What If?
What If?
By Rob Brink
EXPN.com, April 2005
For a few months in early 2005, I was doing long-form skateboard DVD reviews for EXPN.com. This review of Blind's What If? was one of them.
For Blind, a modern-day skateboard company, 13 years is a long time to go without making a video (okay, 11 years if you count 1993's nine-minute promo Tim and Henry's Pack of Lies). And living up to the kind of hype following their 1991 benchmark Video Days is a tough task.
But their new release, What If? lives up to the hype. Solid parts, good music and funny skits make it a damn good skateboarding flick.
Coming into the video, all eyes were on Kris Markovich and Ronnie Creager to produce something magnificent. Ronnie has been MIA due to injuries and because he wanted to take some time out of the limelight after his part in the 2000 èS production Menikmati. And Kris has hopped a few rosters (Element, Foundation, Hollywood) in those same years—moves that can knock anyone, even a legend like Kris, off the skateboard radar.
There's also a lot of talk about Carlos Ruiz's part. Carlos surfaced to the skate world in 2003 when he back lipped the infamous El Toro rail and blew minds. But he also set himself up for scrutiny—when a skater comes out swinging with a banger that big, how does he top it? The world will see in What If?
And, with the exception of maybe Corey Sheppard who had a part in 1999's Digital and Jake Brown's X Games vert/mega ramp contest coverage, no one has seen much from this relatively new Blind roster. So, in addition to being the first Blind video in over a decade, What If? is also an introduction to the new team. And let's not forget the cameos: Christian Hosoi, Omar Hassan and Carlos De Andrade all make the final cut.
Now, let's talk about the video.
The intro skit is a "skateboarders runnin' from the law" scenario with a twist. It's entertaining, and most riders have individual intro skits to their parts—Grant Patterson's North Park (a South Park parody) is the standout unless you prefer dark, artsy-type stuff, and then I would shout out Corey Sheppard's intro.
And Corey Shepard opens the video with a bang. Large 360 flips, both switch and regular—sometimes it's hard to tell which way he skates. And you can never go wrong paying tribute to Natas with a fire hydrant spin. Stairs, gaps, manuals—it doesn't matter, Corey mixes it up. Killer song too, if you haven't heard Bloc Party by now, you'll probably love 'em after Corey's part.
Corey's fellow Canadian, Grant Patterson, wears large clothes. He's swimming in them. But his ghetto gowns don't interfere with him attacking rails, hubbas, roof gaps and floating large nollie flips down sets of 15 stairs. A healthy dose of late-flips along with his early '90's nostalgia make Grant stand out from the crowd. Even his music choice (Black Moon) pays homage to Quy Nyuen's part in Prime's (an old World Industries spin-off company form the early '90s fronted by Kris Markovich) Fight Fire with Fire video.
Evan Shiefelbine cruises around his part and skates like he's having a blast. Most skaters film bangers till the sun comes up, but Evan focuses on unique tricks at different spots and approaches his part with a more light-footed approach to skateboarding. Taking the smooth, suave approach to skating, he hits things a bit differently than the rest and his slappy grinding intro brought me all the way back to 1989. Ahhhh, those were the good ol' days.
What the hell is Kris Markovich's hurry? Why's he skating so fast? He and Chris Senn and Dennis Busenitz should have a race. Tranny, gaps, ledges, you name it, Kris is fast and furious, and, at the risk of sounding metro, seems to have been working on his abs, 'cuz the six pack is ripped.
Am-tastic Carlos Ruiz, oh my Lord, this kid destroys himself! And it's so very entertaining. Carlos is new to the scene, but with a set of family jewels as big as he has, you'll be seeing a lot more of this manic. Seriously, every slam looks like he's kicking down death's door. Think faceplant after an attempted switch 50-50 on the same ledge Heath Kirchart opens up (and wrecks on) in Emerica's This Is Skateboarding. I don't recommend doing what he's doing.
More am action: Aaron Artis takes a new approach to Hollywood High, risking impalement on a wrought iron fence for his part and Jake Duncombe brings yet another "mullet from down under" (think Chad Bartie) to that little glowing box in your living room. Seems to me this kid is relatively fearless and will throw himself down just about anything.
Does anyone remember James Craig? He's ridden for Blind for about five years now and has been one of those "injured guys" for quite some time. Well, he's back. And in addition to one of the longer, more teched-out parts in the video, James got himself some customized hip-hop music performed by Murs.
Much thanks to Jake Brown for making vert watchable again! He's creating new tricks, taking old tricks and pushing them farther and skating with a big bag of variety. It must be all that skating with Danny Way, 'cuz Jake's got Danny's indoor ramp wired. And he's not too shabby on the Mega Ramp either, unless you call kickflip to boardslide shabby. Jammin' to Stevie Wonder, Jake's part is arguably the best of the video, and the best vert part to come out since Danny Way's (obviously) in The DC Video.
But Blind saved the best for last with Ronnie Creager's part. He's absolutely mastered the art of riding a skateboard and his closer is easily the most anticipated and best of the flick. Creager is fun to watch because he's smooth, original, creative and follows his own path (read: it's more than just a part full of gaps, stairs and rails). And because you haven't seen him in a few years doesn't mean he hasn't been skating his ass off. Creager's indoor part in the bonus footage is nothing short of amazing—and it's from over three years ago. He also has some other old "best of" and World Park footage in the bonus features.
Bonus Nuggets: Well, there's a 40-page booklet full of jokes, facts, thank yous, photos, board graphics and more. That'll give you something to read during history class ... And there's one other little gem—a hidden 23-minute treasure from 1991. Any guesses? If I tell you they'll have to kill me, but have fun searching. Even if it takes you a few DAYS to find this VIDEO, it's worth it.
DVD Info/Specs:
DVD Extras: 40-page booklet and a sticker! Ronnie Creager Super Part, Ronnie Creager Indoor Part, Ronnie Creager 1994 World Park footage, Blind Deck Graphics archive, What If? Trailer, Corey Sheppard Art Gallery, Behind the Scenes and a big 23-minute surprise.
Riders: Ronnie Creager, Kris Markovich, James Craig, Corey Sheppard, Jake Brown, Aaron Artis, Evan Shiefelbine, Jake Duncombe, Grant Patterson, Carlos Ruiz and special appearances by Christian Hosoi, Omar Hassan and Carlos de Andrade.
Producers: William Weiss (Director), Brett J. Hardy, Matt Hill (Producers), William Weiss, Joe G. (Co-producers), Peter Hill, Steve Hill, Bod Boyle, Steve Rocco, Gary Valentine, Mike Hill (Executive Producers), Dennis Martin (Senior Editor), Marc McKee (Art Director), William Weiss (Senior Filmer).
MSRP: $22.99
More Info: www.blindreaper.com
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