Australian filmer Riley Blakeway has put together this little montage featuring Edgecumbe legend Ryan Wilson alongside Chima Ferguson, Sammy Winter, Bjorn Johnston and Josh Pall.

Check the latest shoe from Vans – The Stage 4.

Coverage from last weekend’s The Island Pro/Am skate comp on Cockatoo Island, Sydney.

The Official Word: Cockatoo Island is not only the largest isle in Sydney Harbour; it has one of the most colourful histories. Prior to being home to the first ever SbA Pro/Am Grand Final it was an imperial prison, an industrial school, a reformatory, a jail and was the site of one of Australia’s largest boat building docks. Cockatoo is also closely aligned with the legend of bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, who was one of two prisoners to ever escape the island. Their escape was aided by Thunder’s lover Mary Ann Bugg who swam through the harbours shark-infested waters to save them. Thunderbolt was given his name whilst on the job: during one of his robberies he knocked on a door as a clap of thunder and lightening ignited the skies. The victim asked who was at the door to which he replied: “Thunderbolt”. Of course prior to the intervention of colonialism Cockatoo was no doubt a sacred stomping ground for indigenous tribes and possibly the odd cockatoo.

During event lead up there were several trips out to the island. My first trip was with Cuzz and we were in charge of surface checks on the heritage-listed ground. After a serious run in with an egg-guarding screech-burger of a sea gull, and several heated discussions regarding the logistical problems of holding a comp on the island, we thought we would calm our nerves with a beverage. Whilst ordering the edge was taking off by a gruff but jovial chinless wonder of a Hungarian tuck-shop manager. He was the kind of odd character you would find in an old Bond film. His vibe somehow smoothed the situation and mid bev we ran back over to the site and finally sussed how the course could work.

Over the months of prep that followed it was no doubt that Logistics Manager Steve Murphy went through the most trials and tribulations. At one point he was heard ordering some fluorescent inflatable tower lights over the phone: “So how big are they mate?“… (pause)… “Oh so about as big as a fat person?” The attention to detail was phenomenal. So how do you get a skate course built on an island you ask? Every element had to come by barge: 24 of them! The course design and construction was a combination of efforts between SbA, Convic and Shane Serena’s Revolution crews. The course housed elements such as the bank to ledge to bank, the out rail (based on Perth’s swing out bar), the doorstop slappy kickers, the wheel chair ramp and the Sydney Harbour Bridge China Bank.

Come December the 10th the stage was set and it sure was a doozy. The Island was held in the last days of the Outpost Project street art festival. I pretended that the isle was decorated just for us. The dilapidated industrial beauty was punctuated with giant rusted swinging soy sauce fishes, a cockatoo mural made out of plastic cups, a life size replica of Kid Zoom’s house, Lister-painted balloons, ceramic washing machines and murals n pieces galore. Of course the skating was next level. Everyone goes on about the level. But you can kind of understand when the level is on this plain. I mean the technical proficiency of the current pros and top ams is light years beyond where we thought people could ever take their coordination. The top guys in Oz are all on par with (and make up some of) the top internationals, and nothing highlighted it more than The Island. The 35 peoples who were invited to the comp included some vets, some freshies and some of the world’s top shredders.

continued at skateboardingaustralia.org.au/Blog/the-island-wrap-up

Ryan Reyes portrait of myself.

Ryan Reyes.

Also in town at the moment is Kiwi photographer, legend and all round good man Dave Chami. He’s brought Austyn Gillette and Daryl Angel with him for a skate holiday. They’ve been staying at ol’ Sparkes’ house, so will hopefully pop in for a few beers this week.

Ryan Wilson got back from the States last week too, as well as Chima. It’s gonna be a pretty full on summer I imagine.

Here are a couple of ads I’ve shot recently. This is a Hurley Ad featuring Ryder Lawson. Ryder is on direct flow from Flip, which is pretty amazing when you think about it. He’s got rubber legs and doesn’t mind jumping down things.

Ryder Lawson, frontside 180. Randwick.

This heelflip of Sammy Winter is a Destructo ad somewhere in the world. Not sure exactly which mags it ran in, hopefully I’ll get a copy at some point!

Sammy Winter Destructo ad.

I shot some pretty tripped out pics for my mates band a month or two back. We got wasted and bashed around in the bush for a few hours, I’m surprised I came home with all my gear.

Spirit Valley

Spirit Valley

www.spiritvalley.com.au check them out! Their instrumental ‘victory’ is amazing. Would work well in a skate vid.

Jakes Hayes, frontside boardslide. Kogarah.

Jake is sick as. He’s riding flow for Enjoi. When the team was out here earlier this month we rolled around with those guys for a few days.

Chima Ferguson, frontside 50-50. Chifley Plaza.

Chifley Plaza is another one of those iconic Sydney spots. It’s been largely shut down by skate stoppers and awkwardly placed handrails but Chima found a new approach with this frontside 50-50. After we shot this he tried to ride it out a bit further and got broke off. His back foot got caught between the two rails. It was a miracle he didn’t snap his leg.

Hayden Jones, nollie backside 180. Martin Place.

I can’t seem to get away from Martin Place.

Karl Truell, backside 50-50. West Sydney.

Karl Truell needs no introduction. Backside 50-50 in deepest, darkest West Sydney. He’s single handedly bringing back the cargo pants. Glory Dayz!

Ryan Wilson.

Did you hear they re-made Footloose? Rhino pays homage to Kevin Bacon with this unique step. Is that blue suede?

I want start off by sharing a few of my favourite pics of late, along with a few words about what went down.

Chima Ferguson, frontside boardslide to fakie, Parramatta.

If you ask any skate photog at any level they’ll tell you that all they wanna do is shoot pros. I’ve been blessed to fall in with a sick crew in Sydney and it just so happens one of my mates here is Chima. We went out on Parramatta road to skate some spots a few months back and Chima was keen to front board this flat rail in an old car yard. He took that shit to fakie on the third try. I knew I had the shot immediately but he was keen to put another one down so I could try another angle. Chima pitched backwards on the next one and landed flat on his back. Probably the gnarliest slam I’ve ever witnessed. This image was published in issue #20 of The Skateboarder’s Journal.

Leigh Bolton, Newcastle.

I love this shot of Leigh Bolton. I snapped this as he filmed Ryan Wilson on some upturned pools near Newcastle on NSW’s Central Coast. Leigh is killing it in Australia. If you wanna be a skate filmer in New Zealand, study Leigh’s shit. He knows what’s up.

Glenn Wignall, Sydney.

I’ve become kinda obsessed with what happens off the board recently. Here’s Glenn Wignall’s dance stance after bailing the second trick in what eventually was a sick line at the Red Bull HQ in Sydney.

Ryan Wilson & Camerson Sparkes, Sydney.

I met Cameron Sparkes in August of last year. We were skating a park in Redfern together when Bjorn Johnston introduced us. We became immediate friends. When I moved to Sydney this guy went in to bat for me like no other. As the team manager for DNA, Gravis and Analog he’s hooked me up with more contacts in skateboarding than I know what to do with. Here he is getting down with Rhino on a late night sesh. Rhino hates this photo, so I’m glad I’ve got the opportunity to share it with you.

Bjorn Johnston, Maroubra.

I’ve shot a lot with Bjorn since I’ve been here. He’s a machine. I have never met anyone that can get down like Bjorn can. He’s probably gonna hate me for sharing this pic, but I kinda like it. He took a gnarly slam on an out ledge in Maroubra a week or so back and went out cold. I had to call an ambulance for obvious reasons but couldn’t even remember what number to dial.

Purple stuff all in my cup. Filmed by Colin Evans.

Some Chris Middlebrook 8mm magic, shot in NYC while filming for the Volcom movie Lets Live.

The usual Volcom suspects (with Braydon Szafranski in tow) tour the U.K and from the looks of it they found some half-decent spots.

Chima has finally risen ranks to pro(fessor) of skateboarding. His Aussie crew celebrate the news.

Chima Ferguson is apparently bangin’ and/or good at skateboarding.

Big ups to Chima for taking out this heavy comp. DLX have a page with another clip from the event and an interview with Mr Ferguson over on their site.

Deluxe are starting to put out the new catalogue. Spitfire is up and have some pretty decent little clips throughout the catalogue.