Randozzi's Blog Blogger Profile

From his films and photography to his creations of wonderful cement, Pontus Alv is a man with talent, vision and a desire to spread the stoke. Running a board company is a business, but Polar Skate Co. is also a vehicle to get people motivated, active and inspired in their own right. He's one of the few European skaters who made it to the U.S. and became a pro and after returning home and skating for Cliché, his drive helped him to create one of skating's best films, Strongest of the Strange [2005]. That film continues to inspire countless others and his current edits for Polar continue this tradition, only now with his own crew: a hand-picked team of talented and creative individuals. As momentum grows and more get inspired, we can't wait to see what Pontus and crew do next.

portrait by Sam Ashley

Follow @polarskateco on instagram

Smile or frown when you think of the overall state of modern skating?
It all depends on which direction you are looking. Right now there are some really cool small brands, scenes and things happening on an underground street level. People are creating their own societies and visions with its own ideas. People are making their own crew/scene videos that are really fresh to see and finally there are a few small brands happening around the world that are getting the support from the streets. I also think skateboarding-wise it is a pretty good time 'cause all kinds of styles, ideas, and expressions are welcome. It is not so strict these days; all forms are accepted: street-skating, hammer-skating, pools, parks and what not.

Then if I look the other direction I see big commercial corporate business that are in skateboarding perhaps for the wrong reasons. I can’t say all of the big business industry things are shit. Some of those brands do cool things to support the scene, but there are a few really horrible things going on out there. This green logo popping up everywhere and what not. But I try to focus on the good shit and the stuff that I am into and just block the rest out.

frontside wallride [ o ] ashley

Do you think companies like Polar have helped remind people that skating is about everyday fun?
I think brand like Polar Skate Co. and people like me are giving people an alternative to the commercial things like Street League etc. In one way those big commercial things are the biggest gift to the underground scene—The bigger they get the bigger we get. 'Cause there are still tons of people out there looking for an alternative and it is just a matter of time before more and more people find out what goes on behind the scenes.

So yeah brands like us keep skateboarding fun and interesting and we are pushing hard for classic raw skateboarding and pushing the culture perspective of things by making rad videos, graphics, artwork and just pushing for the classic terms like "Skate & Create" or "Inspire others to inspire yourself."

It seems that you’ve made an effort to make Polar an international company, adding U.S. and U.K. riders and doing projects in the States and Japan. Why not just keep it a local thing?
Skateboarding is global and our message is important on a global scale. I want to talk to the world and show our ideas and visions to the world. The global commercial takeover is happening everywhere, so we have to give an alternative everywhere. Where ever they go, we go. I just can't see my biggest love—skateboarding—be raped and turned into shit in front of my eyes. I wake up every morning going to the office and busting out culture hammers trying to push our visions out there.... It is a bloody warzone out there and skateboarders needs to stand up for what they believe in and say: NO YOU CAN NOT FUCK ME IN THE ASS. NOT TODAY, HONEY. Of course only if they do not agree with the green logo.

Pontus Alv, fakie flip [ o ] hamnen

Your “career” goes back to the mid-90s and there is that similar aesthetic with the art and videos you produce. What about that time period makes you want to continue that same feeling and vibe?
The biggest time in skateboarding for me is between '87-'94—The golden age and I lived skated through it. It was so inspiring on all levels and so much rad stuff went down during those years. People just started to explore the streets artwork and whatever else. A really creative experimental time in skateboarding. All I do every day is to try to recreate a modern version of that time and pass that culture heritage onto the next generations so we can see some cool rad shit go down in the future whenever we are all old an retired.

one of the amazing cut-outs created by Pontus

Like some of the other companies featured in the "Worldwide Underground" article, your video edits are full-concepts: well edited and not rushed, but they have all been released on the web. When will there be a DVD?
We are working on a small film; a power package. I will realize the promos and the small film on a DVD and with tons of bonus stuff. Perhaps combined with a small art book and little art show premieres. Working on it but nothing until spring summer 2014. To produce interesting skateboarding footage takes time.....

How has Josh Stewart’s Theories of Atlantis distribution impacted the company?
Josh and I are friends and he is on the same page as me when it comes to skateboarding ideas and visions. This just makes it a lot easier to work and do things together. We are still working on getting all the things rolling but it is slowly coming together. Step by step, piece by piece, brick by brick— Rome wasn't built in a day. Do it right: grow slowly and organically.

Polar Skate Co. is distributed in Canada by YT Distribution and available in finer skateshops near you.

Have you heard back from fans of the company and people inspired by your DIY concrete work?
Yes of course. The two videos I made before Polar Skate Co. set the foundation for all of this to start. The videos inspired skaters around the world to get together and create their own scenes. Over the last five years I think I got at least 250 mails from different DIY spots and scenes that got inspired. Then those projects inspire others and others—snowball effect. It was the entire point and message of the videos and it worked and it is the biggest paycheck that you can get. Our group of friends here in Malmö managed to create, document and present a vision/message to the world, and people around the world left their couch and tv and went out on the street and went mad. If I would die, today I would die with a smile.

What projects are coming up next for you and Polar?
The main thing is to focus on the filming and traveling this year. Then just doing the stuff we always do: build rad shit, do artwork and just go mental.

Do you think the stoke has gone out of the industry?
Depends on what direction you are looking. Skateboarding is really up to you; what you wanna make of it each day. So stay positive and look at the good things that are out there. Even if they are small and underground, there are still skaters just doing classic raw skateboarding stuff. The way we remember it and why most of us fell in love with this culture.

Check out Polar and 5 other great indy companies in the current issue of COLOR (11.1)

Order your own copy of this article and issue online and we'll ship it to you!

Geoff Dermer, owner of KITSCH skateboards, has been a staple of Canadian street skating for nearly a decade. Producing quality footage and photos, he always seems to leave you wanting more. Like the others in the Worldwide Underground, he puts his heart, soul and money into what he loves. We could use a lot more like him.

portrait by david christian

What is the idea behind Kitsch when it started over six years ago?
I wanted to travel, skate new spots, meet new people and and work on projects with my friends, and at the same time try to create a brand that would get people stoked on skating.

There are a fair amount of board companies in Canada, what makes Kitsch different?
The one main thing that sets us apart is that, as a team we have not been afraid to use our own money to travel around the world to find spots to skate together. From our first tour as a team to Portugal, to sleeping on floors in Montana, spending a month in China or driving 36 hours to skate ditches in Arizona, all to find new types of spots that don’t exist in Canada in an effort to push our skating further, and to meet skaters in other parts of the world as well.

Stacy Gabriel, frontside bigspin [ o ] delaney

Do you think that smaller brands are more in tune with what skaters dig?
I think every skater is pretty different and I can only guess really, on one hand I believe bigger brands have the money to do different things. They can make way more products that a skater out there in a store might want to buy. As far as watching a companies videos and getting stoked to skate goes though, I think that since smaller brands cant pay their riders very much, if anything, that skaters who skate for smaller brands are more likely to be doing it for the love of it more than for a pay cheque, and you can see the difference in how their skating comes across.

Has it been difficult to get the boards and gear into the US and internationally?
Luckily for us we have had distribution in Japan since our first year thanks to my good friend Watcho at Collage distribution. Anyone reading this who works at a distributor and wants to support a Canadian brand, holler at me!

Sean Macalister, feeble  [ o ] christian

Aside from pure stupidity, why continue on doing something that makes you little to no money?
Some might call it stupid, but Skateboarding has been the love if my life since I was ten years old, before I knew about sponsorship or anything like that, before the idea of making money from it was something I had ever even thought about. I loved the feeling of skating more than anything else then, and it feels even better now, 23 years later. Sure a couple of pros make millions, and parents all know who Tony Hawk is, but to me the act of skating still also goes against the grain of our capitalistic society in a lot of ways. We use our energy to have fun, to use architecture for ourselves in our own creative way, rather than seeing it for what it was intended for, we try to land new tricks for the feeling of it, to contribute to the session, not to make money.

Geoff Dermer, halfcab blunt 360  [ o ] delaney

Does it still stoke you out when you show up at a spot and a randumb kid is skating your board?
Ya its a trip for sure, sometimes I say something like, hey thanks for riding my board bro, but most times I keep quiet and just keep skating.

Has this new wave of small skater run companies helped to inspire what you do?
No, not really. For me it was riding for small skater ran companies when I was younger, remembering how much harder it was for them back then with no intenet or anything, but that they did it anyway, I think that inspires me even more.

What does this year bring for the company? Tours, videos?
Yes, all of the above, and some demos too, I am looking forward to just getting out and being on my board as much as possible.

"Geoff Dermer was the one I was psyched to see the most and he was skating the manny pad in the rain." 
— Matt Berger (from an interview in Color 11.1)

READ MORE ABOUT KITSCH AND OTHER INDY BRANDS DOING IT RIGHT IN "WORLDWIDE UNDERGROUND" (Color 11.1)

Now that PALACE is available in Canada via Supra Distribution, expect to see this suddenly-trending UK brand on groms across the country. In this extended interview from our "Worldwide Underground" article in Color 11.1, Palace owner Lev Tanju spreads some gossip about who on the team is banging Rhianna as well as video evidence of their two newest riders.

Torey Goodall, backside kickflip, [ o ] ashley

Why start a new company in the already cluttered UK skate market?
Why not I guess. I wasn't into anything anyone was doing and I had a lot of free time, so I thought fuck it.

How much of a roll did the PWBC play in the starting of Palace?
Well I was doing the PWBC news and it was getting a good response. I guess I could see some of my mates were not getting looked after as good as they should of been. So in a way I wanted to do it so they could be in a better situation and not riding for people that would fuck them about.

Would you ever move the company to the U.S.?
Dunno really, maybe in the Summer when the weather is sucking balls here. But as soon as it warmed up in London I would be back.

So, did Shawn Powers hump pop-star Rihanna or was that just some rumor?
Yeah, with one of her dancers in a 3-way ting. I think they are dating at the moment.

You mentioned some new additions to the team recently, aside from Mr. Powers whom else is joining Palace?
Loads of cool black people.

Like Benny Fairfax?
Naw, he rides for the new Blueprint. (UPDATE: See video below)

Will he being staying in L.A. or coming back to London?
Dunno. I think Blueprint are looking for more white guys with dreads on there team so he's gotta move to the UK to lose his tan.

Do you do the graphics? If so, do you have a background in graphic design or any of that jazz?
Yeah, I do the board graphics and some of the tees, then my homie Ferg does a lot of the tees. Will Bankhead and Ben Drury do some too.

What is your definition of ‘trill’?
TRUE and REAL

What companies did you follow as a kid?
Alien, Aesthetics, Chocolate, Girl — all the dope ones basically.

Do you think they have influenced Palace?
Naw, not really. I really liked what they where doing though.

Lucien Clarke, nollie flip  [ o ] ashley

Will the Palace full-length come out on DVD?
This year.

While you’ve embraced the Internet with edits from different trips (N.Y.C and L.A.) they are not rushed piecesl there is obvious time and effort put into them. What part does the WWW play for Palace as a young company?
Well it obviously helps, everyone is all over the Internet now days. It also helps to get the footage out while it's fresh. It takes a long time to make real good videos, especially a full-length. So it's always good to drop stuff to keep people hyped. It's cool for us because the video is a London thing. So everywhere we travel goes on the internet, then the bang bang gully gully mashman London gnarly footage has been getting saved for the G-FUNK full-length project.

Read more about PALACE and other great indy companies around the world in "Worldwide Underground" (Color 11.1)

Heroin's newest video, Video Nasty is set to drop soon. I for one can't wait and if this trailer is any indication of Deerman's part, it's going scare your darkest oreo poop white with gnarly barrier domination.

Based around shapely boards and striking graphics, WELCOME skateboards continues to break the rules on what a skate company can be. With nary a popsicle stick in their lineup, these diverse shapes recall an era of money bumps, early grabs, slappies and when everything was new and still golden. A team of friends, they are seekers of fun. The following is a conversation with their leader—The Minister of Majic.

"I will bleed for them and my soul is in every single thing that we are making."

Nolan Johnson, boneless [ o ] yaqubian

What is the Latin phrase that is on the top of every WELCOME board about? ("qui nos opprimere velint, illos libertor devoramus")
I steal a lot from pop culture but what I steal are things that I am feeling deeply at the time, so I will often put my slant on it. That is the correct latin phrase for: "we gladly feast on those who would subdue us," which was in a Adam's Family movie. (It wasn't correct in the movie... gibberish).

Why make a company that only sells shapely boards? There is not a single popsicle stick in your catalog?
Popsicles look kinda stupid and boring to me. I think each time you put a board together it should be a ceremony and something that gets you excited to try it out...not just a monotonous action of just what works for you. We make what we ride and besides if you know about leverage points and how skateboard dimensions work together to make a board ride a certain way they often (always) are more functional that popsicles anyway. I also like how the shapes I make works with my artwork. It all works together to create a magical bond for the rider to exploit.

Do you get pissed when you see other companies following your lead with shaped decks?
Only when they previously had no interest in it before and would have probably made fun of us a year ago for what we like to ride. It doesn’t really matter because from what I have seen thus far they make them crappy with no understanding of functionality.

WELCOME boards are available in Canada via YT Distribution and these shops, but if you're in the Pacific Northwest, head to Federal Way 35th Ave and Dave will hook you up.

The boards are in many shops, how has the response been and how much support from regular skaters have you seen?
Awe-SUM... I am shocked sometimes by who gets into us and supports us. However I think people can feel that I will bleed for them and my soul is in every single thing that we are making. I don't run this like a company, I think of us as a band that needs to pour their hearts out in each record or you will let down your listeners.

Would you ever do a collaboration board with a shop?
Sure, if we had the time… still just me doing everything. I am already spread too thin.

Will there be a WELCOME video and what format would it come out on? 
Yes, with a lot of acting in it too. I want to tell a story. I have no idea how to accomplish this but that is the plan. DVD would be cool but if it means I can't have the music I want (due to copyright) then it will live on the internetz.

While you have a team full of rippers that no one has heard of (aside from Mango’s brief internet fame and Nolan’s "Something Else" in Thrasher), how did the team take shape?
I have skated with Nolan forever and he is one of my all time favourite skaters. With that, everything has come together very organically. I think we have a group of friends who feel the same way I do about how stale and jockish the skateboard industry has become. They are here because they really want to be and not for what we are going to do for them. I don't think any of them care about being "sponccerdz" and I didn't pick any of them because I thought it was going to help us sell skateboards. I just wanted all my favourite skaters to ride for WELCOME and I didn't care if the magazines didn't know who they were. These are the most talented, creative and warm hearted gentlemen (or lady) on the planet. I wouldn't trade a single one of them for anyone on any other brand. I want artists not athletes or stuntmen. Be a god... create something.

The WELCOME team

How do you pass along the stoke to the next generation?
Seems presumptuous to think we are doing anything important for the next generation. You either want constant progression to the point where skateboarding can be quantified and qualified (a sport) or you want it to be about a sub culture of creativity and fun which is the side of the fence we live on. I know if it becomes only about being the best then any non skater can come in and run the industry. It will be easy for them to understand and control. They can't control a fucking thing I am doing because I don't even know what I am doing. I want those to get to know us to either become admirers or our enemies. See I am lifting pop culture again.

As someone who is inspired by past and forefathers, what has been one of the most important things you've learned about skating?
I learned that there is nothing like it on planet. I try to get pragmatic at times and attempt to break down what is so addicting about rolling around on a little toy. But really it's just everything... It's the fun, music, friends, humor, creativity, art, aggression, challenge, erotism, necrophelia, etc.

If money isn't the motivation, what is?
Making a single brand that had all things I wanted from a skateboard company. Nothing less and nothing more.

Do you think board graphics, as a whole have been watered down over the years?
Yeah of course, but there is some cool stuff now from Stefan Naranic. So that makes up for all the bad graphic design garbage that has been the standard.

Is the industry slowly eating itself alive?
One can only hope, but really as long as we can do what we are doing, I don’t care what anyone else is doing.

Get more acquainted with WELCOME and support independent skateboarding by buying up a copy of the new COLOR 11.1

"Worldwide Underground" spread from Color 11.1 (Spring)

GET CAUGHT UP and STAY CONNECTED

In this extended interview from our "Worldwide Underground" article in Color 11.1, Jai Ball breaks down his vision for Studio Skateboards and what it means to be an independent skater-owned company from Canada.

Wade Fyfe, switch crook [ o ] nicholas

Canada has a unique industry with a variety of companies. What about Studio makes it reflect what’s going on with your scene?
I always wanted Studio to visually embody that big city aesthetic I grew up in and loved. Being from Montreal, as kids we were always stoked on NYC, Philly and Washington. Those cities had scenes and a vibe we related to. In terms of the team and skating, it seemed Canada was typically represented a certain way and if you didn't fit that handrail, stair skating mold you weren't gonna go too far. At least that's how I always felt. I wanted Studio to be for the others skaters, the guys who interpret the city they're from with some sort of style and originality, be it Montreal, Vancouver or wherever.

How much of an international response have you gotten and where can people pick up the boards outside of Canada?
When Mood Lighting premiered on SLAP the response was great, Hella Clips too. I don't think there was one bad online comment, that I saw, which is pretty shocking in these days of raging messege board hate. I got emails from kids in Europe and the Czech Republic who were stoked and wanted a copy of the video. Outside of Canada, Supreme will be carrying them in New York and I'm working on the rest! If any International distributors are interested shoot me an email! I'll have a new online store for spring as well.

Grab a couple of these gems in the Studio online store

What companies did you look up to when you were coming up with Studio?
There's definitely some old mid 90s Zoo York in there and its hard to avoid that Alien and Habitat Photosynthesis era as well. We were looking at that end of the spectrum in terms of inspiration.

What are some of the pros and cons of making web only edits vs DVDs?
For web, the pros are: reach, accessibility and cost. Especially for a smaller company looking for as much exposure as possible. I still feel you need to do both for the bigger projects. If you have it in your hands, you watch it more; I've never heard the opposite. The tangible quality of a DVD or Blu Ray in terms of a skater's collection is undeniable. You watch it around your flat screen with a few buds and it's a rad, classic skate experience. DVDs are so cheap to make now too, so kids can buy it in the shop for 10 or 15 bucks, or you can just give them away with magazines or boards. And for smaller promos or ads, online is there for you. The true issue is quality ideas and production and it needs to be there whether it's full lengths, DVDs or web edits.

This no nonsense message from the Studio site says it all.

Has the popularity of other smaller brands helped Studio get into new shops?
I think there's a movement towards DIY companies done by real skaters, and the right shops that know are backing it. Quebec always had a few local brands due to the proximity to manufacturing. When Studio started there were like five brands in Quebec alone. It almost had a negative impact because shops felt like they carried enough local stuff. We had to prove that we were more than just product and then doors opened. Outside of Quebec I definitely related to what Geoff Dermer was doing with Kitsch in Vancouver and we helped motivate each other to keep pushing. Eventually, shops started to mention us in the same sentence and I think that helped.

"Worldwide Underground" from Color 11.1

The Mood Lighting video was something different and a shift from what we’ve normally seen. There is a real timeless feel to it. What made you want to make a film like that instead of following the trends?
I think you should always do what is true to you and feels right, whether it's your skating or your videos. I've always liked old movies from the 70s and skate videos from the 90s. We were filming on a VX1000 and Super 8 camera, so that set a certain tone visually. When it came time to edit the video with my creative partner and editor Jason Auger, I had the songs and an idea of something stripped down that made you wanna go skate. Jason understood exactly what I meant and worked his magic from there. In terms of the trends, it's like anything else, they're just agreed upon by a few people and become the norm. You can always do exactly what you want.

How much should a graphic reflect the rider?
I think you wanna try and reflect the rider whenever you can and a good idea is there. I think its easier to do when you make less boards as well, so I try to take advantage of that as much a possible.

With the move to Vancouver will the company get a more West Coast feel to it?
I find that visually Vancouver has a lot of the same architecture, grit and back alleys that inspired me in Montreal. Most of the team is back east as well, so in terms of the over all feel, it's never gonna change. If I moved to San Diego, then I'd be worried!

Studio Mood Lighting Full Length from Studio Skateboards on Vimeo.

Visit Isaac McKay-Randozzi online at mydumbluck.com

Orchard skate shop in Boston just released their Off Campus Housing capsule project with Antihero Skateboards and artist Dennis McNett.  Boston has a long history as a college town, and this capsule pays tribute to some of the harsh realities of moving out of the nest.

In addition to a collab Orchard x Antihero deck, the capsule comes complete with a "Care package from Mom" including these co-branded life essentials:

• Toilet Paper
• Roach Killer
• Emergency Tighty Whiteys
• Bar of Soap
• Travel Toothbrush
• #2 Pencil
• MOB Griptape

The package comes complete with snacks and assembled in a box packed with love from Mom.
Available for $54.99 including 8.06" board, this limited release of 75 care packages is available only at Orchard and in their online store: http://orchardshop.bigcartel.com/product/orchard-x-antihero-off-campus-housing-package

In celebration of the project, Orchard and Vans hosted an exhibition of Dennis Mcnett's artwork for Antihero in the Extension Gallery at the shop.  Visit www.OrchardShop.com to see photos of the opening which included visits by special guests John Cardiel and Julien Stranger.

Tommy Guerrero aka Street Chicken aka Junk Collector; street skating pioneer, musician, co-founder of Deluxe Distribution, father and graphic designer has been skating for Independent Trucks longer than most of us have been alive and has contributed to skating in more ways than can be counted.

To honor his contributions Indy has released these signature designed Stage 11s.

109s, 149s and 159s (not pictured) are available at your local authorized dealer.

109s.

149s.

Simple yet with depth, each truck pays homage to the founders of the company with their initials, F.V. for Fausto Vitello and E.S. for Eric Swenson.

Check out our studio visit to his office at Krooked from a couple years ago.

Tommy receiving the Legends award at the 15th TWS Awards with intros by friends and contemporaries alike.

Magenta's new full length is coming out in June, with full parts from the entire team in Japan and France with special guests. It's going to be another great one from the boys from Bordeaux. Can't wait!

John Lindsay has a guest artist deck out for Magenta and it's in shops now. I helped John scan the art and he was kind enough to give me one for my wall (and one to skate)! Thanks again John. He's a well traveled and well mannered man with a great wife and a dog named Snoopy. He runs a clothing company, Sleeping Horse and if you haven't checked it out, you should. He screen prints all of the shirts himself. Also check out Magenta's Hill St. Blues 2 for a couple clips of John skating.

A quick clip of John from the first meeting of the Weekend Dougnut Crew in Richmond.

Detail of his collage work.

Made from scrap paper acquired during his trips to Japan and NYC.

Go to your local shop and pick one up today! Or hit up Theories of Atlantis for immediate satisfaction.