Yeehaw!: Face Chug, A Trick Tip

There is no lack of homies to get rowdy with in our skate community. More often than not, when there is a skate event there is also a party attached to it. It is at these parties that skaters from all different places, walks of life, and styles of shred come to get loose and have a good time. After spending a day spreading the butter of gnar thickly—and with grace—the scene abounds with many perfect opportunities to Face Chug the hell out of your closest fellows. “What is a Face Chug?” Well, let me do some explaining: Read More

Yeehaw!: The Art of Hitchhiking Runs

In general, hitchhiking is seen by society as freeloading and sketchy. Downhill skateboarder or not, you’re just gonna have to accept that. As a skateboarder hitching rides up hills, you’ll probably look dirty from the dust and debris you picked up from that bail you sustained a few runs back while coming in too-hot on that un-banked sweeping right-hander. Bam! Flop! Blood? Yes—it’ll probably be dripping out of ya somewhere. Sweat will most likely adorn your crown and nether regions, making you reminiscent of that chubby kid from 8^th grade gym class. On top of that, if it isn’t the first run of the day, you’ll probably smell like three salty/sweet jockstraps. And then stack this on there too: the stigma that society’s placed on that four-wheeled piece of wood under your arm—it tells glossy-eyed, fake-breasted, angry, inbred, soccer-moms that you smoke the devil’s weed and hail Satan. For the sake of time, let’s not even get into what your grimy, skateboarding visage evokes in the minds of police and other drivers who believe they hold authority over everyone. It is said that first impressions are everything, so don’t be surprised when cars just blow by your extended thumb.

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Yeehaw!: Best Video, Ever

This is the best downhill video (see below), ever. Period!

Wait, wait, wait—before you go off sending your hate mail to Wheelbase about how my opinion blows—give me a chance to explain myself.

Being a skateboarding enthusiast I watch a lot of skate videos in order to get inspired to try new maneuvers, or just freshen up my existing bag of tricks. When I learn new things on my board I feel great. Watching videos lets me sample the styles of other riders and provides me with a taste for different flavors of skating. If I’m not inspired while watching a video I’ll straight turn it off in the middle, but on the contrary, when I find a rider that I can vibe with I will seek out their videos, watch them multiple times, and absorb the pieces of their style I like into my own. I believe that if you consciously seek out such inspiration your own personal style will be affected. The main element that can make or break a video is style. A rider may perform only a handful of tricks, but if those tricks and techniques are performed in the right environment and with some spicy-full-flavor, then their style can create a video part that you can’t take your eyes off of.

Another thing that can make or break a video is length vs. content. It is possible to have a solid radical video that is longer if the relative content throughout the video is kept at a DEFCON 8 or higher radness-level. I have found that my favorite videos are short runs of high intensity—not boring—full of bangers and good style. If a video is too long and not filled with bangers, re-edit that shit and make it shorter—It will get more views. With all this in mind, I give the stage to what I believe is the best video in Downhill: Read More

Yeehaw!: Let’s Celebrate

Pete Eubank & Sara Paulshock celebrating good times on Catalina Island. Photo: Paul Reload.

We have all been there before, at the top of the hill, thinking about why we can’t seem to land that one trick, that one banger that must be stuck clean before session’s end. Many a times, I’ve found myself blank-faced, drool spilling from the side of my mouth, breaking a trick into segments—simpler motions—striving to find out which part I’m doing wrong. All I can think about is adding this maneuver to my bag o’ trickery—that way I can bust it out in front of the dudes later, but nevertheless I keep eating pavement, try after try. Until . . .

. . . finally, in one sweaty, dirty, bloody attempt, the trick is landed—roll away clean!

Whether the trick is landed in front of the crew, or alone, one thing is for certain: It’s time to celebrate! Don’t be afraid to express yourself. I’ve seen dudes huck their board into the bushes and throw fists of victory into the air—let the crowd go wild (even if they aren’t going wild at all). Ha ha! My favorite way of celebrating the success of adding a fresh banger to the bag is to put on my G face, chest-bump a homie, and continue to put my hands on my hips and rotate in a seductive two-step fashion. Other riders may throw on their thiz face and flex their zef mega-hard (see dude in video below). Read More

Yeehaw!: Pulling A Fast One In Slow Motion

Bbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpppp! You’re a snake slithering your way down a hill and ya just pulled the most cholesterol-filled, fatty, meaty, beastly, gigantor slide of your life—hoping someone laid witness to your steezery. You’re riding along on a cloud of stoke now, feeling like you’re in bullet-time: a fourth-dimension of slow motion. Every time you go for a slide, things slow down. Your brain feels like its working 110% as you focus all of your energy and balance on that one piece of a moment. You bounce from half-second to half-second as you meticulously choose your slide’s progression down the road. You later tell the tale to the homies about how you were in ‘slo-mo’ while all things sang in harmony with your screeching wheels. Read More