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Skateboarding Product Reviews

Zoo York – Goodfeathers 7.6″

Pigeons are my favourite animal ever. They’ve got a bad reputation and I dig that. This rep stems from the same breed of idiots that attribute notions of purity and peace to those butter-wouldn’t-melt bastard doves. Despite the dove and the pigeon being in the same family of birds, they are dismissed as a disease-riddled nuisance. Never to be put down by racial profiling, the pigeon is so bad-ass it just struts around cities where ever it pleases, eating up whatever we’re too lazy to put in a bin. The pigeon is an urban bird that quite obviously doesn’t give a fuck. And I love them.

So imagine my delight when Zoo York put out a board with a flock of up-to-no-good pigeons lurking on top of the tallest building in the sprawling menagerie that is New York. The caption reads ‘plotting doom from high upon the empire state building’ and that’s precisely what they’re up to. These birds belong in the same cage that houses the likes of Forrest Kirby, Zered Basset, Aaron Suski and other wood-pushers that are simply too gnarly to exist outside of some sort of enclosure. It’s only fair that my bros the pigeons get a pro board too.

The deck itself rides like a dream made straight from the concrete jungle. The very place that according to Alicia Keys has an assembly line specifically designed to pump out dreams as relentlessly as time passes. The only difference is that this dream is a solid piece of wood, but it did come from a similar assembly line. Zoo York regularly produce excellent planks to ride and this is no exception. It also happens to have the raddest graphic I’ve seen from them in some time. Hold tight Zoo York and hold tight pigeons.

Stanley

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

Element – Muska Finger 7.75″

Skateboarders are skateboarders and pedestrians are pedestrians and never the twain shall meet. Now, for the benefit of the pedestrian’s ankles I would testify that this grossly re-contextualised Rudyard Kipling argument is probably for the best. But exclusivity outside of whose ankles your board is smashing into isn’t necessarily as cool as you’d like it to be. Element have unashamedly and routinely scoffed at social barriers in a way that would make Andy Warhol stoked. I could be sitting on the tube, this Muska Finger deck in hand and a businessman opposite me could be counting the tens and twenties he can barely fit into his wallet with the same logo on it. He knows that his wallet isn’t going to fall apart today, and I know my deck isn’t either.

Element consistently provide skateboarders with good, solid wood. The lightness and insta-pop was a big relief from the unreliable soggy fishes I’d been riding previously. The wild welsh rain and terrain was obviously too much for them. Durability is a big deal for me, and Element don’t disappoint. The guy in the suit probably doesn’t even realise that the same company that made his wallet made the plank of wood that the smelly dude sitting opposite him is clutching. He could afford a new wallet if he wanted to, but if this deck says anything about their other products, he won’t need to.

What’s cute is that this business dude is getting shown the finger by my deck, courtesy of Chad Muska: that guy that you either hate to love, or love to hate, or more likely than not, both. So as he packs his big bucks into his wallet, the same company that’s keeping all that moolah snug is flipping him off. That’s skateboarder mentality for you. I love it. Don’t let those extreme suits with hair that’s a little too dude for the office fool you, Element material is constructed from a skater mindset. If the excellent Trio didn’t sway you in their direction, then the regular high-grade shit they’re pushing will.

Stanley

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

Momentum Rebates 54mm

There are certain things in life that we take for granted. Things that, if taken away from us, would gently sap the joy from our souls, the very part of you that you don’t always notice, but subconsciously makes you want to get up in the morning and fucking get some. I’m talking about the stuff we label as simple things, because they’re simply too overwhelming for us to understand. Like weights being lifted from your chest after just one sip of coffee, the chance of seeing a cat in the street, a good drum beat, the sound of a football commentator losing his shit when his country score and what I got up for this morning – the feeling of skating downhill with brand new wheels.

The wheels that helped get that inner smile beaming like a Cheshire cat on the smoothest, grooviest acid trip were made by Momentum. A company renowned for making smooth, cool wheels that don’t rile the environment. In today’s ever-greyer landscape making environmentally friendly skate products can only be encouraged by someone who wants to see cats roam the streets every day and my coffee to taste bloody delicious.

These wheels are advertised as not only kind to the environment but gentle on your wallet which – if for some reason does put you off – shouldn’t cause any doubt about the quality. These are the wheels that smoothie drinking, smoothie skating Rick McCrank has on his board and are you to question that dude’s taste in wheels? Momentum Rebates are ultimately a solid piece of recycled urethane that won’t hurt your bank balance, so whack on some green clothes and get ready for that smooth ride that makes everything you see in the street instantly life-assuring.

Stanley

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

Altamont – Reynolds Alameda Denim

It’s no secret that Altamont is a skateboard thread with a difference. They have diversity in their lines and produce cloth of the highest standards. When being treated with the honour of giving their product the wear and tear test on this occasion, I got hold of some Alameda denim’s and a T-Shirt collab between Altamont and the coolest cartoonist to ever grace paper with pencil, Ralph Steadman.

If you are yet to set legs in a pair of Altamont denim then I can simply say you are missing out on a revolution in skate apparel. These 98% cotton / 2% spandex five-pocket Kurabo denims were designed purposely for skateboarding with style. The abraised denim itself is rather heavy and very soft with superior craftsmanship in finish. Andrew Reynold’s designed these himself and even though they are quite skinny – let us not forgot the legs belonging to the man who is designing these jeans here – they fit comfortably and work a treat both on and off the board. Go get some.

2P

Click here to view the tee collab.

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

Altamont – Ralph Steadman ‘Lono’ Tee

For those not in the know, Ralph Steadman is the genius behind every illustration that ever accompanied the Gonzo Journalism by heavyweight author, Hunter S. Thompson. The two of them go together like independent trucks and pool coping, a perfect match. Altamont collaborated with Ralph and brought a range of Tees that showcase work out of ‘The Curse of Lono’, the book referred to as Fear and Loathing in Hawaii! It’s one Tachen’s finest presses in my books and I highly recommend you get hold of a copy for Ralph’s drawings alone; every sketch is a cerebral piece.

Altamont’s collabs have been consistently good over the years and I like very much that someone finally put Steadman’s visuals on cotton, his work should be seen by everyone, it’s truly unique! If you ever thought of getting your hands on a classic Steadmans, then I highly recommend you start with The Curse of Lono. It’s filled with great art and Hunter S. Thomspon writes a damn good story as per usual, but who could doubt that?

2P

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

Crayon – Super Furry Animals Collab 7.75″ & 8″

Cardiff-based Crayon Skateboards have been going from strength to strength over the last year picking up some of the UK’s most revered skateboarders. Korahn Gayle’s arrival made Crayon’s increasingly good rep outside of Cardiff soar above the clouds and what way to celebrate with a couple of gorgeous collaboration decks with Cardiff born-and-bred psychedelic design warlock, Pete Fowler.

You’ve almost certainly come across his work before in the form of all the visual pieces that accompany the already tripped out electro-fuzz rockers Super Furry Animals. His trippy characters and flowing colour translate perfectly into Crayon’s graphic identity; slick, perfectly-crafted colourful characters that ooze idiosyncracy and a couple interesting quirks. I couldn’t think of a better way to compliment the bunch of oddballs that ride the waxy kid’s art toy influenced plank. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve used actual crayons to wax up ledges as a substitute for wax every so often… ‘who’s wax is this crayon now boyo?’

Crayon use everyone’s favourite Deluxe wood (okay, a sweeping statement but I’ve never heard anything but instant gushing from any skater’s mouth at the mention of Deluxe) so you’re guaranteed a solid piece of wood beneath you feet. The deck itself is a joy to ride and it’s not at all difficult to comprehend why when you see someone skate through Cardiff, that 90% of the time, they’ll be riding a Crayon deck. If they keep producing decks like this, and throwing launch parties where the artist in question breaks their ankle in the club’s lav (fully legit! ‘ave it Fowler!) then I wouldn’t be surprised if those odds aren’t just exclusive to Cardiff, but spread across the UK. Keep it homegrown, keep it fresh. Fowler helps Crayon keep things both real and unreal, and I encourage everyone to get on board.

Head over to the Crayon website for an exclusive interview with Pete Fowler himself.

Right – 8″ – Below 7.75″

Stanley

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

Creature Skateboards Football

The World Cup is on, England have been rubbish so far against Algeria and the USA and British people seem dubious about our chances of winning the World’s most wanted trophy.

Creature on the other hand, being the most unlikely skate company to piggy back the tournament with their hesh-filled team have unleashed a football this month so you can chuck it in the back of the van on a skate trip and have a keepy ups sesh in between rolling with your best mates!

Their ‘Yah We Did It Soccer Ball’ is out there now, track it down and give it a kick in.

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

Marcel Veldman/5050 collab tees

Fluff legend Marcel Veldman has rolled out some more collab tee shirts with the 5050 Store in Bristol this month.

If you like rocking it then these screen printed, photo print graphic tees with the classic 5050 embroidered label on the hem is for you this month.

These are £25 from their online store and in your hands within days. Get them before they are out of stock.

Categories
Skateboarding Product Reviews

etnies Barge Enjoi collab

Changing seasons equals news gear and our recommendation for new shoes this week comes from etnies, whose Jose Rojo Enjoi collab shoe seems to be going down a storm out there right now.

This is not the first collab The Barge shoe has seen, the Thunder collaboration from last year was a success in terms of comfort, style and general wear and tear- the latter benefiting from the sturdy one-piece toe wrap that protects your pinkys whilst your feet do the shredding.

If you like a padded tongue protecting your feet when you skate and opt for a wider shoe for street skating then you will probably enjoy these as they provide more protection than your average slim skate shoe with a vulcanized sole but are not on the heavy side either. Of course these come with the usual STI footbed for increased comfort and cushioning so they are a dream once on your feet and they look pretty dope all round.

Enjoi these at your local SOS this month as they have just been released.

Emilio Gonzales

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Skateboarding News Skateboarding Product Reviews

First look: Consolidated Oaxacan Animal Series

Consolidated have sent us a first look on their new Oaxacan Animal Series that have just arrived in the UK yesterday at Power.

Expect these to be in your local SOS in the next week or so and also watch this space for a full Consolidated UK tour feature with words from Roberto Aleman, Danger and Sean Guiterrez plus 2 video edits and a gallery very soon.