‘Cataclysmic Abyss’, Foundation skateboards
July 24, 2007
What is it? - The fifteenth (if I can count properly) Foundation video, which follows up the release of their excellent boxset, which included the previous fourteen full lengths/promos and the like. It runs for a smidgeon over 45 minutes. It’s a no gimmicks, straight-sectioned beast with every rider putting in a full part. Actually, it seems like for the first time in Foundation’s history they seem to be a little more stable as the crew have changed very little over the past couple of releases.
Who’s on it? - Don Nguyen, Angel Ramirez, Gareth Stehr, Matt Allen, Abdias Rivera, Tommy Gurrola, Mike Rusczyk, Sierra Fellers, Corey Duffel and Ethan Fowler. They’ve also got an extra with the flow team, which is made up of David Reyes and Sean Conover (Which I mistakenly read as Sean Combover. Ha - I wish!). There’s also a friends section with the likes of Ernie Torres, Chet Childress, Shuriken Shannon and a whole load more.
Highlights? - Okay, the first thing I sat through was the flow team section. David and Sean kill it. They not only sit level with most am’s but also put a fair amount of pro’s in their place - no nonsense rowdy skateboarding and well worth checking out. Actually, we should take a step back - the packaging this DVD comes in is rad. It’s put together in the same way an old 7” record is released and comes with a stencil and poster, too. It all ends up looking like an old W.A.S.P. single. Classy. I think Angel Ramirez got burnt by the editing here - He has a few tricks from various concrete bowls which from seeing him skate in front of me, I can pretty much guarantee he did without any trouble whatsoever. It’s this which makes me feel that if he’d chased this route just slightly more, then the rest of his section wouldn’t wash over you - especially as the rest of the team seem to be doing most of what he does, only bigger and better. Matt Ball’s road gap frontside heelflip is a treat. The rest of his section is better than I thought it would be - although you know what ‘s coming, if you get me. I’ve been intrigued by Abdias Rivera ever since he was put on Anti-Hero (I mean, very rarely do people get put on Anti Hero, right?) and since he left them, this is his first section for Foundation and it’s a cracker. I’m not too sure if he’d have fit in properly at the Anti-Hero camp at all, but he is suiting his current home well especially with this section in which every single trick is done how it should be - no shoddy reverts on frontside 360 ollies, a good flick on his switch flips, etc. I’m into it. Tommy Gurrola skates perfectly to Dire Straits - although he could do with smiling once in a while. I suppose he is part of the ‘iPod on while you skate’ generation, though, which should explain it all. Ha. I was really looking forward to Mike Rusczyk’s section and it doesn’t let down. He skates to Sonic Youth and finds lines at spots, which shouldn’t exist. I’m not going to say any more on this. Just make a point of seeing it. Whatever your views on Corey Duffel, you can’t deny this section. It doesn’t seem to revolve all around the flair (although obviously, he still makes Gareth Stehr look like weak sauce) and that is a good thing - everything he skates is gnarly and some of the spots are nothing but dangerous. Basically, he’s worked out that if he lets the skating do the talking then he can really make his mark. Anyway - none of the above matters. This is because Ethan Fowler has got the last section. I figured there wouldn’t be much to it, as for his section in Foundation’s last full length - That’s Life - he seemed to be over it and frankly put in a section, which I felt they should have just cut from the DVD entirely. Ethan is back on form here - and I’m so stoked on that. He’s not relying on an amazing style to earn points in this section either - and for an older dude he gives the rest of the team a good run for their money.
Overall? - It’s not an epic DVD in the sense of something like ‘Yeah, Right’ but it is a very solid production - well filmed and cleanly edited. The packaging, music and DVD layout are all first class. Some sections feel a little generic yet all are banging and no one is taking the mellow route, as there are more hairy moments in here than a Brazilian beautician gets to see in a year. It’s the guys who skate slightly differently - like Mike and Ethan - who really make this worth watching over and over. I’ll be showing this to people who stop round the house for a cuppa and you’d be wise to buy a copy and do the same.
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