FUEL TV – Mobius Tricks (Directors cut) from Colin Kennedy on Vimeo.

James, James, James. He’s still got it! Check the tre flip focal point! Miss you Scrunch!

Morse Code – Episode 6 (The Chemtrail Effect) from libertyboardshop on Vimeo.

John Fool is back! After several journey’s on his way to becoming a real professional filmer, John Fool strikes back. Another banger of a Morse Code… this special episode features the following Liberty Boardshop skaters: James Craig, Jeff Chikami, Tim O’Connor, David Rodriguez, Brad Herrera, Austyn Gillette, and Chase Morse.

Song by Department of Eagles (Teenager).

Word to your mothers.

James Craig is probably Liberty Boardshop’s longest tenured team rider. Not too long ago James broke his arm and instead of dwelling on the tragedy of not being able to skate while he was injured, he came and worked with us at the Liberty Boardshop HQ. It’s almost as if James hasn’t missed a beat since being injured. The Blind Video just dropped and he’s been filming ever since – logging clips and making Liberty an all around better place.

We caught up with James since it was right down the hall and asked him some questions.

Check out James Craig’s section of the Free Press  – The Cliff’s Notes Blog.

How’s the arm?

The arm is feeling really good! No pain really at all

For those that don’t know what happened to it?

Well I shattered my Humerus bone or the upper part of the arm, then re-broke one of the fractures 3 months after.

How do you feel now that the Blind Video is out?

I feel good but just wish I could have been able to film for the last 11 months. It always feels good after a part drops, like a lot of weight of the shoulders and kinda refreshed to learn new shit.

Have you been skating a lot since the video premiere?

Yeah I have a few times with Ronnie, that dude is on fire. I have even learned a few new moves. I guess you can teach an old T-dog some new tricks.

So what’s it like to be managing 2 careers? You’ve taken on a pretty solid position with the Boardshop and you also have your Pro Skateboarder responsibilities – is that difficult to manage?

Well I’m really just about to find out cause the skate career was on pause cause of the arm and working at Liberty is fun for me… I think if I just maintain focus on what needs to be done and do it – I should be fine – just a little more stressed. Also, the pro skate career is not going to last forever. Sometimes you gotta keep looking for what’s next.

It seems like that doesn’t happen till it’s pretty late in the game for a lot of people. Is this something that’s always been in the back of your mind?

Well I love skateboarding and have been fortunate to be around almost every side of it and have always thought I would want to work in skateboarding after the pro chapter is closed. I have also had the understanding that kids are just too fucking good and to think a young buck could be right there and ready to fill the spot of an over the hill pro. I’m not saying I’m over the hill cause I’m like a fine wine yo! But, yeah man, kids are just so good these days and younger than ever.

A fine wine indeed. What’s you take on where skateboarding is right now?

Well it’s pretty big and I don’t see it ever being as small as it was in the early 90′s. We are accepted as a sport now, when before we were weirdos. Skating is going through a cleaning of sorts right now and I think it’s good cause whoever is left will have a good market to supply because people are still buying skateboards.

That’s an interesting comment – what do you think fuels that change – the cleansing?

Well it’s a product of an over-saturated market combined with the contraction of the economy which have made for a doozy of a shit cocktail. Greed is thrown into all of that and it becomes a big dick contest but really it’s part of the natural cycle of ups and downs in the industry. Skateboarding has seen this a few times during it’s years. It seems like somehow, someway it always happens.

Even if we are getting air time on ABC, ESPN and NBC we still have pro’s making peanuts and others rolling Aston Martin’s.

You’ve had a long career when a lot of other people have came and went. What’s the secret?

(Laughs) … uummm…. don’t give up even when they try to bring you down. (Laughs) no I don’t know. I have been fortunate to have Blind have my back through a bunch of injuries and shit and also having friends who always skate and film with – Jub Jub!

What sort of advice do you have for all the young and hungry rippers out there?

Kids, remember that skateboarding is fun first and if you want to make it as a pro/am never give up and be realistic. There is a huge talent pool so don’t be discouraged and keep given er’ !

The hottest thing in skateboarding returns and this time it’s up to us, the skate rats that have computers, to decide on who goes to the battle. It’s the Battle At The Berrics 2 and this time you can vote on who competes! Who’s going to be the next Benny Fairfax? Who’s going to come down with a bizarre skin disease and get disqualified? Who’s going to come – not so correct? Who knows! Here’s the deal – go to the Berrics web site and cast your vote for your favorite skaters and make sure to include the dudes from the Liberty Boardshop squadron – even young Butters made the list. You can vote for a total of 32 soldiers to go heads up.

Make sure to vote for these guys – they ride for Ye Old Liberty Boardshop (The only shop that’s made it this far – running on fumes.)

Austyn Gillette

James Craig

Stefan Janoski

Tim O’Connor

Devine Calloway

Danny Garcia

Go to the Berrics to cast your vote.

This is sort of like a combo team update thingy. The CPU’s are running incredibly slow. Is this all a ploy to be sold on higher speeds of internet bandwidth? Very similar to the idea of toll roads – pay money but really don’t get any where any faster.

Stefan Janoski, the man the myth, doing what he does – rippage. He’s got a couple clips in there alongside the ever deepening Nike SB squad. If you haven’t already seen the video on the Nike SB site then you can watch it here. Yes, we lag and it’s sort of becoming our signature. There is beauty in sharing code my friends – it’s called open source. Enjoy it now because like everything else out there, that is cool – they will find a way to charge you money for it. Just like getting your card.

Austyn Gillette takes the front page of the Royal Trucks site with back nose blunt at one of our favorite, much harder to skate than it looks spots. He is wearing a Liberty T in that photo so we’ll expect him to show up looking for some incentive cheddar and asking for the van keys to make his way to Ikea – it’s what he does with his money. To each his own.

Tim O’Connor was recently on a road trip through the Great Southwest with his wife Jody and his dog No Comments – we’ll be looking for a road update from him really soon.

Devine Calloway recently tweaked his ankle and is out for at least 5 weeks . Get better buddy – we miss you.

Danny Garcia is back in the Brea zone and recently played in the annual Team BK Put Up Or Shut Up 3 on 3 basketball tournament. *Fun Fact – Dgar is very good at basketball and pretty much carried the weight of the team. He can take it to the rack, can pull up from any distance and is a fierce competitor. He may have had the highlight of the tourney with a no look pass to a stunned Jeff Chikami who actually converted on the play. Young Chikami also has a sweet stroke himself. Danny Tryon (skate counter extraordinaire) hustled his stoney heart out even on a torn ACL. This author was the sub / scrub and did very little to actually help the team – although a case could be made for lock down defense and best water boy. We did win one game and the tourney was a great time – special thanks to Team BK - we had no idea it was a sort of real b-ball tournament.

That leaves us with last but certainly not least – JC flowage – also known as James Craig. After a long recovery period from a seriously broken arm – We are happy to report James has recently jumped back on board making an appearance at the very epic Volcom Skate night that took place last week.

All is right with the world. Smiles and high fives all around.

John Fool is making moves these days – the kid’s got bomb stamina and is a connoisseur of fine stews and future foods (sushi). He now has his own internet skateboard show. This episode features such Liberty Team members as Austyn Gillette, Chris Di Filippo, Jeff Chikami, Brad Herrera, Chase Morse, James Craig, with an extra special appearance from Brian Wenning (Seriously) and Danny Garcia. It’s pretty buttery – it’s like going to Soup Plantation and getting 2 plates right when you start.

James Craig – who is so much more than a team rider, vanpool associate, warehouse mascot and confidant – is hitting us with another video part – courtesy of the people at Razor Sharp and SML Wheels. Hopefully a higher res version will be available soon. Thanks Guys! James we love you – no homo / curious?

Colin Kennedy’s Re-edit of James’ Get Familiar video part. We feel like it’s one of the better parts he’s put out of recent, the re-edit brings it sort of a new life.