bl!sss magazine | july 2013 | #71

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R V C A . C O M

U N T I T L E D B Y M I C H E L L E B L A D E , 2 0 1 3 . A C R Y L I C I N K . P O R T R A I T B Y K E N N E T H C A P P E L L O .

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Disclaimer: Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on a monthly basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to Blisss right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressedinthismagazinereecttheopinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Blisss Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter which mayreectnegativelyontheintegrityof the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior written consent from the publisher.

If your favorite shop isnt receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact [email protected]

JULY 2013

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFnick [email protected]

EDITORjoey [email protected]

CREATIVE DIRECTORmark paul deren : [email protected]

ASSISTANT EDITORspencer [email protected]

EDITOR AT LARGEliz rice [email protected]

SKATE EDITORchris [email protected]

SNOW EDITORjon [email protected]

MUSIC EDITORmax [email protected]

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSJason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson, Derek Bahn

CONTRIBUTORSMatt Patterson, Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Spencer Pirdy, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon

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T H E D A Y T O NR ick McCrank Through The Eyes of Benji Wagner

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Without a doubt, shoes are a challenging feat to master, no pun intended. But when Volcom unveiled their new footwear line to us we were blown away. The shoes themselves are unlike the majority of other foot brands out there and carry withthemdistinctivelyneVolcomtaste.Builtinawiderangeofstylesandcolors,and for both men and women, Volcom footwear offers your feet multiple avenues of expressing themselves. Be it the relaxed slip-on look, the newly fashioned boot look,hightopsoryourstandardpairoflow-topsneakers,Volcomwilldeckyouout.FootweariskeyandnowVolcomhastheperfecttforyourfeetnomatterwhatyou have in mind. Check them out in a store near you or at footwear.volcom.com.

Blindsnewestfull-lengthlmDamn isfreshlyoutandyingofftheshelvesaswespeak.Thelmwasproducedand directed by Mike Manzoori and Bill Weiss, featuring over two years of banger clips captured on location in LA, Barcelona, Toronto, France, Texas, North Carolina, Amsterdam, Brazil and Sacramento. Ronnie Creager, Kevin Romar, Sewa, Filipe Ortiz, Morgan Smith, TJ Rogers, Cody Mcentire and Yuri are just a few of the all-star cast members involved that youll witness sticking unthinkable tricks. Its a sign of where skateboarding is headed, and DamnisaickthatyoullalwayswantinyourDVDlibrary.So,headovertoyourlocal skate shop or to blindskateboards.com to own this instant classic.

Nixon is always thinking ahead, and this time theyre parlaying into the world of mobile speakers. Luckily for us, theyve hit the ball out of the park and created The Blaster. The Blaster is a lightweight, mobile bluetooth speaker with moisture and shock-resistant construction, made for people who live an active, on-the-go lifestyle. The Blaster is perfect for bringing big sound to the beach, snow, or skate park all without wires or strings attached. Its a simple, high-quality speaker thatll follow you wherever the journey takes you. The Blaster is something well all be bringing with us wherever we go, and we suggest you do thesame.LookfortheBlasteratallneretailersorvisitnixonnow.com.

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Electric has recently announced that the Stopnick brothers will be waving theaginandoutofthewaterasesteemedbrandambassadors.Scotty and Turkey are known to encompass all that is California surf culture and then some. They tackle all that is surf, skate, music and motorcycle and do it with a distinctive style that many attempt to mimic. Yet, there is only one Turkey and one Scotty, and the Electric crew sure is pleased to have them aboard. Expect to see plenty of eye-popping edits, collaborations and other nifty notables soon from Electric and the Stopnicks. Keep in the know at electricvisual.com.

STOPNICKS X ELECTRIC

NIXON BLASTER

VOLCOM FOOTWEARBLINDS DAMN

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CHANT BLUETOOTHSPEAKER Simple and portable come to mind

when we think of the House of Marleys Chant portable Bluetooth speaker. The speaker easily travels with you to deliver your favorite tunes when and wherever you want them. It works with your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, as well as hundreds of other Bluetooth-enabled devices wirelessly. And not to worry, if your audio device doesnt have Bluetooth technology, you can still plug it in just as you would with any other normal speaker. All Marley products are earth-friendly and engineered to perform, plus a portion of sales go to helping those in need. Superior quality, eco-friendly, with a great cause behind it is something we all here at BL!SSSaredenitelybacking.VisittheApple store or anywhere House of Marley products are sold to purchase the Chant today.

We love hearing stories from our dear friend and BL!SSS supporter Reef McIntosh.Hewasjustintheofcetalkingstoryabouthislastrun-inwith the recent mega swell at Teahupoo. Unfortunately, he injured himself during the monstrous swell and has been spending way too many hours in Orange County with Dr. G. and is swiftly on the road to recovery. Anyway, he was kind enough to drop off a few bottles of Karma Tequila, which his wife Jessica is repping, and weve been sipping Karmaritas just about every afternoon since the delivery. Man is this stuff delicious, smooth as can be and gets us to that happy place. Everyone deserves a little good Karma every now and again!

RVCA just came out with a snazzy new pair of trunks that arent just fashionable but eco-friendly, comfy and durable forsurngaswell.TheyvebecomeMakua Rothmans go-to board short and they go by the name of the Ekocycle Civil. The Ekocycle Civil trunks are 91% post-consumer recycled polyester and 9% spandex, forming the ultimate four-way performance stretch board short. This board short is a must have for summer, and youll be feeling even better aboutyourselfknowingthatapproximatelyve20oz.bottleswere used in making each pair. Less bottles on land equals a cleaner world, and thats why you should head to the store today to pick up the Ekocycle Civil or visit rvca.com.

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Collaborative minds are joining forces with the legendary Teddy Monney (a.k.a. T$) and Tim Roberto of DWNTWN to launch The Finer Things. The duo came together with an idea to produce fun, classy accessories for every human being. With stylie socks for your hoofs and fresh hats for your dome, keep an eye out forTheFinerThingsatnerretailersanddirectatthenerthingusa.com.

THE FINER THINGS

KARMA TEQUILA

RVCA EKOCYCLE CIVIL

Inspired by the timeless look and feel of high-quality boots, Comune has ventured into therealmofproducingapairoftheirownruggedlyrenedmansshoe.Whattheycameup with was the Reed Boot, a polished, all-purpose boot that would make James Dean blush.Weretalkingneleather,subtleaccentsandexceptionalcraftsmanship.Theyput the Reed through the ultimate test drive in the streets and back alleys of south Los Angeles. In the end, the streets bowed to the Reed as it strolled off into the sunset. Basically, the Reed is one badass boot and we are anticipating its in-store release in the fall. To keep up to date on the status of the Reed and all other Comune news, head to thecomune.com.

COMUNES REED BOOT

randoms

RAEN X POLERRaen Optics just announced a collaboration with friends, Poler Stuff, an outdoor lifestyle brandthatofferscampingessentialsandadventureequipment.Anaturaltforatimelesscollaboration, RAEN and Poler Stuff share a keen eye for design sensibility and an adventure-bearingconsumer.ThecollaborationhasbroughtthreenewnishestosomeofRaensmostsolid styles. Featuring polished black and grey crystal acetate with a unique metal logo applique, these frames are sure to draw in anyone with vision. To top it off, the RAEN x Poler Stuff collaboration boasts Optics by Carl Zeiss polarized lenses. If this all isnt enough to make you crave these shades, then youre truly doing your eyes a disservice. Check your local retailer and raenoptics.com for more of their Poler Stuff collaboration.

Freestyle would like to welcome you to the Velcro Apocalypse, otherwise known as the return of the Shark Leash. This is a replicaoftheoriginalVelcroband that ignited Freestyle Watchesinthelate80sand theyve brought it back better than ever. The shark leashs velcro closure system ismodeledafteran80sstyle surfboard leash, and it is ready to get radical all day and all night. The Shark Leash comes stocked standard with digital features like time, date, stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm and night vision backlight thatrevealsthesharknlogo.LikeallFreestyle Watches, The Shark Leash is waterresistantto100metersandbackedbyalimitedlifetimewarranty.CheckforthisVelcrothrowback and all other Freestyle Watches at your local shop and online at freestyleusa.com.

Jonathon and the crew over at Latitude Supply Co. have been pumping out some fresh,eye-catchingattirelately.Theysentusoveracoupleofitemstotryout,therstbeing their Boathouse Trunks. These bad boys have an eye toward quality and class from the minutest detail up and carry LSCs signature style. They take great pride in their trunks and youll be able to feel and see the difference. The other item they sent us was the ever-dapper Bayclub Blazer. This blazer is full of insouciant charm, self-condence,andgoodbreeding.Usethisasyourgo-toforabignightoutoracasualgettogether.Wehighlysuggestyougetyourhandsonsomeofthesenelycraftedclothes. For more info on Latitude Supply Co., go to latitudesupplyco.com.

Longtime BL!SSS contributor and dear friend Tawnya Shultz teamed up with Brian Allen and illustrator Jennifer Jeffries Ryan to release theirrstkidssnowboardingbooknamedSammy The Shredder. The rstinstallmenthasSammywakinguptobluebirdskies,freshpowderand learning from his big brother how to snowboard. It goes through the basicsofrst-timesnowboardingandevenhasasnowslangdenitionforyoungsters to understand whats going down on the mountain. Theyre not stopping with Sammy The Shredder either, as there are already plans for Alley The Gator who shreds on a skateboard. Well keep ya posted.

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Theres now a way to set your iPhone photos apart from others as far as crisp quality and unmatched attention to detail goes. Thanks to the minds at Olloclip, the possibilities are now endless when it comes to the capabilities of your iPhone camera. Olloclip is a quick connect lens that gives you three lenses in one. In a matter of seconds you can attach the lens and choose from sheye, wide-angle or macro, depending upon the image youre trying to capture. Olloclip works with all ofyourfavoriteappsandcomeswithamicrobercarrycasethat doubles as a lens cleaner. The Olloclip is hands down one of the most convenient, user-friendly products weve come across in a long time, and they even have a Quick-Flip case and Pro-Photo Adapter available to easily turn your iPhone 5, 4 or 4S into your own professional photo studio. Make sure to check these guys out at olloclip.com, and grab your own personal Olloclip for next-level photography today.

OLLOCLIP

SHARK LEASH

SAMMY THE SHREDDER

LATITUDE DIGS

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Theres a new tee shirt company on the block thats making all types of waves in and around the party scene. If youve been out and about you may have noticed the Party Weirdo gettin weird at some of the same parties as you. The lovechild of Mike De La Vegas and Albert Sameth, theres no mistaking the X-ed eyes of the smiling character that symbolizes simple enjoyment in the face of tough economic times, war and global uncertainty. And dont forget, wheres a party, theres a weirdo.

PARTY WEIRDO

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Sick Dope is a concept our pal Joe Frizelle has had in the works for quite a while now. You may have seen stickers, artwork or other whispersofSickDopeoatingaroundtown.SickDopetranscendssurfculture and the enjoyable lifestyle that it goes hand-in-hand with. To our enjoyment, Joe recently came out with Sick Dope koozies that allow you to keep your party beverage ice cold, and, at the same time, add some extra laughs to the situation. We have to admit the koozies are pretty classic, with funny taglines thatll let you claim or subtly call out anyone youd like. So far these koozies are being sold at select surf shops and liquor stores in Newport. Be sure to keep an eye out for these party time enhancers so that you can wrap them around your nextcoldbrew.Visitsickdope.comformoreinfo.

Our pal Blake Peters, founder and shaper of Panda Surfboards, is quickly setting himself apart from the rest of the pack with interesting new designs that are proving themselves in the water. Blake sent us a couple of boards to checkoutforourselves.Therstwasaweirdandfunlittlecreature called the Doinker. The board kills it in the small stuffandwillgetyouupandyingfasterthananyotherboardin your quiver. The other board we were intrigued by was Ford Archbolds signature model the Synthetic Sally. Ford likes to ride his boards short, fat and a little different from everyone elses boards, and it shows in this design. The board comes withalowbeveledrail,atdeckandbeakednosemakingitjust as unique and enjoyable as Ford himself. To order a board from Blake or to check out more Panda models, head over to pandasurfboards.com.

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Our good friend Jason Kenworthy turned us onto quite possibly the best wax weve ever had the pleasure of putting our feet on, Sticky Bumps Munkey Wax. Now, Sticky Bumps has long been regarded as one of the premiere wax makers in the world, but the latest wax theyve been dishing out is simply mind blowing. Munkey Wax will keep you planted in the most critical of situations, but it doesnt overdue it with an ultra-gummy feel thats over the top. The wax smells heavenly, as all wax should, and comes in a wide variety of water temps, allowing you to utilize this wax on domesticsurfsorondreamtripsabroad.Visityourlocalshop or go to stickybumps.com for this magic Munkey Wax and more.

STICKY BUMPS MUNKEY WAX

SICK DOPE KOOZIES

PANDA

Hex has enlisted in the help of one of New Yorks original street artists Eric Haze for a new collaboration that just came out. The collaboration represents a balance between art, design and product that Haze has been striving toward in the past few years. Hexs sophisticated line goes well with Hazes applied pattern work and geometry. The Haze artwork is on a wide array of Hexs bags, cases and backpacks. Basically, the already superior bags and accessories that Hex puts out just got even more irresistible with Hazes badass work on all of them. Purchase a piece from the Haze X Hex collaboration at your local retailer or by visiting shophex.com.

HEX X HAZE

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SMITH LOWDOWNSmith Optics just came out with the Lowdown, a shade that has instantly become a favorite sunglass of ours for multiple reasons. Lets start with the frame itself, which has a simple, retro look with modern accents. Then, theres the high quality of the lenses, which are offered in a polarized option and are what we recommend for optimum vision in any conditions. The shade uses Smiths patented Evolve material, which creates an ultra-high comfortlevel.TheLowdowncomesinvediversecolorwaysandisatthetopofourlistofmust-haves for summertime accessories, so make sure to visit smithoptics.com or your local retailer to snag a pair.

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THE FORMULAFEATURING DAVE BACHINSKY august 2013

PRESENTS

C O S TA M E S A , C A

Will you please introduce yourself to our readers a little synopsis if you will My name is Bo Bushnell and I co-created/co-directed/executive produced The Art of Punk. I produce television shows, documentaries, and Web series. Most recently I produced the feature documentary Heart of theKingthatsnowonNetix,and The Ben Baller show with Ben Silverman/Electus for their premium YouTube channel Loud.This is my directorial debut, which was a lot to take on.

You are one of the creators of The Art of Punk. How did you get involved with the show/documentary?The Art of Punk is a series of documentaries for the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Arts premium YouTube channel MOCAtv (YouTube.com/MOCAtv). The series documents and dissects the art and artists behind Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and Crass. Our goal was to focus on the artandhowithasinuencedthe world, rather than get into the band politics. I think we succeeded at that.

Black Flag (Raymond Pettibon), The Dead Kennedys (Winston Smith), and Crass (Dave King) are a few of the bands and artists featured in The Art of Punk

series. Who are some other band members and notable artists that you feature in the show?The Black Flag episode features Raymond Pettibon, Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Henry Rollins and Flea. The Crass episode featuresDaveKing,GeeVaucher,Penny Rimbaud, Owen Thornton, andtattoo/neartistsScottCampbell. The Dead Kennedys episode features Winston Smith, Jello Biafra, Steve Olson, and artist Tim Biskup.

Howmanyhoursoflming

and editing did it take to compiletherstepisode?

Therstepisode(BlackFlag)took almost a year to complete. Weprobablyshot15-20hoursofinterviews for it, which we had to cut down to 22 minutes. It was extremely tough to edit down because the band has so much history and so many stories to tell. It took a year because of availability of Rollins, Flea, and Pettibon.IewtoNYCwithmypartner Bryan Ray Turcotte, with noofcialinterviewlockedinwith Pettibon. We went back and forth with him for months. He would say, Yes, Im available, lets do it, and then hed disappear. Hes very busy. We were in Brooklyn interviewing Scott Campbell, and Pettibon called Bryan to say he was ready to be interviewed. Scott Campbell looked at us and said,

Go! If you dont go now, youll never get him. We spent two hours with Raymond in his SOHO studio. He drew the Black Flag barsforusforthersttimeinabout25to30years,whichwasepic. We then drank gin with him and played baseball for an hour. He has a pitching machine set up on one side of his studio and two trashcansattheotherendlledwith1930sbaseballbats.Iwillnever forget that night.

Out of all the The Art of Punk documentaries, which do you connect/relate to and enjoy most and why? I really like the Black Flag episode because thats who I listened to growing up. They left such a mark on the world and have such an amazing story. All of the interviewees were so supportive, nice, and intelligent. It was probably one of the most memorable times of my life.

When you are not making lmsaboutlegendswhatare

you doing?Obsessing over anything and everything counter culture/sub-culture related. Im really into the history of motorcycle clubs, gangs, secret societies, and low-rider clubs/art. I also take photos and am doing a show with Amanda Demme and Estevan Oriol later this year.

How did you get linked up

with MOCAtv?My partner Bryan Ray Turcotte brought me onto the project. He wrote and published the book Fucked Up + Photocopied, which soldover100,000copiesandwon multiple awards. He also has the largest collection of US punk rock art and ephemera. MOCAtv approached him because people kept telling them about Bryan and his collection. I was the only person he trusted to do it with him. I give Bryan all of the credit for The Art of Punk. Without him, it would not have happened. Bryan is the nicest and most generous person I know. Emma Reeves and John Toba at MOCAtv have been so incredibly supportive and have given us way more time on this project than we probably deserved.

When does The Art of Punk premiere?The Art of Punk premiered on MOCAtv (YouTube.com/MOCAtv) on June 11th, starting with Black Flag. Crass was released on June 18th, and Dead Kennedys premiered on June 25th.

Any last words?I just want to thank Bryan Turcotte, Emma Reeves, John Toba, and everyone at MOCAtv for allowing me to be part of this incredible project. It truly was life changing.

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Interview: Liz Rice McCray :: Photo: Bo Bushnell

FREESTYLEUSA.COM

VELCRO BAND COUNTDOWN TIMER WATER RESISTANCE

100 MVB VELCRO BAND

Amidst the maelstrom of death-defying waves at Teahupoo in mid-May, no one surfer experienced a dichotomy of extreme emotions quite like the young Koa Rothman. As you know, Koa rode a wave that has been dubbed by many as the new millennium wave. The wave basically bitch slapped every other wave that came in that swell. Koas partner in crime Eli Olson was there charging alongside and bore witness to the horror and astonishment of Koas feat rsthand.Below,thetworecounttheir life-changing trip.

Tell me what it was like plotting that trip?Koa: Yeah, there were a few of us that got together. It was me, Eli, Nathan and Ivan Florence, and John was going to go too but he was still rehabbing the ankle.Eli: Yeah, John was trying to get the green light from the doctor so he could go, but last minute he couldnt.

Koa: I actually just barely got to because I had a broken collarbone. Thatwasmyrstrealsessionback.Eli: We just knew from the swell models that this one was going to be really huge.

Koa: Yeah, remember I was saying that was the biggest one Id ever seen on the maps?Eli: Yeah.

What were your expectations like?Eli:Weweredenitelythinkingwewere going to get some bombs, but we werent expecting something that big and gnarly.

What was the dynamic like out in the lineup with all of the skis and carnage going on?Koa: People were just getting hurt.Eli: I saw some pretty sketchy guys out there. It was kind of like a paddle pack, but with everyone all on skis and guys were jockeying for position and getting really aggressive. Youve got to watch everyones ropes and stuff.

Wasittherstsessionwhen

Makua got hurt?

Koa:Wesurfedtherstdayandthesecond day was getting big and we started off paddling. Makua caught like three waves and I caught two. Then, Pete Mel came up to me on the ski and was like, Hey your brother just hit his face and theyre taking him to the hospital. You want to go? And I was like, Yeah, take me in. I got to the beach and stole Russos car, went to the close emergency room and Makua was just sitting there with a napkin holding his chin together. They were sending him to another hospital because they couldnt do anything for him there.

As a concerned younger brother what were your thoughts?Koa: I was thinking that my trip was over and I needed to help him, and he was catching a taxi to the other hospital. So, I told him that Id go with him, but this was right when the waves were getting big and Makuas like, No, just go surf and get one for me. So, I went back and got a ride out on my ski with my tow stuff. Laird asked me if I wanted to tow and I caught like four waves and then I caught that bigger one. I pretty much came in and went straight in to check on Makua in the hospital.

What were you doing at that point, Eli?Eli: We all didnt really know how bad Makuas injury was, but when he didnt come out we all realized that it mustve been pretty heavy. Nathan and I were getting our tow stuff ready and it was just a mix of emotions of adrenaline and concern.

Whats it like getting whipped into a wave at Chopes? Eli: Once you let go, youre going. It could be a ten-footer or could be like Koas wave. They all look kind of thesamewhenyouregoing.Myrstwave ever towing, Garret whipped me in and I was so psyched from watching Koa so I told Garret that I wanted a bomb. Then, I realized, oh shit maybe I shouldnt have told Garret Mcnamara that I wanted a bomb. Garret whipped me in deep inside of everybody, and right when I let go I knew I was too deep and Ifront-ippedoverthefalls.Iwas

tripping.Koa: You get this feeling when youre towing in and you come down over the ledge and youre trying to set this line and then see this thing building in frontofyou.Itdenitelydependsonyour driver out there.

Eli: Yeah, Laird proved how good he is on the ski with Koas wave.

Take me through Koas bomb.Eli: Laird had already whipped Koa into a few. As soon as that bomb came Laird was driving out while that wave was coming, and Laird turned andhadprobably10secondsofsetup time.Koa: Yeah, I dont even remember what happened.

Eli: Laird was just screaming at the top of his lungs, Im going! And they were the furthest ones in towards the channel. He was yelling to Koa, Youre going! And from there you have no other option.Koa: Laird was like, You better fucking go! This is your wave!

Eli: I was on the boat watching and I knew it was huge and everyone was screaming. The wave kept on going and the wave ate him towards the end. Everyone was cheering and stuff but I was watching because its basically my brother in there and he didnt kick out. No one was paying attention and I was whistling for Laird and luckily he was the one who went in after him. They found him in the lagoon.

What was the experience like for you Koa?Koa: I didnt know how big it was until I saw the photo. I knew it was big, but then when I knew it was bigger than most of the waves Ive ever caught was when I was sliding on my back looking out of the barrel andupthelip.TheSurinevideomakes it seem like that was the whole wave, but after I go out of view is when the wave really threw. I didnt make it and it sucked me up and made me feel like I was freefallingfor30seconds.Itwassoviolent and gnarly. Underwater I was just holding onto my vest because it

was shaking me so violently and it was my collarbone that I was worried about. It wasnt healed all the way at that point. I came up and I thought I was going to be over in a bad place at the right so I just started scratching to get out of there. Then, I realized I was in the channel staring at the channel marker. Im super lucky. Somebody was with me on that one.

So, you mustve been on a huge high for the rest of the week?Koa: (Laughs) I barely even surfed after that session. I was watching perfect waves but I just didnt want to get greedy. Eli: There was a lot of crazy paddling going down later that week from Nathan, Hippo, Healey and other guys. They were pushing us a lot. That wave is moving so fast, the whole time youre paddling in youre just getting sucked up the face.

Koa: Anybody can tow in. Paddling is different.Eli: Yeah, some of the tow guys are really sketchy.

And then those same sketchy guys, when youre paddling, do you see them out there?Koa: Not a lot of them. At least half of them arent out there.

So, do you feel like Teahupoo can handle bigger waves than what you caught?Koa: Yeah, that place can handle as big of a wave as a swell is going to throw at it. The only thing I was thinking is that there might not be enough water on the reef. A big one might just suck all off of the water off of the reef.

Koa youre only 19 and Eli youre only 20. Whats the future hold for you two?Eli: Ever since Koa and I were little we knew this is what we wanted to do. These next few years are going to be so heavy with how hard everyones pushing it. Koa: Were all going to be pushing eachother.Weredenitelytestingour luck. I mean, how many times can you fall on a big wave and not get hurt?

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Frame grab : Daniel Russo : TheonlymanonearthabletotreadwaterintheimpactzoneofTeahupoowhileholdingan20lbredcamabovehisheadanddodging40-footbacklessbeasts.

Interview: Spencer Pirdy

Hurley, Agenda, and BL!SSS Magazine have joined forces to create a few energy centers for the arts. The centers will be temporary homes for a team of artists, a Charles Brand etching press, Graphic Chemical ink and some dead-stock Colby blanks. Starting in early July, you can visit the Hurley Printing Press in two locations: on 31st Street in Newport Beach (@BL!SSSheadquarters)andinHuntingtonBeachattheLiveryDesignGruppe,220WalnutAve.There,youllndlimited-edition art prints and tees curated by the legendary CR Stecyk with help from BL!SSS Magazine and the crew at Agenda. Look for more details on featured artists throughout the month at #hurleyprintingpress and the Hurley, BL!SSS and Agenda social channels. Should be a colorful summer.

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LIMITED EDITION ART POP UP

Photo: Derek Bahn

Mark Gonzales is considered to be the father of modern street skating. Mark, commonly known amongst his peers and fans as Gonz or The Gonz, has been namedthemostinuentialskateboarder of all time by Transworld Skateboarding Magazine. His imaginative and spontaneous style was one of the key founding forces of street skateboarding and today still turns the inconceivable into reality. Not only is Gonz an incredibly talented skateboarder, but his everyday life could be considered an art form in its own right. His works of art, poetry and videography express his unique imagination and color his day-to-day life. Mark Gonzales has been a member of the Adidas Skateboarding family, inspiring,

developing and nurturing the skateboarding program for 15 years. This past month Adidas and the Gonz celebrated with The 15 Years of Gonz and Adidas Exhibition, which was heldatTheHVW8galleryinLAall of June, and the exhibit is now touring the globe. Watch out for the New York event and others to come.

You have lived in so many places and have friends that live far and wide. Where is home? What makes a place home?Id say home is the birthplace in which I was born. My idea of what makes a place a home is not so easy to explain. I would like the place where I was born to be a place where I can go to relax and be with friends and family.

Which is your most memorable photograph from The 15 Years of Gonz and Adidas Exhibition and why? The one Benjamin took where my pants are ripped and my board is broken is a pretty memorable moment! I can remember trying to get in a positive mode, but everything was negative. Firstly, I ripped my pants, then I broke my board but eventually I was able to pull what I was going for. Ultimately, it was memorable because it was both good and bad.

What was the drawing factor to becoming part of the Adidas family 15 years ago?I just like the history of the brand and the athletes who have endorsed their shoes throughout the years.

Mark Gonzales has had an inuenceoneverysingle

skateboarder out there, whether they realize it or not, and to many has inuencedthewaytheysee

things on a day-to-day basis.

His creative and free mind, to do whatever he wants to do with a board, a brush or whatever he comes up with has been a great inspiration. In my opinion, thats what makes him so genuine in all he does. Sem Rubio, Skate Photographer

HehasinuencedmesincetheveryrsttimethatIlearnedabout who he was. As a child I wanted to be a grown-up pro skater just like him. As an adult, I want to be a child just like him. Brian Gaberman, Skate Photographer

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Photo: Joe Brooke

I would like the place where I was born to be a place where I can go to relax and be with friends and family.

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PeterTownend,surngsrst-everworld champ, is receiving SIMAs Lifetime Achievement Award at the Watermans Ball this August. Every year they put out a calendar project that highlights the honorees, but his year theyre unveiling a book instead. Legendary photographer Jeff Divine was enlisted to contribute photos of the champ, and while sifting through some of PTs golden images a few timeless gems emerged. Divine used his uncanny ability to pick the best of the best and honored the SIMA request with 15 photographs that embody PT and his contributions to thesportofsurng.

WhenPTrstcaughtaglimpseof

the images he was elated, to say the least. PT put the photos on Facebook to let the general public decipher which images had greater appeal, so that the SIMA crew could pick the best. However, thats where the problem arose, as the images were all equally spectacular in their own right. Theres the shot of a dwarfed PT dropping into an offshore towering peakatSunsetinthemid70s,ashot of him rushing down the face of a second-reef Pipe bomb, and a Waimea drop from the infamous 1974 Smirnoff Pro on Thanksgiving day, just to name a few. The images speak volumes to the well-rounded skill that PT possessed and bestowed onthesurngworld.Fromtwofeetto

25 feet, PT was blowing minds. The overwhelmingly majority of people that chimed in voted Divines photo of PT throwing down a layback hack at Off the Wall as their favorite image, but for us it was an across-the-board tie for each jaw-dropping photo.

The special part from all of this is that PT was unaware that Divine had these photos or that half of them had even beentakenintherstplace.Divineand PTs relationship all started back on the North Shore with a session outatVelzyLand.Fromthenonthetwo were friends and have continued to work together and share good times over the years. Some of the boards PTs riding are hand shaped

by himself, some are Tom Parrish Lightning bolt shapes and all of the boards are being pushed to the absolute limit.

Theres a lot to be said about careers that have truly altered the course of surngasawhole.PeterTownendshas done this in an extremely positive way and his legacy continues to be a shining light on the culture of the sport. As PT puts it, Your career is a body of work. And as evidenced by these 15 photos, hes got one damn nebodyofwork.Whenlookingbackon the monumental shots, he replies in typical PT fashion, Fuck, I guess I was alright.

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Photos: Jeff Divine

WINDSWEPTE L E G A N T

LSC Womenswear

AUTUMN 2013

# l i f e u n c h a r t e d

Your work seems to be a combination of renaissance classicism and modern day street art. How would you describe it?Fundamentally I consider my work verycontemporary.Itdeestheconventions of modernism, and therefore draws a lot of people to it. I do believe that our century has made a monumental mistake by discarding the tradition of classicism. Musicians manage to preserve their classical heritage while creating new contemporary forms as well. The visual arts has a slash and burn relationship with its past. It preserves individual works, but not the creative process.

Where do you take scenes to draw from?When I have free reign on the subject matter, I often like to create compositions using famous themes from European art and music history. This invites a comparison of my work to earlier artists. Perhaps I do this for myself, as the number of people in my audience who can understand

the thematic references is probably small. Now that I am older I enjoy using themes that appeal to children, as they are the most consistently enjoyable members of my public audience.

How did you get into anamorphic street painting?Three-dimensional street painting is my own invention. I did not get into it, because there was no it to get into. While studying in Rome, I was invited to climb the scaffolding in several churches to see the frescos up close during the restorations. I even touched the Sistine Chapel ceiling. On some of the baroque ceilings I noticed thatthegureswereelongatedtoappear normal from the ground. I was aware that my street paintings were subject to similar viewing circumstances people looked at the work from an angle rather than straight on. I started creating my particular perspective geometry by adjusting the proportions of the painted forms to accommodate the viewpoints of the spectators standing

at the base of the work. Unlike traditional anamorphic compositions, such as church ceilings, the viewing angles were very wide, and I started touseacurvilinearsheyelenstodocument the compositions.

My own geometry is different from 17th century anamorphism, and I have not published it. It combines a logical use of linear perspective with a projection outward from the human eye. Other artists that emulate the three-dimensional pavement works use a more traditional geometry called quadratura that does not involve complicated calculations. They do not understand that my geometry is unique.

What mediums do you work with?I work in a wide variety of media, including pastel, oil and water based paints, sculpture, ceramic, and even do architectural design and decoration. I have worked in all the visual arts media that an artist would traditionally employ for large works, as well as incorporating new

technologies such as digital imaging.

How long does it take to create a piece?An average work of pavement art takes about a week to design and a week to execute. Some of the works are very large and can take longer.

Are your pieces always legal?In the early years the works were created spontaneously and the legality varied from city to city. Now the works are commissioned and highly publicized, so I always have the appropriate permissions.

Where can people check more of your art?The best places to look further are my website, kurtwenner.com, and my book Asphalt Renaissance. I am working on a blog that will update the website and provide a more intimate view of the works as well as some technical information for artists. There will also be print editions for purchase. I hope to launch this in August.

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Interview: Liz Rice McCray

I did not get into it, because there was no it to get into.

KIRON JABOUR WEARS THE HD3 FLUXUS BOARDIESKIRON JABOURFIND OUT MORE AT ALPINESTARS.COM/HD3

Its not every month that one of the editors from your favorite mag actually goes on-location to play photo assistant for the monthly Supertaste spread. Dominic must have been desperate, as yours truly was sent to holdreectors,carrywater,assistwithhair,oilandsand,andputinmyowntwocents.Needlesstosay,Iwas all smiles upon returning from the shoot it was exactly what we were looking for and I think the spread speaks for itself. Alexandra is a babe and a pleasure to work with, Dominic nailed the shot and of course my assistant skills were spot on. Hope you enjoy the outcome.

Photography: Dominic Petruzzi :: dominicpetruzziphoto.com // Model: Alexandra Abercrombie :: PhotoGenics Models

Assistant: Joey Marshall // Retouch: JasonSchorle.com

BLUE LINE

BLUE LINE

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - F O R D A R C H B O L D

S U R F B O A R D S

SHAPES BY BLAKE PETERS _

PANDASURFBOARDS.COM

Mike Barnes is one of those underground, blue-collar skaters that shreds heavily and lets his skating do the talking. Hes traveled around the US through road trips, skate demos and contests over the years and migrated from Florida to the West Coast a couple of years ago. While he appreciates all types of skateboarding, his love of skating bowls, pools, pipes and transitioned wooden structures is where he really gets down and dirty. Over the past year hes been sidelined from a severely injured right ankle. In truth, his foot was backwards and he required a heavy surgery. To see this action, check out the opening segment for Bacon Skateboards Footloosed video onlineatvimeo.com/42712407.Brutal.Butundeterred and determined, hes pressed on through the taxing pain of physical therapy and is now out there again doing what he loves ripping and rolling on his shred sled. So have a look and dig in on the skate-centric realm of Mike Barnes. Hes in it for the good times and the long haul.

What are your stats?I was born Michael Barnes in Manhattan, New York City, in 1989.

Do you have any siblings at all?I have a brother two years younger than me.

Does he skate also?He did for a little while but didnt stick with itallthatmuch.Surngismoreofhisthingactually.

Growing up in Manhattan, how did you discover skateboarding?Mycousin,whowas10yearsolderthanme, skated and he had a couple of boards lying around. I traded him a pair of Air Jordans for one of his skateboards. He was over skateboarding a bit and was up for the trade. He was primarily a street skater and he couldnt even drop into a mini ramp. I denitelystartedoutstreetskatingmorethan anything else, since there werent many trannied skate spots around the city.

How did it blossom for you from there? What was your introduction to the larger picture?That wasnt until later. I was just kind of skating around with friends. I didnt even know about the skateboarding world, contests, or sponsorships or anything.

Sowhendidyourstlearnoftheskate

magazines and videos back then?My cousin had a few older videos, which included Plan Bs Second Hand Smoke and Virtual Reality. Those were amazing and inuentialvideosthatIwatchedregularly.Also the Bones Brigade Video Show had a big impact on me early on.

So from that point did you skate around in Manhattan seeking out all kinds of terrain? WemovedtoFloridain2003.Soyeah,priorto that, I skated for two years in New York City. I remember in the wintertime it was pretty brutal. So I would go over to New Jersey and skate an indoor skatepark at the time called Rex Plex. It was a weird, fun plex with paintball and arcade games, along with a vert ramp and a mini ramp and a little street course. And the Lopez Brothers, Rich and Sanford, skated there all the time andtheyweredenitelyabiginuencewithmy skating then.

So you learned some of your chops there, so to speak?ThatswhereIrstearnedtodropinonaminiramp.Itwasmyrstintroductiontoskatingtransitionsreally.Myrstaxelstall,rstrocknrollsandallofthebasicshappened there. It was the only indoor park to skate in the wintertime. I went from skating the four-foot mini ramp straight to dropping in on the twelve-foot tall vert ramp - nothing in between. So it was kind of brutal. And the Lopez brothers pushed me to do it. I remember seeing Jim Murphy skating there. I remember seeing Andy Kessler skate there, Pat Smith too, when he used to live up that way. Dan Pensyl was a

regular. It was pretty epic, although I might not have realized it at the time.

Between you and me, I think the place was probablysomesortofmaadrugfront,being in New Jersey. It was situated right next to Newark airport right across the freeway there next to the big IKEA. It was a weird place.

Sowhoweresomeoftherstskaters

that youd met besides the Lopez brothers? Well, so there were those guys at Rex Plex, but there was also a skatepark at Chelsea Piers on the west side of New York City, which was downtown and closer to my home. It had a vert ramp and Id skate there sometimes too in the summer when it was nice outside. I remember skating with Darren Menditto there. He was a pretty rad inuencetoo.Hewouldcomeandskatewith me on his lunch breaks during his residency, as he was in medical school. He would show up in his scrubs, change and put on his pads, skate vert and then go back to doing brain surgery or whatever. It was pretty amazing, yeah. He was a rad dude.

So then you moved to Florida. Which region? And what was the skate scene like there?WerstmovedtoPalmCoast,Florida.Itsnot a very well known town, but uh it was actually pretty harsh. It was a culture shock in reverse for me. I had just moved from New York City with epic stuff and skate spots all around me to a beach town with dirt roads.

Thats a big change.It was and it was weird. We had one skatepark and it was a crappy metal setup with fabricated ramps painted purple, just to add insult to injury. It was made of sheet metal, which became super hot in the summer. But it was like 15 minutes from the beach. So I began hanging out at the skatepark and everyone kind of surfed so I startedsurngtoo.

Then,nallywhenIturned16Igotmydrivers license and thats when it kind of opened up some doors since everywhere around there you had to drive. And thats when I started exploring and traveling a bit to Kona Skatepark, Stone Edge Skatepark, St. Augustine Skatepark and a lot of the better concrete parks.

SowasBaconyourrstsponsor?

Yeah,itwasmyrstsponsorbesidesthehelp from the little mom and pop surf shops inthearea.Butyeah,Baconwasmyrstlegit sponsor. I was actually on Bacon before Tim Johnson, believe it or not. Even though he turned pro for them, it all started with the Florida Bowlriders Cup and it was the rstbigcontestthatIdenteredandIwonsomeoftherstfewofthem.AndBenjihadwon the pro division, so things just kind of clicked between us and we were homies. So he started giving me boards and I was stoked. I remember emailing Colin, the owner of Bacon, introducing myself to him and letting him know that Benji was hooking me up with boards. And he emailed me back, Who the hell are you?

(Laughs) Ah, I thought that I was on Bacon. Damn. And then it was all cool since then. It was like Tim Johnson got boards shipped to him and then there would be one or two decks for me. But Colin thought that Tim and I lived in the same town. I actually lived two and a half hours away. Tim lives in Southeast Georgia and I lived in Daytona Beach. So I would have to drive to pick them up. But it was cool because it made us meet up and skate together.

Overall, how was the Florida skate scene for you?Initially, it was kind of harsh, but it got better as I started to meet people and travel to skate different parts of Florida. ItdenitelygotradandthenobviouslyI started to get sponsored and traveled around.

Words & Photos: Bryce Kanights

B.S Smith

Speaking of travel, where did you travel to through skateboarding?Ive traveled around most of the USA but not much internationally. I went to Denmark and Swedenduringthesummerof2011.

Youve been living out on the West Coast for a couple of years. What prompted you to move out of Florida?I preferred the better weather in Southern California and better skate spots and pools specically.WehavegoodpoolsinFlorida,but they are few and far between really. Yeah, I dont know, the move up to Portland wasdenitelyfueledbyBaconbeingheadquartered up here and I have many friends here too.

It doesnt rain in Portland as much as they say, right?Yes and no Ive been hearing that its a dry winter, but Ive still been soaked.

What are your favorite spots to skate in the Portland area at the moment?Burnside always and anytime. And Brooklyn Street has been a fun leg warmer. Pier Park is always fun on a sunny day. We trytogetthevertthinggoing.Ivedenitelybeen stoked to skate vert with Willis Kimbel, Alex Foy and the other guys that are down to charge the bigger stuff. Thats been rad.

So what else takes up your time on planet Earth besides skateboarding?

Work. (Laughs) Yeah, just making pizza mostly.

What other interests do you have?Ive been trying to mess around with the bass, but Im not trying to claim that I play bass because I havent gotten that far yet. Idenitelyhavefunwithitthough.Videogames take up some of my time and fry my brain. And then theres record collecting. Thatdenitelytakesupabigmajorityofmy free time, browsing record stores and such.Goingintoarecordstoreandndingsomething that youre stoked on and getting the album with the artwork, the liner notes and the whole package is awesome. Digital download is void of that experience really.

So lets talk really quick about your injury. Youve overcome a serious injury to your ankle while skateboarding close to two years ago. Tell us what trick you were doing and how it happened.Yeah, I took a little spill. I guess I dont really know what to call the trick - perhaps the rewind boneless. Its basically a fakie-to-fakie boneless. It looks like a frontside boneless being played backwards. And um, yeah, its a unique trick that Ive had for a while and I was skating the gummy bowl at the Klamath Falls Skatepark during a Bacon demoandwewerelming.SoIputonedownandwhenIreachedtheatbottommy foot slipped off of the board and the next thing I know, my foot was backwards.

Have you gone back to that trick to get it out of your system or are you over it?Im over it.

That injury set you back over a year or so. Its good to see that youre back on your board ripping again.Yeah, its been a lot of work rehabbing,butitdenitelypaidoffto skate again.

While you were injured you traveledtoEuropefortherst

time to attend the Ultra Bowl event in Malm, Sweden, thanks to John Magnusson. That was very hard for you Im sure.Yeah, I owe a huge thanks to John. It was a weird trip. Im happy that I got to see a portion of Europe. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But, it was hard not to skate and it was kind of a weird time trying to rehab and stuff. In hindsight,

maybe I shouldve stayed home but at least I had a good time with the homies and I got to see everyone rip, and many of them did really well in the contest. You cant not have a good time in Europe. It was my birthdayandeverything.Denitelyno regrets, thats for sure.

So, whats on your plate these days and what are you working on?Just getting back on it and relearning tricks that have been on the back burner and trying to learn new ones of course. Trying to plan some trips too. It was a bit of anancialstrainjustmovingfromcoast to coast a couple of years ago, so Im just kind of on the rebuild and working and saving up money so that I can take more trips. Just trying to make it here in Portland. HopefullylmingforanewBaconvideo that is supposedly in the works.

What do you think that youd be doing in your life if you never discovered skateboarding?Thats a weird one Fuck, I dont know. I dont know that Id even be around. Who knows? Its such a weird world if you dont skate. I dont even know what the regular people think about. I could still be in Florida, still be in New York, still stuck somewhere. Stuck not moving forward, not cruising, thats for sure.

What is your dream skate session and whom would it be with?I think it has already happened actually. The only time that I skated Bucky Laseks backyard bowl and it was when the bowl had just been built. It was the right place, right time and I had been hanging out with Josh Borden. He got the call for the sesh and I was kicking it with him at the time. Thebowlwasjustnishedandthedeckshadntbeen poured yet. The coping and tile was brand new all the way around too.

I remember pulling up and then following Josh to thebowl,MTVCribsstyle.Theresthehouseandthe BMW. My minds blown. I remember that we walked up the hill and it looked like a job site at the time with construction tape everywhere. We got to the top of the hill and saw the massive hole in the ground, the biggest private bowl that Id ever seen, and I look over and I see Chris Miller, Bucky, Omar Hassan, Peter Hewitt, Kevin Staab, Tony Mag and others. It was an epic lineup and I remember my mind was blown.

That was rad, just being able to skate with all of those dudes. At the time nobody had skated a bowl of that shape and size yet, so it was really cool to experience and watch. That was the dream session right there for sure.

Since weve been shooting this interview, Ive noticed that you like to rip with some classic old tricks mixed with some of the newer stuff. Do you think that those tricks and skateboarding history matters?I feel that its really important. Its sad when it gets forgotten. A lot of the older stuff is what paved the way toward the future. Personally, I think that those tricks are more fun. I think that its extremely important and its rad that Jeff Grosso does the Loveletters to Skateboarding online. I like that a lot of the older photos and footage is resurfacing on the Internet through various people

that were there.

I know that many skaters my age or younger kind of feel that they missed it. They at least can now see what it was about and appreciate it and learn from it. For me personally, maybe skating that style just always stemmed from skating with a bunch of older dudes. (Laughs)

In closing, who would you like to thank? Colin Sharp, Ethan Bettencourt, Joey65Pack, Rob Washburn at Bones Wheels, Paul and Nukes at Cal Skate,CodyLockwood,DEVO,Q-Man,JoeStorm,Don Routly (Solar Bowl), Tom Groholski, Andrew Smitty Smith, Jeremiah Risk, Eric Staniford, Buck Smith, Rick Burns, Martin Ramos, Peter Grebe and John Partytime, and of course you, BK, for hooking up this interview and taking me to skate some epic spots!

Fastplant

Hand Me Down

www.yeanice.com

www.thecomune.com

www.change-comune.com

instagram@comune

Slater

TheVolcomFijiProisknowntobeoneofthebeststops on the ASP tour. In and out of the water, Fiji

provides the warmest hospitality on earth. This year the contest had a lot to live up to, as last

years mega swell was still fresh in many minds. Fiji has so many different variables that anything is possible. This year the boys got everything Cloudbreak and Restaurants had to offer, and this is how it all went down. Firstoff,VolcomrampeduptheVQSWorld Tour this year and added a Global Champs to be held down in Fiji. The turnout was unreal; they had nine surfers from different regionsthatqualiedtocompete.The surfers were treated to proper 4- to 5-foot Cloudbreak. It was interesting to see those guys surf and hang out at such an iconic location. Each heat was a full paddle battleforthe$10K,butintheend

it was Slade Prestwich who took the win. This event denitelybrokethegroundsfortheVQSTourandlookout for more to come. Thetop34surferssparednotimebetweentheVQSas they took lead in the water. Cloudbreak held clean and fun conditions for rounds one and two. Day one saw a slew of upsets, as many of top seeds went down. Local wild card Aca Lalabalavu was charging but was taken down by Miguel Pupo as he moved on to round two. Kelly did a no-show for his round one heat, but then he took down the local boy Aca when he did show up. Returning wild card Mitch Coleborn was feeling solid after coming off his win at recent ASPPrimeeventinBrazil.Mitchclaimedtherstperfect10oftheeventandwalkedawaywithatotalheat score of 19.33. Freddy Patacchia made his way back to competition after a serious ankle injury. The veteran looked sharp, as he took down Jordy Smith and Sebastian Zietz in round one. Parko was another to miss his round one heat. I was pretty bummed to miss the heat, but I was even more bummed that I missed out on waves like that, he said. That was

Words: Richard Olivares :: Photos: Courtesy ASP

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pretty perfect Cloudbreak. There were some absolute bombs out there and the boys got tubed out of their brains all day. But I guess youve got to be philosophical about it. Youre never too old to learn a lesson, and Ill denitelypullbackabitontheshingduringevents. Day two of competition was relocated to the awlesslefthanderRestaurants.IfyouknowJohn John Florence, you know he is one of the best backhand tube riders out there. He got things started real quick by posting a10-pointridefollowedbya9.80.Hethenmoved on and took down two-time Fiji winner Damien Hobgood in round three. Nat Young was another standout for the day. You would haveneverguessedthatthiswashisrsttimeinFiji,ashisforehandwasawless.Parko showed up to his round two heat and delivered an amazing performance as he took out Dusty Payne. TheVolcomFijiProreturnedtoCloudBreak

forthenalsdaysofcompetition.MotherNature put all the pieces together and it was now up to the surfers to show what they could doinawlessCloudy.Icankeepgoingonhow each surfer performed but it was obvious and clear that Kelly Slater held no grudge and swept everyone! The 41-year-old, 11-time World Champ got his momentum going and there was no stopping him. The guy made history in his quarters by getting a total heat scoreof20.Hethenkepthisrhythmgoingby taking down John John in the semis. The nalcamedowntoMickFanningandKelly.Unfortunately Micks backhand performance wasnt enough to stop Kelly from taking home another win. Following Kellys win was a raging celebration on Tavarua Island. The crew danced and drank gallons of Kava til they hit theoor.

If you missed any of the action dont fret as The Red Bull Signature Series on NBC will be featuringtheVolcomFijiProonJuly7th for an hour-and-a-halfspecialat1:30pm(pst).

Chief Druku

Parko

Slater

Fanning

John Florence

Jordy

Nat Young

Taj

Kerr

Parko

surfer: Jason Rhodes photo: Rj Shulenberger

*Quantity limited to first 100 entries

Sixty thousand visitors from around the worldattendedtheinaugural2013ArtBa-sel in Hong Kong. Before having the brand name attached it was called the Hong Kong Art Fair. A few people referred to it as the Fortune Cookie Fair because everybody thought that this emerging market would bring many new collectors with big pockets and all the premiere galleries jumping on the bandwagon. It wasnt actually what everyone had presumed it to be; it was a muchmoredifcultsale.Alotofthetopgalleries were going to be pulling out of the fair, but having Basel attached to it helped

to support and promote the event as one of the premiere art events globally.

Asidefromthat,forme,thatwasmyrsttime in Hong Kong. Known as the gateway between East and West, Hong Kong ranks among the worlds most dynamic interna-tional capitals. A 21st century metropolis, it is a port city with a vast skyline rising abovebustlingVictoriaHarbor.Amongstallthe art and culture of this incredible city, Indmyselfatthe79thooraboveHongKong attending the special pop-up show for the master himself Keith Haring and Retna,

presentedbyPMTenoreandAndyValmor-bida. The presentation was phenomenal and the work was very well curated. Thank you PM for inviting me!

Ive been to quite a few fairs myself, and Id have to say that from my own personal experience the work that was featured at Baselwasdenitelyinawholeotherrealmfrom other fairs. Id just come from Frieze in NYC, and Art Basel Hong Kong had everyone pulling out their really high-end blue chip gems, to say the least. It was a pretty incredible experience with such a

broad range of work, but at times these events can put you in art overload. It takes quite a bit of time and often a few days to digest everything.

Artoverloaditwas!Withover2,000artistknown and unknown from Asia and around the globe, works ranged from paintings, sculpture, installations, photographs, video and mixed media. There were so many magnicentworksthroughouttheentirefair. Yayoi Kusamas brightly hued mon-strousplantsandowersculptureswereamajor standout amongst the thousands of

Words & Photos: Danny Fuller

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works featured. She had a big retrospective showing at the Whitney about a year ago, and there were quite a few galleries that were featuring her work. There were quite a bit of Warhol and Basquiat as well, but from my understanding, not too many of their works sold. Im not sure whether Asian culture is more conservative than the western world, as far as their purchases, or maybe they dont want to have some multi-million dollar Warhol piece and have the Triads catch wind of it and come to their house and collect. Whatever the reasons may be, one thing is for sure, Art Basel Hong Kong was nothing short of impressive.

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In our industry there are plenty of photographers who excel in their respec-tive genres of skate, surf, motorcycle, fashion, life-style and landscape imag-ery. Thats a wide array of categories there, yet only a select few can effort-lessly cross back and forth from these disciplines with distinctive style and ease. One such photographer who seamlessly weaves diverse subject matter into subtle masterpieces is Mark Choiniere.

Marks work runs the gamut. He covers every end of the spectrum in our

culture, leaving the viewer with a unique and, at times, nostalgic perspective. His life is that of a secret agent, his camera being his weapon of choice. Hes embedded with some of the worlds most interesting and talented char-acters. One day hes wind-ing down the Amazon River drenched in sweat, and the next hes bundled up in the middle of a bitter cold Irish winter. Its life on the road and it comes with a price at times, but the experience and benetsmakeitallworth-while.

Here, we present to you just a snippet of the eye-catching work Mark puts out. Enjoy!

Jason Webber : Knucklehead

Lanna Lyon

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Alex Knost : Hawaii

Brianna Falcone

Jack Fardell : Elenora, Gold Coast

Boatman : Indonesia

Lanna Lyon

Alex Knost : SwamisWil Thomas

Ivan, John John, Greyson & Nathan

Scotty Stopnik : Oceanside, CA

Greyson Fletcher : Gold Coast

Jason Jesse

Rob Machado : Cardiff, CA

Evan Geiselman : Ireland

Lanna Lyon

Alex Knost : Single Fin QuiverYadin Nicol : Costa Rica

Children of Haiti Turkey Stopnik

Kassia Meador

Max Schaaf : Oakland, CA

Rob Machado & Jay Nelson The Amazon River

I met Nunca (Francisco Rodriguez) years ago through my friends Osgemeos when they were all painting murals on the Winward Walls of Miami one December during Art Basel... Or maybe I met Nunca in LA just hanging out, Im not sure really! Somehow I feel like I have known Nunca a very long time. He is deep and warm and part of my Brazilian family of artists and friends. His dynamic linear murals have been recognized for years now. Lately, he is charging and rising to an even more mature level of expression and the world is his oyster. It has been my pleasure to be chosen to interview Nunca.-Marsea Goldberg

Whereandwhendidyoupaintyourrstpublicmural?

WhenIwasabout12yearsoldIstartedtogoouttopaintgrafti,butitwasntreallymuralsbutmoretraditionalgraftiliketags,throw-upsandthiskindofthing, and it totally gave me the basics to learn how to use spray cans and the wholepoliticsofgraftiinSoPaulo.Themuralsandbig-scalewallscamealittleafter it when I got the skills to use the spray as a tool and incorporate it to the work I developed since the beginning when I started to go out to paint.

Where are your favorite mural installations? What city and what location? Berlin is like a playground where you can see a lot work of different artists in different spots of the city, and its really one of my favorite places to see mural installations with amazing and different techniques, concept and styles.

Did you study art anywhere? Notatall.AlwaysndwhatIneedtogetreferencesandinspirationbymyself. I dont think that an art school can teach you how to be a good artist, but give you the knowledge to use materials and the history of art. Something that for me came from a very humble economic background was impossible to have, so the only way of knowing what I wanted to know was going to a pubic library to study and talk with different kinds of people around what I wanted to know.

Whatartistshaveinuencedyourgrowthasanartist? Ithinkthatmorethanspecicartiststheenvironmentofthecityand the country I live and the friends I have been sharing ideas

and passing trough many different situations has been very important for my growthasanartist.SoPauloissointenselikeabigcityandinmanywaysallof the bad and good things that you see in your daily life affects you in so many different ways, that nowadays I see the city and the country where I grow up asthemaininuencetome.ButmostofthemodernistBrazilianartistsfromthe20sandtheTropicaliamovement,theindigeousgraphicsfromdifferentBrazilian tribes, artists like Hlio Oiticica, antropologists as Darcy Ribeiro and somepopartistsfromthe60swasveryimportantformetohaveaclearunderstanding about what I want as an artist.

What are you working on and what are your future projects? Im working on going to many different places to paint big murals until the end of the year, and Im working on studio to paint canvasses and other materials. In September I will participate on a group show in a museum in Frankfurt, and now in July I will have some pieces done for a show on the Museum of Contemporary art of Oaxaca in Mxico. In the meantime I have a personal project I will be bringingdifferentartiststoBraziltodevelopbigmuralsaroundSoPaulointhedowntown.

How is your mural project we talked about with many international artists coming along? Its going to start very soon this year. Im very happy for that cause I will be able to bring artists I always like the work a lot, and many ofthemhaveinspiredmesotoseeallthiscreativityinSoPaulo being done by so different and amazing artists will be very pleasant.

What things in life inspire you as an artist these days? Traveling, paint murals and produce my work on studio has been the main

Interview: Marsea Goldberg of New Image Art

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inspiration, but it always have something else here and there that catch the attention as a surprise and becomes inspiring.

How did you learn to draw so well? Liking it too much. For me, drawing is the basics for having an idea and bringing this idea from the concept to reality, and even being something very simple at the same time. Its very powerful and its so simple that all you need is a pencil and a sheet of paper. Perfect to learn without spending thousands a month on art schools.

What do you like to do when you are not making art?Organize myself to make it when its the time to make it happen. How many girlfriends do you have now? Funny question, but cant handle more than one at a time.

What is going on in Brazilian art that we should know about?Have you seen the paintings of Juliana Cerqueira Leite? Shes super dope. The same for the installations of Henrique Oliveira.

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Tell us about what you are presently doing in LA?The LA environment and energy is quite similartoSoPaulo.ForthemomentIwillpaintawallinVeniceBeachandsomeother ones in Downtown LA. As I never has done murals in LA I cant wait to start it as soon as I can.

What is the climate like for art in Brazil that is different than the US and other places?To be an artist in Brazil always was an underground way of life by itself. If you do it without any link to the academy or never went to art schools by the lack of interest that people that are not collectors had on it, so the street art wave and all the interest in it in a way brought the opportunity for anybody that wants to be an artist become an artists with an already open market without being an academic artist. As the art market in Brazil is still

growing, it has been an option for many artists that want to be seen and jump on the market quickly. I understand that it looks like a common sense in different countries where public art have a big inuenceonpeopleslife.Butonaplacewhere art just begun to be part of peoples life on a different and bigger scale, like in Brazil, where the same people a few years ago wasnt into art so much, it looks like the normal process to become a public artist nowadays before an artist shows in institutions and galleries.

What are you doing in LA now?Visitingfriendsandpaintingsmallermurals.

Any lasts words?Joyful participation in the sorrows of the earth.

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Matt Berger : B.S Over Crooks

Matt Berger : Kick Flip Crooks

Were all exposed to success in the media. What we dont see are the people behind the scenes that put them into the public eye. Mikendo is one of these people. With the assist count of Steve Nash, hes helped many of todays professional skateboarders get to where they are now.

Hisindependentdebut,Amateur(2002),blessedVCRswiththeskatingof Don Nuygen, Rodrigo TX and the pre-musician Matt Costa. He followed upwithhisindieclassic,TheFilmbotFiles(2005),whichisstillusedtoget skaters stoked for their daily skate missions.His ability to bring passionate hardworking skateboarders together paral-lels RZAs vision of WU-Tang.

Years later his rsum is as dense as his passport. A triple threat that canshoot,lmandmanageaskateboardingteam,hesgotthebrainstocreate behind a computer and the balls to trespass and tote camera gear around the hood... all while displaying endless amounts of patience with a giant smile behind that mustache.

Mikendos creativity and his passion for traveling will continue to capture moments on and off skateboards. Youre born and you die, in between you can do whatever you want; so get out there, get inspired and in-spire... before you expire.

Words: Derek Fukuhara

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Derek Fukuhara : F.S 180 Nose Grind

Derek Fukuhara : Nollie Flip

Mark Frolick : Ollie

Loui Barleta : Nocomply

Maxim Rosenbaum : Kick Flip Fakie

Derek Fukuhara : Switch Ollie

Oli Tielsch : Ollie

Lee Berman : 5050

JF : Varial Heel Flip

Marty Muraski : F.S Crooks

InaeetofbrightlycoloredJeepslledwith surfboards, skateboards, music equip-ment, art supplies and crates of Carlton Dry,theRVCACaravanmadeitswayfromByron Bay to Sydney. It was a two-week adventure that brought together a group ofmultifacetedRVCAadvocatestoinspireeach other creatively and just go where the wind blows. The Caravan was loose, and the crew was an eclectic and eccen-tricgroupwhodontnormallyndthem-selves on the same program: surfers Alex Knost, Makua Rothman, Ford Archbold, Ellis Ericson and Dino Adrian; skaters Josh Harmony, Kevin Spanky Long, and Julian Davidson; artists Kelsey Brookes, Dmote, Benjamin Jean Jean and Mark Alsweiler; fe-male advocates Ashley Smith and Margaux Aaramon Tucoo. It was a group of people coming together from different back-grounds and various places in the world to share their passion for life, adventure, art and music.

AssoonastheRVCACaravanarrivedinBy-ron Bay and checked into the rental houses, it was already obvious to everyone that this was going to be a truly unique trip. The rstvedayswerespentinandaroundByronBay,surng,skating,cliffdiving,making art and spending a small fortune at the organic caf The Top Shop, which was right across the street from where everyone was staying. The houses became a type of RVCAcommune.Atanygiventimeofdayornightyoucouldndguysplayingmusictogether, collaborating on paintings in the garage, giving tattoos, drinking beers on the balcony, sharing stories, ideas and adventures. Staying within walking distance from surf spots like the Pass and Wategos provided an unusual opportunity for some of the advocates. Spanky got to try surf-ingforthersttime,whileAshleySmithgot her own one-on-one surf lesson from Makua Rothman. Josh Harmony bonded quickly with Ford, Alex and Kelsey and was soonsurngwiththemnearlyeveryday.Ford also seemed to enjoy hanging out with the skaters and even came along on a couple of street missions. It was a great start to the trip. The last evening in Byron everyone got together at the Art Park gal-leryfortheRVCAexhibitandcelebratedwith a local barbie, side sippas and live music by Josh Harmony, Tomorrows Tulips and Makua Rothman.

Words: Austin Stephens

Jimmy James :: Photo: Tom Hawkins

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Dmote :: Photo: Keegan Gibbs

The caravan got back on the open road and headed south to Port Macquarie for a skate jam/demo at the local park. The park is located right on the beach and the surf team came to watch and support the skate guys doing their thing. Everyone skated and hung out til dark and then headed to the trailer park on the beach where they were staying for the night. The dining experi-ence that night in town went to both extremes: some had amaz-ing Thai food; others suffered through the worst Mexican food known to man. When everyone reunited back at the trailer park under a starry night sky, the same spirit and energy of creative collaboration and good times (and Carlton Dry) continued late into the night.

The next morning with more clear blue skies ahead, the Caravan headed further south on small

highways through farmlands, countryside and the occasional small town to Avoca Beach, where the same, almost circus-like scene poured out of the Jeeps and into the Tree Top Hoteltoghtoverwhogotthersthotshower.Thenitwasoffto the local Mexican restaurant for another big party and more live music from Josh, Tomorrows Tulips and Makua.

The caravan made it to Sydney late in the afternoon the next day, and there was an energy and excitement in the air and everyone fed off it instantly. The skate team spent the days in search of new and interest-ing spots while the surf team combed the beaches for waves. Another highlight of the trip was going down to Luna Park under

1. Kelsey Brookes2. Alex Knost and Ellis Ericson3. Dmote painting4. Makua Rothman5. Josh Harmony6. Josh Harmony and Kevin Spanky Long7. Ashley Smith8. Josh Harmony and Kevin Spanky Long9. Ashley Smith10.DinoAdrian11. Dmote12. Dmote13. Makua Rothman and Ellis Ericson

Photos: Bryce Golder, Keegan Gibbs & Tom Hawkins

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Ford Archbold :: Photo: Tom Hawkins

Kevin Spanky Long :: Photo: Bryce Golder

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the Sydney Harbor Bridge to watch RVCASportadvocateRichieVasdobattle in the octagon and come out victorious.

The caravan popped down a bit further south for a backyard barbie and music performance at a small board shop in Wollongong. The locals were more than stoked to get to hang out with some of their favorite skaters and surfers in such a laid-back setting, not to men-tion getting to see them play a live set. The artists also took a little side trip over to Melbourne for an art show. And Dmote hooked up with some old friends, gave a few of them tattoos, and also painted a few walls around town.

Thetwo-weekRVCACaravaninAustraliaewby,butbytheendof it great friendships and creative collaborations had been formed that are sure to continue into the future.

1. Kelsey Brookes painting2. Benjamin Jean Jean painting3. Makua Rothman and Ellis Ericson4. Alex Knost and Ellis Ericson5. Alex Knost (sleeping)6. Keegan Gibbs art7. Ellis Ericson8. Ashley Smith9. Adam Bennetts

Photos: Bryce Golder, Keegan Gibbs & Tom Hawkins

Makua Rothman :: Photo: Tom Hawkins

Ellis Ericson :: Photo: Tom Hawkins

Beacho :: Photo: Bryce Golder

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Opening Reception July 13, 7-9pm

Closing Receptionand Panel Discussion August 24, 6-9pm

July 13-August 31, 2013

Curated by C.R. Stecyk and Paul Frank. The exhibition explores a contemporary look at Kustom car, motorcycle, surf culture and related art from the traditions of Von Dutch, Big Daddy Roth, Robert Williams, Rick Griffin, Basil Wolverton, Margaret Keane, Don Ed Hardy, Billy Gibbons and others.

Huntington Beach Art Center538 Main Street HB CA 92648

www.HuntingtonBeachArtCenter.org714.374.1650

Presented by the Huntington Beach Art Center

sponsored by

I heard about Lake Mirage about a week prior to our actual mission out there to see dry lakebeds where the fastest land speed records are achieved. They feature dirt so compacted that you could ollie off of it. I was curious, though, wondering iftiresofthefastestautoscannd

traction, why wouldnt skateboards?

It was a mellow drive out to the desert. Scott Decenzo and I were steady cruising up the 15. Before we even had time to take a break from catching up on life, we were in the middle of nowhere exiting toward

the lake. The barren desert has a nice kind of peace to it, if you can handle the silence. We skipped the park toll like a couple of badasses and hammered onto the access road to the dry lakebed. The imagery of water makes El Mirage quite the suitable name, to say the least. If I was stranded and dehydrated and saw this epic delusion of water, I would lose my shit. Its incredibly believable.

We met up with the rest of the crew about a mile into the center of the lake. With a full production ready to go we didnt waste anytime unloading the ramps and getting down to business, with the half pipe being the centerpiece. Ill admit I was a bit pessimistic about being able to pop off the clayish, dirt ground. I know it was hard, but Ive been pampered with perfect Southern Californian concrete at this point. I mean, how compact could this stuff be?

Turns out, its pretty damn hard. Once the visual trip of rollingoncracked,aky,dirtsubsided, the crew pretty much unleashed their whole bag oftricksontheatrailsandledges. Filming lines and playing skate, it felt pretty normal after a minute but looked absolutely insane in the footage. The view was breathtaking. Id often take prolonged breaks from shredding just to wander off and take in the surroundings and trip out on the ridiculous backdrop. One cant help but feel really small and insignicantwithsurroundingsso massive and pronounced. But like I mentioned before, its really peaceful if you can handle the silence. As a skateboarder, we get accustomed to noise-polluted cities, our iphones and constant distractions. Ourbrainsareringamilea minute. Its as though you have to retrain your brain to slow down and chill out before ghtingofftheanxietyofnownot knowing what to do with yourself. Silence is deadly, but it is essential sometimes.

Afterhoursoflminglineswhilegetting sunburnt and watching Bachinsky annihilate the half pipe we broke out the brews andBBQforamuchneededhydration break. A few of the crew took their cars out for some much needed high-speed test runs. Jeffery Moustache (thelmerinchief)hadhisVR6VWandwantedtoopenit

up in the lakebed. To be honest, I stopped paying attention to the odometeroncewepassed130.Butshitman,ifyourenotrst,youre last.

Upon cruising back to the camp we noticed a commotion in front of Cory Cabereras Lexus. It turns out the half pipe is quite the distractiontolocalmototrafcasone kid managed to T-bone his dirt bike into the hood of Corys car while it was parked. He must have been going at least 25 miles per hour because his whole body was up on the windshield and dented the shit out of Corys hood. What an idiot. But luckily the kid was ok, peppered with a thick layer of embarrassment.

Oncethetrafcaccidentgotcleaned up we turned our attention back to the half pipe, partially because we were stoked to shred it but more so because

Words: Derek :: Photos: Mustache

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we were stoked to watch Dave get back to fucking the coping off this bitch. Bachinsky is an animal. It doesnt really register in my brain how a human can operate at such a high level at all times. He musthavedoneveorsixcombo tricks I never even thought were possible in a matter of minutes. I felt like I was playing the best game of Skate 3 in my life. Just wait for The Formula mini-ramp video to drop from OC Ramps. Suckas brains are gonna melt. Mine included.

Once Dave decided to take a break from making sweet love to the mini ramp, the rest of us stood on the top deck scratching our heads wondering what the fuck we were even doing out there in therstplace.Butaftersomedignity searching and locating ourcondence,TomTomandScoot got down to business and hammered out some Buck

Jones lines and I actually got a few runs in that might be considered acceptable.

That night, Tyler The Boss Large saw an opportunity to clean his warehouse of all the wood scraps and brought a truckloadofrewoodtoburn.Withbeersowing,burgersippingandanOsamaBBgun target practice set up, we all basked in Daves glory of constantly steppin up the bar of shreddery.

I trip out every time I think back to the mission and what an insanely rad idea it was to make a skateboard park in the middle of a dried-out lakebed. Its absolutely genius and original! Big shout out to OC Ramps and BL!SSS Magazine for making this all possible. I think its safe to say we all had a blast and it was denitelyamemoryforthebooks. Lets do it again soon.

Tom Tom

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Photo: Robbie Sell

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Hailing from the mountains of Lake Tahoe, California, Johnny Lazzareschi is not your typical kid, or just maybe he is. Lazz is extremely loud, contains next-level amounts of ADHD, is really immature, has theenergyofa10yearoldhighoncandy,and he is really good at snowboarding. If I were a doctor I would diagnose him with a case of high personality traits and extreme snowboard talent disorder. In May, Johnnytookhome$10,000inthegameof S.N.O.W. at Mammoths West Coast Invitational, so I wanted to catch up with him and see how much of that money he has already spent, or if he has any left, and what he really thinks of contests.

So last month you won $10,000 in the game of S.N.O.W. in Mammoth. How much of that money have you already spent?Ive already spent most of it to be honest! I paid some people back, gave my mother a handful, and played with a grip of it to celebrate the win! But I have been living good lately, thats for sure.

How many contests have you won or placed in?Ah man, I have never kept track. I would saysomewherebetween10-15atleastover the past 5 to 7 years.

How much candy has been purchased in prize money from those contests?More than there shouldve been! Candy is so hard to pass up when youre me and when you got a stack of cash in your pocket and you walk into the candy isle. Lord, please lead me from te

bl!sss magazine | july 2013 | #71

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