FRANCOPHONE INVASION

Gabriel Veniot Fs 5-0

Probably the best thing about coming to skate Toronto from Quebec is the language barrier. Fortunately for the Quebecois their tongues usually swing both ways, unlike us more likely non bilingual french class dropouts. That means when they come here to skate they can get away with almost any type of hyjinx and then just play the language card. Of course if you flip that equation around the product is skaters who actually can't speak the language of the land, if a place where booze and strip clubs are on every corner, and not to mention accessible at the tender age of 18. Hopefully that will be next weeks episode. This week I give you Quebec skaters shredding new terrain in lands foreign to them, UGLY ASS HOE!

Mathieu Thibeault Fs Boardslide

Hugo Balek Fs Smith attempt

The french invasion of the U.S embassy by Hugo and Mat

Mathieu Thibeault Bs 50-50 attempt

REMEMBERING SEBASTIEN PEREZ

There are a million and one reasons why skateboarding will always be the most prominent element of my life, but for two years now the greatest factor determining this truth has been the passing of a unanimously beloved young shredder Sebastian Parez. The passion that this kid had for skateboarding was in my opinion unparalleled by any other local skateboarder I know, and I believe Sabbys progression on the board in the last few months of his life stands as an undeniable testament his true potential. Since Sabbys time on earth was cut short, I know my self and most of his close friends now live with the understanding that life is fleeting and meant to be made the most out of. The following photos are a result of the blood, sweat, and tears dedicated to all the friends and family of the late and great Sebastian Parez. We skate for you everyday.

Ryan Hanson Bs 5-0

Ashton Roye Hardflip

Nick "Pep" Pierre

Zack Ferguson backfoot flip

Zack Furguson 360 flip

Pat Dysart Overcrook fakie

Nick Ouzounis Bs 180

Justin Elliot nose manny nollie flip

Zack Ferguson Ollie

Simon Archambeau

Simon may have taken a brief hiatus from toronto in the past few months for some unclear possibly laundry detergent related reason, but don't second guess the guy. Simon has always been outspoken and forthright with out filtration, and if anyone doesn't like him its probably because he didn't tell them what they wanted to hear. He has never stopped skating although he did perhaps stop lurking, which is most likely something all of us could probably benefit from doing now and then.

Bs Boardslide

Im not sure if anyone has ever skated this rail, but its about ball height from run up and belly height on the lading, and you have to pop before the wheel chair ramp starts. Fourth try no footage.

Crappy lighting, quick crook, why not?

Sw Fs Heelflip. Gangst.

Ollie.

Simon also did nollie halfcab, but I liked this one a lot more. Yup, Simon's much better than you.

Andre Besner

One day I met up with Hammer team rider Andre Besner at dunbat, he didn't have much shoe left, but we went street skating anyway.
It was nice out, but for some reason we skated an indoor spot first. Backside Tail slide.

At this next classic toronto spot, during our session we were excitedly told by some construction workers that the ledge we were enjoying slippin and slidin on would next week be capped with sharp metal bars, meaning no more tailslides, ever. But Andre got one, which may also be the last, frontside tail slide over the long step.
Nope, Andre doesn't stop there. One more look at the ledge over gap that will soon no longer be and Andre summons this frontside 5-0 front shove.

DUNBAT GLORY

Jason Rodziewicz proves the park is still skateable after lights out...

What is there to say about the now nationally infamous Dunbat. Not much that isn't already common sense to all the locals who pretty much treat the park like a second home. If you don't already know you probably never will, but the simplicity and perfection of this skatepark is, in my opinion, unrivaled by any other skatepark in the world

Poyner gets the ramp up in three days, rain or shine

It's got a mini, if you can call it a mini, the things almost got vert on it. Its got flat,

if you can call it flat, being used as a hockey rink in the winter time the park is not

only the smoothest, but also the most even (sorry ashbridges speed bump ground) surface. Its got rails, 18 feet long and circular, its got ledges and manny pads, and my favorite obstacle, even a triton

barrier Master skate architect Rob Poyner

Jason again, this time with a rather large fs ollie the day the ramp was up. Directly after this photo we proceeded to guzzle brews, and then skate street with relative success.

Designed and built the park, so the naturally dunbat is also occasionally referred to as Poyner

Park. So bag your cans and roll your phillies, or at least a large water considering the lack of park shade, cause with DYAR Pizza Falafel and Shawarma right around the corner (c'mon, one push from McShits), you can skate all day till lights out at 11. Where? You dun know? DUNBAT fool

Lee Yankou, ollie.

Shayne Eldridge

Lakeshore ledge, two tricks, two angles. what do you prefer?


Fisheye crook shove, or long lens crook bigspin? can i get some feed back please? please cut my photos up!

ASHBRIDGES GLORY

Seemingly my whole life has been a lead up to this skatepark. Ever since i've known skateboarding (ever since ive know fun) the idea of a legit place to skate in the beaches has been a like a holy grail. Downtown missions, day trips to cummer, sauga, and markam skateparks, or a ghetto old rail and box set up on the block were usually the only things you could count on to skate all day, short of going to greenwood and getting robbed and roman candled by some pint size slim shady in a night gown.

Tyjae Farrugia-Armstrong is practically a park local he's at the park so often, even though this nollie back bigs on the huge wall/bank came all the way from Pickering, Ont. Just a testament to the legendary status Ashbridges has gained since its creation, much less than a year ago.

Joel is a real local, watch out for this guy hanging out at the park. He needs no warm up for playing skate dice or games of skate, so don't even think about it. Ive been left penniless a few to many times. Front Smith.

East York Skatepark came as a glimmer of hope after the years consistent failure to follow through on the cities pledge to build more skateparks in toronto. I couldn't possibly count the number of skate comps events and demos in hockey arenas or rec center skateparks that fund raised for the hope of a permanent place simply skateboard.

Shawn Whitten brings this nollie flip all the way from Oshawa, but much like the set wasn't quite finished.

Frontside boardslide by a homie from brantford, let me know if anyone knows this guy's name.

Bobby De Keyzer of Whitby drops off a quick first try backside flip

on the double as if it were part of his morning routine, before heading off to Arizona and then California for more backside flips, backside flips of perhaps epic proportions if the ease at which he copped this is any indicator.here we have yet another younger skateboarder, Kevin Tio, putting the older dudes to shame as a result of the rigorous training that goes down here on a daily basis in normal sessions. But you cant blame him for his advanced skills at a young age, five years ago you just didn't have a park with a perfect set of every size. Bigflip.

The STSA (Southeast Toronto Skate Association), Hammer skate shop, along with SBC skate mag and the goons of East York skate team all played a large part in organizing the massive funding for the Ashbridges Skate Complex, including countless other people, even I remember running around the school yard getting petition signatures in elementary school.