Well I have been busier than all hell lately, which is a good thing. I actually enjoy my hectic schedule and more than anything love snapping the pics amidst my chaotic life. August has been really good and as it winds down I would like to take this opportunity to give you guys a little glimpse into what made it special. I attended some very fun, and unique events like the Red Bull Wake Pool event @ Kits Pool (Aug 21st)
I would like to take a second here to shout out Evan Park for all that he has been through in the past while. I would like to express my sincerest condolences to your Loss. Evan showed up at the Red Bull Wake Pool event with a heavy heart but rode through it all and I commend him for even showing up that day let alone shredding the pool like a true champion.
Speaking of Champions.... Tanner Champion was killing it all night and is definitely someone to watch out for.
I gotta admit I am not in love with the shots I took that night, I really came to the event under prepared and really should have brought some lights to help improve my shots. That being said I did what I could with an on camera flash and got right in the water to capture what I could.
Hopefully Red Bull will throw this event again and I will come prepared t o snap some beauties. It really was a great event and the setting couldn't have been much better. Props to all the riders for putting on an execelent show.
The Warped Tour.....
What can I say about this event. This was my 13th year attending the warped tour and my first outside of Ontario. It has changed quite a bit since the glory days back when the stage was graced by punk legends like 7 Seconds, The Swingin Utters, and so on. Not to take anything away for NOFX or Bad Religion but this line up was about as thin as it could get.
I really don't get all these shitty emo/synth/pop bands. If you can't sing what makes you think screaming will be any better, half of them sounded like wounded terradactyls. I hope NOFX is right and these Dinosaurs die.
On the bright side of things there was a couple high points during the day. Westbound Train a soulful ska outfit from Boston were incredible and brought the crowd to its knees.
Westbound's set got the crowd moving and skanking early in the afternoon and was one of my favorite acts in an otherwise bland day. If you haven't heard them before go to your local record store and grab a copy of Come and Get It (Hellcat Records).
It will definitely ad a little spring to your step.
Next up for me was the legendary Bad Religion. In typical BR fashion they pounded out a diverse selection from there vast catalog, Playing some new stuff and some of the much preferred older gems. During 21st Century Digital Boy NOFX's Fat Mike grabbed the mic and stumpled through the chorus before ducking into the shadows.
After BR's history lesson NOFX made there way to the stage and bombarded the crowd with crude jokes and amazing tunes. They played alot of the old stuff and an amazing cover Rancids "RADIO" which was a real hilight for me. Its always a pleasure to listen to Fat Mike and the boys and that day was no exception.
Alexisonfire followed NOFX which would prove to be a challenge to any band, but these boys were back on home soil and no longer tucked away on one of the smaller stages. In front of one of the largest draws of the day George and the boys from St. Catherines ripped through there set with reckless abandon. Standouts were Young Cardinals, Accidents, and Boiled Frogs.
The end of the day brought on the most anticipated act of the day (at least for me) THE GALLOWS. The fellas from jolly ole England put on one the most memorable performances I have ever seen at the Warped Tour. 3 songs in they abandoned the stage led by front man Frank Carter they made there way into the middle of the pit and tore the place apart. They brewed up one of the meanest circle pits I think Vancouver has ever seen.
These guys are true punk rockers, they embody what this tour is suppost to be about. Needless to say they stole the show and I for one can't wait to see them when they return with Flogging Molly
in October.
I gotta admit I am not in love with the shots I took that night, I really came to the event under prepared and really should have brought some lights to help improve my shots. That being said I did what I could with an on camera flash and got right in the water to capture what I could.
Westbound's set got the crowd moving and skanking early in the afternoon and was one of my favorite acts in an otherwise bland day. If you haven't heard them before go to your local record store and grab a copy of Come and Get It (Hellcat Records).
in October.
WOW!!! How do I even begin writing about what just transpired. All over the world skateboarders hit the streets on June 21st to celebrate Go Skateboarding Day, Vancouver was no exception. Graced by the presence of the Emerica team, close to 3000 people from all over the lower mainland took to the streets in guerrilla like fashion to raise money for the D.I.Y Lee side skate park. The parade of twig pushers started at the skate plaza where the likes of Andrew Reynolds, Jerry Hsu, Ed Templeton, and a whos who of local destroyers ripped the park a new one. After watching these guys make short work of the plaza the herd moved on to Hot Spot which was the second stop on the seven stop tour . Unfortunately I couldn't work my way through the crowd to get a shot but judging by the roars of the crowd what went down was nothing short of spectacular. We moved to the C-ledge where I managed my way into a decent spot to snap a couple pics. The guys were going off!!! 
I shot this bluntslide while standing in a pee soaked bush, but some times you just gotta really get in there to get the goods. Following the destruction of Hot spot the masses took back to the streets en route to Victory Square. The folks in Yaletown sure had no idea what was going on when the massive crew of skaters rolled through there yuppy neighbourhood. Little rat dogs where shoved into designer purses while there masters ran for cover. I once again, found my self elbowing my way to the front row to get a shot with no luck. I did happen to snap a couple shots but nothing really materialized. After couple snapped decks, and some serious stompers we cruised down West Pender to the "Black Double" This spot is amazing, I mean Its big by snowboarding standards. I posted up right in the landing and snapped some beauties. Andrew Reynolds is a machine...... First try he ollied it with ease. Then about 6 tries in he laid down an absolutely beautiful Frontside flip.
Ed Templeton - Strathcona Park.
JUNE 2009
