Après le film Altered Route, le spécialiste du skateboard Kilian Martin récidive avec une vidéo magnifique appelée « Station Park » par le réalisateur Juan Rayos (auteur des célèbres vidéos Endless Roads). Un rendu splendide tourné dans une gare abandonnée, à découvrir dans la suite.
La planche du skateboard est un objet dont le design est connu de tous. Mais le créatif Reynald Drouhin va plus loin en nous proposant ce « Monolith Skate ». Un noir intense et possédant un design rappelant volontaire un monolithe, cette planche visuellement intéressante est à découvrir dans la suite de l’article.
Sk8are di notte in mancanza di luci è sempre stata una menata così l’artista Koo Jeong ha pensato bene di scolpire OTRO, un park fosforescente nei pressi di Bruxelles.
Two impressive innovations in style and performance tested in NYC
With style innovators like Dylan Rieder and Alex Olsen leading the pack, skateboarding as a whole is increasingly embracing fashion into its arts-driven culture. Always one to jump on the latest movement and help take it to the next level, Nike has recently released a series of Dri-Fit-enhanced garments specifically engineered for skateboarding. Excited by the idea of Dri-Fit clothing that doesn’t look like it belongs on a football field, we snagged a fresh kit to test for a few days in the streets of NYC. Of the group the most notable is the recently released—and extremely well received—Levis collaboration 511 Skateboard Team Edition Jean, followed closely by the Killingsworth button-down.
By interweaving Vectran—a strong textile fiber used in reinforcing ropes, sailcloth and even NASA spacesuits—and Nike’s Dri-Fit tech with American-made Cone Mills denim, the 511 Skateboarding Jean remains nearly indestructible while retaining all its classic subdued style. The slim—but not tight—skateboarding jean looks and fits just like its standard 511 cousin, differentiated only by a subtle vertical weave (presumably from the added fibers), a tiny Tiffany blue Swoosh on the rear leather patch and a similar tint on the underside of the denim.
We noticed the effects of the Dri-Fit technology after just a few minutes of pushing around the city. While the garment obviously can’t absorb every bit of perspiration, the moisture-wicking fabric did do enough to make skating in jeans in NYC’s appalling summer heat and humidity manageable, which is no small feat. With a bit of added stretch, the denim responded positively to constant movement while the Vectran kept the denim intact even after a few solid slams. With only 2,000 released worldwide, the Nike + Levi’s 511 Skateboard Team Edition jean is a tough find, but one well worth the search. A few sizes are still available from DQM for $198.
Responding even more impressively to the aggressive heat was the Killingsworth shirt. Also featuring Dri-Fit tech, the long-sleeved shirt wicked moisture as promised, and wore even better than expected, offering more mobility and comfort than even a basic T-shirt might. Plus, much like the 511 jean, the understated button-down gives little indication of its intended use outside of a small Nike tab on the chest pocket. All in all it seems Nike hit the nail on the head with this blend of considered fashion and sport science tech. Look to Nike’s newly launched SkateEveryDamnDay campaign website for more information and where to buy the Killingsworth Dri-Fit button down. It’s worth noting the fit was slightly oversized, so we’d recommend going a size down.
For a closer look at the Dri-Fit enhanced apparel and testing see the slideshow.
Images by Graham Hiemstra
Retro-styled skateboards inspired by sidewalk surfing
As always, what’s old is new again. Conjuring up memories of butt-bombing hills and weaving cones like in the days of Dog Town, many companies are remaking retro-styled banana boards that combine the concept of yesteryear with the superior materials of today. The low-tech, high-performance cruisers are quick, stout and a hell of a lot more fun than that monstrous longboard you don’t ride anyway. Plus they come in a bevy of bright colors and who doesn’t love that?
Best known for making skateboard shoes, Globe has recently ventured into the hardgoods market with the highlight being the Bantam Cruiser. This wicked little board grips and rips due to a shortened wheel base and big, soft 62mm wheels. Plus the slolam-inspired shape tapers toward the tail for a zippy feel bound to make you ride like you’re surfing. Like its 1970s forefathers, the Bantam Cruiser is available in multiple color combinations. Find it directly from Globe for $100.
Dedicated solely to reproducing traditional plastic banana boards, Australia’s Penny Skateboards makes the ideal knock-around cruiser in heaps of different colorways. Essentially a hunk of plastic, the 22″ long 6″ wide deck doesn’t differ much from that which Penny founder Ben Mackay learned to skate on at age five. The wheels, trucks and hardware, on the other hand, are all made with high-performance materials up to date with modern tech. If you’re in Oz, pick one up directly from Penny, otherwise Tactics has an assortment of colors available from around $100.
While this cruiser may not officially be a banana board, it firmly adheres to the less-is-more mantra, and has one painted on the bottom. Made by Girl skateboards for Crailtap, one of the industry’s most entertaining blogs, this pared-down skateboard features slight concave, real grip tape and a more elongated shape, meaning it can be shredded like a real skateboard or kept for a cruiser like a traditional banana. Available only in limited numbers in one colorway, the Crailboard can be found on Skate Warehouse online for $100.
A return to skateboarding’s roots through innovative design and construction at Camp Woodward
Designed to mimic the sloping school yards and dried concrete waterways of Southern Califorinia, where skateboarding’s roots reach deepest, the snake run is the most fundamental form of all skatepark designs. While most snake runs are characterized by a long narrow path—or ditch—flanked by banks and berms to channel the rider through without pushing, the freshly poured concrete at Pennsylvania’s legendary camp Woodward resembles something significantly gnarlier. Designed and constructed by California Skateparks, arguably the world’s best skatepark builders, Woodward’s snake run stretches over 1,000 feet punctuated with head high jumps and quaterpipes.
Since welcoming BMX riders in 1980, Woodward has become the most recognizable name in action sports facilities. While the camp has always been about innovation, the construction of the 20,050-square-foot Target Plaza by California Skateparks in 2009 marked the end of an era dominated by wooden ramps, proving a dedication to staying ahead of the curve in terms of concrete skateboard and BMX park design. Now, with the completion of phase two of the snake run, Woodward is returning to skateboarding’s roots while still keeping an eye on progression.
In terms of design, California Skateparks builder, former professional BMX rider and 22-year Woodward veteran Ron Kimler explained “there was never a drawing for anything.” The design and building processes seem to happen simultaneously. Only the base and quarter-pipes require rebar and wooden support forms, the rest are simply sculpted by hand. “All the mounds and berms are piled up dirt. You shape it, then throw the gravel base on, then go around and shape it up with rakes and shovels,” says Kimler. The construction then culminates with the pouring of concrete and the hand shaping of every angle, a primitive process which gives the experienced riders and builders the vital, final touch.
Rather than stick to the idea of building a glorified golf cart path, Kimler and rest of the California Skateparks crew encouraged something better, and as the dirt was piled and concrete poured it grew. “They’d say make it two feet tall, and I’d make it three feet tall,” says Kimler, laughing. This playful attitude helped the more-than-1,000-foot path develop into a destination for campers on both boards and bikes. To make it more appealing for users of all abilities Kimler and the crew built the lower portion at a mellower pitch, allowing it to be ridden in both directions. “I can just cruise through here, get most the way and turn around, take one pedal and come back,” says Kimler. “You can ride most of the whole section back and forth, no sweat, just cruising through the rollers.”
By building the snake run in phases, California Skateparks is able to adjust their designs on the fly, adding or removing features at will. Even with all the pieces connected after more than 10,000 man hours, Kimler still sees the project as a work in progress. “Next year we can continue to add,” he says. “Maybe we need pocket here, lip there, berm here—it’ll get created, whatever’s awesome.”
For now the snake run stands as is for the many months of campers to come, but keep an eye on Woodward online for updates on future iterations. For a closer look at the construction and completion of Woodward’s snake run see the slideshow.
Images by Graham Hiemstra
Russell Houghten nous présente sa nouvelle vidéo appelée “Open Horizon”, du même titre de la bande-son composée par Richard Houghten. Avec des images du désert conjuguées à des images de skateboard, le rendu simple et très efficace est à découvrir dans la suite.
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L’artiste Christian fuß (Derfusi), nous propose une série de photographies appelée Black Skate Series. Reprenant des images de skateurs effectuant des tricks sur un fond noir complet, le résultat simple mais efficace est à découvrir dans la suite.
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Lo shape di questo Madrid è uno dei miei preferiti. Tavola da 180mm e ruote Cadillac lo rendono una vera bomba. Provare per credere.
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