Here are a few pics which helped to piece together my night…somewhat. Keep an eye out for his Element part which should be dropping in a few days. Heavy!

This guy needs no introduction. So no rant this week although I could talk for hours over a few loads.

Ten Things I Love About You

Long weekends eat arse with a spoon when it gets to Monday. So I’m gonna get straight to the point, here’s ten albums that gave me a liitle direction in my life. I guess you could even say shaped haha.

1. Nas - Illmatic.

2. Gangstarr - Hard To Earn.

3. A Tribe Called Quest - Peoples Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm.

4. Warren G- Regulate G Funk Era.

5. Smif-n-Wessun - Dah Shinin'

6. Souls of Mischief - 93 'til Infinity.

7. The Notorious BIG - Ready To Die.

8. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredient.

9. Redman - Muddy Waters.

10. Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

E-Clipse

No time for slipping’. Simple As Death.

Fine Tuning

I have been thinking. Just in case you forgot, I certainly haven’t. haha. I’m a sucka for corn rows!

Nelly - Country Grammar.

My Periphery

1996, Snyderman. A wise man once said “I prefer to not think of it as pushing the envelope, but more so putting the stamps on.”

Fine Tuning Part 2

I don’t do patent leather. You know, that shiny shit. However I will happily endorse Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs shininess. I don’t care that he has changed his name numerous times. I don’t care that people hated the Biggie movie because they claimed he made it more about himself than BIG. Oh yeah, two words: Sean John. Fuck I would rock that shit all day if given half the chance. Haters gonna hate.

Puff Daddy & The Family - No Way Out.

Stereo pro Ben Gore is one to keep an eye out for.

Check a day in the life with shreddor Jo Whaanga.

What better way to brighten up your Monday. Doglog 3.

They keep coming! This time all round legend Farhad Mohamad hits you with some realness.

A recent catchup with legend Gino Iannucci.

Damn! Can’t believe I hadn’t seen this. Neither have you either judging by the view count of 295 when I copped it. Pat Channita is no new buck either, if that’s what your thinking. Hope this is the start of more.

My Periphery

I don’t know about you but I much prefer Danny Garcia minus the guitar, v neck and waffle soles. No disrespect Danny, you are the man regardless!

QUICK PIC x N.A.F.W.A.V.F.

It appears that I’m not the only one who shows love for the F.

Nas for Fila

E-Clipse

I can’t remember if I put these up, but they are gold.

Fine Tuning

Recovering from spending a heavy night involving a huge amount of love shown to the W-Toast in the Bomb Shelter. A whole lotta love going out to the G Funk era especially. I was browsing this morning and decided that I had to post this. Don’t tell me you forgot ’bout Dre?

Friday Soundtrack

Stomping Grounds

Conan Marriott is gettin married to Elizabeth Dewes this weekend. Better dust off the Timbs.

Timberland Boots.

Danny Brady rips, plain and simple. Check the commercial for the Lakai Danny Brady Belmont XLK.

Photo: Simon Kerr

D.O.B
7/5/97.

I popped out in:
Christchurch.

Currently I reside in?
Heathcote, Christchurch.

Because?
Where I live is sick. Thomson park, friends to skate with and it’s not too far of a drive to Banks Peninsula for good waves.

Sponsors?
Cheapskates and Nelson Creek Skateboards, thanks Dave!

Outside of skateboarding the bulk of my time is spent?
Surfing.

Frontside 5-0 over love seat. Photo: Simon Kerr.

One item you want for free but have to pay for?
Shoes.

All time favourite cover?
I like the March 2009 cover of MANUAL with Tim Watson’s back smith.

You get to choose one person to rule the world, who and why?
Probably the Dalai Lama, because he is the man and is very wise.

Your go to Youtube clip?
Alex Perelson’s Volcom Stone Age clip. He is so flippin’ good.

Vices?
Dirt jumping.

Boneless. Photo: Simon Kerr.

What makes you nervous?
Proper backside airs, rollerbladers waxing metal coping, Dave North’s vert ramp and really big waves.

Current set up details?
Grey LCA Nelson Creek board, Thrasher 30 year anniversary Indy trucks, 60 mm Bones SPFs, Bones bearings, Thunder bolts.

Childhood memory?
First Reefton Ramble.

Website?
Nelson Creek, Vimeo, MANUAL, Gmail.

What is one thing you can’t live without?
My Skateboard and probably my surfboard.

5 Skate predictions for 2012?
Reefton Ramble will be rad!
I will learn a new trick.
Ah…

Smith grind. Photo: Simon Kerr.

The latest offering from Vic Apparel, this time Adrian Vercoe and Dom Henry share a part.

Peep the latest Carhartt campaign. More images and info here.

Krooked team rider Brad Cromer smashing it in L.A.

Photo: Mark Barber.

Jase Morice, Ben “Puff” Morice and I sat down with Bjorn Johnston and had a quick talk about changing sponsors and getting his name on a board. I think by the time it got to questions the three of us had worked our way through some VB’s but Bjorn was patient enough to answer our self indulgent questions.

Jase Morice: It’s Wednesday 18th of January 2012.
Mark Barber: At 10 past 8.
Bjorn Johnston: In the back yard.
JM: Of Bjorn’s house.
BJ: Everyone has a longneck except me.
MB: You want one?
BJ: Nah I’m good, ha!

Ben Morice: So yeah, let’s kick it off. Whats the deal with KR3W/SUPRA? What’s the vibe there?
BJ: It was time for a change, I’d been with my other sponsors for a long long time but an opportunity came up that was too good to turn down. KR3W/SUPRA were starting up again in Australia, with Brad Plamus (Substance Distribution) who’s a good friend of mine running it. Dennis Martin who’s the skate marketing director and TM in the states (for KR3W/SUPRA) who I also filmed a digital part with, was down to get something happening too.

JM: Was it Get Tricks or Die Trying?
BJ: Yeah that’s the one.

BM: We’re all glad you didn’t die trying. We’re happy about that.
MB: So you’ve left DC and RVCA as well?
BJ: Yeah, it was pretty hard but they were cool about it. RVCA understood, they’d just had a big change up and the split with DC was amicable. It was cool.

JM: Amicably?
BJ: Is that how you say it?
JM: I dunno.

Wallie. Photo: Barber.

BM: So they were cool with that?
BJ: Yeah they were sweet.

BM: So what’s the actual deal? Because you’re team manager as well?
BJ: Yeah I’m looking after the Australian team as well as being a team rider. It’s pretty cool, still get to skate everyday.

BM: Officially who’s on the Australian team right now?
BJ: It’s me, Ben James, Gabriel Summers (Gabbers) and Dean Parsons.

JM: Can you talk about the tour coming up?
BJ: Not really, but I can say it’s happening in Australia and New Zealand in late February.

BM: All the big American names?
BJ: Can’t really disclose that right now.

MB: How long are we talking about in New Zealand? Because they always seems to get the butt end of the tours.
JM: We don’t care about New Zealand, we live in Sydney hahaha.
BJ: Nah, every stop is going to get the same amount of time.

MB: So New Zealand will see a few days at least?
JM: Look out Owairaka!
MB: Maybe the new bathtub they built on Bond St?
(Everyone whistles)
JM: Simon Thorp posted up a pic of it. SIMON THORP. That’s a name drop by the way.

BM: So wait, you’re supposed to organise this trip, skate on it and get tricks too?
BJ: Yup.
BM: Jeeeeesus. You’re so gnarly, what the fuck.
BJ: Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew. I organized one with RVCA a while back but this is gonna be double the size. I’ve got some help though, Dennis (Martin) is gonna be out here too so it’s not all on me.

Frontside smith grind. Photo: Barber.

JM: You skated with Leo Romero on the RVCA trip right? He’s a mate of yours?
BJ: Best dude to skate with if you wanna get pumped up. He just charges.
JM: He goes up everything now. He goes the wrong way right?
(Everyone agrees)

MB: Let’s talk about your board coming out. You originally had a board back on ABC which was tight.
BJ: Yeah that’s right.
MB: Yeah Chey gave me one, I skated it and I now wish I hadn’t. Would’ve been dope to have your first board. Anyway, you’ve now got a board coming out on Element. Is that just going to be in Australasia or is it available further afield?
BJ: Yeah, I’m not sure. If it’s included in the catalog it’ll be available worldwide. Who knows. It’ll definitely be out in New Zealand and Australia.

MB: What’s the graphic?
BJ: It’ll be the welcome to the family graphic, like everyone gets. The sideways one.

MB: Like the one Appleyard got? You’ve got a more personal graphic coming out too right? Tell us what it is?
BJ: Haha nah, you’ll just have to wait and see. The release party is in two weeks.
BM/JM: Oh man, we’re gonna be in New Zealand.

BM: I’m keen to dive into some ‘Naki history shit.
BJ: Oh yeah?

BM: Okay, growing up skating in the ‘Naki. Good or Bad?
BJ: It was awesome. I liked it, yeah. It was…
BM: Be honest.
BJ: I’m being honest! Everyone for the most part got along! We had talented skaters and filmers coming out of there. The park was fun, (it) was one of the first street orientated parks in NZ.
JM: A park designed by your Dad.
BJ: With input from the New Plymouth skate community as well!

Frontside nosegrind. Photo: Barber.

BM: Nah, lets go back a bit further than that now. I’m talking before the skatepark, when we had no spots.
JM: When we had the Library and skate nights.
BJ: Oh yeah, skate nights. Holy shit I forgot about that. The rollerskating rink that you could skate in, with the really slippery floor!
BM: Pretty sure your dad built all the obstacles.
JM: Remember the fight that went down between the skaters and the skinhead roller-skaters?
BM/BJ: What?! No!
JM: Yeah and you started it!
BM: This must have been after our bedtime.
BJ: Haha skinhead roller-skaters VS skateboarders!

MB: So who were the guys you skated with back in the ‘Naki?
BM: Yeah, this is MANUAL, so let’s name drop.
BJ/BM/JM: Nick and Ben Jeffries. Dwayne Waipapa was real sick, Phil Jones, Sam Ike, Greg Roebuck!

JM: This is going way back. How long you been skating for again?
BJ: 17 years. Since I was 10.
JM: Over half of your life!
MB: And that’s because of your Dad right?
BJ: Nah nah, we started off surfing. I started surfing when I was 8. Then when I was 10 I started skating. Had a surfing relapse a few years later but got so angry because I wasn’t skating.
JM: You got all salty.
MB: You got salty?
JM: Yeah he was all tanned and long hair.
BJ: I couldn’t do any tricks after surfing all the time and not skating. I’d be at a spot and be all “fuck this!” and wanna go home and focus my surfboard.

MB: Talking about getting salty, Sparkesy (Cameron Sparkes) couldn’t be here tonight because he went up to the Goldy (Gold Coast), but he prepared a few quick questions, maybe we could wrap up on those?
BJ: Oh no.

Cameron Sparkes: Opinions regarding Australian Sprouters (hot girls)?
BJ: Read the New Zealand Skateboarder article on Australia I did with Puff and Jase a few years ago, that tells you everything you need to know.

Nollie shuvit nose manual nollie flip. Photo: Barber.

CS: Level of skateboarding in Australia? Better than NZ?
BJ: Yeah it’s better, of course it’s better, but you’ve got to remember there are a million good spots and 22 million people.

CS: Next Kiwi to come up internationally?
BJ: Kayle Lawson and Deen Rakich are good as.

CS: Did you really used to tell people you were Australian when you went to the U.S (This is true)?
BJ: Haha, no it’s not true. Chris Wood used to, but only because he said it was easier than explaining to Americans he was from New Zealand when he was travelling with Aussies.

CS: How many Drop bears and Hoop snakes have you seen? Any close encounters?
BJ: Too many to count. I’ve got a spike on my motorcycle helmet now.

CS: Favourite place in Australia?
BJ: Sydney.

CS: Is Bondi all it’s cracked up to be?
BJ: Yeah it’s sick if you like nice water and a million people.

CS: Why doesn’t Mark Barber go in the water?
BJ: Haha, Sharks.

Frontside 50-50. Photo: Barber.

CS: Best city to skate in Australia?
BJ: Sydney of course.

CS: Melbourne or Sydney? Why is Melbourne so chat(shit)? Is it because the guys are hot and the girls are ugly?
BJ: Haha!

CS: If you had to tell a Kiwi a place to live in Australia where would it be?
BJ: Sydney.

CS: Are the Ozzie crew fairly accepting of fresh off the boat Kiwis?
BJ: Yeah man, of course!

Keep an eye out for the exact dates of the KR3W tour in New Zealand and Australia and drop by your local skate store to pick up Bjorn’s new Element deck when it’s out in a few weeks. Support one of the homies and make sure you support the local skate store, don’t buy online!

Check the latest shoe from Vans – The Stage 4.

Ben Raybourn getting busy for Independent.

An insight into what went down with Real Skateboard team rider JT Aultz’s head injury a few months ago, next weeks episode is also one to tune in for.

A lightbulb went off today. I wish I could skate tranny like Tim O’connor, but only Tim O’connor. OK, well maybe Toby Locke too.

Quick Pic

Underworld Element. I never understood the name change to Element. Would you change the Colonel’s secret recipe? No! Such a shame.

Def Pang, Underworld Element ad in Slap May 1993.

N.A.F.W.A.V.F

Sometimes the state of cats that are hooked up and the reasons they are hooked up disgusts me. Should it be right that some kid that can barely even skate can get hooked up because of his geographic location and/or how much product is sold in that location? Yet homeboy that is in a spot that might not sell as much product but has the abilities of Gino or Koston, or someone else of that calibre won’t get a look in. Does that seem right? I dunno, maybe it is right, but if you ask me it ain’t. Who am I to say how it should be, I’m not the guy giving away boards or shoes or whatever it is that goes with sponsorship, so I guess it really is none of my business. All the same though, someone has the skills and is a decent enough guy… Again, I dunno. Anyway, I somehow managed to come across this little gem the other day. It’s from around 2006 I think and if you ask me it’s on point, even for now. I know of a couple of guys that have helped Kurt out along the way and I take my hat off to them. In saying that though, Kurt doesn’t really give two shits bout being hooked up and getting free shit, he’s just happy to be able to skate with the homies and live his life the way he wants too. I remember him skating Vic’ back in the day as a grom, he had the skills, even back then, so he’s definitely done his time. If I had a product I could help you out with, trust me, I would my man. I give you Kurt Green circa 2006. Someone give this guy some free shit, you won’t regret it, I will back that up 100 percent too. Get yours! Props to stunts for the re-edit and making the gun shots work.

E-Clipse

It is safe to say I have an obsession with FTC. Wouldn’t you with a line up like this?

Fine Tuning

Have you ever made a cheesy mix tape for a significant other or someone you would maybe like to be that significant other in your life? Guilty? Fuck, I have no shame. I used to love doing that shit! A lot of the time it was tunes that you might not usually listen to with the homies. Once again, my teenage educational facility also veered me in certain different directions to some different shit my peers weren’t really that into. Thug Shit! I have a soft spot for the Mo Thug Family. This song was featured on one of my finest mixes to date. Would love to get my hands on the original of that mix.

Mo Thugs Family Scriptures Chapter 3: Family Reunion.

Stomping Grounds

I first stayed with Bernie Foo and Jeremy Tavendale in the 1997. It was kinda crazy, a couple days prior to getting there Jeremy had been attacked by a skinhead right near his house. Something to do with his car I think, that kinda weirded me out. Bernie worked at McD’s and Jeremy at KFC. Jerry used to bring home KFC by the truckload when he would finish around 2am. I would usually still be up, really baked and watching VHS tapes of either years of Wellington footy or the videos we never got in the South. KFC at 2am without leaving the house when you are 17 and red eyed is about as good as it gets. I remember filming at Midlands for the first time I had ever got footy with a fisheye and filmed properly. I was buzzing. I also went clubbing for the first time, wearing my Fila Grant Hills, nylon Stamina pants, my proper Girl fitted hat and a DVS sweater. Almost the same outfit I wear to the bar now! Fuck it was a fairly mean night too from what I can remember. Probably one of the most vivid memories I have from that trip is seeing Bernie’s closet. Clothes and shoes for days. Heaps of it all brand new in wrapper or box. Here is the item that stuck out the most to me. The AIR MAX 95. What a dope cunt! Thanks for having me boys.

Air Max 95

Kayle Lawson’s SD part from Vic Apparel.

Mark Baines introduction clip to Etnies UK.

These are leftovers?

The short film for the non bunk Adidas & Roger collaboration.

Anyway, I’ve spent quite a lot of time today preparing a few gifs for your viewing pleasure. I had to get Jake Mein to hold my hand through the process of animating these sequences, because I’m apparently too retarded to do it myself. Another very good reason why sequences are so shit.

Karl Truell, ollie. Martin Place.

Sammy Winter, backside flip switch manual. Sandstone ( This was an internationally run Analog ad earlier this year).

Marty Girotto, backside big spin. Martin Place ( this appeared in the gallery of the Skateboarder's Journal #21).

Rhys Green, nollie backside 180 fakie manual to manual revert.

Let it be said, that I had no fun whatsoever shooting these sequences, but if I can find one consolation, at least I wasn’t shooting film like back in the day. That really sucked.

Next week I’m interviewing Bjorn Johnston about joining KR3W and Supra. Ben ‘Puff’ Morice and Cameron Sparkes are gonna give me a hand, so it should be entertaining!

Until then…

Photo: Chris Brooks.

I hope y’all had a good, relaxing, stress free break this year and for those of you who haven’t stopped working, I hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel for you sometime soon. Rain, I have never seen so much rain during summer in my life and people still have the nerve to ask me why I still live in christchurch? Besides the obvious answers, A: it’s My home and B:I like it here, I will take earthquakes over days on end of rain anyday. How do you cope? More to the point is it even summer? Anyone? I won’t get started. So New Years was decent. Period. Last Saturday marked my one year anniversary of quitting smoking. If we’ve met pre 2011 then you would have known I was a very heavy smoker. Fuck I was super good at it too. Not anymore. Oh and if you are considering stopping, then it really is a no brainer. Did you see the price of cigarettes lately?! Yep they did it again. Think of all the dope shit you could acquire from not smoking. Money, shoes & clothes. Hey that could definitely be on a t-shirt! Here’s ten things I’m going to do this year.

1. Collect another year under my belt of no smoking. This is the easiest one.
2. Show Adidas a little more love than I have in previous years.
3. No alcohol on weeknights (weeknights being Monday all the way through to Tuesday).
4. Introduce fruit into my diet. I’m sure I’ve tried the stuff somewhere before.
5. Get my son hooked up with Diamond footwear. He is truly the man.
6. Finally grow a little and slim down to an XL from a XXL, I’m tired of people looking at me all funny and shit.
7. U.S.A.
8. Upgrade my current means of transportation. It’s time to part ways with le scoot.
9. Film a video part, a rap video part.
10. Go skateboarding. Easier said than done, but despite the shit ground that is made so readily available to me, I promise to work through it. I heart New Zealand asphalt from this day on. XO

So good luck to all of you with your resolutions. You probably didn’t wanna know mine, but tis the season and all. Here’s to ’98! Now I’m off to Bikram yoga.

N.A.F.W.A.V.F

This is a new little segment I’m going to drop for this year. It stands for New age fun with a vintage feel and is dedicated to those that still keep it thorough without feeling like they have to conform to the strange trends evolving these days. First up heres a cat I have been feeling for a bit. His name’s Tommy Wisdom and he’s from Boston. Don’t sleep, ever.

Tommy Wisdom.

E-Clipse

Like I mentioned earlier my 6 year old son Nixon is the official man and here’s proof. This is his first drop in , or should I say suicide drop on a bowl at his local. Fuck I lost my shit when I saw this. He’s 6 and can already skate tranny better than me. The celebrations at the end are amazing also. I love you little man! Oh and the other day he was telling me he can ollie now. What’s next junior?

Quick Pic

Still buzzing on Spencer. Hey it is 1998 after all!

Spencer Pro File

FINE TUNING

This is pure gold. Props due to Mark Morrison and Scarface, the Foreign Exchange have really outdone themselves.

STOMPING GROUNDS

Thanks Chris. You made my week, I can only imagine these being the most amazing shoe to skateboard in. My synopsis: an O.G Lakai Staple without the toecap but a mid version. Did that make sense? Anyhow, time to celebrate!

Reebok Classic Hi.

Photo: Jake Mein.

I popped out in:
Christchurch hospital.

Currently I reside in?
Quake city.

Because?
Work, family & friends.

Sponsors?
Stereo, Dekline, Cheapskates.

Outside of skateboarding the bulk of my time is spent?
With my woman and booze.

Backside flip. Photo: Simon Kerr.

One item you want for free but have to pay for?
Tower burgers.

All time favourite cover?
Jimmy Wrong’s switch backside 180 5-0.

You get to choose one person to rule the world, who and why?
Glenn Danzig, need I say why?

Your go to Youtube clip?

One song for the rest of your life?

Pivot fakie. Photo: Simon Kerr.

Vices?
Smoking, gutter mouth.

What makes you nervous?
Hitting Morri up for more stuff.

Current set up details?
Stereo Benny fairfax deck, Theeve trucks, blank wheels, Spitfire cheap shot bearings.

Childhood memory?
Snapping my arm in half 1st week of skating haha

Website?
Manualmagazine.com

Shuvit heelflip. Photo: Simon Kerr.

Top five favourite skaters nicknames?
Frank, Sass, Wolfspine, Rapid beast, Ultra get up.

What is one thing you can’t live without?
Durrys.

5 Skate predictions for 2012
Shit, I ain’t no Moon Man.