Adidas South Africa in Namibia

South Africa's Adidas team toured through Namibia and came back with a super sick video and article in Session Magazine.  Allan Adams is a real standout in this video. He'll be one to watch in the future. 

Anthony Shetler Mostly Skateboarding Podcast #005

Anthony Shetler's podcast has been killing it lately so I figured I should get him on my show to tell his story of growing up in a tough situation and getting out through skateboarding.



In this episode I recommended The Shetler Show and specifically the Aaron Suski, Zered Bassett, and Ryan Gallant episodes. 

Neal Wood For Cardinal

My favorite skater, Neal Wood just out out a short HD part for Cardinal Skateshop in Virginia Beach. Some of this footage is five years old and some is brand new. It all blends together nicely. I know he is holding on to some heavier stuff for Alley Bar and a part in the new video from the Stop Fakin' guys.

Jordan Rodrigues In NBMA

There are not many people who can bigger spin a set of stairs then wallride over the handrail at the same set. Jordan Rodrigues can plus a lot more. Peep him in his NBMA part and listen to how rough the ground is in most of his clips.

Nuno Relogio For Muckefuck

I've never seen any of the spots Nuno Relogio skates in this new clip for Muckefuck Urethane. He crushes the spots pretty hard too. 

Ben Grove In Pusherman

Ben Grove in Pusherman reminds me of both Ethan Fowler and Mike Rusczyk in Art Bars mixed together. He's got one hell of a tweaked kickflip and lots of other rad tricks and rough British spots.

Raphael Aleev in Rock N Roll

Raphael Aleev holds down the San Francisco vibes for his part in Rock N Roll. The part gets progressively better as it goes.

El Sicko

Tim Junga is "El Sicko." Most of the skating in this part is pretty basic but it looks good and there are a few interesting boneless variations to spice it up. 

Chase Norman from Into The WIld

Chase Norman is one of the 757's new breed of rippers. His part from Into The Wild is a banger. Peep it and let me know what that trick is at 0:35 is... 180 nosegrind revert? 270 lipside..?

Black Sheep Trailer

We've been backing Black Sheep for ages. Their newest video looks like it will be awesome. The trailer gives us a good tease of what's to come without leaving us unsatisfied. Via: Recordings Of Boardings.

Jayden De Pina and Lp Nuku In The Dangerous Posse Video

Jayden De Pina and Lp Nuku share a part in The Dangerous Posse Video out of Australia. Via: Manual Magazine.

Norro In Plazamovie

Norro, aka: Sami Miettinen, gets tech on rugged spots that would have your average California pro siting in the van. Peep his part from Plazamovie out of Finland.

Colt Compton Steady Cruisen

There is some seriously wild shit in this new Colt Compton part from Steady Cruisen.

Who Had The Better High Fashion Backpack Ad? Alex Olson or Eli Reed?

It is odd that two giant fashion brands decided to push their leather backpacks with with skateboarding. Alex Olson and Eli Reed both had backpack ads for high fashion brands surface today. Alex Olson skates around LA for Louis Vuitton while Eli Reed hits NYC for Coach. 


Neither backpack looks particularly practical for skateboarding but most skate bags aren't that practical anyway. You gotta have board straps first of all, and some technical straps help a lot when you are actually skating. Maybe add in a sternum strap to stabilize the bag. Waist strap is even better but most people won't use it. The Louis bag does look better, as the Coach bag is just a leather version of the classic Eastpak I had in middle school. Advantage Louis for the actual bag.

El Reed's name rarely gets thrown into the discussion of "Team Handsome" but he is more fashion forward (pants game on fleek) than most skaters and books oddball fashion-meets-skate gigs all the time.  Alex Olson is second only to Dylan Rieder in his fashion-meets-skate credentials. (Sure Ben Nordberg books more fashion gigs but is less relevant in skateboarding.) I'd guess it goes down to personal preference as to which one is more good looking. Coach wins this point for going with the less obvious choice of Eli Reed.

LA vs. New York is a classic rivalry. No where is more "street" than New York but LA is the birthplace of skateboarding. The mid-century house with the Eames chairs and sleek sofas is way cooler than the subway or any other location from Coach's NYC cut. You just get the feeling that Louis put a little more effort into their video than Coach did. Olson has several different outfits, does a voice over, and hits multiple locations that aren't just street level. Any of the decent filmers in skateboarding today could have put that Coach commercial together. Obviously Louis takes the point for production value.

The actual skating is a bit of a letdown but not a surprise from a non-skate production. Most people reading this blog could pull off what both guys did. Probably not as well or as stylish, but you could do it. Louis Vuitton's clip looks closer to a skate clip. Full body shots of the action and slow-mo at the right moments. Coach's filmer seemed to be more interested in Reed's shadow than the man himself. Filming at a skatepark is a big no no in my book so I can't in good conscience give this one to Louis so I'll call it a draw. 

In the end it doesn't matter what skateboarders think because these commercials where not made for us. These two fashion brands are just using skateboarding to sell to the masses like they always have. Props to Alex and Eli for cashing in and probably making more in a few days of shooting than the blue collar pros make in a month. In the end if you need a backpack, get one from Dakine. 

P.S. Coach, it's not a good look to have ads on your ad. 

Particles Periodical One

We've been backing Particles since 2013. It has evolved from a full length video to a series of periodical montages and a website. The first is online now with Bram De Cleen , Fries Taillieu , PJ Claeys, Hans Borg, Timothy Deconynck, Daniil Lavrovksi , Phil Zwijsen, and Axel Cruysberghs.

Templeton Elliott On The Skate To Create Podcast

If you ever wanted to know more about me, you're in luck. I did an interview with the Skate To Create podcast. 

Jordan Bradshaw and Joe Lilley in Assbaby

The Bust Crew continues to pump out clips in their first week of business. This one is Jordan Bradshaw and Joe Lilley in the inbred video, Assbaby. You can buy the full video for just $10 from the Bust Crew.

Charlie Munro In We're Working On

Charlie Munro skates with a short guy power similar to Brandon Westgate and fas a few very stylish maneuvers in his part in the Supertoxic Urethane promo, We're Working On.

Punch Reel

This montage from a crew out of new Jersey has a classic Alien Workshop feel with the music, editing, and spots. Featuring, in order of appearance, Evan Dittig, Travis Cooper, John Cozz, Nick Ferro, Rob Snyder, Justin Helmkamp, Johnny Cumaoglu, Jason Ross, Jacob Jackmauh, Giorgio Villone, Matt Genovese, Nick Lipere, Shawn MacMillan