a brief glance_Vans Off The Wall Spring Classic 2014

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Photos_Davide Biondani_Words_Guido Bendotti.

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EDITOR and CONCEPT Davide Biondani.

(davide@abriefglance.com) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Guido Bendotti.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrew Zolin.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Leo Sharp, Kévin Mètallier, Nils Svensson,

DVL, Friedjof Fèye, Garric Ray, Bear Bridges,

Graham Tait, Fabio Montagner, Brian Gaberman, AlanMaag, Reece Leung , Kazuhiro Terauchi,

Davide Biondani, Carmin Santos, Bertrand Trichet.

CONTRIBUTORS

Jonathan Levin, Francesco Paolo Chielli,

Mauro Caruso, Jerome Campbell, Mauro Peduto,

Neil Smith, Mark Baines, Ale Martoriati, Holger von Krosigk, Simone Bertozzi, Niall Neeson.

DESIGN

Fake Donkey Lab. www.abriefglance.com

GET ALL THE INFOS at: info@abriefglance.com

abrief glance skateboard mag is a bulletin published by fake donkey skateboard asd.

No part of this pubblication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.

All right reserved.

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COVER: Bjorn Lillesoe flyes over Simon Sal_

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Jonas Skroder_ gap to bs tailslide.

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Naples_2014

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Daan van der Linden_ Serenity_

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Off The Wall_ Spring Classic I must admit I was a little prejudiced about Vans organizing such an important contest in such a

complicated city as Naples, so alive that it is practically a world unto itself. Naples is a unique and difficult city, where people are either wonderful or terrible, a place where you really have to watch out, and where traffic is really crazy. There are millions of legends about this city.

Skateboarding is not that big in Naples but there are a lot of spots, and of course soccer is the ruling sport in the city unfortunately. Vans did the right thing in bringing skateboarding to the heart of

Naples on the seafront, where thousands of people stroll daily and where Neapolitan skaters were able to prove to those who still don’t know, that skateboarding is not a pastime.

After years of being hosted along the coast of Northern Italy, the whole circuit of the Spring Classic moved to the heart of the Mediterranean and definitely hit the bull’s-eye. If you have never been to Naples, then you should go take a walk there and surround yourself with its culture, beauty, decay,

and life of a city that is unique to the whole world that really impressed me. I definitely want to go back there.

Oh yeah, weren’t we supposed to talk about the contest?

The incredible location was on one of the most famous seafronts in the world with a view of the

island of Capri and the Vesuvius, and behind it the overwhelming city looming over everything, and skaters hyped already on Friday during the best-trick contest, where it was clear who really meant business.

Daan van der Linden is a beast that skates everything with style and a big smile on his face. Last

year he was the only one to do a nosegrind down the rail of the spine, while this year he used the

little platform as a gap after grinding the spine. The definition of the word “control” must definitely include his name.

Jonas Skroeder updated his punk haircut and skated as if he didn’t care. All-out smile and creativity, apart from possessing two big balls.

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Phil Zwijsen_ hip to high fs grab.

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After spending ten hours below the ramp, we couldn’t say no to a Friday night out where we got lost among the alleys with our Neapolitan friends (thanks Mario, Giangi, Max, and everyone else) and visited some of the most beautiful neighborhoods and best restaurants ever. Have you ever played

soccer in Piazza del Plebiscito? Well... we did... and then people say all Italians think about is soccer ahahahahaha!

Saturday went by unusually quickly. The qualifications took place with completely packed blea-

chers and spectators that at times had trouble understanding what was going on on the ramp... My

difficult job as a journalist was cheered up by too many beers and third-degree sun burns. The contest began really early and by four in the afternoon we were all below the ramp thinking, “what do we do now?” Drink beer and skate obviously. “Hey, there’s a ramp and a lot of flatground! Let’s skate, we didn’t come here on vacation!”

After a long sleepless night spent between the Hives concert, a huge dinner, and a thousand vodka tonics, we took the usual taxi back to the hotel... A little thought on Neapolitan taxi drivers... they

are crazy. The one who drove us around one evening sang songs and danced while zipping through

the tight alleys at 140km per hour and generally ignoring the most basic rules of survival. Since we

couldn’t do otherwise, we cheered him on to go even more nuts. Neapolitan neomelodic songs playing full blast, and driving down streets the wrong way at full speed... If I didn’t die then, I probably never will.

On Sunday, after the usual stop at the exclusive Napoli tennis club to check out the situation among frescoes, silverware, and people in white shirts and ironed suits, we wandered around with holes in our shoes (hey, feet need to breathe too!) and then went to the ramp for the finals.

A few thoughts on the young guys at the contest: these guys are always skating! No matter what

time it was you’d find Gabe Viking, Aurelien Giraud, Jordan Tachery, Bjorn Lillsoe, and Ale Mazzara (10 years old) skating really fast. Now I understand why they’re so damn good!

During the final I saw a strange mix of legends and new kids. The kids, even though they are way

under the age of 18, still managed to kick ass alongside guys who have been skating for twenty years.

It was strange seeing a little midget like Viking snaking legends like Daniel Cardone or Guillame

Moquin, both of whom took part in the most spectacular near-accident of the year. Daniel was co-

ming out of a fs smith on the high end, and Guillame was coming out of a lipslide on the hip... both

obviously going full speed, and just barely missing each other and landing the tricks with style... only they can get away with such things!

Daan van der Linden_ fs slob plant.

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Martino Cattaneo_ handplant to fakie over the spine.

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The final was one of the best of the last few years. I’m not really a fan of miniramps, but seeing guys skate this perfect ramp that was both challenging and fun was really awesome, because the skaters

got hyped and pulled some crazy tricks. Andrea Casasanta was the only Italian who made it to the finals, and he definitely showed his skills, doing heavy tricks with consistency. Ross McGouran is

one of my favorite on any terrain. During the semi-finals he threw down lines that would’ve gained

him a victory in any contest (always with his fast style), but he missed a few tricks during the finals.

Danny Carlsen smiled this year... and just that in itself could’ve been a best trick. He does all his

tricks without raising his arms, inventing liptricks that would look like shit if anybody else did them, like rock to noseblunt done with rare grace.

It’s nice to see Tim Zom who I’ve always essentially considered a street skater, doing liptricks and tailbashes everywhere. Real skaters skate EVERYTHING.

Alex Halford made me go nuts because he showed everyone how to have fun and skate well at the same time. Mason Merlino has an enormous ever-growing power. In spite of his killer slam, he destroyed the ramp.

A few words about Martino Cattaneo. To be honest I didn’t think he would’ve skated as well as he did. During the finals he skated differently from everyone else: powerful, diverse, and innovative.

After a few head-high straightlegs he threw down handplant variations and caballerials everywhere.

He doesn’t do bs disasters, but this strange bash where he hits his front truck. He does diverse tricks with style and power, and he definitely deserved it all... HELL YEAH MARTINO!

The Vans Spring Classic is really a classic in a new form. I’d like to see it come back to Naples next

year, maybe with a street course as well to attract more participants. The only flaw: the contest always began too early, because the seafront gets crowded after six in the afternoon, and I’m sure more people would’ve loved to admire the incredible show that only skateboarding can offer.

The organization was perfect with great hospitality in a beautiful city... a city that must get to know skateboarding.

Thank you Vans once more.

Andrea “Gummy” Casasanta_ madonna to tail.

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Aurelien Giraud_ kickflip transfer.

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Guillame Mocquin_ ollie in.

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Mason Merlino_ bs boneless.

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Dannie Carlsen_ blunt tre flip to fakie.

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Off The Wall_ Spring Classic

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Mason Merlino_ bs nosegrind.

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Off The Wall_ Spring Classic Aurelien Giraud_ fs stale fish.

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Tim Zom_ switch crooks transfer.

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Alex Halford_ fs hurricane.

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Martino Cattaneo_ fs grab.

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Naples_2014

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Off The Wall_ Spring Classic

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Photos_Guido Bendotti_

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Ross mcGouran_ fs 360 alley oop transfer.

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