Gonz's colorful behavior is why he's had such a huge influence in skateboarding (and art as well). His appearance on Epicly Later'd with Hosoi was interesting, but it's a pleasure to hear him talk about skateboarding in this interview on Adidas' website , with his eccentricity turned down a little bit. In an interview with Patrick O'Dell on Slap , for example, O'Dell explained filming an interview for Epicly Later'd in which Gonz would not answer questions, but just move his eyes. Then, he asked O'Dell to add subtitles of what he would be saying.
It's a hilarious idea from one of skateboarding's best and a pioneer of style, but when Gonz takes a moment to give tempered and sincere answers to his time in skateboarding, it makes the hairs stand up on your arms. The movement and the weaponry of it, no matter how cheesy it may sound out of context, is what draws out the kid in us when we step on a board. It's cathartic. It's productive.
The interview on the Adidas site reminded me how important that is and made me go on a hunt for all things Gonz. Here are a few:
1) A Hosoi vs. Gonz video from the 80s-era Ohio skate out
2) This Spike Jonze Nissan Commercial with the Gonz in it
3) Gonz and Dill messing about New York Day 1 , 2 and 3 . Weird and funny stuff.
4) Gonz and McCrank doubles
5) Bunny hop gone wrong.
6) Mark Gonzales in a museum in Germany. Weird.
7) Most well known, his parts in Video Days , Nonfiction, Kicked out of Everywhere, Real to Reel, Krooked Gnar Gnar, Krooked Kronichles and Superchampion fun zone (in no particular order).
Hopefully there's nothing too aggressive in there that bums him out.
Stefan Janoski's shoe just dropped and Nike put on an event at the OG B Street Skatepark in Sacramento. First off, Stefan is THE illest. So as you can imagine, a huge crowd of kids and industry folk alike poured into the park on Saturday. Secondly, there was no admission fee to skate. And since it was raining out, it was definitely the place to be. Thirdly, there was a best trick contest on two obstacles so many a Sacto ripper and Bay Area rider came through to roll.
Nike SB
At the event I was unable to locate Stefan to ask for the semi-awkward blog pic that I needed for this text. I think he might have been lying low so I focused on trying to get some pics of the hectic best trick contest. First up was the pyramid, which was a frightening spectacle. Heavy head-on traffic and an extremely large amount of participants of all levels converged. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any quality photos of the pyramid because overall chaos and the dim lighting didn't allow it. So I gleefully watched the skating not thru a viewfinder for a change. Local park employee and Frontline Skateboards amateur, Andrew Dellas, battled thru and did a nollie backside 360 heel over the entire pyramid making him the undisputed winner.
The second best trick contest took place on the newly built bank-to-wall. This obstacle is rad and it invited the more skilled and transitionally adept riders. Long-time Sacramento skater and former pro, Mako Urabe threw out a few tricks including a front boards and a frontside nosegrind indy grab in. Trevor Morgan turned some heads with his variety of tricks along with Deluxe Artist, Alex Turan. In the end industry guru, Nick Matlin of Beer Run Skateboards rifled off a bunch of tricks and sealed the deal by doing a frontside 180 heel tailslide.
During the announcements of the winners free shoes were tossed out into the crowd. The kids were psyched! After the contest much of the crowd headed down to the after party at Upper Playground. There were some classic photos of Stefan on display shot by Jeff Landi. I found Stefan there and he happily posed for a pic standing next to an old photo of him doing a noseslide in SF, which he was juiced on. All in all it was a fun event and I'm sure many a people not just in Sacramento will be rockin' Stefan's new shoe, I mean seriously who doesn't like Stefan Janoski? He's THE illest.
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