2025 unpopular opinion thread

[BeachChicken]

Didn't say it wasn't good, but rail skating at iconic So Cal spots means inevitably something harder will be done and after 2 decades the bar is just higher. I still enjoy the part for what it is and that's just progression.

Here's another example: Heath's hydrant kickflip. Still awesome because of where it was in the video and what it represented for his career plus it was super clean. Austyn sw tre'd it, a harder trick but different context in time and years later. You can appreciate both and acknowledge the progression.

[ferguu]

IDK man... it's not always about the tricks difficulty on paper for me, and I'm assuming others. Rather see a clean kickflip then a messy switch tre. Style, the way it was filmed, what they were wearing, preceding / following trick, music playing...

Rather see an ollie from Heath then any clip from Austyn, but that's just me... probably.

[BALARGUE]

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Of my era, Sorry is probably the best video to come out, though my “hot take” is that the video should have ended with his switch from board down Hollywood High. Because his sort of “introductory” part in menikmati ended with a gnarly regular front board.

[close]

my hot take is that menikmati is the worst "big" video to ever come out (or aged the worst)

[close]

I haven’t watched it in years but I always kinda struggled to enjoy it even when it was fresh. I think having Amon Tobin do the entire soundtrack was a mistake.

as an Amon Tobin fan
there aCtUAlLY is only one track from him in that video and it was a pretty clever match with Rodrigo TX.
The soundtrack was different from what everyone was doing at the time and it was pretty much a genius move imo (as a breakbeat / electronic music amateur) and it worked well throughout the video.

I know I'm biased by nostalgia as this video was released during my foundational years but even now I am convinced Fred Mortagne did an amazing job with the edit ( classical cuts / landing on beat done really well, slow-mo sections at the end of each parts, etc.) and the filming (care about the framing especially).

@Ignatius J Reilly
Would you explain why you feel that way ? I'm genuinely curious

Arto's slander is weird. Jamie Foy in 2025 doesn't mean that Arto's footage in the 2000s doesn't hold up...

[Dwayne Hoover]

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Of my era, Sorry is probably the best video to come out, though my “hot take” is that the video should have ended with his switch from board down Hollywood High. Because his sort of “introductory” part in menikmati ended with a gnarly regular front board.

[close]

my hot take is that menikmati is the worst "big" video to ever come out (or aged the worst)

[close]

I haven’t watched it in years but I always kinda struggled to enjoy it even when it was fresh. I think having Amon Tobin do the entire soundtrack was a mistake.

[close]

as an Amon Tobin fan
there aCtUAlLY is only one track from him in that video and it was a pretty clever match with Rodrigo TX.
The soundtrack was different from what everyone was doing at the time and it was pretty much a genius move imo (as an breakbeat / electronic music amateur) and it worked well throughout the video.

I know I'm biased by nostalgia as this video was released during my foundational years but even now I am convinced Fred Mortagne did an amazing job with the edit ( classical cuts / landing on beat done really well, slow-mo sections at the end of each parts, etc.) and the filming (care about the framing especially).

@Ignatius J Reilly
Would you explain why you feel that way ? I'm genuinely curious

Arto's slander is weird. Jamie Foy in 2025 doesn't mean that Arto's footage in the 2000s doesn't hold up...

i think every aspect about the way the video is edited is super dated, from the voiceovers to the music to the hammers section to the auxiliary montages. beyond being dated, i think the video is monotonous and tedious at times. and through no fault of french fred or anyone in the video, every single skater has a better part in a different video from around the same time (arto/tom in sorry, koston/rick in yeah right, rodrigo/bob in can't stop)

with that being said, sorry and bon appetit are still 10/10 videos

[LA Native]

I love Arto but his skating in both those videos doesn't hold up. That type of skating unfortunately never does. People keep hitting the same rails just 1 upping each other. Didn't Carlos Ribiero sw front blunt the same rail Arto sw front boards? It also makes you realize how many "lines" were just 1 pretty easy trick into the main trick and not really a line.

Nobody did most of the things he did, when he did. You're talking about 25-year-old footage here. He was in front of the march, and if you don't look at parts contextually then you're just boiling them down to tricks, which as skating gets older is a dumb thing to do. Imagine someone doing a bunch of things now that no one can really understand, except for other people on the team you're on. He literally tried shit not knowing what was possible. Even front boarding El Toro was the first time someone slid backward down a 20 stair rail. He did it all without observational learning

[Jim and Dan]

So outdated trick-wise...

1st-T too, I remember watching that live on the television and absolutely losing it.

I seem to be in some kind of minority though when it comes to the soundtrack, I loved almost every song in it, which is rare.

Who wants to step up and be the first to shit on Video Days or Questionable using the same logic?

[Dwayne Hoover]

So outdated trick-wise...

1st-T too, I remember watching that live on the television and absolutely losing it.

I seem to be in some kind of minority though when it comes to the soundtrack, I loved almost every song in it, which is rare.

Who wants to step up and be the first to shit on Video Days or Questionable using the same logic?

do you really think the skateboarding in menikmati is as progressive as the skateboarding in video days or questionable?

[Jim and Dan]

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So outdated trick-wise...

1st-T too, I remember watching that live on the television and absolutely losing it.

I seem to be in some kind of minority though when it comes to the soundtrack, I loved almost every song in it, which is rare.

Who wants to step up and be the first to shit on Video Days or Questionable using the same logic?

[close]

do you really think the skateboarding in menikmati is as progressive as the skateboarding in video days or questionable?

I just wanted to take the argument to the x-treme, but let's just die on that hill and say "yes", for fun. 

[Dwayne Hoover]

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So outdated trick-wise...

1st-T too, I remember watching that live on the television and absolutely losing it.

I seem to be in some kind of minority though when it comes to the soundtrack, I loved almost every song in it, which is rare.

Who wants to step up and be the first to shit on Video Days or Questionable using the same logic?

[close]

do you really think the skateboarding in menikmati is as progressive as the skateboarding in video days or questionable?

[close]

I just wanted to take the argument to the x-treme, but let's just die on that hill and say "yes", for fun. 

lmao respect. to your credit i'll also say that i started skating in 03 and menikmati was always a blind spot for me. maybe i'd feel differently if i saw it when i was a kid

[Dante Bichette]

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Oops accidentally clicked the middle school arguments-thread.

[close]

Tell us about your extensive book collection and how the 48 Laws of Power changed your life

[close]

I'll just say I had to google 48 Laws Of Power.

[close]

You fuckin wit it?

[close]

Nah, it would probably be fun to glance through but I'm more into the Alan Watts way of self-help. How's your mileage?

Oh I don’t drive

[Jim and Dan]

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So outdated trick-wise...

1st-T too, I remember watching that live on the television and absolutely losing it.

I seem to be in some kind of minority though when it comes to the soundtrack, I loved almost every song in it, which is rare.

Who wants to step up and be the first to shit on Video Days or Questionable using the same logic?

[close]

do you really think the skateboarding in menikmati is as progressive as the skateboarding in video days or questionable?

[close]

I just wanted to take the argument to the x-treme, but let's just die on that hill and say "yes", for fun. 

[close]

lmao respect. to your credit i'll also say that i started skating in 03 and menikmati was always a blind spot for me. maybe i'd feel differently if i saw it when i was a kid

I started just a couple years before you and admittedly it was one of like the 1st videos I received, so there is probably some personal bias. Is it the greatest video ever made? No (I'm not Kelly Hart). Did it have a big impact and influence on skateboarding and skate videos as a whole going forward? Yes. Nonetheless I've got some respect for the opinion.

[BeachChicken]

So outdated trick-wise...

1st-T too, I remember watching that live on the television and absolutely losing it.

I seem to be in some kind of minority though when it comes to the soundtrack, I loved almost every song in it, which is rare.

Who wants to step up and be the first to shit on Video Days or Questionable using the same logic?

I was there for this and the 900. I was also there for your lack of reading comprehension in your attempt to be witty. You skipped the part where I noted that even if there is progression beyond a part, it doesn't make the part bad, less nostalgic, etc.. I re-watch A Visual Sound and Questionable constantly. I wouldn't say the technicality of the skating holds up. Bob's run absolutely does actually. Holding up in and of itself is kind of a dumb argument, but if you want to have it its usually really simple.

Alright, not my hill to actually die on, gunna crawl back to shoes and gear.

[BeachChicken]

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Of my era, Sorry is probably the best video to come out, though my “hot take” is that the video should have ended with his switch from board down Hollywood High. Because his sort of “introductory” part in menikmati ended with a gnarly regular front board.

[close]

my hot take is that menikmati is the worst "big" video to ever come out (or aged the worst)

[close]

I haven’t watched it in years but I always kinda struggled to enjoy it even when it was fresh. I think having Amon Tobin do the entire soundtrack was a mistake.

[close]

as an Amon Tobin fan
there aCtUAlLY is only one track from him in that video and it was a pretty clever match with Rodrigo TX.
The soundtrack was different from what everyone was doing at the time and it was pretty much a genius move imo (as an breakbeat / electronic music amateur) and it worked well throughout the video.

I know I'm biased by nostalgia as this video was released during my foundational years but even now I am convinced Fred Mortagne did an amazing job with the edit ( classical cuts / landing on beat done really well, slow-mo sections at the end of each parts, etc.) and the filming (care about the framing especially).

@Ignatius J Reilly
Would you explain why you feel that way ? I'm genuinely curious

Arto's slander is weird. Jamie Foy in 2025 doesn't mean that Arto's footage in the 2000s doesn't hold up...

How do you compare a sw front board to a sw front blunt on the same rail and think they're the same level? So many of the rails in that part have been skated to death its only natural shit is pushed further and further.

[pop idiot]

my hot take is that menikmati is the worst "big" video to ever come out (or aged the worst)

Animal Chin? Nothing but the Truth? Extremely Sorry?

[Dwayne Hoover]

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my hot take is that menikmati is the worst "big" video to ever come out (or aged the worst)

[close]

Animal Chin? Nothing but the Truth? Extremely Sorry?

ah shit. okay i'll take the L on this one

[BeachChicken]

Animal Chin sucks. Never found it interesting. Danny Way megaramp shit is the same. I'd rather just watch snowboarding. Bob is the only interesting dude to do that kinda shit cuz he skated rainbow rails like they were as easy as a curb.

[Switch360flip]

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So outdated trick-wise...

1st-T too, I remember watching that live on the television and absolutely losing it.

I seem to be in some kind of minority though when it comes to the soundtrack, I loved almost every song in it, which is rare.

Who wants to step up and be the first to shit on Video Days or Questionable using the same logic?

[close]

do you really think the skateboarding in menikmati is as progressive as the skateboarding in video days or questionable?

[close]

I just wanted to take the argument to the x-treme, but let's just die on that hill and say "yes", for fun. 

[close]

lmao respect. to your credit i'll also say that i started skating in 03 and menikmati was always a blind spot for me. maybe i'd feel differently if i saw it when i was a kid

I didn’t start skating until 2012. Didn’t see menikmati until like 2018 when I was 20 years old. And its in my top 10 favorite videos. I still rewatch arto, Penny, Mccrank, and Koston parts regularly to get hyped to go skate. Probably my favorite parts from Penny and Koston ever too. Didn’t mind the soundtrack. Pennys song is perfect. And the geography editing theme reminded me of old school street fighter which I always thought was rad

[Abyss1]

Damn yall are making me wonder what people are gonna think about PJ's part in WHL in 10-20yrs

[pop idiot]

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my hot take is that menikmati is the worst "big" video to ever come out (or aged the worst)

[close]

Animal Chin? Nothing but the Truth? Extremely Sorry?

[close]

ah shit. okay i'll take the L on this one

I bet Menikmati would have made a bigger impact had you seen it as a kid but I understand your perspective on the production side. I still have my VHS copy and it always bugged me having to fast forward the intros.

Anyways, Wes Kremer. Dude is special in a way I would compare to Penny. He can skate anything on any board while being blazed beyond blazed and then laugh at whatever absurd trick he hadn't done in years/never done but lands first try. He has the ability to be a robot and film a trick until it's "perfect" but that's just not how he skates.

It'd be interesting to see Max skate in person and watch his process.

[pop idiot]

Damn yall are making me wonder what people are gonna think about PJ's part in WHL in 10-20yrs

Dude didn't even land his last flatground trick so they had to cut it quick after he pushes. Weak

[BALARGUE]

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Damn yall are making me wonder what people are gonna think about PJ's part in WHL in 10-20yrs

[close]

Dude didn't even land his last flatground trick so they had to cut it quick after he pushes. Weak

"oh I just messed up a kickflip"

[Slappykrook]

I like menikmati, I didn’t start skating until around 2008-2010. I think for people in my specific age group videos like menikmati, this is skateboarding and photosynthesis were an introduction into skate videos because they were all already up on YouTube by the time I started. I like it still because the editing / geographic intros make it feel like a pbs skate video or something.
Edit - weird typos from autocorrect

[JM]

I like menikmati, I didn’t start skating until around 2008-2010. I think for people in my specific age group videos like menikmati, this is skateboarding and photosynthesis were an introduction into skate videos because they were all already up on YouTube by the time I started. I like it still because the editing / geographic intros make it feel like a pbs skate video or something.
Edit - weird typos from autocorrect

2007-2015 is when I wasn’t paying attention to any skate media (missed Kelly Hart’s whole career).

What videos did you hold in high regard? Was it all YouTubed up by the time you started, so new videos wasn’t really that exciting?

Forgive the old man questions. I’m old. 

[Never Bored]

Menikmati on VHS was some Holy Grail shit. It was precious (for men of a certain age)

Sorry parts are better? That was like two years later! You had to buy a $20 tape to watch skateboarding then! It felt like a goddamn lifetime later. Those videos were events! They were my Star Wars!

(This whole thread is fun as hell to read. You guys are great)

[alien porkchop]

barbarians at the gate on vhs was some holy grail shit back in my day

[Slappykrook]

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I like menikmati, I didn’t start skating until around 2008-2010. I think for people in my specific age group videos like menikmati, this is skateboarding and photosynthesis were an introduction into skate videos because they were all already up on YouTube by the time I started. I like it still because the editing / geographic intros make it feel like a pbs skate video or something.
Edit - weird typos from autocorrect

[close]

2007-2015 is when I wasn’t paying attention to any skate media (missed Kelly Hart’s whole career).

What videos did you hold in high regard? Was it all YouTubed up by the time you started, so new videos wasn’t really that exciting?

Forgive the old man questions. I’m old.

Once I got more into skating I’d go to my locals video premiers and often get a hard copy of the video to have  at home to watch over and over again on my ps2, the videos I owned hard copies of I believe were
Stay gold (I won the photo book, a hat and the dvd in skate shop raffle at there premier of it) mindfield, hesh law, strangeworld, think there were a few more I actually bought but also had at l at least half a dozen strangenotes and other free videos, I remember having tpuds big bang part and some crappy sector 9 full length, probably a few transworld videos too, I know I had hallelujah at least.

[neonbrown]

I like Animal Chin, and all the old Powell videos.

[Coffee]

IDK man... it's not always about the tricks difficulty on paper for me, and I'm assuming others. Rather see a clean kickflip then a messy switch tre. Style, the way it was filmed, what they were wearing, preceding / following trick, music playing...

Rather see an ollie from Heath then any clip from Austyn, but that's just me... probably.

I get what you’re saying and I’ve held similar opinions about other tricks and spots but I guess my unpopular opinion here is that Austyn has better style than Heath, and I’ve been a Heath fan since Rolling Thunder. But no one has ever uttered his name in the “best” style discussions like Gino, Carroll, etc. Would I rather see a new part today from Heath than Austyn?  Yes. Is Austyns skating easier on the eyes for me?  Also yes.

[SmashtheState]

Probably not new unpopular opinion but I feel like Element is board company that riders go when their career is dying.  Or just getting their groove and they abandon ship before they become irrelevant.

[alien porkchop]

i honestly don’t know where to post this, but posters referring to themselves as “someone you don’t know” when clapping back at comments made about them on here is trite.