RVM Analyzer with Brandon Joel

This is the first installment of a new section I named RVM Analyzer. Basically, it’s an interview. I ask the person 10 questions, about things that I wanna know and share with you. So, here I present to you…. Brandon Joel

So when I was still back in Kuching over 4 years back, it was probably the best time in skateboarding history of Kuching. We skated alot, spots, filming,traveling, parties, everyone was hyped about it. Lotsa new kids came out to skate, shit was real good, just the way it should be…at least for our crew. We all knew that we were gonna leave town soon, myself, j.romey,j.sibu and ashly. That was why we did so much so that those that just started could continue with we initiated. It was good for just a little while, until the scene, i was told, began to die. Dudes slowed down, moving away, spots got shut down, no ones going to spots as often…not really what we wanted to hear after building up so much hype.

Well fortunately, there are still some that still appreciate and wanting to resurrect the scene. So  I have been hearing alot about this kid, killing it at King Center, and everywhere else in Kuching. Everytime I talk to dudes back home, his name will be mentioned. I eventually had the chance to go back last year for the first time in almost 3 years and met this kid. No doubt he’s good. But that’s not the only thing that makes him who he is. He got respect and the heart for skateboarding. Just the type of kid that we want to see representing Kuching! I brought RVM back to life because of dude like Brandon, enthusiastic and inspiring to others that wonder what is the future of skateboarding in Kuching.

I interviewed brandon by exchanging messages over facebook….the wonder of social networking.

H: so in the past 4 years since i left kch, u have definitely becoming that kid that came out of your shell and shine among other skateboarders in kuching. how did you start, and why do you still do it?

Brandon: i started to came to know skateboarding when i was 8years old actually..i saw this tv programme all about skateboarding..if im not mistaken,the tv show was Concrete Wave..right after,i asked my mom to buy me a skateboard and her asnwer was,’you need to have license to skate’. hahaha!! i actually got punk’d by my mom! i was too young to understand what she meant so yeahh..hahaha!! 3years later,for some reason,i still want a skateboard so i asked my mom again..this time i got the green light and got a skateboard! hehe..for 2years i was skating with my bro infront of the house,until my dad told me he knows a park where people skate..and that was Tabuan Jaya..the skateboarders there really helped me a lot in skateboarding..then,2years later,i found King Centre..another sk8spot filled with mellow people..somehow,this old shred stick has really kept me on track in life..the feeling of landing any trick is undescribable..especially the hard ones..and this feeling keeps me coming back for more..sessions with friends,just chillin,having a good time skating,tricks that friend’s do that’ll make you go WTF!! hehe..it makes me happy,proud,and somepoint feel like your on top of the world..forgetting bout all the problems of the world..haha!! if you’re passionate about something,i guess it’ll just stay in your soul..ahaha!! i popped my knee and tore a soft tissue recently so i guess i’ll be living hell for awhile..i just cant imagine what’d i do wtihout skateboarding..its a lifestyle,a culture,unlike any other,its uniquely skateboarding..that is why i still do it..RVM,holdin’ it down,kuching style homies! keep on keeping on..

H: what’s the most annoying trick to you?- trick nok ko rasa paling gai

Brandon: the most annoying trick?? ermm i dont know..i guess bailing a trick is the most annoying trick?? haha!! yeah i guess so..

H: if you weren’t skating, what’d you do?

Brandon:  if i weren’t skating,i think i would be doin stuff that are connected with skateboarding..keepin in touch with the scene..cause i cant think of anything i’d do if i were not to skate..hehe..

H: fav skate site, why?

Brandon: i guess my fav skate site i can say The Berrics..because its just chill..updated every single day..plus,they’re doin lots of stuff to keep skateboarding alive..and not to forget,RVM!! gotta support the local skate site for the local scene..hehe..

H: what song do you want to be in your video part?

B: ermmm any song that fits the video is alright..dont matter..instrumental beats would be my 1st choice though..

H: warm up trick/s

B:  warm up tricks?? i guess fs flips,tres,hardflip and varial heel..every trick i do is a warm i guess..hahaha

H:  what’s missing in your skate scene?

B:  what’s missing right now in kuching skate scene is the support..the only support we have is the local skateshop Rupert Rage and the local skateboarders that’s skating every single day..but its really mellow though

H: what’s one thing that you’re really proud of?

B: one thing im really proud of? the fact that im here today and i am who i am..where im standing today..skateboarding is what im really proud of..although it hasn’t taken me really far yet,but at least im always happy skateboarding,making and meeting new friends,share the common lifestyle,gettin mates pumped up every session,getting back up after every fall and not giving up,seein smiles and happiness that we get with/through is really what im proud of..it feels like we’ve succeed in some point of our lives..heavens yeah..

H: where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

B: 10 years from now,maybe doin some teachin in some random university,travelling and skating,being in love..hahaha!!

H:  last words, shoutouts.

B:  i would like to thank God..Jesus,much love for Him for givin me this life,skateboarding,my parents of course..haha! friends,they keep pushing me! yeahhh!! ermmm the tabuan jaya and king centre skateboarders,MJC and 12th mile crew,Rupert Rage for the support all this while..and Hardy Barnabas for letting me the 1st doin this interview..hehe.. overwhelmed dawg..hehe..and RVM!! skateboarding that you see is closer than it appears..support your local scene! God bless!

BIO: 17years old,born on 7th june 1992,been skating for 7years,regular,kuching sarawak,iban bidayuh dayak for life homie! haha!

Holdin it down Kuching style

followers of RVM show their enthusiasm and love for skateboarding by putting up this commercial together especially for RVM. Big thanks to Brandon Joel and his crew!!

More from Brandon soon!

the Wailers live!

so the last weekend of august was the last week of my summer break from school…pretty bummed that summer’s over cos i only had the 1st month of summer break for vacation and got busy all summer. however, this last weekend of august was pretty dope cos i got to see The Wailers at Surf Club, Ortley beach, NJ. i went with our crew from Revival, we were supposed to do a skate demo during the show but fucking hurricane danny was on his way to the shore and we had to cancel the skating event. nevertheless, we still went for the show, and my 1st reggae concert….The Wailers with the spirit of Bob Marley, Rastafari!

skateboarding not in the fame and glamorous of media coverage

while doing my routine updates on what’s going around the world on cnn.com, i stumbled upon this news about a skateboader bringing skateboarding to war torn country of Afghanistan. as we all know, afghans are not living a live that most of us are comfortably living in. if you think, your life is difficult, their lives are beyond my imagination, unless you live in a country with the same political, economical, and social instability as Afghanistan.

other than my awareness of their hard times due to the war, and years of tough government by the taliban, i’ve learned more about their conditions from indie film such as “the kite runner” and other documentaries by indie coresspondence. everytime i came across this issue, not just of Afghanistan, but other war torn countries as well as lives of others in countries less liberal than ours, many things come to my mind on how can someone offer relief to them even in the slightiest form- just to put a joy in their face for a moment…..and here Oliver Percovich, a skateboarder from Australia, is making that a reality. i never even heard of Percovich, but he just made me look at skateboarding at an angle that i always thought not many people would pay a whole lot of attention to. The closest thing i ever thought of to this was just wondering what would it be like skating in places like Afghanistans or Iraq, about the street spots and how gnarly would it be and all…but never to how would it benefits the people there, especially the kids and teenagers.

the girl that got interviewed in this video mentioned that she never even been in school, she’s 10, and she’s probly illiterate. just picture how much opportunities she’ll loses in this world when she grows up to be illiterate? to most of us, school is what we all grew up to, and i personally never met a person of my age that has never been in school. but for these folks, school is not a default option for them growing up.

my whole point here is that skateboarding can play a role not just what we all (skateboarders or not) often see from the media or experience- be good at it, turn pro, and live like a rockstar. or living a true skating life of having fun and not giving shit about anything…..although im pressured by myself and peers to live a skateboarder life, the subculture that i’ve blended into for about a decade now, i think that we should still be aware of those that could’ve been just like us too if they were in a better place. i let you do the rest of the thinking after watching this video. All the best Oliver Percovich, may god bless you, the kids of afghanistan, and those with similar fate all over the world to the fullest!

<script src=”http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/world/2009/08/04/skateistan.natpkg.cnn” type=”text/javascript”></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a></noscript>

vans warped tour 2009

my buddy james got invited to skate the mini contest and was told that he could bring couple people with him….so he gave Zach and I a shout. Free invitation to skate warped tour mini ramp? fuck yeah i am going. we got there pretty early and were the 1st one to skate the mini before others came and it turned into a snake session….both james and zach placed, 3rd and 5th respectively…shit was pretty tight!

Red Bull Manny Mania 2009- Philadelphia

The manny mania made it to philly this year and it was rad!! Revival signed me up to compete, it’s been so long since i was in a contest…i stop entering contest years ago and just usually jam at contests. But i thought manny mania is a cool contest and i don’t mind entering. Spencer Brown got first place, Jamal Smith 2nd, and some kid i don’t know got 3rd. Spencer totally got it with nollie hardflip manual down the bank, and he wrapped it up with nose manny nollie double flip out..congrats dude!! after a long drive back to philly and full week of skating concrete parks of colorado, it feels good to be skating street and doing manuals again!oh i almost forget that i went to the after party at kung fu necktie…watched the new nike sb vid, cheap drinks, and it was great!

go skate day kuching 2009

when i was living in kch, go skate day was unheard of, or probly not even existed yet i don’t know when this event started or the history behind it. but anyway, my fellow skaters from kch had shared their stories and pictures for last week’s go skate day in Kuching. It went down at the state library compound- Pustaka Negeri Sarawak. This place actually got good benches from what i remembered the last time i was there (i used to go there to ‘cuci mata’)…but of course the skaters brought their own ramps, boxes, rails….from the pictures, i think those are all from Batu 12. These dudes from Batu 12 have always been known for having lotsa obstacles since a while back, i don’t think anybody got more obstacles than them (after prime Chermai/king center era)…I love skating at batu 12 cos of the different stuffs they got.

so go skateboarding day is celebrated worldwide and very differently at different places. unlike how it is celebrated in the US where skateboarding came from, in kuching, go skate day involves others too like the rollerbladers…it’s just how it is in kuching, skateboarders roller blades bmx are friends and always go together…while here in the US it’s totally different…..go skate day is purely skateboarding, i think it’ll be the worse time for roller blades or bmx to go out cos skateboarders will be at their most aggresive behavior on this day if anybody gets on their way.I personally don’t really get involved in go skate day, i mean i do support it but i go out skate almost everyday and there’s no need for ‘a day’ for me. Plus here in philly, the streets are packed with kids trying to skate every thing, and the overflowing of kids just sometimes annoys me so i usually stay out of it. This year i was in colorado for go skate day, and we skated a couple parks…there were hundreds of kids there, i didn’t really skate but just cruise around and hangout watching the contest.

i dont know bout last year, but i think this is the 1st year that kuching officially took part in go skate day..correct me if im wrong in comments below. It’s cool to see that the city and especially the skaters are involved, get together, it’s a good way to promote skateboarding in kuching…which is what RVM is all about!! we don’t have good parks, we don’t get media coverage, and the local pros don’t even go to kuching to film….but that’s why we’re unique, i try to explain to people when they ask how’s the skate scene like in my town….i just say that it’s real unique, we’re different than KL, i just think it’s like listening to underground music….not bothered by the politics and competitions stress. Like i said when i first started this blog, RVM is to promote the uniqueness of skateboarding in Kuching, and sarawak in general…so keep it up, i really appreciate you guys especially Jerry Ho of Batu 12 in updating me of this event.

photos are courtesy of Jerry Ho, Mc Jagger and others. For more pictures, checkout their facebook profiles.

Epic Adventure to Colorado

So i started this summer with a road trip to Colorado, to meet a long time friend Glen Charnoski. Glen used to live in Kuching bout 4 years back. I’m sure you’ve met him or heard about him if you were in the scene back then in Kuching. I’ve always wanted to meet him again after he left Kuching for USA…and last week, I finally did. I went with my best friend, Becky, driving her car out there. Hell it was a long drive!! we took the northern route to colorado which took us about 28 hours, and southern route back to Philly about 26 hours.

We stopped at multiple cities along the way, such as Pittsburgh, Chicago, Iowa City, and St Louis. The main reason for me to go there was of course to meet glen and his family, then we skated buncha skateparks in Colorado, and because of the beautiful geography that colorado has, hiking was impossible to miss out on! Colorado i think has the most skateparks compared to any other states. Our first destination in colorado was a town called Colorado Springs! Our day 1 was the first day of summer, and it was also go skate day, as well as fathers’ day. so the park that we went to was of course packed with people….colo springs park is definitely the biggest park i’ve been to. sick tranny and street course. then we headed to downtown denver for a go skate day contest at the local park. The park was great too cos it was right in the middle of the city…great skyline view. The main event i think was the bowl contest..glen entered and got second place. Alex who Glen trained to skate, got first place. Alex got a real sick style riding the bowl..a week earlier when we was skating at an event where Tony Hawk had a demo, he got handpicked by Tony to ride for birdhouse as an Am..

the skateboarders of boulder definitely are spoiled by the skateparks that they have…i was stoked to be skating 5 different parks in less than a week, but i do miss the street of philly after we got back…i don’t know, there’s this weird feeling of smoothness and lack of roughness that street skating has, park doesn’t have. I love park too, but i don’t think that i can skate them everyday…..but i do wanna be able to skate everything. With glen, because his a pure bow/vert/tranny skater, i had to know how to at least carve around to have fun…which i definitely did.

although i only went to a few parks, they’re all good..my favorite was the colorado springs skatepark…it has good size and everything for everyone.

here’s some of the pictures i selected to upload here…i don’t think you can browse through these pics like how you do in facebook or myspace…so if you wanna see more, checkout my facebook profile.

The Love Story

This past weekend i saw a few shoutouts to get skaters to skate love on facebook, i went and skated for like 5 mins but i wasn’t sure what it was about until i saw this article, it was on the paper, online, everywhere…my buddy actually brought in a buncha PW papers into the bar last nite when we were hanging out, and Eric Forberger tagged me in this article on facebook. I didn’t think the photographer would have take a shot of me. Check it out!

The Love Story

eventful weekend

This past weekend has been the most eventful weekend so far this summer. My buddy zach and I drove out to lancaster on friday for the 1st friday event at Revival. Our pictures from 2 weeks ago during photoshoot session with eric forberger were up on the walls. Good peoples, dudes from skatology MD came out to join us, and curious locals coming in and out of the shoppe to checkout whats the deal with the poppin skateshop. The weather was shitty, no skating on friday, but saturday was perfect. We went out to Reid Mentzer park, York, to checkout a fundraising contest to put up lights at the park. I got the honor to judge the finals for the street expert division. They were killin it, best trick has got to be the switch fs big heel down the eight by Ian Smith, from MD. But Nick Terrell killed it as he ripped the whole park. Congrats Nick!

We drove back to philly later saturday night for Nocturnal’s 9th anniversary skate jam/block party at 3rd and Bainbridge. It was cool to see all the local pros, ams and the shop riders showed up including Kerry Getz himself. Tons of kids came to support the event, with red bull feeding them youngens with free cans all day long! Best trick contests were set up for every obstacles that were there. I tried my luck with the manny mania, didn’t land what i was trying- half cab nose manny up to bs lip down..but shit was fun! tons of free stuffs were given away and i even got to witness a good 5 minutes fight between 2 kids over a pair of jeans thrown out to the crowd….I wrapped up the day by cooling off with couple of beers at nearby bar- Lyons Den, the owner was really cool definitely check it out! I originally planned to go to NY for the Back to the Banks on saturday to add into this awesome weekend, but time wasn’t favoring me to do so…until next year!!