California Skateparks’ Snake Run

A return to skateboarding’s roots through innovative design and construction at Camp Woodward

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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


Open Horizon

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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Wait for It Skateboard

Les Marvs présentent leur second film appelé “Wait For It”. Cette équipe de skateboarders nous dévoilent leur exploit, l’ambiance autour de leur univers avec une vidéo mettant en scène plus de 10 membres de leur crew. Le film est disponible en entier dans la suite.



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Fingerboard Spirit

Vitùc est un réalisateur luxembourgeois qui a décidé de montrer la passion de son fils pour le Fingerboarding. Avec une réalisation soignée et réussie, cette vidéo rappelant l’excellente campagne vidéo d’Hermès Fingerskate. L’ensemble est à découvrir dans la suite.



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Crescent Down Works for DQM

Renowned Seattle and NYC brands team up for a classic waxed parka just in time for fall

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It’s hard to know which of the deluge of fall collaborations are worth your time and attention, but when DQM is involved we tend to take notice. Coming just two weeks after the collaborative Vans DQM General store opened, New York City’s heralded streetwear purveyor has teamed up for the second time with Crescent Down Works to release a waxed parka just in time for colder temperatures.

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Made in Pacific Northwest, the waxed cotton jacket is built to withstand the rain no matter where it’s falling. Leather reinforced buttons and custom DQM labeling accent the classically subdued design. Available in a black with an orange liner and in tan with navy, the parka runs $430. It sells exclusively at Vans DQM General in NYC and, starting this Monday 3 October 2011, online in limited numbers as well.


Holden and Vans

Two action sport leaders thank you for being you with a new collaborative snowboard boot and skate shoe
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The latest project from two of action sports’ most influential companies, the Holden and Vans collaboration snowboard boot and sk8-hi shoe are sure to pique the interest of any style-conscious boarder. Unlike most collaborations, the two pieces take a subdued design approach with an all-black upper and minimal branding. But their values are there, in both Holden’s allegiance to contemporary style and progressive materialization, along with Vans’ timeless look.

Known for leading the snowboard industry in fashion and fit, Holden has inspired countless trends—from Scotty Wittlake’s pioneering tight-pants-and-hoodie combo to the clean and fitted outerwear stylings of Northwest pretty boy Darrell Mathes. Their new-school approach fits well with the classic surf and skate style of Vans, which remains relatively unchanged and just as relevant since ’66.

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The Sk8-Hi is essentially an upgraded version of its usual self. A combination of premium leather and waxed canvas make for a much sturdier shoe than the average Vans. The sleek blacked-out look is subtly accented with stitching just above the standard vulcanized sole in a cream color that matches the leather interior.

Sharing low-profile appeal with the Sk8-Hi, the Holden snowboard boot sports a slim sole for more board feel and a skate-style silhouette. The boot features premium leather and the same 59% recycled nylon found in Holden’s outerwear line. Inside the Quadfit x Thermal liner, you’ll find a gel toe box—branded with iconic Vans checkers—for heavy impacts and additional pressure cuff ankle padding to help prevent foot fatigue. All of this along with a soft, traditional lace-up boot and an old-school look make the boot perfect for lapping the park and all-mountain cruising.

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Head to Vans or watch Holden’s video explanation for more information on the collaborative snowboard boot and Sk8-Hi shoe, which are available online now for $230 and $80 respectively.


Live…Suburbia!

Chronicles from America’s disaffected, pre-digital youth

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On the brink of adolescence my best skate buddy Tim and I found a statue of the Virgin Mary with red paint on it in the woods. Convinced that this was the site of a recent Satanic ritual, we gathered the other neighborhood kids and went with flashlights in the dark to investigate further. As we huddled around, I spent most of my time trying to feel up the girl who lived across the street from Tim. I was making serious headway when we saw a car pull up at the edge of the woods and hit the brakes. Convinced it was the Satanists, we scattered like rats.

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Experiences like this made me naturally inclined to love the new book, Live…Suburbia!, a collaboration between Max G. Morton and Anthony Pappalardo. Anthony grew up not far from me, and we actually share some friends, although we’ve never met. But clearly we shared more than that—skating, trying to impress girls, looking for porn in the woods, rumors of suburban Satanism and a love for the rebellion of rock, specifically metal, punk and hardcore. Max brings a darker, if not unfamiliar vibe to the collection of short stories and photos that make up the narrative loosely centered around drugs, family life and metal, calling to mind the older burnout kids who all somehow looked like Metallica’s Cliff Burton.

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Live… Suburbia! are the stories of Max and Anthony’s youth, of my youth and the stories of a million kids like us that knew that there had to be more out there than what people were telling us at school, in church or on the news. Disaffected youth rebelling through skating and punk rock might be an old tale, but what’s most fascinating about this collection of stories is the era when they took place.

This was a time without Internet, without the constant, ubiquitous ability to know everything about anything at any time. The bands we loved had to be discovered through commitment and caring meant devouring mixtapes, scouring Thrasher magazine, combing over liner notes, collecting fliers and doing our best to glean any and every piece of information from any source we could. This lack of readily-available facts also created an incredible culture of rumor, with Skinheads and Satanists and druggies allegedly lurking around every corner, and sometimes they actually did.

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Punk and hardcore purists will enjoy the points of reference and personal tales, but ultimately these are stories about the mystique of rebellion and the passion it took to pull it off in a time before it was made easy. Live… Suburbia! is out on 27 September 2011 and is available for for preorder from Powerhouse Books and Amazon.

All photos from Live…Suburbia! by Anthony Pappalardo and Max G Morton, published by powerHouse Books.


Vans DQM General

A skate industry vet teams up with a legendary NYC boutique for a collaborative shop with street culture appeal

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The most talked about collaboration between skateboarding and street fashion of late, Vans’ first brick-and-mortar store champions NYC sneaker institution DQM. Opening today in the heart of SoHo, the Vans DQM General brings boutique founder Chris Keeffe’s well-edited contemporary skate style to a broader shopping audience. From custom-made tables to the handpicked photographs that adorn the walls, the historic space’s lofted ceilings and worn hardwood floors all add to the rustic general store aesthetic.

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Patrons can look forward to a full line of co-branded apparel spanning button-downs, tees and hoodies, as well as three shoe styles set to drop mid-October 2011. The shop will also function as Vans’ first and only store in NYC selling all the classics that made the company what it is today, plus some exclusive specialized goods.

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Staying true to both companies’ deep roots in skateboarding, the shop sells decks, wheels and trucks from all the same core accounts you’ll find in DQM’s East Village location. By the brushed steel stairs at the rear of the spacious shop you’ll find a selection of youth apparel and shoes, along with an inviting lounge and custom bar area that will presumably host an array of forthcoming skate-enthused events.

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Located at 93 Grand street in NYC, the Vans DQM General is open seven days a week from here on out. For more information check DQM online or visit the soon-to-launch official VansDQM site.


Big Red

Solitary Arts’ Geoff McFetridge-designed skateboard now available for a limited time as a deck

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Solitary Arts‘ first and most popular skateboard to date, Big Red, is now available for a very limited time as a standalone deck. The board, inspired by a thrift store find in San Francisco years ago, mimics the plastic banana board cruisers of the ’70s, but with a contemporary feel. Made with seven-ply maple and updated with a slight concave and an upturned nose, the board hits eight inches at its widest for the perfect cruiser style while still being totally skateable.

Rad screen printed graphics by Solitary Arts’ co-founder Geoff McFetridge, combined with the footprint-shaped custom grip, guarantee it will look just as sweet on your wall as it will under your feet. Previously only available as a complete setup through Solitary Arts directly, you can now pick up the deck itself for only $50 through Huckberry, the recently-launched flash sale site that features guest buyers for each collection of goods. This round, picked by CH contributor Mike Giles, is available only through this Thursday, 18 August 2011.


Bobby vs. The Edgar

Upcoming éS video shows Skateboarder Bobby Worrest giving his new pro model shoe a proper beating

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If a skate shoe can’t stand up to the pavement, it’s not a skate shoe. To prove the durability of Bobby Worrest’s latest pro model, The Edgar, éS will release a new full video showing how Worrest himself abused the shoes. The “Man vs. Shoe” battle spanned nine consecutive months of skating to “ensure that the shoes bearing his name were ones he thoroughly tested himself, the old fashioned way.” Eschewing the trend of investing millions in labs to test skateboarding products, éS brings it back to the basics with this wear test.

Leaving Worrest’s skating mainly to the imagination, the teaser builds hype around the upcoming full video and includes an effective time-lapse of the shoe’s wear pattern. Look to éS next Monday, 15 August 2011, to watch Worrest’s skateboard wizardry versus his freshly-designed shoe.

Pick up your own Edgars (available in blue, maroon, grey and black) through éS, starting around $60 a pop.