CULTURE
Muska Wants Campbell to Take His Spot in Hall of Fame
With great thought, I would like to announce that I am respectfully declining my induction into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame this year.
I believe there is a global awakening taking place; and I find it only right to also respectfully suggest that you allow Kareem Campbell to take my place.
I know Kareem would have made it in the Hall of Fame without this suggestion. But I truly believe that now is the time to show the world the racial boundaries that skateboarding, especially street skateboarding, breaks.
I have traveled this world my entire life connecting with the most beautiful, yet insanely diverse, group of humans called skateboarders. Our industry needs to celebrate and better represent this diversity in our institutions, business, and media.
In no way is this an attack on the Skateboarding Hall of Fame or any other media outlet. It’s just something I truly believe will be positive for the image of skateboarding, and this world.
Kareem Campbell was such an influence and mentor to me. Although I am not black, hip hop culture has always been a major part of my life. Kareem was one of the first skaters that felt like he was one of my friends, and not some untouchable pro. But he just happened to be the best skater in the world!
The music he put in his videos; the team of skaters he formed; the shoes he designed; and the companies he built were the blueprint for everything that I went on to do.
It is only right that Kareem is inducted before me.
Image Via Chad Muska
CONTESTS
Get Behind the Scenes of the Red Bull Bowl Rippers
In September, Red Bull Bowl Rippers brought pro skateboarding action back to Marseille’s famous beachside Bowl Du Prado after a two-year hiatus.
As thousands of enthusiastic French spectators witnessed the action-packed event, Marc Churchill and Corbin Harris interviewed the participating skaters, as well as industry veterans such as Greg Poissonnier, Chris Gregson, and Bryce Kanights. They also spoke with the event organizer, Jeremie Grynblat, and local hero Vincent Matheron to understand what makes this unique proving ground so special and why people keep coming back to it for decades.
The first Bowl Rippers was held in 2016 at the iconic park to celebrate its 25th year. Now on its sixth edition, The Red Bull Bowl Rippers continued the Bowl Du Prado’s legacy of enshrining legends into a new era.
The Bowl Du Prado, designed by Jean-Pierre Collinet, has been visited by every great skateboarder to leave their mark on the sport. Along with famous names like Cardiel, Speyer, Trujillo, and Petersen, there are also local legends like Molinier, Benoliel, Salah, and the Matheron clan who have all contributed to the skatepark’s worldwide notoriety.
CULTURE
Atita Verghese: India’s Top Female Skater in ‘Skate Tales’
In this episode of Skate Tales, Madars Apse visited Bangalore to meet Atita Verghese, India’s leading female skater.
Atita was introduced to skateboard culture by the Holystoked crew, who constructed India’s first DIY skatepark in Bangalore. Her life was transformed when she stepped onto a skateboard, and she has never looked back.
In 2014, Atita established Girl Skate India, a non-profit organization that encourages young women to pursue skateboarding. Atita is a source of inspiration for women worldwide, particularly in India, where skateboarding is still in its early stages.
She has been involved in the construction of the majority of skateparks in her home country to this day, having learned how to mix concrete and shape transitions with the Holystoked collective.
Skateboarding has led her to appear in numerous advertisements, a TED talk, movie roles, and even a cameo in the Netflix series Skater Girl.
Atita has created a one-woman movement beyond providing boards, pads, or lessons. In a society where opportunities for girls to be free of social constraints and have fun are limited, Atita’s work is definitely worth checking out.
CULTURE
Andrew Arthur: From Sponsored Skateboarder to Fashion Photographer
The Transworld Skateboarding crew catches up with Andrew Arthur in this episode of “Brain Floss.”
Andrew Arthur was raised in Oceanside, California, surrounded by some of the best skaters who eventually became pros. Although he once pursued skateboarding and even reached the amateur level, his career took a different path when he found his niche in fashion photography.
Fast forward ten years and Andrew now resides in New York City, where he continues to skate and stay connected with the local scene. His latest photo project, which will be compiled into a book, is a unique take on the sun bounce setup popularized by Peter Lindbergh.