Recently in Joey Brezinski Category
How did you hook up with Red Bull?
This story again? I sent out a Sponsor Me Tape. No, that's not real. It was on the Red Bull Seek & Destroy, my team won, we went partying and they offered to have me ride for Red Bull and I did. I took the opportunity.
How did you come up with the concept for Manny Mania?
I was a rail dude and I just wanted to change my direction. My legs were getting sore form jumping down the Carlsbad Gap and I saw Daewon Song skate and said, "I want to do that." No, that's not right. It was me and Jeff Regis talking. Regis knew I skated a certain way so we just came up with the concept of doing a contest for tech skating. Is that what I do? Tech skating?
Why is it not called the Joey Brezinski Manny Mania?
It was originally going to be called Joey Brezinski's Manny Mania and that was the only thing I was opposed to. I didn't want my name on it because I didn't want to jinx it. I don't think it would've worked if it had my name on it. I definitely would've lost every time.
Is there a jinx associated with self-endorsed skate contests?
Yeah, I don't think anyone has ever won one that they self-endorsed. If you self-endorse a contest, you're definitely going to lose. Ask Eric Koston about his Game Of Skate or Reese Forbes about his High Ollie Contest.
Tell me, when did you invent the manual?
I didn't invent it. I think it was invented in the 70s. Who was the dude that used to do the crazy G-turns? Wasn't there footage of Stacey Peralta doing it with a ponytail, hanging ten, doing long mannies back then?
Maybe he is your father?
He should be. But who did invent the manual? That is the real question.
I'm going to say Rodney Mullen, since he invented everything.
No, he didn't do it. I thought that ballerina guy from the old Powell videos did.
Oh. Dan Gesmer. No. I'll say Brandon Biebel.
Yeah, he invented the switch manual.
I'm sure you're asked this a lot but what is a manual?
The definition of a manual? It is a skateboard maneuver, skating on two wheels, balancing without hitting your nose or tail. Do you want me to use it in a sentence?
Please.
That guy right there just did a nose manual and lost control and fell on his face and knocked his two front teeth out.
Now spell it.
T-e-a-t-h. No, that's not how you spell teeth is it. T-e-e-t-h. Man, I spelled teeth wrong.
That's your other area of expertise, how could you spell it wrong?
My teeth were in the way when I was spelling it.
2010 is the fourth year of the Manny Mania contest. What's going to be different this year?
Four years strong. Hoverboards this year; there's no wheels. Michael J. Fox is going to show up. No, I guess harder maneuvers are going to go down, I hope. I'm definitely trying to learn some hard ones.
What tricks are you working on? Can you say?
The Viagra Manual; that's getting harder.
Do you plan on doing better in 2010 Manny Mania than you did in 2009?
Yes, definitely.
Is it possible to do worse?
I definitely hope not.
Are you nervous now that Brandon Beibel rides for Red Bull that--
They're going to call it Brandon Beibel's Manny Mania this year? Yes. No, he's a homie.
Could you beat him in an arm wrestling match?
If we go left arms.
How do you feel about a second day of Am Manny Mania being added this year?
I think it's rad because there's no Back To The Banks; they needed to do something on one of the days. Might as well watch the ams kill it.
There are 25 countries involved in the Am contest. Do you think any of them matter other than America?
Maybe Haiti. Is there one in Haiti? Haiti Mania?
But the cream of the crop of skateboarding is based in America...
Wow, this is turning into the Olympics. As long as U.S. ams don't choke they can bring home the gold for America but there's good kids all over the world.
Who are some guys you like from your native country?
That are good at manuals? Ray Maldonado. Steven Webb, Justin Shulte and Marty Murawski. How about that Flip dude? He's good at manuals. Oh, he's not from America--nevermind.
There are 25 countries involved in this year's am contest. And you have to visit all of them.
I'm looking forward to Iceland. Wait! Greenland is covered in ice, right?
I think they all are except South Africa.
Perfect. I don't really have to go to all 25 countries, do I?
No, but if you could, which country would you like to go to?
I want to go to China, I haven't been there yet. Or Taiwan. I'd like to see how things are made. Everything is usually made in Taiwan.
Who are some of the pros in this year's contest that people should be afraid of?
Stevie Williams probably. Brandon Biebel.
Two years ago Stevie destroyed the early rounds--
And then he fucked up. I don't know what happened. I thought he had it. I was like, "Stevie is on point." That's the thing, if you rush it and do really well in the beginning you're going to tire yourself out for the finals. I've noticed the people that kill the first heat, the second heat they slow down and by the third heat they're just dead.
Is that what happened to you last year?
No, I didn't kill it. I had a messed up ankle. I killed the mini bar in my hotel room.
You looked dehydrated.
I drank more water than I had done in previous years. I was trying to be all healthy-guy and it didn't work. I don't think I should be healthy-guy. I think I look better hung over. I'm a better human being hung over. That's sucks. I guess we all can't be perfect humans. I'm going to the bar!
Here is a new picture for your desktop -
JOEY BREZINSKI!
Just click the below image, and save as/download! Your very own Joey Brezinski Desktop
TO READ PART 1 FIRST, CLICK HERE:
RB: So, changing topic, what would be the things you'd change in Right Foot Forward?
CR: Man thats tough. I feel like theirs a lot. I mean, their is alot, but not really. I guess I am just overly critical and feel like I can film or do things all better. But then again the video are what they are after 10 months ya know. Lemme try and reword that, they are the way they are, because of the things that happen. Actually, the only thing I would change is, if their were no injuries, I just wish everyone was healthy for the whole thing. Liek too many dudes got hurt, and they got bummed on themselves. I think everyone came through, but I wish they wouldnt be soo bummed on themselves for being hurt. Its something you can't control.
RB: It's still a great video, and you want them to appreciate how good of a video it still is.
CR: Yeah, I mean we only get 10 months. Unfortunately we really can't push it back, whatever happens in that 10 months is what you get. I wish we could have more time.
RB: It is what it is.
CR: Editing wise, I am psyched on it. I mean I guess its just a couple tricks that I filmed, I still cringe when it plays. It will get better.
Red Bull: Yo Chris!
Chris Ray: Whatusp man
RB: What's going on man.
CR: Are you heading down to Maloof this weekend?
RB: Yeah maybe on Sunday everything.. What about you?
CR: Just wrapping up the video, we just did a online premier of Joeys part yesterday.
RB: Yeah yeah, didn't see it, but I was trying to get people to see it on the site.
CR: Yeah we did that, and now we just wrapped all the dvd stuff and it will be in stores on July 21st
RB: Wow, I cant wait to see it.
CR: The DVD will come with a little book and poster, so more shelf life.
RB: So more bang for your buck?
CR: Yeah something you can't get on youtube.
RB: I like how you guys are doing the webcast.
CR: What I like is that it's live and that nobody can steal it, that was at 5pm and that you had to log in at a certain time to see it, one time.
RB: So are you guys already working on the next vid.
CR: Yeah, their are a few dudes are have already been working with. One guy had an idea, so I just started in the middle of this video, just because we only get 9 - 10 months. I might as well start working with people, so so they can start stacking footage, yeah just keep it going.
RB: The amount your skating, you can always have a dude come on the off days.
CR: We're still trying to nail it down and stuff, but for this next video, were gonna have a head start then I have ever had, for TWS video. With Jon were really trying to get on it get ready to do it.. It makes it easier on our lives at the end, obviously, the trick quality is soo high, you need all the time you can get.
RB: Yeah, when people are spending 2-3 years on a video part, its hard to cram it in.
CR: Yeah I think thats the sickest part about the video, well its actually a good thing but a bad thing, is that it comes out soo quick, so its all really fresh and current. But the disadvantage is that Joey getting hurt and only being able to film for 6 months. I mean, the video comes out in June, no matter what, even if every single dude could get hurt, it doesn't matter, I has to come out in June (for TWS awards) regardless if anybody likes it or not.
I am a slacking kind of guy, I know my job and I know my place. But just like the next guy, I enjoy hanging out with my bud's and having a brew.
Well, I arrive at Maloof Cup yesterday, covering the finals. The way I see it is everyone is covering the contest. Rob Brink.com has soo much coverage it's insane, not to mention the FUEL.TV, Skateboarding.com and Skate Daily!
So on the way to the street course I got sabotaged by the Zoo York van full of secret brew's. The van door slides open "Heeeeyyyy, Get in here!", they cheer. As soon as I take a seat, they pop a top off the cooler, and it was like golden treasure. If I must remind you, it was about 85 degrees' and I hadn't even gotten to the shade lacking course.
A couple cold ones and a chat with the Zoo TM/BM, and he was notified that the finals were over. Wow, time just flew right past and I spent the entire finals in a van with some ugly dudes. But, at that point, I couldn't really complain.
Finally, best trick was starting (I was also notified via text) and we headed off to witness the last .5 minutes of this already high energy and over covered event.
**Couple updates:
- Some knarly homie 900'd in his run, he won, obvees.
- Some dudes got robbed and should have placed higher. (like in every contest)
- This was the knarlest skating ever in skateboarding history. (I also hear that at every contest)**
So here is my blog post about all the random things that you DIDN'T see at Maloof Cup, don't hesitate to head to a couple of the sites above to view some real skating. Have a good one, and lemme know what you thought below.
I walk onto the course, and its just a media frenzy! No hesitation of fired digital shots.
Malto decided to get a massage tho while a looker-on observes.
This is impossible to write without sounding like everyone else on all the different websites posting about the Zoo Premiere.
But come on.. when the truth shines through, it is what it is. The new Zoo York video is incredible! And.. the exception parts really stood through.
Their are a couple names which I am forced to mention:
- Brandon Westgate. This former member of 5boro, and now a Zoo York Pro, took every New York spot and twisted it in a complete different way. I am not a resident New Yorker, but I am pretty sure no one has done things like this.
- Eli Reed. Spent a couple years putting together this part, and wow. Switch for days, and no joke either.
- Lastly, Zered Bassett. I won't even say anything, I will just tell you what someone leaned over to me and told me. "Complete and insane street ripper."
Tho, you probably don't want to read about my night, how I got there.. you might want to read about who was there ( I could have sworn I saw Willie Nelson, haha, but not sure ) but I was in such awe of the video and etc, that I really didn't shoot any photos until later at the typical afterparty at Max Fish and I had a couple drinks in me. Oh, another thing. They played tons of Bonus Footage from the Zoo video. WHOLY MOLEY, the stuff they DIDNT USE, was almost better then the stuff they DID USE! Thats almost a video in its own! Just wait and see.
What was a highlight was seeing Karl Watson doing really good, safe and looking healthy, (pictured here with Zoo York's Am Eli Reed) not sure if you remember what happened, but read about it here.
After a couple goes at Max Fish, in New York I have found.. their is always the next spot.. And it was Epstines about a block away.
There I discovered a Arcade Skateboards reunion including Joey Brezinski, and from the looks if it, nothing has changed with this crew. Everyone is still out skating and still ripping. Plus having a great time at the bar! (left to right: Steve Hernandez, Rodney Torres - Manny Mania Judge, Casey Rigney, Mr. Brezinski and Jason Rogers) Also I saw Danial Haney, but he was Missing in Action during this photo.
Coming up tonight is the 5boro 13th Anniversary Party, ready for action at the Red Bull Suite. If around, come join. If not, read tomorrow.
Ok, I am writing this realizing that obviously film is dead for most people. But for a photo novice like me, I still wanna experience what guys i looked up to did when they shot 35mm film. When it happened to me today.. I AM UNDERSTANDING IT, NOW!
The story is, I shot a bunch of film on our Red Bull Nevermind the Bullocks trip to London, and I guess I had lost a roll of film, or left it in my camera. Eitherway, I just recently got developed and it was like a tour back through time to that tour. It highlighted a lot of the people on our trip, and the places we visited. I know I am getting kinda emo/artsy fartsy, but you get the point right? I guess, that it never happens to me much, so might as well write about my bit of excitement. Is that so bad?
Well to really push the point, I posted a bunch of the photos here for you to view.
Plus I saved one for a later TARP post.
1. This was Kris Vile, in our typical travel mode... London Taxi's. How many quid?
2. One of the best views in the world. You really feel like your in a movie or something.
3. Obviously being Red Bull, we have tons of great hats to wear, and this was one that once Joey got his hands on it.. He wore it the entire time, even in bed.
4. Jereme was skating in front of our super nice hotel, so I guess our own hotel called the cops. This was the horse cop, giving us crap.. british style!
Second day of Tampa Pro 2009, was insane.. It's really an obvious difference between Tampa Am and Tampa Pro. These guys were amazing.. Watch the video below. And if you havent seen Day 1.. Check that out too!!
Come back for Day 3 and the FINALS!
Another year, and 2009 still on the destruction path of more amazing years! Joey B and the crew opted to take a day of deep sea fishing.. Of course that can't be beat, right? Check out all the skaters in this 2009 contest..
Enjoy, and return back tomorrow for another amazing post of Tampa Pro 2009!
PLUS WATCH DAY 2! and the FINALS on DAY3
JEREME ROGERS
RYAN SHECKLER
JOEY BREZINSKI
SHANE AZAR
RYAN DECENZO
ZERED BASSETT
PHILIPP SHUSTERS
