Not usually one to play dentist in the maw of the notorious gift-horse, I was inclined to cheer the recent news that ledge-munching Chewy Cannon was bound for employment under what’s perhaps the best company going right now, Palace, even if it did involve leaving behind a long tenure under the illustrious Blueprint banner. What I continue to wrestle with though is his apparent on-again-off-again pro status, and how exactly this is meted out over there — exhibit the first, this July Transworld article on man-ams:
CHEWY CANNON AND NEIL SMITH
Neil and Chewy can tag team a spot on this list simply for the fact that both went pro for Blueprint only to then honorably accept demotions back to am status. Following the company’s near brush with death on the heels of the world’s economic collapse back in ’08, and compounded by the brand’s transition from a homegrown U.K. company into a full-fledged international player, Blueprint had little choice if it wanted to survive.
Which makes enough sense, considering that even the bulgiest of bulge-bracket Wall Street banks appeared to be on the ropes that tumultuous fall. But then you have US newcomer Marty Murawski getting the professional bump-up earlier this year, while Neil Smith and Chewy Cannon were/still are boardless…?
Tags: Blueprint, Chewy Cannon, confusion, Neil Smith, Palace, recession, the lost highway
boil the ocean 
September 30, 2010 at 4:27 am |
I think they are just starting to get the buzz going. Cannon will be pro for sure, Lucien Clarke is pro and a young lad. Cannon pushes like a mad man and when things get rolling he will have a board with his name on it. Well i hope so, it’s not like i’m withe the Palace streetteam. But Palace is the shit. Graphics, Team, England!!!
September 30, 2010 at 6:09 am |
Palace are good but Roger are the best company going right now, perhaps.
September 30, 2010 at 8:33 am |
[…] most recent post addresses Chewy Cannon’s recent move from Blueprint to Palace. (function() { var ga = […]
September 30, 2010 at 11:43 am |
Palace, Roger, Traffic, Hopps and Turf is what I like nowadays. Don’t forget my friends at http://www.bellowsskateboards.com they are also a company that’s doing stuff for the right reasons. Fuck the Maloof brothers, Monster, Red Bull, Matador meat, Dyrdek and all those vampires trying to suck the blood out of skateboarding.
They gonna gonna gonna lose in the end! (I pray)
September 30, 2010 at 11:53 am |
Am I the only one dismayed about the precarious financial situation at Blueprint? Everyone there seems really down to earth and their latest video was the bee’s knees.
September 30, 2010 at 3:31 pm |
Over the last 3 days I’ve watched pretty much every episode of Palace’s weekly 4:20 broadcasts…it’s pretty hilarious stuff. Sort of a British Quartersnacks with lots of dubbing and slow-mo.
http://www.dontwatchthat.tv/channel/pwbc
According to the newest broadcast, “the hoodest, blackest white skateboarder in England, ChewymotherfuckingCannon is the new PRO member of al-Jazeera shank shank shank to the face skateboard company Palace.”
Sounds like he’ll have signature wood over there…doesn’t it?
September 30, 2010 at 6:35 pm |
Those are face-melters; thanks for helping me find a newer way to waste time.
October 11, 2010 at 8:34 pm |
PWBC is way better than quartersnacks.
September 30, 2010 at 3:35 pm |
Blueprint have lost respect here in England and haven’t had any for a while, since Mikey Wright got the boot, although the video did go down well. Palace is the new hot shit, its got all bases coverd, arty videos for the art fags and grimey shit on PWBC-dont watch that.tv for the thugs.
everyones quiting blueprint and landscape to ride for them
October 16, 2010 at 11:31 am |
Mike left, he didn’t get kicked out
September 30, 2010 at 5:51 pm |
PWBC is to Palace what the Pissdrunx/Warner Avenue mob are to Baker.
Thought Mike Wright left Blueprint of his own accord for a European deal with Almost.
October 1, 2010 at 6:47 am |
“ledge muncher” is perfect.
Have you seen the Chewy clips in this Benny video?
http://www.adidas.com/campaigns/adidasskateboarding/content/index.asp?adidas_cc=uk#/media/features/bennyfairfaxspotlight/bennyfairfaxspotlgiht/st_p/
I’ve never actually felt both hyped and terrifed whilst watching someone skating! Mach 10 in the dark.
October 2, 2010 at 6:24 am |
@Pilot Light
I believe the reason that Marty Murawski got made pro ahead of Neil Smith and Chewy Cannon is because he has more international (read American) appeal. I know Blueprint want to be seen increasingly as an international skateboard company rather than just a British Skateboard company. I can’t blame them, it make sense if they want to grow and become a bigger stronger brand that is less likely to almost go bankrupt if we have another financial wobble.
In truth it was Faze7 (the distributor behind BP) that actually went bust and the BP brand had to find new backing.
I’m also told that the Chewy Cannon to Palace deal has been done a while. There was a gentleman’s agreement that he wouldn’t leave until a certain time period after the latest BP video dropped. I guess he didn’t want to fuck over a brand run by this friends who have helped him out a lot over the years.
October 4, 2010 at 7:52 am |
Think Sam hit the nail on the head right there.
Mike Wright left of his own accord as Ciaran said and i do not think Blueprint have lost any respect in the U.K at all. More power to them for pushing through a tough situation and coming out the other side with a strong team and a dope video. Shame Chewy had to split though as i love watching footage of him and i can not see Palace having the same strong video output as Blueprint have always had.
October 5, 2010 at 1:49 pm |
I agree with Sam.
A thought: Omar Salazar went pro for Rasa Libre and when they went under and he went to Alien, he was am again. The Murawski deal, whilst long awaited and much deserved, is pretty shafty in regards to Smith and Cannon.
October 5, 2010 at 8:51 pm |
how have people still not recognized the writing of that pompous kid in everyone’s grade 9 class who got the best mark in english and feels he needs to flaunt in and use words like “illustrious” and “forswearing” in casual conversation/writing?
October 6, 2010 at 3:57 am |
Are you happy?
October 6, 2010 at 6:07 am |
Casual conversation?
Skateboarding is super serious. We need big long words to try and comprehend how unbelievably radical it is.
October 6, 2010 at 6:01 pm |
The great thing about the WWW is that lonely souls around the globe can find each other and create a “virtual community”. Seems like BTO might be pompous 9 th grader HQ.
Head over to Salon.com to meet other PhDs in complit.
October 11, 2010 at 7:54 am |
if you understand what words like, ‘illustrious’ and ‘forswearing’ mean, why object to their use. a grown up writes this blog.
October 6, 2010 at 6:52 am |
My other thought is ‘Why wouldn’t coakley have been before marty??’
Chewy, Smith and Coakley are all far more enjoyable skaters/personalities over Marty.
What did you think of mfwtcb? I’m still waiting for the review!
October 10, 2010 at 7:10 pm |
I think Marty is simply more like-able. There isn’t a dud on the whole team or anything, but he was a good choice and hopefully they all get their due. It seems there are so many Coakley fans they’d be retarded not to move him up soon.
I would also very much like to hear your review of Make Friends………….