Vol. 14 No. 5 Spring 2016

$5.95

SPRING 2016

REGULARS:

FEATURES:

32 TEDX

Three More TEDx Talks Worth Watching

Wise words from Poppy Starr Olsen, Cindy Whitehead and Betty Esperanza

36 EXPOSURE SKATE

Amelia Brodka empowers women through education

42 NORWAY ON A SKATER’S BUDGET

Local Ali Nas explains how to enjoy the hills without damaging your wallet too much

48 MIAMI WINTER SKATEBOARD CONFERENCE

Featuring a 24-hour Ultraskate, pump track and garage race.

52 RAISING THE BAR

What does it take to be a world record holder in skateboarding?

58 BETTER TOGETHER

A portfolio of photos that celebrate how great it is to skate with others.

66 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE AND GUMPTION

Emily Pross, Rachel Bruskoff and Loryn Roberson want you to come race with them.

74 A SCENE WITHIN A SCENE

Welcome to the extraordinary world of high-end fingerboarding.

82 BIG MOUNTAIN SKATE PREVIEW

Your guide to riding in Europe this summer.

ON THE COVER:

Cover: Tibs Parise (flying) and Brad Edwards (grinding) show how exciting skating together can be. Photo: Dan Bourqui

CONTENTS:

Marjorie Romeo, Greg Péré and Tristan Fort.

Photo: Maxime Lassale

BONES® RACE REDS™

Bones® Race REDS™ are high quality, precision ground, Skate Rated bearings with removable, non-contact, rubber shields and inner bearing races that feature a built-in spacer. The inner race is extended on both sides to provide a more perfect bearing alignment for greater speed, eliminating the need for washers and spacers and to reinforce the axles of your truck.

Bones Race REDS are created with the same top quality materials as Bones Super REDS to make them perform well at high speeds, withstand the impacts of rough skate terrain, and outlast bearings with lesser quality materials. They are prelubricated with Bones Speed Cream® racing lubricant, so they are ready to ride or race.

BONES® CERAMIC SUPER REDS™

The story of Ceramic Super REDS™ is simple. Take the superior steels used in our Super REDS™ and swap the steel balls for high purity, silicon nitride ceramic balls and you have Bones Ceramic Super REDS™.

Bones® Ceramic Super REDS™ are lighter and provide faster acceleration because the balls weigh much less. They create less friction and are thus faster than Super REDS™, with or without lubricant! When you get dirt into your Ceramic Super REDS™, the ceramic balls will help to re-polish the steel races flat again, providing a self-healing benefit because ceramic balls are so much harder than steel. Finally, ceramic balls will not rust, further lengthening their life. Ceramic Super REDS™ use a bone colored shield with laser-engraved outer races for identification.

BONES® SUPER REDS™

Super REDS™ are designed from the ground up to be the best bearing on the market at this price point. What Super REDS™ are not is a REDS™ bearing with just better super finishing (surface polishing). Super REDS™ are a superior quality bearing, using higher quality steel races, better quality and grade balls, and a superior surface finish. The result is a bearing that is as fast as REDS™ but quieter, smoother, and longer lasting. Super REDS™ use a black shield and laser engraving to differentiate themselves from original REDS™.

BONES® REDS™

Bones® REDS™ are manufactured in China to our Bones Skate Rated specifications in a manufacturing facility dedicated to producing the highest quality skate bearings in China. They are inspected twice before being shipped to skaters and offer the greatest combination of performance, durability and low cost in the industry. Because they offer near Bones Swiss performance at a fraction of the cost, they have become the best selling bearing in the U.S.A.

The Fine Print

WELCOME TO THE FINE PRINT. As you can tell, this issue focuses on the idea of riding together. From the cover to the photo feature, our goal is to inspire you get out there and ride with friends. As you will soon read about, a huge number of skaters got together for an Ultraskate in Miami earlier this year. The event lasted a full 24 hours, and at the end not one but two riders had completed over 300 miles – truly a stunning achievement.

This issue also aims to present you with some new ideas that you might have not considered. For example, Concrete Wave is very much committed to showcasing more female riders. Not only do we have a feature on some of the top women downhillers, we also have a story about three women who have told their stories at TEDx Talks. Adding to this is a story about fingerboarding. Like many, I didn’t think fingerboarding merited any serious attention. Things changed when I met up with Martin Ehrenberger at the ISPO trade show earlier this year. All I ask is that you keep an open mind!

When I first started to publish Concrete Wave back in 2002, I came up with a column called “Catching Up.” It was an opportunity to find out what had happened to some of the legends of skateboarding. The column ran for several

years, and I am pleased to let you know we have resurrected it. Our first subject is Dennis Martinez. Not only is Dennis an amazing skater, he’s also done some extraordinary work helping out folks who are normally forgotten about. Dennis uses skateboards to reach at-risk youth, along with those who live behind bars. It’s been almost 15 years since we did the first “Catching Up” with him, and I am pleased to let you know that he really is making a difference.

I wanted to take a moment to heap some well-deserved praise on Mark Short, who has contributed a number of incredible pieces of art for the Fine Print. Besides being an exceptionally gifted artist, he is a very talented slider. Mark lives in the United Kingdom, but thanks to Facebook, you can enjoy his artwork anywhere.

For many in the more snowy, colder parts of the world, the arrival of spring signals an opportunity to finally get outside and skate. This winter has been cold but with very little snow for some, while others have been undated with the white stuff. No matter where you live or where you ride, we welcome you to spring. Now it’s time for you to contact some friends and get out there and ride!

Illustration by Mark Short

The Aqua features a drop-down directional body shape with Slant 180mm reverse kingpin trucks that allow for optimal riding control. Another stand out feature to this longboard board would be its fine anodized metallic paint finish, giving it a classy/ high end look while still offering the control and performance you’re looking for. Whether you’re craving to bomb large hills or simply cruise around, this board will keep you stoked.

It is truly amazing to see how today’s skaters blend the best of all genres. We featured Andy Anderson in our most recent Buyer’s Guide because we know he represents the future. In the same spirit, the skater captured in this moment of balance is Sebastian “Chano” Delgado. Chano is based in Spain, and while he excels in freestyle with a longboard, he is also very adept at high jump and street skating.

When you take different genres within skateboarding and mix them up you create a truly unique and creative way to ride. It is this combination that leads to progression. A perfect example is Rodney Mullen, who pioneered many street tricks through a prism of freestyle skateboarding.

We all know life is indeed a balancing act. If it’s not school/family/friends it’s work/ family/friends. Taking time and figuring out what you should be doing can be a challenge. We go down paths that we hope will bring us successful outcomes. But then we hit speed bumps and what we thought was going to bring us joy turns into pain.

As you can see, Chano seems to have figured out a way to deal with the bumps! If only life were as simple as ollieing over obstacles. Over the past decade and a half, skateboarding became not just about an act of balance for me. It became a career path. The idea of balancing my business with my personal life was something that I dealt with constantly. Would it surprise you that I seemed to have fused them together?

My hobby turned into my job – but I am happy, knowing that the ride is indeed the reward. Turns out that promoting balance to the world is a great way to keep balanced.

Enjoy the issue!

Publisher/Editor

Sebastian “Chano” Delgado handles all kinds of obstacles with grace.

Photo: Noelia Otegui

NOTEWORTHY

ENTITLEMENT

- THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

GRIP GRAPHIQUE

Entitlement Urethane has bridged the gap between freebording and downhill skateboarding. Hailing from the Bay Area, their products are intended to not brick yourself on open roads and to slam the suburban straights. The most popular wheel in the lineup, the Tenderloin, is poured in the 415 formula with a milk chocolate color. This stone-ground, sideset, square-lipped wheel comes in at 70 mm by 50 mm with a durometer of 80A.

entitlementurethane.com

CYCLONE RANDAL

Grip Graphique is a brand new company located in Vancouver. They are the first company to provide custom-cut grip tape designs for your longboard or skateboard. In addition, their other product lines include pre-made designs such as the popular puzzle pieces, hexagons and fish scales. If you prefer something bigger, you can stick a fearsome dragon or tiger onto your board as well. gripgraphique.com

EASTSIDE

Cyclone Skateboards is a Canada-based company that manufactures quality boards, urethane products and hardware for the core skate and longboard industry. Since Cyclone’s inception in 2010, they have been aggressively working on product development and continue to do so on a daily basis. The MACH 9 bearings are Cyclone Skateboards’ fastest bearings in their lineup. The MACH series are extremely resilient and reliable. Each bearing has been treated with a high-performance lubricant for lightning speeds. The casing is constructed of high-grade steel and the ball bearings have been smoothed and polished to provide a frictionless ride. The MACH 9s have been tested by skaters under the most stringent conditions. cycloneskateboards.com

Randal Skateboard Trucks are back. For over 40 years the Randal Truck Co. has been making skateboard trucks in the USA. The all-new RIII is a completely new truck, with a completely redesigned hanger, new kingpin design, new pivot, new bushings, new bushing seats and new stronger axle. 100% made in America, A356 prime aluminum. Available now at skate shops everywhere or at randal.com.

Eastside spent over a year with their team riders to refine the 9.75” x 36” Relic. It is truly a versatile downhill racing topmount and freeride deck made from a new mold featuring some wicked concave, flare and mild W to keep you glued on and gripping like crazy! The wheelbase range of 24”–28” has you covered. It also has a half-inch of rocker for extra comfort and extra-large wheel wells for loose trucks and big wheels.

eastsidelongboards.com

LANDYACHTZ

SYDEWYNDER

New for 2016 and designed as a high-speed technical freeride board, the Ramathorn packs a ton of versatility into one shape. Multiple wheelbase options and deep sanded wheel wells allow for a variety of custom setups. Hollowtech construction helps keep the weight down while a kicktail, deep W concave and pocketed nose keep your feet in place in any situation. landyachtz.com

MADRID

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Madrid is reissuing some classic decks. The collection includes Jerry Madrid’s first board from 1976, pro models from Eddie Elguera, Beau Brown, Claus Grabke and Roger Hickey, and fan favorites the Shaman, Explosion and Thruster. Each board is made by hand in Madrid’s Huntington Beach factory. These reissues will only be available for a limited time, so don’t miss out! madridskateboards.com

Sydewynder wheels have been in development for over a year and a half and are finally ready for production. They feature 36 urethane rollers that save urethane, prevent flat spots, and have the smoothest slide with total control. Visit Sstaabenterprises.com for videos of the wheel in use and more details.

Buddy Carr is a Southern California skateboarder who has spent a lifetime practicing his craft and is inspired by minimal and mid-century design. Buddy has put his stamp on products ranging from clothing and accessories to complete skateboards. Always looking for inspiration in daily life, Buddy and longtime friend Mistr are together creating form and function with this latest project. Mistr x Buddy is a collaboration of ideas, beliefs, design and passion. Contact Buddy at buddycarrdesign@gmail.com

MISTR X BUDDY CARR

NOTEWORTHY

KEBBEK

GIRLS RIDERS ORGAZATION

The Girls Riders Organization’s objective is to empower girls through action sports. Lessons learned through GRO impact girls in all aspects of their lives. Their philosophy is that every girl can be a leader and make a positive impact on the world, no matter what her age.

The Kebbek Ben Dub got a huge facelift this season. It’s loaded with more features than we can fit in this small space, but its 100% Canadian-made quality means it’s a downhill/freeride deck you can count on. All we can say is that it’s one of the most exciting boards and product lines to hit this season. Go to their new website to check it out for yourself and to see revelation on the entire product line. kebbek.com

SKATE SUN PEAKS

UNKLE presents Skate Sun Peaks – a new freeride event held at Sun Peaks Resort that offers a ski lift back to the top! Join them June 11–12 for endless runs down this tight, techy mountain boasting 17 corners. Hit the No Hands Contest, Race the Clock or just have fun trying new stuff on the mellower bottom section. Enjoy lakes and camping nearby, or invite the whole family to watch every corner from their hotel balcony or the pub patio! Only 30 minutes from the world’s first DH longboard park in Kamloops, BC. Don’t forget the ninth Britannia Classic May 27–29 and the sixth Whistler Longboard Festival July 1–3. Sign up to shred or volunteer at unkle.ca.

At 9 years old, Zoe Herishen from GRO NYC is a great example of this. While riding her longboard around the pump track at one of her favorite spots, the Brooklyn Bike Park, Zoe thought about an opportunity to do something awesome. All of the skate events she had previously attended were specific to one type of board. So Zoe came up with the idea of having a GRO event for both skateboards and longboards. Zoe brought her idea to Courtenay at GRO, and

HAWGS

Hawgs is excited to add the Adam Yates Pro wheel to the 2016 line. Designed and extensively tested for the last two years, the Hawgs team couldn’t be more stoked to see this ultimate lipped freeride wheel available for shredders everywhere. Cruising, carving, racing or freeriding, the Adam Yates wheel has got you covered. hawgswheels.com

BUSTIN

Bustin Boards Co. is proud to announce the recent addition of industry veteran, Kurt Hurley, as Global Sales Manager. Through a lifetime of experience in the skateboard industry, including 38 years as a pro, Kurt has worked closely with brands like Airwalk, Vision Street Wear, Dregs, Paris and others to develop a unique repertoire of industry know-how. Hurley will be based in California and service west coast accounts personally with the kind of relationship building he is best known for. bustinboards.com

the rest is history. With the help of the GRO NYC crew, Zoe will be leading Chica de Mayo this May 21 at the Brooklyn Bike Park, located at 318 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn. The event will include a learn-to-skate workshop, girls-only skate session, contests, raffles and a live DJ. girlsriders.org

RESTLESS: A DIVINE RIDE

Divine Wheel Co. has found a new home with Restless Longboards. Divine will fit right in with the Restless family and the company has very strong aspirations for both brands in the future. Every customer, retailer and distributor of Divine can now get their high-performance wheels and bushings with Restless. Contact alaric@restlessboards.com or call 514-718-2884

GSI

Global Speed Index is a free, GPS-driven mobile platform available on Android and iOS operating systems and mobile devices. Action sport athletes (currently supporting downhill longboard, distance longboard, street luge and classic luge sports) using standard smartphones can compete anytime and anywhere GPS is connected and accessible, without a data connection, Wi-Fi or external hardware devices. globalspeedindex.com

THE MAGIC OF SKATEBOARDING

Joe Ledoux is a Boston-based magician and skater who believes magic is not just entertainment, it’s also an art. He has performed in a range of venues from museums and colleges to dive bars and the streets of Boston. Now Joe has blended his love of skateboarding and magic to create a unique, self-illustrated book. joeledoux.com

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Michael Brooke - mbrooke@interlog.com

COPY EDITOR: Jonathan Harms

ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER: Stacy Lowery

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Joseph Friedmam INTERN: Danny Fedkenheuer

CONTRIBUTORS

Dan Bourqui, Maxime Lassale, Mark Short, Noelia Otegui, Luke Ayala, Dan Sparagna, Heidi Lemmon, Edward Aviña, Ali Nas, Kaspar Heinrici, Jim Harris, The Marko, Jessica Kassin, Luis Cardenas, Monty Little, Dan Hughes, Justin Applegate, Jim Goodrich, Rodrigo K-B-CA, Breege Moyne, Matt MacDonald, Jeff Skaferowsky, Angel Lugo, Khaleeq Alfred, Taveon Cumby, Austin Burr, Candice Dungan, John Curry, Eric Mroz, Tyler Preston, Jennifer Finnell, Martin Ehrenberger, Rick Tetz, Elias Assmuth, Joey Bidner, Chris Kreuter, Markus Knoblechner, Paul Bamberger, Jodie Royak, Bil Zelman, Harvey Hawks.

HEAD OFFICE

1136-3 Center Street, Suite 293, Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 3M8 Ph: 905.738.0804

SKATESHOP DISTRIBUTION

Buddy Carr Designs PO Box 1895, Carlsbad, CA 92018

Buddycarrdesign@gmail.com

CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION

Inward Supply 514-996-7138 Landyachtz 778-785-6855

Concrete Wave is published by North of La Jolla Inc. Subscriptions (6 issues) are US$26 FIRST CLASS or CAN$26. Address change? Mag not arriving? Contact us - don’t go postal. We can sort it out. mbrooke@ interlog.com.

Publisher’s permission is required before reproducing any part of this magazine. The views and opinions expressed in Concrete Wave are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Printed in the USA.

SHRALPERS UNION UPDATE

and

The Union kicked off the season with a great showing at the Ultraskate in Miami, with longtime supporters Andrew Andras and Eric “Danger” Palmer both breaking the 300-mile barrier. Aaron Wallace of the 405 chapter, who won his way to Florida by winning races, also had an amazing showing at the Magic City Mayhem garage race. In the end all the glory went to the garage rats from Texas with the good folks from team NoBull. Once again the Union shields were visible everywhere as the family united at the speedway.

The seeds planted by Noel Korman have now started bearing fruit as the concept of #shralplife has taken on a life of its own. We were very well received everywhere we went. We had an amazing stop at Kona, as some of the local kids had heard about us and rushed to the van for stickers and to buy shirts. We decided to hit up some of the local mom-and-pop shops on the way back to NJ/NYC. We were beyond surprised to see how dedicated our southern chapters were. We ended with four affiliate shops that are now proudly carrying our clothing line and representing #shralplife. Look for the orange-and-white shield at your local shop or at Bikes N Boards, Odyssey Board Shop and College Cycles in SC and at Flip Side Board Shops in NC. A list of all the chapters and affiliate shops, and a calendar of events, is on our website, shralpersunion.nationbuilder.com.

As May will be the launching month of Shralpers Union, we have all sorts of local events planned as well as a global skate contest. The idea is to engage all of the union chapters and the 35 nations of Longboarding for Peace to spread high fives and positive vibes across the world. The contest will take place on showmeatrick.com. Check out the Facebook group #showmeatrick for rules and details. As always, follow us on Instagram at shralpers_union.

Words

Photos: Luke Ayata

Union member and Florida local Bailey Lucas Hough.

Eric “Danger” Palmer and Andrew Andras sharing the Union Noel Korman deck for breaking the 300-mile mark.

Andrew sharing the stoke with his wife and kids, who support everything he does.

Luke Ayata takes in the snake run at Kona skatepark.

Photo: Rachel Floyd

The Union’s clothing line captures the essence of shralp.

THREE MORE TEDx TALKS WORTH WATCHING

By Michael Brooke

A few issues ago we brought you the TEDx Talk of Longboard Girls Crew founder Valeria Kechichian. We are proud to showcase three other talks worth watching.

POPPY STARR OLSEN

Who You Are

15 years old, skateboarder, World Cup Skateboarding 14 & Under Girls Champion for 2014, Winner Girls Combi Classic 15 & Over Division 2015, Australian Bowl Riding Champion Open Girls winner 2015.

I’m an artist and have run my own business for three years. I have been public speaking for about two years.

What You Spoke About

I spoke about the relationship between skating and art and how I believe there cannot be one without the other. It’s about creating lines on and off your board. So many people outside the skate community have never thought about skating in this way. The urban space is a skater’s canvas. I also spoke about the street art in the skateparks and skateable art – sculptures that are designed to be skated. I see art in every aspect of skateboarding.

Why the Message Is Important

The message is important because society needs to see another side of skaters and/or skateboarding. I think it’s a really positive way at look at skateboarding. As Tony Hawk says, “It’s an art, a lifestyle and a sport.” Something for everyone.

Where Do You Go from Here

I’m giving a speech on April 1 to over 150 politicians in the NSW [New South Wales, Australia] government on my experience with skateboarding and the importance/relevance of skateboarding within the community.

Skating-wise, I have several technical tricks I really want to land in the next few months to take my skating to the next level.

Artistically, I am painting a collaborative mural at Bondi skatepark and selling my art online and at markets. I really need to think about ways to grow my business. I need to work harder and make more money so I don’t have to miss going to awesome comps like Vert Attack in Sweden. So bummed to miss that!

CINDY WHITEHEAD

Who You Are

One of the few female pro vert skaters from the ’70s. I have had a career as a wardrobe stylist for many years and work with pro and Olympic athletes on commercials, editorial and advertisements. I skateboarded down the 405 freeway in Los Angeles during Carmageddon in 2012 and I have a skate brand called Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word that has done collabs with Dusters California and XS Helmets. I also run a website by the same name that showcases girls in action sports daily.

What You Spoke About

My TEDx talk was called “Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word” and was about my experiences growing up in a world of mainly male skateboarders, what I learned from that experience, the girls I saw that empowered me along the way, and how I think girls should learn to ask for what they want and not be afraid of what society thinks of them when they choose to do something different than the “norm.”

Why the Message Is Important

The message is important because girls are out there doing all sorts of cool things, yet some are afraid to stand out, or do not ask for what they want or deserve. I want to let them know it is OK to be who you are and that the word GIRL is not something to be used by others as a slur, i.e., “You skate pretty good … for a GIRL,” or “Hey, Steve, you throw like a GIRL.” Never let someone use your gender as a putdown. We also need to support one

another and sing each others’ praises. Girls are rad!

Where Do You Go from Here

I continue to do public speaking about gender equality and I speak about being a female in action sports. Since the TEDx talk I have been asked to speak at universities, nonprofits and organizations, as well as the Smithsonian Museum’s Innoskate event. I’m showcasing more and more girls from all different types of action sports on the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word website (BMX, skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, etc.), and we now have more GN4LW boards coming out with Dusters California that help fund the nonprofit Poseiden Foundation. I also did a GN4LW collab with XS Helmets for female skaters and bicycle riders to promote helmet awareness. I continue to involve my favorite movement, Longboarding for Peace, in each and every one of these collabs – stoked to be involved with them in all this since day one! I also have a tight team of girls (Beverly Flood, Minna Stess, Zoe Benedetto and Kyra Williams) that I sponsor and promote under the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word umbrella to help spread the word that girls are out there killing it! We also just worked with Dusters California to release a girls skate video.

BETTY ESPERANZA

Who You Are

I’m the godmother of Skateboards for Hope. I’m the proud mother of two sons, Raphael and Thierry, who both skateboard.

I am an artist, a humanitarian and a social media rainmaker. I’m also a businesswoman with an overactive creative mind. I’m a gypsy who speaks four languages and sometimes I’m bad-ass in a good way.

What You Spoke About

I spoke about how skateboards and hope can break the cycle of poverty. I told my story about a boy who became the No. 1 skateboarder in Cuba and how his story translated to Jamaica, Uganda and First Nations. The best part of what I spoke about was the possibility of creating sustainable projects that create economic stability and education for all youth living in poverty. With zero funding, 300-plus skateboards have been donated using people power. Now that’s just totally RAD!

Why the Message Is Important

REUSE-RECYCLE-REVOLUTIONIZE SKATEBOARDS FOR HOPE!

It’s so important that every child has the fundamental right to play, [and to] learn about basic values and life lessons that will transform their lives for the better. To provide a culture of

community, compassion and empowerment that translates into prosperity. I strive to facilitate the sport and culture all over the world. I want to even the odds so that every boy and girl will realize their dreams.

Where Do You Go from Here

Ideally, Skateboards for Hope will become sustainable and be imitated in every city in underdeveloped countries. I would like to create some swag and accessories that will carry a positive message to kids.

I would love to travel and share the joy of skateboarding and foster leadership, trust and collaboration using the skateboard as a tool. It would be awesome to develop World Cup skateboarders or skateboard designers for the future. Let’s get stoked with Skateboards for Hope.

MANUFACTURING PROFILE: EAST COAST CUSTOMS

Shawn Arlock admits that he never had any woodworking experience before starting East Coast Customs. “I have a financial background,” he says. “I worked on Wall Street for 15 years before I started ECC. It has been a learning experience from day one.” Shawn also confides that he’d never used a band saw or knew how to press boards. “I dove in headfirst and figured it out,” he says. “I’m passionate about building boards. There’s nothing I can’t learn and become exceptional doing it.”

From the very first day he opened, Shawn says it was a lot of trial and error. Many long days turned into many long nights. But he never stopped until he figured it out. “The skateboard business

is a tough one to break into,” he says. “There’s no school to go to and learn how to make boards (the right way).”

East Coast Customs uses a lot of exotic wood. “It makes ECC different from every other company out there,” Shawn says. “Through exotic wood, I get to express my creativity using so many different woods and variations, that it’s almost limitless what you can do. It’s about creating a board and using your hands to finely shape each board. … As you sand each deck, the smell of each wood is unique. There is also unique coloring for each deck. Using our technique definitely makes us different from all the other companies out there. I haven’t seen any

company that uses as many different exotic woods as we do, and the way we use them.

East Coast Customs also uses exotic wood as a functioning part of each board they design. “Each piece of exotic has different characteristics than the next,” Shawn says. “You need to understand each one, to be able to match them to what you are looking to achieve in building your boards.”

I asked Shawn about how long it takes to make an individual board. “I get this question a lot, and it’s hard to put a exact timeline on it,” he says. “We’re not just banging out massproduced boards. I have developed a multi-step process to get to the very end.” With each creation, there is a certain time inbetween process that needs to be done as well.

to our local beach and grabbed a slice and a Coke. Sitting there, I saw two girls go cruising by on Penny-sized skateboards. They were having a ball. After we finished up, I looked down, and saw they were riding my boards!”

Shawn stopped the girls and asked about the boards. “They said they bought them at the local skate shop where we’re distributing them from. To see each girl truly having a great time and enjoying them was priceless to me. Kids can create their own memories, as I did when I was younger. And for the older kids like myself, to be able to relive those memories is an amazing feeling.”

Because of the care ECC puts into their decks, some people seem to think they are “too beautiful” to ride. Shawn says he often gets such responses. “We design these boards not only to look good, but to ride as good as they look,” he says. “It’s flattering to hear people say that, as I put a lot of passion into every board I build.” Shawn is equally grateful for the response he got last year when ECC did a museum viewing in Washington, D.C. “It’s great to be able to create something from nothing and have people stoked about it,” he says. “I appreciate all the kind words!”

“We normally can produce a custom order in a week – shipped out the door,” Shawn says. “Our hands are on each board from start to finish.” The company recently bought a CNC machine to help with consistencies. “Our hands are still on each board, even though that does speed the process up considerably. We still go over each board, by hand-shaping each rail, to achieve that perfect arc. We hand select all our exotic wood from local vendors as well. You could even put that in the equation. We’re not your ordinary skateboard manufacturer; we really are out of the box.”

Shawn derives a huge amount of satisfaction from creating these highly customized boards. “My wife and I were visiting family at the Jersey Shore the first year I started ECC. We took a ride down

Beyond building premium boards, ECC puts a premium on helping others. They work with the Share The Stoke Foundation, which travels to other countries and tries to help underprivileged kids get off the streets and give them an outlet to express themselves through skating and surfing. “It’s a positive movement and we are stoked to be a part of it,” Shawn says. ECC is also a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) via T-shirt sales of ECC’s Grom Girl line. “We raise funds throughout the year to help families with medical bills from their sick kids … and this year we are designing a board exclusively for them,” Shawn says. ECC also donates to local high schools to help raise money for surf teams in New Jersey. “We like to get involved as much as possible, because this is what it’s all about, touching lives,” Shawn says. “We are fortunate to be in a position to be able to be a part of this.”

I dove in headfirst and figured it out.

I’m passionate about building boards”

Amelia slashes a frontside smith smith in Oceanside, California.

Photo: Dan Sparagna

Empowerment Through Education

BY MICHAEL BROOKE

You’ve worked tirelessly over the past several years to empower women through skateboarding. What gives you the greatest satisfaction in trying to achieve your goals?

Amelia: Rolling up to EXPOSURE Skate on the day of the event to see the venue completely transformed and filled with people working together to build and support the cause truly warms my heart. Getting everyone together, seeing the level of support the girls and women have for one another, and seeing an increasing amount of people coming out to support the girls is what keeps me excited to continue to doing whatever I can to help.

What are some of the key challenges running the EXPOSURE event?

Fundraising is the most challenging aspect of EXPOSURE and a year-round effort. Ideally, we would like to do more events and programs, but just fundraising for the one event takes a lot of

energy and time all year. Many of our sponsors don’t commit until much closer to the event, which makes planning the details difficult. Although we work to get everything into place as early in the year as possible, the thousands of variables involved in planning the event seem to constantly shift in the weeks leading up to the event, which is incredibly stressful. Also, finding volunteers who can commit to helping year-round …

What is it like working with your co-founder, Lesli Cohen? Working with Lesli Cohen is amazing. She is an incredibly enlightened and supportive woman who loves to see the girls get support and recognition. Lesli is very thoughtful and knowledgeable. She always helps me to look back at the big picture when I get too caught up in details. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with her. Lesli is always excited about expanding the ways in which EXPOSURE can make a positive impact.

You directed Underexposed, and it generated a lot of very positive reactions. What were some of the things you learned in creating the documentary?

< Julz Lynn floats an ollie at the EXPOSURE event in Encinitas.

Photo: Heidi Lemmon

^ Amelia clicks a one-foot blunt to fakie in Oceanside.

Photo: Dan Sparagna

The process of creating Underexposed taught me many valuable skills. I learned how to film, edit and conduct interviews. I also learned how to be more comfortable speaking in front of crowds at screenings and film festivals. Most importantly, I learned that people are excited to see the women’s side of things expand and succeed.

I imagine your documentary has spawned a number of females to take up skateboarding. What kind of reactions have you had personally?

I have had many positive and excited reactions when showing the film. It’s gotten people excited about women’s brands,

women’s events and about supporting EXPOSURE. The first screenings years ago are what generated the idea and interest in EXPOSURE. For example, after Lesli Cohen watched the film, she became interested in starting the EXPOSURE nonprofit with me.

What are some of your future plans?

Skate more and expand EXPOSURE!

LONGBOARDING FOR PEACE

MEXICO

By Edward Aviña

It’s been an amazing last few months here in Mexico. Since the last report we have had new supporters. Bern Unlimited donated 12 helmets to keep our classes safe, Landyachtz Longboards donated their new line of boards to keeping us rolling fresh, and Epix, a Mexican brand of drinks, has been hydrating us.

LFPMX also has evolved to a more serious job by working alongside government, educational and philanthropic institutions to get our PatinaPorLaPaz program to more people, and developing agendas that benefit more people outside of the longboard scene. We have intervened in forums of citizen initiatives and entrepreneurship trade shows, and now we are part of an initiative from the World Economic Forum called Global Shapers, in which we team up with very talented people in charge of making projects with a social impact.

Our team got bigger too. Ely Puente is a street skater from Monterrey with a great heart. She volunteers to assist the classes and share her skate experience with the kids, and they are more than stoked to have a skater girl rolling with them and

motivating them to improve their skills.

The Longboarding Dead costume sesh was a celebration for Dia de los Muertos and Halloween, organized by LFPMX and Landyachtz México in a spot known as Zombieland in Monterrey. As a way to rehabilitate abandoned public spaces and share safe spots to skate with the community, LFPMX gathered local crews to work together in the development of a track for the event.

Located near the spot is a road next to cheap motels and industrial parks with destroyed cabins. So we relocated a bunch of used tires that were abandoned and waiting to be burned at this abandoned spot. The tires were placed down the road to create a slalom track, along with some natural features such as bushes that grew on the road, making it super fun to skate no matter your skill level.

Participants enjoyed competing in a slalom event, and they took home some goodies. They also got involved in building safer spots for the community and to aid the #PatinaPorLaPaz program to keep the kids rolling.

MIDDLE EAST

COLLAB WITH ALUMINATI SKATEBOARDS

In early February 2016, LFP ventured to Jaffa to work once again with the Peres Center for Peace. We had a terrific session comprised of Arabs and Israelis at the port. The LFP program was also introduced at the Hand in Hand Schools in Jerusalem and the North. We taught over 250 kids in two days.

Aluminati created two boards for LFP. One was delivered to Shimon Peres. The other wound up in the hands of 4-yearold Wojtek Budzan, who enjoyed himself immensely at the ISPO trade show in Munich.

Juan, Johan and Nico show off their new Bern helmets.

The LFPMX crew proudly display their new shirts.

Jaffa session at the port.

Hand in Hand School located in the Galil, Northern Israel.

Riders testing the slalom track at Zombieland.

Wojtek with his mother, Dominika Budzan.

NORWAY

BY ALI NAS

Mention Norway to

anyone and the first thing that crosses their mind is “expensive”, but traveling in Norway can actually be done affordably.

Trollstigen. Photo: Maxwell De Araujo Rodrigues

Ever since world-class international skaters came to Norway in 2010, the country has seen a lot of interest in downhill, and Norwegian skaters too have placed themselves on the map. Norway has a population of 5 million people, so the scene is not as big as in the USA or Canada, but the country has produced a bunch of world-class skaters. More of that in another story. Here I will focus on how you can travel to Norway affordably.

No matter where you live on planet Earth, getting to Norway is quite cheap. From Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Miami and soon Boston, you can fly directly to Oslo with the airline Norwegian. A one-way ticket can cost as little as $180 (US) with luggage included. If you live in a city far away from the cities mentioned above, then flying through one of them is highly recommended. Also don’t forget to check out if flying from where you live through another city might be cheaper.

If you live in Europe, the flights would cost from 20 euros to 150 euros oneway, depending on your departure city and which airline you choose. If you can bear a long drive, then driving is recommended for your budget in some cases.

Coming all the way from southeast Asia or Australia, you should aim for Bangkok first. Norwegian has direct flights to Oslo for about $180, but you should also check out other airlines, as they might be cheaper than flying to Bangkok first.

TOUCHDOWN IN OSLO

There are two ways to travel for skating in Norway. The first is doing research on your own, renting a car at the airport and going to skate the mountains, which can work out pretty well for you if your research is good. The second is knowing someone in Norway who can show you where to skate, which is the better option, if you ask me. If you’re a bigger group,

let’s say three or more, then renting a car raises your chance of getting the locals to show the hills. Traveling alone or with a friend is usually fine without a rental, as the locals will often take you with them in their car. If you need to rent a car, then it will cost you about the same or even less than in any other big European city. Make sure the oldest in the group rents the car to avoid the underage fee that gets charged when the driver is under 25 years old.

WHERE TO SLEEP

The best way to spend your nights is at your friend’s house. If you don’t have a friend in Norway, make one. If you find it hard or haven’t had the chance to make Norwegian friends, then the cheapest way to spend the nights is to bring a tent. You can set up your tent anywhere on unfenced land and at least 150 meters from any building for free.

Sitting on the Trolltunga. Photo: Emanoo

If camping is not your thing and at the same time you’re trying to avoid the expensive hotels, look for “bed and breakfast” signs along the road. Sometimes they appear in Norwegian, which will read “Rom til leie.” Normal price is around $25 per person in a dorm or around $60 per person in a room. A hotel room will be at least $100.

DRIVING IN NORWAY

No matter if you bring your own car or rent one, you will notice this will be the most expensive part of your stay in Norway. Gasoline is around 14.50 Norwegian kroner per liter, which is equivalent to $6.55 US per gallon. The good thing about renting cars in Norway is the chance for getting a fuel-efficient car is almost 100%. Also, most rental cars

have a diesel engine, which is cheaper in Norway by about $0.80 per gallon.

Toll roads are everywhere in the country, and sometimes you can’t avoid them. If you’re driving along the west coast, you will most likely have to take a ferry or five to cross the beautiful fjords. In other words, you should set aside some extra money in the budget for that. Around $120 will be enough for one car for a week-plus road trip. But don’t let these prices scare you. The ferry crossings are stunning, and chances are you’ll dig the fjords and the mighty tall mountains that usually have a waterfall or five flowing down toward the fjord.

Whatever you do, DON’T drive fast, or you will be poor for a long time. If the speed limit is 60 km/h and you’re going at a speed of 80 km/h, your ticket will be almost as big as your entire travel budget – about $800. If the speed limit is 80 km/h and you’re going over 120 km/h, expect jail time, losing your driver’s license and a ticket of at least $1000 depending on the road conditions. Basically, what I’m trying to say is don’t go fast. Also watch out for radar, which is posted on blue signs with a white camera on them.

EAT AND DRINK

If you live on the cheap and make your own food, about 100 Norwegian kroner will be enough for one day. Buying food at the grocery store will fill your stomach for less money. There are many supermarket chains in Norway, but Rema1000 and Kiwi are usually the cheapest. Avoid buying your food at a gas station or a local grocery store, which are usually very expensive. And now behold the alcohol prices … also expensive.

Sorry, folks, but if you want a beer it will be expensive. A beer at a Norwegian bar costs around $8.50, while it costs $2.40 at the grocery store. You can try looking at it in another way. Every time you buy a beer at the grocery store, defend the price by thinking you just bought a beer at nice bar in your own country.

Sprits, wine and anything with more than 4.7% alcohol are sold only in government-controlled stores called “Vinmonopolet.” Once again, they’re expensive. My recommendation is to not drink much alcohol and instead enjoy the beautiful nature and scenery Norway has to offer. If you’re a smoker, make sure to buy your cigarettes at the airport.

“IF YOU DON’T HAVE A FRIEND IN NORWAY, MAKE ONE...”

Photo: Dale

“WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T DRIVE FAST, OR YOU WILL BE POOR FOR A LONG TIME.”

< Hansa Henriksen. Photo: Havet

^ Race hill. Photo: Voss

CURRENCY AND PRICES

The krone (kr) and øre are the currency used in Norway. One hundred øre equals 1 krone. Find out the exchange rate for your own currency in advance. 100 kroner currently exchange to $11.80. Most of the prices you need to know are mentioned above, but here are some more for you. (They are approximate.)

> Main course out in a budget restaurant: 100kr-150kr

> Main course in a more upmarket restaurant: 200kr-350kr

> A glass of beer in a bar: 60kr-90kr

> 1 litre of gasoline: 12kr-15kr

> 1 litre of diesel: 11kr-14kr

> 1 litre of milk: 13kr-15kr

> A load of bread: 18kr-30kr

> A burger in a gas station: 60kr-120kr

Credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere in the country, but if you’re paying a fee to your bank every time you use your card, you should withdraw money in advance.

HERE IS AN EXTRA TIP FOR YOU

For dinner buy a pack of salmon (four slices), sour cream and some vegetables of your choice. Chop the vegetables and put them in the aluminum package the salmon comes with. Put it on the grill for about 12 minutes and then add the sour cream. Leave it on the grill for five more minutes and voila! An awesome dinner for two hungry skaters for less than 100 kr.

MIAMI WINTER SKATEBOARD CONFERENCE

By Kaspar Heinrici

As we drove through the glades past rows of palm tree farms, a massive structure rose in front of us. As if erected by an alien culture of Mad Max road warriors devoted to extreme speeds and an insatiable thirst for guzzolene, the Homestead-Miami Speedway is a temple to the speed gods –but not just for motorized travel. On Feb. 26–27, 2016, it was also the site of historic feats for long-distance skateboarding.

My wife and I had flown from Dallas to Miami for the most skate event-filled weekend one could ask for. After months of training for the events at the Miami Winter Skateboard Conference, I had hurt my back skiing, so although I was not in a condition to compete in push racing, I was ready to spectate to the fullest. This event is the result of a partnership between Skate IDSA – the international governing body for sanctioned long-distance push,

stand-up paddle, garage and Skateboard Supercross racing – and Skate Free, a Miami-based nonprofit devoted to safe and free skateparks for underserved youth. The weekend brings together a diverse range of riders from street skaters to long-distance pushers, which makes for an experience that is hard to explain, but here it goes. It all begins with the Ultraskate.

Ultraskate is the pinnacle of what a long-distance pusher or stand-up paddler can do. It is the purest expression of mastering and enjoying the act of pushing or paddling a longboard, and you better love it, because it lasts 24 hours straight. There is something about the combination of great weather, a world-class 1.46-mile loop of smooth asphalt and the anticipation of 24 grueling hours with your best friends that brings skaters here to test themselves. This is the place where the world record for most miles skated in

Photo: Jim Harris

24 hours has been set several times, and 2016 did not disappoint. This year saw a host of records broken and new champions crowned.

The Ultraskate began Friday at 9 a.m. in typical fashion, with a few readily identifiable types of riders. There are the new guys who are sure they will hold their initial 13 mph pace for 24 hours straight – without really thinking through the math until they are lying in the pits at 3 a.m. with six hours left in the race, unable to stand, wondering what happened. There’s the party-animal mad Russian who’s already crushing beers for his inaugural laps. There are some who are leisurely pumping around the track, catching up with friends. Then there is the pack of athletes who have come to Homestead to set records, either personal bests or new world standards.

After watching the skaters for almost 10 hours, I could see the pain setting into people’s faces. Most riders had pit crews and support teams that would provide nutritional supplements, or new board setups for skaters switching from push decks to pump decks. I brought calorie

packs and electrolyte mixes for some riders who didn’t have an established support crew, but then it was time for me to get dinner and some rest. It was hard to sleep, knowing the riders would still be out there pounding pavement into the night.

At 6 a.m. we were back at the track and the crowd had dwindled a bit, but the skaters still on the track were more determined than ever. Riders were encouraged by the approaching dawn as they shed layers and anticipated the 9 a.m. finish that was now within their reach.

In a dramatic turn of events, Andrew Andras, a local Miami-Dade firefighter and current 24-hour world record holder, had made a strong psychological move by pulling away from the pack in a sprint in the middle of the night. Andras’ new pace was just too much for the other riders to match, and one of the favorites, the Netherlands’ Rick Pronk, had to pull off and pass out.

After Andras’ bold breakaway, it became clear there were now two contenders

with a real chance to pass the 300-mile mark. Andrew “The Machine” Andras had Eric “Danger” Palmer from Boston trailing by only a few laps as they powered toward the finish in the final hour. Some people out there could barely speak, but Andy had a sparkle in his eye as I skated up to pace him for the historic moment, which until recently even he was unsure was possible.

Andras completed that lap, making him the first person to skate more than 300 miles in 24 hours. But he didn’t stop there; in fact, he picked up his pace and added almost 10 more miles, establishing a new world record of 309.52 miles.

Not long after Andras had pushed past 300, Palmer, the defending champion from 2015, also entered the elite 300mile club and solidified his place in longboarding history. Palmer finished with 305.14 miles. Kyle Yan came in third overall with 286.16 miles, which also surpassed the previous world record of 285.77 shared by Andras and Pronk.

Meanwhile other riders were making history of their own. Palmer’s mother,

For 2016, SkateIDSA changed its previous no-drafting rule for distance races. Ultraskate racers took full advantage, here forming a loose train on the backstretch.

Photo: Marko

Anne, was out there laying down more miles than any other woman on the track for the second year in a row, finishing with 189.8. Sixteen-year-old Harrison Tucker did 268.64 miles to win for the groms, and Deejay Pascua set a new high-water mark for the stand-up paddling community with just under 222 miles.

The feeling of accomplishment and reward for these elite athletes who were able to skate 100, 200, 250 or even 300 miles is impossible understand unless you do it, which is why I will have to go back to officially join this club of mad men and women by completing an ultra of my own.

Twenty-four hours at the speedway was just the beginning of this trip, and those who finished had only a few hours to rest up for the Magic City Mayhem garage race at 6 p.m. the same day at the parking

garage of the Marlins Park baseball stadium.

Being accustomed to mostly outlaw garage races in Texas, I was blown away when I got off the elevator at the parking structure. There was a Skateboard Supercross pump track with a train of guys speeding around it. A mini ramp was crawling with kids, a DJ was keeping the energy up and the Red Bull girls were handing out free samples. A streetstyle course had been set up, and a drone was buzzing around capturing all the action. This was not your typical skate event. It

Andrew “The Machine” Andras became the first person to skate more than 300 miles in 24 hours, setting a world record of 309.52 miles.

Andrew Andras, pushing the limits of human speed and endurance. Photo: Jim Harris

The Magic City Mahem parking garage race was a legal, fully-sanctioned event. Photo: Jessica Kassin

was a confluence of street skating and longboarding in one place, with the effect of amplifying the stoke beyond anything I had seen before.

As the mini ramp competition wound down the race heats got started. I was there to race (as much as my back would allow it), along with a large crew of Texans from Team NoBull out of Houston that flock to garage races like moths to a flame.

If you have never done a garage race, first a few notes. Garage racing is very different from the usual downhill. A unique set of rules has developed around it to make it a nuanced sport of speed and strategy. Luckily for us, Stephen Dumaine and Greg Noble of Team NoBull were there to help run the race and explain the finer points of this fullcontact discipline to the uninitiated firsttimers. Team NoBull established the first sanctioned garage race with the NoBull Bayou Battle in Houston in January 2015

Dumaine pulling out the win despite coming off an injury. Scotty Sheridan, owner of Carve Skate Shop in Houston, got second place yet again, with Zac Sharp, Team NoBull race team captain from Austin, taking third. We had great women’s participation, including a solid final won by Alexandra Maye, with Calleigh Alice in second and Ann R. Key in third. Lance Curry, more typically known as a push racer, won the masters division.

and had pulled off the 2016 Bayou Battle just a few weeks before. Greg is a board member of Skate IDSA and is committed to growing the legal garage racing scene.

Often garage racing is done under the cloak of night when the security detail is off duty, but not Magic City Mayhem. This was a fully legal, sanctioned race where we did not have to worry about security or the cops shooing us away and taking pictures of our license plates. There was the typical grabbing and tugging to advance position, but everyone was very strategic about it, which made for good racing. People came from all over the country.

It may have been an IDSA sanctioned race in Miami, but it was a Team NoBull Texas podium sweep, with Stephen

This event was a testament to what can happen when there is unification in skateboarding. Skate Free is an organization devoted to improving the development opportunities for youth by providing free and safe places to skateboard. Skate IDSA’s mission is to promote longboarding as a healthy form of alternative transportation and athletic competition. It made sense that Miami city commissioner Ken Russell, who has pledged to make youth skateboarding initiatives a priority, was there to bring the two organizations together and compete alongside us in the garage race. It doesn’t get much more rad than having your own local government getting into the mix at a garage race.

We finished the weekend off with the South Beach Bomb outlaw race. Andre Bruni continues to keep underground LDP racing alive by organizing this annual event. A solid field of around 50 riders took off to battle the traffic of South

Beach. Even though many of these riders had also done the Ultraskate only one day earlier, this was some of the most competitive push racing in the world. First back over the line was Joe Mazzone, and he has the helmet-cam footage to tell the tale if you happen to be perusing Facebook. Collisions with cars, narrow misses and some serious needle threading between the traffic are all there for people who take pleasure in watching close calls. New Yorker Kyle Yan came across the line second, and local ripper Ty Davis took third.

If there was one takeaway from the weekend, it was that the culture of longboarding and skateboarding is strong. Everywhere I looked, people were being helpful and supportive of one another. The veterans were pushing their limits and the noobs were encouraged to participate. I saw and met a lot of diverse individuals in Miami, all types of people brought out by the different events and opportunities to skate with others.

The Miami Winter Skateboard Conference confirmed that longboarding culture is thriving with those who truly love skating in all its forms and who will continue organizing events out of love for its continued pursuit. After this weekend in Miami I feel confident in the knowledge that our community continues to attract the crazy misfits and determined optimists that ensure longboarding’s longevity.

Parking garage, pump track and mini ramp. What a great combo for an event. Photo: Luis Cardenas

“This was not your typical skate event. It was a confluence of street skating and longboarding in one place, with the effect of amplifying the stoke beyond anything I had seen before.”

Before the days of the ollie, you measured the skill level of a skateboarder by how many 360s he (or she) could do. As spinning required balance, power, focus and technique, it became the benchmark of a skater’s ability. If you could do 10, you were no doubt the best on your block. Twenty to 30, the best in the town. Then there’s that elite group who can spin over 100, who are continually raising the bar, striving to be the very best.

Vic Ilg, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, comes to mind. Vic spun 112 consecutive 360s at the EXPO 86 TransWorld Skateboard Championships. Then there’s Richy Carrasco from Garden Grove, California, who holds the Guinness World Record for “The most number of continuous 360 degree revolutions on a skateboard” – 142 spins, set on August 11, 2000. I know that seems unattainable, and yet the unofficial world record is 163, set way back in 1978 by Russ Howell. Is there another skater out there who will join this elite group, and perhaps even set a new record, having their name immortalized by Guinness?

Now in its 62nd year of publication, Guinness World Records (formerly the Guinness Book of Records, and called the Guinness Book of World Records in the U.S.) holds a world record itself, as the best-selling copyrighted book of all time. (It’s also the most frequently stolen book from public libraries in the United States.) More than 1,000 skateboarding world records have been set over the years, from the laughable Otto the Bulldog, who recently set the record for the longest human tunnel traveled through by a dog on a skateboard, to Danny Way’s breathtaking Highest Air record, flying more than 25 feet above a quarterpipe lip.

By Monty Little

Let’s find out what it takes to be a world record holder, as we interview four skaters who have “raised the bar” and set Guinness World Records.

Bob Mohr, 1976. Photo: Dan Hughes

Russ Howell: Born and raised in California, Russ started skateboarding in 1958 and found a creative outlet that still motivates him. He is one of the founding fathers of freestyle, and many of his signature handstand tricks are staples even today.

contest emcee Corky Carroll called an “Inverted Statue of Liberty.”

Monty: What would you say is your hardest handstand trick, and why?

Russ: The hardest one, which takes a lot of upper-body strength, would have to be a rolling “Bunny Hop” over three skateboards, something I did at a Beach Boys Concert with over 50,000 fans watching.

Monty: Tell us about the day you set the world record.

Russ: Back in 1978, the people at Guinness World Records held these “World Breaking Challenges.” This one was being held at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It was a really big deal, with CBS Television there to film the event. They had roped off an asphalt area about 30 feet by 30 feet where the 360 spinning and longest-handstand events were going to take place. When we arrived and saw what they had set up, we were very disappointed, as asphalt is terrible for spinning on. To make things

worse, the area was too small to maintain a rolling handstand.

Monty: So it’s harder to do a stationary handstand?

Russ: Yes, as you can’t correct your balance. I managed to hold a two-minute handstand, winning the event and setting a world record. However, that was a far cry from what I was capable of doing, as I remember doing a handstand down a hill for three blocks, and the only reason I stopped was because the hill ran out. In fact, a couple of years ago a guy from Colorado named Dan Cisneros set an unofficial record for the longest and fastest handstand on a skateboard, going almost a full mile down a hill.

Monty: Well, I see at age 66 you are still getting inverted. I just watched a recent YouTube video of you in Albany, Australia, doing a handstand down a snake run at a skatepark.

Russ: (laughing) And I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon!

Monty: Although I still get dizzy watching you spin 360s, it’s your handstand variations that amaze me. When did you first learn how to do a handstand on a skateboard?

Russ: In my elementary school years, my mom would take the cushions off the couch, putting them on the floor so I could practice. It took me almost six months to learn how to do a handstand. Then one day while skateboarding, it seemed only natural to try to do one on my skateboard. The thrill of adding motion to being upside down was magical. Then in 1975 I started putting them into my freestyle routines, which

At home in Idaho. Photo: Justin Applegate

One of Russ’ many signature handstands. Photo: Justin Applegate

Stefan “Lillis” Akesson: The list of Lillis’ credentials reads like this: World Freestyle Champion, European Champion, Swedish Champion, and the list goes on and on, spanning over 35 years of dedication to skateboarding.

Monty: Good morning, Lillis! Hope I didn’t interrupt your regimented skate session.

Lillis: Well, it’s winter now, so I only practice about once a week, but come summer I will skate every day. I try to practice my two-minute routine four times in a row, then I’ll work on certain tricks, then repeat my routine again and again. I also do daily meditating with TM and Bikram Hot Yoga, which is perfect cross-training for skateboarding, as it creates strength and tone for your whole body [and] increases your balance, and it helps to heal my injuries and my herniated disc.

Monty: Most of us find it a challenge to sustain a regular rolling manual, but you have taken it to the next level by doing it on one wheel. How long did it take you to master that?

Lillis: I use to be the worst wheelie guy ever, even though I worked hard at it. Then I learned that I had been overtraining, so I cut back for a year, and things just seemed to fall into place. I first saw Rodney Mullen do a one wheeled

manual, and although it’s not considered a difficult trick to do, for me it is all about style, making it look effortless and how long you can hold it.

Monty: Didn’t Guinness call you to set a record?

Lillis: Yes, they called and asked me and my friend Andreas Lindqvist if we would participate by setting a record at the World Guinness Day, so I decided to set a record for the longest one-wheeled manual. The area was very narrow and not very long; in fact, I ran out of space, running into a group that was setting the “longest braided hair” record. Luckily my record of 39 m was recognized. Then

a few months later we were asked to join the Guinness World Record Tour, putting on shows at shopping malls. On November 2, 2007, at the Gallerian Shopping Centre in Stockholm, I broke my own record, setting a new world record of 68.54 m (224 feet, 10 inches), which still stands today. But that’s not the end of the story. The gang at Guinness called again wanting to know if I would consider dropping into a halfpipe ramp from a tall platform. “I don’t think so,” I told them, but I would come up with something else that was a bit less lifethreatening. So I set the record for the most walk the dogs in one minute, which was 98.

Photo: Jim Goodrich

Lillis is the master of the one-wheeled manual. Photo: Jim Goodrich

Kevin Harris: Rated as one of the top pro freestylers in the world, Kevin set the world record for two-board 360s back in 1979, but he was not recognized as a Guinness World Record holder until 2013.

Monty: When I think of setting outstanding world records, yours comes to mind: 1,032 consecutive spins on two boards is just insane. What inspired you to do that?

Kevin: It was the summer of 1976 when the G&S skateboard team came to town, and Steve Cathey spun 30 or more of them at a demo.

Monty: What kind of hours went into being able to spin on two boards?

Kevin: Hours? More like years! In the beginning my friends Lyle Chippeway and Doug Haslet and I became obsessed with learning any kind of 360, but especially two-boarded spins. We would challenge each other daily as we increased from 10 to 15 to 20 and so on. It was a slow process and took me a couple of years until I could do over 100.

Monty: Didn’t Steve Cathey sponsor you?

Kevin: Yeah, back in the summer of 1979 when he was touring B.C. with you, putting on contests. I rode for G&S Skateboards for a few years before I got picked up by Powell-Peralta in 1982.

Monty: That’s a bit ironic, since you

eventually crushed Cathey’s world record of 151 spins. How well do you remember that day?

Kevin: You never forget a day like that. [It was] August 28th,1979. There were thousands of spectators watching the Canadian Skateboard Championships that were taking place at the PNE Annual Fair. Since I had consistently been spinning over 150, I was really pumped and confident I would set a new record. The arena lights dimmed and a spot light shone down on me, which threw me off at first, but I soon got accustomed to it as I picked up speed. You were emceeing the contest and were letting the audience know every 10 spins or so how I was doing. I had passed Steve’s record and was getting close to 300 spins when I started to get tired and thought, “That’s enough.” About the same time, you asked the audience, “How many spins do you want to see him do?” and everyone started yelling “A Thousand!” That seemed impossible to me, but my adrenalin kicked in and the audience kept shouting and pounding their feet on the bleachers and you were hyping it up, plus the local TV station just happened

to be there covering the contest, so I kept spinning.

Monty: When you reached 1,000 you didn’t stop. Why?

Kevin: I wanted to be sure that if the judges’ count was off, I had actually done 1,000 for the Guinness world record.

Monty: We didn’t find out until much later that although someone from Guinness was at the fair that day judging different events, they would not recognize your record. Thirtyfour years later that decision was overruled and you received your certificate of achievement from them.

Photo: Jim Goodrich

Announcing while spinning at the 2015 Cloverdale event.

Photo: Jim Goodrich

Kevin setting his world record in 1979. Photo: Jim Goodrich

Per Canguru: A five-time Brazilian Freestyle Champion, Per is a perfectionist. Not only does he hold the Guinness World Record for the Longest Coconut Wheelie on a flat surface, he has already beat that record and is determined to do even better.

good friend and coach, Dande Junge, I jumped from 8 meters to 12 … 15 … 21 … but when I reached 26 meters I thought I had reached my limit. Then I saw Kevin Harris’ Guinness Record Certificate and decided that I wanted to do more than just win the longest coconut wheelie contest; I wanted to set a world record.

Monty: What’s all entailed to be recognized by Guinness as a world record holder?

Per: I sent them a video of me doing a 30-meter wheelie and a few months later received permission to set the record and the rules they required. Unfortunately, I had to do the whole thing over again according to their standards. We put together a team to help out and went to Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo. I’ll never forget that day. I was anxious, stressed and I took several unforgettable and absurd tumbles! I finally got the right speed, though, and set a record of 33 meters (108.3 feet), which I submitted to Guinness. Four days later, and more relaxed, I went 35 meters.

Monty: When I interviewed you in 2015, you had just completed your world record. Why coconut wheelies?

Per: I’d been practicing Primo slides and enjoying all the possibilities that you can do, like reverts, shove-its, flips … Then you guys announced the coconut wheelie contest at the World RoundUp and I realized that if I was going to participate I was going to have to learn how to do them. Although Primo slides give you a good foundation on how to do a coconut wheelie, they have a big drawback. Your rail is constantly sliding on the floor, slowing you down – whereas with a coconut wheelie, because you are balancing and rolling on the edges of two wheels, you can go for distance.

Monty: Just how hard is it to do this impossible-looking balancing act called a coconut wheelie?

Per: Let’s put it this way: I have spent a lot of time falling flat on my butt learning how to do them. Thanks to my

Monty: Is working with Guinness a complicated process?

Per: Not really. It’s done online now. Once you get the green light, get your video camera and team together and head out to set your record.

Monty: You hold another world record, don’t you?

Per: Yeah, I set a record for the most rail double flips to rail on a skateboard in one minute. I am just waiting for my certificate of recognition to arrive.

Monty: Well, congratulations for “raising the bar” and giving the rest of us something to strive for.

Per’s coconut wheelie hit 108.3 feet. Photo Rodrigo K-B-CA

For the past year or so we’ve brought you a series of photo portfolios that showcase different environments. We’ve covered sumptuous sunsets and featured the mysteriousness of the night and all the elements. But recently it dawned on me that one key thing was missing from our photos: other riders.

When I first came to Canada from Great Britain in 1972, skateboarding was not yet on the radar. I knew how to play soccer, but that didn’t count for much in the land of hockey. It was tough to fit into the neighborhood. But in 1975 skateboarding hit my town. It seemed to be the one thing I was good at, and suddenly I had made a connection. Skateboarding died down about four years later, but I kept skating, and ironically wound up being the only skater in the greater neighborhood. It took some time, but skateboarding came roaring back several years later. I got out there and was no longer riding alone. The friendships I made over three decades ago still endure.

These photos reflect the spirit of riding together in different ways. Enjoy them together or with your friends.

Toronto longboarders celebrated 2016 St. Patrick’s Day in style with their local shop Longboard Haven.

Photo: Breege Moyne

“All aligned in just one direction

Organized on the same lines

With one face – one side

We got all lined up” - Shriekback

First rider Devon Dotson followed by Sam Galus, Landon Jackson and Sam Jack.

Photo: Matt MacDonald

A New York Skate of mind. The view from Hoboken, New Jersey. Gerry Kreuder, Ryan Wilhelm and Rich Wilhelm.

Photo: Jeff Skaferowsky

Even when skaters fiercely compete, there is always a sense of community and camaraderie. A pretty tight pack at the 2016 Guajataca Downhill event in Puerto Rico.

Photo: Angel Lugo

Skating in the city that never sleeps.

Photo: Khaleeq Alfred

Zac Sharp, Dave Angelus and Levi Parks enjoy a golden moment of pure stoke.

Photo: Taveon Cumby

TRAVEL, ADVENTURE AND GUMPTION:

The World’s Top Female Downhill Racers Want You to Come Race with Them

By Candice Dungan

The International Downhill Federation (IDF) is the official governing body representing international downhill skateboard, street luge and classic luge.

Essentially, IDF is to downhill skateboarding as FIFA is to international football. Events are held on the most challenging racing courses, which bring out the fastest competitors fighting for the top IDF rankings.

In 2015, Americans swept the top three spots in the Women’s IDF world rankings, with Emily Pross in first, Rachel Bruskoff in second and Loryn Roberson in third. Pross also ranked 25th in the Open category.

Loryn Roberson (left) and Rachel “Bagels” Bruskoff on the bus at Pikes Peak, Colorado.

Photo: Austin Burr

MEET THE GIRLS

MEET THE GIRLS

Homebase: Vernon, New Jersey

Years living: 19

Years skating: 4

Years racing IDF: 2

2015 IDF races attended:

WQS-Lago Cerrillo Downhill, Puerto Rico

WQS-Killington Downhill Throwdown, Vermont, USA

WC-Push Culture Family Picnic, Vermont, USA

WC-Maryhill Festival of Speed, Washington, USA

WC-TMI Lillehammer, Norway

WC-Kozakov Challenge, Czech Republic

WQS-Gravity Fest X, New York, USA

WQS-Acme Downhill, New York, USA

WC-Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA

WC-Whistler Longboard Festival, B.C., Canada

2016 racing setup:

Deck: Moonshine Tucker, but in the works of creating a custom Moonshine with more concave

Trucks: 134 mm spaceable Ronin Pro

Lites (switches to 144 mm for driftier courses) with 45/30-degree baseplates, 5 mm of rake in the front and 2.5 mm of rake in the back

Wheels: 74mm 78A RAD Advantages

Bushings: Ronin tall Lemonades on front and Lemonade/Fruit Punch combo in back

Bearings: RAD with Ionic Flux bearing lube

Grip: Gangster Grip

Slide gloves: Holesom gloves and pucks

Shoe soles: Atopic Slick Soles

Protective gear: G-Form knee pads and crash shorts

Helmet: No preference

Leathers: NJK El Diablo

Homebase: Southern California

Years living: 23

Years skating: 4

Years racing IDF: 1

2015 IDF races attended:

WQS-Ruapehu Gravity Festival, New Zealand

WC-Maryhill Festival of Speed, Washington, USA

WC-TMI Lillehammer, Norway

WC-Kozakov Challenge, Czech Republic

WQS-Verdicchio, Italy

WC-Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA

WC-Whistler Longboard Festival, B.C., Canada

WQS-Loma Linda, Colombia

WQS-Valle del Downhill, Tarma, Peru

2016 racing setup:

Deck: 2016 Landyachtz Mini Wolf Shark

Trucks: 180 mm Valkyrie Truck Co.

Voxters with 45/40-degree baseplates (switches to 30 degrees for back baseplate depending on event) and zero rake

Wheels: 73 mm 76A gray Biggie Hawgs

Bushings: Venom tall 90/93 front and 93/93 back

Bearings: Speed Doctor with Speed

Doctor Bearing Lube

Grip: Landyachtz Hammer Tape

Slide gloves: Landyachtz Burley gloves with Ojoom pucks

Protective gear: G-Form knee pads

Leathers: NJK El Diablo

Homebase: Rochester, New York

Years living: 23

Years skating: 5

Years racing IDF: 2

2015 IDF races attended:

WC-Burke Family Picnic, Vermont, USA

WQS-Killington Downhill Throwdown, Vermont, USA

WC-Maryhill Festival of Speed, Washington, USA

WC-TMI Lillehammer, Norway

WC-Kozakov Challenge, Czech Republic

WQS-ACME Downhill, New York, USA

WC-Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA

2016 racing setup:

Deck: Omen Barfight (Omen Kush for fast, grippy tracks)

Trucks: 145/135 Arsenal precision

Wheels: TBD

Bushings: Venom

Bearings: Detroit Bearing Co. ceramic

Grip: Seismic Lokton

Slide gloves: Trojan

Helmet: Zero Gravity fullface

Leathers: NJK El Diablo

No. 1: Emily “The Prossecutor” Pross

No. 2: Rachel “Bagels” Bruskoff

No. 3: Loryn Leslie Roberson

Photo: John Curry

Photo: Candice Dungan

Photo: Candice Dungan

Downhill Skateboarding is a passion sport. How much stoke do you have?

Loryn: 100% STOKE! Downhill skateboarding lights a fire inside me like nothing else does. It gives me so much confidence. If I can drop into a mountain road and go 60 mph on a skateboard, then I can do anything, and that carries over into my everyday life.

That’s empowering! Besides stoke, what motivated you to race IDF in 2015?

Loryn: I was in search of an adventure after graduating from college in 2014 and had the opportunity to race the North American IDF circuit. That summer, I met other girls who love downhill skateboarding just like me, and I was hooked. I knew I needed to do whatever it took to compete in as many races as possible in 2015.

Bagels: Honestly, I had no plan to race the IDF schedule in 2015; I was just in the right places at the right times. I knew I wanted to go to Europe, and everything else was spontaneous. I started the year in Australia, and I wanted an excuse to go to New Zealand. Racing Mt. Ruapehu became my excuse. From there, the Philippines was a must-hit event. When I wanted to travel somewhere, I used the IDF races as an excuse to do so. It was the perfect blend of my two loves: traveling and skating!

It seems like wanderlust and racing IDF go hand in hand. As a woman, what’s it like chasing the IDF circuit?

Bagels: It’s very different. When traveling to IDF races, you come across the same women at almost every large event. So few women race that you end up befriending all of them –which is fun – but the competition is minimal. I think if more ladies raced IDF, then things would be more exciting. For example, we’d take more than one run for the finish, we’d kick off the line uncertain of how our competitors race, and we’d be able to learn and progress faster from having more competition.

It’s also important for women to race Open. We’re not there to be the token girls; we are full competitors. Sometimes races don’t account for women racing in Open category, and that’s not OK. It’s important for us to prove that we’re great skaters and competitors overall – not just as women. It’s a feat to beat the competition in opens, but anyone who puts in the time and effort can do it.

Women are breaking down walls, beating the boys, and we’re just getting started.

That’s true – the women in downhill skateboarding have been making huge progress as of late. What do you think will have the most impact on growing the women’s scene? What do you think needs to happen for more women to get involved?

Loryn: I think education and exposure will have the biggest impact. Women need to know this sport exists before they can

Emily Pross, full tuck at Pikes Peak.

Photo: Tyler Preston

start doing it. It also helps to have someone show you how to be safe when skating open roads.

Emily: I’ve noticed that women’s racing is often left out of event recaps and videos. It’s a little disheartening and one of the reasons I try so hard in opens. Women’s racing is almost always left out of coverage. If it does get coverage, then it’s just a short and sweet blurb with a photo of the podium. Usually, we’re lucky to even get that. I noticed the coverage got a little bit better toward the end of the 2015 season, but we still have a long way to go. Really, the overall sport of downhill skateboard racing needs to grow; it’s still an extremely niche market which a lot of people haven’t seen or heard of.

That’s a good point; there’s still a huge untapped market that longboarding has yet to reach. However, the largest untapped market is probably women – and that’s where thought leaders like the three of you can help. What would you say to encourage women contemplating racing IDF this year?

Emily: Some of the tracks can be a little intimidating. Don’t get intimidated. If you need to, find someone to skate the course with. Another option is dropping in the back of a pack to take a solo run, which is one of my favorite things to do when I’m unsure of myself.

Bagels: Just go for it! If you don’t have the money for everything (because who does?), then find one event that makes you super-

excited. It’ll be 100% worth it! It is extremely difficult to fulfill the whole circuit. Going to one, two or a few events in the beginning can help you get the gist of everything, and you’ll fall in love.

That’s great advice from both of you! What one event is your favorite and makes you super-excited?

Emily: That’s a tough one. I like the speed of Killington and serious competiveness of Maryhill, but my favorite race was definitely the Kozakov Challenge. The course offers a little bit of everything: fast straights and technical cornering. The course tests all of the riders’ abilities, which is why it’s one of my favorites so far.

Bagels: Kozakov! It is absolutely my favorite road. It offers a little bit of everything: Speed, technicality, beautiful pavement, proper organization, amazing location, a crazy party and world-class competition. My all-time favorite thing is to go really damn fast, drift, grip and fight for good lines; Kozakov was all that and more.

Wow! Sounds like Kozakov is the race of choice for female downhill skateboarders! Now that the 2015 season is over, are you happy with your ranking? And did you achieve your goals?

Bagels: Well, considering I had no plans for the season, I can say I am ecstatic with my placing! It was a great season, and I’m so excited that I can blend my love of traveling and skating together to achieve this crazy dream.

Rachel.

Photo: Eric Mroz

Rachel “Bagels” Bruskoff eyes her line through a critical corner.

Photo: Eric Mroz

SIDEBAR

10 Reasons Why Loryn Loves the Kozakov Challenge

1. Camping on top of the hill

2. Fast, fun, challenging track

3. Great party every night

4. Five days of skating

5. Bars on every corner

6. Great female turnout

7. The Czech Republic is CHEAP!

8. Well organized

9. The Europeans are awesome

10. Tons of spectators

Loryn: I’m beyond happy. I raced the North American tour thanks to my sponsors. The IDF European circuit was a different story; I went under the condition that I looked after East Coast skate grom Edward Kiefer. While I was in Europe, I never felt pressure to finish first because my main responsibility was looking after Edward. I took every track at my own pace and enjoyed skating closed roads with all my shred sisters! When it came to race day, I did everything the same way and the consistency paid off. I ended up with a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth place this season!

Emily: I fulfilled my goals – and I am somewhat satisfied – but I still think I can do better. I like to live by the philosophy that there is always room for improvement.

Emily, I’d expect nothing less of you! Speaking of constant improvement, what are your goals for the 2016 race season, and how are you preparing?

Emily: Well, I definitely want to be women’s world champ again. I’d also like to improve upon my Open ranking from this past year. And, it may not qualify as a 2016 goal because I still have a lot to learn in terms of racing, but I’d like to win an Open race.

I’m preparing by going to the gym and working out. I’m big into fitness and weightlifting, and I feel it’s my love for weightlifting

[that] fuels my quick progression. I haven’t been racing long, and I’m not close to any good hills; going to the gym is a way for me to keep my sanity. But when I do get a chance to skate, I make sure I go hard, because I don’t know when my next session will come.

I’m glad you shared that, Emily! It’s important for women to understand how much working out and having strong muscles will directly influence their skating. In fact, I think you’ve all made strong points today that can help further women in downhill skateboarding.

Let’s finish this off strong. I’ve got one last question for all three of you. What dreams would you like to see a reality when it comes to women’s IDF racing in 2016?

Emily: More ladies participating in racing. A few girls have been talking to me about racing in the IDF next year, which is great. It’s what we need.

Bagels: I hope to see more ladies at the events around the world. I want everyone to travel and have adventures!

Loryn: A full 32-woman bracket at every race!

Loryn Roberson, high-speed predrift at Pikes Peak. Photo: Tyler Preston

Skateboarding inspired me always, but my journey did not begin until December 2012. Starting this intensive sport at age 37, I had to find an easy foot-placement technique, and painting art on grip tape solved the problem.  Skateboarders started requesting personalized designs after seeing the art on my grip tape. All the while, I was mentoring youth and teens, which came naturally with time spent skateboarding, and our relationships formed into a skate community. Excitement over the grip continued and funds collected went 100% to charity. The intention was to make a serious impact on the planet. Finnell Grip is growing and the focus is on empowering the development of the individual, hoping one day we can build schools with progressive teaching modalities including skateboarding. Thank you for supporting our vision becoming reality.

finnellgrip.com

Finnell Grip started for one sole purpose. Change the planet for the greatest good.

JENNIFER FINNELL FINNELL GRIP

A SCENE WITHIN A SCENE

WELCOME TO THE CULT OF THE FINGERBOARD

By Michael Brooke

Many people got their first exposure to fingerboarding in the Powell-Peralta video Future Primitive from 1985. Lance Mountain gleefully “rode” his homemade deck around a kitchen sink as Tony Hawk and Mike McGill looked on. Of course, well before then, people made their own fingerboards, but that sequence with Lance put fingerboarding on the map. A slew of companies started to make plastic fingerboard keychains in the late ’80s, but it wasn’t until Tech Deck appeared in the later part of the 1990s that things really exploded.

Here in North America, Tech Deck enjoyed a frenzy of interest. Over time, dozens of skate companies licensed their logos. Both kids and skate collectors enjoyed the experience. But if you ask most skateboarders about fingerboards, they might just say “Oh,

yeah … I had one,” and leave at that. For most, the fingerboard remains a curious artifact from youth. But Martin Ehrenberger had other ideas. He founded a fingerboard company, Blackriver, in 1999, and it’s still going today. Blackriver creates professional fingerboards and ramps and distributes a multitude of fingerboard product. Prices are not what you might expect. Believe it or not, Blackriver sells fingerboard decks for $100, and completes can be over $200. You can also buy trucks – $45 per set! Fortunately, grip tape is about the same price you’d find for regular-size grip.

I am going to pause for a moment and let you absorb that last paragraph. My first reaction about learning about this side of skateboarding was to laugh somewhat incredulously. But as I discovered, there is much more to fingerboarding than meets

Martin Ehrenberger, founder of Blackriver. Photo:

the eye (or the finger, for that matter). Though skate purists might dismiss it as a joke, there is no discounting the joy fingerboarding brings and the proud movement it has spawned.

I first learned about the more upscale side of fingerboarding through Rick Tetz, who brought in some Blackriver ramps to his Vancouver shop, Longboarder Labs. Rick also told me to be on the lookout for Martin when I visited the ISPO trade show earlier this year.

The first question I wanted to know is: What is it about fingerboarding? Isn’t regular skateboarding fun enough?

“The fact is that through fingerboarding you can live skateboarding in another dimension,” Martin says. “It feels extremely good to be able to control the fingerboard like a skateboard. It transports a positive emotion, so it’s fun.” Martin also points out that fingerboarding is more easily accessible, and you’re not too dependent on logistical factors such as weather, places, etc. It doesn’t necessarily depend on your physical state that much. Fingerboarding enthusiasts find it as diverse as skateboarding and say it never gets boring, whether it’s finding or building new spots or being stoked about a new trick you just learned.

At ISPO I witnessed firsthand just how difficult it is to explain to people an alternative view of fingerboarding. As Martin chatted with prospective retailers, many were puzzled about what exactly

he was offering. Martin has toiled in relative obscurity building a global network of fingerboard enthusiasts. I could sense how much blood, sweat and tears he has put into fingerboarding. He isn’t just passionate; fingerboarding resonates deeply with who he is as a skater. In fact, once you get over your preconceived notions, you begin to realize that most fingerboarders ride skateboards. Fingerboarding is merely an extension of who they are as skaters. “Of course I skate. I’ve been riding for over 30 years!” Martin exclaims.

“You start fingerboarding and after a while you notice that it’s fun,” Martin says. “You spend a lot of time on it, and naturally you want to have professional equipment eventually.” He says it’s the same in every field, whether it’s skateboarding, music, whatever. “In skateboarding you may start with a plastic board, but as soon as you realize you are hooked on it, you want to have better, more professional product.” Blackriver seems to have successfully cultivated that niche.

In May 2016, Blackriver will be hosting the ninth fingerboard world championship, called Fast Fingers 19. At the last championship, more than 100 people registered to compete, ranging in age from 7 to 32. People from 20 different nations will descend on the northern Bavarian town of Schwarzenbach to compete.

“Our competitors take fingerboarding seriously,” Martin says. “They are mostly professionals. And of course they want to have professional setups to do their tricks as precisely as possible.” They’ll also be able to enjoy seven different skateparks in the region along, with DJs and a best trick contest (on regular skateboards). One quick glance at a numerous YouTube videos shows hundreds of stoked participants, spectators and curious onlookers.

So what does it take to be a pro fingerboarder? Martin can put his finger on it. “There are pros who can do every trick you want them to do,” he says. “They have skills the average fingerboarder dreams of at night. They’ve been around for decades and the scene celebrates them. Kids want signatures and photos with them. It’s basically the same as in skateboarding.”

And if you have fingerboard pros, then sure as day follows night, there are actual professional fingerboard tours. In fact,

CJ Collins, FS ollie. Photo: Martin Ehrenberger

Fingerboard park features on display at Blackriver’s store in Berlin.

in 2008 the Blackriver Fingerboard Team hit the USA with 12 pros. That’s right – fingerboard tours are exactly like regular skate tours, but you don’t need to rent a U-Haul to fit all the extra gear. Blackriver has been doing tours for the past 16 years. “Our team riders traveled the world,” Martin says. “We were on South Korean TV, and have and performed at dozens of trade shows for companies like Nokia, Canon and Gillette.”

Despite all that I learned about – the fingerboard graphic artists, the fingerboard magazine, and of course fingerboard groupies (actually that last one may take some time), I still couldn’t get over the fact that the high-end fingerboard completes were in fact more expensive than regular skateboards eight times the size. But Martin is keen to point out, “Professional fingerboarding is niche. All products are handmade or locally produced in small batches. For that price you get a high-quality complete setup (deck, trucks, wheels) and not a cheaply mass-produced crap board.”

The other thing that never occurred to me was what happens when you drop down to one-eighth the size. But it’s essential to have precisely manufactured boards, trucks and wheels in fingerboarding – even more so than in skateboarding. “The downsizing of the equipment demands more,” Martin says. “If it’s not precise, you’ll notice every minor deviation. This means you will lose pop, or the board would spin weirdly.”

Blackriver’s products are handmade in Germany, and they’re high-quality. You can see it with your own eyes, and of course feel it with your fingers. If you think it’s easy to make a seven-ply fingerboard, think again. “Way more work and innovation are necessary than for producing a regular skateboard,” Martin says. “Sure, it’s less material, but for most products you don’t pay for the material, unless you buy a gold watch. Instead you pay for work, and these custom products take a huge amount of work to

create.” As if all these reasons weren’t enough, Martin did come up with the final reason that will probably blow a few minds: “Why should a fingerboard be cheaper than a skateboard, just because it’s smaller?” Why indeed.

When I picked up the Blackriver catalog I noticed a phrase on the cover: “an entire universe in your hands.” I asked Martin to explain that statement in detail, and you can see he’s given it a lot of thought.

“It’s a whole scene with all its characteristics,” he says. “Fingerboarding developed from skateboarding, but it’s a universe on its own. It’s like a sub-scene within a scene. That’s one reason why I’d call it a microcosm.” Martin sees a lot of similarities to skateboarding. “The emotions are similar but on the other hand it’s also very different.”

Martin recognizes that fingerboarding is a niche activity. Despite this, I think Martin is right when he says it has all the components of a subculture. There are local scenes all around the globe. People organize events like sessions, contests and even art shows. Beyond that, Martin says, “Believe it or not, there’s a concrete fingerboard DIY scene, too. At the world championship all those people meet every year; it has been steadily becoming a worldwide community throughout the years.”

This is the stoke that Martin and his fellow fingerboard enthusiasts have helped create. These folks looked beyond what most could see and realized there was a creative energy that could be promoted.

Here our story takes on a very different turn. It’s no secret that retailers of all kinds face a challenging environment nowadays. The retail landscape is changing, and the mall coupled with the

Vancouver’s Longboarder Labs and CalStreets hosted a fingerboard jam in late 2015 that attracted dozens of enthusiasts. Photo: Rick Tetz

Web have made it even more difficult to remain in business. When it comes to skate shops, the independent skate shop is a great place to hang out when you’re growing up. Mall stores can try to duplicate this vibe, but’s not the same. Independent skate shops can plant a park in the middle of their shop and see where it takes them. My sense is that a fingerboard skatepark could connect with young kids and plant a seed for a lifetime of rolling. I wondered if there was possibly more to fingerboarding than you see at first glance. I asked Martin what he thought.

“Setting up a fingerboard park will bring the kids in your shop,” Martin said. “It’s an interactive, community-building element, and people will start to develop an emotional connection to the store. It’ll get away from a pure ‘consumer station’ to an animated place, where people want to stop by, hang out, meet like-minded folks and pursue their common interest.”

Could the power of fingerboarding connect customers and shops to the core of skateboarding? For Martin, the answer is a resounding yes. The way he sees it, every kid who is interested in fingerboarding is naturally interested in skateboarding as well. “If the kids don’t skate yet, there’ll come the day when they will,” Martin says. “Since the physics of tricks in fingerboarding and skateboarding are the same, they will have learned all the tricks by then. They just have to apply the same technique with their feet. … If they have developed a positive connection to a store, since it’s not just a corporate, cold, ignorant place, then they’ll most likely get their future purchases there.”

Demographics are destiny, and this is very true in skateboarding. The sport is very much like a pyramid, with a great deal of young riders at the bottom. Martin acknowledges you want the “cool” older skaters in your store. “But do not underestimate the kids, since they are the future,” he says. “If the ‘cool’ adults are really cool, i.e., having a broad horizon, [if they] skate for fun and not for proving themselves, they won’t mind a fingerboard park in the store.”

There is always a new generation on its way to skateboarding. Some will get a fingerboard as a birthday present. Some will enjoy the fingerboard experience for a few days and it will either break or get lost. But some kids will be hooked and in no time will be begging for an upgrade.

An entry-level upgraded fingerboard starts at around $20. This is almost ten times what you’d pay for a Tech Deck. But if someone has been bitten by the fingerboard bug, $20 is not outrageous. Soon they’ll be hanging out at the shop, then out skating with their friends, and before you know it, you’ve got a skater for life. Martin Ehrenberger wouldn’t want it any other way – and for that matter, neither would I.

Winkler, BS ollie. Photo: Elias Assmuth

By Joey Bidner

Right now you are probably prioritizing which events to attend this year to make the most of your paper route earnings. Many factors go into the decision of narrowing down what you will attend this season; How much skating will there be? (Versus lurking.) How solid is the after-party? Is there camping or a cheap spot to crash? Food supplied? Race or freeride? Fair entry fee? Good organization? To make this process easy for you, we cover all the bases with one of our favorite event series going on right now: Big Mountain Skate! Each event in this race/freeride series has everything more than covered, and all are on tracks that deserve the #roadporn title. So I dare you to bite the bullet and make it over to Europe to skate one of these events. You won’t regret it.

ALPENRAUSCHEN JUNE 9–12

This is easily one of the most anticipated events in Europe right now. Each year it sells out in less than 15 seconds, and for good reason! The organizers want people to compare this to a snowboard vacation. Buy your ticket, and have everything taken care of: all-you-can-eat food; lodge at the top of the track with rooms; four days and three nights of mayhem. Did I mention it’s the scariest freeride of the series? I could not think of a more perfect place to really improve your riding. Go to a gnarly hill, and don’t worry about a competitive race environment. Just take your time, go fast and get it!

Presented by Landyachtz.

TRACK

Location: Austria

Food: All you can eat (vegan/veg/meat)

Accommodation: On-site lodging, full accommodation included

Mini ramp: Yes

Cost: €205

Length: 5.2 km

Steepest point: 18.75%

Total elevation: 402 m

Top speed: 95 km/h

Eight hairpins, four corners

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Photo: Chris Kreuter

This is the longestrunning event in the series. Organized by Stephan Risch since 2003, it has climbed the ladder to one of the largest races in Europe.

This IDF World Cup Qualifier will scare the soles off your feet, as you can hit 100 km/h in three separate spots of the track. Need I say more? It also has camping (or rooms for €20), €4 breakfast, €5 rider menu for lunch/dinner and an Alpine hut for the after-party. So if you are looking to push how fast you can go, and want a safe/fun environment to see what you are made of, make it to Almabtrieb. Presented by Sector 9.

Length: 3.9 km

Steepest point: 19%

Total elevation: 405 m

Top speed: over 100 km/h in three track locations.

Eight hairpins, two corners

Location: Austria

Food: €4 breakfast, 5€ lunch/dinner (vegan/veg/ meat)

Accommodation: Free camping (showers) or €20/ night rooms

Mini ramp: Yes

Cost: €199

TRACK INFO:

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Photo: Markus Knoblechner

KNK CAMP JULY 25–30

Are you looking for a freeride that’s not as gnarly as Alpenrauschen, but more aggressive than Bela Joyride? KnK fits right in the middle. This six-day freeride is so popular they had to offer it twice back to back! This freeride has some competitive elements if you want a taste. The Red Bull No Paws Down race (offered in week one) is intense. Make it down the track without touching your hand to the ground – stand-up slides only. This is gnarly, seeing that you can reach up to 90 km/h on this track. Week two has a special event presented by Cult wheels, the Single Set Survivor race. You are only allowed one set of wheels from qualifiers to finals. Presented by Kebbek Skateboards this year. Get ready for a good time!

TRACK INFO:

Length: 3.7 km

Steepest point: 17%

Total elevation: 300 m

Top speed: 90 km/h

18 hairpins

Location: Slovenia

Food: €5 all-you-can-eat breakfast, €6.5 three-course meal for dinner (vegan/veg/ meat)

Accommodation: Free camping (showers), dorm €18/night, room €3.5/night

Mini ramp: Yes

Cost: €220

Photo: Markus Knoblechner

BELA JOYRIDE AUGUST 25-28

The perfect description of this event is described in its name; it’s truly a “joyride.” If you’re looking for an event that’s not going to scare the hell out of you and want something just to jam out on with your friends in the relaxed environment of a freeride, this is the event for you. The Joyride is a long, hella fun track that’s mellow enough to skate hung over from the night before. Lots of hairpins, lots of grip. Fifteen hairpins of incredibly banked turns makes for more grip than you would anticipate. Predrifting is only needed on three of the 15 hairpins. This event is a true leg burner, so to compensate for this, the crew at Big Mountain Skate hire an on-site masseuse to get the knots out of your legs. Could it get any better?

Presented by Easygoinc. Longboards.

TRACK INFO:

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Location: Austria

Food: €4 breakfast, €5 dinner (vegan/veg/meat)

Accommodation:

Camping

Mini ramp: Yes

Cost: €177

Length: 5.3 km

Steepest point: 15%

Total elevation: 320 m

Top speed: 70 km/h

Fifteen hairpins

Photo: Chris Kreuter

The fifth annual LoRaLo is one of the more affordable, less intense events from Big Mountain Skate, but just as fun as the rest. Each year they add an interesting element to it. They are currently working on the first-ever Night Race as an addition this year. At the end of the event, they host what’s called the Downhill Bonanza, where you challenge somebody to race, and the winner gets the other person’s wheels. Are you confident enough to use your freshies? The track at LoRaLo is not the longest, but is still technical, fast and a lot of fun. So if you don’t have the cash or free time to commit to a long event like the rest, and are more of a weekend warrior, go to LoRaLo.

Presented by Blue Tomato.

TRACK INFO:

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Location: Austria

Food: €5 breakfast, €3–7 lunch/dinner (vegan/veg/meat)

Accommodation: Camping

Mini ramp: Yes

Cost: €99

Length: 1.3 km

Steepest point: 14%

Total elevation: 110 m

Top speed: 70 km/h

Three hairpins, two corners

Photo: Paul Bamberger

We did a “Catching Up” with you sometime around 2002. What was your life like around that time?

At that time my life had radically changed. 1996 was the birth of the new Dennis Martinez. Now five years had passed (1996–2001), and I was heading into the prisons as a platform speaker for God, sharing my testimony. I was just ordained as a pastor, and my life was taking form and shape of the real person I was meant to be.

What things give you the most satisfaction in life?

Nothing like family. My daughter Cristiana is my everything. This is something I finally get to experience because of ONE RIGHT DECISION. Kids are so cool, and now I have grandchildren from my oldest son, Vincent. My 24-year-old son Christopher is a youth worship leader. My second satisfaction is prison ministry, bringing life-changing words to a deep, dark

CATCHING UP (AGAIN) WITH...

DENNIS MARTINEZ

We’re coming up to the 15th anniversary issue of Concrete Wave in June. To celebrate, we’ll be bringing back some elements from the earlier years of the magazine, like “Catching Up”. In that recurring feature, we connected with wellknown skaters from the past to find out where life had taken them, both in skating and beyond.

For many skaters from the 1970s, Dennis Martinez exemplified the “all-around skater.” His abilities at riding vert, banks and freestyle were recognized both by his fellow pro riders and by skaters all around the world.

environment. It’s such an intense feeling walking on the prison yard, knowing at any time a riot can break off. HELPING PEOPLE.

What are some of your most challenging things about being a pastor in prison?

The most challenging thing about being a pastor inside the prison is being neutral when it comes to dealing with problems, meaning “he said/she said,” so when I have to make a decision, I have to make sure that I have all the facts and that the facts are true. Also, sitting with all these inmates, listening to their stories and Biblically counseling them correctly. I’ve grown as a pastor being inside and learned so much by listening to these guys on what choices got them into prison. This also really helps me with reaching the youth.

You do a lot of work with at-risk youth. Do you feel that skateboarding truly reaches these youth?

Having titles in the greatest sport helps me greatly in reaching these youths as well as those in prison. And using skateboarding as a tool really grabs these youths’ attention. I use Lifers who have been incarcerated for 25-plus years, [plus] videos because people are visual. Giveaways, stickers, hats, wheels and boards are also a great attention grabber. I do this contest with youth, where I give them an Osiris shoe template and colored pencils, crayons and ink markers and ask them to design a shoe; the winner gets a skateboard. As they are designing, I teach on making a “Mission Statement 4 Life.” Most corporations, churches and businesses have a mission statement, and it keeps them on track to accomplish their goals. Then I ask them, “How would you market the shoe?” etc., etc. So, yes, skateboarding is one of my greatest tools.

What led to the decision to relaunch Flying Aces?

Photo: Jodie Royak

I felt the Lord leading me because I finally felt I was mature enough in God to go back into the industry. As much as I tried to stay away, I could see God tugging and leading me back into it. Flying Aces always had a good name, a good look, and I felt like it was time to do this on my own and not for another company. Flying Aces is focusing more on community building, art, collaborations, exotic woods and legends. We found our position in the industry.

Can you detail your work with the San Diego gun buyback?

Flying Aces is not just a skateboard company but a movement. One of our many successful outreaches is our annual gun buyback, where we have partnered with like-minded skateboard industry people like Carver, Loaded, Landyachtz, Moonshine, Never Summer and Lotus Skate. Skate legend Harvey Hawks brought the idea to me and we took it to the main guy, Rev. Brown, and history was made. Skateboards for guns. Neil at Carver has been such a huge part to this, along with many others. Saving lives one life at a time. What also is history-making is having Lifers from prison assist in this. They cannot touch the guns but are allowed to help.

When you look back on the last decadeand-a-half, was there anything you regret not doing (knowing what you know now)?

Yes, that I would have never left the skateboarding industry. Only some

people can really understand how drugs really destroyed lives. I was stuck, and so this is why I’m attacking this enemy in a big way. Another thing is I would like to start my company sooner, but as I see, it wasn’t time yet. I needed to have the right partners, and I do now, like my daughter Cristiana and the amazing Jodie Royak.

What are some of your immediate plans?

To grow Flying Aces. To secure enough funding to always be able to help someone in addiction. My facility, Training Center, is always in need of financial support.

What do you want to be remembered as?

I want me, the Training Center and Flying Aces to be remembered as a movement in helping people, loving people for a second chance in life.

Layback circa 1979 at Del Mar Skate Ranch. Photo: Jim Goodrich

Out of the bowl at Moving-On skatepark in El Cajon, Calif., late 1977. Perhaps the inspiration behind the name “Flying Aces?”

Skate demo at a state prison in Idaho.

Dennis with a fellow youth worker, Taz. Photo Bil Zelman

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Ty Page, aka Mr. Incredible La Costa, California, 1977

Photo: Warren Bolster

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