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While waiting for an oil change today, I read the cover story “10 Skaters Who Changed The Decade” in the new Transworld Skateboarding today (which is pretty great, by the way. Though what the hell do they print it on? After looking at The Skateboard Mag and then Color, TWS feels like its printed on toilet paper.) at Barnes & Noble. It features interviews with pretty much exactly who you expect based on the title—Marc Johnson, Koston, Danny Way, Appleyard, P-Rod, Andrew Reynolds, etc. TWS seems really into these features on influential skaters, a move I’m all for.

The real highlight for me was the MJ interview where he talks about the development of the Fully Flared combo-ledge trick aesthetic. He mentions Mike Mo telling him that he had an “MJ” trick—the FS tailslide to FS bluntslide that became his Fully Flared ender (that is his ender, right?) and that him, Guy and Lucas Puig would throw tricks out at each other.* But the thing that caught my attention was MJ talking about tricks from early 90’s videos that never really caught on and mentions one of my personal favorite clips ever—Danny Way’s FS boardslide to FS noseblunt slide in Questionable (plus he gives Henry Sanchez props for the switch boardslide to FS boardslide). Its one of those things that makes you appreciate his skating that much more, that its aware of its own history and re-looking at stuff that was so ahead of its time that it disappeared. I’m reminded of Danny Way’s FS noseblunt slide to 360 shuv-it out (also from his Questionable part); who knew tricks done once on curbs in 1992 would come back so hard?

Another video (by Kevin Horn) showcasing next generation Twin Cities talent including jnh.com favorite Tom Rohrer. Premiering December 19, 2009.

There’s a ton of footage (New Flavors and otherwise) at Kevin’s YouTube channel. (A big chunk of which begs the question of why do you kids keep filming in shorts? Its ok to wear shorts, just stop ruining clips with them.)

One of the things I love about the indie skate video movement is that its evidence that skateboarding is a sub-cultural activity and not a sport. When I first started skating, people only filmed when they were seriously trying to get sponsored, and if they were sponsored it was because they needed footage for a video. Now kids begin filming as soon as they start skating and while they may want to get sponsored that isn’t the primary motivation. It parallels music more than anything else—a garage band may not expect (or want) to get picked up by a major label but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to play shows and make records. It excites me how much skateboarding has changed in the 22 years since I first got a board, I can’t wait to see where all this ends up 10 years from now.

48blocks just put up an interview with Brian Wenning that unlike all other 48blocks interviews doesn’t ask (mostly, that is) about growing up skating with (insert legend’s name here) and instead deals exclusively with his post-Plan B/DC descent into obscurity. In contrast to the You Tube videos that were making Wenning look mad douche-y and seemed to be contributing to his falling off, Wenning seems pretty rad in this interview and had me pretty stoked on him. Apparently, he’s getting flowed from the Kayo Corp and hungry—“I am more motivated now to skate everyday and try to push myself and progress in different areas of skateboarding.” I’m not entirely sure what that means (old guy bank skating?) but it sounds good. Wenning on DGK seems like a good look; a video with the Love Park OG’s—Wenning, Stevie and Kalis would be pretty sick.

He also released some unseen footage (seen above)—its clearly from Plan B filming missions so there’s no real surprises but he’s a fun dude to watch. His switch tre on flat is a thing of beauty and the switch back-tail 360 shuv-it out is one of the best around. Here’s hoping the comeback is on some Pete Eldridge style epic-ness and not just a teaser.