Steve Ortega - the Original Zinger

This is one of my favourite skate photos from an era of massive change in skateboarding.

The other thing I like about it is the word "zinging" - we adopted this term for 360 flips, now commonly known as the tre, but still a Zinger to me. A long time before Zip Zingers etc.

It's Steve Ortega (watch the old H-Street videos if you don't know) "zinging an amazing 360 varial ollie kickflip" - Micki Vuckovich pic - classic Transworld steez. Surprisingly they've called it a varial, which I'm sure technically (and pedantically) is incorrect as we all know a Varial uses hands. Don't we? Remember the Varibots?

It actually looks a bit mob now, but at the time it was the new, unbelievable trick. I've got a feeling this could be the first ever published (street) photo of a tre / Zinger? It was invented / popularized / taken to the streets by Jason Lee and/or Ed Templeton, but I expect Rodney did it first!



Photo credit: Micki Vuckovich, via the Kicktokill.blogspot.com via the Chromeball.

Mikey O'Shea Solo Illustration Show!

Super-talented scrawler Mike O'Shea is having a solo show of his illustrations and art - he's a great artist, marvellous skateboarder and all-round funny guy and "good egg"!

It will definitely be worth checking this show - his pictures are equally well drafted and entertaining - there's always a touch of humour and usually a naughty element! Cheeky!

Hmmm... That poster looks very familiar! That cap and beard collabo, with a pair of "lucky Lakais"!?!?




A VERY HIGHBROW EXHIBITION!

4th - 30th September,
Donuts, 8 Perrry Road, Bristol BS1 5BQ

Click here for more info!

(What's happened to the Highbrow video Mike?)

Witchcraft & Lovenskate Tour

This should be gnarly fun! I'd love to go on a tour like this - reminds me of the old HELL TOURS to Cornwall - touring round from skatepark to skatepark!

The Witchcraft team: Jamie "Aaargh", Sam Roberts and Jake Snelling plus the Lovenskate team: Lucy Adams, Alex Barton, Ewen Bower, Craig "Questions" Scott and Liam Sproat. I'm sure that French, Lovenskate Stu etc will also be shredding, or possibly schralping.

More info here.  (actually... less info there!)

DLH Fun Day 2010, Saturday 31st July

All the details are on the poster. No, the picture is not of Charles Manson, Gary Heidnik or Aleister Crowley.

Nothing meaner than The Deaner...

Cardiff Skatepark 2001-2003

Cardiff's indoor skatepark - footage from 2001 to 2003.

Featuring Sharpy, Cashman, Nicky Cornell and various other Welsh locals, plus visiting Bristol locals, Jason Lunn, Chrissy Will, Jam, Matthew Bailey, Carl Vance, Dixcel, Justin Haggerty, "Barton Hill Bob" (Chris Leng), Wes from Rock Solid, Guff from UK Ramp Hire and myself.


Edited the old footage and uploaded this a week or 2 ago and forgot to stick it on the blog.


The music is by Anhrefn - who I saw support Fugazi YEARS ago. They were bloody good!

Dirty, Gnarly, Rough Old Concrete

Took a trip a couple of weeks ago to check out the 2nd phase of Hereford skatepark with Jam, Wes, Owen Hopkins and Jason Lewer. The young 'uns were both ripping - too much youthful talent!

We were supposed to do a 5 minute stop-off to check out the gnarly old concrete ramp in Oldbury-on-Severn, but everyone seemed to enjoy it so much we probably spent more time there than Hereford.

Jase didn't seem to be put-off by the cracks and total lack of platform on the crusty ramp, BigHoppa was flinging some mad flingers down Hereford's double-set (YO!) and I was super-stoked to add frontside to complete the "Friends of the Shallow End" list.

The video's also on MPORA - click yer!