Road Rider was established back in 1973, and hails from Santa Cruz, California. Although the brand lay in hibernation for decades, they are back on the scene with some killer riders, solid product development, and major style. The Road Rider crew has some, if not the, deepest roots in downhill skateboarding, and their recent video release, filmed in San Francisco, reflects their dedication to those roots as well as a dedication to the future.
Wheelbase Magazine had the awesome opportunity to tag along with the Road Rider crew and shadow the filming of this truly unique video. Although a much shorter version of the vid was featured as a commercial on prime-time television during “Street League” back in August, of 2012, this full-length “Director’s Cut” edit by (artist/surfer/filmmaker/photographer) Alex Kopps has never aired until today. Please sit back and enjoy this rad vid, quotes from the riders, as well as some behind-the-scenes imagery. Keep your eyes peeled on the Road Rider crew—they are definitely Getting Rad!
Kyle Wester and the crew drifting while the Charger charges. Photo: Bandy.
Kyle, Malachai, and Hayden chilling between scenes. Photo: Bandy.
The boys doing a follow-cam run without the cars. Photo: Bandy.
Malachai Greene, taking it back to 1973. Photo: Bandy.
SF was rad, we got to skate some rad spots, with some rad doods, fast cars, a hot girl, and faster skating. . . and a lot of shit-head jokes. We made love with SF. -Malachi Green
Road Rider crew drifting through the city with Alcatraz and the SF Bay as the backdrop. Photo: Bandy.
Checkin’ the footage. Photo: Bandy.
The Road Rider commercial was inspired by one of the most famous car chase scenes of all time and featured in the 1968 film Bullitt, staring Steve McQueen. Steve McQueen was one of the coolest cats, ever: actor, motorcycle & car racer, playboy, etc. I like to think of him as the ‘patron saint’ of Road Rider: speed and style for days! We really tried to replicate some of the original chase scenes from the Bullitt film—same hills, same corners. Kyle even lost his puck in the same corner the Charger lost a hubcap back in ’68. Pretty rad! We were really stoked when Alex Kopps agreed to take this on. He’s a really talented director, and pretty selective with the projects he works on. So it’s super rad that he decided to take a chance on a skateboard commercial, based on a car chase, from a Steve McQueen movie, filmed 45 years ago! -Connor Welles (Road Rider Brand Manager)
Kyle Wester & the 1968 Charger. Thumbs up! Photo: Bandy.
Van-cam jam. Photo: Bandy.
SF mobbbin’. Photo: Bandy.
Inside the van-cam jam. Photo: Bandy.
Malachi trying to keep a safe distance. Photo: Bandy.
A quick snap of a Road Rider proto. Photo: Not me.
Hayden negotiating a San Francisco favorite. Photo: Bandy.
Hayden Conroy with a solid frontside 360º Wheelbase represent. Photo: Bandy.
“I was hyped on filming! It was fun and stressful at the same time. Sliding next to a car while it was mobbing up the hill was crazy!” -Hayden Conroy
Hayden slipping through the shadows, with momentum. Photo: Bandy.
Downhill legend, John Hutson, his beautiful wife Jenny, and the lovely Liz Letchford. Photo: Bandy.
Kyle Wester, one fast move, and gone. Photo: Bandy.
This was like nothing I’ve experienced before. . . muscle cars and skateboarding. What better combination can you ask for? Oh wait: muscle cars, skateboarding, and a hot-ass model. -Kyle Wester
Kyle sweeping the beautiful Liz Letchford off her feet for a wrap-up photo op. Photo: Bandy.
The Road Rider “Since 1973” video crew shot. Photo: Bandy.
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