Q2 Review 2026

My favorite skate videos and books from April, May and June.

Jun 30, 2026

Reporting from Europe, it’s been a busy quarter and a good one for skate videos! Summer, and the wave of videos it brings, is here. What follows is a breakdown of my favorite full lengths, solo parts, and books from April 1 to June 30, 2026.

I’ve also (finally!) changed the name of this newsletter. “Stick to Skating,” had always been a place holder, but years went by without thinking of something better or deciding what I really wanted to do on here. The name was meant to be self-deprecating—the jab pro skaters often hear whenever they try something that isn’t skating—but every time I posted something it looked more like a command. “STICK to skating!” Yikes. My apologies if you thought I was bossing you around like that.

I’m calling it “r&d” (research and development), because that’s my favorite type of skateboarding, and it allows me to expand what I write about here to include more than just skateboarding.

Full Lengths

A lot of great full lengths have been hitting the ‘tube. June was especially strong, with a handful of highly anticipated long ones finally landing alongside surprise (to me at least) releases. It’s insane that people used to claim that the full length was dying. Though shifty in its form, the full length is alive and well. This blog accepts a wide variety of lengths and formats for this category. Also, I didn’t have time to watch the Detroit video by Palace before putting this out. Additional shout out to the DUOS contest by Pocket, which as of writing has not come out in full. Compiled together, it’s basically a full length, on top of an amazing idea for a contest. Also, I really enjoyed LOOP by Keyaki Ike as a concept piece. Hope to see more projects like that in the future.

10. Abnormal Communication : Episode 6

I had a funny encounter with Mark Gonzales this year. It was at the Boston airport and we were waiting for the same flight to Paris. I went up to say hello, and though we’ve skated together and talked a handful of times, he had no memory of ever meeting me. When he asked where I was from, I told him Northern California. His eyes lit up and he asked, “Santa Rosa?”

“No,” I said. “I’m actually from Napa.”

“Oh cool, do you know Francis Ford Coppola?”

We talked for a little while. He asked the questions only Gonz would ask—“What style of skating do you like to do?”—and then I left him alone. Sitting down, I thought about how odd that conversation was. Why did he say Santa Rosa, out of all the Northern California cities? San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento. All of Marin County. And then I realized, Wait, I was born in Santa Rosa. That is sort of where I’m from. This fact almost creeped me out. Did he sense it? Even the Coppola question felt tailored to me. Francis is connected to some people I grew up with in St. Helena and while I wouldn’t say I know the legendary director, I have met him a number of times and even had dinner with him once. He’s probably the most famous person associated with Napa, but it’s pure happenstance that I’ve had interactions with him.

An abnormal communication to say the least.

This video is a solid offering from the three stripes squad in SF. I love seeing the OG’s still killing it. I thought we were going to see a Daewon manny at Pier 7. Has that ever hapened? Nikolai rules and Kai is having a really good year. But the standout, of course, is young Julian. More on him later.

Nick vonWerssowetz: Ultraman
I have a confession. I haven’t always liked the look of Portland spots. There’s something dreary and bland and crusty in a way that just doesn’t appeal to me. It could be my bad luck skating there. I’ve been a few times on skate trips, and it’s always been rainy or I’ve been unlucky. Or the spots are just truly too rough for me to handle. But this video made me like it. A lot! Made me even want to go there and skate. So Sebo, my apologies for any disinterest in skating your spots. I’ll get up there one of these days.

Nyjah Huston: Return to Sender Tour
There’s a lot of discourse on Nyjah right now, particularly about his head injuries. I won’t go into that now, but he is without a doubt the gnarliest skateboarder of all time. The video part he was able to produce during a brutal Northwest tour, skating the unappealing, crusty spots I mentioned before, would be any other skater’s best work. How he’s able to skate day after day on a tour like this is shocking. Ewan did a great job turning this tour into a proper doc. I’m curious what else Nyjah has in store for this year or next. I hope whatever it is, we don’t have to watch him almost die.

adidas : OKWR
Is it a full length? A tour video? This falls somewhere in between, but I like the compact eight minute run time and the spots/skating in here. Huge Kotora fan and I love Kai Kishi’s tech powers. Can’t wait to see more from both of them.

Giddy #14
A few too many ride-on grinds, and I wasn’t all that into the music, but I love this filmer and the format, and the final part made up for anything the rest of it was lacking. I love that this is a homie video with no-names alongside the big names. Makes me want to skate Paris or all the other cutty corners of France and Europe these dudes shredded. Though I’d never heard of him before this video, I will forever be a fan of Amélien Foures.

Nike : Creased
The thirteen minute “full length.” When it works, it’s perfect. Send the skaters to a few cities and see what happens. It’s especially magical when one of those skaters is Antonio, and another is Troy Gibson. It’s basically one long montage, which can end up feeling lazy when not done correctly. But this one hits. Especially that switch flip back noseblunt. When I went to that spot in PR a few years ago, that was my heavy claim, but I couldn’t even get myself to try it. There are some tricks you just want to see get done, more than doing them yourself. And that one couldn’t have been done better. Thank you, Antonio.

Violet: Squeaky
I’ve never been the biggest fan of Strobeck skate videos. Even cult favorites like Cherry. When it came out, I didn’t really get the hype. I respect the work, and every now and then there’s a part in one of his videos that gets me super hyped, but I’ve come to accept that they’re just not really for me. The man has an eye for talent though and I love that he’s out there continuing to make these videos. I think Troy Gibson is one of the illest out, and Joe Campos is truly something special. And then obviously, Kader. I think we all want this to be his year. Some incredible tricks in here and I’m hyped to finally see the Thrasher cover footage. Fingers crossed he has more in store for ‘26. I would love to see him with the SOTY trophy. That said, like most of Bill’s videos, it could have been a quarter shorter, maybe even half, and it would have packed a better punch. But again, I’m probably not the intended audience. I love to see the cutty NY spots. Patrick has me worried that tight pants are coming back. With them being out of fashion for so long, seeing a return feels jarring. Almost hard to watch some of those clips. But hey, I respect challenging the norm. I hope for everyone involved that this company lasts.

Foundation: Today Tomorrow Forever
Speaking of companies lasting, it’s incredible that Foundation is still here, offering us amazing skate videos like this one. Especially considering there isn’t a properly shoe-sponsored rider in this squad. And speaking as a someone who still loves to film video parts but lacks the financial incentive to do so, it’s not easy making these things! I really love the creativity that went into some of these parts, and it’s dope to see a company doing more than including one token female skater. Austin and Aiden are true masters, and Tanner really impressed me. This video deserves a bunch of rewatches. Good work, crew!

Postcard: Vertical City
This wouldn’t be a proper blog if I didn’t shout out the homies. This one hurts a little to watch turn out so good, because I really should have been in it. I even had tickets to Hong Kong! March 2020. You can probably guess why I didn’t end up going, though in hindsight Sebo and I should have just barged it. Hong Kong was sealed shut for years after, and eventually, as restrictions loosened, Patrik started filming. He ended up getting a stacked squad, and though it’s under Postcard (Patrik Wallner and Tommy Zhao’s production company), it feels like a Visualtraveling video. This paints HK as an idyllic skate destination, but don’t be fooled! It is not. The fact that Pat, through all the various obstacles and bust factors, made this happen is a true testament to his dedication as a filmmaker.

Spitfire X Thrasher : San Francisco Burning
Next to Hong Kong, for different reasons, San Francisco is one of the hardest cities to skate. It’s rough, it’s raw, and it’s been skated to hell for almost forty years. So to pull of a full length exclusively in San Francisco, is a feat. There are plenty of classic spots, but lots of new ones as well. They lurked hard and dug deep and there are some clips I still can’t believe actually happened. Namely, the backside noseblunt slide by Nikolai. Thank you for doing that. The main reason this ranks number one for me is Miles Silvas, who is continuing to prove that he is a once in a generation talent. The switch hardflip? The bigspin backtail bs flip? The kickflip down the Duffy gap? Not much of his skating seems like real life. I like to think he’d be my favorite even if he wasn’t a friend, and someone who has blown my mind since he was a fourteen-year-old grom. But since I have watched a lot of his progression first hand, seeing his continued hard work come to life makes these moments all the more special.

Video Parts

I’m still working out exactly how to structure and categorize my skate video ranking. These aren’t exactly my top ten favorite “parts” from the quarter, because many of the parts within the full lengths are better than some of these. But I believe there’s something special about a stand alone project, even if they’re often little more than commercials for brands. Skate short? Solo video? I’ve tried other language, but nothing feels right. So we’re back to basic skate brain. Here are ten great video parts from Q2.

Kilian Zhender : 4M
I have a soft spot for ex-team riders, especially the ones who can do switch flip backside noseblunts. Kilian hails from Switzerland, and is one of the nicest guys you could meet on a session. He rode for Organika but never fully got on, and since then he’s floundered a bit in sponsorship-land. It’s great to see him with his name on a board.

Keenan Lewis : IRL
Though I don’t remember when or where, I’m sure I’ve seen a Keenan Lewis part before. But it’s never going to not be strange that I can watch a skater who I barely recognize, and think that he’s the best skater ever. Creative, stylish, gnarly, and versatile. Like, how is this Keenan not a pro on adidas? It makes no sense. I hope he ends up as one some day, since he sure as hell deserves it. But for the time being, I’ll be watching this part a lot this year.

Tiago Lemos: SKF
Now normally a minute and thirty second clip would not be designated a “part.” But every Tiago clip is worth three from anyone else, so the brevity works. That nollie frontside heel? That magical fake ollie survival after the backside noseblunt? The pure power blended with high skate IQ? We’re lucky to have him.

Julian Agliardi : Monster
It must be strange to know you’re the new chosen one. There’s no way Julian doesn’t know it. Hand-picked by Nyjah. Contract with adidas. Seems to be able to do whatever he wants on a skateboard. What a strange pressure he must feel. Or perhaps he feels none of it. Just enjoys skating. On paper, the tricks he’s doing are so mind-boggling, you’d think he was actually Nyjah reincarnated. The song feels ABD but works. I hope this kid doesn’t get burned out, because as a chosen one, the world is truly his for the taking. And there’s no telling how far he’ll take it.

Alexis Ramirez : Do It To Em
Alexis getting a Nike contract reset a balance in the sponsorship universe. When corporate shoe contracts feel so dependent on cool guy clubs or name relevance, however old, it’s nice to see a humble hard working skater land the big one. It feels like a return to meritocracy. Alexis is pure raw talent, but someone I feared wouldn’t end up on anything after DC. I hope this isn’t a footage dump because the Nike chapter is closed. Or if it is a footage dump, I hope it’s because the man has so much more coming down the pipeline, we’ll finally see a Sk8mafia Dunk or a big presence in the next Nike full length.

Jack Springer : Flash
Is it Bubba? Is it Jack? We may never know, but what we do know is that whoever he is, his tech skills are undeniable. Fresh spots and fresh takes throughout, despite the blandish Southern California setting. I haven’t really followed this dude’s trajectory or what he’s done in the past, but I love what he’s doing today.

Jeremy Leabres : Glitched
Many of us looked at Jeremy Leabres like a chosen one when he first popped out in 2013. He had the style, the flick, the power, and the sponsors. I felt like his MADE part was an important arrival. Like he was going to be a P-Rod, Leo, or Ishod. At the very least a future SOTY. So what happened? Why is he, thirteen years later, still better than ever but floating without a paying shoe sponsor? This part is amazing, and the only thing holding it back from the top spot for me is the song. And normally I’d finish with saying something like, “I hope he gets on Cons,” but with that whole program crumbling and a recent post showing him skating in New Balances, I guess I’ll just leave it with, “I hope he’s happy.” Whether or not the American corporate shoe companies thinks he’s worthy of financial support, he’s still one of the best.

Antwuan Dixon : FTP
Last year, Chris Joslin’s post tre flip celebration with his kids brought a tear to my eye, and this year Antwuan skating to Cat Stevens brought another. Though it seemed like he’d been back for a while, this video part solidified his return. Like Joslin’s final SOTY push, the So-Cal spots are a little boring looking, but seeing him back in action at full tilt made up for it. I hope we get to see more of Antwuan in years to come.

Dylan Jaeb : Quasi
I love this part and have watched it many times. Dylan, speaking of chosen ones, is him. But there’s a breeziness here that holds the part back. He seems to scale his powers down. The speed is there, but it doesn’t feel like he’s pushing the limits of his ability. And I respect that. Leaves his fans wanting, and doesn’t cap expectations for later pro parts. A lot of people do their best work in the build up to going pro, and then take their foot off the gas. It’s smart to hold back. I could have done without the second song, as there are really only a few extra tricks and I like the vibe and energy of the first song a lot more. The fakie flip is absolutely incredible. I wish I’d thought of bringing boards to put on the grass when I skated Rincon. Might not have taken me seven different trips to get the switch tre. I’m going to continue watching this part to get hyped to skate.

Torey Pudwill : Plan B
I love when skaters stays true to who they are, and Torey does just that in this part. No trend hopping. No ride-on grinds. No lazy filler clips. Just Torey doing the hardass tricks only he can think of and do. Even though the song was technically in a DGK x Zero “Fresh til Death” tour video (yes, I’m that big of a nerd AND Lil Wayne/Adele fan), I’m so happy he used it. He’s my age, but doesn’t seem like he’s aged a minute. Keep killing it, Torey.

Skater of the Quarter?

It’s between Troy, Julian and Miles, and I almost want to go with Julian. He seems to have some real momentum right now. Watching his Monster part, he does a frontside heel flip down a relatively small set. A ten, maybe. Could be a nine. Point is, it doesn’t really seem like one of his go-to tricks. And then, a few months later, Boom! Wallenberg! That tells you something. He’s got it like that. But I have to pick Miles. He’s got the best video part of the year so far, with solid showings in other adidas edits. You can’t kickflip the Duffy gap that perfectly and not be the “Skater of the . . . something.”

Books

A quick top five. I always think I’m going to be concise when writing these book and skate reviews, but it never happens.

The Best American Short Stories 2025
Out of the twenty stories in this collection, there are only a few that didn’t fully grab me and make me either laugh or cry. I was pleased to find a story from fellow skater Bret Anthony Johnson, “Time of the Preacher,” which is also in his latest collection. A standout for me was “Underwater” by Hannah Kingsley-Ma. No novels yet from her, but I’ll be looking forward to whatever she writes next. If you need an easy short story collection, grab this one.

Stephen Kinzer : Poisoner in Chief
If you’re like me, and knew nothing about MK Ultra and the CIA’s search for mind control, this book will completely blow your mind. The details Stephen Kinzer digs up about the operation and the man in charge, Sidney Gottlieb, is unbelievable. The sections about the apartments in SF and other cities that were used by hired prostitutes to lure men so they could unknowingly drug them with LSD are especially upsetting. I always thought it was a conspiracy that the CIA was instrumental in the spread and distribution of LSD, but according to this book, it’s a hard fact. They ran through trials on every major drug hoping to find a way to control people’s minds, leaving a mess of victims along the way and no actual way to do it. Knowing what we (as a country) have done in the name of self-defense, it’s disturbing to think about what we are probably still doing. There’s much more to this book than MK Ultra, and it’s all very shocking. Highly recommend this one.

Jess Walter: Cold Millions
I’m continuing to enjoy every Jess Walter book I find, and this one is fantastic. Not my favorite, but very good. Set during the turn of the 20th century in Spokane, Washington, this novel follows the lives of union activists during a time when labor movements were aggressively suppressed. Part buddy adventure, part historical fiction, if you’re interested in labor/union movements and generally fun reads, you’ll love this book.

Tom Perrotta: Ghost Town
As readers of this newsletter should know by now, I’m a huge Tom Perrotta fan, and I was thrilled to read his latest, Ghost Town. Staying true to the small town, slow build suspense niche he’s mastered, this one has the same propulsive energy and clever humor that keeps you turning pages. I couldn’t put it down. The story is about a successful writer asked to come back to his New Jersey town to speak at a commemoration for his father, causing him to reflect on a defining period of his childhood. As with many of his other novels, the stakes feel small and huge at the same time. Tom P is the GOAT.

Barbara Kingsolver: Demon Copperhead
I was scared to read this novel. While I’d heard good things, and I love Barbara Kingsolver, I was worried it would be too depressing. And while there is plenty of darkness and tragedy, there is so much joy and happiness nestled in. It’s a devastating story of the opioid crisis, and what feels like an origin story for the oxy phase, and it’s truly heart-wrenching. I’ve never read David Copperfield, so I’m not sure how much is actually lifted. But this is without a doubt one of my favorite reading experiences of the last few years.