Our journey to Japan Last year was a trip that I’ll never forget. We traveled all over the island and saw everything from the lush green farm fields that blanketed the southern tip of Japan, to the dense inner city of Shibuya Tokyo. Although we were only there for a couple short weeks we were able to do a 9 State Tour w/ a bunch of the dudes from Fukuoka and spend some time in Tokyo w/ Marco. The weather was so bloody humid the entire time, that we all became accustomed to carrying around a towel everywhere. We’re going to have to plan another tour in Japan next year.
Photo Credit : Zane Meyer (Above)
Photo Credit : Seitaro Iki (Below)
Seitaro Iki better know as “Say” has been living San Francisco for the last 10 months as he studied abroad and cut loose with us. I’m sad to say that today was his last day here in the States as tomorrow he flies back to his hometown of Fukuoka Japan. We enjoyed his final hours here by doing what we always do, hanging out and occasionally try a trick or two.
San Francisco is so densely packed with street spots that often times we wander aimlessly in search of new shit to shred. Seitaro Iki took this photo of Devon Lawson hitting an ice pick on this wall rail we found in our neighborhood. I’m usually not that into vertical compositions, but lately I feel like I enjoy them more and more. It could be that I spend so much time working with video that I’m not used to so many vertical pixels. Now I know what you’re thinking, and you’re correct. The “Big D” is Devon’s pro model hat from Premier Fits. Check out some more of Seitaro’s photography around the city HERE.
Wheel Talk Team Member Valentin Racho has some of the most technical barspin tricks in the game. Seitaro Iki shot this photo of him throwing a barspin into the bank at some skatepark in Southern California. With the Team living all across the country we don’t get to ride together as much as we’d like. But it gives us the opportunity to act as ambassadors and help push the scene in each of our respective communities. Valentin is the youngest dude on the team, and is going to play a huge role the future of Fixed Freestyle
I’ve been playing catch up, and posting up some photos that we shot a while back. Here’s one that Seitaro Iki took of me doing a tuck no hander while we were on tour in Fukuoka, Japan. Devon Lawson & I took a look at this heavily guarded pyramid spot a couple of times while we were there, but weren’t able to catch clips on it until our last day in Fukuoka. I don’t know what the deal is w/ spots in Japan, but they would never build anything like this here in the States.
I shot this photo of Seitaro Iki blasting a tuck down a hill here in San Francisco the same he shot the skid photo of Devon & I. We’re real stoked to be going w/ him to Japan on the 21st, and can’t wait to shred someplace completely new.
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.
It’s been real rad having Seitaro Iki living in San Francisco. He’s been taking a ton of photos and videos of everyone since he’s been out here, which is why it was nice to shoot some shit of him for a change. He’s the latest addition to the ever growing Fixed Freestyle scene here in SF, and most certainly not the last. Expect to see more of Say in the near future. See more below.