Patrick O'Dell enlisted the help of some of today's most recognizable skateboarders—John Rattray, Alex Olson, Braydon Szafranski, Andrew Allen, Heath Kirchart, Mike Rusczyk, Chris Pastras, Clint Peterson, Clark Hassler and Kevin "Spanky" Long—to recreate tricks from Matt Hensley's different video parts for the recently released Historics video. In it, the band covers "A Lot Less," the song originally by Sub Society, which Hensley skated to in H-Street's "Hokus Pokus" (3:49). It's a refurbished amalgamation of Hensley's old footage, with his famous cut-off cargo shorts, chain wallet and striped socks.
Although I got into skating just after Hensley officially retired, I can think back to the days when my older brother and every single one of his friends had his kit, fully recreated, right down to the pulled up socks. His influence on skating as a whole and the way skateboarders dressed from the late 80s to the early 90s cannot be forgotten and, in light of this recent video, it's a great way for a band to pay homage, allow older skaters to reminisce and let younger skaters get a look back at what came before them. Take a moment to be inspired (a great retrospective is the montage of parts from Plan B's "Questionable Video").
Mingling with celebrities is not something I often do on a Sunday morning, but that's where I found myself this past Sunday, attending Tony Hawk's annual Stand Up for Skateparks fundraising event at grocery magnate Ron Burkle's Green Acres estate in Beverly Hills, Calif.
For someone who is more taken by old movies or the Magik Markers (over a band like Blink 182), the event was odd.
But all the proceeds from this event, with stars I don't know much about, are going to a good cause — the construction of a skatepark in South Central Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood — and that couldn't make me happy enough. Although the stars that I saw or got to interview — Terry Kennedy, Jon Favreau, Tony Hawk, Tom Green, Fred Durst, Jason Ellis, Michael Rappaport, UFC's Chuck Liddell, P-Rod, Jason Biggs, Eric Estrada, and everyone else who attended — were interesting folks, seeing the kids from Watts who will benefit from the park was the best part. It's an underestimated improvement to a neighborhood that otherwise might not get the support it deserves.
Skateparks keeps kids active. They challenge kids to explore, meet people outside their neighborhood, and see what else is out there for them if they keep making the right decisions. Tony Hawk and everyone who came out to support S.U.F.S. and bid on items being auctioned did brighten the outlook for the future.
After three cold days of skating in the Windy City, Minnesota visitor CJ Tamborino was announced as the overall winner of DC Shoes King of Chicago street contest. Skaters from all over the Midwest congregated at some of Chicago's most famous spots in temperatures that rarely went above 40 degrees over the weekend gunning for a shot at the glory, some cash and the chance to be crowned King. Check out DC's King Of site for video and full results.
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