Behind the Photo: Forrest Huber Slug Mag Photo Feature Issue 325 - January 2016

Forrest Huber recently had a great photo feature in the January Issue of SLUG Magazine. Very reminiscent of an old Kerry Getz or Ricky Oyola Ollie photo from the 90's/early 2000's. While the spots don't always change, the eyes in which they are viewed through do. As a result of Weston's vision, and Forrest skating, this photo came together perfectly. This was just the tail end of an amazing day skating downtown. Here's a collection of other photographs that Weston Colton shot throughout the day.

Forrest Huber: Ollie over the rail down both sets

Glenn Calvert: BS Smith

Sam Milianta, Glenn Calvert, and Niels Jensen 

Forrest Huber: BS Nosegrind Popout

 Niels Jensen, Sam Milianta, and Jovi Bathemess

Jovi Bathemess: Switch BS Crook

Jovi Bathemess: Switch Front Crook

Forrest Huber: 360 Flip

Forrest Huber: Wallride Nollie Out over the Pole

and we're out

SLUG Magazine Photo Feature: Garrison Conklin

Check out Garrison in the January 2014 Issue of SLUG Magazine.
By: Weston Colton

Garrison Conklin: Ollie From Bump to Flat - SLC, UT

"The ollie is the foundation of almost every trick on a skateboard. When you are just learning to skate, you practice ollie-ing up curbs, over soda cans, a deck on its side, a manhole cover, off a picnic table and down stairs. You are always trying to go higher, longer, faster—and it feels amazing. Some people just have unbelievable power and finesse in their ollies. Garrison is one of those guys. I would have been happy with an ollie from curb cut to curb cut here, but Garrison saw the challenge to clear the whole driveway to the flat on the other side, and went for it. I’m sure it felt just as great as the first time he ollied up a curb."

Also make sure to check out Garrison's blog for some amazing photos here.

DIY Spots: If You Build It, They Will Come.

Check out Sean and Matt Winskowski in the September issue of SLUG Magazine.
Photos: Jake Vivori.

It’s past the dog days of summer, and you’re getting tired of riding your favorite parks in the blistering heat. The best street spots are crowded with people and are on high patrol by The Fuzz. What do you do now? The answer is to go out and Do It Yourself! That’s right, strap on your thinking cap, fight off the haze that the PBRs and wacky tobaccy have left lingering on your brain this summer and put your creative mind to work. Do It Yourself, or DIY, spots have always been a part of skateboarding and the progression that lies within it. Chances are, if you have ever stepped on a skateboard and at least tried to do something with it, you have probably done some DIY work yourself. Whether it was waxing a curb, building a backyard ramp, or sacking yourself on a homemade rail, you have done it yourself. The DIY attitude has grown quite a bit over the years, with people building entire parks themselves, mostly with nothing but concrete, chicken wire and a case of beer. Given Salt Lake’s broad surroundings of everything from the industrial parts of Downtown to the outdoor scenery of the Wasatch, we decided to go on an excursion of our own to see what the DIY craze was all about. We recruited some comrades along the way, whose names will remain a mystery, given the circumstances, as will the locations of the places we visited. Nothing comes cheap in this world, so get out there and go get it.

Skaters are a funny breed. The way a skater sees his or her surrounding environment is a way that few people see it, but, if you’re a skater, you know what I am talking about. Says our comrade, “You go down alleys you would never usually go down. You see things like barriers or ledges and you see something completely different than other people. There is so much potential in things that most people don’t even really look at.” These creative concepts of the environment have helped to spawn the ever-forward progression that is skateboarding, as well as the ideas for public skateparks. These potential skate spots also seem to always need to be tweaked or worked on a little bit. Or maybe they need to be created into something different altogether. That is where a DIY skate spot is born. There is nothing more American than crafting a masterpiece with your own bare hands for future skateboarding to take place upon. Our personal mission on this day led us to the scene of an unfinished spot that our comrade thought needed a bit more work. With some bags of Sakrete, water buckets, trowels and wishful thinking loaded up, we were off to finish what had been started.

Rock n' Roll: Sean Winskowski

We got to work pretty quickly, pouring and shaping the spot up to be something great. The classic Jersey barrier setup was the backing support and lip to what the brains of the operation would shape into a quarter pipe. Getting on the top of the barrier was the plan, but it was definitely not for the faint of heart. It is amazing what can be accomplished by a couple of skate heads with determination and creativity in their minds. “You watch videos of spots people have made, and it’s like, ‘Why can’t I do that?’” says our comrade. This is a prime example of just how creatively the skater’s mind works. With 15 years on the plank, our comrade was very familiar with the process of working hard to accomplish something new and fun. I mean, hell, when you find enjoyment out of flipping a piece of plywood around for hours on end, while continually putting dents and dings into your shins and other body parts, you know you are a little bit special.

DIY spots are much more than just hard work—they are also a source of inspiration. There are no rules to it and no one stopping you from doing it. Unless, of course, you are on someone else’s property, which is the case 99 percent of the time with skateboarding, but that is a slight detail. “You need to have a good location. You can’t just build anywhere, or you’ll be getting destruction-of-property tickets all day,” says our comrade. “Get a good location and just try it. You can build something and make it your own and then have the satisfaction that you created something.” Building skate spots is a trial-and-error kind of thing, and, usually, the structure does not stay around forever. The process is a learning experience within itself. “It’s just like starting a new job. You learn and start doing things, and you start becoming a master at it and start perfecting it. It may not be there forever, but you teach yourself something new,” says our comrade.

Our travels this day concluded with our arrival at a fairly new backyard ramp that our comrade had a hand in, as did some other skilled day laborers and beer drinkers. Backyard ramps are another means of a DIY spot without the risk of the public eye glaring at you. There are not many things in this world better than getting a good group together to barbecue and skate a ramp all day. “In the past two years, I have met probably 15 different people with ramps in their backyards. They are all really good people—they are all friends with each other. We all love skating and love the same kind of music. I’ve become part of this collective of people with the craziest ramps and bowls, right here in the valley,” says our comrade. Aside from the satisfaction of creating something yourself, DIY spots and ramps help make the skate community what it is. If you’re a person who is lacking friends in this valley, put a ramp in your yard! Chances are, you’ll be flooded with more friends than you can handle in no time.

DIY spots are always going to be a part of skating. Whether it is legal or not, skaters going out and doing what they love will never be stopped. If you are a person who is thinking about doing something of your own, go out and do it. Obviously, putting a concrete ledge in the middle of 700 East is not the best idea, but putting in hard work to make something of your own to skate is a great idea. Portland has Burnside and Philly has FDR. Both were started from nothing more than a bag of concrete and a bright idea. Without further adieu, grab some chicken wire and some concrete of your own and go get it. If you want something done in this world, you got to do it yourself!

Back Disaster: Sean Winskowski

Full article can be seen here.

"Forrest Does Downtown" Outtakes

Here is a couple of photo's that didn't make it into the mag. Both photo's are from the first of two days shooting for this article.

BS 50-50. Photo: Weston Colton

This angle definitely shows how gnarly the spot is. Unfortunately it is kind of hard to tell exactly where he is coming from so it was decided to use the other angle for the article.

FS 180. Photo: Weston Colton

Forrest warmed up with this FS 180 and must have done it at least 20 times. The cover shows this spot with everything above the sidewalk removed from the photo for a clean cover. I like this one because it captures downtown quite well.

Forrest Huber: "Forrest Does Downtown" in the June SLUG Magazine

Here is Forrest's cover, and article from the June issue of SLUG Magazine.

Photos: Weston Colton

Words: Weston Colton, Sam Milianta, and Jovi Bathemess

For this article, Forrest Huber, Jovi Bathemess, Sam Milianta, Gabe Dusserre and I met up near the library Downtown. We parked our cars, and set off on our boards to skate and shoot spontaneously––organically, if you will. While Forrest is the focus of this piece, I think it is important to note that we were rolling as a small group of friends. The friendly dynamic and atmosphere that was created helped some of these tricks come to life. These photos were all shot on two Saturdays in downtown Salt Lake City. We didn’t get all the photos we wanted to––sometimes a spot gets the best of you, sometimes you get kicked out before you even get a chance to skate––but we had fun, and that is all that really matters.

                               

“I really got to know Forrest Huber about two years ago when it was decided that he was going to start working at BC [Surf and Sport] Sandy. It was immediately apparent that he has a great energy about him, is outgoing and up for any task at hand. Those qualities that make him a great employee also make him an amazing skateboarder. Since he started working at BC, we have become great friends. Whether it’s a trip to Vegas (where he had to get his picture taken with every street performer), skating Downtown as he’s blasting over every fire hydrant, or selling skate product, he has the ability to make everything more fun with his contagious, high energy. His ability to push himself and try new things also helps motivate everyone around him. Forrest skates for BC Surf & Sport, Toy Machine, Bro Style, Pig Wheels and Dekline footwear.” –Jovi Bathemess

The ollie is the foundation of nearly every trick in skateboarding. Forrest finished off the second Saturday with this Trolley Square bar hop on the edge of Downtown

I’ve always loved wall rides––they remind me of Natas and Mark Gonzales from the first skate magazines I ever read in 1990. With timeless style, Forrest easily handles this high-to-low wallride.

This is the one exception where we left Downtown. We drove up to the University of Utah to skate this bump to bar. Forrest got an ollie and this frontside 180 before the campus police rolled up on us and put a stop to the session. That ended the day, and we headed to Este for some pizza.

Forrest, backside 50-50. “When street skating finally became an acceptable form of skateboarding, skaters started to venture away from the backyard ramps and mall parking lots of the suburbs and into the city. Spots began to consist of alleys, hydrants, metal loading docks and every other inch of Downtown. Forrest is the embodiment of this. There are no real spots or lines. The entire street is the spot, and what happens between stoplights is the line.” –Sam Milianta

 

The super-smooth concrete at skateparks has made us all soft. Street skating brings all sorts of challenges to getting a trick. Rocks, cracks and scantily-clad club girls in the alley were all obstacles Forrest dealt with when he did this frontside 50-50 transfer into the bank.

Downtown is constantly growing and evolving. New spots are popping up all the time, sometimes only for a few days. Other spots have been around for years, but haven’t been skateable for one reason or another. If you keep your eyes open, you might find some new concrete has been poured, and suddenly, that rail you’ve looked at forever is perfect for this feeble transfer into a driveway bomb.

I think Chong did a manual off these ledges back in a ’90s Dirty Hessian video—Deth or Stigmata, I believe. It’s likely that Chong skated these ledges before Forrest was born. I love the look on kids’ faces when I tell them that Mark White kickflipped the IBM stairs over 15 years ago, or that there used to be a handrail down the middle and DJ Chavez boardslid it with huge, soft wheels. Downtown has a rich history of skating. It’s quite possible that this sandstone ledge has been 5-0’d before, but that’s not important. Forrest had never done it before. You just hit spots and then move on before you get kicked out.

Forrest, backside 180 nosegrind. “We live in Utah, home of the greatest snow on Earth. Snow just happens to be an enemy of the skateboard, so, to adapt, most of us have become accustomed to skating garages and indoor spots. At this point, it’s just another way that street skating has had to adapt over the years.” –Sam Milianta

"Skateboarding downtown has a lot to offer that can't really be found elsewhere. For me it's the spontaneous nature of it that makes it so enjoyable. You never really who you are going to see, the traffic you will have to deal with, or what you are going to skate. Generally all that is really known is the starting point because downtown lends itself to be one big skate spot. Why pick a single spot to drive to, or confine yourself to the controlled environment of the skatepark, when you can fully utilize the freedom that skateboarding is intended to give you when skating downtown?" -Jovi Bathemess

Check out the full issue here.

SLUG Magazine Photo Feature: Matt Winskowski

Check out Matt in the October Issue of SLUG Magazine.
Words by: Weston Colton

[Photo: Weston Colton]

"The boneless one is a trick I have always liked doing. It’s a classic trick that’s all about style. It was also the second trick I ever learned (it was much more common in 1990). I told Matt that I wanted to shoot a boneless at a street spot. Matt’s response: “What would Peter Hewitt do?” Apparently, he would do something like this."

Matt Winskowski, boneless, SLC

For more from the October Issue of SLUG go here.

SLUG Magazine Photo Feature: Garrison Conklin

Check out Garrison in the May Issue of SLUG Magazine.

Words by: Samuel Milianta

[Photo: Samuel Milianta]

"It seems that every time I go out skating with Garrison Conklin, I end up with at least three great photos of him. He’s the kind of guy who skates all those “almost a spot” spots and makes it seem effortless. He’s got massive ollies and quick, little ninja feet.

This spot on Broadway has been around as long as I can remember, and the frontside boneless has been a staple trick even longer. It was about time we made match.com profiles for the weird plaque bank on Broadway and the frontside boneless and finally hooked the two of them up. I’m glad that Conklin got to be the official chauffeur on their first date."

Garrison Conklin, Frontside Boneless. Salt Lake City, UT, 2012.

For more from the May issue of SLUG go here.

Tyson Bowerbank in the December issue of SLUG, and takes 11th at Tampa Am

Congrats to Tyson for qualifying 1st in the semi finals and going on to place 11th over all at Tampa Am!

Here is a sequence of Tyson from the "Rejected" article in the December issue of SLUG.

Tyson Bowerbank, Feeble 360 Shove. Photo: Chris Swainston

"Skate Date" Article from SLUG Magazine.

Check out the December issue of SLUG Magazine for another really rad article by Giuseppe Ventrella. Garrison Conklin, Sean Winskowski, and our newest rider, Forrest Huber, have photos in this article.

Forrest Huber, Wallie. Photo: Sam Milianta

Garrison Conklin, Ollie. Photo: Sam Milianta

Garrison Conklin, Nosebonk. Photo: Sam Milianta

Sean Winskowski, Nose Manuel backside 180 out. Photo: Sam Milianta

A few years back, I had the opportunity to interview legendary skateboarder Duane Peters. We discussed the finer things in life and how, even as you age, if you’re a “lifer,” skateboarding is always there. Sure, you get more responsibilities and different interests, and you might not skate as much as you used to, but it’s always there...

Check the rest of the article here.

Jovi Bathemess in new SLUG Magazine

Here is the Weekend Warriors article in the October issue of SLUG Magazine.

[Jovi Bathemess, pole jam. Photo: Sam Milianta

“What a drag it is getting old.” –“Mother’s Little Helper” by The Rolling Stones

It’s amazing how quickly the seasons pass. It seems so recent that it was the summer of 1994 and I was learning varial flips in the parking lot of a sporting goods store in Southern Utah. Every year inevitably brings four seasons (at least in Utah) and each year, those seasons bring many of the same opportunities.

I have been lucky enough in my many years of skateboarding to experience a traditional school schedule. Even as time passed and my youth faded into adulthood, I was still able to keep the same seasonal schedule as when I was a young skate rat in high school. My transition has been easy since I never took summer courses in college, and I was lucky enough to land a job that followed a similar schedule. During the summer months, I have the flexibility to skate and travel, just like a teenager who drives to California or Colorado for the first time during junior year with his/her skateboard homies.

By the time you read this article, school will be back in full swing. Just like all the grown-ups (I am hesitant to use the word “adult” when writing about skateboarders, as the joy of youth extends many years beyond age 18 in the skateboard world), all the teenagers and college students will be confined to weekend skateboard missions.

Being a weekend warrior sounds like a severe loss of freedom, at least when you think about it during the relaxing summer months. However, fall often brings some of the best skateboarding. The best way to enjoy your free time is to have less of it.

It seems like when you can wake up at the crack of noon and skate any time you wish, motivation is at an all time low. But when you have six hours on a Saturday, and that’s your only real skateboard session for the week, you’re going to get shit done. The British skateboard company Blueprint Skateboards once ran an ad that stated, “We thrive on cold winters.” Sometimes limitations are good, because they force you out of your comfort zone into unexplored territory.

Consider, for a minute, two well known pro skateboarders: Chris Cole and Brandon Westgate. If you follow skateboarding at all, you know how good both of these guys are. Both skaters grew up on the Northern East Coast of the United States, a part of the country not associated with having good weather for skateboarding. I guarantee both of these guys had a hard time finding places to skate during the cold, stormy months. So, how did they get so good? When you only get to skate once in a while, when you finally do skate, you make every trick count.

As fall comes into play and winter tries to rear its ugly head, let’s not let summer die so easily. Enjoy every night you can cruise around on your skateboard with no particular plan. Bomb hills and skate for transportation, even on chilly nights. Cruise around and enjoy every weekend.

Summer will come again, we can be sure of that, but that’s no reason not to enjoy your free time, even during the traditional school months and chilly seasons. I am issuing a challenge to everyone who actually reads this: You may not be able to go as far, or be gone as long during these months, but make the most of your weekends by traveling and exploring—even if that exploring entails looking to see what is behind a building or around a corner in your own neighborhood, or maybe just a day trip to Wyoming or Wendover. Let’s hope for an Indian Summer, and if we can’t have it, we should just take what’s ours and skate in the bad weather. The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of freedom … unless you let it.

For more check SLUG Magazines website.