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‘The Last Black Man in San Francisco’ Delivers a Refreshing Portrayal of Skateboarding

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The Last Black Man in San Francisco hit theaters nationwide last week. We finally got a chance to see it last night; and our take is that it’s one of the most accurate portrayals of skateboarding to hit the big screen in years. This brief examination of why contains a few spoilers. So stop reading now if you don’t want to know any details about the film before viewing it for yourself.

You’re likely already familiar with the basics of the narrative. But if you need a recap, it’s the story of Jimmie Fails’s character’s attempt to reclaim his family’s home in the Fillmore District that was lost during the ‘90s. The theme centers around gentrification and displacement in a city that has literally been colonized by outsiders over the last 10 years.

This is not a movie about skateboarding. But much like the city of San Francisco itself, it’s woven in in such a way that it’s hard to imagine it without it. From the use of skating as basic transportation in the intro, as an escape from problems in the hill bomb scenes, and as a release of aggression in the almost purposeful slam and board focus scenes, it hits some key points nicely.

But more interestingly, it touches on how skateboarding can play into the dynamics of identity and interactions with people through how the protagonists are thought of as weird or outsiders by the group of guys that hang out in their neighborhood despite one of them being a former skater; and how it connects Fails’s character with his Thrasher tank top wearing aunt and her skateboarding boyfriend played by Daewon Song.

There’s also an equal disconnect created with the father when Fails is afraid to admit that he is still skating. And Andy Roy looks perfectly natural in the climax scene when a play is being performed in front of a group that’s largely representative of the old S.F., and nods to the diversity of the people that skaters typically interact with.

In short, the film talks about skateboarding subtly and indirectly, and does so in a really authentic way. We recommend checking it out regardless of if you’re interested in the gentrification of San Francisco or not.

Image Via A24

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Get Behind the Scenes of the Red Bull Bowl Rippers

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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.

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CULTURE

Atita Verghese: India’s Top Female Skater in ‘Skate Tales’

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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.

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Andrew Arthur: From Sponsored Skateboarder to Fashion Photographer

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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.

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