Action Sports
Yes, I’ve Been Skateboarding
From Issue 155, November 2001
In the summer of 1996, 100 degree plus temperatures, a broken swamp cooler and an excess of cheap beer fueled the beginnings of the runaway freight train that was the Dirty Hessians and the videos they spawned —videos that set the standard for local skateboarding videos forever. … read more
Missionary Position: The Colt Bowden Saga Continues
Colt Bowden has a deep, throbbing relationship with his skateboard. When asked what motivates his raw-dog approach, he said, “The push.” When he grabs his wood and throws down, you can tell he’s putting passion into every thrust he musters. Bowden likens skateboarding to jazz music. He’s most happy when improvisational poetry is coming out on the streets. Bowden tells me that he is intensely familiar with every crack on his block, and penetrates them often during daily rides. … read more
Butters
At 19 years old most kids are gagging on their fourth shot of vodka in the back seat of mom’s car, but not Brock “Butters” Nielsen. … read more
Weekend at Jimmy’s/Benny’s
Most birds fly south for the winter. Some birds are crazy enough to stay. I am a tropical being: I hate the snow and cold. Yet, I choose to live in Utah which has “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” So, the first time I felt the cold weather coming onto my arthritic ankles that years of skateboarding have given me, I headed south. … read more
Love It Or Leave It, SLC Premier
Keeping me warm on a freezing night is Josh Martinez’s first film Love It Or Leave It. Pretty damn good for his first six months of filming. The kids on the come up check out the review here. … read more
DIY Concrete Mixing
I can’t count the number of “Almost Spots” I’ve seen since I’ve been skating that just need a little elbow grease—Bondo, filed down knobs, angle iron, a piece of plywood to land on, or some transition—to become skateable. With this in mind, I bring you step by step instructions on mixing your own concrete and shaping some transition. … read more
DTX
The wasteland of pavement and cement are more or less glorified playgrounds and we do not understand why people are so fucking stupid that they don’t see this simple truth as well. I bought my first skateboard 15 long years ago. I progressed slowly without the aid of cement facilities or social support. No matter, I rode the bus route 8 on epic adventures the boys and me coined as DTX: down town motherfuckin’ extravaganza. … read more
The Blue Collar of Odeus Skateboards
The concept for Odeus started with Alex Lemons skating in the mid 80s when the only board options were a plastic banana board or a Powell Peralta. The banana boards were poor quality and the Peralta was expensive. “There was no in-between option. I was going to be the guy that made that third option.” … read more
If Jesus Can Walk on Water, I Can Walk on...
Just like Christopher Columbus when he discovered the world wasn’t flat (I know you history buffs are cringing at this reference), I’ve decided to see the world. And by the world, I mean the area beyond North Temple and 2100 South. The world isn’t divided into corners—it’s limitless. So, I went to Ogden. … read more
Damn Hell Ass Kings
We wallowed in gluttony, consuming everything we desired. For the night, this was our kingdom, this was our land. We lived like kings: damn hell-ass kings. … read more