Here’s a short teaser for Grant Taylor’s internet part which is dropping in just a few days and by the looks of it he seems to be a heavy contender for the S.O.T.Y!!

This top ten thing isn’t as easy to put together as it might seem. I always feel like I will be leaving something out. Hey, I don’t wanna offend anyone out there, eh. Fuck that, it’s my top ten! Haha. This week I would like to pay my respects to the top ten most influential skateboarders from the land of the long white cloud, from when I was a grommet. It was different being in the South Island, you would only ever seem to hear stories about these guys. On occasion you would maybe get a flying glimpse of some cats, when or if, they managed to afford the domestic airfare to get here. I didn’t even go to the North Island until ’97, and that was a huge eye opener. So here it is, the dudes that inspired me and many others in the 90s, and continue to do so to this very day. It’s always important to be aware of what is goin’ down in your own backyard. Actually, I would prefer to know about that anyway. New Zealand is blessed with so many gifted skateboarders and these guys helped pave the way. These are in no order, just respect to the classics.

1. Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison, lien. Photo: David Read

2. Jeff Sanders

Jeff Sanders from Manual #2. Photos: Caleb Smith

3. Dan Buckley

Dan Buckley. Photo: Rene Vaile

4. Chey Ataria

Chey Ataria, frontside crooked grind. Photo: Caleb Smith

5. Kevin Francis

Kevin Francis, frontside flip. Photo: David Read

6. Levi Hawken

Levi Hawken, frontside boardslide. Photo: Rene Vaile

7. Bernard Foo

Bernard Foo, backside nosebluntslide. Photo: David Read

8. Justin Watene

Justin Watene. Photo: Rene Vaile

9. Secombe Watene

Secombe Watene, 5-0. Photo: Rene Vaile

10. Andrew Haeata

Andrew Haeata. Photo: David Read

10. Simon Lockett

Simon Lockett, double flip. Photo: David Read

My Periphery

This clip is etched in my brain for life. I’m talkin’ from 0:00-0:52. I remember sitting on the Hagley High mini and dudes always listening to Beastie Boys all day. I think that’s why it’s stuck in there. Remember it’s just 0:00-0:52. Jeremy Wray, Rick Jaramillo and Laban Pheidias. “So what cha want”.

Debbie Does Blockhead

E-Clipse

This is borderline I know, but I have to put this up (I also got the thumbs up from Alex Dyer, so it’s official!). I figure this guy is also predominantly from the ’90s, he has to be. When you have had the same top five for like ten years and some dude appears out of nowhere, that is of age and you have to try fit him in, well let me tell you, it’s heavy. It’s almost a lifestyle choice. He is one of the greatest, just scraping back in the day enough to allow me to pull this off. I can’t explain to you what exactly went through my head when I first saw this, but I can tell you I’ve been hooked ever since. Alex Carolino is how it is.

Lordz They Don't Give A Fuck About Us

Quick Pic

The Face of the Mad Circle. Never fading, possible contender for best company name ever. Your thoughts?

Mad Circle

Fine Tuning

Lately I have been having Erykah Badu for breakfast. Every morning in fact, for the last two weeks. Should I be concerned? Hell no! I get up up at 5:15am almost every day, except for Saturday and Sunday, where a leisurely seven am sleep in is the usual. The benefits of workin’ in hospitality I guess. I’m sure it’s the best time of the day, especially come the warmer months. People who are around that early in the day are usually happy too. Seriously, I hardly ever see frowns before 7am, it’s true. Warming up to each day is very important also. You gotta kinda ease up in there. I also grew up with R & B, and sometimes copped a bit of flack for it. I couldn’t help it though. It goes back to the schoolyard! Haha. Anyway, it’s nice to start the day off chill, and Erykah is the queen of that. Period!

Erykah Badu

Stomping Grounds

Tribute to the Air Max. Thank you for having me. Live by the 90, Die by the 90, but more or less just live by the Air Max. I figure it’s luxury air conditioning for your feet. You doubt me? Try some. I have often wondered why Nike SB don’t give it a whirl, maybe because they shouldn’t. Look familiar?

Nike Air Max 90

Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal, but in its negative sense it is working as a traitor. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organisations work together to realize shared goals, (this is more than the intersection of common goals seen in co-operative ventures, but a deep, collective, determination to reach an identical objective) — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature — by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus.
The above is Wikipedias definition of what we know as the abbreviated Co-Lab. The Co-lab has become a staple part of society these days. Every man and woman shows love for the Co-Lab. I present to you, what I would like to say is one of my favourite Co-labs of all time. You may disagree with this and I can accept that, however when it comes to these two individuals I have always thought of them as a package deal. The ultimate Co-Lab if you will. Wherever one went, the other seemed to follow. If I was for some obscure reason, put in the awkward position of choosing one over the other, well the truth is I couldn’t, it would be impossible. They are both responsible for achieving greatness far more than most, without having to be all over every magazine or video, sometimes disappearing for months or years without any coverage. Some would consider this a cardinal sin or perhaps being lazy and not productive enough compared to others, whilst others now live by this code that has been paved by them. I need not say any more and if you dont know, then where have you been? Below is my tribute to two of the greatest masters of the outfit ever: Gino Iannucci and Keenan Milton.

Quick Pic

The Godfather, Mariano is a muthaphuckin’ bawse. How to switch tré:

My Periphery

Anyone know who this fresh guy is?

Fine Tuning

I’m from the south, the dirty south as we like to call it. Like most from down these ways, I carry a lot of southern pride. Here are a couple of dudes who also carry a lot of southern pride and are partly responsible for coining the phrase the dirty south. They’ve come along way since their inception into the game in ’93, although you may have found yourself cringing at a couple of their more recent offerings. Hey, there was a couple I wasn’t feeling either, but at the end of the day I have undying love for both Andre 3000 and Big Boi. For their do it our way and dont give a fuck attitude that has defined a whole new generation of rappers. Yeah I’m talking about OUTKAST. I still remember the shiver I got the first time I listened to ATLIENS their second album and one of hip hops finest to date. From start to finish the whole thing was bangers and heads started to really turn to this duo from the ATL. I would like to turn your attention however to this wee gem, their debut single from ’93, the song that got ‘em started. From the album Southernplayalisticadillacmusik, here’s players ball:

E-Clipse

Yet again it’s snowing out, looks like it’s not going anywhere either. I haven’t really seen it snow like this in Christchurch so much in my life. Twice in one year is unusual, don’t get me wrong, I’ve done my time in the snow. I’m lucky my internet came back to life last night, it would have been a torturous few days if it was still on dial up. Hence the lack of a Way Back for last week, I did ten full days in the slammer! I thought I would take things a step further and give you a full length vid to peep this week. It seems you might be spending more time than usual in front of a screen if the weather keeps doing what it is supposed to do. Here’s one of my favourites L.A. County. Hopefully it will brighten up your week.

Stomping Grounds

I had these in ’92 when I was 12. Got ‘em duty free when they used to sell kicks at the airport. To this day they are probably one of the dopest pairs of kicks I have ever owned. Oh to have another pair would be the best birthday present anyone could ever get me (next month). That’s all that needs to be said really.

Fuck this is gully. R.I.P. Keenan.

Keenan Milton nollie inward heel, Big Brother.

My Periphery

I would love to know why this guy didn’t make the cut for MENACE. Any thoughts?

George Morales

E-Clipse

There’s nothing like a good swanny. When I say “a good swanny”, no, Muska’s does not count. I used to love doin’ the shit out of a swanny, but it’s one of those feel good tricks that just isn’t acceptable to most anymore. It’s funny how they surfaced in the early ’90s–taking over the frontside flip for a good five or so years–then they seemed to be banished from skateboarding all together. In my opinion they are fine if done with some swag. I’m probably never gonna live that down. The first one I ever saw was by Jovontae in Goldfish. Jovontae is pretty dope and he seemed to know what he was doing. I guess it was when they started to get ruined by a fair few individuals that they became an issue and fizzled out. Here’s an example of a guy who has a well decent swanson on him, John Igei. This is his part from yet another great video: Aesthetics’ Ryde or Die.

Aesthetics Ryde or Die

Fine Tuning

I don’t read much (apart from on the internet), but I do watch a shit load of films. A tradition that I’ve upheld since I was a grommet is that I’ll watch anything. Well, almost anything. I don’t do musicals or westerns, but in saying that I will sometimes make exceptions. It’s easy nowadays, I don’t even have to go to the store to rent anymore–I would but my local United Video has been made void due to an earthquake or two–so I just do it all from the comfort of my room. Yup, it’s both lazy and ideal, an almost perfect world I guess. There’s an old saying that the book is always better than the movie. Well, I wouldn’t know because I never read the book. I would probably read Belly though, if they ever made it into a book, but I doubt it would be as good as the film. Belly is alltime. It’s not your run of the mill drug hustling thug movie with the fairytale ending. Or is it? Starring Nas, DMX, Method Man, T.boz, Louie Rankin and directed by Hype Williams, Belly is a definite addition to any top 10 hood movies list. The opening scene of the film is in my favourite opener of all time. NAS and DMX robbing a club all lit up in UV light with Back to Life Accapella as the background music. It’s fairly fuckin’ official. I find the ’90s gangster flicks a whole lot more appealing than what has been on offer as of late and there is some serious b-grade heat going on out there. Hype Williams is the man too, the way he films shit is next level. (He likes his colours, that’s for sure.) I’m guessing all his years of filming hip-hop videos lead to this, his first full length feature film debut, so check it out. Oh, and if you enjoy it then maybe you should check out Belly 2 – Billionaire Boyz Club, haha. It’s got The Game and Omar from The Wire in it. It has nothing to do with Belly but is a West Coast homie gets outta jail and can’t get a job so turns back to a life of crime and violence type of flick. Again, worth a watch, but nothing on Belly.

Belly

Stomping Grounds

Can you ever have too many pairs of shoes? I’m not sure if that is a real question, but I get asked it all the time. People always buzz out that males can also have an obsession with footwear and clothing. “Mate, I’m too busy being a builder and drinkin’ pints at the sports bar in my steel caps to worry ’bout new shoes” is usually the impression I get from people when they find out that you prefer footwear acquisitions over team sports. It’s like you aren’t a legitimate male if you own more than your weekday workboots, some four year old saucony runners, one token pair of skate shoes and your crocodile skin ‘hunters’ to prowl through shitty bars on the weekend. It’s funny how the people that harrass skateboarders usually all own at least five items of skate branded softgoods or footwear. I feel that you can never get too many new pairs of shoes. I need a new pair at least every fuckin’ week. Hell, I even use baby wipes to clean my shit. That was pretty clever huh, if you don’t know, now you know, baby wipes are a sneaker freaker’s best friend.

It would be mean if I could acquire some of the kicks I’ve talked about over the last few weeks, but there is one thing I won’t do: spend ridiculous amounts of money on hard to find shoes. See, unlike some shoe addicts out there, I actually like to wear the shoes I buy. This is purely driven by the fact that I cannot afford to just keep ‘em boxfresh or justify doing so. (In saying that, if I had the money I would no doubt have triples of everything.) So, here’s a little clip to make you think. I’d be pretty keen to take a trip to the Shoeseum some time. Shouts to Julio for hooking this up, maybe we could get a posse together and make the adventure happen bruv?

The second part of The Bird is The Word tour is up at the Nike site.

Part 2 of the Belco and or Bust.

Nike have launched a mini-site with B.A and Koston discussing the Blazer and Dunk shoes, check it out here.

Nike’s new mini clips ‘Don’t fear the Sweeper’ are into their second part. Grant Taylor shredding the jersey barrier in NY is worth the watch alone.

A second extra’s video from Nikes latest offering Debacle.

It was inevitable after 2 rather incredible parts in Mindfield and Debacle. Workshop have made Grant Taylor Pro. Heres his part from Debacle