Download the pdf here - Curating anything and everything longboard

Recommendations

Info

side of longboarding. He left the scene, but there is no doubt he left his mark. Ironically, he credits longboarding for getting him back into photography. He is now a fulltime photographer supporting a family.Yann still travels and competes in numerous events while balancing his career as an engineer. He seems to be doing well at it. In November 2011 he held a push race; despite rain and wind, more than 90 skaters showed up. “I have a desire to charge hard and keep traveling,” Yann says. “My goal is to mix my passion for longboarding with my job. RESTLESS – NO SLEEP ’TIL PJ’S BAR Restless Longboards was founded in 2004 by Christian Chenard-Lemire, Alaric LeBlanc, Dither Flores and François-Olivier Théberge. Originally, they were set up as an online shop offering custom graphics with different models. Restless still offers this service but has over time created a unique longboard brand of their own. I met up with Christian and Alaric in their R&D facility in Montreal. We also took time to spend a lunch at the infamous PJ’s Emilie Gascon at the Montreal Slalom Outlaw. Photo: Olivier Séguin-Leduc Bar just down the road from their warehouse. Most of that conversation will remain off the record. Restless are spending a lot of time prototyping with their vacuum press. “It’s a Venturi system, which uses compressed air,” explains Christian. “We are also using 3D modeling to make our own molds.” The team at Restless is excited for the future. “We see the growth of longboarding,” says Christian. “Our idea is to create a diverse amount of product that appeals to riders looking for a superior ride.” WEST COMES EAST Jim Ziemlanski, Jody Willcock and Ian Comishin are three individuals who have collectively had a huge impact on the longboard scene in Montreal. As Pierre explains, it was Jim who first contacted him to try out a slalom board. The two traveled to an event in Boston. Pierre has turned a lot of folks onto the fun you can have with cones. “I got Jim into slalom, but it was Jim who got me into downhill.” A year later, Pierre met up with Ian. “Those guys were younger than me,” Pierre says. “They were fearless! I WINTER 2012 CONCRETE WAVE 93
Charles Ouimet at one of the locals’ favorite spots. Photo: Olivier Séguin-Leduc started following them but couldn’t go through every red light like they did. It was fun.” Ian went on to found KebbeK Skateboards. The brand has forged a unique place within the scene and its boards are now sold worldwide. THE GENESIS OF TOP CHALLENGE In the early 2000s, Pierre was riding with a longboarder named Frank Fontaine. “He told me he wanted to start a race and asked me to help out,” Pierre says. “I hooked him up with Ian and Jim, as they had been involved with numerous races.” Frank was passionate about creating something, Pierre says, but was unsure how to put it on: “He saw the potential of a downhill race right in the middle of the city. His choice was Mont Royal. The first dry run of the event took place in 2002 with 10 racers. I broke two fingers just a week or so before the event, so I couldn’t ride.” Top Challenge was ahead of its time, with key sponsorship from Bud Light. Fontaine invested a huge amount of time and money in Top Challenge, and repeatedly tried to get Red Bull on board as well. The energy-drink company had sponsored downhill events in previous years, but for some reason, things just didn’t gel for Top Challenge. Still, the memories of that time are something that will never fade. The sight of thousands of spectators lining the streets was something to behold. A VARIETY OF DISCPLINES If there is one element about the scene in Montreal that keeps appearing, it’s the concept of riders embracing all types of skateboarding. “I am really proud of the fact that many skaters here are willing to try different things. I encourage street skaters to try longboards and vice versa,” says Pierre. THE DEVIL’S TOY A number of years ago, skating the “Devil’s Toy” run in Westmount was pretty easy. Nowadays, it’s a bust due 94 CONCRETE WAVE WINTER 2012 Ludovic Tremblay in Quebec City. Photo: Olivier Séguin-Leduc There is life among the dearly departed. Dmitri at a Montreal cemetery. Photo: Olivier Séguin-Leduc the numerous private security firms that prowl the area. The spot got its name from a 1966 National Film Board documentary on the skateboarding scene in Montreal. It’s a classic, and you’ll cringe at the site of clay wheels hitting the hills of Westmount. The introduction states: “This film is dedicated to all victims of intolerance.” Like many things emerging from Montreal, the film truly was ahead of its time. Do a quick search on Google and you’ll find it. Dmitri Komarov plays with the devil's toy in Westmount. Photo: Olivier Séguin-Leduc LE TAZ Opened in the spring of 2009, this indoor skatepark is absolutely massive. The $10 million project also features a second level with a nice wooden kidney bowl. Friday night sessions are populated by a number of longboarders who love to carve with their pool decks. While the infamous Montreal weather can be horrendous from late November to April, Taz is nice and toasty.
Page 1 and 2: 88 CONCRETE WAVE WINTER 2012
Page 3 and 4: Bob Couet, the owner of Urge Longbo
Page 5: Fabrice Gaëtan and Marc Séguin hi
Page 9 and 10: THE PARTY SCENE No article on Montr

Download the pdf here - Curating anything and everything longboard

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?