CULTURE
UPDATE: LLSB’s Latest Southbank Restoration Is Now Complete
If you’re visiting this site, we likely don’t have to explain the cultural significance of London’s Southbank in skateboarding. The big news is that LLSB’s fundraising efforts have surpassed £850,000; and it is now set to proceed with the next phase of the restoration of the iconic spot. This includes liberating a large section of Southbank that has been closed since 2005, and reintroducing the little banks. Have a look at the above video for a preview of what’s to come. Then, head over to Slam City to read an interview with LLSB’s Stuart Maclure and Louis Woodheadin that breaks it all down in detail.
We’ve been fundraising since June 2017 and since then we’ve raised over £850,000. Some funders have conditions involved, and there is an underwriting covering a portion of the project, which makes it all quite complex. Effectively we’re still fundraising for the final portions, but we’re in a position to start moving ahead, appointing contractors and starting to schedule in the actual build.
So all of the money that we’re raising is for the restoration of the little banks, and a large proportion of the sections of Southbank that were closed in 2005. Cost estimates have gone up and down a few times over the last year. We now have final quotes back after tender, which come in at £700,000.
Donate to LLSB’s ongoing fundraising efforts here.
UPDATE 07.22.18: The latest restoration at Southbank is complete; and the first session went down last Saturday. Have a look at the below recap from Free.
UPDATE 03.01.19: Palace has donated an additional £51,000 to LLSB from the sale of its Spring 2019 SB deck. Have a look at the announcement below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Buby9foDQ37/
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.