LEDGE-ENDS
A wise man once told me that you can define the greatness of a skateboarder by the way they pushed.
I whole-heartedly agree with this comment although I would take it a step further and say, “you can tell a legend by the way he pushes switch”. Any takers? Many will debate what I am about to say, but there is nothing much better than the dopeness of a switch mongo push. Yeah, I’m old school. I don’t wanna see someone pushing round both ways trying to hide which way they skate so people will buzz out and say “I can’t tell what way he skates, can you?”. Give us a bit of effort please. Earn your shit proper! This brings me to this week’s legend. Enter Marcus Mcbride. Hailing from the Bay area, Marcus has been a heat packer in the game since the early 90s, bouncing on to the scene (perhaps even in the shadow of his sibling Lavar) in the Mad Circle’s debut video Let the Horns Blow, sharing a short section with fellow ams Spencer Fujimoto and Matt Willigan. After Mad Circle, Marcus set up camp with the then infamous World Industries posse earning a spot on the 101 team. Alongside Gino, Clyde and Dill, Marcus had the opener in one of the greatest videos of all time: Trilogy. And what an opener it was. He instantly earned a spot in my ‘will never change’ top five. With the ups and downs of Rocco’s Dwindle companies constantly coming and going, Marcus ended up on Daewon Song’s company DECA. Where he smashed out very decent parts in both Sneak Preview and Second To None and also reppin’ up two heavy sections, shared with Henry Sanchez, in Chomp on This and Transworld’s Sight Unseen. I should also mention Got Gold. There was a lot of speculation about Marcus just drinking and smoking, hanging out at the pier on his BMX all day, but as far as I’m concerned who gives a @#$%! He just did what he did best, maintaining and always oozing freshness. I mean all he needs to do is push really. I have no qualms in labeling him “official king of the pier”. Marcus is now a veteran on Stevie Williams’ DGK squad and I’m sure he has at least one more heavy part left in him. Like I said, even if it’s three minutes of him just pushing round, heads will be content. You’re dope Marcus, don’t ever go changing.
E-CLIPSE
There’s this kind of running joke round these ways that Mouse is eternally jammed in my VCR. I don’t think it’s that funny, it’s just the truth. There are so many great parts in this video: Keenan, Gino, Guy, Koston, Jeron. They’re all top notch, but for some reason (most probably due to the sag in his khakis) this part stood out the most for me. Here’s ‘The Bat’ AKA Richard Mulder.
STOMPING GROUNDS
If I was to tell you that Duffs once had styles for miles, would you believe me? Well you best believe that. Mid 90s Duffs released one of the most simple yet effective, not to mention hella fresh, kicks in skateboarding history and who was the man responsible for this? Kareem ‘The Dream’ Campbell. The shoes were an overnight success worldwide. Duffs were probably “swimming in shoe money” after these bad boys dropped. Personally I preferred the black/gum colour way, but the white/gum was not to be fucked with either.
I give you the KCK- Kareem Campbell Kicks.
See you next week.