Freeskate Mashup TEASER: the tradition behind the falls

www.online-skating.com

A few months ago, I translated the rules for an upcoming freeskate video contest organized by the skating website I work for. A revival of the genre, interesting!
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine, who used to take part in such online freeskate video contests at the time they were thriving, told me that he was going to register.

A few days later, the webmaster of the website told me I should submit a video too. Indeed I should and I would love to. Got to find the time, the spots, the cameras...

With no defined idea in mind, I talked to Photographer Julie who did this amazing series of shots during the summer, about a vague video concept.
Challenge accepted!

I will tell you more about the video when the time has come, but to ease the wait, enjoy THE TEASER made of very special outtakes! There are several explanations for such a display.

1. Sorry for spoiling the surprise effect, it is a COLLECTION OF FALLS. I didn't want them to sleep in the corner of a forgotten hard drive. I think showing falls is as important as the final result. Everything is not perfect, we are all humans, failing is part of reality. From very early on, I have taken the habit to keep pictures of my falls.


2. It is a TRADITION in any outdoors/urban skating video (freeskate, aggressive...) to show failed attempts at tricks, either in the video itself or at the end as bonuses. A little example here! This tradition exists for many reasons, including simply the fact that it is fun (hello jackass!) or to make the viewer realize that it is not as easy as it seems (it always seems easy on a couch sofa) or again as proof of determination and commitment... an illustration of Beckett's "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." too often quoted but too little showed.


3. Displaying failure raises the question of the DANGEROUSITY of the discipline, of stupid risks taken by foolish people. Such a debate would probably not see the light with a video hiding its making of, because seing is more striking than just knowing. It would be foolish and/or dangerous if I was throwing myself into the unknown, without being sure I could deal with the situation in case I failed, indeed. But I'm not.* It's about knowing your limits and having a good pair of thick blue jeans on!


4. This type of teaser enables to show the general atmosphere and a couple of spots of the video, without unveiling the true shots. I found it was an effective and original COMPROMISE.

 

This is a freeskate (and more) video, following the freeskate cutural code and rules.

Enjoy the outtakes and stay tuned for the true video, a 100% natural with tricks and no falls!

* I am not an expert at freeskating. The performances and proportionally the risks taken are very modest compared to the true specialists of the discipline.