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

Adrian Vercoe, crooked grind, Auckland Photo David Read

Adrian Vercoe makes a welcome appearance in Friday Photo. Shot almost two years ago this super high round bar on Williamson Ave in Ponsonby was no small feat to skate. After tearing his hands to bits on the rough ground Adro stomped this crooked grind the only way he knows how: stylishly. Emilly and Calis from VIC NZ were there to bear witness too. They were all totally shocked when I decided to smash one of my malfunctioning flashes to bits after the shoot in a casual bit of rage.

This month we feature the tsunami battler Adrian Vercoe with a portfolio of images spanning South America, Japan and little old New Zealand. Oh and some classic Geetz.
Fire Festival, Kakunodate, Japan.

Half frame, Carterton.

Locals, Peru.

Gregg Timms, nosegrind, Arrowtown.

Josh Malthus, 7th rung drop-in, Dunedin.

Cuzco, Peru.

Joe Whaanga, ollie, Wellington.

Geoff Campbell, switch 360 flip, Dunedin.

Phil Frost, Dunedin.

Adrian Vercoe welcomes you to enjoy his handpicked selection of second bests. Handmade on a computer in the snowy surrounds of remote Japan. Who wants Seconds?

"Hey, is that switch?"

It only took Adrian two months to develop his films from his recent Japan trip… but now that they have graced my inbox expect some more gems like this one soon.

Japan via the Digi Cam from David Read on Vimeo.

Here it is, when we weren’t shooting photos we got a few clips too. Featuring Adrian Vercoe, Andrew Pope, Matt Hosey, Max Couling, Tomokazu Wura, Trevor Houlihan & friends. If Vimeo decides it doesn’t want to load try the youtube link.

The final installment of the Gaijin Diaries, in this entry we tour the lower half of Honshu checking out Osaka and Kobe.
Mosey semi-happy to be in sunny Kobe. Photo: Jake Mein.

Max shunts through a 5-0 on the famous Kobe waterfront ledge. Photo: Jake Mein.

Heads in Kobe. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Max in Higashi-Yeunchi Park. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Private indoor park (thanks to Wura and Kanta). Photo: Jake Mein.

Pyxis indoor skatepark. Photo: Jake Mein.

Kanta with a bit of a bigspin heelflip. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Kanta again with a laser flip. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Typical train home from Kobe to Osaka. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Spot in Osaka, police are quick here we got the boot after one try. Photo: Jake Mein.

Mosey and Max wait for the train to Narita a little worse for wear after 22 days skating. Photo: Jake Mein.

Thanks to Element, DVS, Circa, Simon Lockett, Trevor Houlihan, Tomokazu Wura, Kanta and everyone else who showed us around.

Two weeks deep into the tour, time for a check in. After a heavy set in Tokyo we made our way down to the bottom of Honshu to sunny Osaka.

The infamous banks just outside of Tokyo. Photo: Jake Mein.

Adro gets 5 panels deep in Harajuku. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.


Nuff said. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.


This is for The Geetz. Photo: Jake Mein.


Popey samples some Nikka whiskey on the Shinkanses bound for Osaka. Photo: Jake Mein.

Adro front crook at the Nishiumera plaza. Photo: Jake Mein.

Mosey switch nosegrind 180 at the Nishiumera plaza. Photo: Jake Mein.

Japan sea breezes are bitter. Photo: Jake Mein.


Adro handled this spot. Photo: Jake Mein.


Max and Mosey at the Asashiobashi plaza. Photo: Jake Mein.


Temporary Manual office while in Japan. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.


Photo: Adrian Vercoe.


Bad times. Photo: Jake Mein.


Better times, Max with a crail scrape. Photo: Jake Mein.

Max Couling, switch frontside flip. Photo: Jake Mein.

A few throwaway sequences from Odaiba, Tokyo. All photos: Jake Mein.

Mark, 360 flip. Photo: Jake Mein.

Max Couling, hardflip. Photo: Jake Mein.

Adrian Vercoe, switch frontside heelflip. Photo: Jake Mein.

Our first update from Tokyo, Japan. Photos by Jake Mein, Adrian Vercoe & Matt Hosey.

After 19 hours of traveling (I realise that sounds a bit long, but we flew Jetstar) we made it to Japan in one piece. We’ve managed to meet up with Trevor Houlihan and ex-pat Kiwi Simon Lockett who have vast knowledge of pretty much every spot in Tokyo. Needless to say we’re in good hands.

4am start got the better of Popey, Auckland Airport. Photo: Jake Mein.

In-transit. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Yep, Neckface is big in Japan. Photo: Jake Mein.

There is not much better. Photo: Jake Mein.

Yep. Photo: Jake Mein.

Popey showing off his new pro model shoe. Photo: Jake Mein.

Brutal. Photo: Jake Mein.

Fishing for a skateboard. Photo: Jake Mein.

Central Tokyo huck. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Getting amongst the traffic. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Trevor Houlihan, switch pivot. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Even with a badly sprained ankle Pope maintains his perma-grin. Photo: Jake Mein.

Rather swollen. Photo: Matt Hosey.

Kichijoji spot. Photo: Jake Mein.

Mosey in Odaiba. Photo: Jake Mein.

Odaiba. Photo: Jake Mein.

Tour guide Simon Lockett. Photo: Jake Mein.

Kichijoji cherry blossom. Photo: Adrian Vercoe.

Just a taste of what’s to come. Check back soon for part 2.

“More often than not these trips come about through a single thought, generally out loud. Most of the time it is little more than a comment, ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we went…’ This tour came about purely for that reason. Make a couple of calls, find flights, pillage the credit card and you’ve got yourself a trip. For a couple of these guys it’ll be the first time going to further than Australia, being the only one who speaks even the slightest hint of Japanese will make it interesting. I just hope Max doesn’t buckle from culture shock.” Jake Mein

At 1pm today Max Couling, Matt Hosey Jake Mein, Andrew Pope and Adrian Vercoe embark on a skateboarding trip to three major cities in Japan. Stay posted for for updates from their trip.

Made possible with help from Element, C1RCA and DVS.

The D’enry is back with Vol 5 of the Gale Force saga. Best episode yet??

Even after being burgled and losing a massive chunk of footage Mr Henry somehow delivers volume 4 of the GFT saga.

As you can see from above Adro has a pro wheel and deck out just in time for Christmas. If you know where Mr Vercoe grew up you may just have a free board and wheels under the tree this holiday season. Get across to ABC and let Chey know the answer.

Mr Vercoe gets away from insurance companies long enough to do some Tuesday turkey talking.

How old are you?
24

Where are you from?
Dunedin, Otago

Where do you live?
Wellington

Best thing about your hometown?
Family, Friends and cheap beer

Who makes it possible? (sponsors)
ABC skateboards + wheels, DVS Shoes, Carhartt Clothing, I still rep Quest store but I work at Loaded and I buy my griptape and hardware from Cheapskates… So I don’t really know what’s going on there!

Frontside lipslide, Napier. Photo: David Read.

Who are you five favourite upstarts?
They aren’t groms but games of skate with peeps like Dom Henry, Joseph Whaanga, Conan Marriot, Kevin Francis and Farhard are my upstart

Who are you five favourite legends?
Shaka, Lee Ralph, Chey, Levi, Morri

What are your favourite five video parts?
1. Any Kalis
2. Any Welsh
3. Any Gino
4. Any Penny
5. Any Rowley

Frontside nosegrind, Wellington. Photo: Jake Mein.

Top 5 youtube vids?
Haven’t found myself on youtube lately, although this was the last link I sent someone…

Favourite Quote?
“I’ve never heard of anyone having a pleasant experience trying to claim inusurance” – Cousin Jerram Bateman

Best city for skateboarding?
It’s pretty hard to beat the brewery on a good day!

Fakie kickflip, Napier. Photo: David Read.

Favourite song?
I’ve been waking up to Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie as my alarm for the last 6 months

Favourite Park?
Fairfield in Dunedin, it’s not really a park, more of a tennis court with blocks, but it’s legit

Favourite Magazine cover?
Eric Koston – Backside noseblunt Hubba hideout is pretty up there

What are your bad habits?
Too much talk and not enough doing, I really struggle with hanging out my washing

What’s the worst thing about skateboarding in NZ?
Um…lets just say rough ground makes good ground feel even better!

What’s the best thing about skateboarding in NZ?
Positive friendly unique personalities

Varial heelflip, Wellington. Photo Jake Mein.

Harbour City Lurkers proudly present their first monthly video offering, direct from the streets of Wellington to your mind. The Gale’s blowing…

Max Couling, Mosey, Adrian Vercoe and I hit the road last week to get away from Wellington’s horrendous weather and hopefully get some pics for the up coming issue. We split Wellington with high hopes last Friday for a whirlwind trip through Napier (Adrian could only go that far as he had to get back for some Loaded shop duties), then Tauranga (thanks Garth for putting us up), on to Whangamata (to meet up with Mark Neighbours and Tossy), then Hamilton (to see the Gemmells and co.). All photos by Mosey.

Max suffered some filming injuries while trying to save his video camera on the first day. Gotta love that.

The view from Bluff Hill in Napier.

Guys, remember to shake. Take care when pissing or this could happen to you too. Consider this a warning.

Napier is rather picturesque.

Mark taking a moment to focus. Whangamata.

Max getting comfy.

Moments before I ate shit thanks to an acorn.

Bennett and I headed up to Napier on a day mission last week. We met up with Adrian Vercoe, Joseph Whaanga and Chey Ataria to hit up a few of Chey’s super secret haunts from BITD. These are a few clips from the warm up session at the bench front set.

Bennett, switch frontside bigspin

For this event we used Red Bull’s high up connections at Westpac Stadium to secure this lush patch of asphalt in the dusty dungeon that is their carpark. Just kidding, the spot was epic and suited the comp just perfectly. Here’s a few sequences from the night. I definitely missed about a million tricks as it was near impossible to shoot everything. Thanks to everyone who came down and made it a decent session. Word has it that Christchurch and Dunedin should be expecting the Hummer and OTW over the next few months. Watch this space. And beware while watching these gifs as the lights from the generator fluctuate and have created this wonderful flashing effect throughout the sequences. I take no responsibility for an seisures. Oh, and be patient as the sequences may take a minute to load.

Adrian Vercoe, frontside crooked grind.

Cookie, switch flip switch manual.

Cookie, frontside bluntside to fakie.

Guy, backside flip to switch manual, late revert.

Sam Spiers, nose manual 360 shuvit.

Ed Templeton special with casual walk through by Justin, not even a single look back, so jaded. Sam Spiers, nose manual nollie big spin. I’m backing it.

Cookie again, this time in the finals. Switch flip switch nose manual.

I’m not sure if this is the winning trick as I had to leave two seconds after this and missed the last five minutes of the comp. But I’m sure this trick (and Dom’s general shreddery) won him the comp. Fakie shuvit fakie manual fakie flip.