MAY 11: Blade-runner meets Skateboarding in Downtown L.A.

By Sebastian Arrieta.

My buddies from the Art Center dropped by one night with one of the light boards. At first I thought it was a regular board until my buddy turned it on almost blinding me with how bright it was. I immediately wanted to take it out for a spin and trip out on it. Later on when my buddy Ricardo Uhagon Vivas (who is the Director) told me that he actually wanted to make a music video for a contest entry with the same kind of feeling I had the first time I saw one of these boards, I was definitely down. They also wanted to shoot part of the Skating up on my roof and given that there’s a concrete helipad up there, made me wanted to do this even more. The Video took only a couple nights of filming and a couple more nights of editing but everyone who was involved in the little project did an awesome job, especially those behind the cameras. It was fun because it hints the possibilities of what someone can do with film and Skateboarding without making a conventional Skate video. Combining narrative and story telling with Skateboarding and at the same time showcasing other artistic talents in editing and animation were the right ingredients for the video, and trying to make it seem futuristic must have made it even harder to pull off.  The contest “Hello Future” is part of the 21st Saatchi & Saatchi new directors showcase at the Cannes Lions international festival of creativity. Contestants need to visualize the concept of “Hello Future” in the form of a standout music video inspired by one of three tracks selected from Moby’s new album, “Destroyed”; The winner will be announced at this year’s Saatchi & Saatchi new directors showcase in Cannes on June 23rd.  Hopefully my buddies video wins, anyone can just go on VIMEO and check out the other entries submitted to get a taste of what other people are doing.. personally I think this is the best video so far… hope you like it !!!

Directed by Ricardo Uhagon Vivas
Produced by WATERGUN.TV

Co-director: Stefan Pavlovic
Editor: Jorge Sandoval
VFX Supervisor: Gabe Valente Ferrao

Cinematographer: Chris Saul
B Camera Operator: Aaron Shapiro
Additional photography: Ricardo Uhagon Vivas, 
Stefan Pavlovic and Erik Anderson

Assistant Director: Rafa Sanz
Sound Mix: Nacho Lopez
Make Up: Pauline Noriega
Prop Master: Eric Fisher
Lightboards courtesy of Photon Lightboards
photonlightboards.com

Skaters:
Shannon Joy Rodgers
Sebastian Arrieta
Josh Sierra
Espen Solberg
David Lopez
Amaury Hernandez

APR 24: New Sizes

All Choncordia decks are now available in 8.25″, to get one just click on any image to go to the store. Im almost done with the second PRO series of the year and they will be available pretty soon; The new AM series will be done by mid June so get ready for more limited edition decks ;) and don’t forget all Choncordia decks are 100% Made in USA by Skateboarders which is a very important part so come support the little companies own and run by Skateboarders and get yours NOW :).

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 .

FEB 20: Cold Angeles.

By Hali Estrada

The rain woke me up at 9am today and it was freazing cold. After a super hot shower I got ready to go Skate this building close to our place, it has some ledges and a nice manual pad, but after going for a coffee with Gunther and Zavalaga we decided to go to LA instead, so we got onto the 405 and drove to Sebastians place in  downtown LA. Gunther couldn’t come with us but I took the camera with me, when we got there Sebastian set up a fresh new board and we went to the Helipad on top of his apartment to warm up ( Yes…Helipad ).

The sky was  almost filled with clouds and it looked very cool so I took some pics of their warm up. After 30 minutes we went to the Staples Center but we got kicked out faster than ever before; two guys started screaming at us and this giant dude grab me by the shoulder and told me to “get the fuck out of there”, I told him to chill but he got even crazier :/, I guess he was having a very bad day or maybe he was naturally pissed at his security guard life, who knows :).  After the retarded Giant powertrip we cruise downtown  all the way up to 1st street and found these nice ledges; I didn’t take many pictures cause my hands were literally FROZEN but it was a nice little session, angry giant drama included :). We then drove back to CM and had a nice dinner at a Peruvian restaurant to close our cold Angels day.

I didn’t take a lot of pics as I said before but here are the 3 I liked the most  :).

Sebastian Arrieta, Switch Heelflip.

Sebastian Arrieta, Switch Heelflip.

Giancarlo Zavalaga and his Signature Frontside Kickflip.

Giancarlo Zavalaga and his Signature Frontside Kickflip using one of the Anniversary Boards.

Sebastian, Nollie Kickflip Crooks at the Death Rat Ledges.

Sebastian a second away from a Nollie Kickflip Crooks at the "Death Rat" Ledges.

FEB 19: CFL Team Series #1.

By Hali Estrada

The CFL are the second team deck series of the year. The 3 graphics and the bottom letters have a lot to do with the quotes but maybe for you they don’t, I will leave it to your own interpretation once again :). The CFL decks will be made in limited quantities and like all Choncordia boards they are 100% made in USA by Skateboarders; so go get one and support the little guys,  just click on the image for more info :).

CFL!!!

FEB 14: Starship PRO Series.

By Hali Estrada.

Skateboarding is not an easy thing to do and a lot of people quit after their 1st or 2nd year. It takes a long time to learn your first tricks and a lot of balls to keep Skating after you brake your first bone or tear a ligament (which hurts like hell) and it takes a lot more to keep Skateboarding for 10 or 20 years, then you become a lifer and the only reason is because you love it and because you understand that the true meaning of riding your board  is having fun. I believe that Skateboarding is an Art and every time I see Jesus, Giancarlo and Sebastian Skating it only confirms my belief. I met Giancarlo back in 1991, he was just a kid and  he was amazing on his board, his style is timeless and he’s been killing it since then. Jesus is one of the best Skateboarders I’ve ever seen, I met him when he was just starting and after only 3 years he was the best, he’s been literally destroying the Streets for more than 19 years. Sebastian is the youngest and I met him in 2004, his style is effortless and his consistency makes me mad, I wish I have the skills to do the tricks he lands so easy, he is a natural.

Ladies and Gentleman, it’s an honor for me to finally release the first PRO Boards of these fine Skateboarders; Giancarlo Zavalaga, Jesus Olcese and Sebastian Arrieta.  The Starship PRO Series are taking off, pick yours before they are gone.

CFL.