Griziņkalns was once the epicenter of all “extreme” sports in Riga. But in the last decade, the place lost its status and transformed into a workout/ basketball court area. During its heyday however, Griziņkalns skatepark had both the skatepark zone and an open space zone with a few boxes and flat bars, which is why it was so attractive. The place could host big contests and serve as a meet up spot for the homies.
Despite the transformation, a big portion of open space is still available, and few days ago the crew went to check it out, with a box.
Pics by Nauris Dollins
Feels great to skate a place with so much history. In case you go there make sure not to leave trash behind.
Who would have thought that the history of OG Latvian skaters in US skate media didn’t stop at Gints Gailitis’ letter. In fact, the 1993 April issue of Transworld Skateboarding magazine featured two photos of Latvian skateboarders. Gatis Vidzenieks’ ollie over a stack of boards, and Janis Birznieks’ one-foot disaster on a quarter pipe saw the light in a Russia/ Poland trip article.
Photo caption: Even when the Baltic nations were republics within the Soviet Union, skaters from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were always slightly more aware of Western trends than their Russian comrades. At the White Nights ’92 competition in St. Petersburgs, the Baltic skaters dominated the street event, and placed well in all other categories. Latvian Martins Vidzenieks clears an obstacle of his own creation to take fourth in the street event. [note: It is actually Gatis Vidzenieks. The mag editors made a typo there.]
Photo Caption: Opposite page, top: Skaters from the Baltic nations came to St. Petersburg, kicked it up with their Russian and Ukrainian friends, and left with three of the four top spots in the street event. Janis Birznieks prepares for the audio of portion of a one-footed on a steel quarterpipe.
Jānis, Mārtiņš and Gatis were all from Grobiņa and all got in top 4.
The results of the contest:
White Nights 92 Street
1. Jānis Birznieks LV
2. Andrei Belyayev RU
3. Mārtiņš Vidzenieks LV
4. Gatis Vidzenieks LV
This week we have a serious discussion with a serious guest, our dear friend, Roberts Krums. Rob’s a pants enthusiast, and we believe that every skater is into pants to some extend. In this episode we share our views and preferences regarding pants. Rob talks about making his own pants too. Also, we look into the topic of alcohol in skateboarding. Sometimes booze can make you do something interesting and put you in an untypical situation. In other times it can slow you down and make miserable. Rob shares some of his experience from both sides.
In spring of 2018 someone had a brilliant idea to go to Tukums for a day trip. Everyone was skeptical about this idea and rightfully so, as we had no good spots in mind when choosing Tukums as our destination. Although we got some clips (mostly on that rail before Tukums) and had good times, we unanimously agreed that this trip was the worst.
Enjoy this short but sweet clip of Niklavs, Nesaule and Rudik skating the streets and parking lots during the first wave of Covid. Note how fresh Riga looks in this one, and, dare I say it, European. Also, dope to see how skating is brought to more central locations of Riga, like the Stockmann rail. It is somewhat our version of skating at New York’s time square.
Shout out to Roberts Krums for filming and putting it together.
Almost forgot we had to make a top 10 this month. All because February didn’t see much action around here. Officially everything is still closed, and unless you know someone who can let you in to a “secret” session, you’re on your own outside in the cold. Presumably Lithuanian situation is similar to Latvian, as it seemed pretty quiet over there. Meanwhile in Estonia things are looking bright. Tons of indoor parks to choose from: Tartu’s Sisepark, Tallinn’s Loigu and that new indoor. Also, there’s the luxurious Spot of Tallinn with its swag price of 13 euro per session, which it seems like some don’t mind paying. This grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side narrative only becomes more evident when you see a crew of Eesti boys downing cold ones in a public sauna after a session in yet another indoor park. Covi… what? 🙂
Anyway, hope everyone’s safe and congratulations on another winter finale. See you all outside very soon, either in person or via a screen.
This week we talked about Heitor Da Silva and Tanner Van Vark pro debuts, as well as Palace skateboards Stella Artois collab. Of course Baltic stuff got in the mix too. We talked about new clips from Estonian friends Raul and Allan, Fully Ghetto, and old trick tips. Enjoy episode 2.
Trick tips used to be entertaining. The main point was to dork around with friends and show off a trick you are good at. Nowadays when every trick has been taught in multiple YouTube videos, who cares about trick tip videos anymore? Well, we do. But only about old local ones featuring our friends because remembering old stuff is kinda our thing here.
With that in mind, we gathered a collection of our favorite Latvian trick tip videos. For learning convenience, videos are placed in order from basic to pro. Yes, we have pro tricks here. So sit back and inject some skate knowledge in your heads from the best online instructors Latvian Skateboarding has ever seen.
[No Comply 180] Level: Basic
Roberts Krums got to be one of the best Latvian online skate instructors. He has produced good educational material and has a charming personality too. Key takeaway: If this fool can make it, so can you.
[Fs Shove-it] Level: Basic
When gangsta rap makes you do it, you do it for life. Key takeaway: If you are tired of doing this trick regular, try fakie.
[360 shove-it] Level: Chill
Once upon a time 360 shove-its were considered cool. They were in the arsenal of the chill skaters which Kārlis Ezermalis was a perfect example of. Key takeaway: Element footwear
[360 flip]Level: Normal
Rob’s not Stefan Janoski, but still has some good scoop advice. Little Fricis is taking notes. Key takeaway: Tre flip is not so hard. All you need is courage.
[Fs Tailslide] Level: Normal 18+
Last episode of Rob’s trick tip trilogy. He even does all 3 tricks in a line. Key takeaway: Don’t drink and don’t smoke.
[Nollie Bs Smith] Level: Progressive
Levs teaches nollie bs smith because he can do them, and that bench looks cool. Key takeaway: PLA Hood for life?
[Fakie hardflip] Level: Advanced
As mentioned before, Edgar Berziņš liked trick-tipping. Here’s one at Kalpaks. Key takeaway: F**k you b**ch!
[BS 360 Kickflip] Level: Pro
Well, this one is a game changer. A meta trick tip. It kinda works actually. Key takeaway: www.youtube.com
In the first episode of RajonTV podcast we talk about Karlis Bogustovs’ interview in DIENA, Gints Gailitis letter to TWS, and Nauris Dollins’ debut in Thrasher Magazine. This time Nauris joined in and we got all the insights. Nauris also talked about his life story: how he started skating, how he dealt with the financial crisis, how got injured and picked up photography.
To be honest I am not very good at logging my tapes. I used to have a notebook where I’d write what’s on each tape, which was quite smart until I lost that notebook. Now I just write on tapes, and thank god most of my tapes are signed. I’d say 70% of my tapes have some information on them. However, I can’t say the information is always useful. Sometimes the sticker on the tape just says: Mark & co. May 2017. Try figure out what were we up to in May 2017.
Now during lockdown/winter life I decided to organize my tape archive and share my findings in these Raw Tapes vids. I remember a lot of things from 2017, but still when logging the tape again some forgotten moments popped out. Also, often times I don’t capture the whole tape except the tricks I want to use, so my tapes must have a lot of stuff I haven’t seen myself.
The first episode is shot in May 2017 and follows Mark Voronenko and his crew, The Trank Boys. The crew skates Maskačka and Sarkandaugava where Mark focuses mainly on the non-spots of these rajons. That day at Maskačka is summarized a bit in this insta clip here. This episode ends in the center of Riga, where Mark, again, finds some no-run-up stair set that none wants to skate except him.
