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 Area 949
Skim Online Rating: 9 Things I Liked: The skimboarding in this video is pretty good. Although I know it could be better, the waves are some of the best you will find in any skimboard video ever made. I also really liked the opening sequence. There was good editing throughout and the non-skimboarding stuff was all entertaining. Overall, one of the best skim videos ever. Things I Didn't Like: I thought that there were a few awkward moments that disrupted the flow of the video such as the Flowrider and Cabo segments. The music could have been a little more "motivational". Detailed Reviewer Notes: Where to begin? Area 949 is a great video. The opening sequence gives you a good flavor of what's to come by introducing all the riders featured in the video. The waves are good and the song is good. This segment gets you pumped to go skim. After the first segment, Chris Rudolph shows what he is made of, both skimming and rapping. His skimming is good but I think a better song could have been chosen for his segment. It's pretty cool that he is raping on his own segment though, and it works well enough. Next up is Mike Morrissey. The segment is good with some nice wedge clips and lots of surfing (and skateboarding). If anything, this segment could use some more skimboarding, but mike is an excellent surfer and it shows. It is a skimboarding video though (a short one!), and people who just want to see skimming might get a little bored. I liked it though. After Mike, Bill demonstrates his skills on a Flowrider. Although there are a couple of nice barrels to be had, the music is slow and this section seems a little offbeat. Erik Christensen is up next and puts in a good performance. Nothing exceptionally good or bad here. After Eric we get some random shots of other skimboarders and surfers getting some good rides, but mostly just wiping out. Though some of the wipeouts are good, it continues to amaze me how Bryan videos do not include good waves or "other riders". I know they have the footage, cause I see them take it (and I am not talking about video of myself). Oh well, moving on we have a pretty uneventful shot of Bill riding a standing wave followed by Jeff Gomez's section. Jeff's section is pretty good, but could better. I have seen him skim so I know what he is capable of. Nevertheless, some good skimming for someone who isn't included on the cover (!?). Next we get to experience Ivan Ashaur in rare form. Rare form meaning he appears drunk for most of the segment (which happens to be pretty funny). After Ivan's segment the video takes a break from skimboarding and shows some great surfing footage from Indonesia. The footage and the music match well We come back from indo and find George Bryan skimming all over Southern California. The skimming is so so, nothing mind blowing, but its a good song and a decent segment. It must be noted that George totally blew out his knee that spring, which is probably one reason why his segment isn't as strong as his previous ones. Finally we are treated with Bill Bryan's segment which is, as always, mind blowing. There is some really good skimboarding here. Unfortunately the song didn't really click with me so the segment wasn't as good as I think it could have been. The video ends with some Cabo footage set to some really slow music. I found it to be rather out of place, and kind of killed the end of the video for me. When I see a skimboard video, I want to be pumped to go skimming when its over, not sleepy. In the end it doesn't matter much as this is a really good video, one of the best yet. Reviewed By Aaron Peluso If you have seen this video and disagree with some of the things I have said (and I am sure some of you will), contact me and I will post your comments/review on this page.
Reader Comments First, we think the video's music sets a cool slick mood for skimmin, which sets it apart from all that raging punk music of today's surf videos. Second, the technical editing was so precise, the timing and special effects were perfect. (like the light-exposed tape ending, and Bill's snowboarding over the camera shot that blows me away every time!) To see them skim and board their crossover sports is really a treat for even our non-skimmin' friends who we force to watch this video with us. So overall, we would have to say that this video will remain our favorite skim movie to date
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