Color Magazine — July 2012 Archive Blogger Profile

Chris Pfanner and the rest of the Volcom Europe team take Mallorca island by storm.

REAL Skateboards starts off their Summer Pushing series with the team skating through Chicago. Shot in one day with Peter Ramondetta, James Hardy, Ernie Torres, Jake Donnelly, Davis Torgerson, Robbie Brockel, Kyle Walker and Alex Midler. This is the first in a series of videos that REAL will be releasing every Friday which will show team riders returning to their hometowns to push and shred the streets they call home.

The end of Anthony Van Engelen week at Vans has come to an end with a quick look at his top five daily spots.

Josh Stewart's SKATE hits the night time streets of NYC with the Hopps crew, Jahmal Williams, Joel Meinholz and Steve Brandi for a night out on the streets. Aside from some great skating you also get a chance to hear one of the silent warriors of skating, Jahmal William discuss his reasons for making NYC his home. Support Hopps and companies like them, they do it with their heart before their pocket book.

Day four of Anthony Van Engelen week at Vans continues with some seen and unseen images by Vans photographer, Anthony Acosta. In this lengthy post he shows some of his and Anthony's favorite images from their many missions and the photos in between the skating.

FDR, Philadelphia

Burnside (Portland), Leeside (Vancouver) and SixSide (Victoria) are revered destinations for any concrete disciple on a pilgrimage to skater-built parks in the Pacific Northwest. Each of these spots have been created by skaters themselves who've taken a forgotten space and transformed it into a concrete refuge, or asylum, however you look at it.

From coast to coast DIY parks continue to grow and, whether it's a bondoed jersey barrier or massive bowl under a highway overpass, represent skateboarding in its purest form: no rules, do it yourself, and tough-as-fuck. Just being in a redeemed wasteland such as these can be a spiritual experience.

On the East Coast, Philly's FDR has cemented itself as one of the legendary skater-built spots. Not to mention, FDR is playable in the video game Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, as is Burnside in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but really, you haven't experienced any of these places unless you take home a few scabs.

All this to say, there is a special photo book out: FDR Skatepark: A Visual History. The 168-page hardcover photo book features photographs from the park’s 15+ year history with contributions from over 25 international photographers, along with interviews from park locals. This book was conceptualized, written and designed by long time supporters of the park.

The Official book release party is on Thursday, July 19th at 7PM at Exit Skateshop 825 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia. You can also purchase the book online at Amazon.com

AVE week at Vans continues with all of his Alien Workshop ads and some memories of each shared by Mr. Van Egelen. At least the ones he remembers.

This Sunday (July 22) in Vancouver, The Full Flex Express (presented by Blueprint Events) rolls into town for a huge show at the PNE. Not only is Dubstep-darling SKRILLEX headlining, he's bringing acts like DIPLO and GRIMES along for the ride. This circus will have electro-dance madness for your ears and a unique event art installation for your eyes. The best part: We've got 2 PAIRS OF FREE TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY. All you have to do is TWEET AT US TO ENTER:

@COLORMAG Put me on the #FULLFLEXEXPRESS #SKRILLEXpne

On Friday morning, we will select 2 lucky Twitter Followers to receive passes to this awesome event. We will DM the winners, so make sure you FOLLOW US or you can't win!!  Tickets will be available for pick-up at the PNE box office on the day of the event. Take a friend!

About Full Flex Express

"The Full Flex Express concept is inspired by The Festival Express tour that took place along a similar route in 1970 featuring Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, and The Band. An assertion of the camaraderie and like-mindedness of the performers, this tour is less about practicality than it is simply enjoying the ride. When asked about the run of dates, Skrillex said, "We were really inspired when Mumford and Sons and Edward Sharp and those guys did a train tour. We wanted to do it as well and share this music with people across Canada. Just to do it and have fun".

DC Shoes has just announced the release of thier Limited Edition Centric S Kalis shoe collaboration with Flat Spot that features images of Hamilton's iconic Beasley Bowl on the insole, and to celebrate, their having a game of S.K.A.T.E at the Beez on Wednesday night (July 18) with the DC Canada team in attendance (Morgan Smith, Chad Dickson, Josh Clark, Mitch Barrette, Will Marshal, Max Fine and Bobby Dekeyzer). There's $500 in prize money to be had and an after party at Ceilidh House (107 George Street).

Proceeds from the sales of this shoe are going back into the Beasley Bowl Park Renovation Fund, continuing this amazing new trend of companies giving back to skateboard community projects, especially in places that need it as much as Hamilton.

Beasley Bowl was the very first skatepark I ever went to. My best friend's mom drove us. Anyone who has ever been to downtown Hamilton (aka The Big Smoke) understands how sketchy it can be, and as a 14-year-old kid, I was scared shitless. But this place left an indelible impression on me that day and it's pretty much where I solidified my love with skateboarding.

Cop this limited edition shoe for the 'cause and you might as well grab one of these tees while you're at it. Long live Beasley!

Anthony Van Engelen week continues with this insightful and lengthy interview by Chris Nieratko. The transcription of the hour long conversation covers topics on touched on in other interviews, from getting on 23 because of Jason Dill to the filming of Mind Field and his transition off drugs, onto Vans and back to being a skate rat. Read and get stoked!