Battle at the Berrics Win/Loss Records

BATB Statistics linked below in the google spreadsheet:
W-L Records


Hopefully more to come!

Albuquerque Ditch Over Fence Gap

Seeing Jake Hayes' shifty flip at this spot in a recent KOTR preview reminded me just how epic this ditch over fence gap is in Albuquerque. Feast your eyes on a gnarly High Five: @swankfuck_inc RIP impossible tailgrab, Gravis - dylan. (2010) @chimaferguson varial heelflip, Vans - Propeller (2015) @shecks frontside 360 Indy, Sheckler Sessions S4E8 (2015) @enzo_cautela 360 flip, TWS Video Check Out (2015) @kirby29 backside 360 nosegrab, Shep Dawgs 5 (2017)

A post shared by @skateboardinghighfives on Jun 6, 2017 at 7:24pm PDT

California Street Gap

I've been looking forward to a High Five set of tricks at this street gap and the time has come! @theclintorous kickflip from Ambig's Modern Art (2013) @the__provider frontside flip from Emerica's MADE Ch. 1 B-Sides (2014) @rileyhawk heelflip from Shep Dawgs Vol. 4 (2014) @tfunkb late shove from DC Shoes' Lynx Vulc / Trace S (2016) @enzo_cautela varial heelflip from Bones Wheels part (2017) #skatehighfives #streetgap #skatenerd

A post shared by @skateboardinghighfives on Apr 7, 2017 at 6:14pm PDT

I don't know what this street gap is called, but it sure is recognizable. I'm sure a couple other tricks have been landed here as well, but after Enzo Cautela came out with his Bones Part recently, this High Five had to be posted! Each and every one of these tricks blew my mind when it first came out, considering how fast they have to be towed in to clear the gap. I vaguely remember some Hall of Meat or bail clip at this spot too, proving that not just anyone can mess with it. Well here are 5 of the sickest dudes out with their noteworthy contributions to this heavy gap!

Bank over Fence Tricks

A video posted by @skateboardinghighfives on Nov 16, 2015 at 8:34pm PST

With the #CraziestFrontsideFlip in question, it's worth revisiting the high five tricks powerfully floated over what shouldn't be but now is a very tall fence spot.

1. Anthony Schultz - ollie - Pro Part for Slave (2011)

Starting it all off with what seemed to be jaw-droppingly impossible, Anthony Schultz clears this beast to cap off a terrific going pro part (4:14).

2. Dolan Stearns - frontside 180 - Lurkville's Meet The Lurkers (2013)

Dolan Stearns put out one of the best parts in the last few years with this video and shocked me way too many times with his gnarliness and speed. When a frontside 180 over this behemoth of a gap is in the middle of your part, you know you're doing something right (3:30).

3. Jordan Hoffart - kickflip - Stereophonic Sound Vol. 14 (2014)

So at this point, an ollie and a 180 are somewhat acceptable, in terms of possibility. The board stays under your feet the whole time, you just need an insane amount of power and speed. Still ridiculously gnarly. But who else than Jordan Hoffart to up the ante and truly make this a "spot" by kickflipping over this tall fence (2:37)? (Side note, Jordan has "upped the ante" on plenty of spots over the course of many years in his parts. I still don't know why he's not at some legendary status by now...)

4/5. Jordan Hoffart - frontside kickflip - Berrics part (2015)

A video posted by The Berrics (@berrics) on Nov 6, 2015 at 10:51am PST

How can Jordan one-up himself on what shouldn't even be a spot?! This dude knows how to go fast and big really really well.

4/5. Collin Provost - frontside kickflip - Instagram footage (2015)

A video posted by Collin Provost (@the__provider) on Nov 15, 2015 at 11:49am PST

A video posted by Collin Provost (@the__provider) on Nov 15, 2015 at 3:59pm PST

So when the Berrics presented Jordan's video part, they accompanied his insane ender by offering an Instagram contest for one's #CraziestFrontsideFlip. It just so happened that Collin Provost (who has already MADE one of the craziest frontside flips ever) had filmed a frontside flip over the exact same fence! The question on everyone's minds: who did it first? Jordan's video part was released before Collin's Instagram proof, yet some sleuthing with Jordan's reaction to the footage implies that Collin actually filmed his trick first. Regardless, both are beyond impressive and will go down together in skate history.


UPDATE: It seems like Collin Provost had a little something to prove to Jordan Hoffart, and he most definitely proves it in his short but oh-so-sweet part in Emerica's Made Chapter Two, closing off the part with a stunning hardflip over this same fence [complete with a skate-nerd-satisfyingly inadvertent tail tap on the fence]. Victory: Provost.

UC Davis Ivy Gap

A video posted by @skateboardinghighfives on Sep 24, 2015 at 9:12pm PDT

While I'm keeping track of the Tricks Over the J-Kwon Ledge and Transworld has done some ABD Archives already, I feel like now is a great time to start a trick archive for the UC Davis Ivy Gap. (I may no longer be keeping the "High Five" format, but so be it.) So while I'm fairly sure I haven't missed any tricks done down this monster of a gap, comment if you see otherwise!

1. Jamie Thomas - ollie (around 1999)

The skate nerd in me is upset that I can't find the original video that this clip was in! But regardless, who else than the Chief would be better to open the gates to skating such a legendary gap. Jamie Thomas was the first to skate so many new gaps and rails beyond imagination at his time. To him, this was probably just another big ollie at a campus with other sweet spots. To us, it was the start of yet another landmark in skateboarding. 

2. Corey Duffel - frontside 180 (Osiris - Feed the Need, 2007)

Corey Duffel is a mad man, putting out some of the fastest skating and gnarliest stunts. His Feed the Need part from '07 is a staple in skateboarding and what better way to close out the crazy part than stepping up the possibilities at what was called the "Jamie Thomas" gap with a frontside 180. 

3. Devin Appelo - tuck knee grab (Transworld - And Now, 2008)

Devin Appelo made a name (at least in my mind) for hucking himself off some insane rooftops and down some deadly gaps. He really abided by the Hesh Law and in comparison was like what Jaws is today. Contributing to his repertoire of drops was this beautiful tuck knee from the friends section of And Now, with the grab being held longer than seemed "safe". 

4. Schuyler Ricketts - backside 180 (Transworld - Hallelujah, 2010)

This gap was solidified in my memory after Devin's tuck knee, so by the time I saw some random dude add the scary backside 180 in the middle of a Transworld video's friends section, like Devin, I was wondering if the gap was going to be "just another big gap". Nope. Still one epic monster. Schuyler's name shall be added to the books for this trick because it is hands down *ahem* one gnarly 180. Also check out some of his attempts for the trick.

5. Ryan Decenzo - switch frontside 180 (Transworld - Hallelujah, 2010)

Ryan Decenzo has added plenty of epic tricks to some well-known spots over his years: a nollie down El Toro and the kickflip crooked grind down the Stanford hubba to precede his UC Davis trick to name a couple. Chalk up another huge trick in his incredible Hallelujah part: a switch frontside 180 that only Ryan's compressible body could handle. It's funny that it just happens to be the second trick down the gap in one video, but stealing the thunder without a doubt.

Not only that, but Ryan attempted one heck of a frontside kickflip down the gap as well. Goodness gracious that would've been unbelievable! Who's going to be the first with two tricks down the gap...?

6. Andrew Reynolds - kickflip (Emerica - Stay Gold, 2010)

Released in the same year as Decenzo's switch 180 and Ricketts' back 180, Andrew Reynold's kickflip is as iconic as Bachinsky's down El Toro, if not more so. Being the first actual fliptrick down the gap (in either case) crosses a line too exciting to capture in words. Capping off one of my favorite video parts of all time, Reynolds legendary status as The Boss is reinforced 10-fold with this ender. Now the frontside flip battle royale between Decenzo and Reynolds would be very, very interesting indeed.

7. Chris Joslin - 360 kickflip (Plan B - True, 2014)

Chris Joslin had one heck of an "intro" to the Plan B team. I won't even begin to describe the level of awe I was left in after watching his True part, just to cap off an already ridiculous year. And what better way to close out his lengthy and gnarly part than 360 kickflip down the gap (with angles from Trevor and Felipe). After his Ground Control part and monumental Rincon trick, there was no doubt Chris was a legend in the making. From what I've heard so far about his couple tricks down Wallenberg, Chris has no intention of slowing down. That linked Rolling Stone interview actually shows how strategic he is about contributing to skateboarding's history through tricks like this, but it'd be best to leave it with his words: "Let's just say that the Davis gap was an appetizer for the future."


UPDATE: It was bound to happen, but add Jaws' kickflip melon to the list (from an ETN production). Tommy Gunz, we wanna see that frontside flip!

Tricks Over J-Kwon Ledge

CJ Tambornino, no comply.

As the era of the LOVE Park plaza has transitioned into that of J-Kwon's, one can say that just like every make down LOVE's fountain gap, every trick done over the long ledge at J-Kwon instantly adds to the spot's history. And Josh Kalis is once again at the center of all the action. J-Kwon's ledge is special because there aren't a huge number of spots recognized for individual flatground tricks done. The picnic bench comes to mind (TWS has already archived its historic ABDs), but it can be considered more of a prop. Pier 7 offers a couple more memorable options, as Marcus McBride perfectly demonstrates, though the manny pad technically has a drop - thus not exactly flatground - and I think the last actual flatground ledge in the part is no longer around. Regardless, J-Kwon's ledge is easily recognized and provides a sizable challenge to those that think they have their fliptricks down. (Luan, if you're reading this [it's too late], please skate this spot.)

It's been quite a while since the last post, but the timing could not be any better. I've been wanting to catalog the tricks done over the long ledge at J-Kwon for a while. So when Nick Tucker shocked the web with his turning pro part for Primitive, not only did he DEMOLISH the LA courthouse ledge, but he startled everyone with 3 sick NBDs over J-Kwon's ledge. Getting one new trick is remarkable enough, but 3 back to back to back tricks was simply thrilling. This already got me thinking about the blog post, but the cherry on top was when Walker Ryan and Kelly Hart astonished me with their J-Kwon additions today. Walker's already one of my favorite skaters, and the switch backside flip is probably my favorite trick to see done (because of guys like Walker), so the combo is too good. Couple that with my personal favorite trick to do (fakie 360 flip) done by a master of that trick and I am completely flipping out in excitement from this short video.
(And soon after Matt Gottwig almost ollied over the whole super long ledge too!)

Now to the rest of the catalog of tricks chronologically (for the most part):

1. The "Basics"

The first trick done over the J-Kwon ledge to my knowledge comes as a pleasant, but easily unnoticed, surprise from the Boss himself. We already know his kickflip is one of the best ever, so it's fitting for him to casually open up his Bake and Destroy part in 2012 with a kickflip over the ledge, to start out a line of course (0:10).

Diego Najera was seriously placed on the radar when he was welcomed to Ammo a couple years ago. Besides incredible switch skating and trouble flipping the Hollywood 12, Diego nails a solid line at J-Kwon, speedily setting up for a buttery switch heel down the stairs by frontside 180ing over the whole ledge (1:34).

While Brett Sube's trick (or pair of tricks) is the most basic on flatground, it's possibly the most impressive of all of these cataloged entries so far. Huge double ollies over the extra-high ledges document his impressive pop and control to close out his part in Gracias Skateboarding. (Also note that Alex Olson ollies over one of these extra-high ledges in a line in Pretty Sweet.)

2. 360 Flip - Jordan Trahan

A video posted by Josh Kalis (@dgkalis) on May 4, 2014 at 9:17pm PDTh

 The first trick that really put this spot on the map. Jordan Trahan's unearthly pop and one-of-a-kind miraculous 360 flip, captured by OG 360 flip master Mr. Kalis himself, is a thing a pure beauty.

3. Switch Frontside Kickflip - Carlos Iqui

A video posted by Josh Kalis (@dgkalis) on Jun 1, 2014 at 8:54pm PDT

Leave it to a Brazilian to pop much earlier than necessary and fly insanely far over the whole ledge. Quite a few tricks come to mind before a switch fs flip to try at this spot, but Carlos Iqui once again proves his technical wizardry is no joke. UPDATE (6/2/15): Carlos apparently has decided to one-up himself by doing this trick again in a pretty heavy line.

4. Caballerial - Abbas Glass

I've honestly never heard of Abbas Glass before, but I'll never forget his name after this. This caballerial was executed perfectly, with bonus steeze. NOTE: The original video seems to have been taken down, so here's a separate link to substitute.

5. No Comply - Bobby De Keyzer

Now I was pretty blown away when I saw the photo of CJ Tambornino (above) no complying over the ledge. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any footage surface of his trick. But another technician in Bobby De Keyzer released a shockingly awesome part for DC not too long ago. What better way to start off a part than arguably one of the best lines in recent memory, including that wonderfully enormous no comply (4:10). Mad props!


UPDATES:
I basically would like to keep an ABD Archives of this JKWON ledge spot, much like Transworld is doing. However, I'm going to keep it strictly for tricks done over the ledges because the entire spot itself is definitely blown out. Please comment any tricks that I may have missed!

A video posted by THRASHER MAGAZINE (@thrashermag) on Jun 8, 2015 at 7:59pm PDT

6/9/15 - Kelly Hart, contributor of his great fakie 360 flip over the ledge, filmed the homie Myquel Haddox adding TWO new tricks to the spot's history for eS! Another name I won't be forgetting now after the beautiful half-cab kickflip and fakie big flip.
6/18/15 - Myquel just isn't stopping! Chalk up another one over the J-Kwon block: frontside heelflip. Hope a video comes soon!
7/22/15 - This dude is unreal. Myquel adds one more trick to the list: switch heelflip. He could probably put out a full part soon of just these J-Kwon block tricks...
8/28/15 - I definitely missed this the first time around. Not exactly sure when Furby switch back heeled the ledge, but it can be found in the Supra commercial in the sponsors menu in TWS' Outliers. Unfortunately I could not find a video or picture online so you'll just have to check it out in Outliers for yourself!
9/24/15 - Sabotage 4 was released on DVD on 9/11 and after receiving my package and peeping the video, I was psyched. Not only is Philly footage the best, but parts from Ishod, Suciu, Kalis, and Walker Ryan all got me super amped as well. Amidst the hour long video was a nice little gem from J-Kwon frequenter MATT GOTWIG (see above). While Myquel may have had a picture of his front heel, Matt to my knowledge was the first to release a video of his FRONT HEEL over the J-Kwon block in all its beauty. Cop the full length to see it featured in Brian Douglas's part!
10/8/15 - And of course, a 5 trick fix over the ledge for Myquel. Only a matter of time. Wow!

A video posted by Myquel Haddox (@quel615) on Oct 7, 2015 at 8:05pm PDT

12/25/15 - Cyril Jackson has had a super productive rookie year and capped it off with a solid Deathlens part featuring a tight late shove over the J-Kwon Ledge! Check the full line at 1:18 for the awesomeness.
1/3/16 - Even with Walker getting the trick first (most likely), Matt Gotwig shows again that he's a J-Kwon local by switch backside flipping the block in his Aguora Lifestyle part.
4/29/16 - Quel is back at it! Now getting into the awkwardly gnarly tricks: fakie varial flipping the block in style.
1/14/17 - Like many others in DGK's new "Saved" video, Adrian Del Campo gets his AM intro to the team and comes correct with a solid switch front heel over the block, even if Nick Tucker did it first.
7/9/17 - Never took this one into account back from 2013: Yuri Facchini with a proper heelflip to start a line and his Damn good Blind part!

Video of the Week: Davis Torgerson's Ticket to Ride - Going Pro Part

I'd been saying for a while that Davis REALly needed to go pro and this week it was finally commemorated! This pro part is exactly what was needed to showcase Davis's awesome style, his comfort when going fast in every clip, his impressive pop (that switch heel!), and his spot creativity. What I mean by that is that Davis utilizes his skills to make spots his own. Examples include that front blunt pop up to front nose at 1:41, the switch pole jam lipslide at 2:03 (who actually hits that spot switch?), the ride-on pole jam 50-50 over the kinks at 2:37 when he even bones an ollie out over the end, and the insane couple of mid-bank ollies - both regs and switch - at 2:50. I was probably more thrilled at display of control for those two dangerous ollies than the actual flip tricks over the hips. Anyway, Davis rips and always comes through with fun-to-watch, quality parts like this. Congrats!

In other skate news:
-Brodie Penrod is extremely talented and makes every session look like a blast.
-The Subway Skating section from Tengu: God of Mischief is an instant classic, especially with the historic subway track ollie.
-Daryl Dominguez's Excursion part through various parts of England is an absolute pleasure to watch.
-Callum Paul is PassPort's first pro and celebrates the occasion with some fun shredding down under.
-Nyjah Huston is really really good. He never stops getting bangers, as seen through his Subject part, his First Tryday is hard not to smile through, and the OG Edit to his last epic part was even dropped for a good reminder.
-Bryan Schaefer is On the Radar with a new part that adds to the UNM spot posts from last week. Check out the sweet line at UNM at 1:25!
-5Boro went to Paris. They have one of the sickest teams and their own entertaining take on skating through Paris. Plus, Jordan Trahan is a boss.
-Sam Beckett, Jake Brown, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, and Alex Perelson skate the Monster Vert Ramp and remind us that vert skating is alive and kicking ferociously.
-The Organika Trail Tour is a jovial take on how Josh Matthews put together his part from last week. I really like how the Organika team is looking so this welcoming trip was nice to see.
-Skate House by Chris Whitaker started off a little questionable for me but once Chris Colbourn, Cody Hale, and Jordan Maxham came on with some great skating, it really becomes a great video overall.
-Fourstar releases an Anthology that shows why it's one of the greatest companies in skateboarding, not just for its unreal team lineup, but because of how much fun they have on every tour.