In the Know: Blake Sandifur & Daniel Kinney

Tags: bcsd, blake sandifur, brett kirkoff, daniel kinney, mark, orange, shawn engler, wojda"

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Since I've known Blake, he and I have skated together maybe 2 or 3 times. Which always seems odd to me since mostly everything we work on together involves rollerblading. This anomaly is because recently, as in the past 4 to 5 years, Blake has been plagued with injuries ranging from his wrist to his knee and for all I know everything in between…

Since I've known Blake, he and I have skated together maybe 2 or 3 times. Which always seems odd to me since mostly everything we work on together involves rollerblading. This anomaly is because recently, as in the past 4 to 5 years, Blake has been plagued with injuries ranging from his wrist to his knee and for all I know everything in between… These injuries have changed Blake's goals in rollerblading from pushing himself to pushing his best friends and filming it. This shift has caused such projects as Rock and Roll: The Digital Disaster, Yellow Vol.1, the soon to be released Orange and having a heavy hand in Woodward's Colony of the Summer XI, as well as the new Bitter Cold Showdown project. Through these projects Blake has shed some much deserved media attention on some of his best friends including; Loran Bohall, Mark Wojda, Joey Chase and Sean Callahan as well as numerous others. So although Blake rarely skates anymore don't be alarmed, you can easily see a little bit of him in many of the tricks he coerced some of his best friends into risking their lives doing.

- Daniel Kinney

Five years ago Daniel Kinney created the two day event known as the Bitter Cold Showdown. Over the years this has grown into one of the biggest and definitely the best contests of the year. Daniel has done a lot for the industry, by not only running an amazing competition, but also organizing a tradeshow, which allows all the rolling companies, small and large, to show off their latest products, also the industry meeting, that brings everyone together to discuss the future of the industry. From bottles of Cristal, thousands upon thousands in prize money, and free cell phones, Daniel Kinney and the Bitter Cold Showdown have definitely made its mark on the rolling industry! I have worked with DK on several video projects, most recently Orange, and also a Bitter Cold Showdown DVD release which will come out around the end of the summer. Be sure to make your way to the Bitter Cold Showdown, also his new contest, the Steel Valley Meltdown, and check out the new Bitter Cold Showdown DVD!

- Blake Sandifur

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1. Mbrols: You live in Louisville now, SO FOOL WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO COME FILM THE LOUISVILLIANS (aka. Not mark Very Happy )?

-I usually film with Mark Wojda twice a week, just Mark, and myself, but anyone is welcome to come, we usually start by filming at the Louisville skatepark, so you can always meet up with us there.

2.Herben Legend: Daniel's a fucking great guy, but Blake Sandifur, eh, don't like him one bit.... haha.

-Thanks Doug

3. S'304_28: if you had to choose between never having sex again or never skating again, which would you choose?

-I can't skate anymore anyways, I can roll to film, but that is about it, so that's not a hard decision.

4. Jeffred: Will you be at Woodward again this summer filming? You seemed pretty shy and quiet. Is that accurate?

-I will be at Woodward again this summer, I'll be heading up the video production of Woodward East, and the Inline program for East and West. I'm not shy or quiet, but I usually have 50 things going on at once, so I usually keep to myself.

5. concept rolla: Is mark getting a section in ORANGE? and i think its time someone else gets represented from l-ville besides mark.

-Yes, Mark Wojda has a full section in ORANGE, and many clips in other Montages, a 5 minute section of bangers!

6. i am neo: Will you be selling your other videos really cheap now that Orange is coming out? I'll buy them if they're real cheap. I think I bought the USD video from you over ebay.

-If you are interested in purchasing my other videos, they are in limited supply, but you can pick them up for $5.00, email me at: info@itcinema.com, and yes I'm sure you bought the USD video off eBay from me, I'm an eBay hustler for sure.

7.1. Jasonbord: What really got you into making skate videos?

-3 years ago I dislocated my wrist and tore all the ligaments, had surgery, and 6 months later tore my acl in half basically, my insurance was cancelled after my wrist surgery, and I still haven't had surgery on my knee. I got into video editing at that point, and have been building up my equipment, and knowledge ever since.

7.2. After seeing Orange for the first time I could tell that everything about it has improved from Yellow including the editing, titles, filming, and skating. How do you feel about all these large improvements from Yellow?

-When I made YELLOW, I didn't own a computer, or a camera, since then I have purchased both along with a lot of other equipment, each release will continue to get better, and better, but ORANGE is 100 times better than YELLOW in every aspect!

7.3. You get a lot of hate from kids on message boards talking about all the party footage and drinking you have in the videos. How is it going to be different in Orange compared to Yellow?

-Well ORANGE doesn't necessarily have party footage, but footage that is just funny in general, its broken up into chapters, so if you don't want to see it, skip it, but it's important to have other things besides skating in videos, that way it is entertaining to people who don't skate, if it's just continuous skating, it's boring to most people. If you want to make skating look cool, make the people look cool.

7.4. Do you ever get pissed that you have a bum knee and dont get to skate anymore? I mean you were in a KFC video doing a zero spin ao topsoul 360 out on the white rails with a head band on and topsouling that gnarbuckets kink dropper at IU.

-Not really, I like to film now, and I'm around skating constantly, so now I get to make it look the way I think it should.

7.5. You did badass topsouls! I still jock them to this day. Not a question just letting you know.

-Thanks Jay

7.6. What are some of your gnar gnar injuries.

-Starting at the beginning, 20 stitches between my fingers, broken wrist, broken ankle (I should have had it screwed back together, but the doctor said I didn't need it, then it took 6 months in a cast to heal), torn rotator cuff(sp?), dislocated my wrist, and tore all the ligaments, found out that the wrist was still broken from the first time, torn ACL, there are other ones, but those are the "gnar gnar" ones

7.7. What are your plans for the future of Ivory Towers?

-Well I will be teaming up with Shawn Engler of Radius Media to help with the production of their new Magazine/DVD that will be coming out quarterly, and continuing to making DVDs on my own as well, plus a lot of other freelance work for various companies.

7.8. What influences did you have on making Orange?

-Friends, skateboarding, snowboarding, movies, everything is an influence.

7.9. Do you think Orange wouldve turned out the way it is if Sarah hadnt been there?

-Definitely not, she is first to tell me if something sucks, she doesn't hold back.

7.10. You seem like the kind of guy that would own some lame pets like a poodle or chiwawa named sugar pie or something! Do you have any pets?

- I have a toy poodle named Jolie, and a toy Chihuahua named Sugar Pie.

7.11. I heard you once beat a brick wall in a game of tennis! Any comment on this amazing victory.

-True Story

7.12. I heard rumor that once the videos get to Purple that their might be a Phil Gripper "Purple Rain" music video.....is this true cause I think I speak for everybody when i say that would be awesome!

-Actually I'll just be doing a remake of "Purple Rain" starring Phil Gripper, should hit theatres next year

8. jonPOOLER: i had blake as an instructor at woodward like 4 or 5 years ago when i was a grom, are you still working there and has it changed over the years? Thank you for getting me into the habit of trying tricks both switch and natural.

-I am still working at Woodward, I have been helping with the video production for the last 2 years. It hasn't changed a lot, there are of course always better things to skate there each year, but the atmosphere hasn't changed, it's still a very chill place to be. You're welcome.

9.1. madpolish: so besides producing skate videos, what other free-lance videography work are you doing right now.

-Most recently I have been shooting International Dance Contests, Travel Documentaries, Commercial Real Estate Films, and a lot of other things, a lot of things that I'm not really into, but the pay is good, and spending weeks in the Bahamas for work isn't bad either.

9.2. Every video seems to work with a formula which consists of sections and montages. A lot of videos string clips of 100 different kids into one montage with different quality filming and half ass tricks: Why do you choose to focus your attention on about 10 different people as the main figures in your videos. What effectiveness does this have. Do you think more people will model after this type of style once theyve seen orange. Do you see orange as an outstanding video from the rest? if so, how? sorry about these questions i know they suck.

-The people in ORANGE are my closest friends, but I won't film someone, or put them in a video because they are my friends, it just works out that they are amazing rollerbladers. I'll let the audience be the judge of whether or not ORANGE is an "outstanding video", all I will say it that it is 40 Min. in length, and there is not one filler clip in the entire video, and the 1 Hr. of bonus material would make the cut on most videos.

9.3.want to film more clips this week??

-Call me up.

10. Jesus: Blake, do you still buy shit at the dollar store and return it at Wal-Mart for more money? fucking awesome if you do. Eric sez hi!

That was a one time deal. The story: I bought phone line splitters at the dollar store for .50 each, and returned them to Wal-Mart for $4.50 each, I bought and returned between 200-300 of these, you do the math. Hi Eric.

11. maxi pad 859: yo blake are you going to be at the louisville KYB? and when are you leaving for woodward? and come down to lex sometimes and film for your next vid!

-well the KYB is over, and I was in Canada, so I couldn't make it. I'll be in and out of Woodward all summer, I would definitely like to come to Lexington more to film, you have some really good spots there, and in the surrounding cities.

12. BaszaOffline: so , some time ago I picked Yellow vol.1. vid. I didnt know what to expect but it turned out to be one of my favourite videos - I really enjoyed the the way you choose to focus on only one skater. So when the vol.2 is coming up and who will have a profile ?

-Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video, ORANGE will have full profiles on LORAN BOHALL, SEAN CALLHAN, JOEY CHASE, and MARK WOJDA

13. Herben Legend: Why do you think procrastination is the key to making skate films, haha?

-I know this is a joke, but seriously when you make a skate video you only get to make about 1 per year if you're lucky sometimes less than that, if you aren't happy with it when you finish it, you have to wait a year minimum to make one you are happy with, so you keep changing and changing shit, until finally you have to release it, so a lot of times procrastination actually leads to better skate videos

14. Elk: who are either of you?

- Blake Sandifur

15. Quark: can you backflip?

-No

16. Elk: Can you both backflip together while holding hands?

- Maybe

17.1. Geoff from FL in KOREA: Is there room in the rollerblade video arena for a flcik to come along much like 616's End Code video that is only sick tricks and about 15 minutes, or does rollerblading need more videos that show the skaters personalitys, like party footage?

-I personally wouldn't pay $20 for a DVD that is less than 30min. long, because no matter how good the skating is, there are always DVDs coming out with just as much good skating, and 30-60 min. in length. I like short features, less than 30 min. as long as there is a lot of quality bonus material, ORANGE is 40 min. long, but the DVD is completely full with bonus material, that could have easily made the feature.

17.2. Is Dan truely the Man? (King)

-Yes

17.3. Do you miss skating? Or is it all about the videos now?

-I'm really into video production right now, I still put my skates on and roll around to film, but as far as missing it, I see it everyday, and film with some of the best rollerbladers in the world, so I still am very involved in skating.

17.4. Is it ok to be so caught up in talking about rollerblading to miss exits over and over again to skatespots? And, do you enjoy "talking rollerblading" much like some people talk football or baseball.

-There is nothing I hate more than going to a city, and the locals don't know their way around. "Talking rollerblading", that is a weird question, but I do get caught up talking about skating a lot, so my answer is sometimes.

18. ross Anthony: Why do you hate the way that i roll joints? why do you always give me a hard time? and when are you going to start making porn? ... you know currier's always down to get clips and he won't have a hard time finding some bust-a-nut butt slut

-It takes you forever. Because I love you Ross, I can't wait to hang out with you all summer. The porn laws are very strict in Kentucky, so I would have to film it out of state, but I'm checking into it, and as far as Mike Currier goes, well you've seen the footage, I don't think I can sell that for much.

19. s3O: can you tripple backflip?

-No.

20. chimbaktu: blake: less party more falls. Very Happy

-Done

21. username565: who the fuck are you 2 dudes?

- Blake Sandifur, and Daniel Kinney

22. NakedWarrior: Blake this is ryan from lexington you kick fucking ass! and your videos do too!

-Thanks Ryan

23. Seth: How long do I have to wait till jake gets a profile???????

-Next video, Jake Wilkes is so damn good, sickest backslides, and biggest gaps, a full section of Jake Wilkes would be amazing, he has a lot of clips for ORANGE, but didn't have enough for a full part, I have already talked to him about doing part for my next release.

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mbrols: Any special plans for next bittercold? Bleechers maybe?
maxi pad 859: and yo DK bittercold is an awesome event but it seems every year with the growing number of people its hard to hold it at vertigo because of the lack of spectator areas are you planning on keeping it there? word peace
IROLLremz05: Any new plans for bittercold this upcoming year??
Geoff from FL in KOREA: Where is bitter cold next year, I heard rumors it won't be in the same place...

dk : Bleachers are already in the works for next year. We built the stands for 2006 but we are going to extend those and also add some rentals. Our biggest concern every year is crowd control and we are constantly doing what we can. But it's near impossible herding everyone into the areas that we want them to be. Although we are continuing to cram Vertigo past capacity I don't believe there is a better host park in the country. Mark Yoo has been an incredible asset to the Bitter Cold Showdown and we have discussed some additional possibilities if it ends up being impossible to hold the event at Vertigo. As far as new plans for next year expect more of the same really. The contest will continue to be overcrowded and exciting at the same time and the tradeshow will continue to become more professional to further establish its place as the leading tradeshow in the industry. Oh and check out maxi pad in Orange…

Herben Legend: How hard is it to work with hundreds of skaters and making a fucking great event happen every time, I remember the first one was still the first BitterCold Showdown of my favorite events?

dk: Hey Doug, after six years of the doing the Bitter Cold Showdown it has actually become pretty easy setting everything up. Website, sponsorship packets, emails and phone calls, etc… The hard part is the weekend of the event. I never stop moving and hardly have a chance to enjoy anything but it's all worth it when I hear from everyone that enjoyed the weekend and got so much out of it. The first BCSD was still my favorite as well… It was very exciting watching everything unfold and it was so unexpected. Recently I have begun to enjoy the tradeshow most of all. It's amazing seeing almost the entire industry in one room. And the question and answer session during the industry meeting was pretty amazing.

LordBrian |B|: Will there finally be bikini clad women up there serving me drinks and feeding me grapes during next year's event?

dk: O Lord… Brian. Haha. You just wait… I have discussed this with many people. Rollerblading is just kind of in a holding pattern right now until we really blow up and when we do you know the Bitter Cold Showdown will be right at the front. And with that will come more money and more ladies… and fruit and well you do the math…

S'304_28: If you had to choose between never having sex again or never skating again, which would you choose?

dk: Hopefully my penis will last longer than skating so in the long run I would get more use out of my penis. To answer the question, never skating again.

jeffred: What did you think about Mark Yoo's proposals at the BCSD industry meeting?

dk: I think Mark has really done his homework and if you talk to him you know how passionate he is about helping rollerbladers and helping the industry. I think it may take some time to get the industry behind his ideas, but when they do it will make things better for everyone. I don't want to go into much more detail than that because he is really the one with the master plan and in time it will be a more widely known concept and hopefully a real life organization in the future.

mike Callahan: how about another bittercold street comp like back in indie. akron would be bomb. but it would be quite cold.

dk: Reading your question alone gives me a gigantic headache. I think a street comp in Akron would be great and it is not always that cold. Sometimes we get lucky. Although I will be the first to say that I am not going to have anything to do with it. If anyone else wants to step up to the plate and make something happen feel free to email me at dk@bittercoldshowdown.com to get the ball rolling.

Grz3zsG: but i want to ask you if you had anything to do with setting up the after party at this years bcsd...i did get a ticket at the party for underaged posesion even tho they did let me in to the bar as a minor and they did serve me a drink as a minor
i still havent heard back from the cops yet tho, which is pretty sick because now its going on three months

dk: My involvement with the after party ended when I was told where it was at and some minor details. You have seen the PSA's, don't drink if your underage… No matter what the sleazy bar lets you do. Good luck with everything though.

jasonbord: 1. Why is it you do such a good Mick Jagger impression?
2. Why did you deicde to actually start the bittercolds?
3. Did you ever think that the bittercolds would get this big?
4. Any chance of changing the name of steel valley meltdown to steel reserve meltdown?
5. Any big changes for bittercold next year?
6. How did you get so darn good at unity cess slides?
7. I heard you once did a spinning unity cess slide for so long and so fast when you finished you actually traveled back in time and if this is true any ideas on maybe a full length film of it, something almost like Back to the Future?
8. What can we expect from the bittercold video?
9. Your menus for skate videos are amazing! Not really a question but thought Id just let you know.
10. I heard you trained you dog to pick up its own poop because you dont take shit from anyone....is this true?

dk: 1. Alcohol.
2. Because I wanted to premiere my video Universal Appeal and have some friends that owned companies setup booths to sell stuff. I decided to have a contest too.
3. Never.
4. For you, anything…
5. No, not really.
6. Because I can get comfortable and balanced sitting on my feet.
7. The government has classified most of what was involved in the Unity Cess Slide Experiment and will deny all knowledge of it. I am shopping around a script for a big budget movie though… Hopefully it will star Chuck Norris. He has expressed some interest in it and stated, "Playing a character like Daniel would be the role of a lifetime for any actor."
8. Something totally different than any other contest video. But at the same time something totally the same as every other video, which is delays…
9. Thanks Jay.
10. I think you are confusing me with Chuck Norris. Why doesn't Chuck Norris's balls have hair? Because hair don't grow on steel…

Shawn Johnson: Is it true that Dan is the man with the master plan?! Also DK, are you ever gonna make your own video again? I mean you have such a sexy camera you should!

dk: I am trying to set up a 401K but I don't know about a master plan. I don't know about making another video. At this point making the kind of video I would want to make would put me in deep financial debt. Well actually deeper… In the meantime I will just live vicariously through Black Market II and Know Difference.

Quark: can you backflip?

dk: Yes.

Elk: who are either of you? can you both backflip together while holding hands?
username565.: who the fuck are you 2 dudes?

dk: Buy Orange and get both questions answered.

ross anthony: when are you gonna quit your job so you can come back to woodward?

dk: Haha… I actually love my job, which is more than I can say for most people I know. I am doing everything I would be doing if I wasn't working except for traveling and seeing radical bladers like yourself. Check out PentaVision Communications at www.pentavision.net. The website is a little out of date but you get the idea. I work with a lot of great people and its really laid back. Granted we aren't making big budget commercials or working on Hollywood blockbusters but it pays the bills and I am having fun everyday.

seth: If Eric Foust was still in Indiana would you film him or cut your losses?

dk: Hahahahaha… Eric and I have always had a love / hate relationship. I would film him though… I have seen some more recent stuff of him skating that I have liked. Good luck with your new baby Eric and thanks for the laugh Seth.

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We would like to thank Blake and Daniel to take the time and answer all these questions - oh yeah and we would like to thank you for reading all this :)

Photos: Shawn Engler

Top: Mark Wojda: Tr Fishbrain
Middle: Brett Kirkoff: Royale to Drop

Do you like this? Share it with your friends and help Be-Mag to spread the word about Rollerblading. Like us on Facebook, add us on Google+ or follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates from the Blading world!

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