Phrases: Charo-Tite
Pictures: Kingsford (except in any other case acknowledged)
I’ve by no means seen such a deep blue
The thought of this journey was to skate these transition-like rocks on the coast of Gozo, the island subsequent to Malta. So far as I do know, rain and wind formed the rocks over time. Phil despatched me a clip of Jim’s good friend Moggins skating among the spots again in 2017, to provide us an concept of what awaited us. He urged bringing massive wheels and even some comfortable wheels to verify we might skate the crusty-looking spots. I used to be hyped from the get-go, not as a result of I like happening journeys or as a result of I had by no means been to Malta, however as a result of I assumed it could possibly be a enjoyable new experiment skating pure transition spots.
In late November 2023, proper on my birthday, I took a airplane to Malta to fulfill the remainder of the crew and the blokes from Gray. In comparison with wet Berlin, the climate there felt like summer season: the gentle salty breeze, the nice and cozy gentle and the muted color palette of the panorama that consisted solely of the colors brown, inexperienced and beige. To be sincere, the views we skilled the next 10 days had been fairly desolate. We teamed up and drove throughout the island of Malta to the ferry that took us to Gozo, the place we might spend most of our time skating rocks by the water.
Jim had already collected a ton of spots by way of Google Earth and different analysis. He then spent just a few days biking up and down the coast to test in the event that they had been legitimate. It was so overwhelming when he confirmed us all of the spots he discovered. Each spot type of seemed the identical, however then completely completely different on the identical time. I bear in mind arriving on the first spot. We left the van in an empty automobile park (it was low season) and walked in direction of the water for about quarter-hour, loaded with brooms and never figuring out what to anticipate… not an excessive amount of, to be sincere. The spots seemed fairly sandy and dusty in photographs, however as soon as we arrived, we realised the feel of the rocks was fairly strong, type of clean to roll on even. The view was immaculate by the best way, all these beige rocks and the deep blue water crashing into the massive cliffs we stood on. I’ve by no means seen such a deep blue my entire life.
The primary spot was a small quarter with a giant lip. Regardless that the run-up was barely uphill and had two puddles in the best way, it was simple to get to the highest. We couldn’t slide or grind as a result of we weren’t imagined to wax something out of respect to nature. Jaakko and me began to mess around and get snug with the kind of spot we might be skating for the following six days. It was good to be with him. I really feel like now we have an analogous sense relating to spots from a unique perspective and making an attempt new issues. It truly felt similar to a rock model of a DIY transition. All the pieces got here type of simple, and looking back, this was most likely the hardest spot we skated the entire time we had been on the island.
Every day, we might take the van as shut as potential to the spot after which stroll the remainder. Often it was a really chill process: we’d pack our boards, water, snacks and brooms and make our means in direction of the water. We’d arrive, lose our shit over how good these spots had been, then begin sweeping and checking what was potential. I don’t actually know if the spots bought smoother daily, or if we simply bought used to them rapidly, however we truly bought a variety of methods executed every day. I’m fairly certain there was no day the place we left and not using a clip or photograph. That’s to not say every part got here simple – in no way – however a minimum of for me, it was such a novel expertise, that I simply didn’t wish to surrender making an attempt. I didn’t actually care concerning the outcomes or something; I simply loved skating every spot within the second and wished to take advantage of a possibility that was unlikely to come back once more any time quickly.
Hardly ever was there only one spot at a location we visited. It was like a portray, the place you begin to see increasingly more particulars the longer you have a look at it. You may wish to hit this spot proper right here, however find yourself skating the one 20m over there for 2 hours. We went to this spot that was like a downhill skatepark. You had this lengthy roll-in to a steep quarter, then it went additional downhill to a bump that despatched you fairly good. After that, it took you to a steeper financial institution subsequent to a good transition. We spent a lot time skating this place. After a break, I couldn’t cease this enormous quarter on the alternative aspect. As night closed in, I slowly swept the run-up and touchdown, and bought fortunate touchdown that frontside air.
This was by far the calmest journey I’ve ever been on. It nearly felt like a seashore vacation, to be sincere. We had been a small crew, which labored completely on this atmosphere. It was by no means packed on the spot and no person needed to wait lengthy for his or her second. There have been no busts, no soiled or sketchy locations and little or no site visitors, simply the occasional passing canine walker, vacationer or individuals serenely fishing close by. Few of them appeared conscious of the superb potential of those rocks.
