Before criticizing in a positive or negative manner the contents of this digital video disc, let me state that Paulo Prietto has taken on a grand task with this video. Teaching people a very difficult sport that is difficult to teach in person through an instructional video takes a lot more than simply saying “bend your knees” and “you got it, slugger”. Props to Paulo Prietto, Derek Makekau, Paul Barker of EOS, and everyone else involved in the production of this video. It is undoubtedly a step forward in skimboarding and was done with the utmost professionalism in mind. Now let’s hack away at this thing!
As the main menu pops up you will have the option of adjusting the settings to change the language as you see fit and turn subtitles on/off. You will also be able to select particular chapters, as with any other DVD, to skip to a certain section in the instruction, such as turning or airs. The video starts from the basics and goes all the way to advanced tricks in both ocean and flatland skimming. After viewing the basics section of the video, you will have the option to view further ocean instruction with Paulo Prietto or further flatland instruction with Isaac Thomas of DB Skimboards. DB is pretty much leading the way in flatland skimming and nobody is more qualified to instruct you than their allstar team rider Isaac Thomas.
Now, let’s explore the possibility that the only reason you are viewing this DVD is for the highly anticipated bonus sections… Well then HERE YOU GO. These bonus sections are peppered into the full length instruction to give a beginner a good understanding of where the highest level of skimboarding is at today. However, if you just want to watch the bonus videos you can easily view them in the bonus menu where you will be able to view a Paulo Prietto section, Woody Harris section, Wedge section, West section, Flatland section, and much more including board maintenance and commercials/teasers.
Producer of this video and Foreverskim Magazine, Derek Makekau, demonstrates applying traction pads and thoroughly proves that he likes that one song by Ratatat with the cougar noise or whatever. The most popular man in skimboarding, even above the star of the film Paulo Prietto, teaches you how to repair simple dings. In case you don’t know who said manly man is, it is Steve Taylor. Only a man of his status can blatantly advertise things in your face and seem more humble than professional apathetic Dane Reynolds.
Next up on the bonus menu will be all the skimboarding you wanted to see, including your favorite riders at Wedge and West doing airs and such. Most importantly, you will now view some of the most current and progressive skimboarding from Paulo Prietto and Woody Harris. Paulo stomps some of the sickest bigspins and frontside HACKS of his career. He also pulls into some of the biggest Wedge monsters ever, as usual. I find it quite comical that it is completely justifiable to spend all of twenty five dollars ($25) just to view this three and a half minute compilation of Paulo Prietto footage.
SO! It feels like a good time to learn how to skimboard. Let’s do this. Paulo Prietto takes me through the basics of skimboarding and skimboards, different stances and manners of dropping, and the ever important concept of timing. It is at this point I discover my first pet peeve with this video, as Paulo blatantly shoots down my syle of skimboarding. In the essence of making things more simple he is totally right, however. I suppose I am just one of those oddballs who drops front foot first and holds the board right hand back as a goofy footer (the opposite of what Paulo teaches). On any other day, I would like to argue the advantages of “my style” but teaching people how to skimboard has no place for that. Paulo is justified in teaching what is most common and most effective in his opinion.
Guess what, kids!? Now that we have learned the basics, we are going to choose ocean skimboarding first. In this section, Paulo will take us through more advanced levels of skimboarding at ocean beaches. We learn the proper techniques to turning (both ways), side slipping, and technical tricks such as shove-its and airs. You will even learn how to ride a sidewash (sider) much to the dismay of anybody who calls a beach with a sider home. In the flatland section, we will learn about flatland riding, the common tricks just on water, and how to build and ride the rails that have made flatland the exciting version of skimboarding it is today. Just as in the ocean section, you will see some bonus flatland skimming footage and probably be surprised to see the level flatland is at; variations of shove-its on and off the rails/boxes they make.
The end always diverts back to how to ride siders for some reason. Not like that’s a big issue but it is random. Regardless, this instructional DVD is clearly a step forward for the sport of skimboarding, as I said before. Paulo Prietto is truly at the top of this sport (even if not competitively) and pushing it in the direction of progression and higher levels of exposure. If you asked me to rate it… I don’t know. Two thumbs up, 5 stars (out of 5), 10 out of 10. I could argue that I want more bonus footage as anybody naturally would and try to think up things I think it needs to criticize it but the problem is it doesn’t need it. This is the first instructional DVD in skimboarding and it did exactly what it needed/wanted to do. For that it gets a perfect score. But I still argue that front foot first drops are better…
you’re welcome.
