Extended Preview: Vans' Alright, OK
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Following a cool monochrome intro, were into the video proper with a full Gilbert Crockett part. Since leaving Fallen for Vans quite a few years ago now, Gilbert has continued to develop his unique corner of East Coast skateboarding. Throughout the part, you can see the dichotomy of his skating through footage of either a fast, explosive, boosted line in regular stance, packed with basics done well (with a few notable exceptions), or, a much more technical, but usually slower, line often with flip tricks involved, and / or in switch stance.
This seems to combine aspects of different periods in his career, from Fallen’s Ride the Sky, to a more inherently “Vans” style, classic tricks done well, more similar to someone like Elijah Berle, or perhaps more fittingly, those classic East Coast skaters of old.
Although a latecomer to the fold, Elijah Berle has gone on to encapsulate the best bits of a number of those initial Alien Workshop / Fucking Awesome alumni; the attitude and commitment of Anthony Van Engelen, the style and vests of Jason Dill and the gnar and handrail innovations of Dylan Reider. There are also a few glimpses of Heath Kirchart if you know where to look!
The first line is pure AVE, with the speed, arms, 360 flip and kerb cuts synonymous with later Van Engelen. Later in the part, another kerb cut appears, with a switch flip over a fire hydrant, echoing a couple of lines seen in AVE’s recent Dancing in Thin Ice part.