Here’s a photo from when Dew Sippawit was staying at my pad here in SF. When it comes to filming we’re always trying to find unique ways to get the shot. Some of my favorite clips are shot from over head. It creates a forced perspective and simplifies the background. Think out of the box and try a couple of different spots to film from before committing to one and pressing record.
On August 21st Devon Lawson and I (Matt Reyes) are flying out to Japan with Seitaro Iki to take part in a couple of events and do a 9 State tour across the country. We’ll be in Nagasaki at Koe Skatepark to ride in the Nine States Jam on August 25th 2013, and will be in Tokyo for the last few days of our trip. We’re both real stoked to be a part of this and check out the Fixed Freestyle scene outside of our own backyard. If you live out in Japan and want to ride with us, shoot me a message HERE and we’ll try to meet up sometime during our 2 week stay.
I recently rediscovered this photo of Mike Schmitt doing a downhill smith lurking in the archives. This whole block has a series of out ledges starting out low and ending high. The crazy amount of hills in SF makes for some pretty unique street spots if you’re willing to make the trek uphill in search of them. If the journey to the spot doesn’t strip you of all energy the ride up and down the hill to hit the spot might.
Seitaro Iki took this photo of Devon Lawson and I on our way home from riding the industrial part of San Francisco. We’ve been broadening our reach in search of new spots in areas of town we rarely visit. What makes this photo even better is that Devon did the barspin on a flat rear tire. Ringing or walking home w/ a flat tire blows, no pun intended, which is why we’ll do anything we can to make it interesting.
June was a good month for us over at the Wheel Talk manor, Dew Sippawit and Jaoa Danaikrit surfed the couch for most the month. During which time they fed the house Thai food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mid way through Dew and I flew out to NYC to stay w/ Ed Wonka and shred some street spots out there. We came out w/ a Wheel Talk Edit of Omar Sebai, and met some of the Fixed Freestyle scene out in NYC.
Ed Wonka recently did an interview w/ Dose on Network A. In it he talks about the end of Grime Bikes, the birth of Fixed Freestyle, and what got him into riding in the first place. I shot a few of the clips used in here, and am stoked to see Ed shredding again after coming off 2 broken wrists. That bodega on his corner makes some killer sandwiches and the mozzarella sticks at Crowns are the truth.
Last month I spent some time w/ Ed Wonka at his pad in Brooklyn NY. We started off most days by hitting up a safe spot skate spot for a quick session before venturing off into the city for a full day of riding. New York had a ton of skateparks in comparison to SF, but lets be honest, who needs skateparks when you’re surrounded by some of the best street terrain in the country. Be on the look out for more photos from the trip.
Jeff Dempler recently hooked up with the guys at Kali Protectives down in Morgan Hill, and got some riding in at their new backyard compound. Photographer Phillip Ritti was there to capture some of the action and sent over this sweet shot of Jeff hitting a table top off one of their ladder drops. Their setup reminds me a lot of the “WheelTalk Compound” from back in the day. Expect to see more from the Kali Compound in the near future. Photo Credit : Phil Ritti