Skate Rock BMX Pop 2

Ken of The Rehearsal Rooms provided the evening's sound

Luke Jarvis began his night with this f/s boneless. More stoke below...

14 of the 15 people in this picture missed it

The Virtues rocked in an early time slot

Steve Nowak - over the hip to b/s 5-0

Tryal of Witches came through with their Suffolk stoner rock onslaught as the light faded 

Horse Party closed the night with their “sweet/sour mix of prescient, razor
wit and winning tunefulness…"

Jarvis with another big ol' boneless IN YOUR FACE!

Jed Jolly - fakie foot plant

I could blame the low photo quality on the poor lighting at the park that this event was attempting to raise money to upgrade, or I could blame it on my poor manual flash setup. Either way, Luke Jarvis is insufficiently lit doing this sal flip tail (?) in front of Horse Party.

By this time Luke was drunk enough to bring out the football shorts
and grinding this coping blind

Luke Jarvis - massive f/s flip 

#burystedmunds #burystedmunds #skatepark #experience #skaterockbmxpop #uk #suffolk #skateboarding #bmx #music #rock #gig #skatepark #skatelife #livingthedream #hardcorehobbies 

A Final Farewell to The Priors Inn

When I first made the move to Bury St. Edmunds from Chelmsford back in 2001, the only person I knew in the town was the girl I'd moved to be with. Wanting, needing to know where all the board carrying people we saw in town went to roll we walked into Hardcore Hobbies, then on St. Johns Street and into a micro-society, a mini-culture with four simple elements feeding it's citizens; Skateboarding, BMXing, music and alcohol. 

Although Chelmsford, at that time the only longterm experience of skating I had, did indeed have a good skating communitee, for me it was pretty flat for a few years. I grew up in a small village seven or eight miles outside Chelmsford and had few friends that skated. Being a relative outsider once I'd eventually reached the age my parents considered me fit to get to Chelmsford alone, the scene was already tight. Then came the underlying prejudices that made particular music tastes and dress codes unacceptable to the skaters of Essex. - This was made worse by the start of Slipknot fever. Where seemingly every teenager not worshiping Reebok Classics donned a black SK hoody or Neo-esque leather trench coat and a beaten up old skateboard and trudged town centres cleverly disguising themselves as mall grabbing zombies. So the metal loving skaters seemed to be branded with the same spiky 'S' as the truck clenching masses gathered outside the high street McDonalds. And were avoided/ abused.

Bury was no exception. It had it's fair share of 'maggots' within a wider spectrum of alternative cultures, Bury just didn't seem to have the same level of hatred as Chelmsford at the time.

So when Dom Tinkler, then long time staffer at HH asked if I was going to The Priors that Thursday I was a little nervous to say the least. That first Planet Beat night led to so many others. The Light Outside, Vanilla Pod, Miss Black America, Becky Jago, Volunteers to name but a few. Many songs sung of love, hate and Weasels usually with Dom, Jake and I pirouetting around the packed floor with pints on our heads!

 

In short, not only did The Priors aid in the alternative education of many teenagers over the years. It gave me the opportunity to meet some of my most cherished friends. And somehow, the landlord Geordie seemed to miss (or ignore) the unconscious or vomiting under 18s in the garden every Thursday night!

Geordie left the pub after a disagreement with the brewery over the varying prices charged to different pubs in the town for a keg of ale by Greene King. The managers of another pub in town (The Grapes) took the place on but stopped booking anything but karaoke and covers bands leaving the local music scene without a venue. This model didn't last long and the building has been empty now for a few years now. It was finally pulled down this week to clear the site for an affordable housing development.

So, in memorial of this once great pub, I give you Pub Skateboarding. Goodbye Priors, you were great to many.

Harley Miller - b/s tail slide

Charlie Munro - f/s nose blunt slide

Nick Remon - b/s lip slide

Toby Gozzett - f/s lipslide bigspin

#photography #pauljacksonphotography #skateboarding #uk #suffolk #bse #thepriors #hardcorehobbies

Harley Miller - f/s smith

Harley Miller just before hocking this smith grind into the bank

Milk Skateboards Summer Trip 2014 - Berlin

         

The first words spoken to us on our arrival were from an S-Bahn ticket inspector, two stops out of Berlin Schönefeld airport.

“Ticket?”  [Slight pause as a ticket is handed over] 

“I.D.?”

“aye?”

“I.D.”... “Your ticket hass not been validated ... Passport? … Get off zu train”

Fortunately not all of us surrendered our tickets and passports and as Charlie argued with the inspectors and that goot luck scene from The Great Escape echoing in my mind, the rest of the group ran from the carriage to the nearest machine and quickly punched their tickets. Returning to the platform, the inspectors could do nothing further. One on the spot fine later and with prides dented we were back on our way to our lodgings. The soundtrack to the remaining metro journey spattered with the inevitable SS guard likenesses, bad German accents comments ridiculing the system although, in all fairness we all knew it was our ignorance that cost us €80 within an hour of landing in Germany, even if the cunning inspectors were obviously lying in wait of unsuspecting tourists straight off the plane for an easy number.

Walking the final blocks to our apartment, it became very clear that although well placed for a great number off spots it was not located in the classy end of Berlin. There were frequent large groups of men congregated outside many of the grocery shops staring at passersby menacingly, which made my walk a little uncomfortable. Especially when it dawned on me that the hyped, mainly young crew bowling down the road in high spirits, appeared to be antagonizing them. I may have been completely wrong about the whole thing, but walking around the area at night wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience either. Maybe I’ve been living in the countryside too long.

Passed the 3 floor, 24 hour sex shop and left at the small gathering of hookers we found our fourth floor accommodation; a large four bedroom loft apartment.

Milk Skateboards, a young company from the UK, have been in existence for 3 years now. This seven strong crew; Jordan Thackeray, Charlie Munro, Sam Hayter, Jasper Pegg, Harley Miller, Nicky Howells and Fuller was flanked by two filmers - Luke Petty and Danny Jackson, Swampy and I with stills cameras, company owner Dan Shervington and Paul Storey joined us a couple of days in. By the time beds had been reserved and boards assembled we were all itching to get out and shred Berlin.

Skating down a wide street in the middle of the road with a large group of skaters is one of the best feelings I know. I mean, all of you pegging it along, weaving through traffic, crossing lights. With the guys not carrying cameras popping up and down curbs, swerving round pedestrians and power sliding all around you. Everyone wearing stupid grins, excitement and anticipation building with each push for the next spot. And as we rattled along, I noticed a number of women stepping off the curb in front of us, at one point almost dragging Petty off his board exclaiming “blowjob skater boys?!”. After a short stop to reclaim Luke and much breathless laughter we skated on shouting abuse back at them. Catching up with the group the story was lightly embellished when recounted to everyone’s hilarity.

Sam Hayter - switch b/s tail slide

The first spot we hit was a fountain outside an aquarium on Budapester Straße. 

This was the first opportunity for some of us to witness the talents of the newest member of the crew, Nicky. I stood back and shot from a distance taking in the session coming together with Sam, Nicky & Charlie. The weather was good and the beer flowed freely as the lines came together in this busy little square and I was pleased to see passersby pausing to watch. This early experience did not set the precedent for the entire trip but generally the reception from Berliners was good.

Sam Hayter - f/s blunt slide

Nicky Howells - b/s crooks

Charlie Munro - f/s 50-50

We just seemed to bump into some guy at the right time and deals were done.

Harley Miller - nose slide

It was at this point that the first acquisition of supplies that cannot cross borders was received. It turns out that anything is available in Berlin. You just have to stumble into the right person. Literally. This is how things turned out all week. We just seemed to bump into some guy at the right time and deals were done. Admittedly, we were staying in what turned out to be the do anything area of the city and supposedly anything was available, at a price. So I shouldn’t really have been surprised.

As we skated through the streets we found a big double set curving anticlockwise down and around a fountain with a big kinked hubba dissecting the steps which lead into a largely empty restaurant filled with tables covered in pressed white linen cloths, laid with shiny wine glasses and polished silver cutlery. Flanked by a small absence of smart waiters. Charlie and Harley took the hubba to task and I snuck into the restaurant, placed myself at a table and ordered a drink. I sat and shot from that position as a crowd gathered at the top of the steps, both skaters rolled away from long grinds. I finished my drink, paid and left. 

On our first return journey to our apartment the neon lights led us home from the metro stop. Rolling down smoothly paved streets lined with strip clubs and sex shops, avoiding the littering of harlots. The shear number and blatancy of the girls took me aback. I’ve not seen so much sex on sale outside of Amsterdam’s De Wallen.

JThaxxx rolled up and jammed this hurricane in before dropping down
the kinked bank into a long line in the rain 

We ate fast food, drank Berliner Kindl and got mellow back at the digs as the crew made plans for the next day. 

The hardier guys then went out to find nighttime entertainment with Swampy at the helm. These night adventures became the norm and it became apparent to me pretty quick that Nicky should always be left to check joints out when in new places. He’s the King of Good Nights Out and doing so leads to fetish bars, gay bars and strip clubs aplenty and hung over recounts of many stories the following day and although most protested the next morning about his choice of bars, we all seemed to have had great nights. May Nicky’s reign be long and prosperous!

Morning rituals are revealed very quickly when you occupy an apartment twelve deep. Wake up times, bathroom habits, drink & breakfast choices, levels of activity before noon, all individual. And the balancing of this complex equilibrium can be the making or breaking of a day. From day one, Milk trip mornings have never been early affairs and the first spot of the day is often not hit until 11am.

This does however enable the wise early riser to not only shower in peace but dig out the best bits of the locale and find good food and drink with which to start the day, leaving the horizontal to their slumber. Jasper & I seem to have a nose for good coffee and on both this and the Paris trip last year we’ve landed a real good cup of the morning fuel every day. These early excursions also resulted in some great lunch choices too. So much easier than trying to find food near spots when you find yourself hungry. Beer on the other hand was  close to hand anywhere in the city. 

If you weren’t near a shop, you were near one of the multitude of mobile liquor stores hugging the pavements by park gates, traffic lights and most metro stations. 

finding that elusive dry spot that we all imagine optimistically must be just round the corner.

Nicky Howells  boning an ollie at our regular warm up spot

Jordan late shoving the warm up

Jasper Pegg - mad bigspin f/s lip up to f/s smith revert down combo  

Charlie Munro - crooks up, switch f/s 5-0 down

 One of the issues you do face when skateboarding in Western Europe during autumn is that generally, the dry days are outnumbered heavily by wet days. This can result in either a lengthy trail through unknown streets in the vain hope of finding that elusive dry spot that we all imagine optimistically must be just round the corner. Or, you find an indoor skate park or car park. We, on the first wet day of the trip did a bit of it all. Travelling across town to the Mitte district we found a spot that Jasper wanted to hit, under a bridge “possibly dry?” We thought. We arrived to find it very wet and being rained on. Jasper, to my amazement hit it anyway coming away with a good bit of film and a couple of stills. We quickly moved on and hid from the incessant rain in Titus Skate Shop, which has a small concrete bowl in it. Jordan’s wayward board nearly destroyed the shoe display, but when he stopped and apologized the owner told him not to be stupid and to get the trick. Jordan obliged. 

Fuller & Charlie shelter as Jasper sends a switch f/s 50-50 up this bridge

Jordan Thackeray - TEXAS! at Titus Skateshop

The crew decided after a while to find a bar and blow skating off for the day. Nobody seemed

interested in visiting an indoor park. On the way home a couple of guys rode into a multi story car park behind a hotel which resulted in everyone taking the lift to the top level and racing down the spiralling ramps to the exit over and over for an hour and a curb and manny pad session late into the night.
The clouds broke on occasion over the next couple of days so missions continued regardless of the frequent heavy showers and thick, wet mist. A few good spots were skated but way too much time was spent hiding under trees or waiting in cafes to make it a busy couple of days! But once the clouds cleared we were able to get on it once more for the last full day.

Fuller getting melancholy on a rock

Munners getting hench with this huge double set spanning switch f/s biggy

“Bruv! 

Bruv! 

Bruv! 

You gonna try stabbin me bruv? Yeah?!”

Jordan worked really hard for this b/s disaster on next to nothing at the top of this rock tranny. 

Charlie Munro - f/s ollie up, switch f/s board

One of our destinations for the day was a small DIY spot near Warschauer Bridge. Arriving at the closest metro stop, we paused for supplies at a kiosk surrounded by beggers and drunks. From a distance I suddenly heard Charlie start shouting. 

“Bruv! Bruv! Bruv! You gonna try stabbin me bruv? Yeah?!”

I turned to see a short man in a dark coat and hat stumble, waving the sharp end of a Stanley knife at Charlie’s stomach. As Charlie, in one motion stepped back snapping his board into his hand and coiling it over his shoulder preparing to unwind at the man, two fellas from the kiosk grabbed the short pointy fella and pulled him away. We took our chance and grabbed Charlie swiftly skating off up 
the street towards the spot.

Jordan's line for this was crazy! Top speed roll in and three fast corners
just to get to the coping.

Fuller and I 

sat back, enjoyed a 

few beers 
and watched 

the mayhem
 unfold 

Nicky Howells - b/s flip noseblunt revert

 Once skating and a friendly kick-about with the Warschauuer locals were done a communal meal was devoured and many beers were sunk before the entire apartment stepped out for a final nighttime adventure. Fuller and I sat back, enjoyed a few beers and watched the mayhem unfold in, and outside a couple of bars before leaving most of them at the doors of a dodgy techno club with proper moody-looking bouncers. 

Charlie fascinating the locals at one of the first spots of the trip. One we stumbled upon by chance. 

The owner of the apartment had told us to be out by 10am 

on the last day so out we went, on the dot. 

Some dragged out 

by others, but out all the 

same, leaving a distinctive 

Charlie Munro - b/s tail slide flip out

smell and the kitchen floor completely covered in empty beer bottles collected throughout the last week. Not wanting to hang around to witness the anger of the landlord we fled the scene to a paved space outside the 
Neue Nationalgalerie where we spent a couple of hours filming some final lines and many of the crew slept off the previous night before the short flight home.

You can see footage from this trip in a number of Fresh Milk edits available at www.milkskateboards.com.

#uk #skateboarding #skatelife #milkskateboards #berlin #europe #trip #summer #hardcorehobbies #pauljacksonphotography #blog #new