Got Tubes?

Dazed and Confused.

2009-04-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Polaroid.

2009-03-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

Bradshaw Interview on its way.

Built to Spill.

2009-03-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

Tommy takes a hard slam while filming at the worst spot to get stuck at... hippo land.

Shake, Rattle and Roll.

2009-03-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

Little Pittman mans up and skates a rail few have skated with a stylish front board.

Circus.

2009-03-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

Looks like the circus is in town, folks! Josh Swyers pulls a bs 180 melon out of his tent full of circus tricks.

Fallen.

2009-03-04T09:39:00.001-08:00

David Weitzel takes the plunge into the fountain with a switch 360.

Who? Justin Damer.

2009-02-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

Words by Jon Lawrence
Photography by Nick Ghobashi & Shaun Gregoire
(portrait photo: Justin Damer)

• So what tiny shit hole part of Virginia are you currently living in?

Centreville, VA

• How old are you / How is high school treating you in '09?

I’m 19. High school is lame and overrated.

• What’s a typical day in the life for Justin Damer?

Weekdays I wake up at 6am... shower and go to school. I get home at 11am or 1 pm depending if it’s an A day or B day. Then shred Van Dyck Skatepark in Fairfax. Weekends I get up around 8am... shower, grab a bite to eat and then go to Van Dyck Skatepark to warm up and meet up with Allen. We head downtown and meet up with whoever is trying to shred. We usually skate until its dark and then eat Chipotle and discuss what to skate. Then we go light up some spots and shred until whenever.

• On a scale from LRG to Krew, how tight were the pants you use to wear? How tight are they now?

They were painted on before, haha. I wear slim straight leg pants now.

• So the word is you're filming for a part in Allen Danze's next video... How is that going and how is filming with Allen?

The filming is going well. I try to get as many tricks as I can at every spot so then I have choices for what I want to use. Filming with Allen is fun. He knows almost every spot and is still finding/suggesting new ones. Look for a promo sometime in the near future.

Don't worry, you'll never be able to get yours this high. Frontside flip. Photo: Ghobashi

• What is a typical winter for the Northern VA/ DC area and how is skating for you then?

COLD!!! Skating is always fun, but in the cold... it sucks. I try to make the best of it.

• So you've recently gotten hooked up with a bunch of companies. How did all of that come about?

 Well I got hooked up with Descarte Skateboards through Keir Johnson. His buddy Matt Pugh, who is the TM for Descarte, asked him for someone from the east coast and Keir told him about me. Thanks Keir. I got hooked up with Converse through Greg Grammen, the owner of Elite Boardshop. He was out at ASR and was talking to the Converse dudes and I get a text saying send me a link to your tape…so I sent it and it all worked out. Thanks to Chase Whitaker and everyone at Converse for hooking it up.

• Top 3 Pulaski tricks done?

- Kickflip into the street on Penn Ave - Bobby Worrest 
- Smith up little white wall - Zach Lyons 
- Kickflip fs 50-50 going mach-10 - Manny Law

• What's a good 'Wreck Crew' moment that you'll always cherish? 

Nick Duclos locking his keys in his car at court house, then someone took an antenna off another car and broke in Nick’s car. Funny thing is, it took them almost an hour to break in his car.

Feeble up, then back over. Original photo: Gregoire

• Any final thanks?

Thanks to Greg, Jay, Eliot, Craig, Nick and everyone else at Elite/Palace 5ive, Chase at Converse, Matt and Brandon at Descarte, Mom/Dad for all the skate stuff and rides in the past, David for free haircuts, Keir Johnson, Allen Danze, Charlie Church, Nick Ghobashi, Jimmy Pelletier, Brad Rosado, Jon Lawrence and everyone who I've skated with and everyone who I forgot.

Justin Damer's part from 'Still Fakin''

Tomboman on Blackbox.

2009-02-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

Visit www.blackboxdist.com to check out Gilbert's part from Tomboman.

Matt Reamer Interview.

2009-02-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

Words by Jon Lawrence
Photos by Corey Henderson & Nick Ghobashi

• Besides Tommy passing away, what was the idea behind calling the video Tomboman?

Before we (Gilbert, Bradshaw, and I) knew Tommy we thought his name was Tom Boman, because his screen name and forum name was “tomboman4life”. Gilbert and I would always refer to him as “Tomboman” until he told us otherwise haha.

• How long did you film for the video?

We started filming right after The Main Course came out, but really had no idea we were filming for a video until the summer of 08. We were just busy filming sponsor tapes and such for Bradshaw, Travis, and Josh. Adam just kind of fell in the mix somewhere during filming, but had knee problems all throughout. Jacob started filming in the summer, even though I had never really filmed with him, but he called one day and I said what the hell!? He got a trick and I really wanted him to have a part in the video. Gilbert is just a filming machine and did most of his whole part for fun. And Alex... well he was basically asleep for more than half the time we were filming haha.

Bradshaw starts his part off with a banger. Lipslide across the gap. Photo: Henderson

• What do you think is the biggest difference in Tyler and Alex's skating?

Tyler’s skating in my opinion is not portrayed too well through the parts he produces. His parts normally are just him jumping down shit and a bunch of single tricks with very few lines or ledge tricks, but in reality he has so much flow when he skates and kills everything you put in front of him. Alex on the other hand KILLS transition. I would rather watch him skate tranny more than anyone in the video. He has such style and finesse which is added to everything. That’s why I think they fit so good together... one is goofy, one is regular, and 2 complete different skin tones, haha, perfect!

• Who from the video is the biggest slacker when it comes to filming? Who gets the most footage?

Biggest slacker would for sure go to Alex. Dude sleeps so goddamn much. You could wake him up in the morning and he will 'get up', when really he has fallen back asleep and everyone is ready to go. On the other side of the spectrum would be Gilbert. He is one dude who is always down to film and skate most every spot we go to, and he is the only person that I don’t nag to film. Usually I am nagging everyone and pestering them to do something, but when Gilbert is on the session... he’s already got shit planned out and comes to ME and tells me to get the camera out, it’s fucking sick.

'The new kid' keeps up with the big guys. Frontside bluntslide. Photo: Henderson

• Did everyone or anyone get to choose their own song?

Yeah everyone gave me ideas for their songs and I choose from them. I would edit to them and see which fits more appropriately. I picked the intro, credits, all the bonus, and Travis’s song though.

• Give me your top 3 best Tommy moments that you will always remember.

1) Tommy, Travis, and I were playing Golden Eye for N64 in his basement butt ass naked, while Alex was fully clothed watching us from behind the couch. Tommy was trying to sneak up on me to initiate the kill, when he popped out of the air duct and with assult rifle in hand screams, “FRAIRASHOCKA MOTHER FUCKERS” and boom I kill the fuck out of him and we laughed so hard we couldn’t breath.
2) I was at work one Friday night when I get a call from him like an hour before I was suppose to be getting off, telling me to come to this party and drink with him. When I got off I went over there to meet up with him and he started feeding me shot after shot... in preparation to get me to throw up. About an hour and 20 shots later I looked back to see him banging on the bathroom door screaming, “Let me in! Let me in! Let me in!” I don’t think they were trying to let him in so he finally got the door open a bit, just a fraction of an inch... and started throwing up all in the bathroom through that crack. Did I mention while he was throwing up through a miniature crack in the door he was only wearing boxers and yellow rubber gloves that ladies use to clean dishes?
3) Smashing pumpkins against mail boxes going 30 miles an hour in a car and watching the mail boxes explode. That’s all I have to say about that one.

The 'ghost of Swyers' grinds over Reamer on a stormy evening. Photo: Ghobashi

• In the intro it looks like a couple of people really get fucked up. What was the final outcome for each person's shitty situation?

Todd broke his foot, had to get stitches to the dome piece, and out of skating for about 3 months. Trent got a concussion and just a really fucking gnarly headache. I had to take him to MCV after.
Swyers only hurt a big toe on one of his feet. I’m pretty sure that’s all that happened, lucky bastard. He was super psyched afterwards.

• Jacob is the "new kid" compared to these older dudes who have been around for a while, whether it's in videos or having a reputation of some sort. Not many people had really heard his name before this. How do you feel his part came out? Do you think he kept up with everyone else?

Jacob is very interesting person; cool as shit, and really down to Earth. His skating is unique and really fun to watch. His part was one of my favorite’s hands down and one of my favorite people to film. He's always thinking outside of the box and yeah for sure he holds his own in the Richmond skate scene. 72 ;)

Josh Swyers manages to land on the bank in such a tight squeeze. Frontside 180. Photo: Henderson

• Any future videos in the works, or projects to be taking up your time?

DREAM TEAM SUPREME!!! Vol. 2 “Aint Nuttin Ta Prove” – Summer 09’, Dominion 8 – Fall 09’, “Another Reamer Video” – Early 10’

• Any final thanks?

Family, Jon Lawrence, all the homies in the video, everyone that supported the cause and purchased the video, anyone who didn’t support the cause but still wanted to see it and watched it on “youtube”, Glory Days, Vx1000’s, Qudoba for helping me through my days at school with a real yummy burrito, Will Rosenstock, Chris Yeatts, DREAM TEAM DUBZZZZZ, all the little kids at the Roc in the legion of doom, and anyone else I missed.

• And you are NOT thanking...?

Cold Weather... you’re a bitch, I cannot wait to bitch smack you out and have Spring bounce back in. ;) good bye people, sorry I suck.

Everyone gathers in amazement to witness 'The Flying Ty'. Photo: Ghobashi

TBH.

2009-02-02T23:01:00.000-08:00

Justin Boyd shows us his 'fakie abilities' with this fakie manual 180.

Packett.

2009-01-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

A much younger Peter Hackett pulls a buttery nose manual nollie flip on a real shitty spot.

Travis Pittman's Top 5's.

2009-01-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

Worst spots to skate
1.The Roc
2.The Roc
3.The Roc
4.The Roc
5.The Roc

Slang sayings you most often say
1.Magee
2.Schmal
3.Stoops
4.
5.

Reasons not to skate when Reamer tells you to
1.Tired
2.Don't feel like it
3.Hanging out with my lady
4.Doing something else
5.Wanna skate somewhere else

Favorite Dominion board graphics
1.Tubes
2.Richmond City
3.Virginia print
4.Swy's model
5.The ones now

Heelflip Photo: Ghobashi

Brands of cigarettes
1.Marlboro
2.Camel
3.Pall Mall
4.Gold Coast
5.Newport

Best Ghobashi nicknames
1.Mind Freak
2.Mind Fuck
3.Gold Bond
4.Chris Angel
5.Scatterbrain

Things you would be doing if you never skated
1.Basketball
2.Baseball
3.Suckin' it
4.Jockin' it
5.

Favorite bands of all time
1.The Beatles
2.The Beatles
3.The Beatles
4.Pink Floyd
5.Modest Mouse

Any final thanks?
Brooke, Everyone at Dominion, Reamer, Mike Sinclair, J Law, Alex, Tommy Abrams, Tyler, Bradshaw, Swyers, Todd.

Check out Travis's part in Matt Reamer's new video 'Tomboman'.

'Tomboman' Copies.

2009-01-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

I have copies of Tomboman, so get your copy as soon as possible. $12. You won't regret it.

'Tomboman' Premiere.

2008-12-19T00:09:00.000-08:00

Matt Reamer's new video 'Tomboman' is dedicated to Tommy. The Premiere is December 27 (12-2) at the Byrd Theater and it is free! Parts from Josh Swyers, Adam Huntington, Alex Peregoy, Tyler Beall, Gilbert Crockett, Jacob Kovach, Travis Pittman and Jordan Bradshaw.

Tiny Dingo.

2008-12-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

A tiny Travis Pittman decides to take a 'chestplant' into the concrete bank. Horay!

Gigalo.

2008-11-30T20:42:00.000-08:00

David Weitzel goes for a sw 360, but ends up with a broken board. Next time Weitzel.

Germ.

2008-11-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

Zitchen performs a feeble bs 180 out on the hippo hole flat bar making your dreams come true once again.

Chef Clem.

2008-11-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

The Jolly 'Green' Giant himself (Clement) adds a little extra something to his varial flip down the worst gap you would ever want to skate.

Mistaken Identity.

2008-11-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

Being one of two human beings named 'Ryan Davis', this Ryan pulls a buttery bs flip over the hippo hole.

Trail Mix.

2008-11-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

Josh Swyers shows the children how to do a proper wallride.

Special Delivery.

2008-11-10T19:56:00.000-08:00

Tommy/Stitch decides to eat some pizza on the toliet. Normal right?

'Tom Thumb'.

2008-11-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

Gilbert kickflip boardslides Tuckahoe 9 when the rail was still there. For once he wasn't screaming after a trick was landed, which can be seen in just about every Tuckahoe clip in Fat2.

Zitchen.

2008-11-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

Zack Kitchen gives Clarklift a little noseblunt action before the generator dies.

Reel2Real.

2008-10-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

Real demo at the YMCA.

The Good Times are Killin' Me.

2008-10-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

Remember the good old days of skateboarding? Things were simple and life was good.

Pro Status.

2008-10-27T21:29:00.001-07:00

Someone finally got their name on a board...

Little Blue Gil.

2008-09-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

Little Blue aka Gilbert Crockett kickflips over this rail in just a few short tries. Easy Right?

Ghost Clown.

2008-09-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

Ghost Clown Tyler Beall got robbed of his nollie inward heelflip on this sunny summer day. Bummer.

Filmer Profile.

2008-08-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Jermaine and I decided to do a 'filmer profile' for Tommy for The Commonwealth myspace page. Obviously there will be no interview, but there will be a whole layout and an edit to go along. Should be done soon.

The Video.

2008-08-01T18:12:00.001-07:00

'The Video' was going to be Tommy's first full length skating video years and years ago. It never got around be coming a full video, so it turned into a 10 minute video of the good old days of skating. New stuff is on the way, don't worry.

Z Team.

2008-07-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

What's better than making a 'z-team' sponsor tape in the middle of the Winter weather? Nothing.

Rain Dance.

2008-07-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

After a quick visit to the Goodwill drop off point, Tommy and I noticed this old guy standing in the rain in the middle of the parking lot. Who the hell drives someone to the Wal Mart parking lot to do this? Tommy's commentary is good.

Cuddled.

2008-07-03T18:37:00.001-07:00

This is from back in the day when Mike Caudle was all about skateboarding. We wish you didn't stop Mike.

Paper Thin.

2008-06-24T17:14:00.001-07:00

Another long stay at the hospital forced Tommy and I to get a little creative. Who knew we would come up with this?

Dust Off.

2008-06-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

Tommy, Ryan Davis and myself were skating this gap one day when Ryan was throwing down this frontside flip. He nailed Tommy's lens, bounced off his hand and hit him above the eye. Check the last second and you can see the lump. Ouch.

Poofy Puss.

2008-06-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Poofy Puss is a cream that can relieve many horrible symptoms of Frakenpuss. Be sure to check with Oprah before your first application of the medicine.

NKP.

2008-05-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Another sick session at Maury's ramp led Tommy to edit this NKP montage with a Gwar song. Enjoy.

Rip Outs of Richmond

2008-05-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard of 'Cut Outs of Florida', well here's Tommy's version called 'Rip Outs of Richmond'. Yes the colors are suppose to be bad, along with everything else... that's the whole point.

Hello Goodbye.

2008-04-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

One of Tommy's many lens finally met its match when Travis Pittman decided to finish the job.

Man Am.

2008-04-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

Maury's got a buttery fs crook coming your way.

'Epic Slo Mo'

2008-04-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

This video was entitled 'Epic Slo Mo Video' and it's exactly what it sounds like. Everything is slo mo and Matt Reamer has a suprise coming your way.

Franz Ferdinand.

2008-03-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

Here is the first montage. It was labeled FFTF, so I'm guessing that means Franz Ferdinand and then the name of the song.

Skaters in order or appearance: Jordan Bradshaw, Caleb Ocasio, Jordan Castaneda, Clement O, Bobby Stewart, David Weitzel, Rob Lee, Ryan Davis, Josh Swyers, Travis Pittman, Jack Beckett, Erich Bielefeldt, Gilbert Crockett.

Lets Begin.

2008-03-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

First I wanted to create a web site in Tommy's memory to post his videos, pictures, and everything he created over the years, but I figured a blog would be easier. I'll be updating the blog with everything you can imagine from the mind of Tommy Abrams. Enjoy.

Thomas Toby Abrams

1987-2008

R.I.P.