There are few higher value cultural voices within skateboarding than the guys over at Dime and to quote them directly, Wade DesArmo is ‘Your favourite skater’s favourite skater’.
This is not a difficult statement to agree with to be honest, as this Ottawa native has a back catalogue containing some of most cutting edge technical skateboarding ever done.
From XXXL black tees and waist high switch pop shove-its, to heelflip backside smiths down handrails – Wade has his corner of skateboarding and there are few who look as good doing it as he does.
As is the current vogue for these Sunday Service pieces to have some connection to recent events, we figured that with his first proper appearance on a Primitive video, (namely the amazing 30 minute Primitive ‘Never’ video) dropping earlier this week, it was excuse enough to dip into the Wade D archives for a little memory jog.
Whether you’re a tall tees and SSBSTS type, or you’re more at home slinging layback airs on tranny, you’ll be hard pressed to dismiss the level of skill this dude has.
Anyhow, without further ado – here’s a little ode to another of our favourite Canadians.

Top of the World – Top Dollar (2004)

First up is this 2004 release from Ottawa skate shop ‘Top of the World’.
Top of the World, Ottawa’s oldest independently owned skate store, boasts the likes of Mitch Barrette, Will Marshall and of course Wade himself as team members. Interestingly, at this point in time he was still running ‘Wade Des Ormeaux’ but aside from that it’s the Wade D that you all love – flawless ledge game, big shoes and untouchable fits.

Kayo Corp – It’s Official

Next up is this banging part from Kayo Corp’s multi-team video ‘It’s Official’.
If the first two lines in this don’t have you running to your nearest over-sized menswear store in search of XXXL black tall tees then don’t even speak to me.

DGK – Parental Advisory

Whilst the skits were, in the main, heavy on the cringe, the skating in Parental Advisory is pretty much untouchable. Also rumoured to have been the best selling video of 2012 – back when people still paid money for skate videos – it’s probably one of the last skate videos to actually make a profit. Definite slimming down of the gear here too, moving from the ghetto gown of It’s Official era Wade to a steady Large, but no slimming down of the tricks – peep that alley oop frontside flip at 2:36 and remember that whilst the last trick came about deep into the smith grind flip out craze, Wade’s was switch and beyond perfect.