CULTURE
Year in Review: These 10 Videos Defined 2021
Last year’s footy was hard to beat, but 2021 made a real go of it. We’ve been fortunate to be gifted with a bounty of full-length films chock full of impressive and creative approaches. Whatever this year’s been, it’s brought out some phenomenal skating. We’ve focused on full-length vids this year, but special consideration must be made for Mark Suciu’s avalanche of worthy parts in the fall, and Jack O’Grady’s outrageous pro debut for Pass~Port. These are some of our favorite videos put out in the last 365 days.
10: Gangreen
We’ve only had a few days to watch (and re-watch) this one, but Creature’s brutal film still has our bones shaking. Love it or hate it, that’s gotta count for something.
09: Mind Goblin
Bill Strobeck was more Bill Strobeck than ever in this one. This highly-anticipated video delivered in such a way that both skaters and film buffs went home happy.
08: Beyond the Third Wave
Palace brought us an instant classic courtesy of Kyle Wilson. Danny Brady and Charlie Birch got another nod. Must appreciate the dopeness throughout.
07: Hit Video
Max Palmer brought the good vibes, hit great spots, had a chill soundtrack, and brought smiles to all our faces. Mm hmm.
06: Vaccine
Dashawn Jordan’s pro debut capped with the ender of all enders. Between that and Toy Machine’s signature style, this was the one vaxx we could all agree on.
05: RESPECTFULLY
The crew was on point from start to finish, but it was Trung Ngyuen who killed by putting a fresh and fun spin on it.
04: Grand Prairie
We knew this one would be one for the books. Quasi’s refreshing full-length broken down into 20 minutes of polished footage and 30 of b-sides was well worth the watch.
03: Bunny Hop
Crailtap had a lot of fun with this one, no doubt. Hugely talented riding and great skits paired with Carl Aikens’s Chocolate pro debut made this one a treat.
02: Constant
Nike SB brought the summer hit nobody could forget. Goat-level skating, smooth editing, refreshing boundary-pushing bangers from some of the most legendary names – you knew this list wouldn’t be complete without it.
01: Nice to See You
And finally, the Vans global collab that made headlines. A lot of them. From Nick Michel’s unorthodox yet undeniable opening, to the Chima Ferguson ender that nobody could stop talking about, “Nice to See You” was the most 2021 vid to come down the wire.
Check out our previous Years in Review for more time capsules.
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.