Anyone who has known me for the last 20+ years knows that I’m loyal to one thing; éS footwear and the Accel. Aside from a brief scare between 2012 and 2014, éS has been my only choice for shoes. Since their return, éS has paid homage to the classic style, functionality, and tech in their catalog, while also releasing a few limited throwbacks in the mix.
Trespassing Ticket at GA Tech – Accel Plus PJ Ladd – 2005
After success with the etnies Sal 23, éS Footwear was imagined by Pierre-André Senizergues as he joined forces with Don Brown over 25 years ago. Retiring while being recognized as a World Champion freestyle skateboarder, Pierre-André left his hometown outside of Paris for California.
etnies released their first skate film High 5 in 1995 and Pierre-André saw the potential of the new crew coming up. The video highlighted the talent witnessed first hand from the likes of Koston, Penny, Muska, and so many others. Read More >
adidas Skateboarding is teaming up again with legendary NYC skate apparel brand, Metropolitan for a limited drop on March 21st. The latest capsule features a tech pack inspired by ’90s drift racing and import car culture.
“We all had import tuner cars, like ridiculous Honda ’97 Civic DXs with a spoiler,” says Metropolitan founders Keith Hufnagel and Hanni El Khatib. “We both had a ’97 Integra with blacked-out lenses and stuff. That’s the vibe and a treasure chest of design inspiration. All of this sparked from these Japanese import illegal drift racing videos, pre Fast & Furious in the mid ‘90s. They feel underground and illegal, which they were.”
The blacked out adidas ZX8000 pays homage to clandestine late night races with accent colors inspired by the lights and paint jobs on those cars. Check it: Read More >
Is it just me or has Bobby Worrest proven to be one of the most prolific skateboarders of his generation? The man is a perennial Thrasher Magazine Skater of the Year contender and these days he seems to drop at least two parts a year, all of which are no bullshit, pure, plaza skateboarding. To me, no one personifies street tech quite like Bobby. He can do it all without making lines feel too contrived or tech tricks seem too over the top. And, the dude has never switched up his style or chased trends. When Krooked Skateboards released The Mermaid video two weeks ago, I decided to revisit some of my favorite Worrest parts.
So, in no particular order, here are the quintessential Bobby Worrest video parts. Read More >
Skateboard graphics have reached a really good spot at the moment. Gone are the ho hum days where every graphic is a parody or revolves around some sort of skull, weapon, flames, or some generic attempt at badassery. Contemporary skateboard brands have developed their own distinct art directions that are clearly identifiable and evoke cranial innervation. Modern skateboard graphics tell a story and give skaters something to enjoy and react to that is fresh and new.
Brands are experimenting with multi-stained top sheets, employing vintage screen-printing techniques, adding textures to their graphics (check the new decks from Madness), collaborating with accomplished artists (like Isle’s series with Jack Brindley), or incorporating culturally iconic elements from their respective locations (a la Evisen and Pass~Port). Read More >
It comes as no surprise to hear “Beer and Skateboarding go together like PB&J,” or as a true “Millennial” might say, “Avocado and Toast.” Most of age skateboarders would probably agree with this. Responsibly sharing a couple of brews with the homies amid a mini ramp session is great and it’s no secret. It’s a trend made clearer when you see bigger brands like Brixton collaborate with Coors Original, 686 partner with Pabst Blue Ribbon, or the fact your favorite Street League pros will retire fruitfully off their windfall craft beer investments. More so, it wouldn’t be a stretch to draw parallels between the craft beer renascence of recent years to the boom in small, independent skateboard brands currently taking the industry by storm. Seemingly every time you blink a new skate brand is created. With this in mind, it makes total sense for me to pair my favorite local brews with my favorite independent skateboard brands. What’s not to love? Boards and Breweries.
Saint Archer’s Money.
Creature Comforts’ “Tropcalia” and Blvd Skateboards
For a couple years now beer aficionados living in the Southeastern United States have raved about Creature Comforts’ Tropicalia IPA for its balanced, fruit-forward, hoppy flavor. Often times, this IPA can be hard to find in the wild, and the same goes for a BLVD skateboard deck. The beer gets it’s name “Tropicalia” from the Brazilian artistic movement that arose in the late 1960s. Much like Creature Comforts’ affinity for a smooth, aromatic, citrusy IPA, BLVD shares an equivalent palette for skateboarding. Look no further than their team’s pro roster for a heavy, stylish, and super smooth Brazilian style. With guys like Rodrigo Petersen, Danny Cerezini, Carlos Iqui, and Tiago Lemos skateboarding for BLVD, it’s easy to see why I would pair the brand with this stellar IPA.
Monday Night Brewing’s “Dr. Robot” and Sour Solution Skateboards
Hailing from Atlanta, Monday Night Brewing has continued they’re expansion over the past several years, quickly becoming the brewery of choice for me. Their year-round offerings consist of anything from a killer scotch ale aptly named Drafty Kilt to a Belgian-style wit named Fu Manbrew. Monday Night’s lineup not only boasts humor, but depth. Just don’t let Monday Night’s variety be mistaken for a weakness. They didn’t spread themselves too thinly, and in my opinion, any of their beers would be another breweries breadwinner. The same can be said for the eclectic Euro brand Sour Solution, which has an as extensive team that excels at whatever terrain lays ahead. All-terrain riders like Barney Page and Oscar Candon both kill it in the streets and park, while Gustav Tonneson and Albert Nyberg’s approach may make you question their planetary origin. For example, take Free Skateboard Magazine’s latest cover:
Barring, maybe, Rodney Mullen, who would have thought to Casper slide a wall? NO ONE. Furthermore, who would have thought a Casper could look so cool? Well, again, NO ONE. I have been proven wrong by Albert’s feat. So, when it came time for me to pair Sour Solution with a brew from Monday Night, I decided to pick one I thought Monday Night would fail with. That beer would be the new blackberry lemon sour Dr. Robot. As apprehensive about it as I was, I’ll happily admit, for a sour, it’s great! Kind of like Albert Nyberg’s Free Skateboard Magazine cover. So a sour brew for Sour Solution.
Reformation Brewery’s “Stark” and Isle Skateboards
I’m often stuck in what I’ll coin as “beer Groundhog Day” where I’ll continuously drink the same two or three types or styles of beer ad nauseam. Truthfully my go-to beers are normally pale ales, IPAs, and maybe a pilsner or two. What beer always breaks this cycle? If you guessed a strong porter, then you guessed right! Just down the highway in Woodstock, GA, is Reformation Brewery and their Stark porter is a thing of beauty. This beer is dark and full of robust character that hints of toasted malts and chocolate. Since porters first were developed in London in the 18th century, what better brand to pair this porter with than with London’s very own Isle Skateboards. Isle’s visual offerings tend to be dreary, but entrenched in strong, powerful skateboarding through unique tricks and spot selections. Good on ya, chaps!
Red Hare Brewing’s “Long Day Lager” and Scumco & Sons
2017 is nearly a wrap and for the first time in ages I feel that collectively we can all breathe a slight sigh of relief. Why? Well, we made it out of the dumpster fire that was 2017, guys. While that is reason enough to tie one on and celebrate, let’s not get too excited. Regrettably, 2018 is revving up to be just as turbulent. Whether it’s the constant barrage of bad news or social media overload, it’s apparent that it is harder to focus now more than ever. Like many, my mind has was cooked by 2017. So that’s my excuse for why my very cliche year-end “best of” or “listicle” may be missing some very noteworthy things. With that said, in no particular order, here are somethings that made some crumby days brighter in 2017.
“Hold the board up to your face. If the board lies between your nose and chin, it’s the right size for you.”
How many times have you heard that in your life? I think some guy at a random rental shop back in 1995 just made that up and it stuck. No matter how that rumor became the standard in snowboard sizing, it’s important that we push passed the lazy anecdotes and get the right size snowboard for your ride. Simply ask yourself two easy questions and you’ll be on your way to snowboard bliss:
How much do you weigh? The most important piece of information needed to correctly size a snowboard is your weight. Snowboards react to the amount of pressure put on them. The heavier you are, the more pressure the board is put under. The lighter you are, the opposite is true. The goal is to create a balance to where you put enough load on the board so that it grips the snow and reacts to your movements without flattening it out and making the board ride sluggishly.
What type of rider are you? Matching the size of your board to the type of riding you do is critical. If you ride big, gnarly mountains, you need a bigger (and often times stiffer) board to handle the increased amount of force the extra speed puts on the board. If you ride smaller hills or just cruise around the mountain, you are putting less pressure on the board and should ride it a little smaller. Similarly, if you spend most of your time in the park, a smaller board is usually advised. The smaller outline makes it easier to spin, press in and out of park features, and flex out sketchy landings.
Check out the size chart below:
You want to be at the lighter end of the weight range if you are scorching down the mountain or taking your board into the back bowls. You would want to be at the heavier end of the weight range if you are a beginner, are a more cruisey rider, or spend most of the time thrashing the park. And, if you are looking to do it all, make sure you are right in the middle of the weight range. For more information on how to choose the right snowboard for you, click here.
It’s not too often we see a new design or revamped skate shoe that gets us truly excited. Emerica holds skateboarding at its core and they have arguably produced some of the most classic skate shoes to date. Well it looks like they have gone and done it again with the new Wino G6 model. The Wino has been updated with the G6 impact resistant polyurethane insole and features a double wrapped vulcanized sole, a single piece toe cap, padded tuff collar, and signature triangle tread. A real winner!
Watch Dakota Skate in the New Emerica Wino G6
Take your pick from three different colorways of the Wino G6 from Emerica here.
It wasn’t that long ago that, if you saw someone on the mountain riding in a snowboard helmet, you quickly judged them as a newbie or a kook. Not even five years ago helmet design wasn’t the most cutting edge. Snowboard helmets were often bulky and heavy to the point they were uncomfortable and would even throw off your equilibrium. They would even reduce your peripheral vision and make it so that you couldn’t fully hear all that was going on around you. It’s the one piece of equipment that has truly changed for the better. Our very own Eric Elliott, who runs the show here and had been riding without a helmet for years recently got a Smith Gage and had this to say about his first helmet:
I profaned of wearing a snowboard helmet. It felt like I had a bowling ball strapped to my head. I couldn’t hear anything, I couldn’t see anything, and I felt like a total dork. Now…I feel that wearing a helmet is more comfortable than wearing a beanie. Plus…I don’t have to worry about spilling my brains all over the mountain.
Today’s snowboard helmets are comfortable, lightweight, and technology driven. Smith has been making helmets for a long time and every new model gets better. This season the 2017 Holt is ideal for the terrain park or backcountry and features Air-Flow Climate Control with its 14 vents and Bombshell earpads. The Smith Holt, Gage, and Allure are great options at great price points.
Probably one of the most known companies in snowboarding, anon. has typically been at the forefront of helmet technology and design. The Talen is one of the most popular designs with its clean looks and sometimes bold colorways. This year anon. has partnered with Fidlock, the award-winning designer of a new breed of ultra-fast and -secure fasteners. Fidlock’s magnetic SNAP helmet buckle lets you open it with one hand, even if you’re wearing gloves. And…closing it is just as easy, which means you can spend less time fiddling with your gear and more time focusing on your riding. Make sure you checkout the Talan, Aera, and Raider. You are guaranteed to no go wrong with any of these options.
Oakley is obviously most known for their eyewear, and you’ll literally see just about everyone in Oakley snowboard goggles on the mountain. This year Oakley came out swinging with their new snowboard helmet line. The new 2017 MOD3 helmet is packed with features like MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System); MBS (Modular Brim System); lightweight in-mold construction; Boa fit systems; Fidlock magnetic buckle closures; fixed ventilation; and removable comfort liners, ear pads, and goggle strap retainer; etc. You get all that? Serious snowboarders and novices alike would both benefit from these high-tech helmets.
Last but not least are the kids. We all once thought that helmets were a must have for the kids, which is very true, but the truth is they are for everyone who wants to spend their days on the mountain shredding and leaving without a brain injury. Kid’s helmets are no longer boring, that’s for sure. anon. did a collaboration with Disney and Marvel and made the perfect helmet for your lil Iron Man or lil Princess Anna.
Don’t think of the snowboard helmet just optional equipment, think about it as an essential part of your setup no different than your snowboard, boots, bindings, outerwear, and goggles. We want all of you to keep the shred alive for many years to come! Happy snowboarding!
New Year, New Gear…right? We seriously hate that saying, but there is something about getting a new snowboard setup in the New Year that has us feeling a certain type of way. Nick Gaddy and Nick Mertes are OG Ambush dudes. Our homeboy Cole Vanthof set off to Utah to catch up with these dudes to see what they are rocking for this 2016/2017 snowboard season. These guys are characters no doubt, but their riding style is legit. Watch these two product videos and peep the gear links and make a wise purchase this year.
Nick Gaddy’s Setup:
2017 CAPiTA DOA Snowboard:
2017 Union Contact Binding (Scott Stevens):
Nick Mertes’ Setup:
2017 Burton Flight Attendant Snowboard:
2017 Burton Cartel EST Binding (Black):
We really want to thank the crew at Burton, CAPiTA, and Union for dialing in our friends this season, and we are really stoked to help spread snowboarding to more people every year. If these snowboard products didn’t appeal to you, which we would find hard to believe, but you’re interested in seeing the other badass snowboarding brands we carry, hit our snowboarding page and tickle your eyeballs and hopefully your souls.
