I made a little cell phone video of our recent Lakai Film trip to Puerto Rico. The real video is below or at Thrasher, after you watch that kill a little more time with this one.
After Denver we went to New York for the next art show. We had some time to skate and found ourself over here. Malto with a warm up crook.
We even made it out to Far Rockaway. Normally I wouldn’t post a photo of Eldy kickflipping in his underwear but he was very emphatic that I shoot it.
We spent a bunch of time down at the seaport benches too. Look out for the undercovers down there.
The NY art show was awesome too. DQM helped us put it on, and it was packed.
Matt Bell and Jahmal WIlliams! LI and Boston.
Too many legends. Tag yourselves.
Poorly poached photo of some rad dudes. Lee, Spencer and O’Mealls.
Andy Jenkins and Jeremy Carnahan. These guys busted their asses to make these shows as good as they were.
Get better Strubing!
CRM TECS!! Peter and Jeff!
Anthony Pappalardo, meet Anthony Pappalardo.
#selfie
Matt Milligan and Matt Willigan. 20 years of confusion.
Epic Crew. Gino, Cheeks, Kenny, Pops, Bri and Tone.
Fashion week has nothing on a Chocolate art show.
Trying to explode the message boards with this one. 3 guys who love posing for photos.
Then it was on to the Fish. Seniors and Freshman.
Legendary DJ crew. Atiba and Sergio from Quicksand!
What’s up Mic-e!
The next day the crew met up at Astor to try and fight the hangover with slappies before the demo.
We even had a Brian Brown sighting!
Then it was on to the LES park where we were greeted by a 3 story Malto.
The demo was great until it was invaded by 200 bikers. Thanks for the great time NY.
The Chocolate 20th Anniversary Art Show took a little tour of the US earlier this week. First stop was Evan Hecox’ hometown of Denver.
Our crew plus the man behind all the classic Chocolate graphics, Evan Hecox. (Malto was guest starring).
Adult Eldy, meet Baby Eldy.
We had time to hit the streets in Denver before the demo, so we took it to a park. Kenny with a crail for Crail.
I think Jerry has been making Marc laugh since he was about 5 years old.
The first day we hit this rad spot about 4 minutes before it got dark. (Panera bread jam up). Kenny got in this back lip before we had to call it a day.
The next day we went back before the demo. Kenska couldn’t get enough of this place.
Don’t feed the animals.
Pre-demo excitement. Cheeks and Eldy (and Sam)
Malto can’t skate a demo for like an hour after he gets there. He’s like the pied piper.
More airtime for Kenny.
Eldy flipping out of a switch blunt.
It’s a weird world we live in. #selfie #twostoges
Jerry shut the demo down hard with a bs nollie fakie 5-0 on the hubba.
Time for the family favorite. Product Toss!
Hey Marc, now that you’ve finished having 900 conversations and signed a million autographs, pose for a portrait real quick.
There was wayy too much stuff to include in the Transworld article of our Fourstar trip to OZ. The video should be coming soon but in the meantime I figured I’d throw a couple out takes up here…. After the flight to Australia I think anyone could use a wheelchair.
We went skating pretty much right after we got to Melbourne. Cory is never without the jambox.
Feds had an idea to get a crocodile outfit at a costume store and came back dressed as a cut rate Barney the dinosaur.
Max showing off his two-wheeler skillz in Melbs.
This is what happens when “doubles with Cory” backfires. Koston pre-stitches.
Cory found a can of spraypaint at a spot in Melbourne and decided to help everyone “upgrade” their boards.
Examples.
Carroll wasn’t into it. Cory even had green teeth.
The kids were much more forgiving.
Demo Break! Tony putting on a show in Melbourne.
This guy also had a raccoon tail but you can’t see it from this angle. He was a real hit.
Duck Dynasty in Canberra.
Rick and Mike tried to give Max a feel for what the DC Supertours were like.
Macho Man Randy Savage got on our bus for a bit.
Brophy and Ishod bro-ing down in Melbourne.
Ishod Kickflip Shifty at St. Kilda. We did a lot of time at this spot, it’s awesome.
This is what Rickk looks like losing a $600 dice hand to Cory.
Last night was the annual Girl Christmas Party at Musso and Franks in Hollywood. Pretty sure I’ve only missed one in the last 11 years, it’s always a blast.
Mike was there last night acting as official photographer. With the lens cap on. Shier wasn’t impressed.
Sal and Cheeks aka Steven A. Smith and Skip Bayless were hosting the “Skaters who don’t know enough about sports but still talk shit Show”. Sketchy table to get caught up at.
Eric Anthony was dressed to kill last night, Bill Nye science guy styles.
Double Daniels.
Then on the other side… These guys have been torturing each other since forever.
Sam somehow manages to get up in front of everyone and give an awesome speech every year. Last night was no exception.
Two Mikes and a Jerry. I think MikeMo looks so hard cause of the Mike’s hard lemonade he was double fisting.
Dubbs and Reda. Two class acts.
Wheatley and Scooch over by the bar. Scott is tall too, I swear.
Chris and Marc were having a Back 40 power lunch.
Rickk, Dubbs, Rudy and Eldy.
EMB over here. Good to have Lee back in town for one night at least.
Cheeks and DL!
SOTY sandwich with Rickk!
Then as is the tradition it was time to take the shitshow out into the parking lot. I think this was the first time no one ended up in a pile on the ground. We did manage to find a “working” pay phone tho. Merry Xmas Everybody!
The Salt Lake Demo ended with the best product give away situation I’ve seen to date. First up a push up contest, last one going gets the board.
Even Rickk and Eldy wanted in on the action! Casey would make a very effective cult leader.
Backwards race up the bank. Pure comedy.
These parents were stoked!
These guys are such demo machines they had to keep it going by the van. Elijah reenacts his greatest hits for the kids.
Human Hippie Jumps!
You ok big dawg?
Koston ended it with a free swing clinic for all the golf fans in attendance.
Then it was on to the SLC nightlife. It started out mellow.
Then Rickk took it up a notch.
Koston tried to kick it into high gear.
And before you know it…
“This happens every time you try to hang with the kids, Rickk.”
The next morning it was time to drive to Denver. First we had to film a quick “where’s my ID rap video”.
Then Cory and Elijah tried to get in on Carroll’s exercise regimen.
It’s a great team building exercise as well.
On the way to Denver the Coalatree guys invited us over to their ranch for a BBQ. Paradise.
MJ was born for this shit.
Locals.
The mini-ramp session was firing! Serendipitous doubles with Mike and Elijah. The ramp was rad enough to bring Carroll out of retirement!
Raven blasts while Mo eats.
“Enough with the surprise photo shoots!”
Cory is going to be in the next X-Games vert contest. Watch.
Still got it! MC.
Sick place to stand, Cory.
Meanwhile Eldy was filling out an application to move in.
Then as the sun went down and it started to get cold, Cory decided it was a perfect time to take on the rapids.
On ramp.
See you in Denver, Cory.
Ended the day with some solid country living.
“You sure you know what you’re doing Mike?”
Rick and Beebs by the fire.
Time to get back in the van. Thanks for an epic day Coalatree! Next stop, Denver….
Back in June the whole crew went on a good old fashioned demo tour across the US to hype up the Pretty Sweet video. You can read a real article about it in the new Thrasher that’s out now, and there’s gonna be a bunch of video episodes on their site. Here’s a bunch of photos that weren’t in the article. This is our posse when we set sail. Not too shabby.
Professional survival kit. Ready to go.
Our first stop was at Active out in Rancho Cucamonga. The dudes killed the demo but the best trick was Cory stealing the giant skateable shark head and ripping around with it.
The kids loved it.
After the demo we had our first of many 4 hour signings. Here’s Eric with the first Elijah defacing of the tour.
Beebs is down for the fans. Shotgun at the signing? Why not!
Another satisfied customer.
When you have a couple hour demo, followed by a four hour signing that ends around midnight, the van ride ends up feeling kind of like this. For full effect stare at this photo for 5 hours and play Chief Keef on repeat as loud as possible. “I can’t stay sober.”
Before our signing in Vegas we got a couple hours of street skating in. Human knee bone at the spot? No biggie.
Malto has a very eclectic fan base.
Seriously. Everybody loves this guy.
The guys aren’t scared to fan out on each other. Raven got his baby Carroll shirt signed by middle aged Carroll.
Elijah’s having a show at New Image gallery this December. Look out Tempster!
Then it was on to Salt Lake City for more action. Try and figure out who’s wearing this Batman mask.
Cory showing off some pre-signing stretch techniques in Salt Lake. Gotta stay limber for these things.
Pre-signing fishbowl. Mandatory.
The non-smoking guy pretending to smoke thing never gets old. Meza hitting that shit.
I’ll never understand this one.
Demo time. Everybody killed it again. The demos on this trip were really good. Raven blasting.
Malto, small kickflip.
A real life SLC Punk! This jacket rips. More to come next week…
Last Week I got to go back to Boston for Girl’s 20th Anniversary art show at Orchard Skateshop.
First stop when i got back was Copley Square. When I first moved to Boston this was the spot. Now it’s skatestopped and surrounded by potholes.
Then I stopped by the shop where Sarah was setting up the show. Time to go to the bar.
Now that T.C.’s is gone Biddy Early’s is the spot. If you’re ever in Boston go there. The owners skate and on top of that I got this board graphic-ready burger.
Rick and Sarah with surprise guest Andy Henrie.
This photo could have been taken in 1996. Ray, Vanik and Jerry.
Inside the shop kids were already swapping out their old shoes for some new Vincent Alvarez.
Boston City Hospital wall inside the shop.
We skated all over the city. This is the line up at the top of the Barley hill.
Ran into this guy.
We finished the day off at Eggs, where Rick, Mike and I tore the place to shreds, as evidenced by this photo.
Then it was time for the show. A ton of kids showed up, it was a good one.
Rick and Bro from Orchard. Similar approaches to modelling.
Orchard made a really rad Girl mixtape for the show, which was cool except Mike just stood by the TV and made them rewind his Goldfish part all night.
After the show Mike put on a solo demo out front.
Nailed it.
Thanks Orchard!
On Saturday night Girl Celebrated it’s 20th Birthday with an exhibition at the Known Gallery on Fairfax. If you’re not a fan of party photos, sorry in advance. The show is up for a few weeks, so if you didn’t make it last night you should go down to Fairfax and check it out.
The Art Dumpers started installing it the week before. I can’t believe how much stuff there was.
Hersh hard at work on the board wall.
There were a ton of awesome photos from the beginning of Girl all the way up to the present.
Mouse!
This is what the gallery looked like right before everybody showed up.
I wish Mike and Rickk actually arrived like this.
Salman brought the pizza, in a vintage Koston shirt no less!
Smyth under one of his photos.
Johannes and Mueller
Old Guy and New Guy
T. Ferg with Officer Ferg. Tony is in a lot of these photos.
Sheffey was there!
Burnout wanted a picture with Sean
Carroll reminiscing about his days working at In n’ Out.
Tony and the Mez
Nick Diamond with Ben Sanchez and Shamil
Scott and Juno made it.
Tony, Jovante and Sheffey!
Roberts with a photo we shot a loooong time ago
Dubbs and Baby Dubbs
Rudy with an amazing photo Skin shot of him for an old TWS interview.
Mo got the cake off.
Raven showed up then houdinied real quick.
Big Brother! Carnie and Kosick
Koston has been innovating forever
Knife song! Jenkins and Tremaine.
Tony and Dubbs
Rip came all the way from Japan! And Yoon came all the way from downtown.
Vinnie Ponte was there!
3 Marcs and a Mic
Sean and Teebs. #sorryforcrossblogging
Malto and a big wave.
Neck and Jason.
Hosoi was there! He was tripping on a photo of Kenny impersonating him.
Nak and Mic
Tony Larson with one of my favorite board series
Lance Mountain in front of some awesome photos he took. Take more photos Lance!
Generations of Girl. Rudy, Sean and Jovante.
Eric Anthony with a classic Carroll board he did.
Kenny, Kenska and Chris
Boys of Summer! Lucas, Charles, Jeff, Buddy and Andrew
Meg, Spike, Mike and Rick. Happy Birthday guys! Lets go to the bar…
There was a lot of action out on the street. Jordy and Roberts
Two generations of O’meallys. Otis and Mike
Elijah was out there. Busted!
Bird and Weiss! When I was growing up I thought Bird was Canadian too for some reason.
Steven, 19 year old Gav and the Dubbs
Stevie and Snewman. You called this one Sam!
Stevie and Sarah. Sarah did a shitload of work to make the show the success it was.
After the party we went over to Kibitz. It was like just moving to LA all over again.
It was Charles first time in a bar, typical first time drinker behavior.
Andrew and Jerry!
Apparently this is what you have to do to get skaters attention.
Curtis and Tino
American history Toya.
DL!
Malto is having trouble keeping up with the Blackouts.
Pretty sure “Turnt up” is what the kids call it.
Captains of Industry.
“Turnt up”
More Tony! More Tino!
What you looking at Mo?
What’s the point of having a scooter if you can’t ride it into a Jewish deli?
Then Rickk and Mouse did a duet.
Mike took a trip down memory lane…
China Style.
School Portrait, Alumni and current members. Happy Birthday Girl! I can’t wait to see what the next 20 bring!
Recently I went out to Cory and Elijah’s House to go skate in their hood. Apparently the night before Cory and his buddy Jake had done some late night hairstylin’.
Cory actually ran this masterpiece for 3 days.
First spot we went to was a parking lot where the boys worked on their wallies. Team-building exercises.
Then things took a turn for the serious at a street gap in Venice. Stevie was taking it all in.
Unfortunately right when Cory snapped this phat street grab a car came by and blocked both the filmers.
Luckily we had a lot of witnesses.
Afterward we went out for a celebratory bite. The guys couldn’t get enough of Cory’s styling.
Raven showed up on his new bike that he got from Cardiel. Jake and Elijah tried to give him some bunnyhop lessons.
Didn’t work out too good.
“You alright buddy?”
