La Lodge

Sur les sentiers de la maturité

2011-02-21T12:46:00.005+01:00

Connaissez vous ce désarroi profond qui vous saisit lors d'une session au skatepark local, quand vos amis tardent à arriver et que vous êtes le seul individu de plus de 20 ans à pousser l'objet à roulettes? Une multitude de mioches se croisent en venant de toutes latitudes et longitudes; certains sont en trotinettes et d'autres possèdent un 3-6 flip un peu trop parfait pour leur âge. Vous vous mangez un kid à chaque essai et vous faites harrasser de questions aussi métaphysiques que "C'est quoi ta board?", "Tu sautes combien de marches?", mais pas un aura la délicate attention de venir vous voir en disant: "Eh tu vois, celle qui me surveille là, c'est ma soeur, tu veux son numéro ?"

Et bien, dans ces moments là, sachez qu'il est très dur de garder foi en le skateboard. Le doute vous submerge et vous vous demandez rapidement si il n'est pas temps de grandir, que peut-être après tout, le skateboard n'est rien d'autre qu'une trotinette sans guidon. Vous repensez à cette proposition de CDI que vous avez décliné pour skater les après-midi, à cette fille qui vous a largué parce que vous passiez plus de temps sur votre planche que sur elle. "Je pourrais déjà être marié et avoir des gosses si il faut..."

Et alors que vous vous voyez au plus bas, surgit un petit clip de John Rattray qui redore le blason du skateboard en 2 min chrono. John skate sans faire de chichis, sans prêter attention à aucune mode, et pour avoir croisé son chemin, il semble que son skate illustre parfaitement sa personnalité: sans artifice mais efficace. (Phrase prétentieuse à venir -->) Messieurs les skêtos, sachez que dès lors qu'une activité physique permet à quelqu'un de s'exprimer qualitativement et non quantitativement, de faire passer les subtilités de sa personnalité, et bien sachez que cette activité devient un art à part entière. Parfaitement. John skate comme un homme et permet à chaque homme de plus de 20 ans de montrer à ses amis non-skateurs que le skate, ce n'est pas ce qu'il voient à la TV, ni au skatepark local ; mais que c'est simplement ça, rouler sur une planche sur tous types de terrains et en faire ce que l'on en veut.

(oui le clip date, mais je suis retombé dessus, alors commencez pas)

thanks Okkun

2011-02-20T22:47:00.002+01:00

"ME AND MY FRIENDS"
A new film by Atushi Sugimoto from bluefilmproducts.

ARUKUNA_TV

http://ryuichiokumura.seesaa.net/

ありがとう！

Sunny Days in Bordeaux

2011-02-19T19:21:00.005+01:00

Profitant de cette fin d'hiver plutôt clémente, les membres du cercle lodgien sont partis à l'assaut des rues armés, non pas de leur pénis et leur couteau, pour reprendre l'expression populaire, mais plus de leur créativité et de leur sens aigu du détail. Certaines mauvais langues diront que cette créativité n'est mise à profit que pour pallier un manque de capacités physiques certain, il n'en est rien cependant. Sachez qu'après la prise de chacun de ces clichés, chaque membre est allé se balarguer sur les 14 marches de Meriadeck, preuve photographique à l'appui:

ps: photo & montage par Léon Latécoère

Days & Nights teaser

2011-02-13T10:53:00.002+01:00

Days&Nights teaser #2 from Julien_J on Vimeo.

Deuxième teaser de la production bordelo-montpellieraine. Avec quelques prestations de certains membres de l'éminent cercle lodgien.

Ambassadeur de la lettre G

2011-02-11T22:03:00.008+01:00

Javier Nunez - Why Skateboarding? from Highsnobiety on Vimeo.

Ambassadeur d'un skate défunt et des baggys marqués de feue l'étoile Campbelienne, Javier Nunez n'est jamais avare en production acrobatique originale. Je passerai outre son affiliation avec la marque Famous Stars and Straps qui, cela se doit d'être interprété dans la tradition directe de contradiction qui régit les esprits de La Lodge, n'est pas entièrement gerbante. Je vois d'ici les yeux exorbités et narines retroussées de nos lecteurs fidèles, mais sachez que si nous déplorons l'usage d'un rap bas de gamme et le recours à outrance aux motifs dorés, on ne peut que saluer l'ardeur que ces 'homeboys' mettent à l'ouvrage.
Felix Arguelles, malgré 40 ans bien pesés se paye une full part street sur le Berrics. Luis Tolentino a un pop de chacal, malgré un bâgout et une verve trop prononcée, et enfin, Javiez Nunez est resté OG toute sa carrière et ne finit pas d'étonner.

C'est avec un certain scepticisme que le début de ce spot publicitaire fut accueilli, entre un wallride des plus classiques (quoique "costaud" selon les dires du gros du 5e, je crois qu'il skate mal cependant) et une trame narrative des plus classiques de type "Je ne sais où je me trouverai sans les bienfaits que la planche à roulettes a apporté à mon existence de truand." La rengaine classique ayant pour but d'augmenter le capital ghetto du protagoniste. Soit.
Mais, comble de la surprise, le spot se conclue par une reprise anaphorique du wallride, avec cependant une variation (et quelle variation!!!) : un kickflip out que l'on se laissera à qualifier de "sur-G"!!! Il n'en fallut pas plus pour convaincre la rédaction de La Lodge: tasses de cafés furent renversés, feuilles jetées en l'air dans un élan de joie, poitrines tambourinées en vue de célébrations viriles.
Il est à noter que si les parution de Gangsta Javier sont rares, elles ne finissent pas d'étonner. On se rappellera entre autres le switch front board sur le très long muret en downhill ainsi que les switch hard flips en courbe dans son Banging au Berrics.
Il est donc légitime d'affirmer que "he's holdin' it down" et de pousser le vice jusqu'à le qualifier de "crazy mothafucka". Merci de garder la flamme G vivante Javier.

Dixi 5 & La Lodge

2011-01-13T00:20:00.005+01:00

N'étant pas totalement dénués de bons sens, les membres et proches de l'éminent cercle Lodgien savent où aller pour couvrir leurs cheveux gras et poisseux par ces rudes températures hivernales. C'est naturellement en tant que 'friends' qu'ils ont prêté leur corps et leurs aptitudes à la marque de 'headwear' girondine qui fait parler d'elle en ce moment, j'ai nommé Dixi 5. Nous ne nous hasarderons pas sur les sommes exorbitantes qui ont été versées pour justifier de telles prouesses mais sachez que les bureaux de La Lodge se sont vus agrandir et que ce petit jacuzzi nous a enfin été livré.

Bordeaux & nous par Ben Chadourne

2011-01-09T14:54:00.000+01:00

BORDEAUX ET NOUS from BEN CHADOURNE on Vimeo.

Fat boys are back

2011-01-09T11:25:00.004+01:00

(photo prise sur SlapForum)

Le but de ce pamphlet n'est bien évidemment pas de signaler le "back in business" du très potelée Brian Wenning mais plutôt d'apporter une réflexion quant à l'attitude à adopter vis à vis de ce retour.

Des sponsors plus que douteux, une verve et un bagout exacerbée, un embonpoint prononcé, tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour créer une nouvelle tête de turc pour les skate-rats hautement qualifiés qui pullulent sur les forums spécialisés. La comparaison avec son ancien "wing man" Anthony Pappalardo se fait de manière instinctive et l'on est très vite amené à admettre que le maigrelet de Long Island semble être rester plus fidèles à ses racines, refusant tout corporatisme et toutes parutions à outrance à défaut de qualité.

Et bien chers lecteurs et lectrices, cramponnez vous à vos sous-vêtements, car La Lodge s'apprête à prendre à contre-pieds cette thèse. Nous laisserons de coté toute considération esthétique pour ce faire, étant évident qu'une photo de Pops aura toujours plus de valeur que la plus technique des prouesses du bon vivant du New Jersey. Ce qui nous intéresse plus est l'aspect éthique du phénomène, et sur ce point là, Brian Wenning semble sortir victorieux, brandissant son petit poing potelé et tatoué d'obscénités. En effet, bien que Pops reste un des "all time favorites" de la rédaction de La lodge, il est désormais un fait accepté que ce dernier "se touche sérieusement le pipi" en terme de production visuelle et de dévouement à la tâche. D'autre part, on ne peut nier l'ardeur que met Brian Wenning à ce retour sur la scène, il enchaine les démos, les interviews remplis de citations déjà intemporelles du fait de leur stupidité, et mouille le maillot (littéralement) sur la planche et devant l'objectif. Si le style n'est plus entièrement la, on ne peut que saluer l'entreprise et rester pantois devant le spectacle de cet être bedonnant se balarguant en switch heel sur des gaps que beaucoup de skateurs trentenaires (Pops le premier) se refusent à aborder autrement qu'en ollie.

Socialisme et planche à roulettes

2010-12-21T12:04:00.010+01:00

Une fois n'est pas coutûme, certains membres et proches du très exclusif cercle lodgien ont été aperçus en train de pratiquer l'art de la roulette à vocation esthétique. On remarquera, non sans un frisson nostalgique, la mise en scène et l'angle de vue typiquement "nineties" de notre photographe et "spot-ripper" préféré MC Léon. On déplorera cependant le manque de doudounes et baggies bleus délavés au niveau du style vestimentaire des protagonistes, mais que voulez-vous, même chez La Lodge, la "street credibility" a ses limites.

On ne pourra que saluer l'initiative de ces guerillieros urbains de donner une dimension politique et profondément socialiste à leur skateboard en choisissant volontairement un "quartier sensible" pour aller pratiquer leur art. Combattant les préjugés sans relâche armés d'une bonne dose de courage et d'une répartie à toute épreuve, ils sont parvenus à rendre le fameux dicton obsolète : "session en cité, bourre-pif dans le nez".

fs nose grind revert - Antoine

180 front fake nosegrind fs shove-it out - Raph

fs flip fakie nose manual - Tibs

fs noseslide - Tibs

bs 180 fakie nose manual - Antoine

Remaniement ministèriel sur fond de jazz

2010-11-17T18:47:00.006+01:00

Coup de latte fatal pour l'entreprise (pas si) familiale Traffic qui perd son ambassadeur aux petites lunettes rondes, j'ai nommé Jacob Sabback, qui va par le sobriquet de Jack dans les allées rugueuses de la mégalopole new-yorkaise. Jack rejoint les rangs de la très ésthétique marque Stéréo, aussi chez La Lodge nous nous laissons aller de bon coeur à conjecturer quant à un possible désaccord concernant le déménagement de la marque Traffic chez le fabriquant Syndrome, après plusieurs années de bons et loyaux services chez le manufactureur très east-coast Chapman.

Cela n'est pas sans évoquer le (non-)remaniement ministériel qui eût lieu ces jours ci dans notre contrée hexagonale. En effet, si le n°1 du gouvernement français reste toujours Mr Fillon et que sa politique favorise toujours les bonnes gens de droite, on peut également penser que le salaire de Jack, malgré le changement d'écurie, ne bougera pas d'un poil. Ce ne sont que bruits de bureaux et autres cancans de machine à café, mais certains de nos reporters se sont laissés dire qu'autant chez Traffic que chez Stereo, le chèque en fin de moi serait optionnel. Certains nous parleront de passion et de "skate pour le fun" et nous soutiendront qu'un salaire ne veut rien dire, mais soit dit entre nous, ceux-là sont sans doute les même qui vont pointer à la soupe populaire du fait de la grande cohésion sociale sarkozienne.

Et croyez moi chez La Lodge, on ne mange pas que des conserves. Oh non.

Days & Nights

2010-10-30T09:14:00.005+02:00

Days&Nights Teaser from Julien_J on Vimeo.

Parmi les productions visuelles les plus excitantes de l'année s'inscrit sans problème le joyau de celui que l'on en est venu a appelé "the white R.B. Umali"; en d'autres termes la vidéo Popular Skateshop "Days & Nights", filmée et montée par Julien Januszkiewicz. Filmée entre Montpellier (terre d'encrage du skateshop) et Bordeaux (terre de vin), la vidéo regroupera des gens aux profils variés allant de "star du skateboard français" à "pseudo-étudiant glandeur".
Certains de nos détracteurs diront que La Lodge s'abaisse à faire du prosélytisme étant donnés les étroits liens que la rédaction entretient avec les protagonistes de cette vidéo, il n'en est cependant rien. Les brèves images de ce teaser transpirent une poésie urbaine que seuls les plus grands réalisateurs ont su capter jusque ici et les contributions de chaque skateur apportent une dimension épique à ce qui deviendra très bientôt une fresque urbaine du skate post-2010.

Sur un tout autre registre, il a été ouï dire que les esprits s'échauffaient sur Bordeaux et que des amitiés ont été brisées sur la question délicate, mais cruciale dans ce monde où la culture de la célébrité fait rage, concernant à qui de droit revient la Dernière Part. Pneus crevés, pare-brises cassés, mysterieuse peinture bleue sur les ailes de voitures, tels sont les méfaits auxquels se sont laissés aller certains skateurs bordelais dans le but d'intimider le talentueux Mr Januszkiewicz afin d'obtenir le Saint Graâl de tout skateur: une Dernière Part. Un comportement que La Lodge qualifiera de "pas très sport".

:)

Le Roi Lion: Quim Cardona

2010-10-29T08:55:00.007+02:00

Chez La Lodge, il est bien connu que nous vouons une haine féroce aux rastaquouères et autres hippies qui pullulent dans les milieux autorisés de la jet-skate que, tenez le vous pour dit, nous fréquentons ardemment. Ces gens sont sales, vils et croient que la misère du monde peut se soigner via une chanson de Larukétanou et une fleur. Bien heureux les simples d'esprits qui ont choisi d'ignorer les rouages impétueux et impitoyables de notre société. Cependant, sachez que chez La Lodge nous ne sommes pas de la sorte et pronons les CDD et la précarité pour nos chers journalistes.

C'est pourquoi lorsque nos éminents collègues scientologues du Berrics nous ont proposé un United Nations du team Organika, ambassadeurs de la culture "peace", la rédaction fut quelque peu sceptique. Sceptisme qui se vit d'autant plus confirmé via les "lifestyle shots" d'un Quim Cardona jouant du mélodica pacifiste et arborant une tignasse de type serpillère avec un bandana.
Et alors que la coupe s'apprêtait à déborder et que notre Délégué au Berrics s'apprêtait a jeté son Mac par la fenêtre, Maitre Cardona daigna mettre un pied sur sa board et nous restâmes cois durant toute sa prestation qui, quoique haute en couleur, est loin d'être sans intêret.
Pour un skateur que l'on n'hésitait pas à qualifier de fini, on peut dire qu'il a de bons restes et même de nouvelles manoeuvres sous le coude. Le switch crook en line et le wallride nollie 3-6 out étant les prouesses les plus surprenantes venant de cet individu aux pantalons de "teufeur". Plus surprenant encore est le coeur qu'il semble avoir mis à l'ouvrage. Au milieu des ces jeunes éphèbes au flip out facile, Quim fait figure d'un lion se débattant dans sa cage pour montrer qu'il est encore bel est bien le roi de la jungle et que jamais ces gazelles ne le détrôneront. Quim sue abondamment, pousse comme âne, se jette sur la rail en roulant dans le mauvais sens. Il n'en a pas fallu plus pour séduire la rédaction qui voue secrètement un culte aux pros trentenaires qui "still got it".
Il est cependant bien ironique de voir celui qui fut jadis le roi de New York littéralement enfermé dans un clapis de métal pour produire ce qui sera sans doute son meilleur footage de l'année. Ainsi, la métaphore du lion en cage est d'autant plus justifiée et nous montre la sombre et triste réalité du monde de la planche à roulettes à vocation artistique et aggressive.

Le mythe des 90s

2010-10-03T19:44:00.006+02:00

Mieux vaut tard que jamais, voici donc l'opinion de la rédaction concernant ce concentré de nostalgie que le team Etnies a produit durant le fameux "online skate event" Skate and Create. Nous remarquerons au passage que Skate and Create contribue largement à démocratiser le skate au sein de notre société, puisque de nombreuses entrées ont été postées par des non-skateurs avides de sensations "Xtremzz" sur les divers réseaux sociaux. Encore une fois de plus c'est l' "Xtreme" et "gliss'n'fun" qui a triomphé puisque c'est l'exercie pyrotechnique réalisé par Lakai qui s'est vu récompensé d'un high five virtuel.

Autant vous dire de suite, chez La Lodge, nous nous sommes copieusement gerbés dessus durant la première projection du film Lakai. Voir des hommes sauter dans des cerceaux de feu peut certes s'avérer intéressant, cependant cela s'appelle du cirque et il faut avoir un age mental de 4 ans pour pouvoir pleinement apprécier la chose. Il est également inutile de préciser que Ty Evans parait très bien lancé pour rendre la marque phare des 90s (Girl/Choco) une des choses les plus lourdes et inésthétiques de cette période post-9/11.

Bref, venons en au fait: la problématique que le film Etnies soulève. Certes, c'est les joues baignées de larmes que nos chers journalistes se sont repassés en boucle la vidéo tout un après-midi, mais cependant quelque chose clochait. Pourquoi ce désir de romantiser les 90s à tout prix? Les années 2000 n'ont-elles pas offert leur lot de joies également?
Un tel problème fait appel à une connaissance de la psychologie même du skateur. En effet le skateur (homo-glandus-skatus), lorsqu'il atteint l'âge adulte, peut durant des après-midis entiers se retrancher dans sa tendre adolescence via son engin à roulettes. Cela en jette un coup aux revendications artistiques de certains skateurs, et nous apprend que le skate est finalement un bon moyen pour retrouver ce sentiment de liberté qu'on pouvait éprouver en sautant la cloture de chez mémé un soir d'été pour allez zoner avec les voisins (surtout la voisine, en fait). Ainsi, l'attachement que chaque skateur porte aux 90s, n'est qu'une manière déguisée de chérir ses jours d'innocence, tendre période ou le skate comportait encore une part de mystère, où Internet n'avait pas tout ruiné (dit le blogger) et où tout ce qui importait était de passer un bon moment seul ou avec des homies, quite à porter un t-shirt Waïkiki. De même, les vêtements caractéristiques de l'époque fonctionnent comme des trophés que le skateur aime à exhiber afin de montrer qu'il évolue dans la tradition directe des 90s.
Le skate, "sport de jeunes", ne veut donc pas forcément dire que le skateur est bien dans son époque. Au contraire, le skateur souffre d'anachronisme chronique et se refuse à grandir et à faire face à l'age adulte. Pour ce faire, les divers comportement qu'il adoptera sertont une hygiène douteuse, un look pour le moins craignos et une tendance à prendre la rue pour sa seconde maison, voir salle de bain.
La rédaction aimerait cependant jeter un bémol sur tant de bons sentiments et propose à chaque skateur de se rappeler un court instant à quel point il pouvait être dur de skater avec une doudoune Helly Hansen. Oui, avoir l'air d'un gangster à 12 ans avait un prix.

Tergiversations sur le skate de nuit

2010-09-17T09:01:00.009+02:00

Frame by Frame out now 3 from Romain Batard on Vimeo.

Chez La Lodge, il faut bien l'avouer, nous sommes très friands de la pratique de la planche aggréssive de nuit. Et cependant, il me semble qu'aucun de nous ne sache vraiment pourquoi le skate de nuit peut s'avérer être autant jouissif. Voici donc, en 3000 signets, ponctuation comprise, l'explication qui nous semble être la plus logique.

Il est désormais entendu et accepté que le skate n'a plus rien de marginal et que n'importe quel individu en quête de "fun" et de "good vibes" peut se procurer la-dite planche et partir à l'assaut des rues, le tout avec une panoplie dite de "sport extrême". Certaines mauvaises langues diront que l'assaut des rues en question se limite très souvent à rester cloîtrer dans un skatepark en vue de s'entrainer pour le prochain Skate à l'Ouest Contest, préstigieuse compétition qui n'est autre qu'un moyen de s'assurer les faveurs des spectatrices et de leur faire partager ces fameuses "good vibes". Cependant, c'est un débat dans lequel nous nous garderont bien d'entrer par peur de froisser les esprits.

Hors, la rédaction de notre ambitieuse feuille de choux est largement conservatrice et déplore amplement cette démocratisation de la pratique du véli-planche. Aussi nous militons virulemment (si si, il est bon celui là - NDLR) pour que le skateboard reste une activité marginale comptant parmis ses pratiquants des personnages créatifs et hauts en couleur. C'est donc à travers le skate de nuit que se matérialise notre mouvement de protestation.

Alors que les athlètes de l'extrème se reposent de leurs durs efforts, nos journalistes sont dehors jusqu'au petit matin. C'est peut être à cette période de la journée qu'il est possible de jouir au maximum de la liberté que ce petit bout de bois offre. La ville se vide des ses individus les plus respectables, la faune nocturne fait son apparition, et les interactions avec le spectateur se font plus nombreuses et plus intenses. Ainsi, il n'est pas rare de voir une glissade sur l'épaule sur plusieurs mètres être accueillie par les clameurs téstoteronnées d'une troupe de douches en partance pour une discothèque où la chemise se porte en satin et près du corps et où la musique est à tendance latine. Je digresse. Parfois également, il s'agit du hobo local qui offre généreusement de partager son herpès avec vous via le goulot d'un bouteille de whisky, en vue de vous donner un peu de courage pour votre prochaine cascade à tendance aggressive et extrême. Le vendeur d'épices locales viendra aussi vous proposer ses tarifs aguichants, et si vous êtes quelque peu chanceux et qu'il se trouve offusqué par votre refus, vous aurez toutes les chances de devoir esquisser quelques pas de danse avec cet attachant individu qui n'est pas le dernier pour la bagarre. Enfin, les arrêts à chaque spots se voient très souvent écourtés par des riverains excédés par le bruit mélodique de nos planches. Vous aurez beau leur expliquer que le skate se passe dans la rue et que c'est une activité mi-physique mi-artisitique et que d'ailleurs ils n'ont qu'à voir la part de Jason Dill dans la Photosynthesis, ces gens là ne voudront rien entendre et resteront pérsuadés que la nuit est faite pour dormir, sous le tendencieux prétexte qu'ils doivent se lever à 6h pour travailler le lendemain, et qu'il est déja 3h30. Bien heureux les simples d'esprit. Il se peut aussi qu'un riverain excédé se transforme en formidable ami à usage unique et vienne discuter avec vous des enjeux du skate de rue dans une société où il faut être toujours plus productif pendant 30min, avant de vous avouer que le bruit des planches le berce quand il joue à sa console de jeux vidéos.

En d'autres termes, la nuit replace le skate dans le contexte au milieu auquel il appartient: les freaks, et lui redonne ses lettres de noblesse. Perdants magnifiques, les skateurs sont dehors dans une environnement urbain quasi désert à une heure où le douche couvert d'auto-bronzant chasse la gazelle sur une musique mi RnB mi électro et où les gens normaux mènent un vie sociale normale et saine. Et peu nous importe si les regards des demoiselles endimanchées sont rarement pour nous, parce que pousser à fond sur une rue déserte avec ses homies est un sentiment qui peut difficilement être égalé.
Après mûre réflexion, la rédaction souhaiterais préciser qu'un regard de temps en temps ne ferait pas de mal.

ps: une vraie douceur, ce teaser par le RB Umali français (époque 90s bien sûr), Romain Batard.

Discours sur la nature du skate britannique

2010-09-14T21:42:00.010+02:00

Chez La Lodge, on affectionne particulièrement le skate britannique. Il ont beau être moches, maigrichons, mal habillés, il y a toujours une sorte de grâce qui émane des ces êtres palichons qui arpentent leurs rues rugueuses en quête d'un ledge qui ne glisse pas un poil. Une sorte de déchéance poussée jusqu'à son paroxysme pour finalement éclore et produire une chose totalement hors norme. Il n'y a qu'à voir la maigreur squelettique du sieur Jensen pour comprendre de quoi il s'agit. La glissade sur l'essieu avant en opposite est facile et cependant elle ne fait aucunement rappel aux nombreuses déclinaisons proposées par le OG sieur Sad dans la 411 best of 4(1997?) que bon nombre de nos collaborateurs ont épluché tout en s'enivrant d'hydroponique durant leur jeunesse. Jeunesse, quand tu nous tiens. Et cependant, bien que les 90s soient occultées, la grâce est là et le switch nosegrind se voit insufflé un second souffle et adapté à l'austérité de l'architecture britannique.

Une interprétation utopique? Certes non. Que notre lectorat se rassure, nous votons bien à droite et avons amplement conscience de la largeur du postérieur du Paul Shier, du style affreux de Mark Baines et de l'étrange ressemblance de Sylvain Tognelli avec Rodney Mullen (si si il est anglais maintenant) (source: Mr Pento). Alors quel est l'ingrédient magique qui fait que le skate britannique soit si attirant? Le réalisme, justement. De même que les plus grands pornographes vous diront de miser sur l'amateurisme de nos jours, le skate anglais est bien ancré dans son ère et nous rappelle quotidiennement, de par la laideur de ses protagonistes, que nous ne sommes pas des héros californiens au dos tatoué, et que jamais nous ne le seront. Une bonne leçon d'humilité pour chacun, en ces temps durs où le skate s'apparente plus à un concours canin qu'à ce qu'il n'est vraiment: une façon implicite et poétique de faire l'amour aux types d'architectures les plus hostiles.

ps: je suis ivre.

More Skateboarding Videos

La surcharge pondérale, clé de voute d'un skateur accompli

2010-08-28T10:00:00.004+02:00

La Lodge se veut être un journal qui n'hésite pas à prendre à contre-pieds les idées reçues dans le petit monde étriqué du street planche. Enfin, dans la mesure où idées reçues il y a, et dans la mesure où il a quelque chose contre quoi s'insurger. Une sorte Charlie Hebdo skateboardistique en sorte. Oui, la rédaction est aussi ambititeuse que cela.

C'est pour cela que lorsque la part du bel éphèbe de chez Gravis est sortie, il a fallu creuser un long moment pour trouver quelque chose à redire. Nous avons du mettre nos plus minitieux experts qui se sont prétés à maintes et maintes revisionnages de la part en slow-motion. Certes, il n'est pas dur de se laisser aller à jaser sur les mocassins en cuir tant contreversés, sur les habits trop "tendance" qui sont en désaccord avec le role social traditionnellement occupé par le skateur dans notre société, ou même par le gesticualage intempestif, et cependant savament calculé, des bras du sieur en question à chaque replaque. Oui mais voila, chez La Lodge, on vaut mieux que ça. L'on aime à s'enorgueillir de nos fines analyses qui plait tant à notre lectorat de droite.

C'est donc après d'interminables journées de travail que nous avons enfin trouver la faille: Dylan Rieder est trop beau, et trop mince pour être un skateur entièrement accompli. Certains de nos détracteurs diront peut être qu'un tel avis est influencé par le fait que chaque membre de la rédaction avoisine le quintal, cependant il n'en est rien. En effet, l'embonpoint (si toujours est-il qu'on peut parler d'embonpoint après 100kg) est la clé du style et il n'y a rien de plus attractif (dans les limites de l'hétéroséxualité, bien entendu) que de voir un grolard rougeot détruire un spot comme personne. Plus de rapidité, des carvings plus efficace, un effet de la gravité décuplé, tels sont les éléments qui font que les gros ont dix fois plus de style que les maigres. Cet article est donc un hommage à tous les skateurs qui ne ratent jamais leur 4h, à tous les skateurs qui ne vont jamais skater sans quelques euros en poche pour des Pépitos et de la bière, et finalement à tous ceux qui prennent deux fois plus cher que les minces quand ils se vautrent. Messieurs, c'est votre heure de gloire:

Non, parce que dès fois on en parle pas, alors les gens pensent qu'on a oublié...

2010-08-13T16:54:00.001+02:00

Le frigo vide

2010-08-12T15:10:00.004+02:00

Connaissez vous ce sentiment amer d'avoir un frigo et des placards remplis de victuailles, et cependant rien ne semble pouvoir calmer cette faim qui vous ronge? Vous tournez en rond, ouvrez, re-ouvrez placards, frigos et congélateurs en éspérant qu'une petite douceur ait échappé à votre regard. Mais en vain. Et ce ne sont pas ces maudits sarments chocolat/menthe offerts par Mémé à Noël qui vont calmé cette faim. Non, vous avez besoin de quelquechose de consistant et de nouveau à la fois. Oui mais quoi?

Tel était l'état d'abbatement dans lequel se trouvaient les journalistes de La Lodge en cette après-midi augustienne caniculaire. La chaleur pesante avait rendu nos gommes Bones bien trop molles pour un énième OUT, et le sentiment de fraicheur apporté par la récente part de Pete Eldridge s'était déjà envolé. Il fallait bien nous rendre à l'évidence: nous étions las. Las de cette routine skateboardistique; las de parcourir les même rues à la recherche d'un spot parfait qui, il fallait bien l'admettre après tant d'années, n'existait surement pas; las de visionner et revisionner les exploits de nos héros San-franciscains aux joggings en peau de pêche. Et c'est alors, qu'une pépite, tel un pot de glace Ben'n'Jerry's Cookie Dough bien caché au fond du congélateur, fit sont apparation: Burnt. Mais qui sont ces gens, d'où viennent-ils et surtout d'où vient cette musique hispano-divine qui retentit? Autant de questions qui ont suscité maintes conjectures et excitation parmis nos journalistes qui semblaient retrouver à travers ces quelques minutes de poésie urbaine et sub-urbaine un passé qu'ils n'avaient jamais connu. Ces héros anomymes resteront sans doute ainsi pour toujours, mais ce qui est sur c'est qu'ils ont ravivé la flamme dans le frèle palpitant de nos chers reporters de La Lodge.
Même Harry, le gros du 5e, a sorti son cruiser Powell. C'est pour vous dire.

La fin des 90's

2010-08-08T14:19:00.007+02:00

Cette année l'arène du Berrics est, me semble-t-il, le théatre d'un fait qui à jeté l'effroi dans les bureaux de La Lodge. Plus que jamais, il devient évident que les jours de gloires des années 90 touchent à leur fin. Certes oui, voila une déjà une décade que les 90's sont finies, mais l'on pouvait toujours se bercer d'illusions en regardant certaines parts post 2000 de JB ou Mike Carroll qui trahissaient leur source d'inspiration évidente. De temps à autre, un fakie ollie switch frontside crook (affecteusement surnommé un "Mike York") ou même un switch mongo push venait se glisser entre 2 combos. Si ces éclats étaient rares, leur effets n'en étaient que plus intense.
Seulement voila, cette année touts les skateurs trentenaires du BATB3 se font balayer par de jeunes hommes qui, si ils ne sont pas supporté financièrement par des boissons gazeuses au gout d'urine, ont une selection de figures suggérant une immaturité probale et un manque de gout certain. De plus, et cela ne va pas sans créer une certain tumulte dans le Département OG des bureaux de la Lodge, la frontière entre "OG head" et "gros pourri" semble être de plus en plus poreuse. Il est en effet surprenant de voir cette merde réelle (real shit) de Josh Kalis apparaitre dans ces déprimantes pub DC, pour, de surcroit, nous refiler sa créme solaire dont il aurait sacrément besoin afin de se badigeonner le rectum pour recevoir l'adoubement suprême de Ken Block. Je digresse.

Quoique il en soit, les temps sont durs à La Lodge, et beaucoup de nos reporteurs perdent la foi. J'ai même eu l'occasion d'en voir certains s'essayer au 3-6 shove it. C'est pour vous dire...

ps: tel Mystery qui passe du noir&blanc à la couleur, La Lodge sera désormais dans la langue de Molière au lieu de Shakespeare. Si au moins un lecteur anglophone pouvait se plaindre, ça me mettrait de beaume au coeur...

unfuckwithable

2010-07-20T23:14:00.003+02:00

The Thinkers from the Golden Gate Bridge

2010-07-06T20:57:00.005+02:00

Once upon a time there was a brand nobody cared about and if one was asked about its team, it was with a certain bewilderment that he had to admit that he could not even name one dude. This brand was of course Think. Despite its presence on the Western skate scene for quite a long time, not much attention was paid to Think.

However, their [no so] recent additions to the team have generated much sexual arousement among the SF Department of La Lodge. First, the pony-tailed Floridian Brian Delatorre seems to have received a good piece of advice and has traded his filthy outfits for what seems to be the uniform of the winners these days: Dickies & Cons. Not to mention his bag of tricks which has become far more interesting since his delocalisation. Then, that Josh Mathews kid who is definitely an upcoming all-aroud ripper. Finally, to bend the rules, internet sensation Cody McEntire finally comes through with some footage without fedora hat nor miniramp circus moves. I have even overheard a conversation between two of our reporters in the toilets claiming that his footage was "kinda alright." Well, this is certainly very nice but I guess they weren't paying attention during that awful 3-6 shove it. So be it.

But what we were more concerned about is that this promo allows us to forsee that in the very near future Think will release a very exciting audiovisual production. The team seems to be more pumped up than never and the musical accompaniement lets us think that the full lenght video will be a treat as much for our eyes as for our ears.

A special mention should be addressed to "Dela" for his untouchable opening fs crook, which made more than one of our reporters whipe their greasy foreheads blurting out an admirative "Phew! That kid is no joke!"

Bay Area Exposure

2010-06-17T15:04:00.009+02:00

La Lodge's Teaser Delegate is proud to share his recent discovery. Indeed, our Teaser Delegate is a man who has found a comfortable refuge in the recently digitalized versions of his favourite 90s videos. The predictability of every line soothes his poor mind tired by the unsightly innovations of today's teen idols (c.f. Adrien Bullard's latest addition to the self-justified maneuver labelled 3-6 flip in Pause #2). Therefore, the discovery of this piece of urban poetry featuring two prominent parties of Closure constituted an agreeable turn of events for this man imbued with nostalgia, who, for a short though priceless moment, went as far as considering lifting his stiff body from his quilted armchair to hit the streets with his skateboard. He finally opted for an umpteenth viewing of Eastern Exposure, but the least we can say is that it was a close call.

Frame by Frame part 4 - Léo Valls

2010-06-16T14:26:00.012+02:00

Shall we observe the dozens of reporters at La Lodge, we would realize that one of the recurrent subjects that come up during the long hours of chitchatting in front of the coffee machine is Bordeaux's finest Léo Valls's part in Frame by Frame, edited by Romain Batard. And indeed, its quite a puzzling material.
To the surprise of the average skateboarder, Léo opens his part sporting a face mask. "What does this mean?" asks the upset everyman confortably numb by the resemblance of every skateboard video these days. Well, we first thought of an affiliation with the Canadian Satan-inspired Barrier Kult, for Léo is a man of many connections. However, the hip-hopesque nature of the musical accompaniment seems to indicate that no answer can be supplied by this lead.

Perhaps we should come back to the intrinsic definition of the face mask. Face mask= clandestiness. There it is. Such an opening signals Léo's shifting to undergound. Indeed, we, in France, live in a country where the cover of a magazine is a handrail stunt 9 times out of 10. People care more about the flying backfoot of the famous contest-winning Ronald Weasley look alike than about actual creative skateboarders. Street-skateboarding is very often reduced to fair-headed pre-pubescent skaters with rolled-up pants firing 3-6 shove-its in every line. Despite the regular claims of the artisitic potential of skateboarding in magazine editos, it seems that glory still lies in normality and if one wants to shine, the panel of his tricks must not step out of the boundaries of what is traditionnally accepted as 'steezy'.

How much room is one given for innovation? Not much. Where else than in the US is one supposed to look for inspiration? Nowhere. Well, be ready my friends, because Léo's skateboarding is largely Tightbooth-inspired and some of his maneuvers will probably never find their place in the French skate-landscape notwithsanting their originality. Therefore, to come back to our point, the problematic face mask announces the ideological stand that Léo takes against normative skateboarding. His skateboarding bears neither shaking junts nor combo-slides. In other words, there is nothing to satisfy the average skater's hunger for performance, hence Léo's noctambulism. If such unorthodox skateboarding is not recognized by the mainstream, why not playing according these lines and keeping the joke running by skating at night? Thus, when the everyman gets his well-deserved rest after the session, Léo fires lines in Bordeaux's most obscure back-alleys, and never these two worlds cross each other's way.

2010-05-26T16:43:00.002+02:00

Amongst the several tons of mails we receive everyday, one particular question proves to be recurrent: "Do you guys happen to skate sometimes instead of disserting all day about agressive urban skateboarding?"
Well, let me tell you my friends, we do. Sometimes. I mean, when it's sunny and my setup is looking good. And when the spot is smooth and welcoming. This is why this excursion to the sandy hereabouts of Claouey was an unusual one for the reporters of La Lodge, being more used to the softness of our couch than the roughness of this 70s ungrateful skatepark.

Encore un peu de Claouey ! from Tim Reinson on Vimeo.

Post-modernism

2010-05-16T11:20:00.004+02:00

It is now a fact that the second decade of this newborn century is characterized by a post-modern approach to skateboarding. The frontiers between time periods have been blurred through mastery of an ever-enlarging panel of tricks. Briand Anderson's boneless to fs smith is probably the most blatant example of the liminality that affects skateboarding these days.
Three time periods reunited in one trick. The boneless, key trick of the unforgiving era of fluorescent shorts, finds itself articulated with a fs smith, which at its heyday (1994? )could be performed more than 40 times in one session. Finally, the metallic context provided by the handrail is not remembering the hammer race of the early 00s that ruined the limbs of so many promising talents.
And still, should we find it surprising, on behalf of a man who dared riding for Toy Machine and Axion at the same time? It seems that BA is not one for rigid categories and we appreciate that very much in the office of La Lodge. This notion of porous bondaries might remind some of you of the debate about BA's blurred gender identity and sexual orientations. This is a debate we will not enter for we do not give a shit about it and are already "gay" for Brian.

On Englishness

2010-05-03T21:17:00.005+02:00

Shall we take a look at the teaser of the soon to be widely acclaimed Blueprint visual production, we will hear Audrey Hepburn' lyrical voice singing: "All I want is a room somewhere/ Far away from the cold night air." If we transpose this original predicate to the year 2010 and the city of London, we can draw the satisfaying conclusion that the Blueprint team is composed of a bunch of dirty bums living in a cold-ass city. Danny Brady's elegant appearance and his healthy breakfast seem to confirm this thesis.
But what are we to do of the recent addition to the team, Arizonian manual acrobat Marty Murasky? Indeed, the conception of Englishness does not give much room for sun, cactuses and ditches in the middle of the desert. Will his professional debut be tarnished by a renunciation to his origins to the profit of the grayness of Old England?
We can see the complex problematic that Make Friend With the Colour Blue lays, for, despite a self-proclaimed British identity, the brand is slightly trying to take over the world. We will not attempt to solve the issue, for we good-heartedly leave it to Dan Magee. Nevertheless we shall bring him support by getting drunk with cheap beer while discovering his work.

Ryan Wilson - SKYLARKING

2010-05-02T22:45:00.004+02:00

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0OVAMW02
http://www.theoriesofatlantis.com/site/store/skylarking/

Please, support independent vids.

2010-04-28T08:43:00.005+02:00

DGK Captain and golden artificats amateur Stevie Williams has decided to go "back to roots" fot his annual skateboarding production. Indeed, the trick is not without remembering his Transworldian coup de grace at Love Park. If the maneuver was somewhat avant-gardiste in 2000, it has aged rapidly to the point of being considered highly anachronistic in 2010. But perhaps this move is an intentional elipse for an aging Stevie who wants to address his fans a reminder of his technical heyday. More interestingly, the outfit Sir Williams sports gives evidence of his success in the entrepreneurial department of extreme sports. Since the Reason, the Swoosh, though unofficially, made its appearance and one cannot but wonder at the number of zeros figuring on his unofficial check. Besides, the matching combo "cap'n'shoes" and the palm trees in the background testifiy of certain detachment from the east-coast grayness to the profit of the Californian lights, land of his mitigated rap success. (although I suspect the photo to have been shot in Florida)

Frame by Frame part 3 - Fabien Chaigne

2010-04-22T18:34:00.009+02:00

"Another goddam disciple of Satan!"
Such were my words at the opening of the part. Because yes, Satan is definitely in since the rise Deathwish era, partly thanks the exceptional promotional work made by disciple Sammy Bacca and disciple Lizard King. I was then expecting the logical consequence of such an intro: Black Sabbath ringing out into my hear while a Dickies&Vans enthusiast blasted airs and hammers. How easy am I to fool!
It does no harm just this once, it was actually Jay Hawkins that I heard screaming his funky music into my hears. What?! If Jereme Roger fears no man, Greg Dezecot fears no criticism for he had the boldness to brave the rigid conventions of skateboard-editing.
Even worse, instead of a fat angry dude, I realized that Fabien was actually a light-footed Nate Broussard look-alike who had the tendency to do long and fluid lines on architecturally awkward spots. But that funky rythmic music on such fluid skateboarding? How dare they?
How ignorant was I in those days! After intense reflexion I finally made the connections and understood the stakes of Fabien' part. Satan + "Africa gone funky" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins = Voodoo!! Fuck yeah! Voodoo, the exotic version Satanism! This makes sense, especially if we include the cool arty black figures that the editor included.

What conclusion should we draw then? By his advocating of Voodoo, Fabien shows how he proceeds to produce such skateboarding. You take one popular skateboard-trend (Satanism) and your add your own touch (exoticism) and come up with something unprecedented: Voodoo! Shall we apply this theory to his skateboarding, we will find that Fabien mixes "modern east-coast" type of skateboarding (wallies and wallride) with 90s inspired tricks (fs crooks, sw bs 5-0). In this post-9/11 era we shall label this type of skatebaording as post-modern, for it shows assimilation and mastery of the codes of the various eras, and a deep consciousness of the stylistic mood the skater evolves in. The Voodoo thing only reinforces this phenomenon for it creates an interaction between the skater and the editor. Thus the editor, by bending the rules of editing, higlights this post-modern aspect. Although, and in my humble opinion this is to deplore, the post-modern style has not come fully to maturity yet for Fabien tends to drifts more towards the modern way.
Not sure if the reference is intentional, but this subtle mix of class, violence and Voodoo is not without remembering Guy Hamilton's untemporal Live and Let Die. Should we interpret this as an implication that Fabien is as elegant on a board as Roger Moore with a gun in hand?

We shall leave this question unanswered, however the simple fact of raising it already means a lot.

Dorkness it should be

2010-04-19T22:42:00.003+02:00

Thrasher July'89

What's funny is that the first thing I wanted to post, I wanted it to be something that struck when I first started skating.
Me and my older brother bought 3 Thrashers for 100Francs at the time. (We ordered them on 36 15 SKATE, no kidding). I honestly think I spent hours devoring these magazines back then.
Well, that ad (shown here) represented like the essence to me. Being out, skating, eating, dorking, whatever… It's also way punk. I used to just stare at it as a kid and think it looked like a purpose in life (as weird as it could be).
I honestly didn't care that much about those Gordon & Smith trucks, anyway.

Ricky Windsor used to ride for Circle A Skateboards. Ed Templeton rode for that company as well before turning pro for New Deal when it started.

There's a lot of companies out there promoting that 'have fun philosophy' thing and what not, nowadays. I don't know.
Just think about why you've started this in the first place.

My whole point here is that skateboarding has always been about being out, enjoying your time, and dorking around.

Poll Results

2010-04-17T20:48:00.010+02:00

So you guys went for Lucas. Really? I mean, it's not that I dislike the guy, but I just had this idea that La Lodge was a place dedicated to alternative forms of skateboarding. Well, fuck it. The guy seriously rips. I recently watched the last Gypsea Tour that saw Lucas' accession to the coveted throne of the Gypsy King, and I definitely enjoyed his performance.

And I have the feeling that little blue short he has apparently rocked along the whole tour is going to be the next raging trend. Even more than flannel shirts.

Get yours right now, I'm already sporting mine everyday.

Moving on to our next bi-weekly poll, I was wondering what is the worst trend in skateboarding right now according to you guys. And I'm not talking about flannel shirts or beanies or anything, but more about tricks or particular way to do a trick. In other words: things that happen on the board.

- the excessive use of 3-6 shove-its. I don't know if the trend is really popular in the US right now, but it's raging in France, especially among young lads. Despite being beyond reproach, I might be a bit guilty on that one even though I make sure that my trick be tinted with irony.

- combos: Paul Shier's boarslides to 5-0 have always been a pleasure to watch, but now the trend has definitely taken over the world. The most incongruous/ineasthetic of those might be Lucas' bs smith to bs noseslide in the Flared video.

- the lazy legs: okay that one might not be obvious. Here I am not talking about the spread-eagle tre flips but about the increasing numbers of skaters whose legs look so weak that they skate with their knees bent inwards. (Austin Gylette, Yaje Popson, etc...)

- kids that are too good.

ps: part 3 of Frame by Frame very soon

Doing things the way they should be done

2010-04-14T18:19:00.006+02:00

Despite our self-proclaimed independence and indifference to the rest of the world, we have to admit that skateboarding is not very different from politics. Indeed, a faux-pas happens really quickly and it might be a long time before a brand can get rid of its tarnished image. Unfortunate alliances with corporate companies such as Timberland or Echo have proved to be enough to come to term with the formerly legitimate brands Ipath and Zoo York. And if Zoo York is slowly redeeming itself in your eyes, I guess it would not be bold to put it on the team's recent powerful achievements.
This is why, in these days and age, La Lodge would like to salute the work done by èS and Expedtion One, be it the skaters or the poor anonymous white-collars-designers/graphists who spend their days in the office day-dreaming about the 30 minutes session they will manage to catch before heading home to the wifey. Nevertheless, lately I have been turned on each time these people have put out footage or products. Some might complain about éS excentricity and excessive use of the air bubbule, but I perceive it as a tribute paid to the too often forgotten era of the early 00s. These people do their job with talent and sobriety and from the tour footage that I have seen, it seems that demos still actually matter with them.
Bien joué messieurs.

Frame by Frame part 2 - Jo & Greg Dezecot

2010-04-10T09:28:00.019+02:00

I shall start this essay by referring to one of the greatest French scholars of skateboarding, who saw the alliteration between Dezecot and Decenzo as a good opportunity to draw a parallel between the two pairs of brothers. Well, allow me to push the comparison slighlty further. Before entering the details of the part, I would like to point that the Dezecot Brothers' marketing department has made serious improvements over the years . I use to be able to differentiate them because (if I remember well) Greg used to be an Ipath-enthusiast who had the habit to pop his boardslides before reaching the ends of rails, while Jo used to be a relatively small fs half-cab flipper in skinny jeans. But these days are long gone, for Jo has grown up and they have now decided to bet on their resemblance to reach skateboarding-stardom, like the Decenzo brothers have done.

Consequently,and at the image of their Canadian counterparts, you can expect to seem to get big RDS or Dakine contracts and Thrasher covers in the very next future.

Moving on to their shared and self-edited part, as stupid as it might sound, the most significant weakness was that I had a really hard time differentiating them. Dead Meadow constitutes a logical musical accompanement to the commited nature of their skateboarding. I appreaciated that the amount of "pushing shots" was rather limited to let room for actual shredding.

Some of the flatground tricks and technical moves might be a little bit shaky or awkward, but that is not where the point of the part rests. Instead, the accent is put in those rough semi-urban transitions that you are likely to find if you skim through the medium-sized French towns. I personally thought that the best declension of the case was this ToddJordan-like bank to bank ollie:

More generally, the whole part is sprinked with ideally chosen tricks on hostile spots. Being a 90s enthusiast, I deplore the lack of switchstance maneuvers on ledges, though I remember a sw frontside lipslide which almost reconciled me with the blatant and excessive use of regular version of that trick. And that is a lot to say. We should also salute those two for their adaptation skills and their relative detachment from some of the worst trends in skateboarding. However, next time it would be a good idea not to have a shared part so that we might know who to give credit for each trick. I deliberately won't say whose skating aroused me the most, to make sure that each breakfast in the Dezecot family might be darkened by the doubt until the end of time. Indeed, one is always by himself at the top.

Frame by Frame - part 1

2010-04-08T18:32:00.012+02:00

No matter what you might think about the video in itself, you cannot but take a bow in front of the people at the root of this enterprise. The release of an independent skateboard video in France is probably as historical as the passing of the health care bill in the US. We already had some but I guess it is legitimate to say that the quality of the editing had nothing to do with the job made by the guys Behind the Lens.

For those who don't know, Frame by Frame is made by a bunch of unpretentious chaps from Le Mans, Tours and Paris, aaaah Paris. [...] The concept of the video is similar to Transworld's Cinematographers or the more recent Cliché's Déja Vu. And filmer/editor for each part. An ingenious concept I would say, even though the skater (and his personality) still seems to be the one who gives its flavour to a part. I guess the concept is first of all a justification of the fact that Frame by Frame is a common enterprise.
A common project certainly, but uncommon by its nature. Before entering into the details of the protagonists' feats, we shall take a moment to celebrate the fact that they managed to avoid the most reccurents spots in the landscape of French skateboarding. [...] The most illustrious pilgrimage places of the City of Lights have been skillfully avoided in favor of more obsucre spots. Aside from Oscar's 8mm-filmed-ollie, le Dôme is let at rest. And this might be for the best, because this allow us to discover the resources that our cherished Hexagon has to offer. However, it seems these wonderful resources are going to be kept secret a little longer, because a lot of the protagonists made a point to choose the least attractive/skatebale spots.

Therefore, you can already classify Frame by Frame in the categories of videos featuring tricks that look doable until reality comes to shatter your hopes. How many times have you resolutely claimed that you were going to one up the local hero, and pathetically failed because of some unforeseen gravels or a too short runway once you were at the spot?

- I can probably do a fs flip here! I can do it first try on the skatepark's pyramid. Guys, I swear tomorrow I'm gonna do it, don't forget the camera!
And then he day after:
-Naaaaaay. You know what? This spot sucks, I bet they came with broomsticks and wooden plates to make it easier...
Well, they did not. The spot is simply harder to skate than it looks. And so are the spots in Frame by Frame, for having been to some of them.

(to be continued when willing to...)

The Evolution: Man vs Monkey

2010-04-06T20:16:00.004+02:00

I am sincerly sorry to shock my creationist readers, but here is another proof of the accuracy of the Evolution theory.

Chico Brenes : Minister of the 90s

2010-04-02T16:48:00.001+02:00

Seeing Chico Brenes' latest and self-explicative Banging reminded me of French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner's entry into the government. "What, in the name of Adam and Eve, is he doing with those pieces of shit?!" was my reaction in both cases. Indeed, for an ambassador of the 90s such as Chico or a socialist such as Kouchner, entering (respectively) the Berrics or President Sarkozy's government can be very compromising.

But as you can see, the test is taken successfully. When it might be more debatable in Kouchner's case, Chico's performance converted me to Scientology at once. Despite the blatant lack of picnic tables and benches, Chico keeps doing his shit the best he can. It is a rather pleasant sight to see him struggling in the Berrics to keep the aesthetic codes of the 90s alive. No embarrassing back leg dancing move, just smoothness and delicacy. As Kouchner has sometimes been accused of his conspicuous use of humanitarian causes, one could easily attack Chico for his excessive use of the fs-shove it. However, I believe this maneuver managed to survive pretty well the drastic changes of 00s skateboarding, so that its integration in 360° maneuvers such as the lazer flip manual rendered me speechless.

Moreover, and this you might not know, Chico is not the last in terms of humanitarianism. After a non exhaustive research, I found out that he opened Central Skate Shop in Nicaragua, his homeland. Besides I've heard he is doing some other stuff for the community over there. What is all the more appreciable is that Chico did it with the class and discretion of true gentlemen rather than with the loudness of our Che Guevera of skateboarding $teve Berra, who judges necessary to release an internet campaign each time he gives a nickel to a bum.

Flagrant Délit - 2

2010-03-31T09:39:00.004+02:00

Even the most underground rippers can be caught red-handed sometimes. Here, Dave Caddo offers us as 'steezy' pose after a 'steezy' wallride. I don't know what is going on with his hands, but it's definitely wrong and aesthetically unpleasant

Flagrant délit

2010-03-30T09:01:00.005+02:00

'Flagrand délit' is an ambitious rubrique aiming at higlighting professional skateboarders accentuating their style to the point of ridicule.
First on the list: Tony Cervantes in Ride the Sky.

I shall do an 'Accessorized Kamasutra of Skateboarding' as soon as I stop being lazy...

The Self-Made Whiner

2010-03-28T19:23:00.006+02:00

The Get By

In 1954, Irvin G. Wyllie published The Self-Made Man in America: the Myth of Rags to Riches. The intent of the author was to explain the concept of the 'self-made man' and to see how it could be perpetuated in a world of big corporation where the emphasis was on the group and not the individual. More than 50 years later, HBO published this piece of shit of documentary in which they tried desperately to attach the sociological concept of the self-made man and the American Dream with the snobbish and hypocritical world of skateboarding.

Far from being 'men in gray flannel suit', skateboarders are among the few who do not have to make a choice between their jobs and their lives considering that their jobs is their passion as well. Paradoxically enough, this fauna counts an anormally significant number of whiners, more hypocritical than two white-collars in competition for the same position.
The most poetic of us would say this documentary is an ode to New York, while the most pessimistic would say it is meant to disguise NY skateboarders' lazyness with architectural excuses. No need to precise where I stand. Gino, who basically never had any footage in NY, is one of the first to point out NY's roughness. He's quickly followed by Pops, who used to rip seriously back in the days and who has now found a good exscuse to justify his lazyness. Perhaps, a piece of shit of European skater like me cannot understand what those modern guerillos have to say. Or maybe if they went to other spots than Macba and Bercy during Euro tours, they would have an accurate vision of Europe and know that NY is not the only place with rough spots.
At least, one thing we cannot take away from them is the photogenic quality of NY.

Keeping with the whining part, apparently NY is the only place with clubs, drugs and alcohol preventing you from skateboarding. Here again, though everyone complain about their demons it is interesting to see that some of them such as Fred Gall never fell of the map.

I guess the part I enjoyed the most was when skateboarders talked about their standard of living. It was interesting to see my illusions shattered and to realize that some of them (the less whiners, paradoxically) had a 9 to 5 job. I guessed it would have been interesting to emphasize more on this aspect. The 5 Boro team might have had a lot to say about that.

The self-made man owes his success to no one, and he is proud of that. While we might see it as ironical to see Gino and Pops (who live only thanks to their past fame and faithful sponsors) talking about it, it seems more logical to see 'hardworking' skateboarders such as Eli Reed or Zered Bassett (who actually deserve to be where they are at) sharing their opinion.

The real self-made men of this documentary might be Jahmal Williams, Steve Rodriguez and Billy Rohan, respectively Hopps owner, 5 Boro owner and skate-teacher. Those are the actual ones who seem to have struggled to build something tangible in the skatebaording world. The modesty of their achievements is contrasted by the amount of energy they put in it, and we cannot but admire them for what they built with their own hands and time. It is sad that HBO had such amazing material and concept at hand, and that they came up with such a 'cliché' documentary devoided of worthy content. It would have been interesting to spend more time interviewing the actual persons qualified to talk about being a 'self-made man'. And if the editing were better, perhaps we could have had two full sentences in a row instead of a succession of catchy slogans such as "this is the best city in the world!"

LaLodge would like to point out MC Quim Cardona's amazing performance who definetely gives rhythm and a touch of crazyness to the documentary.

Poll Results + Anthropological enterprise

2010-03-27T09:45:00.007+01:00

So, obviously the majority of people answered "is there a good part about Adio?" Can it be possible that a brand has sponsored so many embarrasing skaters by the past such as Adio? (Shaun White, Bam, Tony Hawk, Richie Belton...)

But I have to admit that the exact purpose of this pointless poll was to know the number of people who had enough spare time to spend five intense minutes watching my blog. Well, considering that there must be some people watching and not voting, it's not that bad. Even though, I'm considering switching back to French...

Anyway, this week's poll will have the same anthropological purpose. My purpose being to know more about my awsome readership. What kind of skateboarding do you guys particulary affectionate? To that end, I have selectionned 4 skaters that I consider representative of a particular trend in skateboarding. Giving your vote to one of these professional stuntmen does not necessarily mean that you're sexually found of him, but more that you appreciate his style or vision of skateboarding. Thus, if you vote for Bobbly Puleo, you're showing you love for cellar-doors and pretentiousness, and not much more.

So, this week's champions are:

- Bobby Worrest: graciously hugged in his Dickies pants and recently fit again in Yougatgetthat, Bobby transcends coastal barriers. He does not give a shit, his trick selection, thought improving, remains unaffected by the various trends raging in the higly conformist world that skateboarding is.

- Lucas Puig: The French cupsoles afficionado might be under the influence of combo-skateboarding, but we have to admit that he is often one of the innovators in that matter and that his technical level is always on point.

Shinpei Ueno: knowing the hold of Japanese skateboading on Bordeaux skaters, I guess it would be legitimate to put this modern urban samuraï as amassador of skateboarders eager to make love to architecture. Shinpei's flip tricks might not have the lightfootedness of Lucas' but the rest of his tricks is likely to make your panties turn brown.

- Grant Taylor: the former kid and newly tall and lanky tranny-dog's skateboarding transcends time's barrier. He can actually be called an 'overall ripper' because no type of terrain seems to be able to resist to his wrath, from the radest bowls to rails with holes in them.

(I have recently learned to make hypertext links, so don't forget to watch the clips, pigé?)

Day in a life with Billy Rohan

2010-03-21T11:44:00.005+01:00

Day in the life with Billy Rohan from Jesse Fritsch

So, he is a skate-teacher for high-school and rides for Element. Is it that bad?
I don't know if I say that because I'm a fan of his skating, but it seems that he has found the right balance between mainstream and hardcore skateboarding without compromising himself.
Teaching skateboarding to kids is not that bad if you let them understand that it must be enjoyed outside of any kind of structure as well. From what we see here, the skateboarding class is mostly about putting kids on a skateboard and letting them have fun the way they want. I guess it's better than the GI Joe style: "Alrgith freshers, 20 ollies for everyone!"
And on the other end, Billy is very active in the NY skate community, from taking care of the 12th & A to filming dope parts for the Green Diamond video. Moreover, he is not getting caught into stupid trick and style trends: his 3-6 flips are OG and his ledge tricks are worthy of a 90s Girl video.

Let's hope for a full part in the next Element video now.

PWBC

2010-03-19T16:25:00.003+01:00

English skateboarders were known for their phlegm and refinment and impeccable tricks and spot selection. Now they are famous for being crazy and obsessed by gansta skateboarding.

pwbc - pwbc 36 Mandem on MUZU

Figure-skating

2010-03-19T16:15:00.002+01:00

This past week I have been watching various video clips of the recent edition of the Tampa Pro. I don't give a shit about contest's results and I find it rather stupid to judge skateboarding like ice-skating, but I have to admit that I love to watch the skating.
Anyway, this got me into thinking about contest runs. I don't know how come it's always the dudes who cannot stay on their board during 45 seconds who always end up winning. Take this run example:

Alright, I am willing to admit that it was pretty amazing. But who the fuck skate like that, honestly? Do you guys take you board in hand after every single trick? Personnally I kind of enjoy the cruising part of skateboarding and I feel like these dudes skate with a sort of check-list in mind: "Okay, anihilating the rail: done. Now let's move on to the hip. Let's not worry with a kickturn on the wall, it's lame anyway." You know it's like when you watch figure-skating: nobody gives a shit when the dude is cruising and everyone is just waiting for him to throw a "buttery" triple axel.
Don't get any ideas on me watching figure skating, ok? Well, I do sometimes but that is mostly for the ladies in tight leotard. Now that this point is cleared, let's move on.

Now that's what I call a run. Thank you my dear Swedish exhibitionist fellow, I appreciate that.
If I were a judge that is the kind of skateboarding I would reward. I like that the dude is all over the place: from tranny attacks to neo-oldschool tricks such as the boneless fs tail on the handrail, no obstacle is spared Pontus' wrath. He even makes the cruising in between tricks interesting. Rattray's, Trujillo's, Busenitz's runs are often as much arousing. Even if some of these dudes have already won Tampa, I feel like it was much an exception and that actual good skateboarding won't be rewarded as it should be before long.
Maybe we should get figure-skating judges for Tampa after all...

Julian Stranger's impression

2010-03-16T13:49:00.004+01:00

Homeboy Antoine was aiming at a backtail on the bench, but he pulled out a backlip on the ledge instead. Style for miles and nice colors. Pic by Alex Richard.

Marcus

2010-03-15T18:49:00.003+01:00

Marcus, emperor of the Bay Area.

Billy Rohan and Rastafarism

2010-03-15T10:48:00.007+01:00

Last Update: Mar 13 2010
Sponsors: Element, Acapulco Gold , Supreme, Vans, Harold Hunter Foundation, Open Road of New York
Hometown: NYC NY Stance: Goofy Status: Pro

Whaaaaat? Yes, according to his Skatepark of Tampa profile, the ex-Floridian and currently illustrious NY-skate-teacher Billy Rohan has signed over at Element. That's a harsh one. Especially because many rumors about Lutzka signing on Element are circulating on the web at the same time. But don't get excited because Billy is still producing good skateboarding (see Rich Mahogany) and everyone knows that good OG skateboarding is never rewarded like it should be. So G-Sltuz is still gonna get a bigger paycheck and more ladies. Bummer.

I think that dude has always been in my top 5, or top 7, or 8. Even when he was under the radar, I used to watch that clip and got hyped to skate listening to some Wu-Tang. See that bs noseblunt at the City Hall? Holy shit! (sainte crotte) Maybe a bit sketchy, but that's straight gnarliness. He had an interview in a SugarMag around 00, and I remember not knowing much about what looked good on a skateboard at the time. However I soon as I saw his fs 270 heelflip at Brooklyn banks, I felt like I already knew more about style. Despite the lameness of Element, I'm psyched for him cause he deserves a decent sponsor after Zoo York let him down. I just hope he won't get the full Element package, because we all know it cannot do good to a career.

I guess what would be a good idea for Element would be to split the team in 2, a bit like they did over at Circa, with the C1rca Combat Division. They could recreate Underworld Element, and put all the good "underground" skaters and come up with a sick team that we would be willing to support. Besides this would allow them to go full speed on the corporate and rasta bullshit without hurting too much the ethically-spotless skateboarders' career.
I call team-manager first!

18th try Fridays

2010-03-13T09:55:00.009+01:00

In the midst of general lameness that the Berrics features, if there is one thing that really makes me shit my pants all the time, it is the First Try Fridays section. Personnally I have a really hard time popping just a flatground kickflip first try, so I can't even conceive the idea of throwing down my stiff little body on any 8 stair set in the first 30 minutes of the session. The reason why I'm not doing it during the rest of the session is to be searched somewhere else. So, those dudes (supposing they don't rig it) come out of their cars after the traditional Californian one-hour car ride, and without the slightest oriental stretching move, they pull out some seriously sexually arousing bangers. If I had to do it, I guess I would pretend my shoe-laces were untied or something and perform some discreet genuflexions to oil my rusty carcass. Or I would pick up a fight with fuckface Reda with the implicit purpose of getting warmed up a bit, which would do good to the skateboarding community at the same time.
I remember reading in a 60 Second With Rob Welsh (Skateboarder) that his technique to warm up was to throw fooplant kickflips and tre flips for 30 minutes until he considered actually jumping.

Not bad of a technique, and rather visually pleasing as well.
The thing is that you would think that First Try Fridays are reserved for healthy and fit skateboarders only, but Greco, Ellington, Templeton or Rip (the Japanese photographer) have all nailed it. I bet they were all trying to warm up in their car on the highway traffic jam. Just imagine them them waving their arms like hell through the opening roof. I mean, that's what I would have done.

Anyway, Brandon Biebel deserves the Award for the scariest First Try Fridays ever. Not bad for a Red-Bull-soaked manual aficionado.

Sleep-skating : Minuit

2010-03-10T19:38:00.004+01:00

This is old news but I would be psyched if someone actually discovers this teaser on my blog.
The guy behind the VX1000 is Yoan Taillandier. Go check his Utube account XBX2000, lots of good stuff in there. As you can see the influences come mostly from the US East Coast and Japan (and SF, did I see Carlos Young in that teaser?). The people skate fast and you would not think of skating most of the spots they skate. Hopefully we'll see the full lenght coming sooner than we think.
Oh yeah, and they're from Bordeaux, in case you did not know.

I don't know how come Bordeaux has this "East Coast" label, but I think it's pretty dope. If you guys want to go to New York but don't have the money, just buy a single for Bordeaux. In between Riot skateshop that carries a lot of East Coast underground brands (Traffic, Hopps, Shut...) and the skaters who are not afraid to cross the city pushing, I guarantee you won't be disappointed and won't even feel the difference. Well, maybe just a tiiiiiny little bit.
And if you live in New York, well, lucky you.

Miami Vice

2010-03-10T19:36:00.000+01:00

Usually I am the first one to complain when a teaser does not include enough skating. But this one gets me seriously hyped. Lately I have become really into Floridian skateboarding. The ambiance is an ideal mix of the East and the West. The protagonists zigzag on the wheatered pavements with the carelessness of surfers on acid. It's like if Mouse and Eastern Exposure were combined into a single video.
I recently acquired the Westside skateshop boxset, which I recommend to everyone, and look forward very much to this new production by Josh Stewart.

I like that the guy came up with a particular theme (Miami Vice) that he develops with sobriety and I hope the video will live up to the expectations set by the teaser. Nevertheless, with such a line up and the nuggets that Josh counts in his filmography, I believe there is not much to worry about. I always thought that a bit of 'packaging' around the roughness of Floridian skateboarding would not hurt. Because the major Floridian videos have mainly a 'homie video' atmosphere, which I cherish (beer and liquor drinking, bums fighting), I think they have been too easily classified in the 'homie vid" category and perhaps not given all the props the deserve .

For those who want to catch up on the subject check The Last of the Mohicans, The Dango is Dead boxset (5 videos for 20$: The Good Life, The Dango is Dead, Dango...)

Manhattan 98-99 - Howard Glover

2010-03-08T22:57:00.001+01:00

Manhattan 98-99 from Howard Glover on Vimeo.

When Bobby Worrest meets his future

2010-03-08T19:21:00.007+01:00

In the recent independent video Yougottagetthat, Bobby Worrest shares a part with a middle-age man slighlty overweight who goes by the name of Bob. Despite the apparent cynicism of this presentation, know that this man, who skates alongside Mr Worrest, must have no shame because the quality of his performance is rather arousing. His part features switchstance moves, tranny maneuvers and combos worthy of a certain 5-year-awaited video, the whole lot with some Nike Blazers at his feet.

However, I had this weird little impression that what I was watching was actually Bobby Worrest's future. Indeed, it is not too hard to imagine the Washingtion DC ripper with a slight excess weight in ten years. And perhaps that at the age of thirty, he will finally give up his nickname and assume the manliness of the forename Bob. Besides, I can easily picture him on the Swoosh by the end of the decade. I would not even be bummed. After all, after this so far spotless career, you would have the right "to put some butter in the spinach" as the French saying has it. All in all, I guess Bobby would deserve such a peaceful retirement after being one of the few pros staying really productive over the year without being affected (too much) by the various trends that pop out each year. Ahhh...I can already picture him drinking beer on his porch with his Blazers, his Rambo tattoo and his ex-stripper of a wife... Good times.

The Bourrics and Scientology

2010-03-07T09:26:00.006+01:00

The Bourrics is a non-profit brotherhood of politically-commited skateboarders which is based in Bordeaux, France. Though the nature of their protest has often been misunderstood, these urban warriors have decided to take a stand against Steve Berra and the monopoly that the Church of Scientology seem to have obtained over political institutions, Hollywood and even skateboarding. This is how:

Qualif 8 - JP Vs. Bran from The Bourrics on Vimeo.

Yes, a game of skate with shots of Vodka every time someone misses an "offensive trick", as our dear scientologist and fake-spot-builder friend would say. Now, you might think that these people are just young and unthinking skateboarders having a good time. Wrong.

The recurrent swearing and underage drinking (well, technically they're French, so it's ok, but anyway...) constitue a cry for liberty, a return to more simple values and an acceptance of the evil part that rests in each human being. After various rumors about Steve Berra trying to get Torey Pudwill off DVS for smoking too much weed (source: YWS) or trying to ban swearing from The Berrics, people over a The Bourrics have decided to put an end to this absurd quest for perfectibility.
Moreover, they have proved something that many skateboarders started to doubt: it is still possible to skateboard somewhere else than in a LA wharehouse.

Keep up the good work, guys.

The accessorized Kamasutra of skateboarding #1

2010-03-05T22:07:00.013+01:00

Skateboarding is all about positions. Whether we are conscious of it or not. A paunchy 30 year-old skateboarder thinks immediatley of Steve Caballero at the sight of a crooked neck. A lazy back foot on a 3-6 shove-it(a Yo 3-6 shove-it, Watson would say) would remind the youngest of us of our frenchy redhead who made the headlines after a perfect execution of the formerly-evoked maneuver during the Tampa am (0:10).

Well, I think the time to theorize all this silly nonsense has come. 2010 shall see the creation of the first Accessorized Kamasutra of Skateboarding. Its purpose is to categorize and explain the origins of these famous feet positions, awkward finger gestures or G-code postures. And perhaps we shall laugh at them a bit on the way and realize that we are all, somehow, guilty of them as well

1- The Bastien

This fresh-connoted position owes its name to the famous French self-cheering switch heelfliper newly reconverted into a guitar hero. It has to be adopted when approaching massive double sets, massive blocks or perhaps, if you are not very reckless like myself, massive flatground. The purpose of this position is to make clear to the external observer that you are riding switchstance and that you are a merciless disciple of aggressive skateboarding from the hood.It will enable you to throw weighty sw heels, sw fs 360s, sw heels nose manny if your dealing with a manual pad from Parallel or even sw fs 360 boards if you're are approching a handrail.
The outfit to adopt such a position is crucial. Any breach to the following accessories can turn you into an impostor instantly and get your ass kicked by the most radical skate-rats:

-the pants: nylon pants such as those proliferating in videos during the late 90s - early 00s would be the best. However, Flo-Marfaing-like sweatpants such as those I am sporting would do the job perfectly
-the Lordz t-shirt endorsed by the inventor of the posture in the brand's masterpiece They Don't Give a Fuck About Us.
-the cap: back in those days the New Era trend was not raging and the caps were sticker-free, however you can opt for an adjustable cap or a flex-fit (with a curved peak, of course).
-the sweatband on the arm: self-cheering and contest-winning can be very exhaustive activities. Consequently, the sweatband can prove itself to be very useful after a lenghty run including 13 declensions of the bs kick flip.
-the shoes with cupsoles: yes, back in those days vulcanized soles were to be sported only by TNT. Besides the extra cushioning might prove itself to be useful it you intend to dive over a double set. Now, you guys might be wondering why I am wearing cupsoles when I am only skating flatground. For my defense, I have a weak ankle and... well, I just like cupsoles. So fuck you guys!

The most famous disciples of this position: Bastien Salabanzi, Brian Wenning, Brian Brow, Florentin Marfaing, Frank Barratierro...
Feel free to add your own to the list.

Adios Adio

2010-03-04T01:11:00.010+01:00

I live in France, where (correct me if i'm wrong) Adio is not really popular among non-skater people. Even though you're likely to meet some die-hard skateboarders sporting some (such as this young Gareth Hill below), the success of the brand remains rather limited comprared to the other giants of the 'board culture'.

Consequently, I never understood the hate that American or British skaters could feel towards that brand. Of course, they used to sponsor Bam Margera and the Birdman, but a lot of shoe brands have had embarrassing heads in their team by the past. Okay, they sponsor surfers, wakeboards, BMXers and other sportsmen eager for thrills ; but they're not the only ones. DCshoes used to in the past and they were accepted by the skateboard community (those were the days); Etnis still do and they are becoming more and more acceptable, partly due to the remodelling of their team.

But, enough is enough. It is 2010 and it is time to start to hate Adio.
First, the team. I know the arrival of Converse on the shoe market did not help, and that Kenny Anderson probably left rather than was givent the boot; but still it's one less reason to like Adio. The aficionados of car-racing, hair-brushing and handrail-sliding have found one less reason to like the brand after the departure of their idol for the formerly fresh DCshoes. Moreover, no more Danny Montoya and Brian Brown! The former almost got me to buy some Adios whith his part in Viajeros Locos (thank god I didn't stumble on any pair of Adios during the following month and decided to buy the same Dickies pants with the money instead!) and the latter gave some East Coast pedigree to the brand.

Then the shoes. Like most of the brands, each season featured at the most 3 pairs that were worth buying. But the main reason to buy Adio was to that you could get some Chuck Taylors in which you could skate. Yes, remember that Kenny Anderson's line (1:08).

After, that video we all checked Adio's website and found out that the handsome and environmentally-friendly Chinese technician was not wearing Converses but a pair of subtle rip-offs named Adio Dean's. Being the fan of Mr Anderson's work that I am, I managed to put my hands on these artifacts.

Well, my friends, I have to admit that I was fairly disappointed. The sole, despide its thickness, is very hard and gives the impression that you're skating without insoles. I had to replace the original insole by one coming from some Half-Cab pros. Not to mention the rubber cup on the toes, which I pictured to be as large as on the Chucks (that is, rather small).

How much my innocent hopes were shattered when I opened the mailbox and realized that the shoes had actually what seemed to be at the time a knee-pad glued over the toes! I thought for a minute of bringing them back to the para-pharmacy, thinking they were orthopedic shoes. The picture is not really explicit. But, I swear the top is huuuuge. They are the kind of shoes that are always a bit loose no matter how much you tighten them. To give you an idea, my good friend Antoine used to compare them with those:

Oh yeah, and they were really heavy. Even though it is pretty convenient to use as an excuse for the days when I suck at skateboarding, that is, rather often. I compared their wheight with another pair of mine (Lakai Howard Hi WWCD). Though the Lakais appear much bigger, they are actually lighter than the Adios from more than 100grs.

To top it all off, after a night of moderate partying and a day spent over my university work, I decided to enjoy the sunshine a bit and put on my Adios to skate some flatground. Before going on, you have to know that in 13 years of skating, I never had a single sprained ankle. Well, less than 20 minutes were necessary for these shoes and a fatal switch kickflip to break this lucky-spell.

I might be of bad faith but I blame mostly the shoes because there were really loose despite the fact that my shoe-laces were tightened and tied. Anyway, I had to walk for 3 weeks with crutches and I still have to do some physical therapy...
I'm not saying all Adios are bad, just that the Deans suck big time, that the brand has made some dubious choices regarding their image and has lost its most interesting riders. I'm rather puzzled by their present team, which includes semi-famous pros and some amateurs whose name I might have stumbled accross on the Slap Forum on a rainy afternoon. Once again, time will tell.
Nevertheless, I'll be willing to write another review (less biased by my personal experience and more detailed)providing that they send me a pair of one of their best models!

Soiled panties

2010-03-02T09:15:00.000+01:00

Sometimes, when the skateboarding is good, one line is enough. Do you know that feeling when you watch a montage and you're like "ok whatever...ok whatever...", and then all of a sudden, in between Melcher's wallride and the Nuge's giant heelfilp (yes, there is always those two in a boring montage), appears the line you've expected all your life? The line that gets your more hyped to skate than the whole boxset of Digital videos (bonus features included). Well, my skateboarding fellows, this line, which combines the right skater, style, speed, spot and trick, happens as often as an alignment of the planets of the solar system.
Guess what? For me it happenned few days ago. "Sweet Moses".

The first line performed by this Mexican stuntman seriously arouses me. He is one of the few that you can connect with the OG Chocolate heads. A sort of young and bold Gabriel Rodriguez zigzaging and sowing 90s-inspired tricks on one of those spots that you associate at once with 90s Girl/Choco. The style is clumsy and the push, of course, is mongo when switch; but it works. There is no awkward immobility on the board in between the tricks, Vincent flies to his next maneuver with the same hunger as a fashionista on Black Monday. The tricks, timeless (fs smith) and modern (switchstance), remain accessible enough to get you hyped and at the same time, the speed is completely out of reach. If the King of LA deigns to slow down on the crazy combos, Chocolate is far from done.

Ginette

2010-03-01T16:22:00.003+01:00

Don't get your hopes too high...

I don't know what the legal problems he had to face were, but I really hope he gets his shit together for the Chocolate video.
Seems to me that the most heavenly-gifted skateboarders are always the one who care the less. Man, if I had such a sick style I would be every day a the skatepark performing my bs nollie heels in front of the ladies.

Supreme (art and fart)

2010-02-26T18:03:00.012+01:00

The 1994-founded, NY based Supreme skateshop has always been the epicenter of underground culture (hip hop, graffiti, skateboarding) even though now it is rather debatable considering the number of kids sporting the famous 5-pannel caps without even knowing who Robbie Gangemi is. So there is nothing surprising to see that this arty film has been realized by famous artist Thomas Campbell. However what is interesting is to see how OG Supreme heads such as Vinne Ponte, Steven Cales or Robbie Gangemi or Harold Hunter got to benefit from the artistic image that artists used to portray Supreme.

(I love that one, especially for the priceless French commentaries over it)

I mean, take a look at these videos. Personnally, I have a hard time picturing the OG Supreme heads listening to some cozy jazz music before hitting the streets or thinking about how skating in New York involves a constant interaction between their bodies and the urban environment. It seems there is a serious gap between the "artistic direction" of Supreme and the riders they've chosen to represent the shop.
When we think about it, that is probably what made its success: the riders bring the street cred and the artists broadcast it in a cool way. Same thing with OG Alien Workshop and some other companies: in the skateboarding field, these companies were the place where NY dirty scum-skaters (Lenny Kirk, Fred Gall...) and inspired artists and video makers (Chris Carter, Pendelton, Mike Hill...) met. And I have to admit that the outcome was pretty tigh.
If you don't agree with me, you can still watch RB's Umali earliest videos (pre-Gatorade era) because they had the merit to be 100% true to reality, sometimes at the expense of our favourites riders whom we realized to be real cooks. Maybe they still are (true to reality) and maybe Chad Ortiz actually drinks 20 Gatorade bottles a day.

Unbreakable

2010-02-25T20:43:00.009+01:00

Have you guys seen that movie starring Bruce Willis?
Well, actually we don't care. But there's that scene when Elijah (Samuel L. Jackson), who suffers from the glass-bone disease, tells David (Bruce Willis)that he is his antithesis, at the other end of the physical scope, because he's unbreakable. So?
Well, while writting about Pappalardo's lazyness the other day, I was thinking that him and Fred Gall would be perfect for that movie. Yep, because when we think about it, they're at the opposite end of the motivational scope. Plus, I found this cool little video, where Fred Gall comes off as a super hero:

Well, he doesn't really stop the fight nor save the dude getting beaten up, but at least the poor guy gets the chance to witness a stylish 3-6 flip while getting punched in the face. And Freddy sure has the grace of a super hero in this sea of violence.

So to pursue the metaphore with the movie, Elijah-Pops is the least motivated skater, every recent footage of him is highly anticipated and always disappoint. He even has a mean side when he talks shit on Menikmati in his Epicly Laterd. Plus he has this Mr Burns' akwardness that makes you think has has a really fragile body. Check the sequence below, you'll see what I mean. As for David-Fred Gall, he is the complete opposite. His motivation is without equal and his stoutness is not without rememberging Bruce Willis in some movies. David is as friendly as a gruff bear and Fred has that NJ-hunchback style that makes him look like a bear on a skateboard. But he is everywhere you don't expect him. I think he has always had a full part in the videos of companies he rode for. Plus, he very often has a shared part in independent videos, such as the Westside videos, Last of the Mohicans, the Static videos or the more recent Orchard video. And the footage is always first rate: a combination of bank-sliding acrobatics on ruined New Jersey spots and more technical switchstance maneuvers, the whole lot sprinkled with some hustling clips. You can't go wrong with that.
The only difference between Fred and David might be in terms of weight lifting, but Fred as chosen to lift beer bottles instead.

For Freddy, there is no time-off. You always hear about what a drunkard he is or about his fluctuating weight but his footage always shuts you up. I like that in Epicly Laterd, pretty much every pro interviewed talked about how their addiction prevented them for skateboarding at some point, but you see that Freddy has been ripping all the while, with or without heavy partying.

I think he is one of the few who really deserve the Legend Award, though he probably wouldn't care much, because he is the definition of the ideal pro: representing the good companies loyally (yeah I know, I-Path was ok at first...), making appearances in homies' videos and he has the NJ Scum touch that makes him really enjoyable to watch.

Pic of the day

2010-02-20T15:38:00.001+01:00

Relating with today's mood...
From Chromeball Incident.

Minimalist skateboarding

2010-02-20T14:12:00.000+01:00

I bet you guys have all seen this higly controversial sequence by now:

The aesthetic of that sequence is indisputable, but the great numbers of skaters able to reproduce it is just as indisputable. As a fan of Pops, I feel like he makes it really hard to back him. You know, it's like when your arty friend brings you to the modern art show and the conversation goes on this way:
-I could have done that!
-Yeah, but you didn't.
Already criticized for his "back to the basics" type of skating in Fully Flared, it seems that since then, his skating has got more and more minimalist to the point that he hardly does anything else than ollies and 50-50s...

The style is definitely there and it's sure looks like a lot of fun, but come on, a lot of skaters can do what he does. So this brings the following question: does such skateboarding merit to be rewarded by a pro shoe and a really good salary, when you know that they're are tons of young amateurs with incredible style bustin' their ass out in the street? Besides, it is interesting to see that it would be impossible for an am to come up with such skating now. "Too basic!" the mustached board company would say. Hence, the hammer-race which makes every "who's hot" article incredibly boring to read.

A lot of people are going to try to justify his skating with the traditional East Coast excuse about the shabby state of the spots. Fair enough. But have these people pay attention to Eli Reed's and Zered Basset's recents video parts? It seems that the cracks doesn't prevent them from throwing highly technical maneuvers, neither from skating more than twice a week.

Anyway, meanwhile we can all wait for a DVD version of Photosynthesis. And before offically saying "Pops is milking it big time", we should and hope taht he has actually some incredible footage stored for the next Chocolate video.
Time will tell.