February

is going to be a good month...

I have a sick line-up of dudes and it's going to rip. That's it for now.


Below is: Myself, Tony Malacara, and Wes Beucler


-bbswamps

Mike D'Agostini's Concrete Madness

So at 5:30 in the morning every day, what are you usually doing? Chances are you're sleeping, and chances are Mike is grabbing some coffee, shredding a smoke, and getting ready for a day of work for his families Concrete Business. A full time worker, full time shredder, and full time partier...I envy Mike for living as casual and carefree as he does on a day-to-day basis. All he really wants is some nice cold beer, to have some money in his pocket, and to be able shred a huge, perfect skatepark...

(Get different, Ollie hydrant INTO curb-cut)


I've always seen Mike around, just because of skateparks, spots, homies... et cetera. The shred world here in North County is hardly a secret, and whether everyone wants to admit it or not -- we all lurk. We all lurk in a positive way though because we are the shred scene, and if we're not the ones making changes, shouting opinions, or skating the spots, well then who would?

(Spot look familiar? PQ golden days, Melon)

Mikes talent, flow, and confidence on his skateboard are three easy traits to pride him on. What I like the most though is his raw and humble passion for his skateboard. Working construction can be a pain in the ass, regardless if you're doing it with your family or friends. And to have the energy to go and skate after an 8 hour day of work is seriously rad, because realistically... it's not about the "energy" your putting forth to go and skate, it's just the simple passion and desire of "wanting to," due to how much you enjoy doing it.

(If this trick could talk, it'd be like "Fuck You")
Skateboarding needs more modesty. Mike is fucking rad because quite frankly, in my opinion, I think he could ride for a wide range of companies... shit, if I saw him in the next Anti-Hero ad I would not be surprised... He fits into the rawest aspects of skateboarding. Concrete madness, cases of beer, and never giving a shit about "being sponsored." I think these are three traits I'd much rather pride him on. He skates because he fucking loves it, and by doing that, he's giving a lot back to skateboarding simply by being real, and modest about it. He's not afraid to tell you your shit is wack, and laugh right back at you when you strike him back with criticism--he just doesn't give a fuck, and that in itself, is truly inspiring.

So take a seat, crack one open, and enjoy the amazing photos and obnoxiously humorous words of Mike D'Agostini. This one might even make some grown men cry...

(Back D'Agostini; James Rylander Photography)


“These days I’ve grown out of going to some lame 12 stair spot and throwing my self down it for hours, that shit is wack and I would way rather Back Smith some jazzy quarter-pipe.”
-Mike D’Agostini

“I tried to go to Palomar and that shit is so lame. To me it’s just like high school: jocks everywhere, shitty classes, shitty teachers, shitty vibes…everything sucks about that place. I lasted a month at that place before I said, ‘fuck it.’“
-Mike D’Agostini

(H A M M E R S, thanks)


BB) What’s up man, where are you answering these questions right now?
MD) Right now I’m at my house in Vista, CA.

BB) What'd you do today so far?
MD) Fuck, a grip: Woke up at 530, grabbed a coffee and a smoke, went to work… got off around 2:30 and went for a solo mission at MLK park for a few and now I’m just piling out at my house.

BB) Productive day man, where were you born, and where did you grow up?
MD) BORN AND RAISED IN VISTA! Vista is the best place on the planet. There’s a lot of real people, nobody tries too hard or tries to be someone they’re not. Every city has its marks but I think Vista has the fewest of all North County.

(Back Smiths)

BB) How old are you?
MD) 20. Going on 21 in March… When you see me at the bar by me a drink and give me a high-five!

BB) How many of those years have you been skating?
MD) Fuck… I’ve been skating since I was like 9 or so but I really didn’t get into until I was like 15.

BB) What is it that drew your attention to skateboarding in the first place?
MD) Transitions; tranny is the best thing that there is about skateboarding. I would rather front 5-0 some butter coping on some fun tranny rather than skate anything else.

BB) What are some spots you grew up skating?
MD) Well of course Carlsbad Park… VISTA PARK (rest in pieces), mainly just skate parks. These days I’ve grown out of going to some lame 12 stair spot and throwing my self down it for hours. That shit is wack and I would way rather Back Smith some jazzy quarter-pipe.

(Is there such a thing as "too much tuck?" - Nope.)

BB) Who are some dudes you grew up skating with? Who do you usually skate with a lot these days?
MD) Hmm, back in the day I used to go rip with my homie Cole, who doesn’t skate anymore. I skated a lot with Eric Bennett (Check out Eric’s interview a few post’s down) Jon Rylander, Jeff Robins, I skated with different people everyday pretty much. Today everyone’s schedules are all fucked cause we are all getting older but I usually just go with like Jeff (Robins) or Bryan (Malinski) or whoever is down to go rip. And if everyone is booked for the day, I’ll just go to a local park and just cruise around and usually see some homies.

BB) So I’ve seen you destroy skate parks, pools, and the streets… but what do you prefer to skate overall? Like what do you have the most fun skating?
MD) I have the most fun skating TRANNY! TRANNY! TRANNY! By far best shit around.

BB) Why do you think that is?
MD) I think I love it so much because once you learn how to flow transition everything pieces together and there is nothing like it. Also you can get real spunky with lines, flows, tricks…just everything.

BB) Are you getting hooked up by anyone?
MD) Naw… I’ve never really put together a footy tape. When I was younger I was all about riding for companies but now I’m like fuck it, if someone wants me to ride for them then I would but I’m not going to go out of my way to pursue that shit.

(Mike's 21st is coming in March--buy him a busket)
BB) I like that mind-set man, raw and humble. What’s your favorite skate park in San Diego County?
MD) This is the hardest question in this interview because I love them all. But my favorite is probably Pala Park, just because they have bigger tranny, a pool, and fun little pockets

BB) What’s the your favorite park you’ve ever been to?
MD) Black Pearl Skatepark! Shit is nuts. That place is on some next level shit.

BB) Do you work anywhere? How often?
MD) I work for DCC General Engineering; it’s a family owned concrete company that will be mine in no time. I work full time 40 hours a week… it’s rough, but good money.

(Back Crail @ the MLK park)

BB) Is it hard to find time to skate in between?
MD) Sometimes. Sometimes I don’t skate for a week… sometimes I get to skate everyday… it’s always different.

BB) Do you go to school?
MD) Naw, I tried to go to Palomar and that shit is so lame. To me it’s just like high school: jocks everywhere, shitty classes, shitty teachers, shitty vibes…everything sucks about that place. I lasted a month at that place before I said, “fuck it.”

BB) Off your board, what are you usually doing?
MD) Usually just chilling, hanging out with my chick, gambling, drinking just whatever comes to mind at that time.

(Back Smith through Pala's pool coping)


BB) Top five favorite bands?
MD) 1. Iron Claw
2. Wicked Lady
3. Sabbath
4. Steel Mill
5. Donna Summers!

BB) Top five favorite beers?
MD) 1. Stella
2. Tecate
3. Corona
4. Shocktop
5. Heinekin

BB) What are some old skate videos you remember growing up watching?
MD) This old Sixteen Skateboards video called, “I hate children” I loooooved that video.

BB) (Laughing) That video is epic, Spanky was a little guy in that flick, that shit is loc’d out. You filming for anything right now?
MD) Naw nothing right now. For a bit I was filming with Mike
(Bricke) and all those homies but I perty much lost touch because I stay pretty strapped with work.

(Working w/ concrete and skateboarding are a fine mix)

BB) Who shoots most of your photos?
MD) James Rylander and Jordan Conway. Both are amazing photographers who get down with rad angles. Conway moved to Portland though, so now its just James.

BB) You got any tattoos? Who did it / how old were you?
MD) I got the Stacy Peralta Powell-skull with a skateboard on my leg day I turned 18… and couple weeks ago I got DCC on my wrist which stands for “D'agostini Construction company.”

(Anyone need a new screen saver? Back Smith)
BB) What’s the sickest place you’ve been to because of skating? Or just the sickest place you’ve ever skated in general?
MD) The sickest place hands down is Black Pearl skate park. The tranny towers 30 ft high, the coping hangs out like 2 ft… it’s just a skate park that will make you feel like an idiot because everything is so hard to skate.

BB) What’s the future looking like for you man?
MD) Its looking good--turning 21 soon, getting scrillz, work.

BB) Any shout outs? Or anything you’d like to add?
MD) Shout Out to this website, this shit is so sick! And shout out to James Rylander for shooting all these photos, and shout out to my Chihuahua peewee!

(Mike D'Agostini - James Rylander Photography)


BB) Always a pleasure Mike – Cheers!

Below is a quick clip of Mike, Jeff Robins, and little homie



Also below is some new and old footage of Mike
in Mike (Bricke's) new flick, "Thunder Fuck"


Interview By: Brian Blakely
Photography By: James Rylander
Guest photography: Jordan Conway

WOM Trailer re-edit

Eric made a few changes to his new trailer.

Wheels Of Misfortune should be dropping this summer, 2010.

(Mike D'Agostini - Back Crail)


Well like three or four days ago I hit up Mike and told him I was interested in interviewing him, and asked for him to head out and get a few photos. Within a day of the rain being gone Mike had headed out and snapped some rad fucking shit, and I'm incredibly hyped. Here's a small sneak peak of what to expect later on this week with Mike. It's going to be good, and all the photos I've seen are ripping. Keep lurking back, by Wednesday or so it should be up--Friday by the latest.

The rains gone--go out and skate!

-BBswamps

Mike D'Agostini

is coming...

Eric Bennett's Fortunate Misfortunes.

One of my favorite things about watching old skate videos from the 80's and 90’s is how raw the filming was back then. It was strictly dudes cruising out, filming lines with no fisheye, barging every curb, bank, and obstacle they saw. It was just the homies… they didn’t even care if they ended up with the clip afterwards… that wasn’t what granted them the satisfaction… the simple fact of just going out and destroying shit on their skateboards was the most satisfying feeling one could get—film or no film.

These days, obviously, it’s different. The skateboarding world, along with the culture surrounding it, is linked together by film and photos. Also, unlike the raw days, these days the clips do matter—quite frankly, the clips are everything. Your footy tape is what gets you sponsored, and your sponsors promote your footage to market their products. It’s a universal cycle, and it all has to do with filming and photography as much as it does skateboarding.

By saying this, I’m trying to get to the point that the filmer is part of making the whole day complete. I mean, you head out… you got the posse, the spots, the filmer, the photographer, the cooler… (laughing) Well not always that last one, but you get my point. But like I said—the filmer, he’s always there. You need to have a good relationship with the dude your filming with too, because if the chemistry isn’t there, it can become quite an irritating and stressful situation.

Eric Bennett’s name will definitely be known one day in the skateboarding film industry. Though it’s not about the fame, and usually filmers remain pretty low-key and behind the camera… Eric’s talent is incredible and he has his filming down to a science, man. The way he brings out his camera, uses his little white piece of cloth to white balance… the way he shoves that huge death lens in your face to get it in focus… it’s all a science, and he has it so mastered.

(Eric handles too, 5-0 slasher)
He uses the zoom exceedingly proper, and he knows just where to stand to make an angle turn from bogus and dull, to unbelievably perfect.

I’ve filmed with Eric more than I’ve filmed with anyone besides maybe Bobby (Johnson) but all the same, I’ve put in time with Eric. I only say this because he is a filmer I’ve seen first hand, and I stay super up to date with his work whether it be lurking his MySpace, or YouTube account, or simply heading out with him to go and skate.

Above all, Eric is a sick dude to skate with, and he’s fucking hilarious. Like, I don’t even know how I’d begin to explain his humor, but there is never a dull moment when Emuns is around, and I don’t care what anyone says… it never gets old. I’ve gone on a few trips with him, and spent a lot of time with him, and I’ve grown quite fond of the dude. I’m glad to shoot this interview out with him, and I hope you all enjoy the new trailer at the bottom of this interview, Eric's past trailers/montages, all the photos and simply the ripping words of Eric Bennett.


BB) First off Emuns, give me your name, age, and where your living?
EB) Eric Bennett, 19 years old, living in Veeestaaa,CA (Vista, CA)

BB) Where were you born?
EB) I was born in Vista and I haven't left since.

BB) What do you think about this Storm that has hit North County and it's surroundings? Straight skater-hater huh?
EB) I'm not hating on it too much. Shit is gnarly though. But the way I feel, if it's gonna rain, it better just fuckin’ straight let loose and rain cats and dogs. I hate it when it just sprinkles and gets everything wet. I heard there was a tornado and shit in OC… Heavy.

BB) What have you been doing to stay sane?
EB) I've been working every day this week anyways so its all good. Got to skate Black Box for a minute too the other day so its straight.

BB) Well when we're not rained out--where can we usually find Emuns skating?
EB) I was skating Oside park for a minute but I haven't really been going for a while. I've been skating PQ a lot lately and then skating some spots in RB. RB has mad buttery low-key spots.

(Check the new trailer for this one)
BB) How long have you been involved in the skateboarding world?
EB) I don't even know. I've always been down for skating. I remember when I first got my board. I found it or some shit then my mom bought me a "real" one. Some bullshit from Play-It-Again in O-side. I think I was like 11 back then. I didn't really get into it like trying tricks and skating my flat bar and shit till like 8th grade though.

BB) Ok, so what type of camera do you use, and how long have you been filming?
EB) VX1000 for life. Fuck all that high def shit it's ruining skating. Skating is supposed to be raw. VX1 is retardedly buttery but still raw as shit. Got my camera for Christmas when I was.... 14? Complete surprise from my dad, I didn't expect it at all or anything. Just told him I wanted a VX1 someday. Wow I was sooo psyched!

BB) What sparked your interest in filming in the first place?
EB) It was when I first met my homie Mike (Bricke) and I started skating spots with him and stuff and he had this daddy cam we would film with. I just used it a lot and I was like damn it would be sick to have a legit camera. So then I got my VX1 couple years later and it went on from there.

(Eric's also an artist, all the artwork you see is his)
BB) Do you film anything besides skateboarding?
EB) Hell no, filmed a dope porno once. (laughing) just playing. Sometimes I just film random shit, people walking around doin their normal day-to-day shit. That shits super interesting to me, just how many people there are around me all with different shit going on and different priorities. Shits crazy.

BB) Why skateboard filming, above cinema style filming, or like filming for a TV show?
EB) Because I like to skate too so it like all goes together. Go to a spot, skate it, film some homies… homies film me. When I can't skate anymore I'll probably try to get into filming movies and shit. I love movies and all that, my brother and I want to start our own company someday and he would do a lot of the directing and storyline and I would be in charge of all the filming and shit.

BB) An aspiring Tarantino (laughing)… where are some of your favorite places you've been because of skateboarding?
EB) I really haven't been to that many places. I was supposed to go to Germany last summer and Spain in the winter with this company but it didn't work out or some shit. I thought SF was super cool and AZ is tight. Try to go there once a year or so. Utah is really sick for skating too but I've been going there for a long time because both my bro's live there and I go up and chill with them every once in a while.

BB) Who are a few dudes you film with pretty often?
EB) Um, a usual day I'll go out with like Wes (Beucler), BC, and Brendan (Keaveny). Basically everyone in the video… but those are the people I see almost every day.

BB) Have any of your clips been released in any "big named" videos?
EB) I don't even know. I've given shit to companies to be used but I don't remember if it was used or not, I don't really care about that shit.

BB) Glad to hear it. So what's up with WOM? (Wheels Of Misfortune) ?
EB) It's just a homie video I’m doing for fun. By the homies--for the homies. I've just always wanted to make a video… we've been taking a long time on it cause I want to be hyped on it.

("Leaf me alone" - Eric Bennett artwork)
BB) Who's in the video?
EB) Me, Brendan (Keaveny), Wes (Beucler), Stephen (Lawyer), BC, and Anthony (Robles) are all having full parts. A couple other guests are gonna share a part and then of course all the other homies are gonna be in it.

BB) When do you expect it to come out?
EB) Dropping this year. Summer?

BB) How has filming for this video been?
EB) It's been hard lately cause of mine and everyone elses schedules. When we started we were just kids in high school, now we're all manned out with jobs and responsibilites and shit. It's going aright though.

BB) Who's part are you most excited about?
EB) I don't even know. Everyone in it is soo sick. Definitely not my part. (laughing)

BB) Tell me a little about the last trip you guys made to Arizona? Was it pretty successful?
EB) If you mean successful as in having a lot of fun and skating a lot-- ya. But we didn't get much footage. Aj (Zavala) brought his handycam and made a dope montage but it was too long for YouTube and shit so it’s just lost (Laughing).

BB) So what are your opinions on the transition from VX1's and such to all this HD we see so often these days?
EB) HD + skating just doesn’t equal out. HD is for movies and bullshit to make actors look good and so you can put in special effects and all that shit. HD is pointless for skating. Long-lense looks all slow and stupid, and when you film with a fisheye on it you can't even get close and shit so it just looks steeeewwwpzzzz. None of the footage I see ever looks right.

BB) Why do you prefer the VX? I mean, those butter colors are almost enough in themselves but why else?
EB) Again it's just raw and to me it just looks like how skating is supposed to be filmed. It's just perfect all around.

BB) Do you have any influences in filming?
EB) I used to but not anymore. I don't really like the way skate videos are filmed now. I like the Zero videos because its mostly VX1 and shit but I'm not too down with most of the actual filming. My homie Cory (Cabrera) is an influence to me I guess, he taught me a lot of what I know and a lot about dealing with companies and shit.

(Wow, the butter is dripping off this one)
BB) Right on… Have you ever thought to yourself you could maybe make a career out of this?
EB) Ya I figured I could do something like that cause by the time I was like 17 I was already getting paid here and there. It's just all about who you know. Right know I'm just still having fun with it but thats where I'm aimed at for the future.

BB) When you're out getting footage for yourself, who is usually filming YOU?
EB) I don’t know, whoever is there I guess. I've been trying to skate with my homies Mike (Bricke) and Clint (Wall) to finish up my part cause they both know what’s up and they’re down to skate.

BB) What are your plans for the future, in general, in skateboarding, filming, et cetera?
EB) No clue just taking it as it comes trying not to stress out and just have fun. I have some shit lined up with a couple companies but none of its for sure yet so I don't want to get into it.

BB) Ever plan to go to school?
EB) Fuck. I've been wanting to enroll lately but I never did and now it's too late to sign up for spring semester at Palomar. I want to at least go for a semester, learn some cool editing and shit, hit on some honeys… you know.

BB) (Laughing) Do it man, we’ll merk that campus… Shout Outs buddy?
EB) Um… anyone who has helped me and shit. All the people I've practiced on filming with to get to where I'm at. ALL THE HOMIES, Albertacos, orange juice, and Teri Cafe. Im super down for what you're doing with Swamp Ass too fool, shit is tight--keep it up.

BB) Thanks duder, anything you'd like to add that I missed...
EB) Nah not really.

BB) Thanks Eric, maybe one day I'll head out and film a clip again. Regardless--let's go skate!

I'll leave you guys with Eric's new trailer for: Wheels Of Misfortune
Eric says it should be hitting the street by Summer of this year... be on the major lerk-out!
Also check out Eric's YouTube account: Emoney666
and/or www.myspace.com/wheelsofmisfortune


Interview By: Brian Blakely
Photos By: Dchu (the barrier slash was shot by Crisjon)
Artwork By: Eric Bennett

Good times they're a comin'

Good things have been happening over here at The Swamp.

The next two interviews I have coming up are going to be ripping, and I'm seriously anxious to get them both together and finished. Eric Bennett, and Mike D'Agostini are on deck for the remainder of January, and possibly the very start of February. It's wild that it's almost already the second month of the new year... I swear it feels like yesterday, and I mean that.

This storm is seriously beginning to get out of hand. It comes down so heavy and then stops just in time to leave everything wet and merky until it starts up again. Nothing more we can really do besides sink some drinks and wait it out, or if you want to get productive go find a parking garage and skate over some puddles... it's all fun.

Well keep checking in, Eric's interview should be up within the next 2 or 3 days... and Mike's should follow shortly after. Eric is an amazing filmer and this will be a sick piece of the filming aspect in skateboarding... and Mike D is just a pure and straight ripper who destroys skateparks, pools, the streets, and everything else you want to name. This will be one of the rawest interviews I've done as well so be sure to get yourself a case for that one, or at least some tall cans... because it'll be good times.

(Mike D'Agostini - Crail Slide)


Stay Dry!

-BBswamps

Anthony Robles

Raw, low-key, and straight to the point: Anthony Robles, the chief.

Anthony's skateboarding is completely different than everyones. The way he's looking at a spot is probably equivalent to the way Picasso used to look at a snow white piece of blank paper... Robles doesn't just skate, he creates. This is not an interview, and these pictures are actually from quite some time ago... which proves how sick they are.

This spot is as gnarly as it looks. The ground is slippery and full of mossy bullshit, your board can honestly fall into the water on a seconds notice, and the entire rock is just plain wet and bumpy. Though we weren't the first to discover this spot, we did find it without looking. We were in OB eating and enjoying a few tallboys when we saw this thing that looked like a quarter pipe molded into this huge rock we were sitting by, which was the base of the entire thing. We were just chilling in a cave, doing whatever, when we noticed this thing. It was probably a week or two later than Anthony headed back with Eugene Kim to shoot this photo. This though is what I'm talking about when I speak of a timely photo--I could've posted this next year and it still would have been sick, regardless if it was really shot more than half a year ago.

Roblazed kills it--he's the chief, he's low key, never in your face, and simply doesn't care about the trends or trying to keep up... he doesn't have to, people honestly need to try and keep up with him. It's not always what your doing, or like how big of a set your killing... or how huge of a handrail you destroyed... don't get me wrong, that is sick, but I think it's how you do everything, above what your actually doing. Style for miles...

Quickies w/ Old School Chris

I think a lot of the time when people see a sick photo or a rad part, people are vulnerable to the fact that there are dudes behind the scenes, making the dudes who rip, look good. Filming, and photography are as much an art and a lifestyle as skateboarding itself, and the dudes making this art don’t always get a lot of the credit I think they deserve. To actually film a clip good, or take just a timely picture that will never get old, is a hard task to complete… and though some can and do get lucky at times, the dudes who have it down to a science are truly incredible, and inspiring. Without these photos and these clips of video… the shred world would be so lost… we should be hyped that there is such a huge archive of skate history floating around on the internet, in magazines, in dudes hard-drives, memory cards, et cetera.

I did this little mini-view on Chris because there aren’t too many photographers in San Marcos, and I know that so far every person from San Marcos who I’ve interviewed, has had at least one photo from Chris in their interview—if not every--and plus the simple fact that Chris is one of those dudes you can call up, shoot the photo, and be on with your day. No strings attached, no awkward what up’s or good byes… just fun, quick, business-handling. And beyond that, Chris is always down to have some fun at the spot, and mess around and skate, which is always enjoyable.

(Myself-Lien to tail)
Well Chris shot this photo the other day at Woodland Park’s infamous, dirty pond, that is clearly empty now—but due to this rain that just came, I can’t be making any promises. This spot is super sick, and surrounding the entire embanked slopes are wooden curbs of all sizes to stall on for days. There’s also a sick flat gap from the cement walkway that goes throughout the park, into the bank on the eastern end of the pond, which is incredibly fun… accompanied by a bent rock that you can wallie the shit out of, into the bank. Besides all that, this spot in particular was definitely one of those random ones… a spot that was held in the eye of the beholder, or like they say, the beerholder, because after a few beers this spot is smooth as warehouse ground, but without them, it can be a bit rough. There’s a ton of stuff you can find here, it’s a cool spot, and I like how Chris got the Seahorse thing in the background, excellent flick.

Well anyways, I shot out a few basics to Chris, and got the same in return… so as formal as I can make it—thank you Chris.

BB) How long you been involved in the shred world
CD) (Laughing) I've been skating or at least around skating since like 2000, so probably around like 10 years deep

BB) Weapon of Choice?
CD) I currently got a Canon 1d, a few film cameras, full flash setup, and a lot of random pieces from every camera I've had in the past.

BB) Favorite spot to skate?
CD) Probably two of my favorite spots are either Carlsbad skatepark or mark park (San Marcos Park) or anywhere with good flat ground. I don't really skate that much anymore though (laughing)

BB) Who’s the crue you usually head out with?
CD) There's way to many people to name
but I skate a lot with Christian Amaral, Vicente Rosales, Anthony Nuckols, Tim Tom, Pat Z, Waylon, Stuart… it just depends on the day!

BB) What’s been going on lately?
CD) I haven't been doing shit man… working all morning, chillin at night, getting ready for the new school semester.

BB) Any projects or pieces in the works?
CD) Yeah I'm working on getting some photo shit going with a buncha mah homies--keep a look out shit should be up soon!

BB) How long have you been interested in skate photography?
CD) I've been taking photos for on and off like 5 years… I switch from filming to photos all the time

BB) Do you enjoy other types of photography?
CD) Any kind of photos are chill from portaits to random ass night photos!

BB) Usual daily routine?
CD) Usual day is wake up at 5am, go to work, get off, skate some flat ground and go to mark park or CBP (laughing)

BB) Shout outs?
CD) Good looks on these questions man and whoever wants to skate just hit me up!

Everybody Go To This:

January 16, 2010

(From the SwampArchives; Santa Barbara Morning,09, heading North)


So I hope you all enjoyed Chris's interview, as well as Nuckol's which was before Chris's this year. There are a handful of interviews from last year located under "Older Posts," so if you click that it will give you access to those.

Looking forward; I have a sick line-up of interviews in the works right now, I'm trying to set something up as to where I can knock them all out around the same time, and post them like every other day or so... either way, it's a sick line up and they should be good interviews. I also have my first real music piece coming up with Austin Tirado of North County's ARROWS, and that should be one of the better stories I've covered.

Also, in the skateboarding world, I'll have Eric Bennett answer a few questions for me, as well as put together a new Montage of the madness he's been filming lately for his upcoming/long awaited video, Wheels Of Misfortune, that will be in his interview that should be up by Friday--hopefully.

Other than all this, it's Saturday... it's ripe and early, 7am on the dot, I'm getting all my shit together and getting ready to head down to CV park to do some warming up and hit downtown for the day...

I'll have a case and a cooler and hopefully a smooth posse roaming around downtown today, so if anyone wants to meet up give me a call.

Happy Skateboarding, adios.

-BBswamps.

Chris Mohney Interview

“I'm gonna continue to skate until I can't anymore, but that'll take a lot.”
-Chris Mohney



Well this is the second interview of 2010, and I still find it weird typing “2010,” it just still hasn’t hit me. Well Chris has been my friend since I started skateboarding. He’s always been a few years older than me, and his skill-level basically speaks for that. Anyways, this interview is a very humble one indeed. I spent some of the most exciting and fun years skating with Chris and the old posse we you used to roll around with. (Many whom I still do) and Chris has always had it though. He’s one of those kids that can just do the wildest flat-ground tricks all day, switch or regular, nollie or fakie—whatever. And besides these incredible magic tricks that he seems to pull off on his skateboard—his consistency with super hard tricks that he can take down big sets of stairs or huge gaps is overwhelming dude. Not to mention, my belief that he is the official possessor of the three-sixty flip. Even though he’ll never admit it—whatever, I’m taking it to the grave--he is.

“Take him to anything—he’ll three-sixty flip it.” –ME.

I’ll let this quote sit alone. (laughing). It’s true though. But honestly, besides his effortless three flip, Chris has handled business on all types of shred-terrain, all over. He can skate a handrail, huge sets of stairs, a ledge, a manual pad, a parking block… you get my point. And before I was even into skateboarding Chris was having fun and rolling around, man.

But above all, Chris is inspiring. The dude has honestly broken so many bones, or dislocated so many “somethings,” sprained this and that, and honestly taking a beating, time and time again, and still continues to kill it harder than a lot of people I see. I’ve literally seen him snap his arm in half—yeah. Anyways, working full time at Syndrome, Chris surrounds himself with skateboarding on a day-to-day basis, as well as skating Syndrome Park on his off time. When you see him skate though, you wouldn’t think otherwise.

The fact that Chris is still on his skateboard would honestly shock some people if sat down and told the damage he’s done to his body, but he’s done just as much damage to a number of spots simply because he kills it. Determined, aggressive, and consistent is Chris.

So without further ado, let me introduce, my good friend, Chris Mohney…

BB) Chris, first and foremost, how’s everything going man? What’s going on?
CM) Yo Beebs. I'm glad you decided to do this with me. I'm doing alright. Livin’ that everyday struggle. I've just been skating as much as I can and working everyday. Gotta make that scrilla. Been working on a project car. It definitely has gone as planned. Way to many problems. Pretty much just chillin.

BB) So this is my 2nd interview of 2010, did you have yourself a good New Years?
(what’d you do)
Damn son sloppy seconds… I thought we were tighter than that (laughing). My new years was real mellow. It was my mom’s birthday as well so me and my girl made her a cake. I basically just chilled with my girl and my mom all night. I enjoyed it a lot. It was cool hanging out with my mom.

BB) Anything broken on your body right now? (laughing)
CM) (Laughing) Nah, nothings broke right now (knock on some skateboard wood). It's actually been a while since I broke anything. Last few injuries have been rolled ankles and dislocated shoulders…those are a bitch. But all in all I've been healthy and glad to say skating as much as possible.

BB) Good to hear man. K, so tell me where you learned those dictionary three flips (360 flips) fool? How long have you had that trick as your property? (laughing)
CM) (Laughing) I remember the first tre-flip I ever did. It was right in front of my house and I was riding parallel with the curb and popped it of the curb into the street. So funny. Dan (Carbajal) filmed that shit too…Man I miss those days. I don't even know how I really got it. It just kinda came to me and I never knew how to varial flip. I hate varial flips, but that was the beginning of the tre-flips. I don't even know how old I was…it was in middle school though…probably like 6th grade was when I got them. So back in 1999…damn over a decade ago (laughing) time flies.

(Snap, swoosh, crack; hardflip over ten stair handrail... this was a cover for Concrete Wave by the way)
BB) Are you working right now? And if so, where at?
CM) Yeah I'm working... Going on 3 years now at Syndrome Distribution. Home of: Plan b Skateboards, FKD Bearings and Silver Trucks. It’s in Vista, CA in the business parks. It’s a good job. It’s kept me straight and on track in life. And I think it’s been a big part in me still skating to this day. I get to skate with some of the sickest dudes ever and there's a skate park inside the warehouse that's fun as fuck. It's pretty much the dream job that I could ever ask for. I get to be around skateboarding all day and I get to skate all day as well.

BB) So what in skateboarding sparked your attention when you first got into it? How old were you?
CM) I've always seen skateboarding as that next level thing. It's the one thing that would drive me to push myself everyday and keep me in line. I love challenges and I knew that skateboarding would be a gnarly one. I got into it when I moved out here in like '97 or '98. My first board was from Toys-R-Us or something, it was a Nash board (laughing). I have the funniest photo of me holding the board. I've been on a board and having fun since then.

BB) How old are you now?
CM) I'm 22 years young about to be 23 in May…Cinco de Mayo fool!

BB) Have you ever thought to yourself, “I could maybe do something with this one day…?”
CM) I never really thought of going big with skating. I never wanted to get my hopes and dreams up and have them crushed…if I did I'd be bumming hard right now. I've always liked having skating there as a stress free place I can go, have fun, and kick it with the homies.

BB) (Laughing) So give me your personal perspective from the good ol’ FC days? What were a few of your favorite times from back then?
CM) The FC days were the shit!! Such fun times doing random shit and skating. Those are the highlights of my life. The little trips we'd go on to LA and SD were sick as fuck. I catch myself reminiscing about those days and wish sometimes I could go back and do it all over again. I wouldn't trade any of those moments for anything.

(BIG kick flip)
BB) Yeah dude, those were rad times, I agree. Wow, so tell me about the Knob Hill Arm Break Massacre that occurred however many years ago, I know I was there, but I mean, what was going on in your head? How old were you when that happened?
CM) That day sucked (laughing). I remember I just got home from a trip from Maryland and I had no intentions of skating that day because of jet lag and shit but as soon as I pulled up to my house, all you guys were chilling outside waiting to skate. So we all cruised over to Knob and the day was going pretty well until that fatal ollie (laughing). I remember it was July 22, 2003. I was 15 at the time. I remember it like it happened yesterday. I landed right on my arm and it buckled right under me. I got up did my little "OH SHIT" scream and the first thing that went through my mind was to be as calm as possible.

BB) Man, I was only 13, crazy. I’m glad you reminded me yesterday that I told you “it was ok to cry, and that we wouldn't think you were a pussy,” (laughing), but you were unbelievably mellow about it, not a tear shed, you were the calmest one there dude… crazy day.
CM) Yeah man I wanted to be as calm as possible because I didn't want to freak everyone out and shit. I remember getting a pretty good laugh in once you said that.

BB) So who’s hooking you up right now?
CM) I've been riding for Allied Board shop in Escondido for a while now. Crispin the owner holla'd at me one day and asked me to ride for him. I was surprised I didn't expect that at all. But that's all the hook ups I got going as of now. I'm siked though, Allied is a good shop and everyone on the team and that work there are down as fuck.

(360 flip over Knob Hill 8 stair's handrail--wonder how many times he did this?)
BB) Who have you been filming and skating with a lot—as of lately?
CM) I've been skating and filming a lot with Vicente Rosales. He kills it, he’s always down to skate whenever and he’s a real good homie. Same with the homie Chris, he took pretty much all the photos for this interview. Nuckols is around a lot and destroys everything he touches. I get to skate with the real good homie Tim Tom every now and then. Life's tough now so it’s hard to actually get out and skate with all the homies.

BB) Are you filming for anything?
CM) I think there’s some projects in the works. I'm filming for Vicente (Rosales’s) video Greedy Monsters. Not sure when that's gonna drop but it'll be dope. And I think I have a syndrome part coming out soon. Vicente's in the works of putting that together as well.

BB) So even though I might already know the answer to this one, what’s your favorite trick?
CM) Ha I'm gonna have to say tre-flip, but I've been feeling hard flips. That's normally one of my go to tricks now down stuff.

BB) Yup, called it. Do you still have that super proper kicker ramp that we used to shred back in the day?
CM) Dude I don't even know. That ramp was fucking awesome. I haven't seen it in years. It probably got broken up and thrown away to make space in the backyard.

BB) Who built that thing? It was amazing.
CM) I gotta give the credit to my dad on that. I wanted something to skate and he built that thing with all types of legit-ness. That ramp lasted years man. It was one of the greater things I had to skate growing up.

BB) How long have you lived in San Marcos?
CM) Well I lived in the Marcos for about 8 years or something around there. I got booted when I was 18 and lived out of my car for like a year and a half. Then I had an apartment in Esco for a while but the lease was up in February '09.

(Hardflip down 6 block, Temecula. Cheers.)

BB) Where are you living?
CM) I'm living at my girls pad in Vista, Ca. But I still say I live in the Marcos…Gotta represent.

BB) What’s your favorite spot to skate these days? Where do you go for strictly fun?
CM) My favorite spot would have to be the skate park in Syndrome. It's the most convenient place for me to skate and it’s a lot of fun. There's of variety of stuff to skate so it helps out my skating a lot. I definitely learn something new everyday, or at least try to.

BB) What would your dream spot be? (DETAILS HOMIE)
CM) Damn my dream spot...I don't even know where to begin. It would have to have a variety of stair sets ranging from 2 to 11. Some decent sized gaps... Gotta have my gaps (laughing). A few buttery ass boxes that are all different in height and length. Some manual pads and some tranny. Like 2 different sized mini ramps, a pool and a couple big ass quarter pipes. I don't skate tranny but I gotta look out for the homies that do. It'd be free and absolutely no hassle from the cops… because that shits weak. I don't know how the layout would be, but it would work out so everything has a proper amount of runway and landing. Smooth ass ground is a must.

BB) Off your board you’re doing:
CM) Off my board I'm either working or chilling with my girl. I don't really do too much these days. I go out on the weekends every now and then but I just like to lay low and chill. I work on my car every now and then. Chilling with my mom whenever I can get over to her house.

BB) So what’s the future looking like for Chris Mohney, in skateboarding, as well as life in general, man?
CM) I got no clue man. I just live day by day. I have plans of finishing up my car and getting back on the road. Eventually get my own pad again. I'm gonna continue to skate until I can't anymore, but that'll take a lot. Basically take what’s given to me in life and handle the biz.

BB) Shout outs:
CM) I gotta holla at my girl Haidee for supporting everything I do and being there for me, Allied for supporting me, Vicente for killing it at filming and being a homie, Chris for taking my photos and filming, Tim Tom for being a true G ass homie, and inspiring me to skate like him, Nuckols for bein my Nigga (laughing), my mom and the rest of my big family, my job, the homies I work with, and everyone that’s been true and has helped me along in my life to be who I am today.


BB) Chris man, good looks! I appreciate it, lets skate soon! Adios.
CM) No doubt homie. Stay up. Peace!

Interview By: Brian Blakely
Photos by: Old School Chris

bangers, bangers, bangers...

Well sitting in my inbox, as I type this, are Chris Mohney's photos from this weekend, and a few others I had on deck to use. Chris went out with Old School Chris and shot a few sequences and a few stills, and my reaction is hyped, hyped, hyped. Today I'll be shooting the questions over to Chris, and by Friday the whole interview will be up and complete. It will be super good, Chris is my good friend of many years man and I'm hyped to be doing this!

Well, keep checking in, and Friday the Interview will be up.

ALSO! keep checking back at some of the older interviews I've posted from November and December... There's some cool ones that I wish I could bring back... Alex Pedroza, Waylon Hendricks, Bobby Johnson, Greg Valencia, Alex Zarate, Vicente Rosales, Stephen Lawyer, and of course Anthony Nuckols is the most recent one. So check them out if you're bored.

-BBswamps

Adam Rage Knight

"Its hard to be a hippy when your dressed to kill"

Adam Knight - Santa Barbara Pool Shred

Adam's cooler than you, if you see him, give him a high 5










-BBswamps

January 9, 2010

That was the first time I've had to write "2010" this year, weird.

Well it's Saturday, we made it. Today I have Chris Mohney out shooting some photos and handling business for his interview that will be up on Friday, the 15th. I've known Chris forever, and though I unfortunately won't be out there on the sesh while he's shooting the photos, there is not a drip of doubt in my mind that Chris won't come back with bangers, bangers, bangers...

Um, other than that, I want to thank BEN CANO for coming up with a grip new headers for me. In time I'll be changing it up every so often, as will I post the ones he's sent me so far. He refuses to do an interview with me, but one day I will get one so I can post more of his work because it needs to be seen.

Well as the week unfolds I'll have a few things to post, Bob if your reading this hope your having fun out in New York--send me pictures soon.

Welp, that's about it for now... keep lurking, keep spreading the word, and I'll keep finding stuff to blabber about.

Adios!

-BBswamps

Chris Mohney

Interview coming within the next week. Chris is basically the mix between really hard tricks, and big sets of stairs, with a hint of perfect consistency, and a few dabs of smooth style. Yep, this will be a good one.

-BBswamps

Anthony Nuckols Interview

Skateboarding requires patience, motivation, a unique eye, and the majority of the time, that “I-DON’T-GIVE-A-FUCK” attitude. Skateboarding also takes time, a lot of time, especially if you want to make something of yourself within it. Regardless, I think skateboarding requires skateboarding. The attachment every skateboarder has to his skateboard is a rare affection that not everyone can understand, but I’ll tell you one thing—the ones who do know, know exactly what I’m talking about.

Skateboarding has the tendency to mold people into who they are; the things they see, people they meet, places they travel, et cetera. It’s all due to skateboarding, and you get as much out of it as you let yourself, ya know?

I’m not sure where I’m even going with this, I’m excellent at fading off subject, and I seem to be good at placing my own words in everyone else’s stories. Ha Anyways…

Anthony Nuckols--Just pause real quick and let this name imprint itself in your brain, and do me a favor—don’t forget it. When I first got into skateboarding, to my knowledge, Nuckols was OG as they come. I have a weird respect for anyone who was raised in the Marcos, and though Nucks was born in Texas and spent about the first 4 years there, he’s still been in San Marcos as long as my short 19 year old life, so nonetheless—he’s a straight loc. When it comes to skateboarding in San Marcos, Nuckols name would pop up in the “made-up archive” of skate history more than a handful of times, more than two handfuls man.

Having rode for all the OG shops in this valley of discovery (San Marcos), Nucks has been riding to his full potential forever, never once slowing down, and letting his sponsors, clips, and photos do the talking for him. A modest dude, Nuckols keeps it real, and is always an excellent person to have on the sesh. His bag of tricks is awesome, his smooth style leaves you in awe, and you just feed off of his positive attitude.

(Hardflip in enci)
From the rawest parking lots of downtown San Marcos, (as some would call Mini TJ) to the legendary Stater Bros parking lot and loading dock on Mission, even to demos of all over, Nuckols has handled business every where he goes, keeping the flame lit the entire time. Constantly filming and shooting photos, Nuckols stays busy, and continues to keep his sponsors happy. Never have I seen the dude slow down or lose interest, and never do I think I will.

I would have it no other way than to start the New Year off right by getting Anthony Nuckols officially sketched into The Swamp, and it's no ones fault but mine that I lagged on posting this a day after the New Year, haha. Anyways, enjoy the photos, enjoy the exciting words of Nucks, and be hyped that you get a front row seat to Marcos Skateboarding 101, featuring Anthony Nuckols… a good buddy of mine, and a San Marcos ripper who wears his pride on his sleeve! So with that said--cheers to the New Year, and cheers to Nucks man.

(Kick flip, back... Nose Grind, bitch!)
BB) Yo Nucks! First off, how bout your age, years skating, and where your living
AN) Age: 24
Years skating: 10 and counting!!!
Where I’m livin’: In the Marcos but for you out-of-towners, San Marcos CA

BB) Where did you grow up? (where were you born)
AN) I grew up in San Marcos, Ca, but I’m from the great state of Texas, son. Third coast!!

BB) Where did you grow up skating? What were the first OG spots you recall?
AN) I grew up skating in the streets of the Marcos (San Marcos) with all the homies i played pop warner football with. One person got a baord and soon after that we all got tired of sharing the same board, so we all got our parents to get us our own. We would cruise all over the Marcos... to petco five flat, to knob hill, to san marcos high school, or go to escondido high school, like all in one day... just havin fun adventures, and just havin plain fun.

(I've seen this spot for years but never skated it--Nucks thought otherwise, FS flip into bank, in the Marcos)

BB) How long have you lived in San Marcos?
AN) Wow, I think I’ve been in San Marcos for like twenty years. (Laughing) I feel like a lifer, or like I should run for mayor or something.

BB) Give me your favorite spot in San Marcos (past or recent) that you've skated?
AN) I’ll give you both… in the past--Stater Brothers loading dock was the spot. We would get back home from school, skip homework and anything that had to do with school outside of school and go meet up with the homies and skate there until you couldn’t see a thing… or until a truck came and parked in our way (Laughing) Oh myy, did I hate when that happened!

BB) (Laughing) I know exactly what your talking about...
AN) But now a days I have to say my favorite spot is probably gonna have to be… hmm... I would say any spot where I could be productive. I like it all and we never really enough spots to be able to call one a “favorite” cause its like you'll go to a spot and you wont go back for like another month or so, or even longer, where as when you're first startin out, you go to one spot mainly and just practice all the tricks in your bag with friends at that spot.

BB) Word man, how bout some name-drops of a few old SM locals from back in the day that you used to kill it with?
AN) This is a good one! So many fallen soldiers man… but Tim-Tom (Tim Thomas) who I still skate with of course—I’m sure I would quit if I didn’t have him to push me all the time, and there’s Kyle Brogan, homie is an animal on a board and off, Sean Vogt always a good time, Ricardo Rabago, Mike and Ricky Coronado, Adam Smoltz, Ryan Jenson, Elliot Brown, Bryloski, Jose, Juan, Indio, James Reid, Joseph Avila!!(oh my, this fool ripped!!)… Wow this list can go for ever (Laughing). It sucks that they all quit. I was always the worst one in the group…

(Front Crook from afar)

BB) What shops and companies have you rode for in the past? and who are you riding for now?
AN) In the past I rode for: Schmidts Boardhouse (that my very first sponsor), Urban Boardshop, Adio, World Industries, Cowboy Punk wheels, Krew clothing, Split, Ergo Phobia, I-path shoes, Kontrol Wheels

But now I’m riding for: Active, Silver Trucks, FKD bearings, and Orisue clothing at the moment… but I really want to ride for Adidas and Toy Machine!!

BB) What are your earliest memories of skateboarding?
AN) Oh wow, I have so many, but the earliest I have is I remember goin’ to my homie Ricardo’s house for a weekend sleep over and I remember noticing he had a skate board and he was showin me how he could ollie and do 50-50's, he gave me the board and told me to try to ollie and I did it first try! Since then, I knew I was hooked for life.

BB) What are your plans for skating in the future?
AN) My plans for the future is just to roll until I can’t roll anymore… hopefully travel a lot more, get back into having fun at contests and just have fun with it in general... if I can make a living off of it—cool, but if not, I wont be mad cause I know I made some life-long friends doing it. What more can you ask for, right?

BB) True shit man, How was your New Years by the way?
AN) My new year was super fun!!! I went up to long beach with my neighbors and partied at a house up there… handled lots of champagne (cause that’s what you should be handling on new years) and I got my first kiss of the year from an amazing girl--who I’m really feelin’ (Laughing) Man… not gonna lie, I’m running on like an hour of sleep at the moment.

(Kick flip front nose)

BB) Any plans for the future other than skating?
AN) Well yeah, other than skating I would just love to get a girl and settle down and make life even more amazing. I mean other than skating, that’s the only thing I actually want, as weird as that sounds… but I’m not trying to do that anytime soon. I’m not some love-sick fool you know.

BB) When you’re not skating, what are you usually doing?
AN) I could be up to anything when I’m not skatin. My whole thing is to just keep a smile on my face and keep the good times rollin... so if it sounds fun—I’m all for it. Especially when it comes on to making and eating food. I’m always up for that! I love to cook

BB) Favorite skate trip you've taken?
AN) My favorite skate trip has to be the AZ trip I took with World Industries like two years ago. We went out there for like a week and just skated spots and chilled and watched the Pheonix AM contest. All the homies were there, it was like North County in AZ. It was too tight! Oh my, and we had to drive the World Industries ice cream truck out there and it broke down like twice dude it was nuts! I could go on forever on this trip--new friends, memories, and just good times all week

(Nuckols and the World Inudstries Posse--Arizona)

BB) What was it like filming back in the day- as apposed to filming these days?
AN) filming back in the day was purely for fun and only fun. One homie would come up on a camera, and then the word would get around and sooner or later you're makin a homie video, just cruisin with the homies, no pressure, just fun skatin, and when the video is done its just done.

But nowadays, its kinda the same but after you get all hooked up with sponsers you gotta make sure your shit is tight and crisp. No sketchy landings, proper colors, good angles for filming and shit, cause you never know when your gonna need the footy, so it adds pressure just because you have to put all of the those other aspects into the equation and still try to have fun and not trip out cause your not landing shit. It can play with your mind on some days, but you cant let that stuff get to you. or at least try not to (Laughing)

BB) Who's the usual posse you head out with these days/who are you filming with usually?
AN) I usually go out filming with Chris Mohney, Tim Thomas (tim tom), Vicente Rosales (from the November interview), Christian Amaral, negro and just all the homies. Whoever is down to skate and can help keep us motivated, I’m always down for anyone like that

BB) Filming for any videos?
AN) Yes actually I’m filming for an episode for “Civilized Sundays” on the Transworld website (www.skateboarding.com) Its gonna be Dan (from balitmore) Tim Tom, and myself sharing a section that will come out one of these Sundays, so keep an eye out for that, and im always filming to get new footage up on the Active Army, which is part of the activemailorder website. It’s for all the shop riders for the various Active’s out there.

(This photo SCREAMS San Marcos--Nuckols and Tim Tom, posted)

BB) Ever plan to move out of North County?
AN) To be honest I think about that all the time, but there would be no point to do so, because we live in such an amazing place to skate or just do whatever. The weather doesn’t get any better than here, at all. But all the college kids blows except for my mammoth family. They're the tightest group of non-marcos locals I know. If the other college people would leave i wouldnt think about leaving ever (Laughing)

BB) Favorite spot to grub in san marcos?
AN) Favorite spot to grub in the Marcos would have to be hands down, Pimos Pizza--best spot for calzones ever! If you haven’t gone there yet, try it… you wont be disapointed at all. Sooo good. I actually want one now just talkin about it. (Laughs)

BB) Favorite music tunes?
AN) Um, I listen to anything and everything but country--I hate that crap to death, and same with radio shit cause all these so called rappers live in the month of February with all this lovey dovey bull shit. It’s so played out and girls eat that shit up like its going out of style or something.

BB) (Laughing) So true, so true… What drew you to skateboarding in the first place, and what keeps you doing it today?
AN) What drew me in was the fact that it was something I wasn’t good at, at first. I’m the type of person that if I’m gonna do something, I’m gonna be good at it or just not do it at all. But what keeps me going is just that its too addicting to quit. I’ve never done anything like this before I started skating. So many ups and downs, broken boards from not landing a trick, high fives for landing a trick… the feeling of accomplishment or of failure, You never know what will happen the next time you step on your board. The mystery of finding out what happens the next day you step on your board is just too addicting to me. Oh, and plus the fact that its nothin but good times in general. Good day—or bad day.

(Backside flip at Sunset)

BB) You said it best Nucks, good looks homie! Cheers!