[by Brett Box]
To many humans, the idea of cramming into a beat up heap of shit
and driving for ten days, sleeping in bed bug ridden hotels, waiting outside
gas stations while the bathrooms get destroyed and nutrition-less snacks are
downed as staple diet, may seem like hell on earth. Clearly the seven of us are
not human, because for us this was heaven.
The line up for this Monke/Kitsch trip to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan,
read as Geoff Dermer, Ben Chibber, Mike Crook, Will Blakely, Jason Wilson, TY
on the cam, and myself (Brett Box) pressing buttons.
Tour crew: Brett, Jason, Will, Mike, Geoff, Ben and TY in front.
The drive and the skateboarding was by no means an easy task.
Take your average road trip, make it twice as long to account for driving half
the speed limit in a van incapable of revving over 3000rpm, towing a trailer,
add a poo stop at every single gas station, include copious amounts of substances
to make the drive bearable, skate for four hours, jump back in the van and do
it all again at the next town.
Looking back, it's kind of hard to put the finger on what
actually happened. There was lots of driving, lots of skating park demos, heaps
of laughter, a bunch of amazing people keeping skateboarding alive in the
Prairies and about two hours of street skating.
Will Blakley and Geoff Dermer.
Our trip coincided with an indoor event held in Prince Albert on
a bunch of prefab ramps, boxes, a fire hydrant, complete with the organizers'
daily driver planted in the heart of the park, donated to be thrashed.
Yorkton, SK, is a cool town with what has to be the craziest
skate shop and skate shop owner on earth. I will say that the local cops and
old people definitely give the town an overtone of being backwards. The local
skaters don't mimic this and are super down, but we did make sure to leave town
as quick as possible. Big thanks to B3 for blowing our minds.
Will Blakley skating at B3 Skateshop.
Geoff Dermer.
Regina was surely an experience. There was the indoor skate park
that fronts as a skate shop/tattoo parlor/hip-hop shop/school with rims,
grills, music...the whole lot. The shop used to be an old dance school, complete
with the mirrored walls all around and an endless maze of dark rooms (the ideal
setting for a horror film).
The owner (Hinx) and his family took us in, accommodation, food
and entertainment...the whole nine yards; a perfect host and all around good guy.
Hinx took us to the Moose
Jaw Hot Springs, which will go down as the most relaxing moment of the
trip. No skateboarding, no driving, no noise, just mineral spring water and a
couple cute lifeguards.
Jason Wilson, kickflip.
Mike Crook. Hardflip to manual, shuv out.
Regina was the only place we skated any street, given that it
was a fresh spot on the trip and everyone was still functional. There are some
really cool spots there. Pudawon (AKA Jason Wilson) took his board to the eye
after a horror stomp "flip to road". A quick side of the road stitch job and he
was on his way to skate the rest of the trip with a bandaged head. Will Blakely
added a few pics and we were on the way again.
Will Blakley is the example of a perfect hyperactive
skateboarder with endless energy and enthusiasm. He was the first and last guy at
every park, his board would be out at every single opportunity and he has the
creativity to make anything skateable.
All in all, everyone had a great time. Countless people went out
of their way to accommodate, feed and show us around. I have failed to mention
all the other host towns: Swift Current, Saskatoon, Red Dear and more. It's
just one big blur now. It stayed dry the whole time, which was a blessing given
that the van has no working wipers. Geoff Dermer and Mike Crooks turned it on
at every single demo, the young guns Will and Jason were value for money with
amazing ability on the board.
Thanks to everyone who was involved, and here's to doing it all
again.
Freedom Tour Part 1: Jason Wilson and Mike Crook
Freedom Tour Part 2: Will Blakley
Freedom Tour Part 3: Geoff Dermer
All photos: Brett Box
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Related:
Monke and Kitsch: Irie On The Island (video)
Progress Report: Studio and Kitsch
Monke Skateboards Blog