Thrasher Magazine

Photos: Cabral

Simon 180 nosegrinds at a deserted college campus. School’s out for COVID     Photo: Cabral
We stayed at my house in Enumclaw, WA for the first couple of nights. It was so rad to see Griff, Niels and Manch tee-off technical maneuvers on spots I grew up skating—straight mind-melters for the locals. The pickleball matches, hot tub, fresh fruit and veggies my place provided set us off in a smooth direction. Remy set a tight schedule for a 12-day trip. I told him that things may still be closed due to COVID, so to embrace change. Flexible schedules are a must in my book. We wanted to hit street spots but stay away from the pandemic city vibes, riots, cops and areas that might not appreciate 13 skaters piling out of a van. I wasn’t sure how I would feel being the co-pilot on this trip, trying to make sure that everybody was happy. Enter Rick Howard—seeing him with his board and camping gear washed all my worries away. Most of the crew was coming from CA where there’s a congestion of people and the law’s been out of control lately. If nothing else, I knew they’d all be thankful to be away from that madness for awhile.

Take off the shoes unless you want to lose    Photo: Cabral

Schedules need to be flexible, like Simon’s spine—Andrecht at the Coalpad DIY     Photo: Remy

Gotta pay to play     Photo: Cabral

No shoes, no shirt, no problem! Lukas Miller channels his inner Lee Ralph and lays one back sans sneakers     Photo: Remy

We went on to sleep in backyards, hotels, on ramps, in the mountains and on the coast. Whatever the best option was, we went for it. When traveling with a big group of out-of-towners, the locals will usually show up, leading to friendships, new spots and more good vibes. It was fun to see someone pop up who met Rick and Smyth at an old Girl demo years ago. Volcom has the skate/surf/snow trifecta in the PNW, too, which led to lots of new connections.

Manch borrowed Remy’s cruiser and went street surfing—wall crawl over the gas meter     Photo: Cabral

When the backyard’s your best option, you barge     Photo: Cabral
Early in the trip, Sam told me that he brought Niels and Griffin’s first pro boards and asked if I had a special spot for a big reveal—I waited ‘til the end of the mission. Everyone was pretty dusted as we pulled up to my buddy’s farm on the coast. I expected an empty campsite, but there were already two fires blazing—a birthday party and a family reunion. We weren’t the only people trying to escape the city. I wasn’t sure what to do, but the media crew already received the signal and the cameras came out. Whatever—we grabbed the boards and handed them to Niels and Griff. They were shocked, confused, excited, stoned, tired and officially in the pro ranks. Sorry I couldn’t do my fire dance ceremony, but at least we were in the middle of nowhere on a peaceful farm with good vibes—a great place to begin a new chapter.
Photo: Cabral

We took a break from the woods for Griff to sneak in a front beak in downtown Seattle—then he turned pro     Photo: Cabral

Can’t find this view in the city     Photo: Cabral

Can’t go wrong with a guy in the sky—Niels, crack ’n’ drop. Next tour he can skate his own model     Photo: Cabral
We zigzagged and looped around mountains and the Olympic Peninsula, hoping to visit Cory Kennedy in the final days of the trip, but COVID-19 restricted all Department of Corrections visitation. Sorry, Cory. We love you, dawg, and thought of your vibe everyday. Keep the fire blazing. Grind things with no worries, as he would. Play good music, be open to adventure, stay in nature and enjoy life.

C’mon, baby, skate my fire     Photo: Cabral

Heavy traffic on the off-ramp    Photo: Remy

Left: Tyler sows a fakie flip on the extension of a perfect miniramp inside a greenhouse deep in the woods. Gotta love the PNW
Right: Cold Chapman, boosted boneless—glass ceiling beware!
Photos: Cabral

Simon double trucks a kinker with no worries for CK1. We miss you, dawg. Hope to see you on the next one     Photo: Cabral