Legendary street skater Rodney Mullen gave a speech at the University of Southern California recently and shares a plethora of information regarding his strategy on how the mind allows you to conquer all tricks and beyond.
Get inspired by one of skateboarding’s most intrigueing characters right here today.
Some of the Drawing Boards team visited Horsham’s park for a recent session. Click for a little sesh with Jak Tonge, Potts and Isaac Miller whose new Fresh Blood interview features a Velodrome edit.
A film by Amrit Jain
http://skatesauce.com
The independent skate DVD market is a lonely path to walk and anyone who decides to take it deserves your attention. I first heard about Skate Sauce via the odd internet clip or online forum post and my initial thought was that it sold skate wax. To be honest that’s not something I’m going to rush to the skateshop for and tell all my friends about when their DVD drops. However, I was wrong. It turns out that Skate Sauce is a skater-run operation that focuses on documenting, editing and producing skate videos and other media projects. The main man behind the viewfinder is Amrit Jain, a name that rang a bell, as he was one of the first filmers behind The Berrics video streams. Skate Sauce was launched in 2009 and Amrit took his little black book of Los Angeles skaters and international contacts to get to work on a video project by the homies for the homies: Hard Times But Good Times.
HTGT reminds me of those early Tim Dowling or Daryl Grogan videos (Listen, Time Lapse) that focused on local Southern California scenes that mixed unsung heroes with the era’s poster boys. I might be wrong but there is a definite 90s-00s influence to this video with it’s focus of flat ground lines and ledge skating set to a soundtrack of Soul, Jazz and Rap beats. The modern take on afternoons spent on UCLA’s campus are evening sessions filmed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona (MACBA). Amrit obviously spent a while in Spain and built a bridge back home with his camera and enthusiasm. The lesser-known talent of Justin Guillen (last part), Brett Sube and Matt Gottwig is matched with headline acts like Tom Penny and Vincent Alvarez. There is also a re-birth of San Diego pride with footage Shorties team riders and Skate Mafia alumni. Sammy Baptista, Jesse Siley and Peter Smolik share runtime with Jaime Palmore, Jimmy Cao and Wes Kremer amongst others.
With such a wide range of riders on show and the loose editing style that blends chill lines with chill beats, I think HTGT would best be viewed on loop at the skateshop or after a long day in the streets at home with a brew or a buzz. Trying to digest the full 60 minutes before going skating could have the opposite effect and make you drowsy. If you’re looking for a quick fix, I suggest you enjoy the 7 minute opening section from Vincent Alvarez who rushes into spots at ambidextrous high velocity. Or Julien Guillen’s last part which showcases his technical skills and ability to skate anywhere with style and confidence (Note the bonus game of S.K.A.T.E. where he takes Jesus Fernandez to the edge). Tom Penny skates Barcelona asleep at the wheel and despite being exclusive footage of the legendary Brit, you kind of feel like you’re watching a pro on holiday in other words don’t expect any major stunt work.
If you are a fan of 90s-00s era skating and keen to keep up to date with the latest Southern California (and MACBA) talent then this video is for you. If you prefer something with a bit more pace and thrills then I suggest you take a look and move on. However, I must accentuate that Amrit Jain and the Skate Sauce crew have done really well in producing and putting out an independent skate video when the market trend would advise heavily against such a heartfelt move.
Ralph Lloyd-Davis
31 May 2012
Watch the lost tapes of Sebo Walker that was released yesterday below.
Olly Roberts has spent some quality time filming the locals at Subvert Skatepark in Yorkshire and documented the sessions that went down there. Enjoy skating from Paul Watson, Tim Smith, Nick Knight, Joe Attwood, Farran Golding, Ant Blythe, Oliver Jones, Joe Theaker, Olly Roberts, Brendan Harrap, Josh Hughes, Alun Duffield, Jack Roberts and Phil Long
It’s becoming a curb filled week so far. Rob Harris from the Green Diamond has a contender for Edit of the Week with this short film made to remember the good times from a favourite spot named Slappy Cove. Enjoy this tribute celebrating a menagerie of other curbs, both large and small. Go wax a curb and get a session going today.
The Captain had a bunch of footage sat on his hard drive collecting pixel dust until it was unleashed this weekend as a three minute edit. Watch Mark Munson destroying concrete in India, London, Oregon, Holland and so many more countries it’s a joke. What a way to start the week.
The annual carve up in Varraze, Italy went down last this weekend with great mini ramp skating and live sets from both Crossfire faves Turbo Negro and Doom Tree. Brits were abroad for the ride and took home some cash home from the mini ramp jam. Ross McGouran, Jake Collins, Kris Vile and Rob Smith all made it into the top six. Watch the footage.
BEST TRICK RESULTS:
1st Martin Pek – Nollie Crooks + Nollie bigger spin
2nd Nassim Guammaz – NS Blunt 50-50
3rd Kris Vile – Lipslide bs180 big spin flip
MINIRAMP RESULTS:
1. Alain Goikotxea
2. Alessandro Sorgente
3. Ross McGouran
4. Jake Collins
5. Kris Vile
6. Rob Smith
Jacob Rosenberg’s much anticipated ‘Waiting For Lightning‘ movie screened for the very first time at London’s Prince Charles cinema last night in front of a sold out crowd. UK skaters traveled from all over the country to take in the documented life of legendary skater Danny Way who, alongside writer Bret Johnston, sat back and enjoyed the film before being mobbed and praised by many.
The documentary that can only be explained as ‘epic’, takes you through Danny Way’s history as a child, growing up and skateboarding throughout turbulent family times in Vista, California. It’s a fairly emotional ride, telling a story of the loss, pain, progression, hunger and the ultimate satisfaction of being able to give so much back to skateboarding. The film features the build up to the Great Wall of China jump, the rise of H-Street and Plan B with many guests and close friends and family that include managers Darryl Franklin and Ray Ibe, Way’s mother, Mary, Christian Hosoi, Mike Blabac, Rodney Mullen, Ken Block, Colin McKay, Tony Hawk, Bod Boyle, Steve Douglas and many, many more who share their thoughts on the rise and rise of the most legendary skateboarder of all time.
Scroll down past the gallery of screengrabs from the movie for our exclusive video interview with Danny, ‘WFL’ Bret Johnston and reactions from the UK rabble that left the cinema in awe. Look out for the full DC video that is said to have the creme of the Hawaiian session footage from Danny’s dream home that he spoke to us about in our last interview with him back in 2004.
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Vagabond is a Chinese skateboard company that has 10 team riders, Hello My Friend is their latest travel edit that you should watch today. The two week journey documented in this 10 minute clip covered sessions skating through Vietnam and Thailand and the phenomenal South-East Asian culture they took in along the way.
I really enjoyed watching this work by Charles Lanceplaine. Hopefully you got this far and don’t have your Western blinkers on. Click play to watch Cyres Wong, Jay Meador, Dan Leung, Keng Qu, Alex Hwang and Blackie.
Lyon’s Wallstreet crew got down and dirty in the woods for a ‘Create and Destroy‘ session at the back end of last year. Watch this old spot get cleaned up, worked on and then skated by Sam Partaix Kris Vile and friends.