More or less on schedule with the arrival of shittier weather and the autumn crop of video premieres, Boil the ocean internet blog spot/space examines potential and plausible candidates for Thrasher’s 2011 skater of the year, known as the only award without several zeroes behind it that matters in the streets.
Dennis Busenitz
If it ain’t this year then probably it never will be for the dude, and these younger guns toting heavier hammers and rumors of Jake Phelps remaining cool on him further slim the odds. Drawing the curtains on this year’s most recent Real production was another stripe up on Busenitz’s arm and from over here his big win in Tampa (SOTY of contests?) bought one of the year’s more culture-affirming moments, but kinda still see him getting passed over again — which in the long run will probably rank him with Muska and Jamie Thomas, since aside from Bob Puleo and Marc Johnson it’s tough to think of many dudes exerting more influence on the ‘modern scene.’
Torey Pudwill
Pro footwear, his own week on the Thrasher website and dating an internet meme of ridiculous proportions, Torey Pudwill has made strides since parting ways with his Alien flow packages. But was his midsummer Thrasher web dominance more like a marriage of convenience targeting unique page views than a lasting love affair? Calculated shot at SOTY status or not you’d be hard pressed to match the combos and waist-high ledge get-ups in terms of fireworks power, among both web one-offs and still-to-DVD productions alike. Pudwill would be a strong entry in a race that some years seems to go to the consensus candidate in lieu of a dominant MJ, Rowley, Arto or Daewon.
Grant Taylor
A favorite skater’s favorite skater type and for the past year-plus the recipient of many a slobbery, deep-throated photo caption via Thrasher and with fairly good reason. Grant Taylor possibly tops Leo Romero in attitude negativity and also is an ATV mold-breaker. Meanwhile he’s managed to run an impressive and Heath Kirchart-like streak of non-communication that’s admirable in our Instagram laundry-airing era. No video part yet but I like how he’s got good footage embedded in any number of crusty tour clips.
Brandon Westgate
Not letting up the bumps-to-bars pummeling he brought toward the end of last year, Brandon Westgate in 2011 also offered us a regular-joe turn in “Epicly Later’d” that sported a blue collar motif kinda at odds with the Marc Ecko corporate umbrella, but well loved by the canned beer/hair by Wahl set. Setting up shop on the San Francisco hills wins Nor-Cal points and he backside smith grinded up a handrail, Brandon Westgate is on his level.
Nyjah Huston
A 16-year-old kid who’s closing in on a million dollars’ worth of soda-pop contest prizes (this year) and yet somehow being packaged as a comeback story. For the purposes of Xcel autosumming stair counts and degree rotations onto handrails Nyjah Huston could probably claim the little SOTY statuette on the basis of Street League points, and he generously gave a week’s worth of photos and a humdrum interview to Thrasher not long ago. Together with a to-come internet video part this kid figures as a contender but even without the tween dreadlocks look there’s not a lot dramatic about his tricks.
Justin Brock
Every self-respecting blog list needs a dark-horse entry that makes some kind of rational sense, and for our purposes Justin Brock fits the bill. He is a southern beer swiller and a sometime loudmouth, he recorded a rollicking two-song section for the Real vid that peaked with a triumph over security, he jumped aboard KOTR mainly I think to support his bros and swill beers (and lose). Has there ever been a glasses-wearing skater of the year?
Fred Gall
Good internet lists designed to create arguments and draw precious web hits also often include a darker-horse entry that is controversial. Fred Gall in 2011 courted controversy by taking off his clothes (again), going to jail (again), and wallriding a moving bus. There is a ponderous blog post maybe to be written as a compare/contrast of Fred Gall and Sean Sheffey’s careers and legal trespasses and their shared inclination toward switchstance skating, but for the purposes of this one, I guess Sheffey never won SOTY either.
Tags: 2011, acetone, Brandon Westgate, Dennis Busenitz, Fred Gall, Grant Taylor, jail, Jake Phelps, Justin Brock, noodles, Sean Sheffey, songcraft, SOTY, Strega Nona, Thrasher, Torey Pudwill
October 20, 2011 at 1:12 am |
I vote Fred Gall.
October 20, 2011 at 1:48 am |
Jake Phelps is a D bag. I came across him the other night while I was riding my bike home. He was skating down the middle of the lane going the wrong way and purposely swerving at bikes coming at him in the bike lane, mumbling to himself. Dude is a serious mess. This definitely isn’t the first (or last) such sighting.
That being said, skater of the year definitely still matters, somehow. My vote is for Busenitz!
October 21, 2011 at 1:56 pm |
I can understand plenty of Phelps hate that gets tossed around. But what’s not to like about that story?
October 24, 2011 at 2:00 pm |
lol…point taken.
October 24, 2011 at 7:12 pm |
HAHAHAHA……..sounds like the phelper….git yer bike outta the skate lane fuckhead
October 20, 2011 at 4:08 am |
bob burnquist counts as soty with glasses
October 20, 2011 at 1:30 pm |
Maybe not this year, but Gilbert Crockett sits poised for somebody’s nomination down the road. I’m not one to measure quantity of coverage, but it’s there, and it’s all amazing. Plus, anyone who can jump ship from the Jamie Thomas Program, promote a tough city to skate, and not take his/herself too seriously earns points in this camp.
October 25, 2011 at 8:57 am |
rAVEN TERSHY!!!!
November 2, 2011 at 1:24 pm
yeah no, tershys good but supremely overrated.
October 20, 2011 at 2:33 pm |
No one should be able to win SOTY if they skate for Nike.
October 20, 2011 at 4:10 pm |
what about addidas?
October 20, 2011 at 4:11 pm
adidas*
October 20, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Yep, them too. If you skate for any of those companies, sorry but you forfeit your eligibility. I don’t care if you have a family to support or are looking out for your future, that is fine, people have to live.
October 25, 2011 at 10:50 am
Silas Baxter-Neal in 2008, an adidas guy!
October 24, 2011 at 8:31 pm |
you sir, are a fucking idiot
October 25, 2011 at 4:27 am
good one
October 20, 2011 at 4:40 pm |
Heath should win it with just that Backside 360 he did in Colorado.
October 20, 2011 at 4:43 pm |
I hate to say it, but it’s Nyjah’s year. Hands down, dreads off.
October 20, 2011 at 5:47 pm |
what about sheckler!?!?! doesnt he still have a video part coming out that is s’posed to blow minds?
October 24, 2011 at 8:01 pm |
shut up.
October 20, 2011 at 6:44 pm |
NighJah has a lot of years ahead of him, so not this year. Also, its not the shoes that make the soty, its what is done in them.
October 20, 2011 at 7:22 pm |
grant taylor
October 21, 2011 at 12:13 am |
i can’t picture anyone but grant taking it. of course, i said it had to be rune (remember that interview?!?!?!?) when SBN got it, so what the fuck do i know?
October 21, 2011 at 8:57 am |
ummm my dark horse pick would be aaron homoki, thrasher cover w massive ollie, pro for birdhouse (which i guess is actually kinda a knock against him), outrageously gnar part in happy medium 2 w good all around skating. Another pick that could (probably won’t) happen would be wes kremer. Although his main part was in Transworld video, he’s gonna have a part in sk8mafia video and he’s an all around shredder (but from socal, lots of Transworld ties, etc.)
October 21, 2011 at 2:40 pm |
I vote Fred Gall too.
October 21, 2011 at 6:35 pm |
Great article. There really isn’t a clear winner amongst them… personally I think Grant did more to earn SOTY last year than this year, although it was “too soon” at the time. I’m leaning towards Busenitz just due to the sheer outrage that will arise if he doesn’t get it… plus he lives in SF. What’s this deal with Phelps not feeling him? What’s not to like?
October 21, 2011 at 7:56 pm |
playing devil’s advocate here, but doesn’t grant taylor just do mid-80’s vert tricks, but in bowls?
October 22, 2011 at 5:35 pm |
i dunno, you see Killing Time? he keeps up with Trujillo…
October 22, 2011 at 7:47 pm |
That will always be way more sick than disco.
Tony Trujillo, Grant Taylor, Raven Tershy, Sammy Baca…etc. It’s just better.
October 25, 2011 at 10:36 am |
I don’t think anyone in the 80’s even did a frontside air (no grab) the way he does them. Style is completely different from the hands on the coping, grabbing style of the 80’s.
And haven’t you seen Nike debacle?! He is an insane street skater as well.
October 21, 2011 at 11:05 pm |
No way for Nyjah! How ugly does his tricks look in skate photos…yuk! Style is a factor not monopoly money contest points.
October 26, 2011 at 7:14 pm |
exactly. he’s apart of the corporate public image of skateboarding. he’s good at tricks but as far as being a soty… never.
October 23, 2011 at 3:29 am |
How about Jason Dill? Thrasher cover, Vans team, Odd Future video…
October 23, 2011 at 12:46 pm |
Dennis
October 23, 2011 at 7:13 pm |
busenitz would be dope regardless if he is on adidas, the dude is rad as fuck^^
October 24, 2011 at 12:03 am |
I hope Nyjah NEVER gets SOTY. No matter how good at skating he is, he will always be a kook in my book. Dennis for sure.
October 25, 2011 at 4:29 am |
good call
October 24, 2011 at 11:27 am |
Todd Falcon SOTY.
October 24, 2011 at 1:18 pm |
Big Anthony got it boiling nice and hot. Good cases for all. Personally pushing for Dennis or Torey but it’s definitely anybody’s race.
October 24, 2011 at 6:51 pm |
jaws is skater of the year…he does crazy ish
October 24, 2011 at 7:05 pm |
Wes Kremer would be cool, but Busenitz deservs it, that guy fucking rips!
October 24, 2011 at 7:07 pm |
cory kennedy for the win!!! i know hes not up there but….
October 24, 2011 at 7:28 pm |
surprised no one has mentioned Wes Kremer!
October 24, 2011 at 7:31 pm |
im voting for raven tershy, he out granted grant and thats just amazing
October 24, 2011 at 7:33 pm |
Grant Taylor. c’mon, Skate & Destroy attitude and the flowest flow on bowl.
that guy shreds the unshreddable
October 24, 2011 at 8:09 pm |
shut up and skate
October 24, 2011 at 8:35 pm |
What about Jaws? Thrasher cover w/ the biggest ollie ever recorded, end part in Happy Medium (probably the best part of the year), and he turned pro!
October 24, 2011 at 9:11 pm |
joey b for holding down a pro career by only using two wheels
October 24, 2011 at 9:43 pm |
Great Article, my question is, how come onetime heir to the throne Paul Rodriguez seems like more of an underdog nowadays. His solo part was groundbreaking, there might not be anyone else out there who can switch back noseblunt a handrail, yet somehow it kind of flew under the radar, even compared to Pudwell’s. He does consistently pretty well in those street league contests, and had a battle commander at the berrics (may have been last year). skating better than he ever has, yet you never here his name thrown around in these debates. 3 years ago he would have been the favourite to win one of these things based on his name alone.
October 25, 2011 at 12:46 am |
P-Rod’s switch back-tail heelflip in the November Thrasher is one of the ugliest tricks in recent memory. And I believe he was wearing a PR shirt.
In the same issue, you have back-to-back Grant and Raven street adds that fly in the face of the “80’s tricks in bowls” argument above.
Also in the issue is the aforementioned Heath 360 and Fred Gall in a dumb truck.
October 25, 2011 at 5:45 pm |
please go die
October 25, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Oh my bad, P-Rod was probably wearing a Roger Federer “RF” shirt. My apologies.
October 25, 2011 at 2:33 am |
How Bout fucking Wes Kremer! Dudes been killing it all year long, and just went pro with two parts dropping, not to mention mucho coverage?! Comeon man
October 25, 2011 at 8:28 am |
Nyjah’s kiss my ass!! Busenitz it’s the men!!!!!
October 25, 2011 at 9:26 am |
another vote for freddy gall
October 25, 2011 at 10:11 am |
Chris Miller.
October 25, 2011 at 11:17 am |
I vote for Nobody.
He’s the guy who everyone likes.
October 25, 2011 at 11:46 am |
no one on that list can slob air 8 feet out, and then go noseblunt a 10 stair…except grant!
grant for soty!!
October 25, 2011 at 1:34 pm |
Breverick Gall
October 25, 2011 at 1:49 pm |
Anyone still thinking Dylan Rieder has a shot at this, or are we back to sleeping on that dude’s talent?
October 25, 2011 at 2:03 pm |
Chris Miller?
October 26, 2011 at 2:55 pm |
Yes, Chris Miller.
October 26, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Agreed.
October 25, 2011 at 3:44 pm |
T-Mo or Grosso
October 25, 2011 at 5:55 pm |
Of course I want Grant to win, because we both are from ATL and I see him at the park on the regular (if you hate on this guy w/o having had seen him skate in real life, you have no place to talk shit), but Boozentits deserves the hell out of it and has for a while now. Those are my top picks, and if Nyjah wins, I will probably cancel my Thrasher subscription….
October 26, 2011 at 11:42 am |
no matter how many times i see grant skate in person, i’m still dumbfounded.
October 25, 2011 at 6:21 pm |
60 comments, this post been put on slap or something?
October 26, 2011 at 8:19 am |
Grant Taylor hands down. Skate and destroy.
October 26, 2011 at 11:45 am |
Brandon Westgate or Grant Taylor. Both have been killing it.
October 26, 2011 at 11:51 am |
If Chris Miller had some street footage available it would be a no brainer. Busenitz’ time has come and gone, very sad he was never truly recognised. Grant should get it for overall shreddage but is not the ‘nasty’ personality that promotes the hate necessary to inflame the skate fashionistas into spending. Give it to someone totally unexpected for the entertainment value.
October 27, 2011 at 2:44 pm |
Grant, Westgate, and Busenitz each deserve to get it but unfortunately T-“Buds” or Nyjah will more than likely be the ones recognized purely for being hype machines. Too bad there isn’t a more democratic process for this award.
October 29, 2011 at 8:21 am |
Dennis Busenitz for sure. Huge influence. He toured all year and killed it everywhere he went! Last part in Real, Tampa, so many sick ads. He deserves it for sure!
Grant Taylor, Westgate and T-Pud will all have even better years. Same for Nyjah.
Reynolds?
November 1, 2011 at 12:32 pm |
exhibit 29
ollie at 1:12 feat. Phelps finger point
http://www.skatevideosonline.net/video/1265/transworld/cph-pro-2011-street-finals/
November 2, 2011 at 1:29 pm |
brandon westgate. he’s the only one on this list pushing boundaries. he fucking rules.
November 6, 2011 at 3:41 am |
gilbert crockett
November 6, 2011 at 3:42 am |
gilbert crockett
November 7, 2011 at 12:18 pm |
how could you say raven tershay is overrated? the homie hadn’t ever been in the x-games, first go destroys everything and gets gold muthafucka yeeee, raven for SOTY all the way
November 8, 2011 at 5:37 pm |
kazino dorean…
[…]Big Anthony Speaks The Magic Words, And The SOTY Pot Begins To Bubble « boil the ocean[…]…
November 12, 2011 at 1:41 am |
blegh just watched the new nyjah part and i think he wins skateboarding… i dont think its a good thing