Four

This recap of the last month comes, surprisingly, without any skate video parts..

The Jenkemmers go on an archaeological adventure seeking the legendary Video Days car..

And on the subject of quests, I don’t know if you followed the Insta-led search for the identity of the skater girl in a beautiful newspaper photo in the late ‘70s. Hawk got involved.

If you like to collect things, there are two new things you might like to collect: a book from WKND covering their first decade (featuring the photo above amongst many, many others), and the DVD/zine of Zach Chamberlin’s excellent new Sprinkles video.

Lastly, I may have been quite sad to reach the last episode of the new Black Mirror series, but not nearly as sad as when I reached the last episode of the outstanding documentary about illusive ‘80s vert legend from NZ, Lee Ralph..

Ta ta for now.

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FTC MC T

There’s a new T-shirt from FTC with this previously unseen photo of one of my all time favourite skaters; Mike Carroll. Switch crook, with interference from Koston. Taken Summer 1997 when I was starting to try to shoot skate photos 'properly', at an FTC contest in SF which Mike won (on his 22nd birthday). Cool to dig this one out of the archives, and to now see it on a shirt from FTC themselves, 28 years later. Thanks all, and early happy 50th to MC..!

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Three

March saw..

..A cool video from the Otherness camp, featuring Barker (above), skating his fave curbs (above).

A new Jante edit always goes down well.

Some creative approaches to lesser-known SF spots from Josh McLaughlin.

Nice vid of some raw Japanese skating from their Huf team.

And speaking of ‘raw’.. GX Columbia, phew..

New interview with master VX-wielder Josh Stewart on new Italian website Splinter.

If you’re a fan of, or intrigued by, Bobby Puleo, this new Epicly Later’d episode is for you.

And finally.. FINALLY.. after years of being teased at the prospect; the first parts of the documentary on the illusive and legendary beast from New Zealand, Mr. Lee Ralph..

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Two

London streets get put to good use in the UKY Supreme video featuring lots of people.

..And what about the streets of Oslo..?

Meanwhile in Hawaii, Jenkem meets filmer and scene staple Sean Reilly.

In SF, Matt Finley; one of the stalwarts of the GX1000 crew..

Lastly, it’s interesting to learn more about the phenomenon of addictive Japanese skate TV game-show Kasso..

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SF Library Show

For those of you in San Francisco this week, or during the next few months, there is a skate exhibit opening at the SF Main Library on Thurdsay.

The Concrete, Community, Continuity show explores the history of SF skating via its famous spots and diverse participants. Curated in part by Ted Barrow and featuring photos by Tobin Yelland, Bryce Kanights, Richard Hart and others, along with various artifacts.

Promises to be good.

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One

January 2025 is already over and it seems like some people spent the snowy, stormy US East coast days editing, as we had a nice New York area vid from 5Boro, a tribute to the last days of famed Philly spot Muni, and the first of a series of Static VI footage tape edits; this one concentrating on Chicago (featuring the tailslide above).. And with good filming, strong skating and spots you haven’t seen before, the new one from Boston shop Orchard deserves a watch.

Meanwhile, on North America’s West coast: the Krooked guys ‘n’ gals.

And over in Paris, a nice few minutes with Cyrus bench-bustin’ Bennett.

Kinda surprised there haven’t been more discussions/pieces about skate video soundtracks, since they are such an important part of videos, and often introduce younger skaters to diverse artists.. Anyway, the first in a new series on Skate Bylines explores the use of specific artists; the first one being her majesty Kate Bush.

Ta-ta for now.

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Push Periodical Picks o' the Past Year

Things may have been quiet on this here website (sorry), but there are a few projects in the works for 2025..

And as for 2024.. well, as usual, a lot to digest in Skateboard World. Heavy-hitter vids from all the big companies and lots of nice indie ones too.. I won’t start to list them.

But a few video parts that seemed memorable, to me at least, included these:

There were a couple actually from Antonio Durao; a consistently interesting skater.

Chris Athans (and friends) continue their onslaught of SF’s most intimidating hill spots.

An underrated skater in my eyes is the distinctive Luke Malaney who somehow combines raw power with delicacy.

Cutty spots and strong skating from Roger Krebs.

And Tiago Lemos and Oski continue to impress..

Aaaaaand in other news:

An affectionate portrait of longtime Swedish lensman Nils, an overview of the many separate but likeminded French DIY building enthusiasts; and for me the cultural highlight of the year (though I am biased) was the book- and book release- for seminal UK skate magazine R.a.D.

Lastly, Sully Cardenas came through with another Insta-opus; a year’s worth of frontside flips.

Happy New Year.

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July on the Fly

I’ve been busy in England helping out with the amazing R.a.D. book launch, so here’s an abbreviated and even-more-biased-than-normal recap of July interwebbings:

TWO new full-length vids from the unique mind’s eye of Zach Chamberlin: Firstly the Loophole Wheels crew (mostly) in SF..

Secondly, the Areth Shoes crew (mostly) in Japan and Brazil..

..And if that’s not enough Jam ‘n’ Jesse for you (c’mon; never too much), there’s also a new-ish Magenta edit..

(Also: New Traffic video soon..)

Enjoy the sun if you have some..

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June Spice

Well, there was the Polar vid of course, but also..

Frenchmen en vacances, Gore at home.

Oski; what a roll-in.

Rocco interviewed; not nearly as in-depth as it could be, but take what you can get I s’pose..

R.a.D., seminal document of British skating; the long-awaited book..

Rail, hill, speed, traffic, adrenaline.

Happy 60th Lance Mountain..!

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May Be So

Understanding the vibe about skating a rock.

Heitor Da Silva

Kenny Reed

I rarely listen to someone else’s conversation for hours, but when it occurs between two of the best skaters ever, you have to make an exception.

Short ‘n’ sweet: Hopps ‘n’ Quasi..

Exploring the phenomenon of the ‘Cult of..’

Interesting piece here by Ben Powell about the Love Park recreation in Malmö thing, and beyond..

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April Shows

Free Time; the best kind.

NY malarkey..

City Star is no Menace.

Skateboarding is not a sport.. but.. this is pretty fun.

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Marches and Waltzes

The Song Remains the Same

All You Need is Love

Postcards From Scarborough

The Medium Was Tedium

Japanese Whispers

Sour Grapes

Bite It You Scum

Valentine's Cardio

Voted Best Skate Video by my 3-year-old

Boinnggg! or Whoooosh!

Attention: New Mini Ramp Champ in Town

Nio Nitton or Sept Vingt-Neuf?

Lengthy Nerd-Out Now Available

Let’s Twist Again

New Year's Revolutions

Short, Sweet, Slashing, Sliding

Gold in Other Hills

Twenty-FIVE is a Milestone

NOLA No-Complies

No Excuses

War and Peace

Rags to Riches

Gonzo Journalism

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Push Periodical Picks o' the Past Year

It’s been.. what has it been..? Another year. And another year full of skateboard activity. Rather than making a list of the ‘Best’ skate stuff of 2023 (in itself an overwhelming concept), here are the pretty biased, in no particular order, Push Periodical Picks of the Past Year..

LONG(-ER) VIDEO:

Static VI- As usual, an impeccable cast, impeccable editing and lots of nice gritty urban film shots and cutty spots. Kept the legacy alive.

Lenz 3- Mindboggling, in a word. A real labour of love, and testament to the creativity of that rare breed, the Japanese skater.

JIT- WKND are a company (really, crew) putting out consistently fun, quality vids. This one is no exception.

Forever- The surprise Huf full-length was good stuff.

Honourable mentions: Pathways II was intriguing and well-made (again), Philly scene rippers abound in Devil’s Pocket, Chicago likewise in the new Deep Dish and.. er.. there are other things I’m forgetting..

SHORT(-ER) VIDEO

Feels Like Spring- GX. You already know. A revolving/evolving crew that take SF hill skating to new levels.

Simulation- Quasi videos keep something of the vibe of old Alien going. And a tip o’ the hat to Dick Rizzo who seemed to put out a lot of footy this past year; all of it with great style, great spots and great trick selection.

Bandaszellem- Raw and pure; the Rios crew from Budapest.

Deep Fried / FTC- Largely Barca, largely Athans and Coletti; great stuff.

5:36- This crew of Swedes rule. Jante filmer Fritte Söderström shoots and edits with skill. Love watching Vincent Huhta, and Gustav Tonneson is one of today’s best.

THE VIDEO PART

John Baragwanath- In a word: solid. (From Static VI.)

Jameel Douglas- In a word: smooth. (From Magenta’s Just Cruise II.)

Tom Knox- He’s good at skateboarding. (From Jake Harris’ excellent Atlantic Drift series.)

Conor Charleson- This part by Dan Magee was a dream for anyone who likes little banks and transitions.

Tiago- I mean, one of the best for sure. Obviously. Doesn’t even need a surname. This part by Kyle Camarillo.

AND BY THE (W.W.)WAY

A consistently enjoyable read on the interweb is the Blog wing of London’s Slam City Skates shop site. Also if you’re feeling extra nerdy and perhaps a little sentimental, you can’t go far wrong with the Chromeball Incident.

Lastly, the omnipresent Instagram.. Aaaaand (>drum-roll) fave clip of the year comes from our old pal Strubing..!

..And Sully Cardenas apparently spent the last year filming everyone he could find doing switch flips. Fun. (And isn’t that the whole point?)

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SHOP

The SHOP is back..!

At long last. See tab above. Now based (back) in the US, so cheaper postage if that’s where you are..

New stuff.. new hats from Falcon Bowse and a newer zine too.

Also when going through boxes, I found a couple of copies of PP9 -previously sold out. And now down to the last few copies of PP11, 14, 17 and the zines too..

Thanks.

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Decemberists

Does it feel like there have been a lot of New York videos this year? I thought so.. Anyway, two more good ones recently: Sam Zentner’s Chrome Zone with a strong Ty Beall part, and This is a Window from Jeff Cecere with yet another top-notch Dick Rizzo part..

John Baragwanath’s part from Static VI is online (also featuring NY); one that has been a long time coming. Incidentally, our PWTII video with John (and Worrest/ Coakley/ Barlow/ Krebs etc.) has been re-uploaded too.. Photo above from that and PP8.

Mr. Static himself, Josh Stewart, was interviewed over on the Slam site.

And another OG videographer with an aching back, 411VM’s finest, Mr. Anthony Claravall also had an interview recently..

Staple of the San Francisco skate scene, FTC’s very own resident photographer and all around good vibe maker, Ando, is the subject of this inspiring short film from Transworld.

Magenta put out their Brutalista vid featuring.. well, Brutalist skate spots in the Paris and Bordeaux suburbs, with the crew finding creative ways to approach them. Lots of Jameel Douglas too, which is always a good thing.

More creative approaches to unusual spots with Budapest’s finest, the RIOS crew! They’re back with a new one; great raw street, as ever. These guys rule.

Lastly, from unusual spots to.. well, things that aren’t really ‘spots’ at all in the conventional sense of the word. But nothing is really conventional in a Gou Miyagi video part. Open your mind..

That’s it for now, Happy New Year.

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November Spawned a Crookie Monster

The first excerpt from Static VI to hit the interweb is Trevor Thompson’s part. Semi-retro DVDs are available now I believe, as well as incredibly retro bricks called VHS tapes.

Meanwhile, one of Tokyo’s favourite sons was in San Francisco- check out Hiroki’s new vacation part.

A cool new Aussie edit from Carhartt WIP appeared..

..And the Atlantic Drifters washed up in Bangkok.

Lastly, an interview with Pat Smith touching on everything from Coda skateboards, drugs, cancer and DIY spots, to Phelps..

My October Teacher

Couple of nice new video parts from British shredders, lately- Tom Knox has one, filmed in and around Paris by Jacob Harris. Some skater/filmer duos really work well; these guys grew up skating together and you can tell. (Photo above from PP9.)

..And Conor Charleson has another; this one featuring some pretty wild harsh/tight bank/tranny attacks at lots of interesting spots, from Southampton to Sofia. Edited by the masterful hand of Dan Magee.

One of the best infrequent- but always interesting- skateboard publications is Fluff from the Netherlands. This little film follows Fluff mastermind Marcel Veldman around for the day.

And if you were a fan of Spirit Quest (and how could you not be?), there’s a new interview with the creative mind that is Colin Read; charting his endeavours since, and thoughts about skating these days..

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Sept-ic Dearth

Nine years in the making, Shinpei Ueno’s magnum opus Lenz III is now online, featuring a whole slew of Japanese rippers you’ve probably never heard of. Settle in with a drink and snacks; lots to digest here. The baggiest, quickest-footed video ever? Features Shogo (pictured above from PP16).. And check out Josh Stewart’s interview with Shinpei too.

A more lengthy independent (US) production, the latest in the Threads series, is now online too. Also there’s an interview about this one on the Theories site.

Another recent Theories interviewee is Eric Swisher, better known as the man behind the excellent (read: nerdy) Chromeball Incident blog.

WKND put out another mid-length edit with a strong Tom K part.

Sweden’s finest, Gustav Tønnesen made a little video of his friends; good stuff.

One last quickie from Cernicky; a new Krooked edit.

And finally, a little something from our old pal Greg Gardner; skater, artist, musician and teacher (who drew the illustrations for PP17’s interviews). Greg made a kid’s record on his favourite label Folkways, with an old friend he grew up skating with- singer Cass McCombs. Check out this video of one of the songs with animated drawings (and try to spot Greg’s old roomie, bluntsliding BA)..

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