Browsing “Travel”

Over at the SbA site we have just commissioned James James to cut this ripping Recon piece on the West Hobart Bowl which is the 2^nd oldest park in Australia. Here is a little sample of the visuals. The video is over here.

If geologists rated skateparks the West Hobart Bowl would be classified as Jurassic. It is a crusty, meandrous beast that will happily spit you (and your flesh) into the stratosphere if you hesitate or make an error in judgment. It is a lumpy 100m roller coaster ride that takes you from a shallow dish, through the belly of a snake, past the demonic ‘Thrasher’ corner into the actual bowl. The West Hobart Bowl, (which is actually more of a snake run) has been sessioned for thirty three years now…. (continued here)

When it comes to documenting Australian skateboarding in moving pictures, Chris Middlebrook is the most well known and no doubt one of the most devoted. Two of his most recent accomplishments include Nike SB Chronicles #1 and what is arguably the video part of the year: Nick Boserio’s Life Splicing part.

Aside from VX and HD Midds is also a bit of a Super 8 lord. Over at the SbA site we have recently unearthed Chris Middlebrook’s Super 8 reel from 2008. Inside you will find archival footage of: Shane O’Neill, Andrew Brophy Dane Burman, Lewis Marnell, Andrew Currie, Bryce Golder, Nick Boserio, Alex Campbell, Justin Brock, Tommy Fynn and a myriad of other talented rolling units.

Chris Middlebrook is currently working on a part for the next Transworld Video “The Cinematographer Project”: be prepared for some locally spawned lunacy in that one.

Merry Merry Season peoples. See you next year.

TOP 8 from THE ISLAND

1ST: Chima Ferguson ($4000)

2ND: Tommy Fynn ($2500)

3RD: Jack Fardell ($1500)

4TH: Jack Kirk ($800)

5TH: Jake Duncombe ($500)

6TH: Reece Warren ($300)

7TH: Alex Campbell ($200)

8TH: Joel McIlroy ($200)

ISLAND WRAP

Cockatoo Island is not only the largest isle in Sydney Harbour; it has one of the most colourful histories. Prior to being home to the first ever SbA Pro/Am Grand Final it was an imperial prison, an industrial school, a reformatory, a jail and was the site of one of Australia’s largest boat building docks. Cockatoo is also closely aligned with the legend of bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, who was one of two prisoners to ever escape the island. Their escape was aided by Thunder’s lover Mary Ann Bugg who swam through the harbours shark-infested waters to save them. Thunderbolt was given his name whilst on the job: during one of his robberies he knocked on a door as a clap of thunder and lightening ignited the skies. The victim asked who was at the door to which he replied: “Thunderbolt”. Of course prior to the intervention of colonialism Cockatoo was no doubt a sacred stomping ground for indigenous tribes and possibly the odd cockatoo.

During event lead up there were several trips out to the island. My first trip was with Cuzz and we were in charge of surface checks on the heritage-listed ground. After a serious run in with an egg-guarding screech-burger of a sea gull, and several heated discussions regarding the logistical problems of holding a comp on the island, we thought we would calm our nerves with a beverage. Whilst ordering the edge was taking off by a gruff but jovial chinless wonder of a Hungarian tuck-shop manager. He was the kind of odd character you would find in an old Bond film. His vibe somehow smoothed the situation and mid bev we ran back over to the site and finally sussed how the course could work.

Over the months of prep that followed it was no doubt that Logistics Manager Steve Murphy went through the most trials and tribulations. At one point he was heard ordering some fluorescent inflatable tower lights over the phone: “So how big are they mate?“… (pause)… “Oh so about as big as a fat person?” The attention to detail was phenomenal. So how do you get a skate course built on an island you ask? Every element had to come by barge: 24 of them! The course design and construction was a combination of efforts between SbA, Convic and Shane Serena’s Revolution crews. The course housed elements such as the bank to ledge to bank, the out rail (based on Perth’s swing out bar), the doorstop slappy kickers, the wheel chair ramp and the Sydney Harbour Bridge China Bank. (article continued with video over on the sba site)

(link straight to video)

‘A to B’ is one of the SbA video regulars. It is a study of the journey from A to B on a skateboard. To instigate the mission I make a map on Google maps, give the map to the filmer and skater. I make sure that the path does take the duo past some good spots, and they are allowed to differ from the supplied route by maximum of one block. Once the mission is completed the filmer completes the edit. I chose Melbourne ripper Jeremy Corea as the subject of the first Victorian ‘A to B’, the filmer was SbA contributor Josh Roberts. Josh is the man responsible for the recent ‘In Good Company’ video from the 4 Skateboard Company, he also filmed the Alex Campbell ‘Three Spots’ from a couple of months back. For now: feast on the A to B with Jeremy Corea and I’ll keep you posted with any further additions.

Just in case u missed the link: A to B with Jeremy Corea

Since the start of the year I have been working for Skateboarding Australia (SbA) which is a government funded body implemented to promote and grow skateboarding in our country. More about us here. Aside from being head judge for their Am Series and Pro/Am Tour (curated by Aussie legend Andrew Currie) I have been updating their website’s blog and features.

Including:
Feature interviews with Aussie luminaries such as Chima, Tommy Fynn, Steve Gourlay, Reece Warren, Joel McIlroy and Jack Fardell.

Chinwags with Andrew Brophy, Paul Brabenec and Trent Evans.

There are a bunch of video based regulars as well:
A to Bs with Barry Mansfield, and Dave “Battlecat” Harris
Lost Tapes with Daniel Cardone.
What’s Crackin’ with Nathan Jackson
Recons on the new Belconnen and Nimbin parks.

We also do historical pieces like
Flashbacks with Brett Margaritis, Matt Mumford, Davo and Lee Ralph.
and Video Vaults with Al Boglio, Wade Burkitt (pictured above), Cale Nuske, Tas Pappas, Dustin Dollin and Lewis Marnell.

There are wrap-ups on comps such as Shocklands and the Goldy Grail.
Hope you enjoy this little package of top shelf antipodean skateboarding.

Stay tuned at sba.org.au

Below you will find a selection of images from the site.

Sink Or Swim
September 23-25, 2011
Opening reception Friday, September 23rd 6-10pm

Spoke Art Gallery
816 Sutter St.
SF, CA

This coming Friday, September 23rd, Japan-based non-profit PangeaSeed in collaboration with San Francisco’s Spoke Art Gallery is pleased to announce the inaugural transcontinental art exhibition, Sink or Swim, featuring original works from 30 internationally renowned artists such as Dave Kinsey, Josh Keyes, Dan May, Jim Phillips, Skinner and many more (like me!). This gathering of widely acclaimed artists from around the globe will address one of the biggest threats facing the health of the world’s oceans today – the rapid and mass depletion of sharks.

I’ve seen some of these pieces and must say they are pretty awesome. I am honored to be included in such a lineup of great artists and helping a great cause. Their will be an opening reception from 6pm-10pm on Friday so you should be there! Support a great cause and see (and possibly buy) some amazing art. Above is the flyer designed by all-around good guy Aaron Glasson and my new piece. If you can’t make it, tell your friends to go. See you there!

For more information, check out:
PangeaSeed.com
Spoke-Art.com

If you find yourself in York, Maine this coming weekend, you should hit up the Surf Re-Evolution Festival being put on by Grain Surfboards. It’s going to be a day long celebration of sun, surf, art, music, food and films. I was asked to participate in the art side of things which is curated by Tyler Briggs of Corduroy Boutique. An old barn will be converted into a gallery for the weekend and filled with art inspired by the love of water. Above is one of my small pieces along with the Festival graphic.

In their words:
“Why Surf Re-Evolution?
We think of the boards we build as an emblem of “re-evolution”. To us, that’s the act of reaching back into the legacy of surfboard design, finding an inspiration, and applying new thinking or new materials to jump over the intervening years, decades or millennia to create something surfers can love today.

Because we’re not alone in revering re-evolution, on September 10th, Grain and some friends will be hosting a first-ever celebration of this idea. With Korduroy.TV, we’ve invited some of the most forward-thinkers we could find to join us at Long Sands Beach in York, Maine to see and try out re-evolutionary surfboards, after which we’ll decamp to the farm where our shop is located to share art, films, live music and ideas.”

Definitely looks like a good time. Say “goodbye” to summer with lots of great people, workshops, films, and fun in the sun!

For more info, check out:
http://www.grainsurfboards.com/
http://www.korduroy.tv/

I was in New York last weekend during “Hurricane” Irene and shot a photoessay titled “26 Hours in NYC”. Gallery up now at RebelSciences.

Last weekend, the non-profit Pangea Seed held it’s 3rd annual art exhibit fundraiser to address one the biggest threats facing the health of world’s oceans today – the rapid mass depletion of sharks. With each minute that passes close to 200 sharks are killed, adding up to an astonishing 80 million deaths each year. The majority of these sharks are killed only for their fins to satisfy an unsustainable appetite for shark fin soup in Asia and other parts of the world. In the cruel practice known as “finning,” the shark is hooked and brought aboard the boat where its fins are then cut off and the still alive but limbless animal is tossed back into the sea to drown.

This year participants included Dave Kinsey, Dan May, Kelly Tunstall, Jim Phillips, Tim Biskup, myself and about 30+ other international artists. Here is a video that the gang over at Pangea Seed put together to document this years exhibition. For more information, check out: www.pangeaseed.com

@kellytwittiams I did a writeup on my blog about Texas skate/punk preserver Bill Daniel’s awesome documentary called Who Is Bozo Texino? From a rusty train car to the MoMA, MOCA, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Bill is cool. Read more >>