MAY 10: DC Shoes “Defy Convention” Book Release Party- 20 Years of DC Skateboarding in Pictures

By Hali Estrada.

DC Shoes just released their Book “DEFY CONVENTION” 20 Years of Photography curated by Mike Blabac. We have the chance to go to the release party and to take a first look at this great compilation of the best photographs DC had in 20 years. The book is amazing and we highly recommend that you go get it ASAP, if you like Skateboarding as much as we do this book is a must have in your Library. We had a great night surrounded by so many talented people, we can’t wait to do it again.

 

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OCT 17: Los Garbage Art Show

Los Garbage Art Show is coming on OCT 19th to LBCSkate Store in Long Beach, Don’t forget to mark the date and come check the talents of Gunther Estrada, Lou Barberio, Faceless, Kevin Ronner, Tom Tate, Froilan Ascano, Alex Wasbin, Andrew Sprigle, Matt Loomis, Rick Garcia, Jen Koottarappallil, Mike Jorgensen, Erick Fisher, Kortni McAbe, Carlos Rivasplata and Gustavo Neves. Music by DJ. BethB. and Live Music :), PBR is free so don’t forget to come and check it out !!!!

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JAN 09: Still Life with Wood and Haroshi

By Hali Estrada.
Photos by Gunther Estrada.

I think the best parts of living in California is having the opportunity to skate some of the most iconic spots in history and to watch first hand the progression of Skateboarding literally happening in front of our eyes; add to that the advantage of being only 10 to 40 minutes of the latest video premieres, contests, events and art shows and you will understand why we love living in sunny California.

Last Saturday we attend not 1 but 2 Art shows in just one night. Around 8:30 we were on our way to “Still Life with Wood” at the AR4T Gallery in Laguna Beach. “Still Life” showcased a collection of classic pictures from some of the best Photographers in Skateboarding; Grant Brittain, Dave Swift, James Cassimus, Miki Vuckovich, Jon Humphries and Atiba Jefferson.

Gunther Estrada, Grant Brittain and Hali Estrada.

We got the chance to meet Grant Brittain and after talking to him for a while he told us that in the mid 80’s he met a Professional Peruvian Skateboarder at Del Mar Skatepark; we thought it was Eddie Reategui ( Eddie was the first Peruvian ever to get Pro status in the States back in the 80’s ) but he told us that it wasn’t Eddie, it was somebody else but he couldn’t remember. We were very intrigued about that so its our job now to find out who this mystery Skateboarder was. After saying goodbye to Grant and getting a glass of wine we were on our way to Los Angeles to meet up with Alvaro, Ken and Diego for the Haroshi exhibition.

Huf and DLX partnered with Japanese Artist Haroshi to exhibit 5 of his sculptures, we knew about Haroshis art for a long time and we were looking forward to see it in  person. Haroshi crafts his sculptures from recycled Skateboards and the detail of the each piece was incredible. Starting with the Spitfire wheel we were slowly walking around each sculpture trying to figure out how he did it, specially the intricate fire hydrant which Torey Pudwill ollied right before we got there. Tommy Guerrero and Ray Barbee were playing some great tunes, this guys are not only great Skateboarders but also very talented musicians, seeing them took me back to the Powell era and made me remember that Stacy Peraltas documentary about the Bones Brigade is gonna be ready very soon, we can’t wait  to see it ;). In conclusion  we had a great night with all our friends and we probably we’ll be doing it again very soon; here are some pics from both shows.

John Cardiel by Atiba. "ALL HAIL CARDIEL".

Natas Kaupas by Grant Brittain.

"Los Mysteriosos" were playing songs in Spanish for the crowd.

Atwuan by Atiba

Gunther Estrada and Skateboarding Legend Jeff Grosso.

The Bones Brigade by Grant Brittain.

The one and only Gonz by Grant Brittain, another Classic.

Dog head.

The fire hydrant.

Skateboarding Legend and musician Tommy Guerrero playing some tunes on the Guitar Sculpture.

Tommy Again after finishing the concert.

Diego Espinoza, Ken Mishima and Hali Estrada.

The Spitfire Wheel Sculpture.

Steven Treboux and Gunther Estrada.

Close Up of the guitar.

The hand.

The amazing Sal Barbier and Gunther Estrada.

JAN 07: Agenda……

By Hali Estrada.

Skateboarding is getting bigger than ever and is NOT because there is more Skateparks, FUCK NO. This worldwide Skatepark booming is the result of the popularity Skateboarding gain in the late 90’s with the X-games and video games like Tony Hawk Pro Skater; The kind of popularity only big corporations can achieve with a decade of huge marketing campaigns and advertisement; Lucky for us, Skateboarding itself is not and will never be for sale… so relax… because if somebody strange to Skateboarding builds a park, or starts a company selling boards bluntly copying graphics, or calls himself a real Skateboarder to sell shit in Wallmart or Target, is not doing us a favor and is not defining Skateboarding or making it bigger and most definitely is not making a real contribution to the core Skateboard industry.

I read something Thursday morning before going to Agenda that make me think a lot about my home country and how some “Important” Skate companies are managed there by Surfers and people who know nothing about Skateboarding but somehow run the game there, that’s just fucked up but what I read went even beyond that. Please don’t tell me that because you built Skateparks in Peru, the core Peruvian Skateboarding companies will suddenly make more money and will owe you something, Im sorry but is not like that, the core Skateboard industry was there doing business before you built your parks and they will still be in business with or without 10, 20 or even 30 Skateparks. Core companies will always have Skateboarders to support them. Skateboarding doesn’t need Skateparks but Skateparks would not be there without Skateboarding; Skateboarding doesn’t owe you anything.

Chris Cole, Jesus Olcese, Giancarlo Zavalaga and Paul Rodriguez.

So, I was thinking about all this stuff walking down the lines in Agenda; To my surprise a lot of brands that have nothing to do with Skateboarding were selling … yes… SKATEBOARDS. I kept walking down the lines thinking about what I read that morning about Peru when suddendly I walked into the amazing Tony Magnusson, Tony was one of the best Skateboarders in the 80’s and 90’s, and with Mike Ternansky were behind the force that changed Street Skateboarding forever; H-Street Skateboards.  Tony came to Peru back in the 90’s with Alphonzo Rawls and Jason Rogers; after a brief walk down memory lane he asked me how things are in Peru. I told him that Skateboarding is bigger than ever there and that there is a lot of Skateparks; he looked at me in the eye and with a smile on his face he told me: “Thats because we went there, we changed everything”.

I think this is very true, not only them but all the Skateboarders and companies that were here since the beginning,  they were an inspiration to us and they are the root of this huge tree that is now the “Skateboard Industry”; Skateboarding is bigger than ever because our roots.  Needless to say “The Berrics Agenda” was the only part of the convention center where I felt comfortable, I think is a great Idea to separate the core  brands from the rest of the show. It was almost 6:30pm when we decided to go back home but not before meeting the legendary Brian Lotti, in my opinion one of the best styles ever along with Ray Barbee. It was the perfect end to our Agenda experience;  we even took a couple of pictures, here they are :).

CFL.

Josh Kalis and Jesus Olcese.

Brian Lotti and Hali Estrada.

NOV 12: Love+Guts.

By Hali Estrada.

Last Thursday we were on our way to the LAB in Costa Mesa to celebrate Thrasher 30 years of Art and Photography. Thrasher was the first real Skateboarding magazine I got in my hands back in 1989 and walking into this room filled with some of the most iconic pictures in Skateboarding history was overwhelming.  I was literally sorrounded by the progression of Skateboarding from Tony Alva to Leo Romero; Moments forever captured by some of the best photographers like  Luke Ogden, Bryce kanights and Mörizen Föche.

After getting one of the big posters and walking around the room for like an hour we went outside to get some prints. Gunther got a 10 piece print set from Lance Mountain and I got an amazing Dragon print from the CAB himself, he told me that Stacy Peralta’s documentary about the Bones Brigade is coming out soon, Stacy is a great filmmaker and we can’t wait to see it. After the show we went to the party thing in the back of the LAB but thats another story. It was a fun night and a very inspiring one,  here are some pics of the show.

SKATE AND DESTROY !!.

Hosoi and Gonz doing what they do best, one of my favorite pictures. Huntington beach 1985 by Bryce Kanights.

Mr. Duane Peters in 1980 by reg Caselli.

Exactly my thoughts; Pat Ngoho is the Man.

Lance Mountain and Gunther Estrada.

EMB Locals taken by Bryce Kanights in 1994, the best of the best.

Hali Estrada and Steve Caballero.

The Incredible John Cardiel. San Francisco, 1991 by Bryce Kanights.

The Gonz and his gap. San Francisco 1986 , by MoFo.

Gunther Estrada, Christian Hosoi and Tom Contreras.

MAR 19: Marc McKee book release.

By Hali Estrada.

Skateboarding is freedom from anywhere you see it and the Art Marc McKee created in the 90’s during the World Industries revolution is prove that creativity and freedom go hand in hand.  Marc just released a book and we were lucky enough to be at the opening ceremony last night at the HVW8 Art and Design Gallery in Los Angeles. Driving down Melrose and looking for parking was a pain but when we finally found a spot and walked inside the gallery we felt like kids walking into a candy store. The walls were cover with some of the best boards ever created along with original pencil art and oil paintings Marc did during the early 90’s, including the board that changed  the shape and concave of all boards forever, the Vallely “Barnyard” Board and many of his controversial yet funny boards like the “Fucked up Blind Kids Series”.

I could write about those graphics for hours, for us they represent Skateboarding itself because those edgy drawings were the definition of  individuality and they inspired us to do what we love in life.

The book is edited by Marc McKee and Winston Tseng (art director for Enjoi Skateboards) and is part of the Seen Unknown Artist series and I highly recommend you to go get it as soon as you can and If you are in LA go by the gallery and see by yourself the work of one of the best Artists in Skateboarding history, the exhibit will run until April 10th and if you are lucky you might get the chance to buy one of the limited prints and support  the real deal.

"Let me write the songs of a nation; I don't care who writes it's laws"- Plato.

Limited prints were available including Mariano's Accidental Gun Death.

Hali Estrada, Marc McKee and Gunther Estrada

Hali in front of the best boards of the 90's.

Andre Beauvais and Gunther Estrada with the book.

The board that changed everything, the Vallely Barnyard Board.

Gunther in front of a rare gem, the Jason Lee "Burger" board.

Fucked up Blind Kids Original Artwork.

Skateboarding Legend Eric Dressen and Gunther Estrada, new tattoos are coming soon...

Madeleine and Hali

James Craig and Hali Estrada in front of James "Lake Show" Board.

Alvaro Santillana and Hali, it was a great night .

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