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2019 Tampa Am & Everything that Comes with It

As told by Christian Hall

Tampa Am is the undisputed top contest for AM skateboarders worldwide. Whether you’re from Brazil, Japan, or Atlanta, GA. This is the contest to make it to!

Day 1: Practice Day

 The first day of Tampa Am is typically the Thursday before the weekend event. This means practice day. It’s hectic. Skater after skater. Board after board. Everyone is either trying to warm up in a crowded park or they’re already warm showcasing their best tricks. After practice everyone heads to the cafe in the back for the rider meeting/welcome to town after party. Personally, this was one of my favorite parts. You get to kickback and relax with your homies, meet new friends from all over the world, and drink free PBRs. You can even get “FREE tattoos”. I got three, how could you not love it? Read More >

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Cruising The Berrics

As told by Christian Hall

The good homie, Christian Hall, has been taking his skateboarding everywhere. With a workmanlike approach, Christian has spent the last month traveling from NYC to ATL to LA to Tampa, with a brief stint in Macon, GA in between. Through the miles, Christian found some time to relate one of his favorite experiences from his travels: a stout session at The Berrics with the guys from Primitive. Read below:

Growing up in school I would always put my school computer on private mode to sneak and catch up on The Berrics. Whether it was new products, Battle of the Berrics, or Battle Commanders, I had to see what was next. The Berrics is a private skatepark/skateboarding hub for products, content and contests. Read More >

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OuterSpace Project Mission 5 – Big Rain at the Big Bang

Atlanta has been insufferably hot and bone dry for months. We set three new records for the hottest October day ever with the mercury topping 97 degrees exactly two weeks ago. We were hoping for clear weather and comfortably fall temps to enjoy a night of skating, live music, and live art. But, the weatherman had other ideas and sent us a cold, steady rain.

The conditions were far from ideal, but skaters skate, artists create, and bands play on. Black Joe Lewis did his best impression of Prince at Superbowl XLI with a heavy dose of psychedelic blues mixed with mind-blowing levels of guitartistry. The cloudburst heightened everyone’s senses and turned his set into a face melter.

  • Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
    Christian Hall – Cold and Wet

    The cold rain transformed the skate session from a thick squad of Atlanta’s premier skateboarders to a handful of carefree die-hards motivated by several rounds of Hot Toddys. The rain broke free at the end of the night just long enough for Vans to hand out some cash for tricks and Trombone Shorty to envelop us with a bold, inspiring performance. Read More >

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Brothers from Different Mothers?

Two backside lipslides and a backside tailslide. Who's who?
Huhta, Spelta, Da Silva…who’s who?

Have you ever watched a part and immediately thought, “Oh, this person is biting so and so’s style.”? Or, watched a friend or local skateboarder switch up their kit to look like their favorite professional? When I see this I’m sure anyone within 20 miles can hear the sound of my eyes rolling. Fairly recently three separate skateboarders have caught my attention, all of whom share similar trick selection, style, etc. Has anyone ever seen Heitor Da Silva, Vincent Huhta, or Ruben Spelta in the same place? Maybe they are all the same person? Or, are they brothers from different mothers?

Watch these three parts.

Vincent Huhta’s Sour Solution II Part

adidas Skateboarding Presents /// Heitor

Ruben Spelta’s Mamma Mia

Even though all three seem to mimic each other they still manage to coexist with a certain level of autonomy that seems authentic. I really like all three of these parts, but I think I like Vincent’s part the best. What do you guys think? Read More >

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Favorite Bobby Worrest Parts

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 >

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Outside the Box

Being a skateboarding fanatic for the better part of my life I’ve noticed that all my favorite skateboarders tend to adhere to the less is more approach. Nothing about their trick or spot selections were super over the top. Tricks were basic, but done at breakneck speed and with power and finesse. I could never really get down with the overtly tech skating, ledge dancing, or manual stuff. To me really technical skating could almost seem gimmicky or circus-like. Maybe I couldn’t appreciate it because somewhere deep down I knew I’d never be able to do it. Who knows?

 So why have I recently been so stoked on Matt Tomasello’s skating? As Jenkem said, “He skates like Rodney Mullen on Bathsalts.” He even tampers with oddball skateboards like Simon Woodstock. Read More >

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“High ‘N’ Dry” Video – Wet n’ Wild

Fun Fact: A few local kids snuck into White Water here in Georgia a few years ago and skated the tunnel. They got caught and paid a CRAZY expensive fine.

MARIETTA— Two men are accused of breaking into Six Flags White Water and skateboarding down a waterslide, causing $20,800 worth of damage.

Joseph James Webster, 25, of Marietta, and James Bode Swanson, 26, of Atlanta, were arrested on felony charges of criminal damage to property and released on bail.

According to the arrest warrants:
The two bypassed three fences and gates to enter the closed water park on the afternoon of Feb. 20. They then used the Tornado waterslide as a skate ramp, causing “significant scrapes and scuffing to the fiberglass slide.” Read More >

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VX1000 archives – Frontside Skate Park

Well, look at what we just found. The OG Jon just found some old ass footage he shot from the long gone Frontside Skate Park, and it features several of the homies and unfortunately a few that are no longer with us. Stay tuned because there is also a heavy Progressive Skate Park video we have we will drop next week. Good times!

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Ambush Skateboarding and ABV Gallery Present: Decked Out

Video and Edit by Cole Vanthof

Skateboarding and art have always had a symbiotic relationship. Ever since the first graphics were screen printed on the bottoms of skate decks, art has been used to communicate ideals, encrypt messages, and differentiate between sub sections of skate culture. Art and skateboarding both draw inspiration from the streets. Both feed off of angst. And, are both the result of channeling something super personal into a creative outlet.

  • ABV Gallery x Ambush Skateboarding - Decked Out
  • ABV Gallery x Ambush Skateboarding - Decked Out
  • ABV Gallery x Ambush Skateboarding - Decked Out

In keeping with the art/skateboarding love affair, Ambush Skateboarding partnered with ABV Gallery to create a night-cap art show opening on Go Skateboarding Day titled Decked Out. The goal was to gather 30 artists from Atlanta, as well as nationally and internationally recognized creators, to produce one-of-a-kind, hand-painted decks to commemorate the relationship between art and skateboarding on skateboarding’s international day of observance. Read More >

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The Story Behind the Series

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 >