Now Playing: DEAD Wheels' champagne
Patience is a virtue.
It is a saying. It’s also the truth.
I waited something like a week for my package to arrive. Then I had to pick it up at the post office. And now, it’s been sitting on my desk for the last two days, as I wait for the right moment to finally pop the DVD player open and watch this video: champagne is easily one of the most anticipated purchases I’ve made in years. In waiting, there are a lot of expectations being formed, and a lot of excitement building up. And in a world filled with a constant stream of images displayed all over your phone, computer, and TV screens, it actually feels nice to have to wait to watch something, for once.
And that’s precisely what the guys over at DEAD Wheels have done right. Leaving it up to the viewer’s imagination, they posted eerie scenic shots on their social media in the weeks leading up to two premieres in NYC and LA, and the worldwide release of… A physical DVD, along with a book and a 58mm/92a wheel?! That is how you create something special. That is how you build excitement, and also create a lot of expectations for what promises to be a very special project indeed. Just like any fine bottle of champagne, this one is best served cold!
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
That's another saying. It isn't as truthful.
Because in this case, the cover says it all. And the book proves to be really good once you start flipping through the pages. Since the Rejects days, shawn engler (you’ll have to capitalize this one yourself, folks) has progressed his photography to a level of his own. Every picture in the book is carefully composed and lit; more importantly, every picture has a purpose. With a beautiful layout by artist Nicholas Stahl, along with a nice touch of humor; this book proves to be worthy of its stunning cover, and I highly suggest you do yourself a favor and pick a copy along with the video itself.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Yet another saying. Which often proves to be true.
For when it comes down to the video, let’s first mention Adam Johnson is easily one of the hardest-working men in the industry. Keeping Vibralux relevant for well over a decade, and being heavily involved with DEAD Wheels should be enough to keep the man busy. But AJ is also blading’s most influential videographer since DAP. With the KFC series, two team videos for Razors, all of the Vibralux pieces he’s produced on DVD, VOD & FreeOD, and too many miles on the road filming rollerblading to even keep count anymore, he has proved his worth and the excellence of his work many times already.
The same extends to the whole cast, actually. It’s probably the best 3 men's line-up since the original Vibralux pro team. Notice how two of these names are redundant here? That’s hardly a coincidence. Alex Broskow & Chris Farmer have been at the forefront of the sport since the turn of the century, and the two of them have pushed the boundaries of street skating further than anyone of that generation. That is, until David Sizemore came in. A recent addition to the company, David is by no means a lightweight when it comes to blading. His tiny frame hasn’t stopped him from accomplishing some of the biggest hammers in recent history, as he constantly evolved his own skating in many new directions too. So yeah… You don’t even have to watch champagne to know it offers some of the very best blading to date.Â
With great power, comes great responsibility.
Think I heard that in a movie. Could possibly be true, too.
What’s really at stake though, beyond the actual tricks, is David’s vision as a videographer. This will be his first full-length video, and knowing his attention to detail, in skating just as in pretty much everything he does, there’s no doubt the man has put a lot of thought and effort into this piece. Being responsible for such a project comes with a price, and now that the video is finally here, expectations are high, and the audience ready for something mind-blowing. I can easily imagine this creates a certain amount of pressure for David and the crew as a whole. Guess it comes with the territory...
The responsibility is a shared one though. It is indeed amazing to receive a package from overseas, your address hand-written by the very people who made the video in the first place. It is amazing to see such projects come to life, thanks to the sheer energy of the individuals involved, and it’s amazing that we viewers are in the position of being part of it. Through showing direct support to the men who made blading what it is now in 2017, and continue to shape it daily, you have the chance, as a blader, to exercise personal responsibility. Get yourself a copy of champagne. Purchase the book. Buy some new wheels. You have the power to decide what blading is going to be like tomorrow. So be responsible.
As for today, well, I will finally pop the DVD player open and watch champagne now. After that, I’m going to go skate. I’ll probably be drinking bubbles, too.
PHOTO GALLERY: sHAWN eNGLER
