Videos

CREW CLIPS: Vol 1

Crew Clips… This was originally going to be something quite different, more of a scene report for the FTL. Spearheaded by Isaac Lesser, we initially planned out a major photo and video feature showcasing the widespread FTL crew around the skateparks, music festivals and nastier drinking establishments of the UK. We had grand concepts, big dreams, ambition and ideas for something really special… But things often don’t go to plan when you go down that route.

Instead, then, we jumped on a plane with a few of the lads and headed out to Barcelona in November 2015. It’s the obvious choice for street riding – everyone knows this – but that doesn’t make it any less brilliant. As well as riding in the city, we also headed out to some other towns around Catalonia. After this, some summer 2016 sessions around London with Tom Milham (aka Ribs) boosted the clip count to a good level.

Although this project has turned out nothing like we intended, it’s still a solid mixtape packed with good BMX riding from a UK crew.

The highlights for me are many… Tom Milham scratching off fresh council handrail paint with a Little Devil keyring is very rock and roll, Billy Cooper somehow sending a big 360 at a metro station in rush hour is damn impressive, and then Isaac doing an absolutely massive wallride after dark at an indoor skatepark with power cut issues… That’s just mental.

Read on for some reflections with the riders…

Words, photos and video by Robin Pearson

ISAAC LESSER

– What was your fav clip you filmed?

“It was either the wallride at the indoor park or the bar over the door at the sea walls. Both of those tested my nerves.”

– Where did we stay?

“Most of the time we were in a cool hostel called St Jordi, or ‘The Jord’ as it was known on that trip.

“It defo weren’t a 5 star hotel, the bugs on the walls where we were sleeping were too much for me…”

Then for a few days we ventured out and stayed at the Bike Paradise park that’s run by my friends Roger and Nil, it’s such a sick park there with a real BMX vibe. Although it was rough to sleep in there visiting that park definitely made the trip.”

Isaac goes big. Even when the lights keep cutting out… Sketchy set up at Bike Paradise skatepark, expertly handled.

– How cold was it when we stayed in that skatepark?

“It defo weren’t a 5 star hotel, the bugs on the walls where we were sleeping were too much for me…”

– What else happened?

“Stank.”

Damien Kidd, pocket wallride at St Jordi hostel. Yeah, miniramp at the hostel. Legit.

JAKE ELLIS

– What was your fav clip you filmed?

“Probably the bars over the ledge, there is something about that one that I get stoked on. I wish id got more clips there to be honest.”

– Were there any particularly crazy moments?

“So many! Having that indoor park to ourselves for a few days, Benny boy getting loose riding through traffic and the BCN nightlife is always crazy…”

– Where did we stay?

“Tossa de Mar for a few days, the indoor park and then St Jordi… We covered lots of ground on this trip and it made a nice change to see some more of Spain rather than staying in central BCN the whole time.”

Strange set up. Jellis saw it and got stoked. Suicide drop!

– How long did we have to wait for pedestrians at the metro stop where Bill 360’d off the roof?

“Dude so long. It was frustrating as you could tell Bill just wanted to get it done, but still it was so worth the wait, that clip is fire.”

– What else happened?

“I popped a shoulder out on the second day. Apart from that, constant laughter and good times, the trip was so solid! Couldn’t have asked for a better crew, everyone went at their own pace and there wasn’t any pressure. Definitely one for the books and I can’t wait to get away with this lot again. Safe to Robin and Ride UK, it’s always a pleasure.”

BILLY COOPER

– What was your fav clip you filmed?

“I think I managed to film more crash clips than anything else as always, but the 360 sticks out for me, it’s always good to throw yourself at something. All the boys were on top form that day as well.”

– How long did we have to wait for pedestrians at the metro stop where you 360’d off the roof?

“It was painful, but I guess thats all part of it, I had the boys giving me the thumbs up and we got there eventually haha.”

Billy, precise footjam fakie at La Poma.

– Were there any particularly crazy moments?

“There always is, haha… The one of many times, amateur cyclist, Ben Stewart had a near death experience riding around town. He took one for the team, went down camera in hand and managed to put his body between the the tarmac and his lens. We laughed… He didn’t so much. He was OK after a few Estrellas.”

“We laughed… He didn’t so much. He was OK after a few Estrellas.”

– How cold was it when we stayed in Bike Paradise?

“That skatepark was baltic man, never again will I put myself through that. More horse flies than you can imagine, sleeping in a tiny room with like 8 other guys, in freezing temperatures and getting bitten alive. That shit killed me.”

– What else happened? Something about some shitty pants on a stick…?

“God only knows haha, I’m gonna leave that one to your imagination.”