Behind the Scene: Greenville trip

Tags: greenville, kevin dowling, walt austin

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!

Rollerblading, isn’t it a great fucking idea? The human body set atop one of the oldest and most simple inventions, the wheel. It has been 6 months since I started filming for The Dirty Show and things are finally starting to come together. Crews have been reform ed, sessions are getting consistent and the camaraderie has once again bound us to showcase why we remain a hub for skating. The South has risen again my friends. The birth place of true spins, fastslides, cess slides, softboots, hosting vg’s, Will Gordon, tongues out, drama and good times. What better way to celebrate southern comfort than to take another road trip to one of the numerous scenes the south has produced.

Greenville, isn’t it a great fucking idea? When we arrived on Friday night Tim Taylor and posse were awaiting us at No Name skate park. No Name is a great park with tight lines, big ramps, dope grinds, mushroom obstacles and a great stereo system. Tim Taylor, Adam McManus, Johnny Ray, Dustin Hinson, David Dodge and a slew of others that make up a redneck/punk brigade of style a fluidity systematically destroyed this park. I have seen many people skate park in my days but Tim Taylor is really good. I think the only way to actually understand is to witness it first hand so you will understand if and when you see the video. I will put it this way, Stockwell could get a run for his money. The session went off and I got a grip of footy, it was now 4am and we needed to find a hotel.

Fucking AmWay! We could not find a hotel until 5:30 in the morning because the entire city of Greenville was being used for an AmWay convention. We finally found a shoddy hotel down the street from Tim Taylor’s house which only cost $54.00 and since we checked in at 5:30, we could stay until Sunday morning. David Dodge gave me a copy of his video and it was truly refreshing. Sections of incredible skating from the next generation of Southern rippers and a dope Tim Taylor part as well. Adam McManus’s section has turned me into a full fledged Adam McManus fan. This dude has style for days and is a cool cat. I am sure you will see more from this dude in the future.

Saturday we woke up and drove to get something to eat at Whole Foodsand to pick up the new T.I. at Best Buy. Although the food and music were great, Saturday started out a bit slow. No one slept long enough and the first few spots were duds. Tony Hamilton and Will Powell rolled up from Atlanta to session and film with us. We ended up at one of Greenville’s old faithful’s, the Brown Rails at the tennis center and things started to heat up. There were some fresh lines that had canons to grind and Walt went to work. Adam and Tony were flossing on the flat rails and Tim Taylor was ripping up a fresh wall ride. After we were done we headed to another legendary Greenville spot which is the white banks only to find that they had skate stoppers liquid nailed to the banks. Too bad for them that rollerblading is limitless so we skated the buildings other banks which you have to gap 2 feet to get on to. Saturdays street session went well and we decided to grab a bite to eat and relax.

Johnny Ray gave Tim Taylor a call and told him that he would keep Inman Skate Park open for a night session if we wanted. We decided to go for it and loaded up in Tim’s truck. Joe Dobson ended up driving down from Charlotte to skate and paint so he joined us on our expedition. The park was dope and once again the Greenville crew further gained my respect by shredding the shit out of everything. Smiley (dirty south legend) drove up from Columbia and laid down some hotness for the dirty cam. Everyone got clips and Joe threw up a nice piece on one of the skate park walls. It was a radical session but once again, it was 4 in the morning so we headed back to the hotel.

Sunday started out slow as we were all really tired from the 18 hour session the day before. I had been wanting to try this rail so we headed to Greenville Tech and 50 tries and 2 busted ass shins later I gave up. Adam McManus ensured that my efforts weren’t in vain and ended up banging out a nice hammer on the same rail. We headed to downtown Greenville to get some city shots and a few more clips. Adam laced a cool ass rail to cess slide on a trash can and we walked to a new Riverfront park that had wonderful nature and lots of human interaction. We took some dope shots of everyone chilling and then headed to Mellow Mushroom for our final supper. We all had a good laugh and discussed things pertinent to skating, the south, my video and life in general. I am thoroughly impressed with the Greenville scene and look forward to chopping up the clips that I got this weekend.

Once again a weekend trip has reminded me that one of the greatest things about skating is the interpersonal relations you develop within our culture. I feel blessed to have remained friends with people like Tim Taylor and Walt Austin and meeting new bladers like Johnny Ray, Adam McManus and Dustin Hinson that broaden the spectrum of individuals within our lifestyle. I can be in Queens NYC, Los Angeles Ca or Inman SC and be surrounded by cool ass mother fuckers that love to go out and skate. Stay positive and go skate….

-Kevin Dowling

Pictures

1 of 5

Original size

070817_greenville_fuck.JPG

Comments

August 26th, 2007 @ 18:28 - by AbstractMentality

That was a good weekend haha. I dont think my legs have felt so much like jello in my life. So kevin will this video be showed at hoe hoe hoe's this year? P.S. Getting a knee brace tomorrow so I can start skating for you again haha.

August 22nd, 2007 @ 15:49 - by Chun dong-min

Word to Johnny and Smiley. Sounds like a good time, sorry I missed it. Props to KD,Tim, and Walt.

August 21st, 2007 @ 10:45 - by twefleftwhish

come on benke...you know them ATLiens are scared of the brutal beating they will receive in halo if they come and we have an after party....right kevin??? see you that first weekend in october like you said if you're up to the challenge...sc represent

August 20th, 2007 @ 22:13 - by benk benk

when is the columbia session going off? after party at me and nicks house. and smiley, you have been a legend since you learned how to true top soyale anything.

August 20th, 2007 @ 10:41 - by Watch It Explode

Kenny, why don't we handle our business like grown-ups? Give me a call, I would love to help you promote for your new video.

August 20th, 2007 @ 10:04 - by nakamura

whatever...... SAY WORD 3, snitches.

August 19th, 2007 @ 23:15 - by mercedes

sick!

i'm sending the clips out soon, dirty.

August 17th, 2007 @ 16:22 - by Watch It Explode

Pics -

Canon Royal - Walt Austin

Liu Kang - Johhny Ray

Top soul - Tony Hamilton

Chillen on rock - Adam McManus, Joe Dobson, Dustin Hinson, Tim Taylor

August 17th, 2007 @ 13:46 - by xplicit650

don't sleep on this video that Kevin is making. The clips that I have seen the times I went out and filmed with them are going to blow your mind. Walt Austin and Tim Taylor still skates amazing, don't even think they fell off.

August 17th, 2007 @ 12:35 - by mindgame5400