Landry's Column

"John Hughes"




Last week, John Hughes passed away as a result of a heart attack. Many of you probably weren’t aware of his existence but for a time he was the voice of the ignored youth of the eighties. His films explored teen angst and examined the emotions of middle/suburban America. While he never examined or included skateboarders directly, I’m certain there are skaters out there who could identify with at least one of his characters from one of his films. You see, John Hughes often included an underdog or anti-hero type of figure within his films which I feel can translate directly to the underdog nature of skateboarding.

We as skaters often seek some recognition for the work we put into skating but with little or no regard by the mainstream media. For the most part we embrace this lack of recognition. It is not our aim to get noticed per se but to find ourselves within a fringe activity. This may be the one reason as to why we, as skaters, are unable to identify with John Hughes films. While Hughes' underdog archetypes are searching for a voice and attempting to be heard, skaters can often find their voice through the act of skateboarding. While we remain on the outskirts of the mainstream, we remain content to just be out skating.

At the same time, we do attempt to receive some recognition from our peers in our attempt to improve and develop our skills. In my opinion, this is where Hughes’ films become an example of our human (skate-centric) condition. As we attempt to record that which is around us and share said recordings, we are in fact extending our voice to a larger audience. While it is debatable whether the parties involved are truly searching for recognition, we still must attempt to explain our apparent need to create videos and share them with a larger audience.

This apparent need to not necessarily be known but to be understood by others is central to our day to day lives. Even though we aren’t pursuing a girl in the face of adversity (as is the hero in many a Hollywood film), we still remain in pursuit of something. We just don’t always know what it is or how we’re going to get there.


-Marc Landry

Retro Mondays

This weeks retro video is Peter Smolik's video part from full fill the dream. I think it's safe to say he had every b/s tailslide trick on lock and this was in 98.

Matt Tre

Jeff Delong sent me this photo of Matt Mcfarlane doing a tre-flip over a barrier/wall to a downhill sidewalk.

Classically

Here's a bit of throw away street footage from the other day that I wasn't able to edit right away due to computer problems.

Extended

Check out the extended version of the Nike p-rod commercial I think it's better than the original one.


Also the firewire on my mac is acting all weird so I can't capture footage till I figure it out, which I'm working on so I'll hopefully have some street footage uploaded in the next day or two.

Landry's Column

I wanted to get other people involved with creating content on the site and who better than Marc Landry. He has been involved within the skateboard scene in Fredericton since I can remember which is probably about 13 - 14 years to my recollection, and I know he was involved even before that but whose counting. He usually has a strong opinion about things skate related and some things non-skate related, and has even had his opinion published in magazines like The Skateboard Mag and others in their letter to the editor sections.

Marc will try to have a column posted every week to keep people entertained and mix things up. Here's the first week's column by Marc Landry.


"Contests"
On the surface, the idea of contests presents itself as a means of earning or establishing oneself within the social network or a means of reinforcing one’s dominance within the skatosphere. However, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. There no way to ostracize oneself quicker than to use a contest victory to raise the ego. No one in the world loves a prima donna. Big egos rub everyone the wrong way and always leave the masses feeling insulted.

At the same time, there is an opportunity to use a contest to effectuate change. Whether it is through the accumulation of funds in order to build new terrain or to use the event as a means of pure promotion for better and new facilities, there is an opportunity to rise above the individual desire to excel and sell skateboarding to the masses for the greater good. For this reason, we should all do our best to get involved for one day of the summer by attending and participating in the realm of contests.

This is a public relations war here folks and the only way we’re going to get ahead in this political climate, is by inviting the squares. Despite our personal philosophies, we need to get people in the arena in order to sell our game and as with most sport/activities, we need to cheer and make some noise. We need to hype up our product and show people what’s up.

-Marc Landry

More Park

It's been pretty hot out lately but I can't complain it sure beats all the rain we got in July, so here's some more park footage with Mark, Brandon, Francis and Greg.

Delong Photos

Here are 2 photos that Jeff Delong took, The first one is of his brother Mark kickfliping on a bank in the middle of nowheres, and the second is Justin Gautreau switch ollie over a bench.

Retro Monday

I figured since I usually post a video part that I'm stoked on from older videos about once every week or two, that I might as well just make it a regular thing every Monday.

Well this week I'm hyped on Marc Johnson's old video part from the Yeah Right video.

New Maryland

Here's a bit of footage from a fun little session at the New Maryland skatepark with Sean G, Mark Feero and Francis Bischoff.