Sunday Service: Mark Gonzales in ‘Get Familiar’

It’s hard to think of many skateboarders that have had the same impact as the one and only Mark Gonzales; whether that be in the form of street skating innovation, chucking stalled inverts into his sections when vert was at its deepest trough popularity-wise, or starting his own company in order to further his vision, dancing joyously as it does at the crossroads of skating and art.
With him turning 50 years old this past Friday and with the recent focus of our Sunday Service feature on skateboarding which has some kind of relevance to the previous weeks news, a Gonz Sunday Service was pretty much a no brainer.

Krooked Skateboards as a whole – its artwork, team, videos and adverts – are probably the closest you’ll get thus far to an overarching example of just what The Gonz is all about. However, in the spirit of the spontaneity which infuses everything he does, we’ve gone with something different for this week’s Sunday Service in the form of his part from independent scene video Get Familiar.

The work of  East Coast legend and one-time New Deal pro Chris Hall, the video is very much worth checking out in full – if this doesn’t have you hooked, then Donny Barley skating to The Evens, Bobby Worrest skating to Fugazi or Daewon Song at Channel Street probably will. That’s not what you’re here for, however – it’s Mark’s unique way of flowing through the city landscape, captured here at its most gonzo. Kicking off with a dedication to “All the East Coast street dogs”, this one sees everything from vert sessions to cruising through the streets slappying curbs and flailing fists at buses. Whatever obstacle ends up in front of him, the overall vibe is one that will have you heading straight out the door after watching to attain Zen through the simple feeling of riding your board – so I’d be surprised if you’re still reading this rambling.
In summary, all hail the Gonzfather! Now go out and skate…