Yeehaw!: Best Video, Ever

Pete with a trippy, no-handed (literally) drifter somewhere in Southern California. Photo: Bear Gardens.

This is the best downhill video (see below), ever. Period!

Wait, wait, wait—before you go off sending your hate mail to Wheelbase about how my opinion blows—give me a chance to explain myself.

Being a skateboarding enthusiast I watch a lot of skate videos in order to get inspired to try new maneuvers, or just freshen up my existing bag of tricks. When I learn new things on my board I feel great. Watching videos lets me sample the styles of other riders and provides me with a taste for different flavors of skating. If I’m not inspired while watching a video I’ll straight turn it off in the middle, but on the contrary, when I find a rider that I can vibe with I will seek out their videos, watch them multiple times, and absorb the pieces of their style I like into my own. I believe that if you consciously seek out such inspiration your own personal style will be affected. The main element that can make or break a video is style. A rider may perform only a handful of tricks, but if those tricks and techniques are performed in the right environment and with some spicy-full-flavor, then their style can create a video part that you can’t take your eyes off of.

Another thing that can make or break a video is length vs. content. It is possible to have a solid radical video that is longer if the relative content throughout the video is kept at a DEFCON 8 or higher radness-level. I have found that my favorite videos are short runs of high intensity—not boring—full of bangers and good style. If a video is too long and not filled with bangers, re-edit that shit and make it shorter—It will get more views. With all this in mind, I give the stage to what I believe is the best video in Downhill:

Visitor: Mac and G’s.

(Video courtesy of our homies at SkateHouseMedia)

G-Mac (George Mackenzie) has some of the best style there is. I love the hesh vibe—complete with Beastie Boys punk music, and bails. This video has it all and I believe represents the core of downhill skating. The core values of downhill skating of charging fast, keeping a solid & unique style, as well as developing smooth lines; they are all showcased in this video. George throws down not only a variety of maneuvers, but he also does them fast and in-your-face. Not once does this video slow down. Another thing I love about this video is the mix of hands up- and hands down- style—showing that he can do burly fast standup slides but also enjoys the classic feel of a pucks-down slide.

All in all, there are plenty of radical videos out there of riders shredding their brains out. Some skaters get tech, some hesh, some are fast and burly. Whatever your style may be—pool coping shralper, downhill bomber, handrail hooligan, or pirouette punisher—there is a video out there of the perfect length and quality to make the top spot on your personal “Best Video” list. Seek and enjoy. Yeehaw!