Korahn Gayle Interview

Photo Nathan Rutherford

So you ride for newly formed Skateboard Cafe, how did this come about?
I was riding for Crayon before 'Cafe which was all good but I wasn't mega hyped on it. There was no real reason, I just wasn't like "yes this is amazing!" I think you need to be stoked on something to be able to rep it well. I was going skating with the Cafe crew a lot and seeing their board graphics and I just loved it. I wanted to ride a Cafe board so much! I ran out of Crayon boards so I skated a Cafe board and that was it, I was hooked! It eventually got to the point where I was so into Skateboard Cafe that I just had to make the move. I didn't want to because Dykie is the man and the Crayon team were/are really cool so I felt bad but it had to be done. Now I'm stoked!

Do you have a say in the direction of the company or do you like to leave that to Rich (Smith)?
Rich and Andrew Makepeace have the most say in the direction because they design the graphics, place orders and choose everything they put out but I think the team definitely has a big influence on the brand as a whole. With the video its been like a team effort in a way! Rich will edit and show us parts and ask what we think, we'll say "take this out' or "use a different tune", he'll listen and change it if he agrees. Mike has a huge influence on the direction of the video because he has a really good vision on how a video can look and what songs go with somebodies skating, that kind of thing. He chose the song for my part ha! His Ex GF showed it to him so my part will always have meaning to him now haha!

Skateboardcafe have just released their first full length ‘Alfresco,’ how was it filming for the video?
Its been really fun but also a lot of hard work especially these last few months. We've all lost our minds a bit! It's only because we want it to be a video we can be super happy with so we're getting mega picky and putting ourselves through a lot of torture ha! Its pretty much all of our biggest video parts to date. So all the blood, sweat and shinners are worth it!

Ollie. Photo Nathan Rutherford

You've filmed numerous and notable video parts over the years, have you noticed a change in how you go about filming over the years?
I used to skate a lot more stairs, stairs, stairs but now my skating has changed and I skate different things and its not about stair counting anymore haha! I think you'll see that in the video although the last few months have felt like all I do is jump! I'm not a skater at the mo I'm a really shit stunt man ha! Recently I've heard a lot of "you need an ender, man" "that's cool but maybe try it down something bigger instead," "is that worth it?"... Lines have been few and far between, put it that way! Sometimes I'm cool with it and understand that I need to try go HAM for this part but other times it pisses me off and I'll be a rebel, like "fuck it, if it ain't good enough I don't give a shit" or "I don't care about a stupid ender I just wanna skate Lloyds" haha! Its pushed my sanity to its limits on a couple of occasions! I tried a trick over 1000 times in 2 sessions and its not being used in my part coz I did it stinking haha! But in the end I am glad that we've been so picky because its pushed me to do the best I can. Now I can be a skateboarder again! haha!

You currently reside in Bristol, it’s pretty well documented how strong the scene is. What do you think this comes down to?
I think Fifty Fifty, Danny, Flynn, Ainley, all those heads made it a great scene in the first place, videos like 'Format' and 'Jus Foolin' were amazing and showcased Bristol talent in an amazing way. Also just the fact that Bristol is an awesome city in general so people move here and join the fun!

The Lloyds 3 block is a popular Bristol hotspot, is there a trick you haven’t done down it aha?
Haha! Plenty more tricks to try! I love that place!!!

Do you think you’ll always be based in Bristol? Could you see yourself moving to the obvious skating hotspots (Barcelona/London)?
My Family and Girlfriend (Wife, by the time this comes out! mental!) live in Bristol and it is one of my favourite places in the world but I think if wifey wanted to move to London I'd be down! Not Barca, though. I can't put my finger on why, but I can only do a week at a time before I am kind of over it there!

Through Nike and Redbull you’ve had the opportunity to travel globally, what have been some of the more memorable trips?
I have been on so many amazing trips because of Red Bull in the last couple of years! Panama, New York, Israel, China, Korea and the Maldives. The list goes on! I can't believe how lucky I am! Also Nike help with travel a lot! I am a lucky Mofo!!!

Now that ‘Alfresco’ is finished up do you have any new projects/parts you’re working on?
First, I'm gonna get married and chill in Mexico for 2 weeks, I'm sure I'll be desperate to get away from the Wife and go skate again by then ha! I'll start filming my little Thunder part for Shiner Distribution when I'm back and then hopefully loads more trips and projects will come up!

Cheers Korahn any last words?
Word!!! And shout out to Rich for filming and editing the video, you're a Tank! a Fish Tank!

Peace!

An Interview with Altar Skate Shop's Chris Chambers

So let’s start from the beginning how and when did Altar start?

Altar started as I was fed up of traveling to get boards etc so thought why not get some stuff and sell at the park and I thought if I do that at least I'll always have a spare deck haha. So yer started selling out the back of a car and then got a really bad website and from there here it is!

So you've been operating from your house but recently moved into a shop, how did this change come about?
The shop was always something I wanted to do but I was waiting for my girlfriend and in the orchards the local shopping mall and was leaning against a small unit that was to let. I looked at it and was like wow that's the size of my room I could fill this shop up with all my stock. Then a week later I kept thinking about it and decided to go see what it cost and if I could give it a go. Also the council helped me and the mayor is backing it to!

Unfortunately where I’m from there was never a local shop, how important do you think a local shop is to a skate scene?
I grew up in the sticks but was always in Brighton in a shop called RE-Al, always loved going into a shop to pick up the stuff and see if I liked the shapes and get stoked on new stuff plus lurk and watch the videos. So I think it's really important for kids to have a place to see whats new, try things on, meet up and watch videos. I've only been open like 4 days but the kids are hyped to see it happen and always asking a million questions. It's weird to think that I'm the guy behind the counter and not the kid hyping out on the stuff. Even though getting a delivery is like Christmas still. So yer it's super important as it's a place to hang out get what you need, set stuff up, bug the owner then go shred.

Shop Necessities!!

I've always admired your zero tolerance of scooters haha, is there a reason for the disgust?
Ahh man I fucking hate them! They are so lame they are not meant for skate parks, always hated them! Never had one as a kid and never gave a shit about them! My hatred is simple. They get in the way and the kids who ride em are always rude little pricks (under 12 years old and its not bad over 16 kill yourself). Also a few years ago I was skating a rail and kid put his scooter on the rail as I started grinding it and I tried to save him from me crushing him and messed up my ankle real bad, at the beginning of summer too. NOT STOKED.

There have been quite a few new companies popping up in both the UK and oversees, would you say you’re quite perceptive to what will and won’t sell?
Man that's something I don't think about really. I just try support brands and companies that have my back specially English dudes like Heroin, Death and Milk! As for knowing what will sell or won't I just keep my eye on the net for who's got parts out and what's advertising and make sure I listen to mates and kids for what they are after. Put a triangle on it and it will sell.

Max Roton, Boneless, Photo: Rich West

How important do you think it is to have a strong social media presence? It seems these days it hard for companies/shops etc to stay afloat without one.
Ahh man I hate social media on a personal level but fucking love it for Altar! I love showing people what my riders are up to, what I sell and even clips of me trying to skate so people know I'm not bullshitting them being skater owned! I think it's the future for companies and skaters as kids are always on their phones and it's instant and that's what they want. The bad thing is that skate videos may be less hyped and even not made as much, but adapt or die.

Do you have any aims for the shop? Building a TF round the back or a team video aha?
I would love to do a video in the future for sure! No TF anytime soon insurance is bad enough just on the shop haha. I just want to keep slowly growing and make sure people support the right brands and support skater owned as I write this it's Altars 5th birthday! I just wanna keep it going until I can't skate then the next guy can take my place and keep the next scene going! Skateboarding is the best and someone has to get kids hyped and welcome them to the scenes and parks! Fuck being clicky we are all skaters!

Cheers Chris any last words?
This is for anyone who skates.
Stay true
Enjoy it
Welcome all
Skate skate skate
and
Convert scooter kids! They are just skaters in denial haha.
Pop in to Altar anytime! Or support your local!

Thanks Tim


Visit Altar at   www.altarskateshop.co.uk