Photo Thug

The Chris Kendall Experience

2012-02-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

Above: 2001 ollie up to a real quick frontside 180 ollie over the old Churchill Square gap.

Skateboarding and eating one's vegetables has taken Chris Kendall around the world. From growing up in Saskatoon, to being one of the original Famous team riders and living in Suggitt's basement, to The Berrics, and now a tropical paradise. While Chris' journey is far from traditional it's easy to see it's working for him. So pull up a sack of juicy oranges and enjoy the raw Chris Kendall.

Where are you in the world right now, and why?
At the moment I am lapping up time with friends new and old, warm sun, and enjoying pure water, pristine mountain air, and tons and tons of whole, fresh, raw, ripe organic fruits and vegetables at The Farm of Life - farmoflife cr.com - in Costa Rica. It's a healing retreat centre out here run by Brian and Jody Calvi, where I am just now finishing my first skateboarding, surfing, raw food and yoga retreat! It's been a real blast sharing my passions and this wonderful spot with an awesome group of people. Each aspect has impacted me in such a positive way that I feel blessed to be able to share them with others in such an amazing country and place!

I know that for more than a few years now you've been eating super healthy, so while I'm not surprised to hear you're currently at a tropical healing retreat, how toxic could you still possibly be? I mean aren't you "toxin" free by now?
While we all "detox" to a degree all the time from environmental toxins, those we ingest or create from poor digestion/ food combing and or bodily processes. However, I'm not here to "detox" myself, but to simply enjoy. This is actually my first retreat that I put on, a skate, surf, yoga, raw food retreat. The focus is on a fun, vital and healthy lifestyle rather than just diet or "cleansing".

Above: Full pipe frontside ollie circa 2001.

Can you skate at the retreat? Seemed kind of remote.
It's pretty awesome. In the surf town near by (Dominical), there is a really sick 5 foot half pipe behind a bar. There is also a pad of cement and an OK cement park in the next town. San Isidro, which is a 45 minute ride from the farm offers decent street spots. For sure its not a skate mecca, but for the purposes of the retreat it was quite sweet and fun.

You were already kind of famous around Edmonton for your diet before you moved away and when I asked people what questions I should ask you, suggestions were invariably food related. Are you still showing up at a skate session with a bag of oranges or a bunch of bananas? I remember skating with you once where all you ate that day was oranges.
Ha ha, guaranteed I am. Often I bring fruit to the session and I love to bring more to share. I've been holding fricking fruitlucks of late and hope to do one in Eddy this summer.

How long have you been eating healthy? What was your motivation to change your diet?
I started to make big changes about 12 years ago, eating fruit for breakfast, food combining and moving to vegetarianism. It's been a journey with some side steps, but a steady upward climb to simpler and simpler, healthier and healthier habits. My main motivaton in the first few years was to recover faster, be stronger and healthier for skateboarding. As time went on I found many other reasons to improve my diet and I can say that the list of reasons just gets longer and longer, and the benefits keep coming and coming.

I remember reading somewhere about you having a pile of fast food wrappers outside an old apartment - what's that story?
I guess it would really depend when this was. Back in my day I loved fast food, even in the first few years of improving my diet I ate a fair bit of vegetarian Taco Bell and Harvey's, ha ha. In Van I loved veg. and then vegan pizza, and subs and poutine. People used to call me the garbage disposal as I would eat everything. My fast food days are long in the dust.

Above: 2003 Calgary gravel pile ollie.

If you were to chuck the whole healthy eating lifestyle, what would you eat first?
It's funny, but really if I was to delve into "less vital food", I would go for some sweet potato fries and some steamed veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, hahaha. Which is pretty dang healthy anyway. If I really, really was going further than that, hmmm I really don't know, maybe poutine, pizza or East Indian/ Ethiopian food? The thing is, I don't restrict myself, I eat what I want. It's simply that I don't covet those foods anymore, so there is no desire to fall off. It took a while to get here, but a big switch occurred when I let go of the emotion around "cheating" or the whole concept of "cheating". It's all choice. The last cooked meal I had, I ate consciously and realized it was more the restriction and energy behind that thought pattern, that created the cravings rather than the meal or food itself. Learning to deal with emotions in a more positive way took time as well. Replacing old, outdated habits with new improved ones has been a fun challenge and practice. I have created a list of recipes that are simple, raw, and healthy that can match any cuisine really, so if I want a old flavour or dish, I can make it raw. It's called "Cravings Busters Transitional Raw Recipes" and covers nearly every ethnicity with low fat raw burgers, pastas, chilies, curries, perogies, onion rings, sushi, burritos, pizza, really almost anything you can think of. Still, I prefer simple fare and 99% of the time only make these dishes to share, for a special occasion, or by request.

Most Edmonton skaters will remember you from your crazy ass parts in the Famous videos, but some of the younger generation will remember you more recently from your appearances on The Berrics. How did that come about and what was that experience like?
Love it all, and I'm excited to put out a sk8 part that is better than any I've done in the past, at least in some respects.

A good friend of mine, Tim S., saw Steve Berra talking about his health troubles and emailed him recommending my website and services. It's funny as Tim's girlfriend at the time told him it was a silly idea that wouldn't bear fruit, well ... a week later Steve emailed me asking for a consult! I thought it was a joke at first but responded saying, I would be more than happy to do a consult but would like to wait a week and do it in person as I already had a ticket to L.A. to stay with my friend Pat Wells and his family for a month. Once there, I went to the Berrics and had a short talk with Steve, he then told me he would like to interview me for his site. It was during that interview I shared that I do full time live-in consults. He immediately said, "I want you to move in with me for a month". I had some prior commitments so one month went by before I could move in. I created a kitchen at the Berrics offices and started buying 200+ lbs of fresh, raw, ripe, whole fruits and veggies a week to feed Steve and the Berrics staff as much as they could handle. 20 litters of smoothies for breakfast and lunch and huge, huge veggie meals were the norm for the first month. By that time Steve told me I best be prepared to stay 3 months, ah ha. A week later it was 6 months, and then later he said he wished me just to live-in full time. It was really a treat to get to know Steve, share my tools with him and experience that whole scene. I got to sk8 the park as much as I wanted, met so many inspiring and awesome people and was eating some of the best produce around. Did I mention the biggest organic distributer and biggest produce distribution in Cali was only 2 blocks away from the offices? In the end I wasn't allowed to go back as I had stayed in LA for 8 months in a 12 month period. Note to all, don't do that! I now get a hassle anytime I go into the States and can't go without a round trip ticket and a specific reason for going. I am working on getting a visa and when I do will most probably have a round 2 with Steve and the Berrics.

While at the Berric's did you ever fan out on any of the pro's, and if so who? If you did manage to hold it together, what pro could make you lose your cool? Any other stories from your time at the Berrics?
Well, I'll admit the first time I met Geoff Rowley, as well as Jeremy Wray and Ronnie Creager, I was taken aback and didn't know what to say. I didn't talk to Jeremy Wray, ahahaha. He was way mellow though and busy. Ronnie is super, super cool and mellow. It was easy to feel comfortable and chill with him as soon as you spoke. Blessed to call him a friend. I talked a bit with Geoff, even made him some banana pudding. He's a cool cat for sure too. Getting to know PJ Ladd was a blessing as well. He is a really mellow, quiet cat that is so focused. After a few months of skating with him he asked a few food related questions and I helped him get into yoga. He now loves it and does it all the time.
As for Berrics stories there are plenty. Hmmm ... arriving to see the roof caved in, water logged product boxes and computers. Seeing the dream melt in a moment only to be built back up!

Above: Feeble circa 2001.

Where did you grow up and how did you get into skating? First board etc?
I grew up in the heart of Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I remember my parents bought a skateboard for the whole family. My brother gave it a go and hurt himself so he put it aside. My sister did the same. Me, being the youngest, I got it last and never stopped. I was 5 at the time and it was a Skate Zombie board. I now have that board graphic tattooed on the back of my left calf.

Above: 2nd angle.

How the hell did you end up in the opening montage of a 411? I remember buying that video and watching it at my house and not really believing my eyes when your name popped up on the screen.
That really was such a blessing and thanks to my good friend Darrin Langhorst. At the time Darrin was a Pro Fingerboarder and Josh Friedburg (producer of 411) flew down to Saskatoon to film Darrin shred it up on his own personally made fingerboard set up. They where shooting "Fingers of Fury" I believe. Darrin told Josh beforehand that he had a friend he should really go filming with on full size board. It was me! We went to a few spots and that ollie just popped at the right time with the cop in the background to make that 411 opener happen. It was a huge moment and blessing for sure. I'm still in contact with Josh, thanks man! It was the first trick in the chaos section of 411 issue number 36. I nearly crapped when I saw it.

Is there something about Saskatchewan that breeds pro fingerboarders? Weren't there a couple dudes who were pro?
Hmm, I really don't know. It could be a mix of the cold winters and the lack of indoor winter parks in the past. We had 2 of the 5 pro finger boarders come from Saskatoon. Darrin Langhorst and Dan Watson of YouWillSoon.c om. It's funny, I am really good friends with 3 of the 5. Pat Wells from LA was another pro finger boarder.

So how does a skater from Saskatoon end up in Edmonton, working at Famous, and living is Glenn Suggitt's basement?
My brother from another mother, Devin Komarniski, moved to Eddy in grade 10 and got hooked up by Famous. When I turned 18, on the nose, I moved to Edmonton to chill with Devin. I also moved because you could drink legally at 18 there. I was amped on that at the time. Devin introduced me to Glenn and within a year I was working at Famous and living with Suggitt. There was a good year or two where it was really Suggitt, Devo and I just shredding it non stop, filming, and being the main Famous team. So epic. Love to Famous, Glenn, Devo and the whole Eddy crew. Love you all!

Since you brought up Devin, have you ever attempted to choke him out? He was always a good guy, and great skater, but it seemed like his favorite thing in the whole world was trying to push people's buttons to the extreme. I remember trying to basically jump across the counter at Plush in order to throttle him, and Devin just giggling and running away.
Oh my yes, yes I have ahaha. Devin and I have been best friends since Grade 6. I don't think I've fought anyone more than him, mostly all for fun. He does have that knack to test people and I know he enjoys it ahahaha. Less so now that he is older i think, ahha. I remember one time I tapped him on the shoulder and as he turned around I punched him in the solar plexus as hard as I possibly could. It was the only time I dropped him and laughed and laughed and laughed ahahah. He's a tough bugger and did the same to me more than a few times. Always good times.

Above: 2001 nosebone. I'd like to think that if I were to shoot this nowadays I'd have it together enough to kick those people out of the background.

When you first moved to Edmonton weren't you driving around in a mobile skatepark? Describe your ride. I seem to remember a griptape exterior. Any good van stories?
Hahahaha. Yeah, indeed, the first few trips I made to Edmonton were with my family mini van, a Safari! I usually had a full 8x4 piece of sheet metal as well as a flat bar, not to mention a van full of people. The side had the grip tape off of an old board with a "Zero" grip tape graphic that my Bradah Bram Block put on the van. Van stories, oh my, that van saw more than it ever should have. Beer, fireworks, puking, peeing out the window, jumping boulevards, curbs and late night skatepark wood liberation missions were the regular.

Any fucked up Edmonton stories?
Hmmm jeeese, there really are so so so many. School golfing, Orgazmo and Choda Boy Halloween, walking home from Plush to St. Albert in -40C. One fine night of completely destroying the basement at Suggitt's pad on Sunset. Just smashing a full size arcade game and the walls. Teaching Suggitt how to cook hash browns, ahaha.

Any good Nathan Matthews stories?
Love to Nate, epic brother. I remember going to the first Lord of the Rings with Nathan. I brought a 6 pack of tall cans into the theatre, chugged them while watching the movie and then held my piss the whole time. The movie is over 3 hours long! Nate thought I was nuts haha.
Nathan also loved his cookie stash ahahaha. A nice box by the bed. Many nights on Nate's couch, a true friend and inspiration, living in my heart forever.

Are you a Trekkie?
Grew up in a trekkie family. We watched TNG (The Next Generation) every night during dinner ahha. I love Star Trek, I don't really watch it anymore, but its a part of me as I have a Borg tattoo. Haha.

Where do currently call home? What are you doing to keep vegetables on your plate?
Ahahaha, wherever I lay my hat is my home. I truly feel the world is my home and feel at ease wherever I am. Well ok, not on 20th St. ahaha kidding. My home base is Saskatoon, Eddy, Vancouver, LA, Costa Rica, and I'm sure I'll create some new ones soon. Love it!
To keep the food rolling I offer consultation on the raw diet and a healthy lifestyle in general. I offer yoga classes, sell ebooks, paper books (recipes), as well as t-shirts, hats, panties, knives, blenders and such. All my services I offer up by donation as I know how it is to want help but not have the cash to pay the premiums. http://the -raw-advantage.com

After you left Edmonton, I lost track of you. Where did you go? What were you up to?
Oh man, I lost track too, ahahaha, some loose times! Hahahaha. Well really, I went to Miami for the winter, then to Vancouver for nearly a year, then to LA for a winter. Then from LA to OKC "Jeeya Terr Terr" to Miami again, then Vancouver, then home, then LA for a year and a half, then home, then LA for near a year, then Costa Rica for most of a winter, then home and now back to Costa Rica! Shah, I am sure there are a few missing pieces in there, along with much random shorter travel. Three trips to Mexico, 2 to Florida, one to NYC, one to Toronto, a bunch to Eddy, Calgary and Vancouver, a few to Victoria and one to Panama, ahha. Ive been busy bradah! aha.

Above: ollie circa 2000?

What was the last get rich quick scheme you fell for?
Haha. Hmm, I don't know that I ever really fell for any. For a minute I was with Excell telecommunications, more so to help some friends who really wanted to make it happen rather than thinking I would use it as a full time gig. I did create the "Beat Beanie" a toque (beanie) with headphones built in. It's crazy as I had it patent pending and in stores before some other big companies also mysteriously made them too ahhaha. But, in the end I sold a few hundred, made enough to escape a winter to Miami and closed the book. More fun to come, that I promise! Shah.

Plans for the Future?
Grow in loving service, creating the moment anew, making my highest choice and speaking from the voice within, without worrying about those without.
All the while living, loving, and playing in style, and shredding always. Love it all.

Anything else you want to say?
I love The Grouch lines, "Nobody's better than you and nobody's better than me, not even you and I'm telling the truth, How can it be? You asked the question! Say it to yourself and believe in it. Listen." I believe life asks us to look within and see that we can truly create anything, that we can be anything we want to be, that we already have everything we could ever need in this perfect eternal moment. Give yourself love and flow it out to others, it's limitless. Grow in love through loving thoughts, loving words, and loving actions. Eating healthy food is love in action to self. It is Mother Nature's gift to us, to help us create a healthy body and healthy mind. We are all truly a piece and parcel of the divine, it is within us, it is us. Bliss and optimal health is our natural state, this isn't up for debate, but yours and mine to create.
Bless you Dave, excited to shred and enjoy more moments with you. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to reach out to friends new and old.

Peacelovenseasonalfruit ck

Other Photo Thug interviews:
Glenn Suggitt
Keegan Callahan
Dirty D
Jetski

Wristsbands, hardflips, and always hyped

2012-02-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

Above: Nathan chewed through his gloves and hands, in order to land the below 360 flip.

Above: Blunt slide

Above: threeflip

Above: 5-0
These photos of Nathan Briand are from a 2003 Plush/Famous trip. I didn't know Nathan too well but dude was always hyped.

Another board in the wall

2012-01-30T19:50:00.000-08:00

Above: Unbridled Consumerism
The closest I'll probably ever get to owning a real Thomas Campbell. Still so stoked thanks Showdown.
Messing with Vallely's schtick? :40 of this is pretty crazy though. Front wallride revert.
This.

The garage

2012-01-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

Above: Matt tailblock.
Spent the weekend enrolled in a masonry course at the Mastrovito Faculty of Extension.

Above: Brandon backside boneless.
Before we got down to our course work, we conducted some research on the existing section.

Above: Jamie ollie up to pivot fakie.

Above: limited runway, long ass 5-0.

Above: Cory indy.

As it turns out, it was a pretty hands-on course.

Mixing cement sucks. I imagine it's a little like paddling a canoe through quicksand.

I seriously don't think there is anything this dude couldn't build. I believe the current price of admission is a Betamax copy of Thrashin'.
Pretty much all of this is awesome.
Super sick.

Keep pushing

2012-01-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

Above: pushing.
It's been so cold that I now completely understand the allure of hibernation.
These guys have a skatepark and a winter contest in the works. Stay tuned for details.
I guarantee the soundtrack to this is why Mastrovito is building this.
Mini.
Nutty.

If a blog falls in the forest

2012-01-13T18:22:00.000-08:00

Above: Alex climbs out of the bowl.

Above: 5-0.
I sometimes wish I hadn't found that "stats" button in blogger.
I really want to go skating, but I still can't bring myself to go to that mall park. Apparently I'm getting pretty elitist about what free indoor skateboard park I'm willing to skate. It's winter. What the hell's wrong with me?
Stuff you've already seen but is awesome.
This.
Last trick?

Brass knuckles

2012-01-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Above: Keep pushing.
This.
Makes me want Sal 23's.
This.
Showdown still has some of these. Money goes towards the McKernan Skate Project. Go buy some.

Inspiration

2012-01-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

Above: Alex at the Leduc park. He's contemplating dropping in to the vert section. This, just seconds after telling me that the last time he tried it, he completely missed the transition, slammed on the flat, and gave himself a concussion. The way he has to ride his board makes it hard for him to get his front wheels down on vert.
I met Alex at the Leduc park a few years ago. He was pushing around the park on his hands. It took me a minute to realize that he wasn’t just some bored kid who had grown tired of trying to stand on his board. When he was done skating he walked over to a pile of dirty jeans, pulled on the two prosthetic legs tucked inside and walked away.
Do we even have enough snow for this?
Why not?

2012 and the Temple of Doom

2012-01-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

Above: Hard to skate, pitch black, and smells real bad. Mastrovito frontside carve in the shit pipe. (click to enlarge)
Why am I just hearing about a long lost skateboard park buried somewhere just outside the City limits? Are the rumors of an Indiana Jones archaeological mission to uncover the "forgotten" park true? Or just a pipe dream?
Matt's been busy with some gnarly home improvements.
Always stoked to see new footage from this guy.
Montreal.
This place looks awesome.
This.
This.

New Year old thug

2012-01-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

Above: blood in, blood out.
Mon crayon est dans la bibliothèque.

Ghetto Bird

2011-12-30T23:02:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across a couple guys as they were starting a little renegade transition spot. I shot a few photos and then went back to skating. Soon after a random citizen hero showed up and started taking cell phone photos of the "construction crew" and then a few minutes later a police helicopter was flying overhead. Keep in mind that this spot was in a weird industrial wasteland. It was crazy. Yet, if I remember correctly, they ran out of concrete and the authorities never did show up.
This.

Cretequick

2011-12-28T22:59:00.000-08:00

Above: Portrait of a DIY
Been busy with family and shooting World Jr. hockey, so the posts have been lacking.
I've had a couple friends mention getting some DIY projects rolling recently, so while I'm busy hanging out with the face painter set this week, I think I'll post some DIY photos I took at 3rd and Army.
Up the water gap? Crazy!
This.

Slam dunking donuts

2011-12-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

Above: David Derejko eats it during the Highlevel Downhill.
If you're curious, this is how I manage to keep donuts on the table.
Pupecki is sick.
This.

Suck it!

2011-12-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

Above: A photo of firefighters I shot several years ago. They're clearing up after a traffic accident involving a dump truck full of pig parts.
An open letter to the person who just hit my car in the parking lot and then drove away while I was buying donuts. Oh yeah, my tail light was always cracked like that. Oh, and for sure, the side of my car always had that huge fucking dent. And yeah, I totally have a thousand dollars just lying around for repairs right now. You suck! And oh yeah, I hope a garbage truck full of pig heads falls on your car.
Should win SOTY every year.
This.
Nuts.

Stressing

2011-12-12T21:10:00.001-08:00

Above: I was trying to think of a photo that accurately reflects my current mood. Click to enlarge to get the full effect.
I was standing on a downtown corner a few weeks ago when I heard, " ... I'm a flight risk. I just did ten years ... " Dude keeps on walking by talking to his friend and I shoot a quick photo. It's probably the most scared I've been while shooting a photo in a long time.
Art?
This.
That.
Sick.

Riot in the Rain

2011-12-08T16:22:00.001-08:00

Above: Josiah Cariou eye of the tiger.

Above: Big spin in the rain.
As it started to pour, I jokingly suggested Joe should do a flat ground 360 flip in the rain. Instead he stepped up and crushed the Big 4.
Wait, what? This is bananas!

Warmth is weakness

2011-12-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

Above: Alien front blunt at the hobo BBQ spot. (Click to enlarge)
The other day someone asked me what I was into outside of skateboarding and photography. I was at a bit of a loss. I don't know ... pie maybe?
Pan over to the mini, God damn it! No, not the handrail again. The mini right over there. In the corner. Yeah, point the camera over ... Son of a ... over there, the mini ... Arrgggh!!! You're killing me. I hope you know you're killing me Sylvan Lake.
So good!
Yep.
This.

Mini in pain

2011-11-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

Above: the un-secret ramp.
Tried to keep the winter rust at bay yesterday with a mini ramp session. Second run I slammed and managed to fall on my wrist and twist my ankle. Sore all over today, yet I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. That's got to be a textbook definition for some sort of pathology.
This is what happens when you fill Oregon and Washington with scary ass parks.
This is beyond awesome!
Saturday night.
Swaimer. Hell yeah!

Here's to skating in the cold

2011-11-26T20:56:00.000-08:00

Above: Watcho front noseslide at 3rd and Army.
Today I bought the largest, thickest winter jacket I could afford. I'm going completely stir crazy from not being able to skate due to the weather, yet I kinda want it to drop to -40 so I can try out my new purchase. Is that crazy?
This reminds me of stacking curbs behind the Charleswood 7-Eleven back in my Winnipeg days. Time well wasted.
Barrier barrage.
Lots of crazy stuff in this.
Skating fast and big is always good.
I'm going to whine and complain until 0:43 is built in Edmonton.

I don't understand the vibe

2011-11-19T20:42:00.001-08:00

Above: Hiroki "Watcho" Watanabe back tailslide in S.F.
If we build 3:18 at McKernan all the other obstacles can be rails and ledges made entirely out of wax and I won't mind. (A light instead of a boulder would also be acceptable.)
This is educational.
Wow.
This.

Cesspool

2011-11-16T19:12:00.001-08:00

Above: Hey, I found a pool!
In northern Alberta Sasquatch sightings are probably more common.

Square walls, at least 4 feet of vert, and filled with some sort of asbestos/sewage. I doubt we'll be skating it any time soon.
We've had snow for what? A week? I'm already so bored.
Drehobl.
More Drehobl.

Cats and Dogs

2011-11-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

Above: Jamie rides through a post surgery down pour. (click to enlarge)
I snuck the above photo into the recent issue of Color. Ironically it's in color in the magazine version. The image is from Edmonton's Wild in the Streets and is probably my favorite skate photo I've shot this year. I haven't gotten to skate with Jamie since he's been back, but just seeing him take part in some of the recent local contests has been pretty mind blowing. Kid's got crazy front 360's!
Some of these spots look like castles.
This.
SixSide.
Ramp skating has really taken off.

Well hello there

2011-11-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

Randomly spotted this the other day.

Looks like the cement already has grooves cut into it for the skatestoppers.

And this. 27 stairs 7 sets .
These photos are sick.
Run with the pack.
I had a lot of this guy's H-Street boards.
This.

Beer pong

2011-11-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

Showdown and Plush held a game of Skate at the Pawnshop the other night.

All the contestants were super excited about my flashes going off and temporarily blinding them in the dark as shit bar.

Everyone was so bummed that I was quickly forced to give up on the flashes. Quality control took a nose dive after that.

Jamie and Shane got so into the final game that they forgot to keep score and ended up splitting the cash.

After the game of skate there was a high ollie contest.

Holly bejesus!
The stuff on the extension is nuts!
This.

Rocky Horror Skatepark

2011-10-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

Above: Brendan front rocks in an authentic Nathan Bartlett lumberjack costume, real axe and all.
The Edmonton Skateboard Association held a Halloween skate jam at Kaskitayo on Saturday, including a best trick contest, a game of skate, and pumpkin jumping.

Above: Jamie won the pumpkin long jump contest.

Above: I'm not sure what the winning tally was, but here Jamie jumps a bunch of pumpkins as well as Timmy and Bubba.
It took me awhile to figure out who Jamie was dressed up as. For the longest time I though he was just some sort of construction worker. Then he put the hockey mask on and became a perfect Jason Voorhees.

Above: The name of the game.

Above: Minor took 2nd in the pumpkin long jump.

Above: Mitch with the "Dead Eyes".

Above: Super Gonzo scarewalk. By far my favorite costume.

Above: Mr. Monopoly and The Hamburgler talk SKATE strategy.

Above: Hamburgler front blunt to best costume award.

Above: Penguin Kyle blunt slides.

Above: The peanut gallery.

Above: Where's Joe, switch flip. Joe won the Game of Skate with tricks that I'm not sure even have names yet.

Above: Joe is in four of the photos in this post. Can you spot Joe?

Above: This kid was so stoked when Timmy said he could have one of the pumpkins from the long jump contest. He grabbed one and immediately started shouting, "This is my huge pumpkin!".
A huge thank you to Brendan for basically organizing the event single handed.
This.
Stranger.
This for sure.
I skated a lot and had a lot of fun today. It put me in mind of this.

The Nate Skate

2011-10-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

I've never been one to ever have more than one board on the go, but late last winter I got it into my head that I wanted to make a cruiser out of an old board. I'd work on it in fits and starts, but finally got it finished this week. I wanted it to be a fun way to remember my friend and have an 80's feel to it, so I borrowed pretty heavily from the first Gonz board.

I also thought it might be cool if I got all Nate's friends to skate it and film a little video. I'm not a big fan of getting behind the video camera, so we'll see how that project goes. Thanks to Showdown, Rumor, and Plush for helping me build it.

Lacombe skatepark

2011-10-23T21:21:00.001-07:00

Above: Matt Mastrovito smith grind on a steep escalator bank.
I went and checked out the new Lacombe park with Mastrovito Saturday. The park is really good, especially if you've ever thought "You know, the Mill Woods park is fun, but I wish there were a few more bikes here." Well then, welcome to Lacombe. It felt like the skaters were out numbered 2 to 1.

Above: Local skater Gabe hits up a crazy long 50/50.

Above: Matt tail block. (Would someone please hook him up with a box of boards already. The stuff he's skating is ridiculously destroyed.)

Above: front blunt slide transfer thingy. Photo by Vito.

I was really glad to see that the park had a few weird obstacles I hadn't seen before.

However, you can spot these bowls and the accompanying foot high extension in the deep end from a mile away. This is by the far the best of these bowls I've skated though. It just felt like I'd skated it before.

Curved up ledges.

Hey Barkman take notes. Real steel edges - no coping. Yes, yes, yes. Finally!!!

I couldn't get the hang of this.

Yes, there are stairs to jump down.

Matt said he'd give the park a 7 or maybe a 7.5 because of the "new" factor. I'd have to agree. If the bowl was a pool, it would be pushing 10 for sure. Seriously, you know what kind of skate tourism a town would generate if instead of the typical ramp set up they had something more akin to a kidney pool? I think it's time we started plagiarizing a bit from some of the Grindline and Dreamland skateparks. Just a bit though. Some of those parks are beyond crazy.

If you're heading to Lacombe from Edmonton take the Hwy 12 exit. The park is right behind the ZigZag. Seriously.

Bombs away

2011-10-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

Above: Sketchy drop-ins have always been a staple of skateboarding.
Get your costumes ready.
The end.

Front

2011-10-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Above: My new favorite photo.
The owner of the truck came up while I was taking the photo. I was scared that he would think I was messing with his truck, however, instead of bashing me with a tire iron, he told me about how he had wanted to make his truck ... uhm ... well ... lets say "atomically correct". He said he hadn't followed through on this plan yet because he was afraid a prostitute would discover the addition and somehow injure herself, and he didn't want to be liable.
Yerex goes to France?
Drehobl.
Yup.

Infinite Sadness

2011-10-12T22:31:00.001-07:00

Above: Paul Kane
Went to check and see if Paul Kane was dry yet. It's not. As I looked for a better shot of the pond I happened to look down and spotted a syringe in a planter. I've always maintained that skateboarding is actually one of the least sketchy things happening in Paul Kane. In fact we should have a best "Sketchy Paul Kane Story Contest".
I remember skating there once while what appeared to be a crackhead bikini photo shoot was going down. It was crazy. I remember being a little concerned that at any moment they might drop the pretence of the photo shoot, and start filming some sort of horrifying amateur movie.
I could never tell it as well as him, but Nathan's story of taking a header into one of the ponds' putrid, water filled potholes, is another classic.
If you have a good story hit me up.

Spot popping update

2011-10-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

Above: Vaughn with a wallie late shove-it.
The parks just keep coming. Most recently crews started on an addition to the Mill Wood's park. While not officially open, the park is skateable.

The 1/4 is super mellow compared to the one at Grovenor. Oh and the rollerbladers have already waxed the coping.

I have no idea what you even call this thing.

Jump ramps? Is this the 1980's? Beware the pump bumps in the background have a pretty huge kink in between them.

I was going to call this the "no fun box", but it's so messed up that it's actually kind of fun.

Bench.

Ledges.

Daewon style manual pads.

Bank.

The most ridiculous aspect of the park is the Berlin wall they built separating the new addition from the old park.
This.

Ibuprofen World Tour part 2

2011-10-06T18:16:00.000-07:00

Above: Mastrovito goes up and around. (While Blogger sucks all the color out of the photo.)
After Legal we headed to Morinville, where Matt and Kevin took on the "Wizard Sleeve".

This apparently angered the Wizard as a spell of precipitation was soon cast.

Holy noseblunt.
Shecklenton. 0:55 and 1:44
Ha!!!

The Ibuprofen World Tour part 1

2011-10-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

Above: Matt Mastrovito big ollie in Legal.
Headed out to Legal to check out their new park with the Ibuprofen Crew this weekend.

It's really small, but stuff like the magic carpet ride is pretty fun.

Not a big fan of the fake jersey barrier on top of a bank obstacle. If it were just a cemented jersey barrier I'd be pretty stoked.

The mini is fun.

Needs pool coping.
Cool.
Awesome song.

Boneless

2011-10-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Above: Neil Hauser boneless. Huge pop and one of Edmonton's sickest styles. (click to enlarge)
I was skating the new Grovenor park the other day when some grom asked me how long I'd been skating. Actually saying he was a grom suggests he had a skateboard. He was more along the lines of a feral child, who's really into hitting things with sticks, but I digress. Anyway so the kid asks how long I've been skating and I casually throw out, "Twice as long as you've been alive". He thinks about it for half a second and says, "You've been skating for 22 years?". I was only half joking when I said it, but damn that's almost exactly right. Why do I still suck?
Zig Zagging.
Antifornia.

Spot Pop

2011-09-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

Above: Jackson pops the hell out of a blunt to fakie.
In grand Canadian tradition, a new skatepark has popped up just in time for the snow to fly. Did anyone know anything about this? It appears to be one of those pre-fabricated parks and it’s quite small but even so, how does a park just pop up over-night without anyone knowing about it.

Grovenor Community League 143 Street and 104 Avenue.

The quarter is like the one at Collingwood except higher and a bit steeper.

Less stoked on this thing. Why not just make a couple of ledges? Sometimes simpler is better. Much, much better. Apparently there’s a similiar park in north Edmonton. Anyone know where that one’s at? Craig Smith, I’m looking directly at you.

The glass is half broken

2011-09-21T20:15:00.000-07:00

Above: Fat ass does a feeble in somewhere town B.C. Photo by No1.
You know you're getting old when you're having one of those sessions where you're feeling pretty on it, you're even landing a few things, and you get to the point where you're having so much fun that you immediately start to worry that you're going to get hurt and ruin it. You start to fixate on the idea that any minute now you're going to get hurt and that it will crush any memories of fun. Your mind continues to compulsively obsess on in this until you eventually just give up and go home. What? That's just me? Damn.
This of course.

Weekend at Photo Thug's

2011-09-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Above: If you're going to watch a terribly awesome 80's movie you may as well watch it 15 feet tall in your back alley and force all your neighbors to "enjoy' it as well.
Holy crap!
This.
I can't remember. Did I say this?
Derek is so good I actually clicked on this. Crazy good. Help him out and go FaceBlog him or whatever it is you're suppose to do.

The answer is ... 4?

2011-09-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

Above: Hiroki "Watcho" Watanabe nollie lipslide at 3rd and Army.
This Dude was back in Edmonton this week just long enough to become a Dr. I was telling Neil that I always pictured the defense of a doctoral thesis looking something like this. However, since his was in computer science, the defense must have also included some sort of Tron lightbike battle to the death.
Huh?
Love the pool photo.
I've always loved this guy's skating.
This.

September slacking

2011-09-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Above: Cam Burrows nollie flip in. I saw Cam on crutches the other day. (Click to enlarge)
Vacation and working nights has been wrecking havoc on my posts.
This is for Bartlett. I ran into him at the skatepark yesterday and I think he said he's on his fourth back surgery. Being hurt sucks. Stay up.
These guys make me laugh. I actually kinda liked this. Especially the handrail wallride.
Yawn fest until 3:10 then look out.
Book Report.

Down river

2011-09-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Above: hand held at 1/5, no image stabilizers. Suck it tripods.
I'm back from stomping around interior B.C. taking "pretty" pictures of rocks and stuff. I actually fell in a river during the trip. Not this one, but a different deep one. It was crazy cold. On an unrelated note, kayaks are stupid. Rivers to.
High and dry.
Pave it all.
This.

Deer Hunter

2011-08-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

Above: Spotting Zero logos in small town B.C.
Yeah Derek!!!

There's a voice

2011-08-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

Above: Gas station carnies armed to the teeth.
On the road again.

No wiggle room

2011-08-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Above: Keita Ikenoue nollie varial heelflip on a super narrow ledge, Berkeley, California. Click to enlarge.
I though it was about time I posted a decent skateboarding photo.
Seeing stuff like this is awesome.
I could watch these every day.

Life slams: paying in procrastination

2011-08-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

I was a little conflicted about posting these pictures as I don't really see longboarding and skateboarding as having anything to do with each other. It's kind of weird that I'm so elitist about it. I grew up skateboarding when it was a really uncool thing to be doing. Now that that has changed I guess I'm a little protective. However, the hockey post below had nothing to do with skateboarding and I can appreciate going fast, so what the hell.

The slams also provide a nice metaphor for how I'm blowing it at life at the moment.
Damn. So sick!
Holy crap!

Sometimes skateboarding is hockey

2011-08-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

For those that don't know, local skate gang the Street Demons also have a hockey team. They won their league championship the other night.

Elite athletes have to treat their bodies as a temple. As Shane enjoyed a pre-game cigarette it reminded me of this. I tried to describe it to him, but it's probably from 15 years before he was even born, so he just looked at me like I was a rambling senior citizen.

Jetski works on a pre-game buzz.

Andre had planned to wear these all game, before they malfunctioned.

Almost ready.

Can you imagine looking over during the pre-game warm-up and seeing your opponents shooting pucks at their goalie’s neck. I mean that’s going to get in your head.

Sterling with a puck to the throat.

Shane plays some defence.

Nato leads the rush.

Skateboarding is a lot like hockey. If you're not bleeding you're probably not trying hard enough.

Skater, coach, captain.

Goal!!!!

Man hugs.

Can you imagine if they actually allowed hitting in beer leagues. I think the Canadian homicide rate would go through the roof.

Giving 110 per cent.

The final buzzer.

Heavy Eyes

2011-08-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

Above: Kento Takahashi bigspin San Francisco.
I've been working nights this past week and it's been wreaking havoc on my blog posting and sleeping. I'm so tired I actually can't sleep.
Skin is for wusses. Flatspots are where it's at.
Former Edmontonian now the art director for Transworld Skateboarding. What!!! Congratulations Keegan.
There's a war outside of your window.
This.

Angry?

2011-08-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

Above: Corey Forster gap wallride.
I got vibed at the skate park today by a toddler on a bike with training wheels. I was standing way off to the side catching my breath, when he rolled up to me and stated that my skateboarding was making him angry. Actually his exact words were, "Are you making me angry with your skateboard." I was at a bit of a loss. Thankfully I was spared the full breadth of his wrath, as he he was soon distracted by ghost riding his bike off the ramps and into a crowd of skaters.
This guy's throw away footage is crazy. Would someone please drag him out out to California so he can blow up, and I can bore people with stories of, "Oh yeah, I use to know that guy back in the day."
Turn the sound off!
This makes me wish I knew how to skateboard.
Wow!

Raw

2011-08-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

Above: Chris Kendall full pipe ollie. Weird 35mm slide scan.
I bounced my hip off the cement coping at the park today. A light breeze on my hip would probably make me cry right about now.
Awesome!

Libelous venom

2011-08-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Above: I found another photo of Nathan.
This was shot with a Nikon D1. The camera on your phone probably trumps it now. The photo was shot in direct bright sunlight and yet the noise in the blacks is still crazy.
I spend way too much time in my car.
You had me at cake.
Still crazy good!

Nate & Teebs

2011-08-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

Above: Nate and Teebs at Kask.
I stumbled across this photo of Nathan and Teebs the other day. They were helping me out during a photo shoot for work.

Over vertin'

2011-07-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

Above: Mastrovito oververt in the fullpipe.
If I remember correctly a few minutes after this picture was taken Matt took a crazy slam on his arm. A week or so later it still looked like his entire arm had contracted gangrene. I think the photo ended up as a subscription page in an old Concrete Powder.
This.

Sticker Shock

2011-07-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

Above: stuffed in the back of a closet. (click to enlarge)
I set up a new board the other day. A process that for me, also requires the careful application of a few well chosen, and strategically placed stickers. As it turns out I somehow have a ridiculous amount of stickers. It's pretty sad actually. I may as well be a grown man with a coloring book collection.

Above: I think I actually bought this one. Nathan's interpretation of the RDS logo.

Above: Friends

Above: I've bought a couple of DLX boards.

Above: The good old days. I actually have a pretty good stack of these.

Above: Nathan's logo for Eric Tan's Model Skateboards.

Above: I was a big ALL fan.
Bad Dog.
I like the way this guy ollies.
Wow.

I got a dollar on a platter

2011-07-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Above: Devo long 50-50. click to enlarge
This past week I thought I found a brilliant and more importantly cheap way to digitize all my old slides. Unfortunately it proved to only provide me with a sort of high resolution hipstamatic image, like the one above, thanks to a faulty bellows unit.
This is the first thing I've listened to in a while that I'm stoked on.
Take a close look at 0:48
This just gets better and better
Best park name ever.
So awesome. "Hey could I?!"

Above: Bright idea straight to waste of time slide copier.

The Jetski Interview

2011-07-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Jetski might just be the Edmonton skate scene's largest living legend. The living he's done off and on the board are crazy. His personality looms large over Edmonton. Enjoy.

So first question Jet is, before the pub, where had you just come from?
Umm, I came from doing a beer survey actually. I got paid 35 bucks to look at new Budweiser packaging, which is pretty much free money I'd say. The only thing better would be to get free beer, but that's not going to happen.

They don't pay you in beer?
No they don't.

How did Budweiser hear about you and decide you were their target market? Did you send them a "sponsor me" tape or something?
No, it's not from Budweiser. It's through my friend Lisa. She runs surveys and that kind of thing. So she just gives me calls whenever she comes up with new surveys. Like, I've done a bunch on cigars, ones on smoking. I've even filmed a survey where I got paid 150 bucks for it.

You were saying it was some sort of Clockwork Orange type thing earlier. They were tracking your eyeballs and shit.
Yeah, they did some sort of visual test first where they have a bunch of numbers on the screen. They make you look at all the numbers a bunch of times in a row, then they show you a liquor store cabinet or freezer and they can tell which way you look first.

So what beer were you looking at first?
Budweiser. Always.

So are you really into waterskiing or something?
No, I've never done it. I've always dreamt of doing it, but I don't think it'll happen for quite some time.

That was my stupid way of bringing up your nickname. Where the hell did the name Jetski come from?
It came from this guy Taylor Furnace who was on FS a long time ago. He was just a little too stoned and kept saying my name wrong. Which is understandable, because when you're stoned you say some weird things I guess.

Awhile ago I shot some photo for Color or something and they emailed me back and said, "We need his real name". I knew what your name was, but I couldn't for the life of me remember it right then for some reason. So I had to call Mastrovito because they needed it right away and I couldn't get ahold of you. I was, "Fuck, I can't remember what his real name is."

How do you feel about that Emerica guy having your nickname?
Actually, I'm pretty stoked on that! Because he got the nickname from me pretty much. So it's kinda cool I think.

Above: Noseslide shove-it noseslide

I remember reading that old Emerica in Paris tour article where they talk about "Jetski" being the team manager. I read it and I was in shock, totally thinking you were somehow the new Emerica team manager.
How funny would that be though?

I think regardless of how famous that dude is, to everyone in Canada you are the "Jetski". How did you find out there was another?
Well, I've actually heard there are three Jetskis now. Two in the states and one here. But I found out from Jamie obviously. He told me they were talking about the video and everything and someone said his name wrong too.

But he got his name after you? You're the original Jetski?
Oh, I'm the original for sure. It's been my nickname for over 13 years now I think. Its pretty much my real name now. I don't go by anything else any more.

Who doesn't call you Jetski?
My sister sometimes, which I hate, and I yell at her for it. And I guess my Mom does it a bit too, but I don't agree with that either.

Above: Kickflip footplant

Did you really come into a big inheritance when you were young?
Yeah I got $78,000 when I turned 18. I gave my Mom at least $30,000 of it and my sister $3,000 maybe. She was definitely not happy with that. I guess that's why she calls me Jesse still. I spent the majority of the rest over probably three months in Victoria. As Harvey Foster would say, "It was the summer of Jetski," but it was a fun time.

What did you do?
Drank a lot of Budweiser beer. I bought a lot of clothes that I don't have any more. Pretty much just had a blast the whole time. I didn't do much, I just partied and skated the whole time in Victoria. It was fun.

If you had it to do over, would you do anything different?
No, I'd do the same thing over again, for sure.

Where did the inheritance come from?
I got it from my Dad who passed away when I was about three and a half.

And it was held for you until you were 18?
Yeah. It started at $50,000 when he passed away and then it would just grow every year or whatever. I did buy my VX camera, which is the only big purchase I made with the money. I still have that to this day. So that's good.

This next one wasn't my question, but it was one of the few suggested ones I received that I actually liked. How is your life different than five years ago?
Holy. Five years ago what was I, 19? I was living in B.C. then I think. I've been skating probably the same, but now I've been doing a lot of other stuff too. Started playing hockey and baseball every summer. Other than that I still do the same things; skateboard, work, and just have fun pretty much.

Above: Pole jam

How did the Street-Demon hockey team come about?
Well it started off when I was on a Valentine's trip with my girlfriend at Radium hot-springs and I just thought to myself, "Whoa, it would be kinda fun to start a hockey team." And it pretty much just happened from there. I wrote down a list of people, called them up, they were interested, made the jersey's up, and it pretty much went from there I guess.

Who's hockey gear smells the worst on the team?
Umm, I'm going to say Stu Young right now, because of his double minor high-sticking penalty.

What are your duties as the Captain of the Street Demons hockey team?
My duties are pretty to much make people show up to games, and if anyone complains they can take a bench for awhile.

You have the power to bench people?
(Laughing) I can do whatever I want. I started the team.

What would someone have to do to get benched?
Umm, not be able to drink a beer in the locker room. Nathan, you're going to get benched now if you don't drink next time. Who ever tried to change when we were short handed on the penalty kill last time, you're getting benched I think. That's not allowed any more.

Do you have any hockey superstitions?
I pretty much just go there and drink beers, and be like "OK, let's do this". Monday was my first game playing hockey, so I'm pretty sure I'll come up with some of those. I think just going there chugging beers and getting stoked is the best way to do it.

How did you guys do in your first game?
We pretty much destroyed. It was 13 to 2 I think. Mitch Phillips got 7 points.

To what do you guys attribute your success?
Umm, probably just getting down, and getting buck wild, pretty much.

What's your favorite hockey movie?
The Mighty Duck's for sure. All three of them.

Are you serious? (laughing) You're going to take Mighty Ducks? Why?
Because I've always loved the Ducks. Even the actual NHL team I'm pretty stoked on.

I'm shocked. And it totally destroys the potential for any follow up questions on who's better: Rob Lowe in Youngbloods or Slap Shot's Handson brothers. Do you handle your Plush team captain duties any different than your hockey coaching duties?
They're pretty much the exact same. I pretty much just drink and have fun. I don't really have to do much, except I actually have to organize people to come to these hockey games. Which isn't too difficult.

What do you have to do for Plush?
Just ... nothing really.

Above: Jetski receives a skateboarding ticket moments after the above pole jam photo.

So if some little kid is reading this should they be sending you their "sponsor me" tapes?
Yeah, maybe that'd be cool. Or they could send it to Glenn (Suggitt) or just leave them at Plush and whoever's working there could watch them, and do the same thing as me pretty much.

Who's not on the team that you're stoked on?
That's a good one. Let me think.

You guys just added Mitch and Shane.
Yeah we just got Mitch and Shane because (the Mill Woods) Rumor unfortunately shut down. There could be a couple other guys, but I don't know if they have the balls enough to get on. But we'll see I guess.

Why are you involved in the Edmonton Skateboard Association?
I just think it's a really good thing for the skate community. We've already done a bunch of good stuff for the city. We raised 13 grand or something last year for cancer research and now we're trying to get that spot built in McKernan. We kind of helped on the Capilano park design. I don't know. I just think it's a really good thing that helps skateboarding.

Do you still have a coyote scar burned into your back?
Oh, the fox scar? No, unfortunately that's all disappeared pretty much. I got an AC/DC tattoo that covers over most of it. That was definitely a very entertaining birthday. Hopefully that doesn't happen again.

What happened?
Well, it was my 21st birthday and we were on a skate trip in Saskatoon. It was the night before my birthday, I'd only drank like maybe 12 or so beers. I was just sitting on (the edge) of a barrel where there was a fire going on before. It was Billy Gallagher's house and his dog had killed a fox and they decided to burn it (in the barrel). As the night goes on the coals are still burning, and I fell inside the barrel. Scott Mark had to push me out of it because I was stuck for almost a minute or so. Yeah, so I got third degree burns on my whole back. I still managed to skate the next day and get a trick so that wasn't too bad obviously. But it could have been a lot worse I guess.

And you got this crazy scar from the fox?
Yeah.

Above: Pop shove-it circa Sept. 2003. Crappy 35mm slide scan.

The question everyone keeps asking me to ask is, what's your best party story? But screw that. What's your best 310 story?
Best 810 story?

Yeah. Sorry, best 810 story? (Notorious Edmonton skate apartment)
Ok well, there's two possible ones. One that I wasn't there for, but I wish I kinda of would have been. Jess Atmore and his girlfriend were sitting in their bedroom and from out of nowhere they see this shadow of a girl through the window. Then they're like, "What's going on?". So they look out the window, and some lady fell out of an 11th story window and landed in the shrubs, and only broke an arm or something. Cory (Forester) saw her get pulled out of the bush. Thank God she lived. I don't know how that's possible, after falling 11 stories.

Corey Forster: She was paralyzed.

No. Was she?

Corey: Matt said he heard on the radio she was paralyzed.

Oh, well apparently she might have been paralyzed, but still leaving with your life, that pretty good.

The other one might be when me and Jamie were walking up the road to the Mac's. On the way there's this big set of stairs, it's probably 100 or some steps. So we see this couple underneath the stairs, completely naked, having sex. We just stopped there for a minute and were like, "Is this really going on?". And yes, you could see their bare bums going up and down, up and down. We just had a good laugh about it and left.

Since we're skipping over your best party story, what's you're best hangover cure?
Well, that all depends. If you want to get rid of it fast, you just drink a lot of beer or whatever you have in the house. But if not, I usually just chug a bunch of milk, because that's one of my favorite drinks other than booze. That actually helps my hangover.

That reminds me. I use to hear stories about people always putting you up to food challenges.
Corey: Yeah! The donut challenge!
Oh, the Boston Creme challenge.

What's the Boston Creme challenge?
Well, Nathan Matthews pretty much invented this challenge. It's called the Boston Creme Challenge and you have to eat 12 Boston Creme donuts in 20 minutes. Many people have tried; Nathan Roline, Travis Stuve, no one could really come close. I think Stuve was the closest. but yeah I did do it, and it took me three tries I believe. First I did seven in 20. Then I think 9, and then the final attempt in the back of Plush, with Corey watching me and timing me, I ate 12 Boston Cremes in 20 minutes. And I did not feel too good after that.

Above: Nollie 180 circa July 2003. Crappy 35mm slide scan.

What's the secret?
I had two donuts left with like a minute or less and I just shoved them both in my mouth and managed to swallow them somehow. But I could not do that again if I tried. I guarantee you.

Have you ever seen theses competitive eaters on television and thought, "I could do that"?
I used to think that when I was little actually. But now that I've aged a bit, I don't think it's possible any more.

Josh Green walks back into the room.

You got any good questions for him Josh?
Josh Green: That he wants to answer?
I'll answer anything, man.

Josh Green: I don't know. You already ask him what his best party story was?

OK fine. What's your best party story?
(Burps loudly) Umm...
Corey: Right now. Wooo. (laughs)

When me and Josh were at a Halloween party in Vancouver. We went to this random girl's house before the party and drank a two-six to ourselves, and by the time we got to the party we didn't really know what was going on, cause that's what that does to you. Then I smoke a bunch of weed for some reason. Then Josh wants to go out for a smoke, because that's all he really thinks about when he's drinking. So we go on the top of the back of the roof of Pender House, and for some reason when I try to stand up I just fall straight off the roof on to my head. I leaked spinal fluid out of my ear for like two weeks. After that I really didn't drink as much.

Since you brought it up, I think I ran into you the first day after you left the hospital. I remember trying to not look shocked when I saw you. I thought you looked like you'd been ... hit in the head with a sledge hammer.
That was like two weeks after I got back from Vancouver. I left the Vancouver hospital, and they said I was fine to leave. I went to the hospital in Edmonton two weeks later and they told me I had a fractured skull and permanent hearing loss.

That's more of a "scared straight" story for the kids, than a best party story.
Pretty much. Yeah. Kids shouldn't read this any way. They'd be too stupid to.

Backyard dreaming

2011-07-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

Above: The Flowershop.
A couple of awesome things I saw up close this past week.
This is rad.

Delay

2011-07-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

What are the chances that I would completely dumb luck stumble across this place, only to be thwarted by a sea of razor-wire?

Pretty good it turns out.

Luggage Loser

2011-07-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

Above: I don't think it's cool how the baggage guys seem to be profiling me.

Fan-out Blow-out

2011-07-09T23:18:00.001-07:00

Above: Fuck it. I'm hella geek.

Apparently down here if you ask, "Is there a 'washroom' in the store?," they think you're asking to shower off in the produce section or something.

Blowing it

2011-07-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

Above: Sterling, Jetski, and ? hustle shoes out of the back of a benz.
I'm on vacation so here's a teaser photo for the Jetski's interview I'll post when I get back.

Wild in the streets part 2

2011-06-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was only able to briefly check out two of the stops during Edmonton's Wild in the Streets event, yet I still managed to forget to post Kevin's rain soaked kickflip down the Big 4 in my last post.

After Big 4 I'm not sure what happened. I didn't catch up with everything until the last stop at a semi dry hobo barbecue spot.

A couple angles of Ben's back smith.

Nose grind.

Shane got worked at one on the stops I missed.

Nameless crooked grind.
Wish I could have seen more of the event, but what I did see was crazy and fun.
Next up Jetski interview?

Wet and wild in the streets

2011-06-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

Above: Alien front board through the puddles. (Click to enlarge photos)
I took a spin past the the Big 4 last weekend to see if the Wild in the Streets event would be rained out. It wasn't.

Above. Ben down.
Everyone was huddled around under awnings waiting for the ground to dry and playing games of skate.

Then it started to pour.

The peanut gallery stays dry.

Joe wasn't going to let a little rain stop him from killing the Big 4.

Soaking wet determination. You'll have to wait a bit to see the rest of Joe's photos.

I love the poster behind Nathan.

Andre showed up a bit late but killed it with a front board down a crazy steep rail in the rain. I think he did it second try.

Then he started trying something insane.

Canonnball!!
Thanks for reminding me how awesome skateboarding is guys. I'll put up some more photos soon.
I think 1:12 of this can only be explained by some sort of sorcery.
This is sick.

Well that's a fine how do you do

2011-06-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Above: Making people smile wherever I go.
I celebrated Go Skateboarding Day today by feeling like crap.
Nice.
Do you need to be touching my horse?
In the streets.

Karma is a ...

2011-06-19T00:25:00.001-07:00

Do I believe in karma? Hell yes! After I wrote that last post about hoping the Wild In the Streets event gets rained out, I did a little rain dance and headed off to work. I then immediately proceeded to "bump" a curb with a metal sewer grate and tore my tire a new one. I quite literally had my head in the gutter, water flowing through my hair, as I wrestled the jack into place.

No fun for everyone

2011-06-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

Above: Keita Ikenoue noseslide to noseblunt pop over at 3rd and Army. (Click to enlarge)
It's my dream that someone will build a version of this bowl near Edmonton.
Only the Gonz could make dragging your foot on a hill bomb look so good.
I work tomorrow so of course there's a skateboard contest type thing. I'll be honest. I kinda hope it rains. If I can't go I can't see why anyone else should have any fun.

Pinata

2011-06-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

Above: Kento Takahashi and Watcho at 3rd and Army.
I want to see a Dae Won guest model on Creature after this.
Slappy.
This.

My friend said Al Capone

2011-06-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

Above: Josiah Cariou heelflip back tail.
I plugged in my soundtrack to 1995 and managed to hit 3 parks yesterday. Such a sick album. I can't usually listen to it as I regularly wake up already grinding my teeth. Guess I was in a good mood. Tried to track down my favorite tracks - Pinocchio and Pinata - online, but no luck.

Above: Stoked to see this at Collingwood.
I think we should start a prize purse for the first pivot to fakie on it.

It's been probably about a year since I last ran into Josiah and dam he's getting crazy good.
It's all down hill from here.
This of course. Man, I would love a pool that size.

Tickets

2011-06-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

Above: Kento Takahashi hardflip at Fort Miley in San Francisco. (Click to enlarge)
Me and Kento got tickets from an off-road motorcycle cop minutes after this photo was taken. I legitimately wasn't even skating as I had a broken foot. It's pretty hard to argue that point with the officer while none of the Japanese guys you're with, have any ID or proof that they are legally in the country. Kento who speaks pretty good English, was trying to use some sort of expired foreign exchange student school ID.
Jetski interview coming soon!

Bat Country

2011-06-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

Above: Kevin Mohan "magic hour" lay-back 5-0 at Kask. (Click to enlarge)

Actually it was more like a "magic five minutes", where the setting sun was hitting the corner pocket last night. I think Kevin had 4 tries before the light was gone.
I went to the Mill Woods skatepark after 7 p.m. last night. What a surreal trip that was! There was an ultra low budget rap video being shot in the bowl, with young bmxers rolling in circles around the MC as they sang a "La la la la la la" chorus. Once you got past that there was the inebriated construction worker shotgunning skid row beers, and then killing it on borrowed boards while still wearing his steel toed boots. Then a hesher doppelganger for Mudry gave me condescending advice about my wrist guards. First off, they're not wrist guards, I'm just super goth. Second, I really doubt there is anyone in Edmonton with more wrist guard knowledge than me. So unless you got an MD after your name, I don't wanna hear it.
I bought a lot of boards from this guy over the years.
So good.
Old skate news.
This is seriously painful to watch.
Finally.

Molotov Mitten

2011-05-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

Above: Keeping it lukewarm.
If there is a contest or demo in Edmonton, it's a pretty sure bet I'll have to work that day. I did manage to catch a few minutes of last weekend's Kaskitayo contest, but pretty much loathe the few images I was able to snag, except for this one. There is some video of the contest up here, however. Shane and Mitch are crazy.
I haven't fully watched it yet, but I'm going to have to say this.

Photo Daze

2011-05-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

Above: Spotted this at the bookstore the other day.
Wow! Jamie should seriously look into trying to get some work as this dude's stunt double.

This guy actually has what has to be the quintessential doppelganger photo of Jamie and Rory Culkin here. I just didn't feel good about lifting the photo and putting it directly in my blog. Check it out though. It's actually a little freaky.
I went into Showdown today to pick up the new Lowcard and Dirty told me his new hair salon, Love, is now open at 11025 - 82 Ave. When I said I'd post it on the blog his response was, "The people who read your blog probably don't get haircuts." True, but some probably have upcoming court dates. I think that could be a new slogan for them. "If our haircut doesn't get you a minimum of 12 months knocked off your sentence, money refunded." *After you are paroled of course.

There's a war outside of your window

2011-05-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Above: Kento Takahashi fakie heelflip to fakie nose grind 180 out, at 3rd and Army. (click to enlarge)
I've been dreaming about skateboarding lately. I had one the other day where I almost learned backside airs. Then a few days later I had one where I was trying to do hardflips in dress shoes. What does it say about you when even in your dreams you suck at skateboarding?
If you don't want to buy a Chris Miller board after seeing this, there is something wrong with you.
So good.
Pretty cool.
Oh yeah there's a contest this weekend.

Outside looking in

2011-05-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

Above: Watcho looks in at the Wastland DIY spot in Oakland Ca. The cops were already there when we arrived.
This pretty much sums me up.
Pretty stoked on this.

Under the bridge

2011-05-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

Above: Tony Miorana argues his case with Sheriffs and Caltrans employees at the DIY Wasteland spot in Oakland CA. (Click to enlarge)
I don't get too many weekends off, but when ever I do something meteorological always seems to accompany them. Usually it's snow and/or rain. This weekend it was some sort of prairie typhoon wind. It was crazy. So yet another weekend goes by without any new photos.
Watcho and I were going to try and do some collaborative internet thingy with my photos from San Fransisco, but I think he has other things on his mind now. So I think I'll start blowing out some of the photos. At least until the Wizard of Oz style winds chill out.

I spent a couple hours on google street view trying to track this place down. Then the day we went to it there were all these cops and Caltrans crews shutting it down. We watched as the cops gave Miorana a few minutes to drive his truck in and grab his tools. To top it off Drehobl was there sitting his car after the kick out. I was so bummed.
Everyone should watch this part a lot.
Wow.
Short but sweet.

Better late than never

2011-05-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

Above: Derek Swaim and Keita Ikenoue powerslide in Berkeley CA.
The one and only! That second last photo is bananas. This is also rad.
Edmonton's own. Holy smokes. Beyond Crazy.
A few New York minutes.

Brittle

2011-05-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Above: This is going to end up on some Japanese website soon enough so I might as well post it. Kento Takahashi wallie over handrail in downtown San Francisco. (Click to enlarge)
I got the go ahead from the doctor to start gingerly rolling around again yesterday. I promptly went out and slammed on my wrist. I'm typing this while wearing a wrist guard. Being brittle and old sucks.
You know what else sucks? People waxing coping. I stopped by the Leduc park and almost killed myself when I hit the waxed 1/4 pipe coping yesterday. It reminded me of this quote from an old Born Ugly on the issue of waxing copings.
"Instead of spending $5 for the latest piece of wax technology at the skate shop, or even $1.50 for the box of paraffin at the grocery store, why don't you save all yer money and buy a pair of Z-Rollers on eBay. That way you can still look like an asshole but everyone else can enjoy the ramp."
Seriously, you suck. Go get some rollerblades.

Feasters

2011-05-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

I didn't really get any images I'm super happy with, but I got to cover the Pixies show last night for work.

Like most of my musical introductions, I first heard of them through a skate video. This oldie in fact (fast forward to 4:22). That clip is from when Birdhouse was brand new and the shit. Hard to imagine.
I'll try and get back to skating next post.

Moving On Up

2011-04-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

Above: alternate angle of Keegan's 50-50 transfer. Click to enlarge.
I really hope the current Berrics style of skating disappears soon and we get more of this. Maybe once everyone has jumped down every set of stairs we can finally move on.

What Condition My Condition Was In

2011-04-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had to take photos of the Way of the Cross walk for work. Participants carry a large cross through some of the sketchier parts of downtown as part of Easter celebrations. At one point I randomly looked down and noticed that the frame counter on my camera was at 666. I was a little weirded out.
These type of awesome things actually just make me feel like an unmotivated lump and kinda bum me out.
Me and my four-eyes want these. Anybody out there in Industrial design and have a CNC machine? Think you could make me a prescription pair Mastrovito?
I also want this.

Mother F@*king Matt Mastrovito!!!

2011-04-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

Above: This is one of those way harder to skate than it looks type deals. Only one wall was transition. The far wall actually bubbles out throwing you into free fall if you’re anyone other than Mastrovito. He got gnarlier tricks, but I liked the background in this one the best. If you look closely you can see the fender from a police car behind Matt.
I live in a town that has spawned the likes of Glenn Suggitt, Jamie Tancowny, Nathan Roline, and Travis Stanger just to name a few. Yet, if I could personally skate like anyone, I would still have to pick Matt Mastrovito. Matt skates like a freight train. A freight train that is trying to physically hurt every skateable obstacle in it’s path.
Matt just unleashed some new footage check it out here or hit up his blog.
Everyone in Edmonton knows how gnarly Matt is. It’s just that no one outside Edmonton knows.

Freakish High

2011-04-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Above: Cameron Burrows nollie big heel. (click to enlarge)
Buying and then watching the new Real video is a dumb idea if you have a broken heel.
I have to admit I didn't fully grasp this the first time around. At the time I really wasn't down with the jazz music and I let it distract me from how gnarly the part was. Rudy Johnson's part was my favorite, partially because he skated to Dinosaur Jr. That song and this one may as well be tattoos. They will be with me forever.
Man, I wish I could go do this right now. My foot and the fact that it's going to snow like crazy any moment is kinda killing that dream.
This Hippie is good.

Stay Up

2011-04-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Above: The Edmonton Skateboard Association president does a pivot fakie for the kids.
I have several friends who own or have owned skate shops. Unfortunately, I'm quite possibly their worst customer. Falling somewhere between underweight photographer and overweight skateboarder, I don't quite fit into skate apparel which currently appears to be trending solely towards the anorexic pre-teen market. I wear one brand of shirt, one brand of jeans, and basically one breakfast gripped brand of shoe. And due to my bones quickly turning to glass and the ensuing wussiness, I basically never break skateboards any more. They never make a cent off me.
Edmonton's skate scene got smaller this week and it sucks.

Grab a shovel

2011-04-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

Above: Paul and Jon shovel snow out of Kaskitayo last week. Not sure why Paul wasn't wearing shoes.
While checking my cell phone and walking through the hood today, some random guy repeatedly offered to "make me a better deal", I decided to declined his mysterious offer.
Hell yeah.
This.

Forster

2011-04-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

Above: Cory Forster ollie (As usual blogger is blowing out my photos. Click to enlarge.)
Turns out I've been walking around with a fractured heel for the last few months.
Not Bad.
The photo sophisticate is killing it.

I hear the train a comin'

2011-03-31T22:18:00.000-07:00

Still rolling. Sort of.

The Suggitt interview

2011-03-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

In the Edmonton skate scene there really is none bigger than Mr. Glenn Suggitt. I've known Suggitt for quite a few years now. I've had a bunch of questions I've always wanted to ask but, never really had a reason or opportunity to blurt them out all at once. So I made up a reason. Plus I figured it would be a good reason to literally dust off some old slides.

Above: Suggitt

So the first question I had was how come you never went to California? How come you stayed in Edmonton?
I stayed in Edmonton because, I don't know. I've always liked Edmonton, and because of the shops mainly. Once I started the shops that was my number one goal. Yeah, I started the shops and that was it. I did as much traveling as I could having the shops, but I was never willing to go that route. I'd rather have the more shop life steez, you know what I mean. So, that's pretty much that one.

I think pretty much everyone goes to California and lives on couches for four years or something. Was that a route that appealed to you? Not at all. Never. Like I got to go on all those trips. I went on tons of trips. I was going on trips with Jody Morris all the time and stuff, and Red Dragon, and I even went to Paris with Paul (Machnau) once. You know what I mean. I was doing the part of being at that stage, but I just really didn't feel like living there, living that life. Because it's eventually going to end. I had the shops and that's what I was living off of. I wasn't trying to live off the career of skateboarding.

Above: Morinville smith grind.

Did anyone try and convince you to go down?
Uhm, pretty much just Paul. You know what I mean, because he was the one that had a shot too and he gave up the shop life to go that route. And of course it worked out for him. But it's also a risk to take, right. Like look at some of the skateboarders nowadays that actually have left and it hasn't worked out for them and they're just like scraping their lives together pretty much. Edmonton was cheap. I could afford to live here and I could afford to travel. Where I felt if I ever moved anywhere, I couldn't afford to do anything.

Skateboarding wasn't crazy popular like it is now. It wasn't on TV. So what was your first shop like in those early days?
It was way different. I'm trying to think how to answer that question. It was a lot mellower then. I'd have to say when I first opened that shop there were still only so many skateboarders (to the point) that you almost knew every single one of them. And then you would know every skateboarder in the industry. Now there's hundreds out there, you don't know who half of them are, and they're all good. That's the one thing that's definitely changed since I did it. It's got so fucking huge that I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. What would you say? I liked it when it was a little tighter personally.

I'm afraid I'll sound sort of like an old man going on about how it was better back in the day.
I would say it was funner back then when Famous first started because of how tight it was, you know. But even since Famous started there's (now) 20 different places you can go to buy skate shit and I think that's made the industry a little weird. How can I explain that better? It's not like a specialty anymore. You'd go to the skate shop and it would be different than everything else out there, you know what I mean. Skateboarding was a different part of the world. Now they've made it to the point where it doesn't have that feeling any more, and it's kinda wack and it pisses me off. I know that's not really answering the question. But compared to what it was then to what it is now, it's like, what the hell.

You used to get your ass kicked for being a skater. It wasn't the cool thing to do.
It's true. When I first started you'd have those fucking people driving by and you felt that they were going to stop and you were going to have to take off. That's really what it was like.

So how did sponsorship come about for you?
It came when I was younger. Originally when I was working at Plush for Matt Davis. Well you know how everyone has a fucking video camera now? EVERY single person. And if they're skateboarding, they film. Like I think it's ridiculous when you go to West49 and everyone's filming West49 footage. That's stupid to me. Like it's everyday warm-up skating, why are you filming? And everyone does that. Back then we never filmed anything, we just skated. Matt had a camera through the store and it was the only one in the whole skateboard industry in Edmonton. I swear to God. So he had a camera and what we would do is we'd skate all the time and when we'd learn tricks, (we'd) borrow his camera and go film. So that's how I ended up making my video and then he sent it away for me, and he got me hooked up through Timebomb or whatever. And then everything came from there. Just from making my first video. That's how my sponsorship first came about - Matt Davis had a video camera - seriously. (laughing)

Above: Nosebluntslide at the old Churchill Square. This ran in an old Concrete Powder article.

Who did you hook-up with through Timebomb?
Originally it was Emerica, then I rode for eS, and then went back to Emerica. And then at that same time with all those first videos I made, Shorty's was involved in there. That was the first one. Then it was like Eternal skateboards and then ah ... what else was after that?

I forgot you were on Eternal.
Yeah. Shorty's was the first boards I started getting, then Eternal and then I'm pretty sure it went straight to World Industries. And then by the time I was at World Industries, was when I got hooked-up with Red Dragon and everything. From my travels, from going out there and meeting Scott Pommier, Jody Morris and traveling with all those guys, it all kinda came together just from that one little video and then climbing up the ladder. But I actually made myself available to get to that point, you know what I mean. Once I made the video and met those people, I stayed in touch with them 24/7. Lots of people these days don't. So every time I got new footage, I sent it to them, sent it to them, sent it to them. And then if there was something going on, I'd go to the events. I've been to every single Slam City Jam that existed in my life. And then once you start showing up to all those places, you meet the people and the opportunities come up, and you go on road trips. You don't say no to anything. And that's kinda just how I got to where I ended up getting to. Being around everything going on in the industry. Nowadays everything going on is ridiculous. Back then it was so limited. There were only so many events going on.

I don't even know if kids understand that back then World Industries was a huge fucking deal. And you left sort of at their height, to start your own company. What made you decide to do that?
Uhm ... pretty much once I got to that point, that's when the stores were probably just getting to the most hype around them and I figured that if I did my own thing I could maybe start making money off that. I was still just an amateur for World Industries, it's not like I was making money. I was getting lots of opportunities to travel, but it's not like I was making money. So through the shops I was like, I'm going to do my own thing and then put some people on the company and sell the boards, and it worked out really good.
World Industries was ... like I had Paul in that department when I was riding for them and once he was involved with them and saw how they worked and shit, and the whole background scene of World Industries, he got pissed off and left while I still continued riding and touring with them. I went on multiple tours with them. But once the good guys left that you're homies with, there is a lot of difference. It's just like this isn't the same anymore. I guess, like, for anyone riding for companies you know, once the good guys leave you're kinda like, "Fuck this company". That's kinda what it got to. And now honestly, look where World Industries is. It's not what it use to be. Not even close.

So obviously you were teammates with Ryan Sheckler at one point.
Yeah, and traveled with him. Road trips he was sitting in my truck. In the front seat of the Escalade, it was hilarious. On the World Industries tours I was touring with him, Machnau, Neil Mimms, Carlos de Andrade, Jason Masse and Shekler's mom. She was with us on the whole tour.

Did you think he was going to be that huge back then?
Well doing the demos, because we were on a demo tour with them, and watching him absolutely destroy the demo, I knew. He would roll in my truck going, "I'm going to get an Escalade one day. I want to get an Escalade one day." And I'm thinking in my head, "You're going to have no problem." And look at him now.

Above: lipslide. A better scan of this photo ran in an old World Industries catalog.

I remember people telling me that at one point he really looked up to you.
Well he came to St. Albert and I introduced him to my wife and that same day he was like, "Suggitt, I want some of your Famous shit". No problem. I gave him a hat, a shirt, and everything and he was in a fucking movie, what was it called? Do you remember that stupid movie? It was called The Grind or something. I can't even remember what it was called. It was right after that tour, and in the movie he's wearing the shit I gave him. It's pretty awesome. I can't remember what the fuck it's called. Why do I think Grind or something?

I remember the first time I met you. I came into Plush, I was visiting from Winnipeg or something, and Mavis goes, "Yeah this is Glenn he's on Plan B". And I was like, what?
Originally I got a call from Plan B back in the day. That was the craziest thing ever. The team manager called me. This would have been just before World Industries. They said, "Oh yeah, we saw your video, it's amazing. Would you be interested? We're looking at you and a couple other guys or whatever". And it was when the last Plan B video came out. Who was it that they picked up? He was super tech. He was a ledgy, fucking wizard. I don't know if it was Brian Wenning or not.

Was it that other Brian guy who totally disappeared? Brian Emmers?
Yeah, maybe it was him. Yeah, I think it was. Was he the ledgy tech guy at that point?

He was fucking bananas. Crazy good and then he just disappeared. You just never saw him again.
It was. That's who it was. Hundred per cent. It was between me and that guy and they ended up putting him on and I was, "Ah fuck, whatever". I didn't even care at the time because I got that phone call from the Plan B team manager. I was like, "Whoa, this is just crazy". That could have been a (life) changing point if that happened. You know what I mean. Because at that time, where Plan B was, if I had that opportunity, I definitely would have veered more to that (over the shops). Because at that point, what you looked up to the most was the Plan B videos. They were the best.

Above: 180 flip.

Having gone through all this before with sponsors, have you given Jamie Tancowny any advice?
Yeah, I've given Jamie advice before. Lots.

Any gems?
He's an interesting character. I'd say Jamie's handling himself well the way he is going. And he couldn't really be doing it better. I think he's pretty smart on his own, but I used to always give him advice when he was younger. Nothing crazy though. I used to influence him in partying and having fun, but also to not to do anything stupid.

For as long as I can remember you've rocked the shaved head. Except ...
For once. (laughing)

What was with the cornrows?
That is so funny.

Because I have a picture.
I know. The noseslide right. I was wondering if you still had that. Because I don't have one picture of my life with those cornrows. The only reason I started rocking them was pretty much because I wanted to grow my hair long and my hair is fucked! I don't know if you've ever seen my hair without them being in cornrows at that point, when it's that long, but it's pretty much a huge black man's afro. I've got wire hair. Cornrows was the only way I could have it long and keep it looking half civil.

Above: cornrows and noseslides.

I think after that noseslide you tore them out.
I put them in two different times. I tore them out once after the noseslide, I think, and once at the Bob Yiannakoulias blue bar contest. And then I pretty much just shaved my head again. I can't deal with long hair. Where it came from was strictly trying to tame my huge muff of hair on my head. (laughing)

The next question is one I get asked quite a bit? What happened to street-riot?
What happened to street-riot? Do you honestly not know?

I have no idea. Except one day I went to log on, and it was like "you can't log on anymore". So I emailed you and you're like, "No, it's fucked".
Have you ever seen how Nathan's shit's all fucked too? He was our main guy for it. So I never had any of the main passwords I needed, I didn't have the information I needed. So somehow my shit was still linked with his GiantHuman website and everything he did, and they all went at the same time. And I had no clue how to fix them. I don't know how it's possible, but someone got into something and fucked everything up. I don't know how hackers do that, but somehow the whole system got a virus. And when it happened to ours, I'd go look at his (website), and his was all fucked too. I don't know how ours was tied to his or whatever.
Nathan was pretty much Plush and Famous as far as ... not the business side or anything, but the whole graphics and computerized world of it. Everything. So once street-riot disappeared ... once he died, which was the worst thing ever, once that happened I pretty much went on a chill session on getting anything made for the stores. Once the website went, I kinda just said, "Fuck it for now". You know what I mean. It was a shock that he even died. So I was in shock, I didn't want to find a new artist, I didn't want to try and find a new fucking computer guy. I wasn't interested in any of that. I was at the point where I'm like, "Fuck I'm not even going to make anything else." And so was Justin at Foosh. If anything I want to reprint old graphics, which one day is my goal. Find out where all those files are and just do reruns of (Nathan's) shit. He was the guy I always relied on.
So, pretty much a year later was when I'm like, "I've got to get shit moving again. I've got to at least get the website going on". Because so many people, even industry wise, were like, "Suggitt, when are you going to get street-riot going again?". Like reps and stuff. Once I started getting asked all the time, I figured, I've got to figure this out.

I've had so many little ideas that I've wanted to do, but the only guy that comes to mind to make it happen is Nathan. Because he'd make it better. You'd come to him with this really little idea and you knew he would make it so much better than your original.
Everything I ever asked him for, I'd give him the idea, and (what he'd make) was better than what was in my head. He would duplicate what I was thinking perfect. I've asked other graphic people before, and nothing comes close to what I'm thinking. That would never happen with Nathan.
To me it's still too soon, even though it's over. I don't want to be anywhere near that right now. My main goal is to keep him around involved in the shops. He's done everything to this day. He's done so fucking much. Do you know how easy it is to start going back to the older stuff he originally did. Bring this out again. Bring that out again. Keep going down the list. I'd love to run his shit all the time. The best thing to do is keep running his shit, 'cause then you always remember him.

This question goes back a bit. No one under thirteen will understand it. Any good stories about former Plush manager Tom Piprick, and have you ever seen him with his hat off?
(Laughing) That's pretty funny. Ah ... Tom Piprick has a kid now. I don't know if you knew that?

No.
He's married. Has a kid. Which is screwed up because he was in here recently talking about his kid and cleaning up shit, and I was just looking at him like, "I can't even take you serious right now". Because I would have never guessed he'd have a kid. And he was clearly wearing a hat when he was in here. But he's still skating. So he'll still pop up in the skateparks here and there.

Above: bump to gap ollie.

That new video you guys just released, is that your third or fourth?
Like, sixth.

How was filming for that?
I think it's the best (one) by far. It's kinda the switch. There have been a couple (team) switches, not too many, throughout the videos. At first it was like Chris Kendall, me, and Devon having parts, you know, then a little bit of everyone else. That went on for a couple of videos. Then you get your new guys, like Wade Fyfe, coming in. This was the first one where every single part is pretty much the new blood. All the new young guys. People who have never had full parts before. Where I've focused on my parts in previous videos, this one I was more focused on all of their parts. The way it turned out with the focus on their parts, and their level of skating - this is by far the best video. I love it. Filming for it was fun.

Why did you decide to release it straight to the web?
This video isn't going to be sold through the shop. It's going to be a free video. And it's because everyone in that video has never had a video part. Most of the people in the industry don't even really know who they are. Now, everyone in the industry is watching it and seeing these guys. People are already asking me about Craig Smith. Since it's been on that website, non-stop emails, text messages, phone calls about the video.

Who's your all time favorite Edmonton skater?
All time favorite ever ... It's so hard not to say Jamie because really he's the funnest person to watch in real life. Even more than pro road trips I've gone on, he's more fun to watch. So yeah, that's who I'd have to say.

And who's up and coming in Edmonton?
There's so many now. I can't physically pick one. But this video just coming out - is my, "Here you go" to everyone that's involved in the industry, "Check out these guys". I love everyone's part in that video. I can't really pick one. I'd say everyone in that video; Cam, Neil, Craig ... everyone. They're all the new up and comers as far as I'm concerned. Beyond our team, of course, there's tons of others. Like Mitch and Shane. I think those guys are fucking amazing.

How hard is it to get you on the phone?
Impossible. Well, unless you have my cell number or email, which is like this every single day (gestures to his laptop and phone being right in front of him). This is how you get in contact with me. If you're going to be calling the shop, you will never ever hear my voice. Mainly because when I've been down there and answered that damn phone, it's always someone trying to sell me something. If I need it, I'll get it. I'll get what I need and what I want. If you want to contact me, contact me on email. When I'm in the shop, I'm super focused on what I'm doing. The last two weeks I've been here, I'll walk in at like nine in the morning and start, and until I leave I don't even stop to eat, nothing. Once I start I just stay focused. I don't want to stop. Lots of times it ends up being someone on the phone that I'll have a twenty-five minute conversation with and then I'm out of focus again.

What are your top five call screening techniques?
Not answering the phone. (laughing) That's my best one.

Snack time

2011-03-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

Above: Hmm, do I want tube socks or a Snickers?
Stoked. New Drehobl footage in here.
Showdown's new mascot? (Man, I hope they think that's funny)
This is super good.

Barlow

2011-03-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

Above: Shane Barlow front blunt. Click to enlarge. (Blooger continues to desaturate my photos. In this case it also seems to have removed all the reds.)
Mauer just put up Shane's crazy Something Legit part.
Crazy hippie bomb.
I'd rather watch this than the Berrics any day.
Fast.

Weird

2011-03-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Above: If you misplaced your pipe bomb I might have spotted it while at work this week.
Short.

I hate my friends

2011-03-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Above: Accordian Hero
It used to be that all my friends were just moving to B.C., but now they're moving to New Jersey? What the hell!

Above: Neil 5-0 at Marginal Way
Congratulations Neil and Leslie. Jerks. Canada quitters.
Midnight.

It ain't easy being green

2011-03-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

Ran into Jamie who was celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a sick new zombie tattoo at Showdown today.
Can't wait for spring.
Pop.

I got nothing

2011-03-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

Above: old film scan of Timmy contemplating something crazy.
I really like this collection over at the rockfakiescissors blog. I do want to know if that bruise on the liver is bottle shaped though.
"I'll break that goddam thing."
I hadn't seen this before.

It's got to be spring somewhere. Not here, but somewhere.

2011-03-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Above: Jordan's session gets philosophical. Click photo to enlarge.
Former Edmontonian Robyn Holdsworth talks about his new gig in the skate industry.
I think Ben forgot about fireworks. Nothing works better than being the guy at the park with fireworks.
I'm almost tempted by the reissue of these. Especially the Prototypes.
This is pretty sick.
And this.

Ghetto fabulous

2011-03-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Above: Dirty ghetto cruise
I was recently asked to start contributing to the Edmonton Skateboard Association website. Now I could have rummaged through backup hard drives, searching for long forgotten skate photos for my inaugural post, but instead I decided to simply rehash my favorite post from this blog, my interview with Dustin from Showdown. I figured no one saw it here the first time anyway. It also seemed an ideal time since Showdown finally got their website up.
Did I mention I'm terrified of needles?
I really liked these two videos.

Friends in low places

2011-03-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Above: Three guesses where I bought my new Lowcard hat. Your first two guesses don't count.
I couldn't agree more. Man, you know your low when you're taking heat from a guy who can't keep it together enough to keep shoes on his feet.
I won't even skate an over waxed ledge. This is crazy.

Singing in the rain

2011-03-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Above: Timmy Oberg puddle flip.
I really like the way the this photo came out. Definitely one of my favorites. I think his whole set-up was pretty much done in by this shoot. Timmy has a crazy smooth little section at 9:55 in the new Plush video. Pretty sure he's been battling some pretty gnarly injuries lately.
It was -47 last night, my car did a perfect, yet completely unintentional, backside 180, and I slipped on some ice Sunday and broke my 70-200mm lens. I'm officially over winter.
I can't compete with this.
I really like this part.
This ain't bad either.

Swaimer

2011-02-24T18:07:00.000-08:00

Above: Derek Swaim 360 shuv.
Edmonton montage, care of Something Legit.
32k for a bowl, and oh yeah you get a house.
Forget your damage deposit.

Just call me Gus

2011-02-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

Above: Mastrovito frontside ollie for the kids.
It's been awhile since I actually liked the way a photo came out. Thanks Matt.

Above: 5-0 on some slippery vert.
The existence of this seems to provide definitive proof of my unlucrative ability to predict the present. Not only did I not not know during my last post that Matt already has a photo blog; I also didn't know that his friends apparently call him Gus.
If you've every been to Burnside you know this pic of Matt is nuts.

Skate for Nate

2011-02-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

Above: Mauer pulls a pivot to fakie
A handful of us hit the West49 park for an early morning session in memory of Nathan today.

Above: Tan managed to dodge the bearded groms long enough to stomp a 3flip.

Above: Mastrovito front tailblock

Above: Mastrovito is also quickly turning into my personal photographer. I expect so see the creation of his photo blog shortly. Grumpy old man back smith.
Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a fun session.
How have I never seen this before, and why do they have what appears to be field hockey sticks? The last trick is an ender ender if I've ever seen one though. I'd be way more interested in Street League, the X-Games and the like, if they were based more on whatever was going on in that video.

Musical massacre

2011-02-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

Above: cell phone pic of Suggit's Giant Human tat.
My iPod, like a lot of people's I'm sure, is filled with some truly terrible music. However, whenever one of these musical grenades pops up at an embarrassing moment, I can lay the blame squarely on Nathan Matthews' shoulders. I used to regularly go over to Nathan's and basically ask him to, "Load up my iPod with whatever cool music the kids are listening to these days." I don't know what strange desire led Nathan to download some of these tracks or if he was simply trying to mess with me. I like to think it was a bit of both. It's been a long time since Nate lived next door and I've been able to poach his music stylings, but here's a top ten list of songs on my iPod that I blame on Nathan.
1. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
2. Vengaboys - We like to party
3. Spice Girls - Wannabe
4. Rihanna - SOS
5. Will Smith - Gettin jiggy with it
6. Vengaboys - Boom Boom Boom
7. Mortal Kombat - Theme song
8. Debeers - Diamonds are forever theme
9. Blink-182 - Pathetic
10. Pirates of the Carribean - A pirates life for me
Thanks Nate.

Never Forgotten

2011-02-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

Nathan Matthews 1980 - 2010
I miss my friend.