Full Bleed – Quim interviews Alex Corporan from QUIM CARDONA on Vimeo.

What’s the craziest story you have from growing up and shooting in NY?

One of my childhood heroes, Stacy Peralta, called and asked me to shoot an ad for a new deck/board designed by Cameron Martin – a freestyler – and the concept was killer: to shoot him at the top of a ramp (at Mullaly skatepark) pretending he was scared. It was to advertise his new freestyle board/deck. Not very crazy but great assignment and Powell-Peralta paid me faster than any client to date.

Who have been some of your favorite NY skaters to photograph?

Harold Hunter, Joe Humeres, Andy Kessler and Steve Quintin – the legendary street performer/long jumper. Steve and I skated from park to park as I shot him jumping over garbage cans and banana peels for huge crowds… very talented indeed.

What’s the story behind your photos in Full Bleed?

Ivory Serra (skater, photographer, curator) called me and asked if I’d contribute a few photographs for free to a new book that he, Andre Razo and Alex Corporan were producing. Photographers get calls a lot from organizations on low budgets wanting usage rights old photos and it’s often a battle to get them to pay reasonable stock fees or even minimum-per-usage charges. But this request was from a comrade of mine so I turned the tables and said “I won’t do it if you print only 2 photos – how about 8″, and we were both happy. Finally someone was putting together a photo friendly documentation of a movement — the visual history of skateboarding in New York City. I thought Bruno Musso described it best as, “our yearbook”. The title is also clever because “Full Bleed” is editorial/magazine speak for photos that run off the edges of the page and also, you can’t be a decent skater without losing a lot of blood.

What’s in store for you for the New Year?

Glad you asked! I’ll be finished with a full length film I directed about the skateboard team that Joe Humeres and myself were on since 1977 – The Wizards from Nyack NY. It profiles a diverse pack of kids who wouldn’t have met if not for skateboarding… and where they all are today. Also, check out my site for updates.

Do you want a Christmas Present? Yeah YOU do, so roll through the infamous 12th and A roll tomorrow for a pre-Christmas miracle. The Maloof brothers, who have given you that snazzy new skate park in Flushing Meadows, Queens will giving out a shit ton of Christmas presents. Of course non other then our favorite mayor of New York skateboarding, Billy Rohan will be hosting the event, since he practically runs the spot. I interviewed him to find out the exact dealio for the happening.

Vice: How in the hell have you made it possible to give out Christmas presents to every local NYC skate rat?

Billy: Well the Maloof Brothers along With Vans and Open Road of New York wanted to give out a bunch of gear to NYC kids during the holidays. I got a call from Vans and they said they wanted to do a Santa Giveaway at 12Th and A and we we’re all about it!

Who are the Maloof Brothers and how have they affected the NYC skate scene?

The Maloof Brothers have given more to the NYC skate scene in one year along with Steve Rodriquez and Paula Hewitt than anyone could imagine. This summer they funded the Maloof skate park in Flushing Medows park in queens and hosted the best Skate contest NYC has ever scene. I think they see the way skateboarding affects kids and the community in a positive way and want to give back and push skateboarding to the level it could be.

How is it that you have came up on such a dope spot as 12th and A for us to skate at all year round?

12th and A happened by partnering with a non profit group open road of New York founded by Paula Hewitt that build playgrounds and Skateparks and run art and gardening programs for kids around the city.Basically we were tired of getting stuff thrown away at Tompkins sq park and when I approached open road about doing some skate programs at the park they were excited about the idea and gave us a chance. The Gonz donated the first bit of money to build a wall ride and Vans put up money for bleachers to sit on and that was the start of 12th and A / Open Road Park. Since then we have had 3 years of contest and Redbull sponsors a school PE program that allows kids to skate for PE class.

What exactly will go on for Christmas? Its been freezing, do people still skate 12th and A?

Kids skate there year round it’s crazy, I’ve passed by there it’s like 10 degrees outside and theres 20 kids there skating. The event will have Steve Van Doran the ambassador of Fun giving out food and gifts for everyone that shows up, And Joe Maloof will personally be there along with Luis Tolentino and a ton of other local Pros.

What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?

Leaving NYC to go somewhere warm and skate and drink iced coffee

Any epic words for those of us who have to stay in NYC all year round?

Best place on earth from April 20 -October 31. Worst place between those dates.

As predicted, the Full Bleed signing was off the charts last night at Clic Gallery. People of all ages came from all over the tri-state area to show their respect for the last decade of New York City skateboarding. Not to mention that the legend meter was way off the richter scale. Hell, the books completely sold out and the crowd was going wild for the John Hancocks of the Full Bleed squad. For those of you who didn’t make it out through the blistering cold New York, here are some photos I shot of the night’s festivities.

Also check out the vid:

Illustration by Jayme Philip Lemperle

When Vice asked me if I would be down to do an interview with The Sheckler this week, I said of course, considering how hard he has shredded the New York streets, when not filming for MTV or winning the X-games.

I understand you were chatting a bit about The Bird Man during your appearance on Double Take. Apparently they pretended he was you dad. Do you have any cool stories about you and him?

Me and The Bird Man.. Dude yeah, you know, Tony came to my birthday when I was what, six years old I believe. That was the first time I really decided that I wanted to be a skateboarder. I remember watching him skate the vert ramp and doing all those 540s that were just so insane for skating vert. I watched it and decided I wanted to be the street version of that. So you know, Tony has always been around in my life as one of my good friends. I see him when I see him.

Haha, speaking of that, man.. a bunch of kids out here in New York get super jealous. They are always talking shit, saying, Ryan this, Ryan that, he gets all emotional, and he always cries. What do you have to say to all them haters?

Oh man! It’s all good, it’s all good. This is my life and this is my plan. You know, I was going through one of the most difficult times in anyone’s life. Anyone that has been with their parents for 17 years and then watch them divorce when everything you do is with your family is hard. I was a little bit torn up from it and it just so happened I was filming an MTV show. Its just the way it goes man, haters are a part of everything. I’m just trying to change them all and can only do it through my skating. I’m not really tripping.

For sure man. Have you ever had to administer any beat downs here and there?

I mean, I protect myself by all means. If someone wants to go and they come up to me and go for it, then by all means it’s going to go down. But, I’m not going to be the one to go up to them and be like, “Oh, you wanna?!” It’s not even that. If you put hands on me then yeah, there’s going to be a problem.

Yeah, you keep your cool though when it’s just words…

Yeah, you got to. That’s what they’re looking for. They’re looking for that little edge on you, for you to get so pissed. You know, I used to do that, I used to get real pissed when I was a little kid. When I was 17 or 18, but I’m grown up now. I’m about to turn 21, I’m trying to be an adult and leave all this high school bullshit in the past.

Same here man, I’m turning 21 this Saturday. I know you have been all up in the New York scene at a young age. What are your favorite night spots?

That’s what’s up yo. New York is actually the shit man. When I go out there, I enjoy being able to check out Gold Bar, Pink Elephant, and Eldridge. Eldridge is a good spot, my boy Matt hooks it up. He’s the man. For the 21 and up events though, I can’t wait till I actually turn 21 so I can go there and be able to give back to these clubs that have let me in. It’s going to be all good…

So what’s going on with this Flip Cam campaign I keep hearing about from the corporate big wigs? You going to reach out to any of the kids in New York with that?

I absolutely love New York, so anywhere they want to take me for the launch of this thing, I am by all means in. Basically though, Flip Cam came at me with this idea that they want to go out and get a street clip on the actual Flip Cam. It was a real mellow commercial, it was just one dude with this Flip Cam filming me doing this trick over this rail. We got the commercial done and now Plan B got involved and got together some Flip Cams with all my Plan B graphics on them. A lot of the money is going to go to my foundation, so we’re just working on everything. We have a Skate For a Cause fundraiser coming up soon and look out for the annual gold tournament coming up next year. We are trying to grow the foundation so we can do more across America and overseas in terms of giving back.

Speaking of your skating, it was the gnarliest thing I saw when you backside flipped that double set in the LES. I noticed that you were wearing some kind of magical power band looking bracelet. What’s the deal with that thing?

I think the Power Balance just gives me that extra mental edge. I’m a pretty mental person when I’m on my skateboard, it’s all I can think and all pretty planned. To have that mental edge on myself, knowing that the bracelet is there. Who knows if it works? That’s not the point, the point is that it works for me, in my head, so I wear it every single day. I haven’t taken it off for almost a year now.

Do you have any advice for the kids out here, to look more fresh? Do you ever do anything special to your hair?

It’s all about the way you present your attitude, I don’t think its clothes, but may have something to do with it. I have awesome sponsors, so I’m blessed to have new clothes and to be able to wear the newest thing that’s out because they want kids to see you in it. So it’s kind of a win-win situation for me. I rock a shaved head, I’ve been going with the number 2 for about 8 months now. I don’t know man, just wear a fresh tee, and get some fresh jeans, not too tight.

You got any hair spots in New York you can recommend to me? How about Harlem?

Oh man! I haven’t gotten my hair cut in New York, but I would love to! I keep it local out here and do it myself, its pretty low maintenance.

Last question Ryan, I got to throw it in since you really seem to know your shit. What do you think the main difference is between skating on the East Coast and skating out West?

The ground, the conditions and the weather. I mean, I really got to give it to the guys who skate in New York, it is so gnarly to be a pro and come out of New York, it’s a whole different kind of street cred. Brandon Westgate, Donny Barley, and Zered Bassett are some of the most insane people that come out of there. When they come to California and the ground is a little smoother and the sun’s out a little bit more, they go skate out here and film twice as much. It’s a benefit and a curse when the snow comes in.

Ryan then proceeded to tell me to send his regards to “all of the fans and all of the haters.” You all know who you are!

The photographs in FULL BLEED introduce the characters who would personify and capture a culture: There’s the aspiring artist Neck Face and a young videographer named Spike Jonze; a bundled bridge-and-tunnel teen-ager who would become skate icon Mike Vallely; and Harold Hunter, a prominent skater and L.E.S. personality, picked by director Larry Clark to star in the movie “Kids.” The book captures the sensation of flight and movement within heavy, confining spaces, and the sweeping colors of the boards, the graffiti, and the riders as they fly between the gray sky and grayer pavement. – THE NEW YORKER

Please join Clic Gallery, Christiane Celle and Vice Magazine on Tuesday, December 14 for book signing of FULL BLEED: NEW YORK CITY SKATEBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY by Alex Corporan, Andre Razo and Ivory Serra. The book collects thirty years of outstanding photos of skaters from over sixty photographers, including Larry Clark, Ed Templeton, Ivory Serra, and many more. In addition, Clic Gallery will be displaying and selling their amazing selection of Supreme skateboards, including rare collector’s editions designed by Takashi Murakami, Jeff Koons, and Damien Hirst, and displaying skate photography from Clic artists.

Afterwards come Lounge with us at the Soho Grand Hotel and celebrate from 8 pm on..

- Alex Corporan, Ivory Serra, Andre Razo and the Photographers and Skaters from the book.
To pre-order the book, please call at 212.219.9308 or email: info@clicgallery.com

For all upcoming events at Clic Gallery, click here.

In between the new Tribeca Plaza opening and our beloved Autumn Bowl closing, New York skating has been going through an over the top Los Angeles styled face lift.

Last night there was a tribute to the Autumn Bowl held at the House of Vans. New York local shralpers and none other then “Holmes” himself: Christian Hosoi, Kevin Tierney, Billy Rohan, Black Dave Willis, Corey Ruben, Lurker Lou, and Jamal Williams all cruised the new spot to honor their fallen bowl.

An average day with the Gonz

How long have you been shooting in New York?

I’ve been shooting in New York for about 10 years and more.


What made you come to New York and begin shooting?

I’ve lived in the east coast for 15 years and New York is a place where you can find many opportunities. I took courses for photography at NYU and from there I’ve been privileged with photo shoots and a life of photography of much joy.

Who are some of your favorite people to work with?

Well I have a few like Steve Olson, Mark Gonzalez, Kevin Long, and so many more. It’s hard because everything is in peoples’ soul. You have to capture everything at a certain time.

What events in NYC have you had the most fun shooting?

I definitely miss the Brooklyn banks events, for all its energy! I generally like every event I get a chance to participate, as long as they are fun and with rad people.

What are the stories behind the shots you had featured in Full Bleed?

I have three shots in full bleed. Two of those are medium formats, and the other is a digital. The digital shot is on the roof top in the LES of a back side smith that Jamal Williams did and Harry Jumonji put his face in the shot. It’s definitely a cool and funny shot. The second shot is another medium format, this one black and white at 12th and A. It’s of Nick Sassa doing a back side smith. I shot it from the roof of my friend’s building. The final shot is another medium format  black in white at the Harold Hunter Day of our favorite, Rodney Torres.

What have you seen in New York skating that you have not found anywhere else in the world?

Simply, the energy and the realism. People in New York are real. Skaters  never make plans, they flow living every day as simple as possible.

Any shout outs?

I would like to say thanks to all the people who made Full Bleed Possible! All the best.

Check out more of Felipe’s awesome photos of New York, here.

SLAP PALS ASK: Billy Rohan from Colin Read on Vimeo.

Billy Rohan is all over Full Bleed, the New York skate scene, and now the Slap Magazine front page. Check out this extensive interview that the homie, Collin Read conducted.