Skate the Hate (STH) is a New England blade competition, organized each year by Gabe Holm on the hottest and most humid day of the year, in the middle of nowhere Massachusetts. Despite these things, STH also happens to continually be my favorite event of the summer. The unique location allows for the entire competition to go down at a single spot, local sponsors get a chance to open shop, and the entrepreneurial bladers light up their grills and open food stands. Like any event, it’s also a great way to spend the day with friends and familiar faces.
It’s about 6:30 pm on a Friday and I’m currently sitting in a hell I like to call a hospital waiting room. My leg is nine different colors and swollen after making the decision last week that I’d warm up by transferring a kink rail at “A Day in the Zoo,” Kalamazoo, Michigan’s semiannual street and park comp. I figured I would write this article while here in the waiting room ’cause I know I’ll probably be here for the next few hours…
“Strange Creatures” is a new blade video by Amir Amadi featuring the best up and comers from California as well as a select few guests. The premiere was held this weekend at Amir’s auto shop in San Clemente. The event drew a great crowd of support from not only all of California, but also Phoenix, touring friends from Chicago, and representatives of Valo, Rat-Tail, Revolution, Vibralux, and SDSF who all proudly endorse the flick.
Greg Sturino and I met up with good friend and west coast photographer Jeremy Condamine in the Bronx, then headed out to some spots. We decided to warm-up on this kinked handicapped rail, which is a famous NYC spot located near Fordham University. The rail has been featured in several NYC videos such as “1131,” “Nature ONE,” and “Urban Royalty.” This place is a great warm-up spot, not only because of the perfectly mellow, kinked handi, but also the waxed up c-ledge at the bottom. Most choose to skate this rail from top to bottom, but Greg laced this trick going the other direction. As the rail launched him out onto a large sidewalk, Greg laced this bomb 360. I was able to time the shot perfectly to show the huge air he caught. Shot with one strobe up and left beyond the gate. — Sam DeAngelis
The Gypsy Tour rolls on. Here’s a look at the tour’s third stop in Winnipeg. If you read French, check their site for a full write up. — ONE
Paul John just sent over this ad he worked up for the new JUG Shoes line. It features Brian “BFree” Freeman, and Rory Melehand and Adam Exline aided with the production. Directed, of course, by Paul John for Midnight Cinema. — ONE
It’s a Sunday afternoon, there are three cars of bladers and no clue where to skate. We ended up at the new skate plaza in East LA, but were at a loss for ideas after that. Turns out I left my camera bag at Abel’s place after picking him up in Eagle Rock, so I had to backtrack with two cars following me. We ended up eating while trying to figure out spots. As luck would have it, we were near some low handicap rails in the area we’ve been meaning to check out for a while. On the way, we came across these down rails. You might recognize them from Alex Broskow’s “Drip Drop” section — he backslides the entire thing through the curve. Let me say it is far more daunting in person. It’s steep, fast and the bushes have thorns. That doesn’t stop Anthony Gallegos. He laces half cab fish and Half Cab Top Mistrial through the curve. Though it took me more than a few tries to get the timing right since he was flying down the rail. He was patient and consistent, two great assets while trying to photograph a rollerblader. He still killed it at the next spot, but that’s another story completely. Canon 7d, Tamron 17-50mm, Nikon sb-25 up top at full power, and sb-24 down below at half power; 1/500, f/5.6, iso 640. — Jonathan Labez
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