December 18, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

Eaglehawk

I have been having a lack of inspiration with the old bail cannon lately, skating a lot, just not wanting to get the camera out. I thought I better get back in the mood as we have a heavy weekend of radical adventures ahead.

Five blokes one dog squeezed into a Forester and we hit the long, boring, straight road. I only got the camera out for about 20 minutes, this is a few of the manoeuvres that ensued.

Duncan krooks nose grizzle on a steep tight bank

It was Jesse’s welcome to Melbourne, so out of kindness we let him be designated driver. Lengthy 5-0 to fakie

Krooks to noseslide revert, gotta figure out the animated gifs

Full entension, full flight boneless

Tom was full of finesse, backside flip

Cunnaz ended up having a massive slam at the end of this roll, bounced back of course! Heavy back fiddy on the sub box

Grind from the steps to the drop

Pretty amped for the weekend!

December 8, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

Yosemite and Escape from LA

There has been a bit of a delay with me finishing off my USA blog. After a killer adventure of doing all the things I love with my beautiful wife I hit some hard times upon my return. I knew I was working for clueless cowboys all year, and after seamlessly running the finance for a whole dealership singlehandedly I was presented with some news that confirmed my opinion. It makes you reluctant to share your travels and generally awesome experiences when you have to deal with some stressful and unfair situations.

Not to dwell on the negative, I was pleased my reputation does me a good service and I had plenty of opportunities present themselves. I was fortunate to have some mentors and peers have my back. Things are back on track.

It’s kinda weird though. It took a toll on my photography, I didn’t feel like sharing my photos or even taking many. I usually take photographs everyday and post them for my mates to enjoy promptly, but this has not happened. Regardless, I’m back in the saddle and ready to fling my arms wildly in the hope I hit something, which is my take on photography. I think the literally hundreds of Hummingbird photographs emphasise this point.

After Oregon we changed our plans and hit the Sierra Nevada. It is a truly magical place

We drove deep into the forest to stay at this beautiful house.

I slept in the hammock, and woke to a strange noise. I didn’t know what it was until I saw these comical yet gorgeous creatures showing off.

We saw deer, and heaps of squirrels

I was mesmerised by this place, it was all closed and an elderly chap rocked up to meet the owner. He was checking on the progress of his build. I wanted to have all the half finished items, and a bunch of free time to tinker. I wanted to jump the boat too. It was soooo spring break it hurt

Back to LA

You gotta go to the Rainbow, to soak in the history and check the old rockers turn up in their Hot Rods to be Valet

I hit the new Team Pain creation, Peck Park. So damn amazing. I was the oldest there (not a new feeling!) and some of the latino gangsters wanted to have a word. Full face tatts and thugged out, I was a little intimidated. They wanted some pointers for their sons, who were still babies, in case they didn’t want to play team sports. They were absolute gentlemen and we had a great chat. The locals were ripping, and I got some as I knew it would be my last roll for this trip.

We spent the last day at several museums and the Tar Pits. It was an experience I would always recommend. These are poached from Jo’s insta

October 21, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

San Francisco

San Francisco is such a beautiful city. It would be hard to tell from the following photos, being all moody and messed up. I didn’t take my camera much, as I wanted to be hitting the hills without a bag on my back. All the skatepark ones are iPhone pics.

Growing up in Tamworth, there was no reference material for skateboarding. There was no internet, magazines and videos were few and far between. My favourite video part from my childhood was Tommy Guerrero in Future Primitve, and I had always wanted to skate SF since seeing his part 26 years ago. The hills are something else, properly scary, with hits on every block. It was so rad to just get lost in the city, bombing hills and trying not to let fear get the better of you. The motorists give you a wide berth, more inclined to yell props than insults.

We spent the nights walking the hills, the houses are so pretty, stopping for dive bars or to catch a cable car.

We hit Eugene for a quick leg stretcher on the way. Easily the best skatepark in Oregon, these photos are 20% of it. I’ll do a separate blog for the Parx database and upload more there. I wish I had more time, but it was a long drive and we had to hit the road after dorking around.

We headed out to Alcatraz, Jo has a wealth of knowledge on the place and was keen to check it out up close. I tried to capture the isolation and despair of the place.

It was a great day to be on the water, it was Fleet Week, so all the war machines were out strutting their stuff and showing off. War sure does suck, but the death machines are pretty boss.

This place was all closed off, Jo broke in and checked it out.

We went for a roll together through the street, it was really fun. Jo found a bit off the footpath that a tree root had turned it into a sweet bump. It was busy but she got amongst it.

Then she took one of me. The spots are all pretty haggard. Mild in the streets!

We went and checked out an outdoor roller rink in Golden Gate gardens. They had a big boom box cranking out Disco, Boyz II Men and Prince. So many characters, all strutting their stuff. I brought a book with me but only got through a few pages as I was digging the vibe, and trying to snap some Iphone hammers

I then went off to check out some parks. The taxi driver told me not to head south from here, super sketchy area apparently. Potrero was so fun, big open lines.

Some local younger punk skaters took me to the Flowershop DIY. We had a pretty rad session, this place was nuts. So tight, big holes everywhere. We had to go through these ghetto shanty town areas under the freeways to get there. I pushed myself here and got broke off pretty hard! I was all sweaty and bleeding and no cabs would pick me up, I was stoked when I got one as it was a pretty gnarly hood.

And then it was time to hit the hills back to base camp.

October 19, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

Portland, keeping it weird

I was stoked to spend a few extra days in Portland, Oregon. It is a skateboarders paradise, I could have spent a month here and rolled a different park each day. This is largely to do with Dreamland Skateparks and their passionate approach to terrain. The owners roots are firmly planted in the building of Burnside, the most famous DIY skatepark in the world. Dreamland have built parks all through the state. They do it by sleeping on site and so forth, putting almost all the funds for the project into the park itself. The terrain is gnarly, fast and flowy. Eugene has shown how far this crew have come, with it being arguably the best park in Oregon. The street sections are on point now too.

Portland itself is rad, arty little cafe’s, bars and restaurants everywhere. It is like Fitzroy or Newtown in the 90’s, everyone embracing the fair trade tofu vibe. It’s apparent when driving. There will be four cars at a crossroad all stationary as they are too polite and passive to venture forth. I’m not exaggerating!

However it is not all man cardigans and crafternoons. Every summer there is a rising homeless rate. According to the numbers, almost a third of people on the streets have only been in Portland for two years or less and 60 percent of that group was homeless when they came to Portland. There is evidence that some cities are providing their homeless with one-way bus tickets to Portland. You can set up a tent in the main park of town or anywhere and not be moved on, it is more likely you will be given a smoothie and a blanket.

Ice is massive, sketched out tweakers are everywhere and they hussle aggressively. Behind Burnside I saw a group of fifteen or so twenty somethings that sleep there in a massive brawl. It was gnarly. I would hit up Burnside early to avoid the crowds and get a feel for the joint. Humbling is an understatement.

There is going to be a multi level carpark built next door. The locals have negotiated a flat concrete wall opposite this bit that they can crete up to.

These are the flowy bits you don’t see, that you get spat out into and have to deal with

I had to take a big long line into these to get the speed, it’s rough and haggard in parts. Photo by Jo. This is me ticking off my bucket list

Our former Melbourne based mates that we caught up with in LA put us in touch with Vicky, who was our awesome guide. We had a great time and checked out some cool art shows and bars. I hope she comes and visits us so we can return the hospitality. Nabbing Jo’s insta photos

She took us out to Astoria to show Jo the Goonies house. Stoke levels were high

There were smelly seals there. Jo photo

And rad micro breweries. I think Portland hipsters invented the jar glass resurgence.

The neighbourhoods are largely like this

No issue closing off the main street for ping pong

We hit the road and went to Hood River for some foresty sight seeing and a roll together. Found a rad little cafe for breakfast

These photos are about 20% of the whole joint. So fun

This thing was a beast! You had to hit both shallow pockets to get the speed for the pit

Pooping myself

Rolling in. Both these photos by Jo

Got drunk, bowled badly

I met Charlie, he was out of action due to injury. He BBQ’d up a feast for us and is welcome to come stay in Melbourne anytime. Coincidently, the day before this my mate Sean hit up one of the skate nerd forums I lurk asking around to try and get his first board for the wall. He had only one, but flowed the deck on the right for Sean. What a champ, I think he was quite chuffed about the request.

Food trucks are everywhere

Got me some limited editions!

Bingen is super fun. So well planned, you can hit every obstacle and the bowl without one push. Rad jerseys and little hits on the bowl platform with well placed noping.

3ft transition to vert with chunky pool coping=heaven

Jo got some good speed happening, fangin’ it

Thanks Portland, keep being weird

October 15, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

On the road to Wendover

We hit the road for Wendover for the Bonneville Speed trials on the salt flats. It was called off at the last minute unfortunately, but we ended up in the best dive bar ever. I’m keen to go again.

I was disappointed as I had arranged an exhibition based upon work for the event. It is always good to look at the positives, I will take better shots with another year under my belt.

The small towns of the USA are in trouble, big trouble. Everything is boarded up, repossessed or abandoned. What isn’t is for sale.

We awoke at sun rise, talked to the man in the hotel that was exactly the same as Bubbles from Trailer Park boys and fuelled up on coffee. Jonny Cash was cranked, cruise control set and I hit the 1000kms to Portland. Nothing quite like a long drive to untangle the mind. The speed limit was a healthy 80 miles an hour, so I set the cruise for 90 and began crushing the miles.

October 8, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

Los Angeles and Vegas.

Our friends and family generously donated to our Honeymoon fund. We had both been slaving away this year and were desperate for some time off.

I guess, after looking through the photos, it appears as though our Honeymoon has been spent at skateparks! I’m not so self centred I promise! It is just were I usually have my camera. I haven’t been taking heaps of photos, it has been really great not having a phone and social media for most of the time.

Some stuff just doesn’t translate, or warrant the breaking of the mood for a picture. The memory of Jo in a summer dress, drinking beers in the gutter of the seedy rock and roll part of Hollywood whilst waiting for a pizza…this is a great memory. The mood would be disrupted by a clumsy iphone happy snap. We have been to some awesome dive bars and divey restaurants, and some quite upmarket ones, but I am not going to snap a photo of our food. You get the idea.

Jo always wants to stay in the grittiest part of West Hollywood. There is always something going down and an eclectic mix, and Jo will strike up a conversation with everyone. Whether you are cashed up or not, everyone is strutting around like a peacock wanting to be noticed. So if that means spending an extra $100k on your Bentley and basically ruining it, or adding unique flair to your bicycle then it is done, and flaunted with equal bravado.

Jo had always wanted to go to Disneyland, it was really fun. Just switch off all critical thinking for a while and enjoy the machine. The biggest roller coaster was pretty wild

On one of our long evening walks we decided to drop into a famous but run down comedy club, The Comedy Store on Hollywood. We scored a bunch of Hollywood heads trying out new material. Arseneo Hall did a half hour set, amongst others. We sat in the front row and got picked on a bunch and drank wiskey until the graveyard shift acts started to bomb

We got free tickets to a recording of Bill Maher’s Real Talk, yep the one with the much talked about Islam rant

We skated Venice Beach, I’m so glad Jo brought her roller-skates she has been on them a fair bit

I went shopping, needed more skateboards

We ventured out to San Pedro, and visited Channel Street DIY. It has been built by volunteers without permission or assistance from the powers that be. It is now legit and protected, and keeps expanding. It is epic, really difficult to skate. It was real hot but I got some.

There is all this cool stuff on the outside you don’t often see. It is so fun to flow through and try to link up

Jo on the trigger

We hit the road for Vegas. We stayed on the strip in New York New York, it has a pool, roller coaster, a fake statue of Liberty and 1000’s of people on pokie machines that look like their life force has been sucked out

Vegas is trying to shroud it’s ugliness with noises and bright lights. It’s glamour is an illusion to conceal it’s desperation. You don’t see people strutting about like they just won, you just watch the drawn faces of disappointment. Everyone is a team player to keep the illusion rolling, but you only have to scratch the surface to see the cracks forming. The weirdo in me loves it, the irony, the facade.

The strip sucks, it’s all about Fremont. That’s where the locals party and the tight arses gamble

Head to toe lemon. All night saxamophone. Ruling

Obesity in Vegas is at about 90%. People are big, bigger than anywhere I have seen. They had an industrial sized scale on the street and people gathered around in a weigh off. One dude tipped the scale at 377 pounds. I wanted to get a photo but it was not a great idea.

It’s where washed performers dreams are crushed.

Workin’ hard for the money

So hard for it honey

Jo likes to smoke cigars in Vegas

We checked out some Roller Derby. It was rad, grass roots and well skilled.

Big hit

I was indifferent to shooting guns, this was Jo’s idea. Once inside that range I was pumped. Never having dealt with guns, nothing prepares you for the noise and intensity. I had heaps of fun. Jo had pre arranged zombie targets. We shot a 1911 handgun, a pump action shotgun, a M4 and an AK47.

Jo always wanted an Elvis wedding, so we jumped into a limo and went to visit the King. It was super fun and everyone was rad. Elvis made us sing and was a giant

There was a new park built so I went and checked it out. It was massive

This was my favourite

You could just cruise around the whole park trying to deal with what obstacle came up next

Then we hit the road again, headed for Wendover

September 11, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

The TBC Compound : An end of an era

I don’t think there is a single skateboarder that hasn’t wanted a sweet backyard mini. The perfect warm up or warm down to any session, the trick learning machine and the meeting point. It’s like a campfire, a place to have a beer or ten and share a yarn or two.

This humble little ramp has put up with one hell of a pummelling over the last few years. From RJ and Reesy bomb dropping from the asbestos roofed shed, two hundred and fifty people all night parties and thousands of carcasses slapping the flat over and over…..she is still standing. What a trooper! I’ll dig through the ole hard drive and do a retrospective on this old crow to put it all in perspective.

We had a jam on Father’s Day there and some stuff went down…

Alex Sweeper

The ole extension apparatus

Gez has hosted some brutal events here over the years. Good carnt. Layback front rock

Rockin’ and a rollin’ before heading off to the mountains for a tree change

Jake getting a skid in

Low to high crail decker from Matty

Bristol is the long suffering man on the tools. Often the only man to swing a hammer at the many “working bees”

Rockin’

Front fiddy grab in

Callum with a sweet crail

Cunce. Brutally heckling. An outsider would think we wanted our friends to fail, there is method in the madness. Failure is celebrated, however.

I can’t really put into words how rad Brighty is. I could do an interpretive dance but I don’t quite have enough space to fling my limbs wildly….You get the idea?

Ole’ bean

Never misses a blunt

Not a stall, full length feebs to fakie

Also not a stall, rock n slides that inspire jealousy

Layback front feebs

Class

Host and enjoying Rad Dad day. The Lobster and his mini spawn

Nawwww

Bisho showing off his Slayer tatt

First Rad Dad day workshopping beer bottle truck washers. Hot new trend

Yoinker

First man in last man out. Don’t matter who shows up he’s got the power moves to shut it down. Every time

Back D

Simple pivot, nice lighting highlighting the ranga in full glory

Back tail pop out to fakie

Back T’s every time

Backside noseblunt yoink in

Pop out

Kickflip back tail

Frontside noseblunt from low to high

Stoke levels high

Trev couldn’t give a shit

More maintenance

Sample the Dr’s Wunder Tonic!

*May not actually assist with curing baldness, morning farts or weak stiffies

August 1, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

Concrete induced freedom

I’m sitting at my old work, a joint where I spent 50 hours a week in a high pressure high stress environment. Sure I had some fun and met some great people, but sure as hell I saw the ugly, at times unfair dog eat dog side of big business. I’m not bagging my old employer at all, they helped me buy a house and were very supportive during hard times. I learnt a great deal and gained some great mentors I will seek advice from for a lifetime. It is a reflection on the industry in general and this place was paradise compared to most joints in the field.

It is just one of those days of reflection. A mid life crisis. I tried to work in youth work and have a meaningful impact, I was great with some kids but found I got frustrated with kids lacking motivation. Not good at all. Plus it sucked working so hard and not being able top meet your financial responsibilities. Do I go back to school and study? Do I move to the mountains? How do I find meaningful ways to have a positive impact on the world? How can I make a living and get by using my creativity?

None of this matters when you have your mates following you in convoy ready to battle some concrete. I can immerse myself in a bubble of people that I can relate to. People I understand and respect. I can see them push their limits, struggle with determination versus self preservation. As they release the burden of self restraint and wind up to full speed. The session builds. Heats up. Internal battles are fought. People get broke off and look like throwing in the towel. They pick themselves up due to the heckles and more often than not get away with landing what they were trying, to the wolf pack noises from their mates. It is a simple, childish and somewhat foolish pursuit. To me, it makes everything make sense. I am so grateful to be a part of it, even if my passion to skills balance is way off.

The weather has not been kind. The crew took advantage of a clear day and hit the road Geelong way.

The Pit didn’t get sessioned that much this time. I think after one of the MOSS boys was laying motionless in the bottom for a bit people lost their motivation. 35 year old ‘crete hurts

The session gathered. It was Bobby from Italy’s birthday and he had tee’d up his mates. The Paint Tray had not seen this many heads hit it up for a very long time.

I had not seen Cunnaz skate here. He is a very powerful skater and I was keen to see what he had for the old hag. He destroyed, as always.

Boardslides

Susky’s every shot

Gougin’

Back D’s

Bobby is a ripping skater. Fast, loose as hell with a big bag of manoeuvres.

Corner skids

Sliding these back tails mid run

The Mayor on home turf. A 40 year old schralping a 35 year old corner

DNL. I’m inserting this to taunt him to land it.

Shoota has been battling cancer. After the brutality that is chemo he stepped up to the plate and went hard at it. Straight to flat at full tilt.

Tail through the chunk. I shot a photo here that will go into Slam Magazine, keep an eye out. Epic battle.

We stayed a little longer than planned and then booted out to Ocean Grove. Good lines, never busy and nice chunky coping.

I really do aim to get a photo of everyone on the session every time. I blew it this mission.

There used to be a vert ramp in the same paddock when Matt was at school. He returned to his old stomping grounds and slayed some coping

Shoota smith.

You know it’s fast with them angles

Cunnaz blasting. He shut the joint down with his last runs

I didn’t take enough photos of Brighty. He smashed it all day

Stumps. Thanks again gents.

May 15, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

Cobras, Creepers and turning 38

Birthdays are somewhat a reflective time. Pushing 40 is slightly confronting when you think about it, and then it passes quickly and you revert back to not really caring. I still wanted to cram a fair bit into my weekend to briefly alleviate that completely washed up feeling. I had to work Saturday and was keen for a fang on The Grim Creepers new mini. The NSC crew and The Grim Creepers share mutual territory but so far it has been all beers, skids and deathmatch free.

The compound entrance came correct

The kitchen had become a tattoo studio for the evening with Ratcorpse on the trigger

Tattoos and acid do mix

It was getting weird

Outside was where it was all happening

I never shoot with flash and I found a crappy one to use for the evening. I kinda blew these shots, but they still tell a story so I would rather share them then delete them

Lexi didn’t seem to care that the heavy dew had made the ramp far too slippery to skate. He did a stationary kickflip from the platform into the ramp. He rolled in from the roof, didn’t land it after several punishing attempts and then did it switch! So sorry I blew it with the capture. You get the idea

I called it a night and went home to rest up for a mission to sunny Melton the next day. It was a bust lately so we missioned up the creek.

Cobras are native to the area. They kept popping up everywhere. Jerks

It is such an epic spot. Photos don’t do it justice. It is way bigger and intimidating in person.

Everyone got some. I always try and get a photo of everyone on the mish, unfortunately not the case this time. I was having too much fun.

Matt the ripper

Cunnaz popped onto the big log

Dr Anger nosepicked it

Gez was on the trigger for a few shots. Did well son!

Old man doing simple things poorly. Marty and Gez on the trigger respectively

No comply

Marty got some

Brighty always rips

We hit the surprisingly fun Melton park and then some crew came to mine for a BBQ. Derek and Jamie made my an epic cake with donuts and dinosaurs and my beautiful wife had the nibbles and salads ready to go.

I took Monday off and drove through the mountains and skated Balnarring by myself. Such a fun bowl.

And then caught up with my nephew Archie, whose birthday is 3 days before mine and my brother, who has the same birthday as me. Archie’s Mum and Grandma got him an epic sundae and he was pretty stoked.

April 25, 2014 by joshuafeggans - 0 comments

Morwell and Old Mates

My Grandfather once said to me if you can count your good mates one one hand you are a very fortunate man.

I met Tim by chance at a piece of discarded building equipment that formed a U pipe. It was behind a Tafe in Tamworth. Two kids at twelve trying to figure our skateboarding and life, in a town where we knew we didn’t fit in at all. We were absolutely fine with that. We have seen each other grow from boys to slightly less mature men. Shared successes and failures. Seen each other at our best or floundering on struggle street.

It was our first session of many, and twenty six years later we can catch up for a laugh and a beer as though no time has passed at all. Our crew is real solid and we take in ring ins with a recommendation. Hand that man a beer and yell at him until he does more stuff. It’s like a bikie gang without the cowardice and posturing, and cooler transportation devices.

So we headed to Morwell to hit up their new park and soak in their permanent coal fire. It was pretty crowded with scooter children and gronks, so we sent Ducky in to clear the joint out. Timeless 5-0