Skate-boarding was seemingly born from bored surfers who wanted to continue doing what they loved even when there were no waves to surf, and the trend of skate-boarding itself has seen its popularity peak and trough many times over in the last few decades. Think back to Back To The Future in the 80s, or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the 90s, or Jackass in the 00s, and there has always been something to make skate-boarding relevant again.
While this Irish documentary doesn't so much deal with the inspirations of its popularity, it does take a loving look at how skate-boarding was primarily introduced to Dublin and Ireland, almost single-handedly brought to these shores by a skate-boarding store on Hill Street in Dublin 1 back the 80s. Talking to the store-owner Clive Rowen, as well as some key skate-boarders (including the one EVERYONE knows, Tony Hawk) and some skate-boarding photographers, we get a great luck at the energetic, physically impressive sport and the perceived 'loners' who decided to band together for their love of it.
Director JJ Rolfe gets together some great anecdotes from over the decades, and ties them together with some fantastic camerawork of the skaters, and an absolutely killer 80s style synth soundtrack by Gareth Averill.
There is perhaps a little bit too much time spent on the perceived persecutions the boarders feel are being aimed at them – They don't see why employees or security guards have an issue with them skate-boarding all over their private properties? – and it would've been interesting if the director had asked all these 'loners' and individuals about their community’s shared tastes in music or fashion or graffiti.
Still, what Rolfe does focus on remains thoroughly interesting and enjoyable, with the once side-lined past-time now a legitimate sport with its sponsors and video games and everything! A must-see for those who know the difference between an ollie and a kick-flip, and a real eye-opener for those who don't.
