Skateboarding Reviews - Videos & DVDs

Mike Vallely is one of the coolest guys in skateboarding. His style and attitude are recognizable from miles away. His hunched stance gains huge airs from the smallest of obstacles. He can session a curb for an entire day and come away from it satisfied where most people would stand around bitching about not having anywhere to skate.

Mike describes himself as having been an introverted kid whose life was saved by the personal creativity of skateboarding. His life as a pro skater has afforded him many luxuries including the ability to travel the world and experience skateboarding at many different levels in many different countries.

When asked, Where's the best place you've ever been?
Right here, right now. - is always his answer. Too cool.

Setting out in his Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Mike's documentary, Drive: My Life in Skateboarding, shows how he gives back to skateboarding by visiting the out-of-the-way parks and hanging out with kids who can't get to the big corporate skate demos and contests. Mike seeks out the underdog to tell him/her that they are valuable to skateboarding and that skateboarding will always be there for them. MIke was the second pro to demo in Russia - Rodney Mullen beat him to it.

Discovered by Neil Blender at Mt. Trashmore in Virginia Beach, Mike's career took off the next day when Lance Mountain saw him and got him on Powel Peralta. Not a bad way to begin a career.

When Mike is shown speaking to kids at various skateparks or parking lots, he speaks from the heart. My one gripe about Drive is that the scripted portions, layed over video segments, sound very scripted. It actually sounds like he's reading from a page or prompter, which detracts from his message. He's a good speaker and isn't afraid to speak his mind, so it would have been nice if he could have free-styled the voice overs. And bump up the music - way to mellow for the type of hardcore skating Mike generates.

He interviews Ian McKaye, of Fugazi and Minor Threat, and seems genuinely humbled by Ian's hospitality towards him and his ability to articulate his views on the skate industry and skateboarding in general. Much of Drive is spent looking at Mike's philosophies of life and giving back. His generosity and dedication to giving something back to skateboarding and skaters is huge. If everyone - even those who've never even thought about riding a skateboard - gave back to their chosen disciplines, the world would be a much better place.

Mike Vallely is one of the coolest fucking guys in skateboarding. His style and attitude are recognizable from miles away. His hunched stance gains huge airs from the smallest of obstacles. He can session a curb for an entire fucking day and come away from it satisfied where most people would stand around bitching about not having anywhere to skate.

Mike describes himself as having been an introverted kid whose life was saved by the personal creativity of skateboarding. His life as a pro skater has afforded him many luxuries including the ability to travel the world and experience skateboarding at many different levels in many different countries.

When asked, Where's the best place you've ever been?
Right here, right now. - is always his answer. Too fucking cool.

Setting out in his Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Mike's documentary, Drive: My Life in Skateboarding, shows how he gives back to skateboarding by visiting the out-of-the-way parks and hanging out with kids who can't get to the fucking corporate skate demos and contests. Mike seeks out the underdog to tell him/her that they are valuable to skateboarding and that skateboarding will always be there for them. MIke was the second pro to demo in Russia - Rodney Mullen beat him to it.

Discovered by Neil Blender at Mt. Trashmore in Virginia Beach, Mike's career took off the next day when Lance Mountain saw him and got him on Powel Peralta. Not a bad way to begin a career.

When Mike is shown speaking to kids at various skateparks or parking lots, he speaks from the heart. My one gripe about Drive is that the scripted portions, layed over video segments, sound very scripted. It actually sounds like he's reading from a page or fucking prompter, which detracts from his message. He's a good speaker and isn't afraid to speak his mind, so it would have been nice if he could have free-styled the voice overs. And bump up the fucking music - that shit was way to mellow for the type of hardcore skating Mike generates.

He interviews Ian McKaye, of Fugazi and Minor Threat, and seems genuinely humbled by Ian's hospitality towards him and his ability to articulate his views on the skate industry and skateboarding in general. Much of Drive is spent looking at Mike's philosophies of life and giving back. His generosity and dedication to giving something back to skateboarding and skaters is huge. If everyone - even those who've never even thought about riding a fucking skateboard - gave back to their chosen disciplines, the world would be a much better place.