As an everyday person, sometimes you have to look for your odd successes—strange successes, if you will. You have to enjoy the challenges you overcome, the little things that you accomplish. I mean, how many of us are going to complete a full video part in a highly anticipated video? Not me, that's for sure. However, a great deal of my friends did on Thursday, so I was hell bent (not a Brockman reference) on enjoying Zero's "Srange World," skateboarding's newest mind-blowing video to drop.
Josh Brooks
Rattray's house was the headquarters for stars of this "Strange World." Elissa came dressed as a comely young lady, Keegan came with his lady Andrea and Sheldon made it down from Vancouver.
The fact that it was a culmination of my friends' successes, as well as a reunion with my homey, Greg, who used to be Zero's Team Manager, made it an event to achieve my own string of strange successes. Success #1: brews. We drank at Scotsman John Rattray's house, spilled forth onto the street, moved over to the lovely La Paloma theatre (la paloma = the dove) in Encinitas, CA. When the video started, I had successfully poured beer over my bluebird (success #2) and felt a little buzzed.
Josh Brooks
The premiere crowd...hell of fools.
The short recap of "Strange World" involves shouting at the top of my lungs (one of the loudest ones in the theatre: success #3), which is what I did for the full 45 or however many minutes. Garrett Hill, who you can see here with his teased hair and fair-skinned lady, had the opener. Keegan Sauder had the second part, which had me and my friend Greg shouting, hooting and dreaming of all the small loans, car rides or couch-surf IOUs that Keegan might pay us back now that he's turned pro.
Josh Brooks
The Chief made his traditional pre-vid speech, but this time it wasn't staving off feasty viewers after an hour delay. This was the first Zero video that premiered on time.
He shredded tranny and rails to the Flower Travelin' Band. I can't remember the sequence of parts through the middle, but Brockman came out swinging and Marisa Dal Santo has solidified herself as the girl with the best skate part ever—no joke. Rattray has a part (apparently, it was supposed to be a full part, but was later slimmed down) which leads into Sheldon Meleshinski, if I remember correctly. Other female boarding legend, Elissa Steamer shares a part with Donovan Piscopo, Cervantes and Sandoval. Lil' Donovan grinds a kinker and reaffirms that there are kids out there that don't tick-tack around with bad style, but rather skate like big kids. Cervantes shredded. Sandoval booyah'd the crowd's face off.
Josh Brooks
Somewhere in this blurry photo, there was a whole bunch of gnarliness happening. As we all know, there's nothing strange about that, when it comes to Zero, but this really is a unique video.
Elissa had some sweet stuff in there (and looked very lady-like at the premiere). Aussie Dane Burman has a part of pure insanity, which officially introduces him to the masses. Jamie Thomas skates a warehouse that's much less clean and much more loaded with picturesque sunsets than the Berrics. Cole and Tom Asta skate to Young Jeezy's "Turn My Swag On," making "Strange World" the first Zero video to feature a rap song. And, Lil' Baby Jamie Tancowny ends it all, handily, and leaves you hanging on for the upcoming Emerica video.
Josh Brooks
After the premiere, we kept the strange theme going, with a trip to the Del Mar fairgrounds where we went on a scare ride...zombies, post-apocalyptic cannibals, headless horsemen, skeletons—that stuff. This is my friend Cullen. He works for DVS.
Josh Brooks
Skateboarding platonic power couple, DVS Cullen and Cons Sharon.
Josh Brooks
Canuck Jess said, "Awesome part, buddy!" and Sheldon answered, "Thanks guy. Stoked to have a part, buddy." Sheldon's excitement waned when the Canucks later lost to the Ducks, but he pepped right up when we all got five free Buffalo wings for five goals.
Josh Brooks
Garrett came with his hair in 80s goth mode, while his lady, Vixie, was the lady in red.
Overall, it was a banging skateboard video, all the more interesting because of Zero's different approach this time around and the brevity of the piece. Skateboarding, as a whole, seems to have acknowledged that bigger and bigger isn't necessarily the only way and taking an angle that makes a video unique and fun will always win out over stair count. "Strange World" seemed to succeeded in doing this, while maintaining the gnarliness of Zero.
After the curtains came down, everyone left with smiles on their faces, determined to keep the fun alive. I went with a few friends on a Scare Ride, basically a hayride through a row of haunted streets and houses on the Del Mar fairgrounds, my fourth success for the night. Afterward, the pros and fans oozed to Encinitas' bars and we all got royally hammered (strange success #5).
The next day left us all a little worse for wear, riding in the backseat of our brains. We ate breakfast (success when you're that hungover), watched the Slave video* (#7) and then went to the Ducks vs. Anaheim game with stars of the show, Sheldon, Marisa Dal Santo and filmer Matt Winterberg (strange success #8...also ate wings at Hooters—#9).
Josh Brooks
The other kind of skating: the next day, we went to the Ducks vs. Canucks in Anaheim. Like I said, Vancouver lost, but it was a win, even for Sheldon and Jess, Van locals. Since the Ducks got five goals, everyone at the game got five free buffalo wings.
Josh Brooks
Marisa Dal Santo had two things to cheer about—the best girl skateboarding part so far and an Anaheim Ducks win.
When you finally get to see Zero's latest gem, you will know the "Strange World" we're living in and, perhaps, be inspired to achieve your own strange successes, like the whole team did on Thursday...on a related note, do you want to see my Halloween costume? No? Well, whatever...
Elise Velasco
I took inspiration from the film and brought another strange success to my life. My girlfriend and I dressed up as the eunuchs from the "Ice Pirates" (at 8:10). Strange success # 10.
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Contributors
Josh Brooks
Josh is a skater and a scientist. He's written for Thrasher, lurks in Long Beach, has a mean tré bomb and isn't afraid to call your favorite pro to get perspective on the latest news.
Adam Salo
Adam is one of the biggest skate nerds you'll ever encounter. It can be a little frightening. He also really likes pushing fast in traffic and wallrides.
Mike Sinclair
Mike Sinclair is a man of many talents and skills. He's particularly good as a Skater, Dog Owner, Team Manager, Eater, Baller, Comedian, Writer and Friend.
Chris Nieratko
Chris owns three skate shops (NJSkateshop.com), writes for numerous skate magazines, has a column for Vice and is pretty great at making things funny, or awkward, or both.
Noah Johnson
Noah lives, writes and skateboards everyday in Brooklyn, New York. His favorite things are clean grip, extra crispy bacon and sweatshirt weather.
