Vehicle City

If you have ever seen a Michael Moore movie or show, or have read one of his books, you are familiar with his hometown of Flint, Michigan. It was a town booming decades ago due to General Motors presence but was left without a leg to stand on when they abandoned the city for foreign soil, to save on costs. Anyway, while the town has suffered a slow death, there are still people there that keep skating, despite the condition of their boards. I went over there recently and some really rad people. I decided to throw together a clip from some of the skating I found myself among. This clip features myself (Eby Ghafarian), Christina McCollum (Polly), Stephen McCollum, & Kickflipping Kurt. I used the first recorded track from Polly's band Cheerleader. It is called "You're Not That Comfortable." You can find them on Facebook. Enjoy!

Flint, MI from Naysayer Skateboards on Vimeo.

Dork around footage

30-30 on the thirty-first from Eby Ghafarian on Vimeo.

How You Philling?

Here is a clip from a trip I took down to Philly last weekend to drop some Naysayer boards off at Exit Skateshop and skate with the Gnarhammered Crew. Nabi came through the second day from NYC to skate. Enjoy!

Beware of Sasquatch Review

The Sasquatch/Bigfoot/Yeti, whatever you want to call the beast, has reportedly been spotted in the Pacific Northwest as far back as the 1800s. While shunned by the scientific community and tarnished by hoaxers, there are still so many unanswered questions about this ape-man. Twenty-three years ago, the Henderson family from Seattle unconventionally befriended and domesticated one of these creatures, naming him Harry. While things seemed great at first, this was a creature of the dark woods, not a human, and the Hendersons reluctantly acknowledged this. They heart-breakingly sent him on his way, crushing his spirit and trust of humans. He hasn’t been seen since…until the skateboarding documentary “Beware of Sasquatch” emerged the other day! Harry was back for retribution and the crew of Seattle skateboarders, headed by Brandon Jensen, was an unfortunate casualty to his broken heart. One by one, he slayed each skateboarder mercilessly…and it was all caught on film!

However, the documentary sheds light on the skateboarders, themselves, laying waste to spot after beautiful spot in the Northwest, leading up to their demise. First on the chopping block was Ken Takayama. What a wasted fate. Ken was an amazing skateboarder with a clean laid back style. It was as though he wasn’t even trying, just floating down big sets of stairs and gliding across ledges with ease. Perhaps that was his problem. Sasquatch can be a bit insecure. Plus, his frontside tailslide hardflip out (don’t ask) was the icing on the cake. Next came Dan Ching. Have you ever tried to smith grind a brick out-ledge? Dan Ching actually did successfully. I understand that murder. He must have been a witch or something to land that, and the world is better off. The next victim was Andy Tomich. He never had a chance to escape with how slow he went. However, his techy many maneuvers and reverts out of a lot of his tricks I am sure stunned sasquatch momentarily…not to mention his 360 shuvs out of his nose mannies. Mike Lind almost escaped when he crooked popped over the inside of that “L” ledge. He even dazed him with some nicely executed bigspins out of his ledge tricks, but alas, it wasn’t enough to spare him from doom. Then in a strange twist of fate, Vince Del Valle was forsaken by the movie gods by resembling Adam Alfaro very closely. See, ever since Sasquatch appeared on screen and never got a nomination by the Academy, he declared war on the industry…an industry Adam Alfaro is a part of. So while Vince was never mean for the kill, he fell as a great ditch skater. He skated through life fast and confident, smoking the whole way…and he crashed and burned in a similar fashion when he encountered the sasquatch. It was a pleasure watching the lead up and was disappointing to see his downfall. In another strange twist of fate, the sasquatch was enchanted by Merritt Harburg Little’s amazing kickflips over shopping carts and ally-oop backside flips on banks. But what set him off was the music. He was not a fan of 1349’s “Sculpture of Flesh” and it’s unsavory juxtaposition with the pleasant skateboardery…so he made a sculpture of flesh of his own out of Mr. Little. Adversely, he dug “Gerry Rafferty’s “Right Down the Line” resonating from Casey Geldermann’s skating. However, there wasn’t much memorable about the part and the switch mongo pushing set Sasquatch off. Casey tried rubbing his own head for luck when he switch flipped 50-50ed the hubba as his ender hoping for mercy, but that mercy never came. Josh Gunnerson tried appeasing the beast by nollie flipping off the side of a ledge to manual a sidewalk, but his switch mongo pushing was also his demise. Sasquatch is not down with that. Brendan Bonney came out strong with a nollie double flip to fakie on a bank. The beast couldn’t figure out how that was possible as he had trouble with single nollie flips. Brendan was strategic with his trick selection for any given spot and it was a great implementation, but you can’t out think this yeti. Good try, Brendan, but so long. Then along came David Gravette who actually had the gall to put out 3 parts in something like 3 months! So what if the footage was still sick (even though most of it was probably leftovers and recycled footage), so what if the ender trick was very impressive. Bigfoot doesn’t like a showoff! You could have spread it out, but now look at you…just a stain on the forest floor. Next to appear was the less gnarly, more tech Garrett Hill: Sean Harris. While he tried to expedite his flee by taking the quick route down stairs (handrails), backside noseblunted ledges along the way popped out of frontside nosegrinds on flat rails and backside bluntslid through hubba corners, he was eventually apprehended and dealt with. Resistance is futile, Sean. Lastly was Girl’s new wonder kid, Cory Kennedy. A little known fact is that he is a wizard and every sasquatch hates wizards. You want to know how I know he is a wizard? He can casually kickflip bs noseblunt/bs smith/fs crook things in lines, he levitates and gets his tricks to get higher as he is going down things (you are going down the stairs or gaps, Cory, stop pretending you are doing them over something…well, don’t, really). You know those weird flatground tricks he did in the Battle at the Berrics like nollie front-foot flips, or switch frontside 360 heelflips? Well, he does them over and down things in the real world. Wizard!

It was a great production and while the deaths were tragic, there was a lot of happiness spread throughout. Crook pop-overs, big heels (fakie, nollie, switch), and ledge to ledge trick combos were scattered about. While some of the filming was over-exposed or sketchy, a lot of it was filmed very well and the aesthetics of the Northwest (ivy, nature, brick, etc.) made up for anything in excess. There is something magical about that area. Tragically magical. I know I will Beware of Sasquatch next time I am in the area!

I recommend this video to be added to any skateboarder’s collection. From banks to tranny to rails to manuals to ledges to gaps to flatground and everything in-between, there is something that will appeal to everyone. Support a rad independent video and order one here. I’m stoked I did!

Here is a clip from the bonus section of the video:

A Present

If you haven't been following what I have been doing with Naysayer, check out the site or Facebook. It has been eating up most of my computer time, leaving very little for this old dog, er, blog. Well, I have a present. I finally got around to capturing some footage from a night of skating the mini at the Autumn Bowl last month and put this clip together, sans music.



Also, if you haven't been following Naysayer, you probably missed the promo that I put together. It is the biggest video project I have undertaken solo (editing-wise, others helped film) and I am pretty happy with it. Watch it, please.

Naysayer Skateboards - In An Asian Accent (A Promo) from Naysayer Skateboards on Vimeo.

Interwebs

So updates have been pretty slow on here, but that is mostly due to Naysayer taking up so much of my time. I am not going to just let this blog die, but I also won't be updating it too often...until I can afford to get more help with Naysayer. Anyway, here are some things you should check out:

Western Edition's Ten Year Anniversary Montage

Western Edition 10 Year Video from Western Edition on Vimeo.

Nozbone Skateshop in Paris, France put out a pretty awesome video and posted it online for a free download.

Lil' Wayne and Eminem just put out a track together. There is no video in this clip, just audio, but it is pretty good. I can't image how the radio edit would sound, however. Let's hope the censors go the Snakes on a Place route for some LOLs.


The Boston Globe is putting out a year in pictures for 2009, and the first installment has some pretty epic photos. This one was my favorite:



Mashable posted their top ten viral videos. Some you have probably seen, some you may not have. Most are impressed by this bike one (though I liked the Signs one best):

Some Eye Candy

Here is some old Frank Gerwer footage from back when he lived in Long Island.



I was skating KCDC yesterday and this new dude from the midwest, Tim Bennett, was working there. He skated the ramp and watching him was one of the funnest things. He has a bunch of fun tricks that he pulls out of nowhere in rad lines on the miniramp. Here is some footage I found of him skating LES with some other guys, he is second to last:



While you are watching all these clips, why not watch Jason Adams get rad in in this part they posted on Strange Notes?

I also got my coffin of goodies from the Osiris/Corey Duffel Contest win. It includes: a Foundation board, some Pig wheels, Venture trucks, a couple hoodies, a few shirts, some Skull Candy headphones and ear buds and speaker dock for an iPod, a bunch of stickers, some leather belts I can't wear, a bag big enough to hold a complete, 2 pair of shoes, and 2 vouchers for shoes. Not bad at all. Here are some flicks.

New Clip from Jimmy

FUck You from nyc inside my head from jimmy marketti on Vimeo.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Here is a short clip of me skating some parking blocks this summer. Includes a cameo of Trevor Sias, of Open Skateboards.

Curb Your Enthusiasm from Eby Ghafarian on Vimeo.

Bummer in the City

Click on the Image above to view.

It is a pretty decent quality, so give it some time to load. Otherwise, just watch the Vimeo version here:

Bummer in the City from Naysayer Skateboards on Vimeo.

Oh yeah, and Valentin Jutant filmed Hadrien, just didn't have his name in time to add it to the video.

Naysayer Skateboards

So the "thing" I have been talking about is officially more than a thing now. Please welcome out of the womb, Naysayer Skateboards. I have been been planning this company for probably 5 years now, though the original plans where to do it in 2010. Well, I decided not to wait that extra year and just go for it now. Don't worry, it isn't just a "good idea" I had one day, just to get bored with and and let it fade out the next. I am all in on this one. Check out the site and have a look around. Our team is legit and our wood comes from Chapman (out of Long Island).

The Halloween video I have been working on is going to be a Naysayer clip and is coming together nicely. I posted some photos from some of the madness on the site but here are some samples.

Drehobl to Fakie

Of course I recently entered the Thrasher "Drehobl to Fakie" Contest (since I enter all that stuff) and they posted the montage and winners today. You can watch it here. I ended up getting fourth place, plus Leonard and Dylan James got some footage in the montage. Leonard at 1:01 and Dylan at 1:18. The guy who won it definately deserved it though. His last trick was hairball to say the least.

Speaking of hairball, here is Vince Del Valle's part from the new Black Label video (God Save the Label). Note his ender...wow.

Vince Del Valle from Black Label Skateboards on Vimeo.

Pending Entertainment

I spend some time working on the elusive barrier clip and it is coming out pretty well. It is mostly edited (minus Leonard's footage I am waiting on). I just need to work on some color correction and figure out a song. This progress, especially when you factor in times when months have gone by without so much as filming a single clip for it. It will feature skateboard maneuvers by myself, Alan Siegler, Conor Fay, Leonard Houx, Taji Ameen, Dylan James, Greg Pachell, and many others.

In other news, check out the trailer for YOUGOTTAGETTHAT! featuring Scotty Moore, Kyle Berard, Gilbert Crockett, Bobby Worrest, Mike Peterson, Dan Murphy, Brett Abramsky, and others. It looks sick and I am looking forward to seeing it. It is heavily southeast skewed.

Another independent video that is coming out soon is Flow Trash. It is out of the Twin Cities and looks proper. The guys that made it are the same guys that made Boondoggle. I am not sure who any of the skaters are other than Davis Torgerson, but that doesn't really matter. Watch the promo and get hyped:



And lastly, for you vegan's out there trying to figure out what skate shoes are animal friendly, I emailed Emerica and Adidas to ask but only Emerica responded and here is their current list:

Francis Black Tan
Francis Lo White Purple Gold
Laced White
Laced White Purple Gold
Mob Black White Red
Reynolds 3 Royal White
Reynolds Cruisers Navy White Gold
Reynolds Cruisers White Purple Gold
The Archer Animal
The Archer Black Blue Purple
The Archer Black Pink
The Archer Light Grey

Some excuses and (empty?) promises...

So, I am pretty stoked on skateboarding these days...but that usually comes from doing it a lot, and also do other things involved with it (more details on that coming soon). Eitherway, I am still working on the barrier clip. I know, I have been saying that for months. The reason it has been taking so long is because, frankly, not too many can skate barriers and those that can don't really want to all that much. This has resulted in the footage coming in very slowly...and everyone I skate with thinking I pretty much only like to skate barriers. A few more tricks were filmed the other day, now I am just waiting to see what Leonard can send me before I finish it.

Speaking of Leonard, watch this and hold on to your jaw!


I am also about to begin working on this year's Halloween clip, which will be posted on Halloween day (no pushing that one back). It should be fun times with good people and rad scenarios. Remember last year's?



Well to hold you over, though there is a good chance you already have seen these, here are some clips I have liked a lot recently:

Elwood - Dressin' for Recession East Coast Tour Video

Toebock's Daf Oregon Montage

Fourstar's Euro Tour:

Gang Of Fourstar from Crailtap on Vimeo.

Bob!


That's not true.


Act like a cat.


So So Vegan.


Oh yeah, Pharmacy is working on a new video!

From the big city to the smaller big city

Here is some footage from recent trip to Philly a week and a half ago where Maurice and I met up with the Gnarhammered Crew. We saved a few clips to be used in other things (one of those things being the barrier clip, which I am still working on). Edited to Mr. Lif - Arise.

Same Tricks, Different Spots

As I mentioned a couple posts back, Lesque Skateboards came to NYC recently. Well, last night, the photographer, RiO, sent over some photos he took of me while they were here. Here they are:


Eby - BS 5-0 over the hump at the Autumn Bowl


Eby - BS Pivot to Fakie in Greenpoint, BK


Eby - Blunt Fakie in Green Point, BK


Eby - FS Pivot to Fakie in Green Point, BK

Skatopia Bonus Round

Via Gnarhammered.

While I was on Gnarhammered, I found this video that made me smile and verified that Louie Barletta is my favorite skateboarder. Watch it and get psyched about skateboarding...even if you don't skateboard.

Charles Lamb, Ben Kilpatrick, & Itoshin

48 Blocks just put up interview with NYC's own Charles Lamb. Read the interview here. In addition to the interview, they posted this full part of unseen footage of Charles from NYC and Europe.

Charles Lamb from 48BLOCKS.COM on Vimeo.

While you are at it, check out the new shop the guys at 48 Blocks opened in downtown SF, aptly named DWNTWNSF. They are going to be launching a web store this week, but in the meantime, if you are in SF or visiting SF soon, stop by and say hello...perhaps buy some skate goods. With this addition to the SF skate marketplace, their scene is on lock, alongside FTC and the DLXSF Store.



This is Ben Kilpatrick. He has some proper pop and his backside 5-0s can hang with anyone, but he is most know for his photos. You may have already seen his stuff from when I posted the photos he took of me, if not, go look through his Flickr Stream now. Then you can say you knew of him before he was larger than Atiba.

A couple weeks ago I showed some of the guys from Lesque Skateboards (out of Tokyo) around Brooklyn, starting at the Autumn Bowl, then the Greenpoint barrier, etc. Here are some of the photos on their blog. They even shot a photo of me doing a blunt fakie on the barrier:

This is from their last day, when I was unable to meet up with them but sent them a list of spots and how to get to them. Itoshin, the owner and main pro, was killing it the whole time. They put out a video called Endless Questions and Itoshin had an amazing part. Skating with him, one is to be amazed by his consistency and smooth style. Here is his Endless Questions part.

Eby Ghafarian- FS Pivot Fakie

Eby Ghafarian- FS Pivot Fakie, originally uploaded by BenKphoto.

Here is the second photo Ben took of me yesterday. I went back today to get the footage. Stoked!

Eby Ghafarian- Blunt fakie

Eby Ghafarian- Blunt fakie, originally uploaded by BenKphoto.

I'm back in my hometown of Tallahasse, FL to visit with friends and skate. Ben Kilpatrick is the premiere skate photographer in town and was kind enough to take some photos of me skating today. Here is one.