Here's a super fun bump to small gap deep in the heart of Onehunga. Its in the carpark of Dressmart on Brays Rise street. You basically ollie from the carpark over a sidewalk onto Brays Rise Street. It has a gentle downhill run-up and nice smooth landing. These photos don't do it justice- the bump is big enough to give you quite a decent pop over the walkway.
Score 6/10

Bogan’s rejoice.

I’ve always been a sucker for the deserted island game- for example: if you could take 3 movies, 3 albums, 3 people etc to a desert island for the rest of your life what would they be?

Converge’s epic 2001 release; Jane Doe has always been somewhere on my album answer for this question so obviously I was pretty damm excited about ‘Axe to fall’ Converges 3^rd full length release since ‘Jane’. (note: my high expectations and total nerd fan boyness can be illustrated by my pre-ordering of the CD, the vinyl, the t-shirt and the silkscreened print weeks before it was released- shame on me I know!)

My excitement was met with satisfaction and more excitement upon hearing their latest full length effort released a month or so ago.

Converge, hailing from Boston Mass, to put it simply: do super heavy music in an original, unpredictable, interesting way whilst holding true to their integrity and a strong DIY punk ethos.

Guitarist Kurt Ballou, records and produces their albums, vocalist Jake Bannon covers the design and art side of things and releases their vinyl on his Deathwish record label. Nate Newton, bassist, is a total skate rat and plays in other noteable bands such as Doomriders and Old Man Gloom- they are the total package.

With this release they push into new experimental sonic territories yet always sounding like converge. There is the break neck speed guitar work, heavy sludgy doom riffs, bursts of double kick drum work blanketed by innovative fractured drum fills that are welcome ‘converge-isms’ but 'axe to fall' presents the listener with some ‘new tricks’. The second to last song ‘cruel bloom’ begins with a dark, creeping Tom Waits/Nick Cave style feel and builds up to an intense climax, ‘Wretched World’ the hauntingly spooky final track demonstrates a cleaner more melodic side but still intensely dark and brooding. Axe to fall has a long list of collaborators including Steve Von Till of Neurosis, Genghis Tron's Mookie Singerman, (and many more from bands such as Cave In, Disfear and Blacklisted) who add a real variety of sound to this release.

The bottom line is that Axe to fall is an original, well flowing cohesive piece of music (the album is STRONGLY recommended listened to in order to appreciate the flow and structure of the album) that has something for anyone interested in fresh, boundary pushing heavy music.

Their live show is also totally amazing, I was fortunate to see them play years ago at the famous CBGBs club in New York. Finally they are making their way over to our shores- check them out at the Kings Arms on 12 March.

Enjoy.
convergecult.com

Here is a classic low to high painted brick ledge in Kingsland. Its smooth and slippery enough for slides and looks like it should grind okay. Its nice and long and in a quiet street, only a minutes push from the ace place bank. Its on Bright Street opposite Aitken Reserve just off New North Road before the Kingsland shops behind the Raffles College building. Enjoy suckas and bring your wax!
Score 6/10

Skate Etiquette?

‘Skate and destroy?”

Skaters quite often have to deal with the worlds biggest doucebags- overzealous security guards, elderly people who seem like they are blaming us for being old and bored, over cautious shop keepers, cops who could be using their time FAR more productively catching ACTUAL law breakers and more and more. Yeah, at times it can feel like we are the worlds scapegoats. But hey, its not all bad. A bit of goodwill and creativity from our side can turn a frustrating roll into a memorable session (sometimes), consider this next time you head out for a roll:

• Don’t tag or let others with you tag skate-spots! Its pisses people off more than any wax or scratches on a handrail and is a easy way to get a spot shut down.

• Be cool to people coming out of buildings you are skating, a smile won’t kill you and can quite often be the difference between them calling security or thinking “that kids all right, lets just leave him alone”

• Instead of telling security guards to f&#k off, try being cool to them (what?) and even asking for few more minutes. You’ll be surprised how often it works- most of them are bored as hell and enjoy having something to watch!

• Get creative! Remove skate-stoppers, add quick drying cement at night (cheap at Bunnings), challenge yourself to find new lines at old spots, lay a sheet of ply (or any flat wood/metal) on a set of stairs as a ramp up the stairs or an ollie down onto your man made ramp.

• skaters best recipe= ledge+liquid nails+metal edging+leave overnight=new spot!!

• share your spots here!! More spots we share the more we all have to skate!

-Build a back yard mini / quarter / rail / box etc. Find a mate with a van or station wagon and get mobile!

-All you need is flatground for a game of s.k.a.t.e for you and your homeys so do it! Get competitive, add dice, add coin bets and get creative! Check out the “berrics” for inspiration. RO SHAM BO!!!

-Load up the car with you and your mates and take a road trip- we are spoilt with many killer parks in New Zealand so go check em out!

The point is stop winging about never having places to skate or the world hating you and do something about it!

SKATE AND CREATE!

Unfortunately when I took these photos it started raining- so sorry about the crap shots. This is a nice marble ledge above the square on High Street in the city outside the Wagamuma noodle joint. This is fashionista central so make sure you wear your Zambesi and Lonely Hearts gears!! Nice and slippery with a good run up for hitting from both directions. There is also a nice 9 stair set that has a perfect run-up and decent landing. There is a okay 7 stair and skate-stopped block in the square worth checking out also. This spot will easily get shut down if you hit it when Wagamuma is open so pick the right time to skate this. Score 6.5/10

This is a rad little school by St Lukes on 26 Sainsbury Road in Morningside, a quick push from St Lukes. You will probably recognise it from some old videos and it's almost identical to a school in Rotorua- weird!
It has a cool little two stair/manual pad, a gap, a wedge bump, flatbars and small 4 stair set. Thanks to Jerome for sending in the pics! It's a school so respect it- weekends and nights only. Score 6/10

Another spot that's had a fair deal of footage in videos and magazines, the 'volcanos' at Brittomart always provide good times. Just head to the Brittomart Train station. These are often a bust but you can always go roll the skater built homage to these at the super fun Mt Albert skatepark on Owairaka Street.
Score 4.5/10

Berrics Finals

Head over to Eric Koston and Steve Berras indoor park- THE BERRICS and check out the finals. Unbelievable tricks and consistent ripping go down even with the pressure of finals day ! Wish I was there!
ROH SHAM BO!

The super nice guys at Boardertown in Botany sorted me out with this dope 8 inch Real Dompierre. Awesome reflective gold paint really makes this board pop. Check out their stuff at :boardertown.co.nz

This is a small ledge on the corner of City road and Symmonds Street just down from K-Road. It has a kinda small run-up and a short landing but it's a fun ledge to hit as you head down the hill. It can help to put another board/object down in the garden part to keep the little bushes out of the way and to stop them getting hit by flying boards. Remember, sometimes the more we respect a spot the longer it will be around to skate.
Score 5/10

This old classic spot can be a lot of fun; banks, stairs and concrete ledges in one place. The ledges have seen action from visiting pros and numerous kiwi rippers. Ground is a little rough but still good times to be had. can be a bust though. Opposite the Grafton hospital. There is quite a lot of construction going on here at the moment so it will be interesting what they do to this area.

score- 6.5 / 10

This is a really noisy metal ledge at 280 Richmond road in Grey Lynn / Ponsonby opposite the Woolworths supermarket. Its pretty long and has a flat part and also an angled section to do tricks up (or down). Downside is the noise and it's right against a wall. Not worth making a trip just to hit this but if you're in the area check it out.
Score 3.5/10

A while ago I did a Mummy illustration for the awesome girls over at LONELY HEARTS. These tees (boys and girls) and dresses (girls duh!) are out in a week or two- pick one up (from MyHart / Area 51 (AK/Well) and a few other NZ stores) and support NZ's raddest and hardest working fashion designers! Gin Wigmore rocks one-why wouldn't you??

This Grey Lynn school boasts a few hittable things including an okay seven stair set, nice flat land with low fences to ollie, a very skateable concrete block (see above) and a few more things if you have a look around. Its a school so respect it- no tagging / litter. Find it on Surrey Cres by the Grey Lynn shops.

Score 5/10

This is a loading dock on the hill at 300 Richmond Road just up from Woolworths on the left. Someone told me its been in a mag recently? All the edges are really grindy metal and the layout of the different loading bays create some cool opportunities for gaps. This spot is pretty fun with a small jump ramp as the edges are a pretty decent ollie from the ground. Best saved for weekend or night missions as its used for car parking during the day. Check it!
Score 5/10

Behind the Caltex on Stanley Street at the bottom of the domain are a few jems! There is a new business complex with plenty of things to check out- gaps, benches, manual pads, stairs, rails and a cool skinny brick drop in to a 5 stair. It is lit at night also. Bearnard from CS also wrote in a while ago recommending the manual pads at the Caltex and the manual pad to 3 stair at the bowling club around the corner. The bowling club is lit up at night and pretty sweet to hit in the weekends- just remember gangsters- NO TAGGING skatespots! Score 7/10

Juxtapoz Interview the Tempster.

Uber good art publication Juxtapoz, interviews Ed Templeton on their website about his art, skateboarding and Toy Machine. Check it out here.