Elementary, or is it Elementality? The New Element Video

Well, I finally watched the new Element video, which I had heard “wasn’t all that” and I’m afraid I have to agree. Based on search engine statistics, Element is the most popular skateboarding brand right now by a long shot (of course that includes people who just like buying their t-shirts but who have no intention of buying a deck). With all the money in their coffers I was expecting something better than what has been produced.

Sure, the editing is fine, the graphics are ok, but the skating is sub-par. It’s not the kind of video you watch and think “Man, man, man! I gotta go skate right now!” It’s more like “Hmmm, you know, Mike Vallely actually isn’t as bad as I thought he was, and I think he might have lost a little weight.”

I’m not saying it’s a bad video so much as I’m saying it doesn’t give me feelings anywhere close to what I got from Toy Machine’s Good and Evil or Zero’s New Blood.

Perhaps what most dissapoints me is that I know most of these skaters are a lot better than their footage in this video. I mean, look at the team lineup–Jeremy Wray, Tosh, Bam, Colt Cannon, Chris Senn…these guys rip, just watch any other video with them in it. Ok, Tosh’s part in the Emerica - This is Skateboarding vid was pretty lame, but he made up for it with his part in the tour video.

By the way, look at how thin Bam is compared to everyone else on the pro team. He makes everyone else look like giants, unless there’s something wrong with that photo. He’s really got a girlish figure going on. C’mon Bam, get some of that weight-gain powder that Tosh has been downing. That guy’s on steroids or something. He’s huge!

Poor Tony and Brent, they have to hang out with all the little kids. Check this photo out. Brent’s trying to make himself invisible and thinking “I can’t believe I’m in this photo with all these grommies, plus they made me wear this stupid hat. Why can’t I get a bearskin jacket like Tave has over there?”

Brent’s part is actually fun to watch. His style is weird, and I don’t like his pants, but man, that guy can ride cement parks like nobody.

I’m glad they gave Nyjah the ender, he’s pretty much carrying the team on this one.

Borrow this one from a friend before you buy it.