Look deep inside any skate community and you’ll find certain people that have a sense for remembering everything that involves skating. Let me be clear: I’m not talking about little skate rats you see at the parks and inside the skate shops. This column is intended to highlight those individuals that know every trick that’s been landed, on every skate spot that’s been sessioned in the videos and the magazines because they were there doing it or watching it. I’m talking about those people that, just by listening to them, you can learn what’s really happening out there on the streets. 

Enter the Run It Back spot check. This month we are talking with Canada’s newest come-up kid, Ryan Bonnell. Originally from the east coast, Ryan’s been living in Vancouver for the past four years and has a pretty solid lock on all the familiar spots around the city. In fact, I think that he’s one of the only people that still buys all the new skate DVD’s just because he wants to support the brands. Don’t get it twisted, everything mentioned in Run It Back is a personal recount on what happened at the spots and is 100% straight from the source. Sit back and listen as Ryan Bonnell gives us a little history lesson on some of his favorite Vancouver spots.

Black Double

This is pretty much the biggest leap ever and has the gnarliest run up. Matter of fact, there’s a good chance you’re getting kicked out right away. Not that you need that many tries on something like that anyways, though. Starting from the intersection above and bombing the hill into the double set... wow. Big pat on the backs to everyone that has tried to skate that set.
 
Aaron Johnson: The backside 180 way back in the day. Most recently, he set the bar higher with a kickflip, and not too long after that came the backside flip. Damn! Hats off to AJ for that… (Backside 180: North 1. Kickflip: Concrete cover, latest RDS video; Backside Kickflip: Skaterboarder Magazine sequence, DC Canada Portage video.)

Ryan Decenzo: Heelflip and frontside flip. I’m sure you've all seen the footy and photos… Pretty insane. We will probably see more soon.(Heelflip: The latest Globe United By Fate episode and SBC ran the still of it. Frontside Flip: Ppretty sure the footy is in Welcome Home, which is Jordan Mayfield’s video.)
 
Magnus Hanson: Varial flip down Black Double. Wow, pretty much the last trick you would think for anyone to do down that set. Way to go Magnus, way to go!
(Varial flip: Momentum Por Favor, Circa ad.)
 
Richmond Power Box

This spot was really cool, but like some other spots in Vancouver, it’s gone now and I’m pretty sure it’s unskateable. Aside from being really, really long, there is a pole at the end next to the landing, so you can’t really back out halfway through or you risk impalement. If that’s not enough, you've got to gap to it, and on a side note, I think there is some pretty organized shady stuff going on near there, too. Definitely a good looking spot and I would imagine that it’s probably really rewarding to ride away from.
 
Paul Machnau, Rick McCrank, Moses Itkonen: Threesome attack, back-to-back to-back at the beginning of Moses’ Reason part. That was pretty insane for me to watch on video. Definitely professionalism right there. I can’t even remember the whole sequence of tricks, but I’m pretty sure McCrank did a 5-0 180 out, Moses did a lipslide, and Machnau did a backside 5-0. Whatever the tricks were, that *** was crazy. (All the footy was in The Reason at the beginning of his part.)
 
Wade Desarmo: Kickflip 50-50, backside nosegrind, kickflip 5-0. Not much explanation needed, it’s Wade, so it’s legit. (The kickflip 50-50 and 5-0 were in an old BSE video, maybe. I know the sequences were in either Concrete or SBC. The back nosegrind was in his debut international part, It’s Official, and the photo was in his SBC spotlight.
 
Paul Trep: Switch backside 5-0. That’s pretty much one of the craziest clips I’ve ever seen. Paul Trep is unbelievable and probably one of the most talented people I’ve ever seen on a skateboard. He has a strong love for skating and progression and to top it off, he is one of the most humble and genuine as well.
(Switch back 5-0 was ender for the latest Red Dragons Video.)
 

Van Hubba

If a chest-high, rock-made hubba doesn’t turn you away already, how about a downhill run up? Maybe it’s the insanely weird Vancouver rock/pebble ground they have at that spot, but once you factor in your 10 tries before you’re getting booted by security, you won’t be to stoked to skate this spot. Because of some pretty crafty skate proofing, the spot is unskateable and still remains one of my favorite spots in Vancouver. It just looks so amazing, and plus, its probably very rewarding to ride away from.
 
Kyle Robinson: Backside 180 fakie nosegrind. Can’t help it on this one; this is one of my favourite tricks for sure. If anyone had seen the footy Ii think you will agree it was pretty amazing. It was done in the winter with a jacket on­—damn, dude! I heard he did it within a few tries, and it was perfect. (Backside 180 fakie nosegrind: the footy was in his Supper’s Ready part.)
 
Joey Williams: Fronside Bluntslide. Joey is nothing but R.A.W. talent. I’m amazed every time I get to see him skate, because of his commitment and skill while going so fast on a board. He skates anything and will travel anywhere, anytime. Joey is one of my favorites for sure. (The frontside blunt still photo was in his Color Magazine interview.
 
Jason Crolly: Heelflip noseslide. For anyone who knows Crolly, they say he’s way too good on a skateboard and just as equa, if not better, as a person off his board. I don’t know what else to say, he’s one of Canada's finest for sure. (Heelflip noseslide: The footy was in Modern Love and the sequence was in an Underworld ad.)
 
Ryan Bonnell photos: