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Keep Skateistan Rolling

IT’S KEEP SKATEISTAN ROLLING TIME!

As a part of the summer 2014 “Keep Skateistan Rolling” drive, Skateistan will release a series of new Skateistan photo stories, as well as a new video that features Skateistan student and youth leader Madina.

The short-film above gives you a glimpse into the daily life of an amazing young woman whose life has been positively impacted by Skateistan’s programs, told by Madina in her own words.

“This July we’re aiming to raise $20,000 (USD) and we need your help to KEEP SKATEISTAN ROLLING. By joining our biannual fundraising drive you can empower Afghan, Cambodian and South African youth.”

The photo stories will be shared across their social media and will give you an idea of how your donations provide new opportunities and enrich the lives of Skateistan’s students, especially girls in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa.

You can donate straight to the fund here or alternatively, buy something from their shop to help raise funds.

Don’t miss out and be sure to follow both their Facebook, Twitter & Instagram pages for regular updates!

Bay Sixty6 Girls Night TOMORROW

Don’t forget that the FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH is girls only night at Bay Sixty6 Skatepark!
Skate with the likes of Helena Long, Georgie Winter, Carla Von Marx, Anita Almonte and loads of other lady rippers from 7:30pm until 10pm tomorrow on Acklam Road, London.

Keep up to date on the girls sessions via the Bay Sixty6 Facebook page.

Take a look at some photos from previous nights by Shov It Mag editor April Whitlow on her Website & more on her Facebook page.

Click here to see the full gallery…

Interview with Liane Plant of Valkyrie Skates

We love to see girls involved in skateboarding and even more so when they create and add to the scene/industry too. When we came across Liane Plant this week (following her show at CSM LDN), we just had to get in touch and ask her about her skate life, influences, creative passions and her rad work with Valkyrie Skates.

How and where did your love for skateboarding begin?

My artwork has always been influenced by skateboarding, growing up I was the kid that used to make stencils & draw Toy Machine monsters on other peoples skateboards.
We lived in a tight knit community where everyone would cut school and skate. My Dad worked at a metal factory & made us a custom rail & we had a mini ramp that was held together by bricks & would slide around every time you’d skate it.

I was always drawing as a kid, I remember vividly seeing a Volcomics skateboarding rat that Jim Phillips had drawn & I sat home and tried to copy it, I think I still have it today, it actually really sucked but I thought I did a decent job at the time. I found his style mesmerising and to this day he is still one of my favourite artists.

As I grew older I began to draw a lot more & read a lot of comics & go see more art, I was inspired by Michael Sieben Steve Caballero & Travis Millard, seeing skateboarders making art inspired me to make my own. I left school knowing that I wanted to draw loads so I did B-tech art & design & we used to draw and skate everyday.

Comp Design for Creature

Comp Design for Mishka

How did you make your art/skate dream a reality? Who were you biggest artistic influences in the skate world?

I went on to study graphic design at Central Saint Martins & moved down to London. I learnt how to screen print & in my final year I helped out at Lovenskate, & interned at Puck studio printing & being a vinyl girl. By this point I was picking up different techniques of working in different mediums, I bought a copy of Disposable skateboard bible, the Bold graphics & strong neon colour palettes of the 80s inspired me to revive the craft that had largely been over thrown by heat transfer print. I rounded up my buddy Ralph as he was studying product design at CSM & was the go to wood guy, we sat down & came up with a bunch of ideas & influences the main theme being rejuvenation of old technique, rebirth & awakening from the dead. We decided to create a skateboard company that would bring back all the qualities of skateboarding that had slowly became lost & in danger of being overthrown by big budget companies & overseas manufacture.

And so we have the birth of Valkyrie Skates right? Can you tell us more about this venture, what you guys set out to do and your hopes for the future..

Yes! We started to create handmade, hand shaped skateboards that are reminiscent of an earlier time in skateboarding where the focal point of a graphic was the print & the craftsmanship that was conducted in the process, we didn’t want to be dictated by Adobe Illustrator & heat transfer prints. We selected each piece of wood at a local timber merchant & Ralph created some templates & shaped them by hand.

I then used Norse mythology as a basis of a narrative within all our boards. It is then designed & printed using a silkscreen process. One board could have up to seven prints so we would be up all night but the outcome felt so worth it, each board is different to the next. In Norse mythology Valkyries are the maidens of Odin who search the battlefield for the souls of the bravest warriors, which are then taken up to Valhallah and trained to fight in the apocalyptic battle of Ragnorok. The theme of immortality and rebirth is at the core of Valkyrie & supports our intention of rejuvenating traditional processes.

For the future, hopefully we’ll be expanding & pushing out concave boards, along with a load of challenging prints. The dream is to get everyone hyped on our skateboards & bring back the craft. It would also be awesome to collaborate with other artists on a series, working with Skinner would be a dream, I also love Jay Howell, Dennis McNett & Lucas Beaufort.

Awesome! We wish you all the best, it’s great to see someone with so much genuine passion and motivation! Before you go, we wanna ask you a few little quick fire questions…

Who are your all time favourite skaters?Lizze Armanto is killing it for the girls, I also love Chris Haslam, David Gonzalez, Sean Malto, the Gonz.

What are your favourite skate brands? In particular what do you prefer to skate in? Specific fave skate shoe etc?Creature, Heroin, Santacruz, Mishka usually anything with eyeballs, skulls or screaming hands.

Lastly, what are your favourite vintage ads/collabs or designs you felt really inspired by?

Sadie Osborne Talks Push The Prom

We can’t thank Skate Girls Productions enough for filming for the Push The Prom event we hosted last weekend alongside Lucy Adams, and the super quick turn around of the edit. Sadie did a great job whilst her partner in crime Rosie was away for the week, and really fulfilled her brief of capturing the fun and carefree day that was had by all.

We caught up with Sadie for a chat on her experience of the day and how she went about filming the event…

“This was my first Go Skate Day where I was involved in something truly moving.

I had travelled 3 hours to Brighton to be a part of Girl Skate UK’s Push the Prom. I automatically felt comfortable with the girls that were already there who organized the event.

The atmosphere was enlightened when more girls arrived at Hove Lagoon. I have never seen so many girl skaters before, It was amazing as very single one of them had a smile on their face. Everyone was helping anyone, whether it was sharing skate news from hometowns or showing each other how to do a trick. I wanted to capture every aspect of the day so I went with the idea of shooting through the eyes of an attendee. I felt this was important because then you can really get a feel of what it was like to be there and hopefully get stoked for next year!!

Filming the girls was far from difficult, everyone was so natural around me, never got annoyed at me being in anyone’s way, they welcomed me and helped me out. Sometimes I forgot I was filming when capturing insane tricks they pulled.

The main feeling that I got from the day I can only describe as; Family.
I honestly felt like all the people who attended Push the Prom were like a giant family. A family that you want to be a part of. A coming together of strangers that have just met but instantly click.
Any body that skates or just love skating would love this event! This is the place where you can practice new and old tricks, be inspired by other skaters, fall on your ass and not get embarrassed and meet new people who love skateboarding and who will give you their support!

Because I was documenting the day I got the chance to see everything progress and unfold. I got to watch and capture all the emotions and the togetherness of the day. There was never a dull moment. There was endless talent, talent that I have never seen before and now am eager to see more! This is what Skate Girls Productions is all about, giving these girls out there the chance to show what they can do! Also to enlighten people around the world of this hidden talent using media technologies such as video and photography.

Alongside Girl Skate UK we want to show everyone what a fantastic day this was, how it managed to make a difference to all the girls that joined and gave them a day where they could take their passion and show it to the world!
It was truly amazing to watch a group of girls who barley knew each other come together so fluently over a passion they all held. Skateboarding.

I feel privileged to have been given the chance to capture it all.”

– Sadie Osborne, one half of Skate Girls Productions

If you missed the edit, check it out here!

Girls Skate Jam at Pioneer THIS SATURDAY

The official UK Girls Skate Jam is taking place in 48hours, in its home skatepark; Pioneer in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Hosted by Jenna Selby, the 2014 jam this weekend will see the 12th years event, and with a newly refurbished park this year is set to be a banger!
The Rogue Skateboards Facebook page has been posting some nostalgic pictures of past events in years gone by and it’s super rad to see the participants and the fashion from the past decade. (We are loving that vest over Tshirt look Emma!!)
You can expect to see all the usual UK girl crew there, with some fresh faces (Emily Holt amongst others) as well as talent from across the shores (recent X games competitor Julia Brueckler).

Take a look at some photos from the past events and get yourself down to Hertfordshire this weekend for some serious skateboarding fun!

Big thanks to the sponsors for their continued support with this annual event: Rogue, Death, Chocolate, Vans, Nikita, Neon Stash, Lakai, Animal, Rubicon, Roam and Seek, Rokeo, Story Clothing & Cooler Mag!

Cwmbran Representing With Clare Jones

Like us, you were probably stoked to see Clare Jones recently added to the Freestyle Skatestore Team. Freestyle is a rad store and Grim (top dog) was always supportive of what we were doing with Getbusy Store so it’s extra exciting to see Clare welcomed to the team and know she’s in great hands!

22 year old Clare is originally from Dorchester and is now based in Newport. She’s been skating on and off now for five years and is clearly killin’ it in South Wales. After the announcement of her joining the FSTL Team, we couldn’t wait to catch up with her for a chinwag..

Favourite Park: Newport, South Wales or Hereford
Favourite Spot: The Factory 1 & 2 (R.I.P) , our DIY spots in Cwmbran Wales…Best places ever
What board are you currently riding? Welcome

How did you first get into skating?

I guess I was part of the tony hawks pro skater game era so admittedly a combination of that and my big brother.

Any rad summer plans coming up?

I’m heading out to Malmo and Copenhagen for Ultrabowl in August which I’m really looking forward to and I’ll also be going to Newquay for boardmasters this summer.

Favourite girl skater?
Nora Vasconcellos and Eliana Sosco have to be two of my favourites but all my friends who inspire me.

Note from Claire: ‘Massive thanks to Grim at Freestyle Skatestore for putting me on the team, all my friends I skate with for all the laughs and rad times we have, and to the Girl Skate UK crew who are so dedicated to supporting and pushing forward female skateboarding’

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