Don’t you hate it when someone walks right in front of your camera when your taking a fucking picture of the World’s Tallest Building?

Our boy Mike Crum and Hype Skateboards has a video submission contest going on to get you Hyped!

GET HYPED! has officially begun with a ripping entry from Boise, Idaho’s very own Dillon Castillo. The bar is set high with this one, keep sending in your submissions and you could be the next to GET HYPED!

>Take a look back at 20 years of Ray Barbee footage from Kurt Hayashi.

One of the best skaters of all time and a real player in the Digital Family Paul Machnau. I thought his last part was going to be hard to top but I was wrong. And it’s not the first time this has happened to me thinking like that. Great part Paul!!

From Red Star Skateboards

To ring in the New Year, Jason Hernandez has complied footage from last year’s travels into this marvelous edit featuring Stefan, Grant, Wieger, Lewis, Daniel, Youness Amrani, and Chet Childress.

Twenty years later Skateboarder puts together the original cast of the most famous skate video of all time.

Here is behind the scenes of the Blind Video Days Reunion photo shoot. Corresponding the article in the new February/March 2011 issue of Skateboarder. Featuring Guy Mariano, Mark Gonzales, Rudy Johnson, Jason Lee and Jordan Richter.

>They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, but what’s to be said for a second impression? Arto Saari is now back on FLIP. Him and Geoff headed to Thrasher mag to let Phelps know, and in this video he’s shown handing over a little something to Phelps. You must be curious what it might be, but to myself being a chocolate fiend, I knew right off the top.

His gift was none other than a highly coveted and extremely addictive Fazer chocolate imported from Arto’s homeland.

I remember living there in Finland, meeting Arto as a 16 year old up start who could at that time switch back tail high ledges. Perhaps that’s where this love affair with chocolate began. What a kind gesture, even though Phelps wished it was a bottle of Jack I’m sure.

For me, this stack of Fazer i’ve got beside me is just the thing to stoke me.
Pasi “Bigman” Posti

THE INTERNATIONAL // Sewa Kroetkov Coming Soon.

> Where are you living currently?

I’m living in Holland in a town called Alkmaar, which isn’t far from Amsterdam.

> Is that where you started skating?

Yes

> Where has skateboarding taken you travel wise?

First of all, skating has taken me to almost every city/town in Holland that I usually wouldn’t go. A lot of countries in Europe and it also has taken me to the U.S and especially California.

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It’s Your World Promo Video Anthony Shetler.

Dan Drehobl, Silas Baxter-Neal, and Dan Plunkett roll up the Mississippi in Elwood’s new tour video ‘Northern Blues’.

Appleyard by Kookus

>I want to start by asking you some personal stuff that no one knows about you ok?

UUUUHH….?

Photo Mapstone

>I recently found out you are from Canada is this true?

FOR SURE, BORN AND RAISED. TIL I WAS 17

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AZ OG Dave Smith. Here is his new part from the new Brimley Video Can’t Hardley Skate.

VIDEO PART: VAN dAMn // NORMAN WOODS Coming Soon!

Interview: Sean Peterson

>Norman Woods is one original cat. The first time I met Norman was with the homie Bill. Norman was this little Hollywood High Kid and at the time was one of the only brothas I knew that rocked the Rock-N-Roll look. He was a quite kid, or at least while we were shooting…. That was a long time ago. Can’t get the motha fuckah to shut up now, but he’s still got that drive to skate. He calls me almost everyday and is currently one of the reason’s I stay stoked on even shooting skate photos. Norman’s got a very distinct look and ever since I’ve known him, he’s looked that way. So I wanted to find out how and why he became a rock-n-roll brother in world saturated with conformity.

>So you’re known as a Hollywood High guy, but where exactly are you from?

I was born in Omaha, Nebraska and moved to Los Angeles when my folks split up. I was like six years old.

>Where’s your mother from?

She’s from Milwaukee Wisconsin. But I think her family moved to Los Angeles when she was a baby and still lives here. She moved to Nebraska with my dad when she was 21.

>Where’s your father from?

He’s from Omaha. But my grandpa was a pretty big Jazz musician, so they moved around a lot. That’s how he and my mother met in Los Angeles.

>What did he do for a living?

He played Jazz. Whenever I was with him he’d take me to gigs and I’d hang out with all these jazz guys and the crazy women that hung around them. It was a trip.

>What was your father like growing up? Did he ever tell you any everlasting gems of personal growth?

He was awesome, but he went back and forth between Omaha and Denver all the time. My step dad was the one who told me things most of the time. He always gave me weird advice, though. When I was like twelve he told me never to give a girl the whole dick. Stuff like that.

>What was one of your first Childhood memories?

Flying to LA from Omaha and my mom telling me we were going to Disneyland the whole flight. I was pretty stoked. Then I remember meeting all these relatives for the first time.

>How do you think their influences have contributed to your style?

Well, I think they influenced me as a person, but I get my style from whatever I’m into at the time. I just try to look smooth. I’m kind of weird about that stuff. Maybe my dad’s influence is coming out now, because I’ve been fixated with suits lately.

>When did you first step on a skateboard?

The first time ever I was 8 years old. But I ate shit and scratched my face, so I never even touched one again until I was 13.

>Why did you step on a skateboard?

NW: I would see the kids in my neighborhood rolling around causing trouble. There was one kid in particular named Travis. He had a full punk kit with a big Mohawk and shit. He would make me punk tapes because my parents though rock music was the reason white kids were so crazy and wouldn’t buy them for me. It was so different from everything else I saw kids doing, so I wanted to skate. Punk music and skateboarding were one and the same to me at that time.

>Did you graduate from Hollywood High?

No. I went to Birmingham High School in the valley, and graduated from an independent study program.

>One day would you like your portrait to be on the Auditorium next to Laurence Fishburn?

I don’t want to see a big picture of my face that often.

>Back when Hollywood was the shit, what where some of the famous tricks you where there for, aside form the Nollie FS Board slide.

I saw some good stuff. I remember Darrell Stanton nollie back lipping the twelve and Bjorn Johnston nollie 180 switch crooking it. Matt Ball’s front feeble. Random kids killing it all the time, too.

>When did you get into music?

I’ve always been into music. My mom and dad split when I was young and my pops would always send me mix tapes with his letters. They’d have Jazz like Duke Ellington and Count Bassie, and crazy rap like Blowfly and old Too $hort stuff. I liked that stuff a lot so my cousin and I would make our own rap tapes when we were six and seven. But once I was like eleven or twelve I started to get into Rock n Roll. It just seemed more interesting to me.

>Why did you get into music?

Music is the way I understand things. Everything I do I’ve always used certain rhythms to make easier. It’s too hard to explain. Even when I skate I use rhythm and timing to learn tricks. That’s just who I am.

>Like many skateboarders, you let music get in the way of your skateboarding for a few years, why is that?

I had been hanging with some of my punk friends from back in the day and learning guitar a lot. It was new and exciting. Plus there are always chicks around music scenes. That was enough to occupy my mind for a while.

>Now you’re fully back on your board and in the streets getting it done. What happened that re-sparked your dedication to shredding?

I was over being in a band. It’s difficult to rely on so many people just to play a show. So much goes wrong all the time. Plus, I’d started handgun’ with the crew again and skating a little bit. My girlfriend encouraged me to skate a lot, too. I think my friends told her that I used to be really good at it. Some how I was better on my board after not skating for a couple years than I had been when I stopped.

>Who are a few of your favorite skateboarders of all time and why?

I like people who have good styles as well as skills. I’ve always been into Geoff Rowley and Andrew Reynolds cause they make the gnarliest shit look effortless. Melcher is always fun to watch cause he’s does his own thing.

>So who are some of your favorite skateboarders to skate with today and why?

I always have fun with any of the HHK homes like Marcus and Marcelas, Juice, Scotty, Joe Dirt (RIP). Also Ghost and Daniel Knapp are dope to shred with. Lately I’ve been skating with Andrew Cannon too, he always brings the stress level down.

Photos: Sean Peterson, Ayako Tanaka, Oleh Smchko, and Ruben Anders.

This one is courtesy of Hubba Wheels.
Tatiana xxx

>Ronnie Bertino is one of my favorite skaters off all time. When he popped on the scene everyone took notice. Over the top tech control mixed with an incredible style and a welcome addition to any social gathering made Ronnie a staple in 90,s skateboarding.

>What was your favorite time in skateboarding?

My favorite time in skating was the mid 80′s to early 90′s. Reason being is that it was on a whole other level.I remember having to have the newest powell video and I would watch those over and over(stacy was really ahead of his time in those days as far as how he brought skating to the audience. I would jump up right when it was done and skate to the local school yard and pretend I was one of the bones brigade.I was hyped on having been involved when jump ramps were a big thing and skating to every spotsessioning and then skating or taking the bus to the next one. Once the late 80′s came around natas was doing things we thought would never be possible.(ollieing up full size picnic tables and ollieing from a jump ramp to a roll bar on a truck and railsliding it.The transition into the early 90′s from the 80′s was amazing at the time, a dude named Matt Hensley came along with a company called H-Street and started taking it to another level of technical and old school which blended well.

>What do you see as the biggest difference between then and now?

Well, for one, not as many kids were doing it back then. It was the epitimy of being an outcast and a rebel so to say. Now everyone is jumping on a
board and random kids who you thought would never be into it or maybe even hate on it have skateboards. Back then you were not motivated by money, I never said to myself that I wanted to get rich off of it, I think a lot of kids now have that in mind when they buy a board. Back then we did it fun and it happened to turn into something.

>I remember seeing the photos of you doing the switch back lip down the San Diego College rail back in the day ( the first ever done ) and looking back how did you even think that was possible? Back lips down rails were tough enough back then.

Before that I was up in san francisco a lot and skating with some of the best at the time. Mikey Carroll Henry Sanchez, Karl Watson, Mike York etc. I
think being in S.F for the time that I was and seeing what those dudes were throwing down openend my mind to what can actually be done on a skateboard and helped me think of things maybe other kids at the time wouldn’t have thought of. I remember it was a heated session with duffy Jeremy Wray, Colin and Rodney. Duffy was doing a backside flip over the rail and for some reason a switch backlip popped into my mind. I just started trying it. It took me a bit but (not blowing smoke up my own ass) but I did it twice in a row and didn’t like how I landed so the one you see is the third one I did,m and ended up landing right. I was just a reflection of who I was skating with at the time.

>You rode for Think, Blind, Plan B and now you been with ATM for quiet some time. Tell us about your relationship with ATM and what’s cracking down there.

Well, I was working and riding for atm when I first got involved and it was cool. I was running the team and doing slaes and skating when I could. At that time though to be honest I was deep into partying. I mean, I was doing blow, drinking tons and eating pills like they were tic tacs. It was a
reality check when I realized I needed to work a 9 to 5 and soon enough give up trying to be a pro skater. Things are good down here, Right now I am the domestic sales manager and help out in anyway that I can, production, shipping and ideas for new product.

>I have always had a lot of respect for John Falahee. What is it like working with him for so many years?

It’s been cool, John is really one of the only owners I know who jumps in the back and cuts wheels and prints wheels and works hands on. Most of the owners these days from what it seems just sit behind a desk and count money. John has always been invlolved and isn’t one of the owners that only stops by once a month I mean if you want to find John he’s here in the back working. It’s funny that I ended up here cause John was my first legit sponsor when he was doing Alva.

>You have had some of my favorite footage in skateboarding.Tell me about
some of your favorite filming memories or filming nightmares?

Well, I don’t really have a favorite memory of any particular session that I filmed but I was just having fun in general at the time and was hyped on
skating. Never really any nightmares at all up until the time came where I realized I wasn’t up to par with the shit that was going down and was finally like fuck this shit.

>What is your favorite video you were in?

I’d have to say second hand smoke and the think vid. The think vid was the first vid I ever really traveled and skated new spots and the second hand smoke vid was where I believe I was at the top of my game.

Ronnie Bertino Plan B Second Hand Smoke

>What is your favorite video part of all time and why?

I have two if I can do that. Natas in Streets on Fire and Matt Hensley in Hokus Pokus. Just watch them and you will see why.

>Seems like one thing never changes in skateboarding. People LOVE to party-What are your thoughts on the effects that can have on a up and coming skaters future?

Well, I am a perfect example of what can happen. your time most definitely can be cut short by it. We all like to have fun and when you are young
making decent money and you start partying you can either get out of control with it and let it take over or be one of the few that can maintain and handle it. I know a lot of dudes that are still killing it and have an image based on partying. Eventually though it will catch up, job wise or health wise. Just be careful. This is a lesson people have to learn on their own.

>I noticed you do a fair amount of contest judging. How did that come about?

I know the Bosticks from back in the day and actually was talking with John Muldoon (he used to judge for world cup) I asked him to put my name in the hat and eventually they started putting me on the judging panel for contests.

>Do you feel a lot of pressure judging these contests with so much cash on
the line for 1st place?

I just make sure I pay attention and judge accordingly. It can be stressful at times and sometimes dudes think they got robbed but I am only one of the judges and most the time the formats need to be understood by the riders. There are a lot of different ways the things are judged and dudes need to pay attention to that.

>I know if I was a able street skater it would give me piece of mind knowing that your were judging the street and not some dickhead old vert dude that does not even know the tricks he is watching.

I appreciate that and I hope most of the dudes respect my opinion and think I am capable of judging them in a contest.

>Knowing you travel with a rowdy crew on the contest circuit got any good Matt Miligan stories?

Milligan is a fun dude to hang with and is always looking for a good time. Honestly since I don’t drink I don’t go out much with them when they are in party mode but I see them the next day and get to hear all the fun shit that happened. Weiss, you know there is always a good milligan story.

>I know you are a proud new PAPA. How is all that?

Being a father is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I can truly say now that I know what true love is. My son is the most important thing in my life and everything I do from here on out is for him.

>Can your son do frontside noseslide nollie heel fakies yet?

He already busted that shit down el toro.

>Who are your 3 favorite skaters of all time?

Matt hensley
Natas Kaupus
Mark gonzales

>What about the new ams, what ones do you feel are really taking skating to a new dimension?

There are so many new ams and so many kids now that are killing it I cant even answer this. All I can say is that the future of skateboarding looks bright.

>You got any hobbies? You in a band, like sports, breed dogs???

Yeah I got hobbies. I play guitar and was in a band for a while but now just rock out occassionaly at home. I am a huge football fan and have been a Colts fan for 25 plus years. I had a pit when I was a kid and it was the best dog ever. His name was bonzai and he has a cameo in my Think part.

>Whats next on deck for Mr Bertino?

Getting married to the mother of my kid in the near future. Only thing that is next after that that is important for me is to raise my kid right and watch him grow up to be a decent human being. I want him to be proud of me as I am already so proud of him.

>Great catching up and thanks for letting me ramble at you.

You too Weiss, love ya buddy.

RONNIE BERTINO – XYZ -STARS & BARS

>Okay guys I want to take a little poll on what type of tits you prefer. I myself have really big ones. Not going to tell you weather or not they are real or fake. I’ll leave that to your imagination.
What do you like or do you even care?
Tatiana xxx

> Skateboarding is not like riding a bike.

As I’ve gotten older I have lost almost all my ability to ride these crazy boards. I actually get worse by the second! Somedays I feel okay but most of the time a simple manual is an accomplishment. I still have fun when I skate altho sometimes it feels like the first time. (especially when I’m hung over). I even like taking a hard slam (which happens every session) so I can dust myself off and go for it again. I have delusions of grandeur as I’m always around the worlds best skaters and it gets me hyped to try shit. It’s funny how that works. My new motto is relax you old fuck!

VIDEO PART: THE INTERNATIONAL // TJ Rogers Out Now

>So your from Canada correct,what Part?

Whitby Ontario just a small town outside of Toronto Ontario

>Do you eat a lot of back bacon where your from?

not back bacon but i definitely love my bacon sandwich’s

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Haslem by Kookus

> Chris you always seem to be on the move. Is that because people are always taking blurry photos of you in the forest?

Yeah basically that’s what it comes down to. Unless its people always trying to get me in those situations and I take off so the photos blurry. That shit got old after I did it for one of the first almost ads.

> Someone said you are in a band. Is it Rush by any chance?

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When it comes to smokin cigs and smokin weed their are two types of people. On the other hand when it comes to mixing cigs with your weed the percentages change.

What’s your choice? Take the poll

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If your going to ride The Big Stuff, proper safety gear is a must.

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Skateboarding in New York City is like nothing else. It is impossible not to feel the magnitude of the landscape and people you are interacting with. The city is in constant motion, which can be exciting and often dangerous. There is no right or wrong way to navigate this arena, but one thing is certain. The skates and images of skating produced in this city are undeniably unique.

The pictures in the book span some 30 years, with contributions from more than 60 photographers. As a document, it offers a rarely seen look into the diverse and influential New York Skate scene.

Early NYC skate photos from the 70′s and 80′s had an incredibly experimental quality in terms both photographic artistry and the skating. These is a deep sense of discovery in each, and throughout this book you will witness two progress in technical ability. Certain lenses, lighting rigs, and framing techniques were applied to best capture the energy of skating, and thecity itself added a raw intense backdrop to what was created. The grafiti-covered buildings and congested streets came to play a key ingredient in these blistering images. The geometric shapes of buildings and bridges can swallow the skating, instilling an awareness that the city itself strengthens the tricks being captured.

Similarly, as skateboarding moved forward, the New York scene grew and developed with it. The early 90′s say the emergence of the first New York-owned skate companies backing East Coast riders, and by the first part of that decade, skateboarding in the city had come fully into its own.

More than any other, “style” is the word that quickly came to define New York City Skaters, and the images displayed in this book are a testament to the profound effect they have had on skateboarding. It is not at all surprising considering the diversity and creativity that the city is itself famous for.

Documentation will always be a big part of skateboarding. More so than any other sport, there is an aspiration to produce images that will contribute to and further its evolution. Skateboarding is a constant progression, but there is alsp a growing respect in the community for the history of skating. And while the current generation will quickly master what has happened before, each wave of skaters ultimately aims to bring the sport to new heights. We coomunicate this progression to one another through still and moving images.

It is our great privilege to share these images that have preserved our history and fuel our progress.

- Andre Razo /// Alex Corporan /// Ivory Serra