was proper!
Dylan Rieder Gravis Promo
No sound on the Youtube version of this edit but you get the idea. (Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper – Ed.)
Two days in Antwerp
This trip was real good, proper nice weather, there was a sick comp and met some good people out there. The street spots out there are ridiculous an’ all.
Nike SB Big Push 2010
If you didn’t vote for this to win the Big Push you are a mong!
Willow welcomes Joe Gavin and Barney Page to the European Etnies team.
Some serious skating in this edit and I can’t help but crack up every time I hear Willow speak.
Across the UK, skater owned shops are currently getting fresh packages from distributors dishing out the new products for the Holiday Season. Understandably, there’s lots of quality goods included in these packages and condensing our favourites into one Line Check didn’t seem as appealing to us as running two of them. So before you head out with the intention of blowing your Xmas savings, have a look at our selection of some top shelf products that are arriving in your local skate shop now.
Antiz have never been afraid to tell it like it is, so with the help of Ben The and Ludovic Gabriel they have produced the ‘Ass‘ Series. Just like everyone has an opinion, everyone has an ass; and the Antiz pro team are no exception to that rule.
Skate Mental have a huge range of decks available right now but those are our chosen six above, including O’Neill’s of-the-moment ‘Call Of Duty‘ deck and Matt Beach’s super rad Tre Flip model that provides Ewoks with the publicity they have always deserved.
Kill City are keeping things street in South Wales with their ‘Spray Paint‘ and ‘Marker‘ models. Note how good those sizes are; for those of you out there with pixie feet who haven’t made the jump up from 7.5″ here’s a good excuse to man up.
Tyler Bledsoe’s debut pro model for Alien Workshop is in shops now with a suitably trippy graphic to cause your own Mindfield to relapse. Crayon hooked up with the CSC mascot, ‘Boxman‘ and his model designed by the wonderful Philip Morgan is now available fresh from the press. Hype! are making a name for themselves with some superb web edits and quality decks to match and Karma hooks up with the insomniac Alex Maw who knocked up a couple of rad designs for their latest decks. We’re stoked on these.
Ace Trucks are starting to become a common name in UK stores so if you’re looking for something new to get your grind on with then try these out. They are selling fast having already made an impact on a competitive truck market in the US and are set to do the same here.
OJ Wheels have made a welcome comeback into the urethane spotlight this year and are our selected wheels alongside Andrew Pommier’s Tin Toy series for Momentum.
The winter warmers are in stock! Now, unless your skin is made of thinsulate material then you’ve probably noticed it’s absolutely bloody freezing outside; have a look at cozy jackets and shirts from Matix, Fourstar, Addict, Independent and Etnies right there above.
Ok, so we were so stoked on Beach’s 360 flipping Ewok that we had no choice but to include the matching tee in our t-shirt round up alongside other graphic gems from Girl and Hype! Uzi does it now…
Soletech may be reknowed for their innovative progress in shoe technology, but you shouldn’t think that less effort is put into their threads. éS and Emerica make some of the best clothes going and the cords and chinos you see above are nice, simple and ridiculously comfortable.
But if it is shoes you’re after because the ones your wearing are soaked through with melted snow then be sure to check out Habitat’s Footwear range. Like Soletech, they’ve got the talent and experience to dabble in more than just one area. We have a Habitat package to give away this month that includes a pair of their awesome shoes; click here to enter. And as per, DVS bring the goods with simple and effective designs in dope colourways. Port should be really considered more often.
Check back for more recommended products in the following weeks.
The never ending skills of Daewon Song have graced The Berrics this week with a new Battle Commander section that you will probably need to watch twice.
Coming straight outta Walthamstow, Jak Pietryga is best known for lurking around the big smoke and killing it for 
