I don’t have a problem with the tape on the rail. It’s no different to bondo on the run up in my eyes to make the spot skateable.
Now, if he taped Hollywood 16 to slow him down, that’s a different kettle of fish.
Don’t think they should have made such a big deal about it in the video as mentioned previously. Missed an opportunity to do a behind the scenes/magicians secrets video!
The part was absolutely bonkers. Was most of it illegal? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Hell yes! Do I feel dirty after watching? Also, yes.
Yes he looks like a dork. Yes he does circus tricks. But his sheer skill, range and inventiveness are amazing. He’s at home on everything from massive stair gaps to freestyle in a sandpit to Tony Hawk’s vert ramp.
Even like the way he shows how tricks are done doesn’t lessen the magic - you could give me all the friction tape in the world and I still wouldn’t be able to ride down a handrail like the one in the video.
Have been trying to think of any other situations comparable to what AA has done with the tape - making a spot easier to skate as opposed to ‘making a spot skateable.’
Could it be argued that Dyrdek did a similar thing in his DC ad - didn’t he put a square rail on top of the circular rail for his 5050. Presumably to make it easier to lock in take after take when being chased by all the ladies. Similar ballpark?
That rail had already been skated before the DC ad. Oscar Meza front boarded the round rail without the square addition. Dyrdek may have had it squared off to make it easier or perhaps the filming permit was issued on the understanding that no damage would be done to the property. Idk. I think Dyrdek discussed it in an interview somewhere but I can’t remember what was said and can’t be arsed to dig around to find it. I have a feeling that Nigel has had footy skating it since but again I can’t really remember or be bothered to check - I think it was in that part with the stinky push.
Yeah pretty sure he crooked it a few years back. And if some had already boardslid it before Dyrdek, and it’s been skated since, then I guess it doesn’t count because the rail is clearly skateable without any adjustments.
Was just thinking generally of this as a new grey area between fixing up a spot and creating a fake spot.
Surely you have to stick in on perfectly for it to be of any use. Also you would need one of those honking shaped boards for it to work. Also only plane black grip is acceptable in civilised society.
Just watched this part. Not a fan of his generally (can’t get over the whole helmet and dirt-stache combo) but the part is undeniably sick. Just enough legit tricks to even out the illegal ones. The front shuv heal melon transfer at the beginning was nuts. But to me, the most offensive things was seeing him skate pyramid ledges with a helmet on, that just didn’t sit right with me.
Saying that, you see him come off and hit the back of his head when he goes over a street barrier.
Research says:
Published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, the paper found that people who reported three or more concussions had significantly worse cognitive function, which got successively worse with each subsequent concussion after that. Attention and completion of complex tasks were particularly affected.
Researchers say people who have had concussions should be warned of the dangers of continuing high-risk sport or work.
That’s me fucked for a start. I’ve been knocked out cold more than three times. Give me a couple of years and I’ll end up like Joe Biden. But if you’re going to push your limits I think wearing a helmet is a no-brainer.
Yeah, every logical part of my brain says we should all be wearing helmets and fair play to him for sticking to his guns in that. If my kids wanted to skate there is no way I’d let them do it without full pads! I mostly didn’t notice the helmet but at pyramid it seemed to really stand out. No amount of research is going to convince me that the fuzzy moustache is ok though.
Imagine if there was a type of candle you could get where it slowed you down and it just showed him anti-waxing the fuck out of the rail, I don’t think it’d be that much of an issue.
His solution to the speed the rail gives him has a lot of ‘bulk’, if that makes sense
I’m less stoked on a trick when I see a bungee cord has been used, say. It’s a personal thing I know. Nyjah trying to hide the fact he concerted in a jump ramp to help him 50 up and over that rail comes to mind, more so than Berra. Berra just faked spots where as Njah was trying to hide the fact he needed ‘help’ to do it because he knew just using a straight up wooden jump ramp/fly off would of made the trick less impressive so tried to hide it. As somethings get less of a pass. At least AA was open and honest. His parts aren’t aimed at purists for a lack of a better word anyway.
