Pool Fools 18/12/2007 This past weekend Adrian, JJ and The Butcher headed off to PTA to hook up with Nico and Hartmud, who have been on a pool uncovering mission. Although the locale stays low key, there's about 20 pools in the area, and Nico, Hartmud and more PTA loc's have been cleaning them out. All pics by JJ, except one by The Butcher. This first pool was apparently skated and dope, but then some idiota threw a tree in it. Nevermind, there's another pool next door. Burning out the Bilharzia is more than necessity - it's also festivity. Skateboarders are always closet pyromaniacs. Hartmud torches the last bits of siss in the second pool. See how cute this mosaic dolphin is? Well a couple months ago in Japan, they held the annual Dolphin Hunt, which is a lovely little activity where a pod of dolphins are herded by the fishermen, while banging rods in the water to scare and confuse the dolphins, into an area where they cannot escape. A bit like an aquatic abbatoir. They used to just slit their throats [and many reports say that's all they still do], but now they're supposed to get a much nicer stabbing in the neck instead. It becomes a blood bath, so much so that the Striped Dolphin particular to Japanese waters are now endangered. Plus whales and other things get caught up in the oceanic holocaust. But the thing most fucked, is that the meat isn't even used for anything. They're slaughtered because humans eat too much fish and profits are going down because the dophin's have to eat too. Fuckin' dolphins huh? They are suggesting feeding schoolkids dolphin meat, but then we've poisoned the waters so bad that the dolphin meat has mercury levels 10 times higher than the acceptable amount. Go here Adrian had a proper slip-out and sent his boat into JJ's lense. Thank someone that the lense itself wasn't smashed, because judging by the bent steel, the glass part would have exploded. This is how we met up with Nico - gumboots and all. The good man did some cleaning of pools prior to our arrival. One of the other 20 pools just waiting to be pumped. Shralpage! 03/12/2007 Plenty a-happening up in Jozi right now. Mark has come up to skate and film [and party] for a couple of weeks and is starting to get some footy. The next video is now well and truly underway. CT's Darren Jacoby is also up to skate and check out JHB. He's never been before so he's getting stoked on the spots... unlike the other jaded folk. Simon buggers off to Dubai today for some X Gamey type thing. He's just got back on his ride after surgery, and a week later gets told he's off to a contest. Have a good time, amigo... and hit up the street spots. Adrian's got an interview, poster, and photos from Barcelona in the Dec/Jan issue of Session. Pick it up now and get your mom to put the poster above the mantle. Adrian also got back from Durban a week ago, where he hit up pools with Brett Shaw, Mark, JP Redpath and Dave Morrison. Durban's got good pools and moreover, motivated fuckers like Brett who will make the mission to find and clean 'em. When not skating, his focus turned to beer and artistic collaborations with St(e)ak. 05/112007 New Sticks, New Tricks We've just got a bunch of new gear in. Pictured here is the new Hindu Gods Series, with Lakshmi in 7.5, Vishnu in 7.625, and Ganesh in 7.75. We also have limited amounts in 8'. A wonderful gift for Christmas or Diwali. Along with these new sticks are a new run of the ever-popular Homage, Bang Chong and Facades Series. We also heard that over December if you buy a Familia board from any Boogaloos store, they'll throw in a free Bang Chong DVD. It is Xmas after all... We've also got a stash of bearings, wheels in regular or dual, as well as some other assorted nuts and bolts. Spend, spend, spend... please? Oh, and before we forget, the super bomb-diggidy of new T-Shirts designs will be available in two weeks. Look fresher than that schmuck next door Lazy Day? Here's a lovely little pic of Adrian with a stalefish over a hip in Madrid, shot by The Butcher. And speaking of Adrian, he's about to drop a bunch of magazine footy shortly, including a full interview in the December / January issue of Session, as well as a Barcelona article in the same mag and another Barcelona article in Blunt Magazine. This busy-body has also had random sightings on TV following the Skop, Skiet and Donder tour. If only he could curb the beer intake... 26/10/2007 Maybe now is a good time to update you on rider movements. Simon Stipcich is officially on Familia, but officially off the board due to having some cartilage removed from his knee. So welcome Simon, and get well soon. Simon should be back on the plank in a few weeks. In the meantime, go and check out his interview in the current issue of Session. Rider bio coming some time. 11/10/2007 Slap Magazine Review BANG CHONG FROM FAMILIA SKATEBOARDS Bang Chong comes from the distant shores of South Africa, which from the looks of this video has a thriving scene. It weighs in on the artsier side of things with visual influence from places like Strongest of the Strange, the Alien Workshop videos, old Stereo videos, and the like. Mixed in amongst the skating are weird but interesting video and super-8 collages of things like dogs running under water, acupuncture, boards falling out of ther sky in slow motion, and many more random things that keep it funky. The skating is pretty good, with standouts Gavin Morgan and Clint van der Schyf doing some notable shredding by any standard. Some spots in the video, like the seemingly endless garden of banked knee-high marble ledges, might make you want to take the 20-hour plane ride to South Africa in a hurry. A good first video from a local board company with some style. www.slapmagazine.com 17/09/2007 We bumped into Warren van Rensburg this weekend while he was shooting for an up and coming article for session magazine. He put up a few of the pics on his blog so if you're interested in some fancy photography go check them out. 31/08/2007 The UK's online mag, Caught In The Crossfire, just posted up another review of our film. Joe Moynihan [with proper writing skills] wrote a bit more than a review, actually. Check it here. Thanks a lot Crossfire! 27/08/2007 It's been a while since an update, but here's some heavy hoo haa for ya. Transworld just reviewed Bang Chong in their October issue, and we're stoked. See below. Thanks TWS. Loucas's pants were officially the tightest they could've ever been this last Saturday. Adrian is off to Barcelona on Monday with The Butcher, Gav Scott, Neil Hughes, Geoff Blackbeard and filmer JJ Harris. We'll be putting up a Barca Blog of sorts, so keep checking back in the next couple weeks. Adrian, JJ, Butch and the Beard will also be hitting up Madrid for a week. Our good friend Mitch, who directed and edited the brunt of Bang Chong has just finished a music video. It's insane, so go check it - it is 28 megs so watch that annoying cap that they've limited you to. Bang Chong is also scheduled for global release via VAS Entertainment. Please buy our film Mr Foreigner, please. In very sad news, Inus Wiehahn was killed in a car accident during the early hours of Saturday morning. Our condolences to Christi and the Wiehahn family. Transworld Skateboarding Magazine Review FAMILIA BANG CHONG WHAT IT IS: The first video ever made by an African board company. [Yeah, it's not the Familia in Minnesota.] WHY YOU NEED IT: Bang Chong is the feel-good/surprise/sleeper hit of the summer. Disagree? Try finding a better combination of prime-time skateboarding, refreshing use of 16mm, and impeccable art direction and music selection from a truly odds-beating locale [Johannesburg, South Africa?!?]... then maybe we'll retract our statement. Sure you may not recognise the names - Mark Donaldson, Clint van der Schyf, Adrian Day and Gavin Morgan - but you can recognise skills, right? This debut video from a debut continent is a beautiful reminder of how far and wide the gospel has spread - precisely what this magazine's founders envisioned when they named us. 01/06/2007 Tackyworld from Norway just posted a Bang Chong review up on their site... I think they liked it. 21/05/2007 We didn't tell you he was on tour, but Adrian is finally back from the 'Skop, Skiet and Donder' tour for Boardriders TV. A few fresh spots were found and some new footage will be delivered to your eyes soon. Check out Session 27 for the upcoming article and the TV show will air September some time. He didn't ask for the cover but they put him on it anyway. Sweet. Gavin is on the cover of the latest Session magazine. Get yourself a copy and show it to your girlfriend. 02/05/2007 Ola! We've got three new series of wood dropping in May! We are very excited to be releasing the Homage, Bang Chong and Virtuoso series of boards. The Homage series is Familia's tribute to three native sons - Greg Finch, Sven Martin and Mike Sutcliffe. These guys were very instrumental in furthering skateboarding in SA and moreover, they are straight up skilled. Oh, and they still RIP! The Bang Chong boards are there to coincide with the video. Duh? Then our next Virtuoso series was done by Jozi heart-throb and occasional sharter, Andrew Butcher. We've also just handed all manufacturing to a new wood shop. We are super stoked on the new wood, presses and shapes coming out. Voodoo snap in every stick! It's also time to announce the addition of a new rider: As of April 2007, Loucas Polydorou is riding for Familia. This now makes us Greek Empowered, with a travelling DJ for tours. Check back soon for a bio and photos. 11/04/2007 The Bang Chong DVD is available at all good skate and art stores for the utterly silly price of R50. If you cannot find it where you are you can order it direct for R75 and it'll land in your post box. Just drop us a mail or a call. Check out an interview with Adrian about Familia and Bang Chong on Norwegian web mag Tackyworld. The video premiere went down in a serious way. 500 hooligans converged on downtown Jozi. Thanks to all who came through and thanks to everyone who has sent us messages and congrats on the video. To view some photos check out Warren van Rensburg's blog. Gavin Scott also shot a couple pics the night before the party which you can check out. We'll post up some photos when they become available to us. 13/03/07 BANG CHONG CAPE TOWN PREMIERE!!! Ola! Due to many requests we will be holding a little premiere at The Waiting Room on Long Street. It won't be a massive thing like the Jozi one, but a little viewing nonetheless. Get yourself down there on the 31st March at around 6pm. It's the same night as the Jozi one so no riders will be there, but thanks need to go to Melissa Williams for organising it for us. Peace! 08/02/07 Check out the new Dual Durometer wheels on the instruments page. Thankyou. 02/02/07 It's Mark's birthday this Sunday [4th]. He is exiting his teen years and faces the prospect of employment, moderate drinking, family values and good behaviour. Or maybe not. Happy Birthday Mark-Ass Bitch! 17/01/07 We just set up a myspace account. Go to www.myspace.com/familiaskateboards. Will you be my friend? 12/01/07 Welcome back to the Fam site. Plenty new things dropping from Familia this year. We just got in our Dual Durometer wheels, they should get up on the instruments page shortly. Very nice 'thane, very nice. Three new series dropping in March... so long as the graphics are done in time... which they will be. Oh God, please say they will be... BANG CHONG will be premiering on the 31st of March, somewhere in Jozi. There will be a film screening and no doubt debauchery to follow. As soon as we have a venue we'll let you know. It looks like there will be screenings at select skateparks too for all of you too young to witness Mark getting loose, Gavin chain smoking, Adrian getting sordid on the dance floor with his missus, and Clint no doubt appearing to be uber-confused. And our good friend and filmer JJ just sent his ankle properly sideways, so no skating [or the filming of lines] for a good six weeks. You can send get well cards to: 105 The Villa, Holt Street, Parkmore. 04/12/06 We got new ball hats in, check 'em out on the uniform page. They will protect your head from the summer cold and work great as construction site hard hats. Six different variations available. Step up your game. 23/11/06 It's been a while since an update. So sorry. Hope you like the look of the site. Go pick up Session 23 now for The Reach Out article [Barcelona, London, Warsaw] with Adrian, Clint and JJ. We've also got a load of new T's out. Well boutiquey an' al' 'at. You can get 'em at Baseline Studio on Long Street in CT, or Peepshow in Parkhurst, JHB. They should be in all the other major skate shops shortly. If you live in a hut next to a river, you can order direct. Just drop a mail thru info@familia.co.za and one of our friendly sales staff will sort you out. Check 'em here... The Familia video, BANG CHONG, is set for an April 1st 2007 release. Keep checking the site for premiere dates and parties. Bang Chong! 11/10/06 Adrian, Clint and JJ are finally back from their travels. Be sure to check out issue 23 of Session magazine to see all the happenings of the tour. 24/08/06 Gav just got back from London. Skated loads with his bruvva's and came back with some footy. Familia had a little promo on Kurb [MK89] this week. If you missed it there should be a re-run sometime so check your listings. Clint, Adrian and JJ are off to Barca, Warsaw and London, leaving poor Mark and Gavin behind. Just checked out the Strongest of the Strange. A 2005 video by Pontus Alv. If you get a chance to check it out you should. Some interesting imagery and feel good skateboarding. You also get to look at Pontus' tackle a lot.Our good friend Gareth Skewis opened up The Story Skate Store a while back in Sheffield with Dan Magee and Mark Baines. They've also started The Filmmakers Guild, and have put out the first offering, Kolma. Check out www.thestorystore.co.uk. Maybe buy some shit. Tell 'em Familia sent you. Also, if you go to the site, check out Suburban Bliss. Our friend Toby Shuall has been doing the label for years and the new stuff is dope. 21/06/06 Finally! The new T's are in. We've got for the dudes and the ladies. Check 'em out on the uniform page. All T's are imported AAA's, and are available in way more colours than we are able to put up. To find out what other colourways are available, drop us a mail. You'll be glad you did. And so will we... 06/06/06 Shehzad Ahmad was the first guy to take on our invitational Virtuoso series. Adrian had known him for a few years and thought he'd be pretty good. Out of utter randomness, a load of his work arrived one day, convincing us that there was no time like the present to get on it. We gave him the Luxury idea and he ran with it. Albeit not too fast, because a man like Shezhad running anywhere in London will surely result in a paranoia induced arrest. Familia are super stoked and we owe him a night of heavy boozing. We also wanted to get some words with him about Hatebeak, dirty dares, and numb hands, and show some more of his work. 05/06/06 We've got three new series dropping July. The Luxury, Esteem, and Life of a Pro Series' will all be in finer skate shops shortly. He would've have been more stoked if it was Rolling Stone, but Adrian is on the cover of a magazine nonetheless. Go pick up Session 21 now. Support SA's only skate mag. Gavin is off to London and France for some skateboarding wiv' 'is bruvva's. Best come back with footy son! We've got a load of mens and ladies T's coming in next week. A couple of new designs plus some classics. Please check back.
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