FLIP in Argentina

May 02, 2008 @ 9:21 AM

(David Gonzales, gnarly backside noseblunt with no lip)

Of all the approaches to take towards the making of a skateboarding video, the hardest thing to do in 2008, with the ubuiqity of skateboarding in the visual media, is to rely on the skating alone.
Other outfits may have a hook- let us not call them gimmicks, for there is nothing gimmicky about the standard of pro skating today- but a kind of visual language to their productions which chimes with the aesthetic of the brand: think cinematic polish for the Girl productions, or heightened slo- mo anticipation in the Zero vids.
Flip have resolutely insisted that they be judged on skating alone. Outrage is their stock in trade. But when outrage becomes the coin of the kingdom, the currency devalues itself almost immediately.
Its a bit like terrorism. You blow up one shop this week. Next week, you blow up a shop- who cares? That happened last week.
So now you’ve got to blow up a shopping centre.
In a sense, that is what Flip have left themselves to do: blow up the shopping centre behind your eyes. ( Opens second bottle of cough syrup).

(Tom Penny, switch frontside pop shove)
So: is it backs to the wall, or do they have us right where they want us?
It has always been that way for Flip since their genesis from Britain’s Death Box. Their first video was called Spirit Of The Blitz for that reason; the phrase conjures up the resolve of Britain when she stood alone, resolute and loveless in the war, relying only on themselves.
Since then that attitude has become the calling card for the motley crew- we are here whether you like it or not, and we can’t be knocked down. When they came to America they were given no chance of surviving, a bunch of out- of- town clowns who the American skateboarding public would never take to their hearts. Sorry.

If there is one thing that Flip have thrived on, it has been the ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, flying at all times on the gasoline of raw talent alone. Very few people join, or leave, this undeniably tight squad.
What binds them together is their unwavering belief that they are hands down the best team in skateboarding, and if they have to roll their sleeves up to prove it now and again, then best get out of the way.

(Rodrigo TX, switch frontside flip)

Their confidence that this biggest ever squad (including the former Firm’ers and a raft of new recruits- Axel Cruysberghs, Willow, Curren Caples, David Gonzalez, Louie Lopez and Luan De Oliveira) will deliver in spades on this third video instalment has many other companies wondering if they haven’t finally overplayed their hand.

Don’t bet on it, dear.
Don’t you bet on it.

Kingpin met the South American connection as the carnival heads into its final furlong.
This will be the last recorded message before they carry out their threat.
http://www.flipskateboards.com