Rip City Skates is sponsoring a showing of the documentary Highway Gospel in Portland on December 13th at the Living Room Theater.
A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man dies but once. B.C. renegades race down mountain highways on customized longboards, while a middle-aged skateboarder fights to keep his Ottawa skate park and creaky knees operational. Whether it’s bombing down hills at over 100km per hour, just inches from the ground, or spending 25 years and their life savings to keep competing in the sport they love, these guys are truly devoted — and a little road rash or even open-heart surgery are simply tests for the faithful. What starts out as a gonzo skate movie turns into a surprisingly heartfelt documentary that bears witness to the power of community, dedication and the DIY spirit. With intimate and candid moments that may lead you to think this is a mocumentary, Highway Gospel is a humorous and at times heartbreaking multi-character documentary that strikes an intricate balance between rowdy and insightful while serving as a reminder that heartfelt stories can also be hilarious.
Flyer and trailer after the jump.
13 comments
Socorebacksmithfrontrockdickiesguy
Likewise. Mostly I just take shots at the jocko-mentality that is all too prevavlent these days. I’m hyped to see people keeping true to the real no rules ideals that attracted us all to this absurd subculture in the first place.
daboner
Phuck YEAH!!! I’m taking it to another level with a funny and an intelligent statement, that’s above par for me.
daboner
The stance; queer. NO homosexual tone, just different. I did notice the ski stance a little but to each there own. Mega Props to those canadians for the drop boards. When I first saw a EVO. I was fkn floored and knew that’s taking it to another level and going over 40+mph takes balls of hash. I made a funny. Balls of Hash!
Phineas Phagg
Daboner BETTER not be insinuating a homosekshal tone, alright… we don’t do the one knee kneel: that’d be BEYOND queer. (To the point of being Canadian, apparently.)
Portlandheshgnarfuckballsshredpoolslayerfan
Indeed. And I’m hyped that you made an intelligent comment and didn’t just go cool-guy gay-basher and cut on downhillers. I’m not one, but I want to give it a try–I still love bombing a hill. It’s probably the first trick you ever really learn, or at least the first risk as a skateboarder, anyway.
I watched the Mt. Tabor Downhill last summer, and those dudes (and ladies) weren’t fucking around, and as I recall, those ski-stances were in effect. Form follows function!
BillyBoner
If you scroll down on this page to the section on the Capitola Classic you can see some pretty rad old school tucks. It’d be awesome if Thrasher started covering downhill skating again but I don’t see that happening any time soon…
http://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/magazine/november-1983/
BillyBoner
I talked to one of the film makers and he said there will be a showing (even if he has to pay for the last couple tickets). Just to play it safe, I’d reserve a ticket online so you don’t show up the day of and not be able to get in.
Not too sure why the tuck bothers you so much… People have adopted that style of tucking since Mark Golter first started putting his back knee against the front leg in the early 2000’s (possibly earlier). Personally, I’m all about the 80’s downhill steeze of John Hutson or Paco Preito. But the hands-in-front style that Duane Peters and others used it pretty badass.
Fitzzzzzz....
I don’t think it’s the knee–it’s the toe-forward/skier-stance that’s odd. But I’m not a downhill skateboarder (I just like to bomb hillss), so what do I know?
BillyBoner
Ahhh… yeah. Raggie (the guy on the poster) definitely has his front foot pointed pretty far forward. But most downhill riders, at least when bombing a hill, have a stance that is very direction because you don’t really change directions that often when going that fast. Usually the front foot is slightly more perpendicular to the board because that is where all your steering is. Your back food is basically there for a little more balance and weight distribution.
Honestly, you can probably bomb a hill in just about any stance you want. Usually what works best is what is comfortable for you.
DaBoner
I hope there is a showing. I really do love going fast. The tuck still bothers me. Canadians?
talentlessquitter
Yeah, this is not the most common tuck. It’s because his rear foot is placed pretty far back and therefore his rear knee sits very low.
That must be a Landyachtz Evo, which is a big board. People ride shorter wheelbases now, and less boards with a big dropped platform.
BillyBoner
Been waiting to see this documentary for a while now. Hopefully we can sell enough tickets for a screening in Portland!
BittyBoner
If you notice the stance of the guy on the flyer. You’ll see he’s in the patented canadian aerodynamic tuck. I’d like to see if their tuck has less drag than my pray and point tuck. That’s hand in front.