Trucks and Fins is a huge present to the whole skate community - not just for the skating people, but also for shops, builders and schools. Super easy to use and can't believe how complete it is.
Pascal Lieleg aka Official Bowlshit
The whathef#ckisthis?, in spite of its somewhat shaggy-looking moniker, is a very common type of shot in the field of skate photography. As one might infer from the nomenclature, the essence of this type of shot, what distinguishes it from other important skate photography standards is the reaction it brings forth in the viewer, frequently expressed, in English-speaking countries as well as many others, as “whathef#ckisthis?”
Of course, the highly subjective origin of the shot’s denomination has proved a recurring obstacle in its analysis and discussion by skate photography scholars worldwide. The ever ornery French school still prefer to use the cooler and more elegant “Quoi?” Whereas in Brazil there is an ongoing debate whether to adopt the “oi?” or the “ué?” variation. Cows call it “moo”. The question as to whether a cow’s interest in skate photography will or will not affect the quality of its milk also remains to be answered, as does the question of how they got here in the first place. Shoo, cow! Shoo! I was on a roll, get on out of my essay! Bleeding cows...
Mooooving on, the educated reader will have spotted the rather sneaky way in which what began as just another silly mock-essay developed into a pretty smart piece of self-illustrative writing, meaning that not only is this essay about the whathef#ckisthis? but it has also taken on the form of a whathef#ckisthis?, thereby causing the reader to experience the same type of “Quoi?” reaction that is being described to him. Quite sophisticated.
It remains to be said that the whathef#ckisthis? raises a central question in skate photography studies, namely, the one I alluded to in the first chapter of our course when I mentioned the issue of photo captions. In a nutshell, a peanut shell, not a coconut one, the predicament may be paraphrased thus: there is no way to check a skate photo caption for accuracy, so there’s no reason why we should trust the fucking things. Pardon my French. “Quoi?” Get on outta’ here you French interjection! Sorry about that. Lettuce proceed with our argument by stating clearly that, especially in the case of flip tricks caught on camera, the viewer’s appreciation of a given shot is heavily dependent on the insight imparted by the caption.
Take the case of the photo above. Take it wherever you like. And when you return, probably a wearier but also a wiser person, or cow, you’ll still be unable to answer me when I ask you “whathef#ckisthis?” The gentleman in the photo could be engaged in doing a front foot impossible or a back foot one, or any of these two switch. He could be trying to land a kickflip underflip or bailing a fakie airwalk or just seeking to extricate himself from a persistent square of sandpaper or from reality or both. Maybe that’s just how he makes soup. Who knows? And, what’s more important, who cares? I know I don’t. So until the great algorithm unites our fates again, Holy cow! Whathef#ck was that??
Photo by Lawrence Fung. Soup by his homie Jimmy. Check out more of Lawrence’s work here.
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Trucks and Fins is a huge present to the whole skate community - not just for the skating people, but also for shops, builders and schools. Super easy to use and can't believe how complete it is.
Pascal Lieleg aka Official Bowlshit
Trucks and Fins is a great resource for checking on local spots if you are traveling or planning a road trip! A one stop resource that is constantly updated with the newest projects as well as those bucket list locations worldwide. The intuitive UI features gps coordinates as well as useful information about shops nearby.
Architect Betonlandschaften
Trucks and Fins provide a great service. Its quick and easy to use and has such a vast amount of parks included, not just in the UK but worldwide. CANVAS Spaces support the cause and fully back what they are doing.
Our skate community has been crying out for a comprehensive guide to global skate spots. Trucks and Fins should be commended on their dedication to mapping the world's STOKE!
Maverick Skateparks
Trucks and Fins brings all of the world's skateparks to you all in one convenient place through their endless search for parks around the world. They have park locations, details, images, and more to help plan your next skate quest wherever that may take you. We appreciate their dedication and passion for skateboarding and the amazing gifts that skateparks and skate spots are.
Steve Zanco, Skatepark Respect
A big part of skateboarding is about finding Animal Chin - your spirit animal, or in other words: whatever gets you stoked. Could be the right people to roll with, or that special dream terrain. Trucks and Fins has all the best skate destinations in one place; a map of stoke in your hands.
Jan Kliewer, Yamato Living Ramps