Category Archives: Skateboarding

On and off the board, Justin Strubing has always been one of those dudes who simply does things his own way. The spots he skates, the tricks he takes to them… it’s always been done with style and technique. So it’s really no wonder that he takes the same approach to gripping his board. 

He recently stopped by the Mesa Distribution HQ—home of Pepper Grip—and took us through his personal process of gripping his new sled. (Hey… we all have our own process, right?) Take a look below and watch him rip a few spots in the meantime with that classic Strubing style. 

I’ve always been a huge fan of Justin’s skating, so I think all these clips were rad. Never gets old! But that no-comply to tail stall on that little quarterpipe from flat is one-hundred percent what I’m talking about when it comes to his unique approach—who else does stuff like that? So sick.

Related: Watch: Andrew Allen Hits the LA Streets for Pepper Grip

Also, gripping boards is such a sacred part of skateboarding! We all have our own techniques… the little things we like (and dislike), so it’s always fun to hear the subtle little quirks that our favorite pros think about when they’re gripping up their planks. It’s all a part of it! 

Although, admittedly, I’ve always just been a plain black sheet type of guy myself. Simple and timeless. What about you?

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New Balance recently teamed up with the one and only Natas Kaupas and had him add a touch of his personal flair to their iconic NB480 High silhouette. 

These wild colors are a straight up blast from the past, that’s for sure, and I can totally picture someone doing a big boneless on a random bank in these things. Swipe through and get a closer look. The nostalgia is real!

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What do you guys think? I spent some time in the comments and the majority of folks seem super stoked on these. I’ll admit… almost anything with Natas‘ name on it is bound to create some hype. He’s an icon and a pioneer all the same. But this collab still sort of came out of nowhere. They’re keeping us on our toes nonetheless!

A few people did ask about the colorway, however—just in general—and it seems to be one of those IYKYK type of situations. So, if you’re still unsure why, I’m sure your questions will be answered on Friday, May 20th when they hit the NB# website. In the meantime… just think about it. I bet it’ll come to some of you! 

Related: New Balance’s Most Iconic ‚574‘ Silhouette Reimagined And Redesigned „Now For Skateboarding“ (Video)

Regardless, it’s sort of like the Wild West out there these days as far as skate shoes are concerned, right? Between all the wild Dunk collabs, bright, flashy colors, beefier silhouettes and all this 80s-90s nostalgia, it seems like anything goes. 

Are the days of low-profile, vulcanized skate shoes gone? Not quite… but we seem to be getting closer. Personally, I’m stoked to see some of the NB# team rocking these in the streets and putting them to use. Think we’ll get some new Natas clips? Hard to tell right now, but I’m stoked to find out either way. 

Again, the kicks will hit select skate shops across the globe on Friday, May 17th and will be available on the New Balance website Monday, May 20th. 

Who’s copping a pair?

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Brandon Garrity is the type of skater to carve a route of his own at every spot he skates and we see this approach on full display in his new Indy Raw Ams part. He’ll ride the toughest walls, grind some heavy rails and ultimately puts a beating on a variety of unique spots from start to finish. Take a look:

I’ll admit that I wasn’t too familiar with Brandon before this part, but this was a perfect introduction. He looks like Kurt Cobain reincarnated, flowing through the streets like he just finished surfing, threw on some shoes and started pushing around some alleyways and your local hole-in-the-wall spots. And hey, I’m not hating by any means. I really enjoyed this part. 

Related: All Go, No Show: Elijah Akerley’s New Indy Part Will Get Your Adrenaline Pumping

In my opinion, it’s a nice break from the overwhelming, highly technical, flip-in-flip-out type of video parts that have become the norm over the past few years. It’s all rad, don’t get me wrong, but I’ll always appreciate a little sidewalk surfing and anyone who takes some unique approaches to certain spots. Nothing wrong with a little style and creativity, right?

And of course, getting redemption after that brutal slam for his ender deserves some respect no matter what. He got bodied! It’s not always easy to go back and get a trick after taking a hit like that… gotta love it. Way to keep the dream alive, Brandon!

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The brand new, super limited Nike SB Futura Laboratories Dunks are going to be hitting select skate shops and the SNKRS app this week, and the Swoosh went all out to celebrate this release. 

Eric Koston, Tanner Burzinski, Jake Anderson, Paul Rodriguez, Dashawn Jordan, Georgia Martin, Sean Malto, Carlos Ribeiro, and Guy Mariano (along with special cameos from Stevie Williams, Javier Nunez, Neckface, and Davonte Jolly) all hit the streets to put the kicks to use… and let’s just say, with a crew like this, you should expect some heat. Check it out:

From your favorite skaters to their favorite skaters, this is an all-star cast if I’ve ever seen one. And every person in this edit absolutely came though. Now, I know a lot of these Dunk releases attract sneakerheads and online resellers as much as they do actual skaters, but seeing the shoes actually being put to use in the streets is something I can appreciate. They are meant to skate after all… 

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At the same time—I get it. Futura Laboratories certainly spans across many different sub-cultures and hey, they’re pretty flashy. Depending on your taste, these things very well could be calling your name, but this collab is really special either way. And again… the crew went all out as far as this drop is concerned. 

From Nike:

„Futura’s creative vision continues to evolve and influence, this time leaving his indelible mark on the @FuturaLaboratories SB Dunk Low.“

Related: Nike SB Reveals USA and Japan Skate Federation Kits Designed by Alexis Sablone

But back to the edit: Seeing Stevie Williams and Javier Nunez in the mix was an absolute treat! On a session with dudes like Tanner and Dashawn no less, and of course Toy Machine’s newest pro, Georgia Martin. The epitome of squad goals. No weak link in this edit, either! Every clip is a banger and our pal Jason Hernandez killed it behind the lens. 

And personally, I’ll never get tired of seeing guys like Koston and Guy Mariano killing classic (and new) spots in LA. They’re all out there having a good time, doing the same things they’ve always done—meeting up with friends, hitting spots, stacking clips and moving on. It’ll never get old!

The Nike SB x FUTURA LABORATORIES Dunks drop tomorrow, May 15th on FuturaLaboratories.com. They’ll be available May 18th at select skate shops across the globe, and will be available on SNKRS shortly after on May 22nd. My only question is: Are you actually going to skate them?

Get there!

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