CAT | Skateboarding
Showing off his skills - new 2S rider Dave Atwood
David Atwood is the newest member of the Two Seasons sponsored skateboard team. Dave is eighteen years old and has been skating for a many years, in that time competing in some pretty impressive competitions and getting some equally impressive results. He placed 5th after being invited to take part in the under 18 Street Jam U.K Board Masters comp a few years ago and has since taken part in local comps such as last months Kingston R.I.P coming 4th due to big names such as Aaron Sweeney and Jezza Jones. Most recently he took 1st place in Crewe at Platform One Skate Plaza and has also placed 1st at Camden Bowl. Nice one Dave!
As for the man himself, what else does he do apart from skate (old-school style) and long board? David says, “I’m really into mechanics and old American cars, and spent most of last year doing up a Classic Chevy. I listen to everything from hip-hop, to metal; anything with a decent bass line really. I used to be in a band, now I just enjoy the occasional jamming session with a few mates.”
Interesting Dave Atwood facts:
- Set up of choice: Element deck (any thats 8 – 8.25), Indy Trucks, Element Tim Tim Wheels, Reds Bearings and for grip it’s got to be true grip.
- Fave skate spot: Seven set with rail, Hubba Edge
- Local spot: LOCALS ONLY!!
- Tunes: Styles of Beyond – Second 2 None, A Day to Remember – Downfall of us All & You Should of Killed Me
- Food: Ben & Jerrys, Cookies, Monster Drink (hint)
- Movies: Pinapple Express, Jay & Silent Bob, Finding Nemo
Dave can be found in the Two Seasons Kingston store so go in and see him if you need some help choosing your next deck and take note of his expert advice and general skate knowledge!
skate · Skate fashion · skateboard · Skateboarding · skateboards skate
25
Kick Flip like Element’s Mark Appleyard!
No comments · Posted by Lauren in Element, Skateboarding
As we mentioned last week, Mark Appleyard has joined forces with Element after feeling that it was time to move on from his long term sponsors Flip. Different sponsor, the same (if not more) tricks in the bag, Appleyard is the King of kick-flips and he has one of the most stand out styles in the skateboard world. Here he is showing us all how to do it!
15
Etnies, éS and Emerica Sponsor the Nando’s xPERimental Skate Jams
No comments · Posted by Lauren in Skateboarding
Nandos xPERimental Skate Jam
Etnies, éS and Emerica have joined forces with Nando’s the PERi-PERi Chicken pioneer, to bring back the hugely-popular xPERimental Skate Jam for a fourth year. Visiting the country’s top skate parks in Manchester, Leicester and London, the event provides kids with an opportunity to try new skills and encourages an active lifestyle.
For the first time, families can bring their kids for free lessons with our team of skating experts, teaching the basics about the sport, whilst the more experienced riders can improve board skills with some of the UK’s top professionals. Nando’s famous PERi-PERi chicken BBQ will also be keeping everyone fuelled throughout the day.
The sound track to the Skate Jams will be provided by some of the UK’s best up and coming DJs. Example will be supplying the music at Manchester, fresh from his top-5 hit ‘Kickstarts.’
To add further spice to the day; two-times Urban Games champion etnies rider Rodney Clarke and recent éS team member John Tanner will be at hand to perform some gravity-defying demos and share their top tips – perfect to help prepare for the best trick and mini-ramp competitions that are open to all.
As ever, to encourage participation in skateboarding after the event, all attendees will be given a chance to take home some great giveaways including t-shirts, trainers and skateboard decks.
Tickets for the Nando’s xPERimental Skate Jam are available on the door at each venue on the day of the event at a cost of £6 per person:
- Saturday 18 September – Central Skate Park, Manchester
- Saturday 25 September – The Boardroom, Leicester
- Saturday 2 October – BaySixty6, London
For more information visit: http://www.nandosxperimental.co.uk/
Competition · skate · skate shoes · Skateboarding · skateboards
Some of you may have seen this posted on various news sites over the last few months; It’s a collection of long exposure photographs taken by a guy called Ben Matthews (originally from Glasgow, now based in Surrey). It’s great to see a different perspective on something used for such a different purpose during the day, and considering Ben’s a dentist in his day job, it’s probably a departure from his normal line of work too!
No tags
The boys over at Element have just dropped a new European video called get busy living and in celebration of this, Element created a limited stock of 100 Get Busy Living decks.
You can be within a chance to win one with this competition, element will be giving away 5 prize packs witch will have a ltd ‘Get Busy Living’ deck signed by the Element euro team and a limited edition t-shirt as well.
To enter simply go to the Element Europe Competition page HERE
The competition closes on the 30th of July and is only available to European residents!
Good luck!
deck · Element · skate · skate board · Skateboarding
Skate parks in the UK from old skool bowls to new plaza’s,
Mohawks to chrome domes, skin tight jeans and baggy selects.
& now in no particular order i present to you a run down of the top parks in the uk , (in my humble opinion)
Bay 66
situated in london under a main road, stacked full with mini ramps, vert,quater pipes, fun boxes, blocks and rails with a brailliant street course that changes with the times and has been around many years now previously called playstation skate park.
X-site
This skatepark is part of the new generation of concrete plaza skate parks as well as keeping an indoor wooden built transition park too. so there is something for everyone, hopefuly more parks like these will pop up.
Livingston
Hailing from the north, livingston in scotland is deffinatley one of the gnarlyest parks. ‘Livi’ as many og the locals call it, has seen many blood spills over the years and is still standing strong. A legendary park although a bit rougharound the edges.
The House
The House Skate park has been around since 1998 in Sheffield in a 10,500 sq ft warehouse so there’s enough room to swing a cat. and pop a few tricks and has great layout too!
The Works
Probably one of the smoothest and well layed out parks. Wood throughout and many obstacles all over in different shapes and sizes.
Harrow has been on of the uk longest running skate parks built back in the 70’s, its a key hole bowl with a snake run through out. Threatened with closure over the years but mannaged to fight it back everytime. Who knows how long this classic park will last, but is worth the effort to go to.
Adrenaline Alley
One of the uks most advance in door skate parks, fitted out to the max with chill rooms, a grom room for beginers. And an impressive street section, and last but not least the resi vert.
Stoke plaza is one of these new generation skate parks, i dont really have to say much just feast your eyes upon this concrete marvel, a nice mix of transition stairs rails and ledges deffinatly worth the trip to stoke for.
Manchester
Central skate park 10,000 square ft of skateable objects, a good mix up of things to skate. They’ve made good use of the space they have and boasts itself as the only indoor park in manchester.
Creation skatepark
Creation took over from where epic left, epic had seen better days and was a bit run down , a chairty now run the park and had given a lot of time and money to ensure the parks safer and better then before.
So there ya go a short run down of the top ten skate parks and a rough overview, big shout to any one I’ve missed out !, and to ones that should have made the list but have unfortunantly closed over the years, Radlands & Bolton bones..
deck · park · skate · skateboard
Shuv it
This trick involves rotating the board 180 degrees whilst your body does not rotate. There two variations of the trick front size and back side. The only different being the rotation. Some people prefer one over the other.
First things first as with every trick you should learn it rolling it’s easier and flows better, you want to keep your weight central, to far either way and this throws the rotation of the board.
Your foot position should have your back foot in the concave of the tail towards the way you want to rotate the board either front side or back side.
embedded by Embedded Video
This should be a scooping motion, whilst performing this scoop you’ll want to jump with the board making sure you front foot doesn’t stop the rotation but guides the board round this will stop the board from flipping which is a natural reaction of the scoop.
It will take a bit of trial and error you might find the board is not rotating enough, so give it more pop and make sure that front foot isn’t stopping the rotation. Also the board flipping whilst rotating can become a problem keep the front foot a bit lower so it just brushes the surface as you catch it for the land. Your shins will probably take a beating for a while to you got the trick under your belt & It will take a bit of practise.
pop · shuv it · skate · Skateboarding
An Interesting new magazine from the Capital.
Packed with brilliant photos articles and interviews straight off the streets of london.
The author aims to showcase london skate scene, with the likes of nick jensen and chewy channon and ’snowy’ in the first copy it looks like there on the right tracks.
now for the bit that will probably apeal to skaters out there with holes in ya pockets , its free, and viewable online ,so check it now Grey
No tags
Keenan Milton and Gino Ianucci,
embedded by Embedded Video
Amazing footage from 1996: girl skateboards video Mouse, Keenan (Rip) and Gino, show nothing less of pure style, they have paved the way for many skateboarders nowadays.
embedded by Embedded Video
The kick flip combines the Ollie with the skateboard doing a barrel roll. The kick flip is a gateway trick to flip tricks in general.
When learning the kick flip you should have the Ollie under your belt and should be consistent. Good centre balance on your board & if you have some other basics such as the shuv- it will make it easier to learn new tricks.
Learning tricks should always be done moving if you cant stomach moving tricks its probably bad balance so spend more time cruising, lets face it your going to have to do it rolling one day so take a few slams grit your teeth & get on with it you should Keep your shoulders parallel with the board at all times to avoid the front foot going walk about and turning in the air will prevent you from making the land.
Feet positioning is important through out skateboarding , so ill run you through the kick flip .Your front foot should be at a 45 degree angle just under the front bolts basically that’s the most important point, the back foot should be set-up similar the Ollie.
Pop the board hard(with time you’ll develop muscles and it will be come easier) and as with the Ollie you’ll start dragging your foot up the board but to get the flip you’ll need to flick your foot up and off towards the dip in the concave on the heel side towards the nose. This will take a bit of practice to get the feel and at first your board will be all over the place.
Once you’ve got the hang of the flip you’ve got to land it ,firstly keep your feet clear of the board and allowing it to flip you will need to retract your front foot and watch the rotation of the board and your back foot should be compressed slightly to avoid any contact with the board, watch the flip and as the grip side come back around you will need to catch the board with your feet, this will take a fair bit of practice, sore feet and blood and sweat but is worth it in the end, once you’ve got the catch as with everything trick you’ll need to compress your legs to take the impact in slightly and this helps your balance too. Keep it cool and ride away.
flip · kick · kickflip · skate · skateboard · Skateboarding
