Otis Smith. Invert in his own backyard. Photo: Ken Forsyth

Otis’ pool – Charleston, South Carolina

It was the last session of the season for them before they fill it up for swimming this summer and taking their new rolling hotel / RV on the road. Evidently it is more expensive to keep it drained than filled, the water table is high and the pump runs constantly…

Palmdale Pool Project

“The city (Palmdale) is a suburban dream turned methamphetamine nightmare. A desert retreat for all the misfits, gangsters and drug addicts from Los Angeles to find cheap housing. But as we may all know as skateboarders, these areas make a great destination for back yard pools.”

Wavegarden – Northern Bavaria, Germany

Located in Northern Bavaria; Selb skatepark is one of the smoothest and most flowing next level parks designed by Martin Ehrenberger. For Blackriver building parks is an art form, not a business venture; non-profit building at it’s finest!

Carlos Neira. Wallride.

The Cananal Sessions – Southern Spain

With no judges, sponsors and no rules… just punk, thrash & skateboarding, “The Canal Session“. This was just about skateboarding in one of the most important DIY spots of the skateboarding scene in Spain. The rough ground and the dusty walls of this mythical ditch made the most perfect session in the land of the sun, Toledo.

Koekie. FS 50-50 grind in the deep corner. Photo: Mr. Bookwood.

North Brigade re-opening – Cologne, Germany

NorthBrigade officially re-opened last weekend to celebrate the new concrete bowl and street area completed last October by Anker ramps , right in time for German winter

OMSA crew grinds down the NorthBrigade

Although not all these guys are officially part of the OMSA crew, skaters from Germany, Basque country and England got together for a proper shred in the newly rebuilt NorthBrigade skatepark in Cologne, Germany. Although these tricks aren’t the gnarliest you’ve seen, keep in mind most of these guys are over 45 and a couple of them over 50. Let’s see you do a double truck 50-50 grind in a tight pocket when you’re 50!

Al Partanen. Krooked grind to fakie.

Pura Pura, Bolivia – Un, Dos, Tres, Concrete!

The park is sick. Well most of us left before we got to see it all completed which was a little disheartening, but what was there was rad. The floor is a bit ghetto in places and, in contrast, some of the ramps are professional enough to be seen on a actual official skatepark build – this kind of sums up the entire build: somewhere between a skatepark and doing a DIY job.

Behind the Lens: Arto Saari

I think with digital age it’s a lot more accessible and your learning curve can be faster. At the end of the day, it’s not so much about the gear, it’s more about your view and lighting that makes the picture. You could have the best stove in the world, but it doesn’t make you a great chef.