The best video of some of the best times in my skateboarding life. My friend Daniel apparently has the only real copy of these videos packed away in Weymouth, Auckland. Filmed in New Zealand and Samoa, edited by Joel Paoletti.
“Hold’n hands”:
and the “B Roll”:
I have been lagging behind for months on this blog. To put an end to the lack of posts, I dug through some old photos and found some pretty good ones from days gone by. I will throw up some different old pics from time to time.
The first selection that I wish to showcase is from when Ben Jones and his wife Sarah came for a visit to New Zealand in 2007. I think this was their honeymoon trip, and yes Ben had his skateboard.
Ben had to accept the gift from this Maori warrior to show that we all came in peace. This is at a tourist place, but these guys take what they do very seriously and one mistake could see you get a whack from the taiaha!
My friend Tommy just posted up on his blog that he and his crew are currently skateboarding in Wuhan, China. It reminded me of when I went there. It was a good time, and the following photos are from a trip that I went on with some New Zealanders back in April of 2008.
Smith grind at the university in Wuhan. The air temperature and humidity reminded me of the East Coast of the USA in the summer.
Dae Mon and King came from HK over to Shenzhen with us for a few days.
I got touristy and went up the Oriental Pearl in Shanghai. Sam Palmer and I were mostly lost the entire time we were here.
Ollie on a skinny bridge in Shekou.
Apparently I was doing a lot of ollies in China.
Hong Kong.
Mirador Mansions, HK
Sam Palmer, nosegrind at some spot that I don’t even know where we were. A lot of people stopped to watch us and there was a dog with a huge hole in the middle of its head and it was still alive. Soon after we left this spot I remember going to some sort of a shopping center where I bought some shirts that shrunk 3 sizes after I washed them.
The combination of skateboarding and traveling is unbeatable in my personal opinion. This was not a dedicated skate trip, but I still took my skateboard and went out whenever I could. If you head to this continent to go skateboarding, it would be a good idea to bring soft wheels because the streets are pretty rugged.
While I do not have any skateboarding related photos from Bogota, Colombia there were tons of spots there. There appears to be a thriving skate scene, it would be worth a trip.
A unique spot in Santiago de Chile
This guy was doing some kind of drugs while he was trying to sell some rings off of his fingers to skateboarders at this skatepark in Santiago. Nobody was interested and he eventually just passed out against this tree for a good hour.
Friendly skateboarders in Mendoza, Argentina
Switch no comply at the skatepark in Mendoza, Argentina
Anau and I took a trip to South America in April/May. It was my first trip down there. S.A. is amazing and the people are friendly, I want to go again. Just need to study more Spanish first!
The bus depot in Santiago, Chile.
The road that goes through the Andes, somewhere near the Chile/Argentina border. 27 switchbacks in total.
Anau and a friendly man in Mendoza.
a classic car in Mendoza.
Muchas gracias for the hospitality Ese!
Chilean Cabineros
Cordoba doesn’t speak English, but he is an awesome Argentinian chef and musician.
Argentinians love this drink made of a type of holly known as Yerba Mate. It is consumed via a metal straw called a Bombilla that protrudes from a dried gourd. It is an acquired taste, but I love them now. I brought some back to the USA with me.
In Bogota I went up to the summit of Monserrate for some views of the city and surrounding areas. Colombia is really beautiful. This friendly local family wanted a photo with me.
Heading north somewhere over Chile.
Went on another trip to the Kingdom of Tonga back in September. This time we flew up to the island of Vava’u. I used to think that Nuku’alofa was rural…
Somewhere in between Tongatapu and Vava’u
Harbour at Neiafu, Vava’u
Tamasi’i and his Moa.
Lucky to live here!
The locals!
Lifuka airport. Coast to coast. Haapai group. We could see whales from the plane!
This is a traditional Tongan dance known as the Ta’olunga, its very graceful and onlookers are expected to stick money on to the dancers oiled up skin.
‘Ila used to live in the USA but is not allowed to ever return. He looks scary but he’s all good.
Flying into NZ is always amazing. Unless its raining and stormy, then it can be scary.
Tongan rugby team supporters welcoming the team to NZ for the World Cup.
