Alive & Unedited
On board: IGLU skate crew
By Wes Flexner
JAMES CHANCE PHOTO
Two summers ago, during a cookout on Summit Street, I watched several guys skating like idiots in the middle of the road, making the oncoming traffic very angry. I later found out they had a skateboard squad that functioned a lot like a graffiti crew. It's just friends from all walks of life, sharing an intense interest.
The name of their crew is IGLU. Founded by Max Palmer, Joe Inglis and Zach Avgannis, it now has 20-plus members, plus sponsorship from Clintonville's Embassy Board Shop.
I met up at the Flow skate park with IGLU members Franz Lyons, the drummer for Triceratops; C.J. Townsend, as seen in Rag-O-Rama commercials; sponsored amateurs Ben Perkins and Gabe Peterson; as well as supporters like Mike Newton, a rep for Dayton board manufacturer Alien Workshop.
Together they discussed IGLU's history and antics, seen on the Embassy Board Shop video that will premiere at Carabar on Thursday, December 20.
JAMES CHANCE PHOTO
Why was the name IGLU chosen? What's its significance?
Ben Perkins: IGLU [started as] a mythical skateboard company like, seven years ago. Then it just turned into the name of the crew. I guess it stands for a lot of things. It doesn't mean anything. There [have been] a lot of acronyms, like Indie Girls Love Us, Imagine Galaxies Lining Up.
Franz Lyons: In Gary's Loose Undies. [Gary Dillon is another IGLU skater.] He is at work right now slaving for the man.
Gabe Peterson: Another little piece of Gary died last night.
Where did you film the video?
C.J. Townsend: In the streets, dog. [Laughs]
What: Embassy Board Shop video premiere party, featuring music by Fly Union, Johnny Cashola and Mike Carney
When: Thursday, December 20
Where: Carabar, Olde Town East
Web: embassyboardshop.com
Mike Newton: Mostly Columbus. Downtown. Behind buildings. Random skate spots [in] Grandview, Clintonville. [C.J. and Franz] went to Washington, D.C.
FL: We went to Indy when it was warm. Remember that?
MN: The Indianapolis trip, definitely some New York footage. One of the main guys [in the video] goes to school in New York. His name is Max Palmer. They went to visit him numerous times. It's kind of from everywhere, but it's definitely centered around Columbus, Ohio.
What kind of spots are you guys skating?
MN: Most of the footage is of street spots. There will be a little bit of skate park footage. Mostly parking lots, the streets, wherever. Ledges, banks, rails, et cetera.
CJT: People.
MN: Just regular skateboarding: drains, ditches. The stuff we skateboard is stuff a normal person walking down the street would never think about—a bench on the sidewalk, a concrete bank next to a building, that kind of thing. Those are the kinds of things we seek out and we love.
Is there any problem with the legality of that?
MN: Absolutely. [Trick skateboarding on public property] is kind of inherently illegal, I guess. Videos like the Embassy video will kind of show how skateboarding really is. We aren't the best dudes in the world, but it's an accurate representation of skateboarding.
C.J., you have a broken pinky. Franz has a broken arm. Did that happen skateboarding?
CJT: Negative.
MN: He was at the adult ballet [a.k.a. strip club].
How did you break your finger at a strip club?
CJT: Well. It was my birthday, November 5. Remember that for next year. I was leaning against the stage, hanging out. Franz and [another friend], they fell on me. Now my finger is broke.
FL: I broke my arm slam-dancing, as you would say. I've got surgery on Monday, women, if you want to come pamper me.
December 13, 2007
Copyright ? 2007 Columbus Alive, Inc. All rights reserved.
