As he walked in the front door I greeted him at the top of the stairs.
“Thanks,” he said, as I handed over the card I bought him.
He didn’t need to open it to know what it was for.
Beaming, he said, “Now I can die a happy man.”
The brutal honesty that comes with acceptance is enough to paralyze most people.
Bowling was always his thing.
Three months into treatment and six months before the end, with Antimetabolites, Alkylating agents, Topoisomerase inhibitors and Anthracyclines pumping through his veins, my father bowled his first perfect game.
These miracles grace us in tiny, temporary doses. And I’ll never need another.
(Almost) Everyone Loves Lowry
Words: Robert Brink SBC, Fall 2011
“This is probably so boring,” says Kevin Lowry, halfway through our interview.
“Well, the Internet likes you and we’re having fun,” I say encouragingly, “so nothing else really matters does it?”
“True I guess, ” he replies.
Prior to our phone call, all I knew about Kevin was that he’s a 23-year-old Calgary resident and a skateboarder. Existing interviews and weeks of reaching out to his friends and teammates produced very little intel, so I resorted to the world’s most reliable source of factual information (insert facetiousness here)—the messageboards.
Joe Brook By Joe Brook and éS Footwear
Words: Robert Brink SBC, Fall, 2011
To celebrate the release of the éS / Joe Brook Square 2 colorway, a new photo book, showcasing the many years of éS and Brook’s friendship and work together, has been pressed.
Trevor Colden
Words: Robert Brink Thrasher, September 2011
Trevor Colden has been in your face lately. It’s his time to be. He’s 17, really good at skateboarding and under the wings of Jamie Thomas, Chris Cole and Heath Kirchart. You can try to deny him or make fun of his beanie or whatever you want. But the reality is, when dudes like those three step up and back a kid you never heard of, it’s inevitable—we, collectively, have been offered the opportunity to witness a next-generation ripper and his skateboarding come to fruition.
So how's the response been to your Emerica welcome clip?
Dude, people seem so psyched on it. I was super blown away. I didn't even know I was coming out with it until a few days before. I texted Miner asking if he needed footage because I’m filming for a legit Emerica part and he told me that my welcome thing was coming out and I was like, “Whaaaaat?”
How soon after did the shit talking follow?
I saw a couple comments on Hella Clips, but I don't give a shit. Sometimes it gets super harsh, but it definitely wasn't as much as I thought it would be. The only one I really heard about was after my Mystery part … that I'm a “Tom Asta clone.”
43 Magazine
Word: Robert Brink. Photos: Allen Ying. Already Been Done, September 2011
Allen Ying is a Brooklyn-based skateboarder and photographer who discovered skateboarding at age 11. At 15, he borrowed a friend’s camera to take some pictures …
“At the time I was looking at skate mags a lot and was really impressed with the quality of the photos in them,” Ying says. “This was probably ’98 or ’99, when Philly was in TransWorld all the time. Seeing that stuff in the magazines kind of sold me on the idea of shooting skate photos.”
Shortly after came a leg fracture. With his newfound free time, Allen’s began shooting more. Then, at age 18, came the move to Manhattan to attend F.I.T. for a degree in photography.
Fast-forward to July of 2011. The entire skate community was introduced to the concept of Allen’s new baby, 43 magazine. And for the next month, we watched and donated in suspense as he, with the help of Kickstarter.com, attempted to raise a minimum of $20,000 to get the mag up and running.
305 backers and $23,583 later, on August 29, 2011—the mission was accomplished.
First off, congratulations on getting 43 funded.
Thanks.
Already Been Done Presents: Ricky Webb
Words: Robert Brink Already Been Done, August 2010
What are you up to, Ricky?
I’m at Starbucks. Just got some tea.
What kind of tea?
Orange chai something? I don’t know. I forgot.
I don’t drink coffee, only tea. So now I instantly like you.
I just wanted to come over here and get on the Internet because I don’t have it at my house.
Speaking of the Internet, your Facebook page lists your occupation as “private investor … ”
My homey’s trying to make some t-shirts and wheels and stuff so I’m gonna help him. It’s called “Take That.”
I saw the video part you did for them—pretty sick. So you loaned him some money?
Yeah.
You're a good friend. I noticed you’re way more popular on Facebook than Twitter.
I think I like Facebook more. I communicate more on Facebook. I don’t really communicate that much on Twitter.
Ryan Sheckler: Paying it forward
Words: Robert Brink
Originally intended for 944 magazine this month, this piece never saw the light of day because the mag folded. Enjoy.
Sponsored at 6-years old and pro by age 13, it didn’t take long for San Clemente native, Ryan Sheckler (now 21) to reach the top of the game in skateboarding—and subsequently cross over to a mainstream success that 99.9% of his industry cannot fathom and most certainly won’t ever experience.
Sheckler was the youngest professional skateboarder to have a signature model shoe. He’s won multiple X Games gold medals, had his own reality show on MTV, achieved teen heartthrob status, sealed endorsement deals from Got Milk, Axe, Proactiv and more, scored roles in movies with the likes of The Rock and appeared on stage at a ‘Lil Wayne concert.
Just a quickie from my phone that I filmed during practice before I helped judge the event. Justin (handstand) won best trick and Greg (front blunt) won the contest. Rippers!
Hilliard Sulpher’s Pursuit of Happiness
By Robert Brink SBC, Fall 2011
Prior to speaking with Hilliard Sulpher, his friends told me all sorts of quirky things about him to help make this article entertaining.
Things like how he’s nicknamed “The Hobbit” because he has hairy feet. About how he barfs a lot and how he’s into motorcycles. That he lived in the infamous Windsor Hut with his crew in Toronto. That he has a back tat of his last name (a-la Sheckler and TJ Rogers) that his parents bought for him as a Christmas present when he was 13. That his sister is a world-record holding professional jump roper and his mom makes the best nachos in Ontario and even parties with Hill and his homies.
But all that’s just fluff—the fodder you include when there’s nothing better to talk about—or when you’re filibustering—avoiding the large elephant in the center of the room.
