Hisashiburi!

Like my Japanese peoples are fond of saying when they haven't seen someone for a long time:
ひさしぶり!

Yeah, it has been a while but honestly, who really gives a shit?
December is absolutely cracking at my job, so I have been working a shitload and this blog bullshit is not really that much of a priority in my life right this second.

There has been a bunch of stuff going on lately, I have been there to see some of it and I missed out on some of it.
That's what's up.

A few days ago, last Friday to be exact, that best trick contest went down at A'ala Park.
You know, the one with the big rainbow rail and the curvy S rail?
Silent fucking John won it, just like I thought!
Only a few dudes could actually step to that big mega rail and John took the whole enchilada with a frontside noseblunt slide across it.
Congratulations to my man Johnny for representing like that, wish I could have been there but work work work once again takes priority.
Don't know if there's any video footage of this event floating around, but apparently my man Aaron McMullen was shooting photos so maybe those will surface somewhere soon hopefully.

OH, and guess what? The city and county of Honolulu does not like when people alter skateparks or add things in them to make them more interesting, so they actually went down to A'ala Park and cut and destroyed both rails, which were left there for skaters to enjoy.
WHAT THE FUCK?
Very, very, lame.
But then again would you expect anything less from the skateboard hating city of Honolulu and it's anti-skatepark mayor?
WEAK.

The day before, Thursday night actually, I sessioned A'ala Park and it was seriously the most crowded weeknight I have seen in a long time. It probably had a lot to do with the Red Bull guys being in town and local dudes getting into shine mode in anticipation for the contest. Mad heads showed up and saw Brandon Biebel and Ron Deily skate for like a combined 3 minutes, and also witnessed the technical throw down of one Ryan Decenzo, who absolutely killed it all night long. This kid is fucking good no doubt, but I'm not a huge fan of this guy's style, in fact I think it's pretty heinous personally. Anyway, he did in fact do some shit that I'm fairly certain has never been done at the park like kickflip backside noseblunt slide down one of the bank to bank hubba ledges. Whoa.

Then Friday night was the big Deck The Halls skate deck art benefit for my man Kenny, and again work prevented me from attending, but big ups to all those who made it down and purchased artwork and supported the cause in general. Much mahalo to Kavet and everyone else who made this happen and all who showed up, Kenny was super stoked the way it turned out.
Check out the link above for Kavet's wrap-up of the event, and click here for some Metromix photos of people mingling about down there.
Also, check out these photos of the event which are way better than the Metromix ones, I found them when I was checking out Lofa's blog. BIG UP ya self homie!

Just a few days ago, I changed up my entire set-up and reverted back to the trucks that I have always ridden and have enjoyed for most of my years skateboarding, Independent, bitches!
I threw together this In4mation Jamie Reyes deck with the new Stage 10 Indy 149's and some 54mm Spitfire Cardiel Street Burners.



Now that's a fucking skateboard.
Since the last time I rode Independent Trucks, which was maybe almost 2 years, I have ridden a couple of sets of the 33 size aloha print APB collabo Ace Trucks, which were incredible by the way, and a set of Thunder 145's that had a hollowed out kingpin which made them significantly lighter.
I really don't need my trucks to be super light, in fact I like a bit of heft and weight to them.
These new Indys are perfect and I am completely stoked on my whole set-up right now.
Hey, at least I tried something different for a minute.
The old me would have told you to go fuck yourself if you were to suggest that I try riding any other truck besides Indys.

Oh, and also recently some Hawaiians that relocated to the mainland have returned home for the holidays.
Adrian Adrid is back on the north shore for a minute, and he's brought along his homie from L.A. David Bowens. If you didn't know, David is one of the 5 finalists in Slap Magazine's One In A Million competition. Also, David shares a part in the Recipe For Happiness video with our very own Jarold Webb, who also is due back here any day now for a little Christmas break as well.

Also making the trip from L.A. for a winter vacation are Jordan deOliveira and Matt Chaffin, and also I am very excited to session again with my girl Jamie Reyes, who is now home temporarily for skate action and hibernation from freezing NYC.

Welcome home, Hawaiians!
Let's get to shredding.

Red Bull Signing @ APB Followed By Best Trick Contest

Well, here are the details for the Red Bull thing I was talking about a little while back.



Looks like the rumors are true, Biebel will be part of this and no doubt the energy levels will be high.

So next Friday afternoon go check out the signing at APB and then head over to A'ala Park for the best trick contest that will be held on the gigantic rainbow rail.
Apparently it will only be for sponsored guys and invitation only so don't get bent out of shape if you can't enter, you're probably better off, that thing looks like you could get so fucking broke on it.

Later that night everybody should head over to the Deck The Halls event that is happening over at Manifest on Hotel Street that is being held to benefit my man Kenneth.





Looks like a great way to kick off the weekend, please try and make it out if you can.

Matt Chaffin @ new Venice Skatepark

Stumbled upon this lovely montage that was recently featured over on 48 Blocks, and it's the first footage I have seen of the brand new skatepark in L.A., Venice to be exact.

Check out Hawaiian homie Matt Chaffin straight up killing this big three gap.



This is a switch backside bigspin flip, just one of the ludicrous stunts Matt has in his deep bag.
Check out the whole video, it's Matt and some other locals ripping, but curiously there is no bowl footage shown, and only a couple of tricks on transition.

Apparently the bowl and snake run sections of the park are said to be amazing.
Love to see some footy of the entire park but this will definitely do for now.

Big up yourself, Shmatty!
Ripping shit.
Check it out.



Also on a related note, I been sitting on this YouTube clip of Matt skating the Podium TF with his best buddy Daniel Castillo.




That place is super sick. We had a chance to skate Podium when we were in L.A. last January, this is Matt and Johnny winding it down.

Anyway, super stoked that Matt is doing the damn thing big up in L.A.!

Fitted Death Rails

Last weekend at A'ala Park the long-rumored mega Rainbow Rail and the 20 foot long S rail were brought down for a testing.
There is a best trick contest coming up to coincide with the Red Bull demo and signing that is happening down at the park on either December 11th or 12th, gonna have to check on that for the exact details but I'll get back to you.

Anyway, there's this big rainbow mega rail that they're putting on top of the nipple/volcano/hump thing and then there's also this long twisty S rail that's on the flatground right next to the tight quarterpipe.
So last Saturday afternoon Cuzzo from Fitted Hawaii came and brought the steel obstacles, which were custom made by Kevin Lau with help from some welding and blowtorch skills courtesy of Gerrard Secretariel, a.k.a. Gerardemy.

Shit was gnarly, especially the rainbow rail.
Not too many people fucked with it but Silent John ended up killing it.
The S rail was much more user friendly, even I could get some on that thing but still it was pretty tricky overall.

The Red Bull thing should be interesting, Cuzzo says Biebel is going to be there so that alone makes it worth checking out for me.

Oh well.
Here's some pictures.


Get some.


Or is this more your speed?


Shota feebled and much more.


Back over here, S.J. nosegrinded this motherfucker!


Another angle, because this is just too goddamned good.


Reilly tried hippy jumps.


And lipslides.


Of course Nuts tried to crook it.


This kid 50-50'd it pretty easily.


McMullet, Dazed & Confused extra.


Skill-R-Chi was working the HD angles. Check out his footage below.



Man, that whole look is sharp!
Definitely on some Hollywood shit.


Meanwhile, on the lower impact shit, Shota got crooky.


John crossed over.


After that it was beverages and chillin'.

APB Black Turkey Sale

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
Used to be we would put in a little time eating with the family, peep a little football and then bounce for an all-day skate mission.
Almost everything is closed on Thanksgiving (not where I work, I'll be there all day giving thanks for that) and you can virtually spot-rape and defile pretty much anywhere and everything your dirty little skate rat heart desires.

My advice to you is take advantage of the holiday and just go for it.
Stay away from the skateparks and go out and hit those normally off-limits and untouchable joints that you never get the chance to otherwise.
In fact, I encourage you to cause as much ruckus as possible while you're doing it and I emplore you to also get into a confrontation or two with any and all security types.

Trust me, those rent-a-cop dudes are bored as fuck at those shitty jobs and nothing would excite them more than getting all up in a good old fashioned brew-ha-ha with a group of trespassing skate marauders.
In fact, tell them that they should be giving thanks to you for giving them something to do in the first place, and then tell them that The Skate Nazi sent you and that he said that your fat ass should eat another turkey sandwich, chill out, and then go fuck yourself!

ALSO, I highly recommend that you peep out the big sale that they're having down at the A'ala Park Boardshop.



Everybody should be mega-thankful for the fact that there is a skater owned and operated joint like this right here in town.
You really want to go to the fucking mall and drag your parents to some wack chain bullshit store for your skateboard needs?
In the words of my man Ocho Cinco: "Child, please..."

Shop smart this holiday season.
Support locals!

Deck The Halls For Kenny

This event is happening on Friday, December 11th and it is a benefit to raise money for my bestest buddy Kenny Brimer's fight against leukemia.



There will be boatloads of art done up on skateboard decks by a plethora of local artists, so please come down and buy one or two or three.
Hope to see a shitload of people there and tons of cash raised, because ALL the money from this will go directly to Kenny.



Huge mahalo to Kavet from Lightsleepers and everyone else involved for making this event happen and also much thanks to all the artists who contributed.

Jarold Webb Video Part On TWS Website

Stoked to see that the Transworld website is now featuring Mililani's own Jarold Webb on it's Footy Tape Fridays section.
This part however is not a new thing, this is actually Jarold's ender section from the APB video, The Struggle which came out in early 2008.


Wow.
Still really, really good considering how old some of this footage is.
Seriously, look how little he is on that kickflip noseslide down the Royal school rail.
That was fucking ages ago.

Anyway, glad to see my man is still getting props for this.
Hope we get to see some a lot more Webby killing it in that upcoming FIDLAR joint, should be a winner.