ROUGH v. RTP

So, having watched Rep The Pep for the first time in several months (the last time being the week before the ROUGH premiere), I noticed several differences between the videos that may or may not be of interest. Although in technical terms the skating is a step above, the editing is a step above, and the filming is a far step above for ROUGH, Rep The Pep stands alone as it's own force, and possibly, dare I say, a Culpeper Masterpiece. Since we have no new footage to show, due to broken cameras and a break from filming, I hope this post will be readable and somewhat interesting to those involved in any part of the Park's past.

Rep The Pep and Rough differ on several obvious levels; for one, the level of technical skating in RTP is higher, due to our park-shark nature at that time. For two, Jesse, Jasi, DC, Max and Maxi all lack full parts, and David Dennis, Shane, and Hunner are completely absent from the production. Third, the music in ROUGH is not local, and fourth, the montages from Rep The Pep are absent in ROUGH.

Let me explain these meanings.

ROUGH, initially a street-compliment to the park-heavy Rep The Pep, ended up being a feat of conquering distance and communication, with most of us shotgunned throughout the state of Virginia and even as far as North Carolina, Germany, Alabama, Australia, and wherever else Maximilian was commissioned to. To finish ROUGH we had to coordinate with people I'd never even met, and slap together older footage post-relocation with newer footage from unmet counterparts. We had to deal with evolving schedules, growing lives, and un-forseen tragedies as well, making the once complimentary video a brand all it's own. ROUGH was originally slated to be a short, all street and concrete park montage, and although clocking in around a short 25 minutes, it obviously became much more. The issues of getting crew members to actually show up to skate became more problematic than the actual act of skating and getting footage; for example, Maxwell and Mike were initially slated for full parts, and Maxi was expected to deliver a full length effort over the short span of one month. Life issues aside, everyone gave ROUGH a pretty damn heroic try; after all, we are a bunch of skatepark sludge that's managed to keep it together for four years in a row. Considering this, ROUGH in it's portrayal of street missions and battles against time, daylight, the seasons, security, and schedules is a masterpiece in it's own right, showing what can be done with the limited space made available for skating of an unnatural nature; that is, street skating.

Yet however better in terms of ability ROUGH is compared to Rep The Pep, my recent viewing of RTP reminded me of several things that make that project a unique outcome all it's own, and worthy of future viewing despite it's 'big' brother ROUGH. Considering even the menu image, the pure feat of synchronizing and bringing together 12 people at the exact same time and date even wearing the same shirt is remarkable. David's hubba-happy massacre, the Roy Rogers shutdown, the old ledge and spine meeting an unprecedented slaughter. All of this was a miracle of proportions unknown to the average park attendee. True, ROUGH opened doors on the Sherwin Williams 3-to-Flat, the Glass Gap, and Golden Corral; yet Rep The Pep stands as a testament not to the abilities of the 13 skaters featured in it, but rather to the two-year time period in which it was filmed. Rep The Pep is full of park skating, and God knows I have received enough criticism over this. However, the video itself serves as a time capsule into the hype and depression and pure feeling of that time, whenever it so fell into your lifespan. Suffering the loss of an amazing friend and skater, the people featured in that video (many swearing to never skate the park again after Hunner's loss) persevered over insurmountable issues and odds to compile something which represents not only their own daily activities, but a truly unique history of the Culpeper skate park. Footage from Maxwell's camera dating as far back as 2003 and additional footage contributed by Timmy Rall's GL2 on Travis Laplante and Bryan Lamb's filming missions combined with the bro-cam footage of Pirate Steve Bledsoe all show a period in time when the park was THE place to be, a time when hometown legends' (Gookin, Miller, the 'old guard' from the park's early days) impact was felt and pushed everyday. Rep The Pep brought together every capable person in the town at that time, and fused it with music movements and the always-problematic period of transition from one generation to another in the Culpeper youth. The footage portrayed within shows more than just skating; ask any of the involved about certain clips. There are stories within each part, including Davey's meeting of his now-multi-year romance partner, Allan's tooth breaking, Shane's baby-blessed times of freedom, and Maxwell's Sherwin Williams lunch breaks. Culpeper skateboarding, highlighted by unnecessary newspaper coverage and an abundance of young skaters, was at a peak at this moment in time. Rep The Pep showcases the lives of the park regulars at this controversial and emotionally wrenching time, and gives a hopeful future a glimpse into the everyday accomplishments of these guys. Although not representative of talents shifted into the rugged and unforgiving East Coast atmosphere, it does show the progression of the park, the sessions, the friendships, and the triumphs achieved by the coming-together of two groups of people fused with the input of many more. Altogether, Rep The Pep is not about the ROUGH-showcased blowouts on the movie theater flat gap, the Fredericksburg dock to rail, the Bryant Park bricks, or White Walls. Rep The Pep is a time capsule, one in which everyone present can look back on and enjoy the memories of a culture uprooted and flipped. Take out your copy and enjoy whenever you have the chance; the odds surrounding even the filming of that video are too much to explain in this space. Don't take that particular production for granted (or ROUGH, for that matter).... That project was for everyone, that project was for the Park, for Hunner, for the town council that doubted our ability to exist. ROUGH and Rep The Pep are two very different presentations; although many will think I'm seeing too deeply into this, I have been at the heart of each project. The problems and triumphs of both are worth attention, and we made them for viewers. Enjoy these products for what they are; there are no Culpeper predecessors like them, save the early video "Insight" by Ricky Strevel (good luck finding one, even mine got stolen). Each DVD represents a different time and the lives of different people; they are not to be seen as progressive elements, but rather as compliments, efforts of exertion by guys attempting to balance their lives with their passions. Tragedy, separation, scheduling, coordination - all are problems associated with both videos. Take them out of their dusty cases and give them a view whenever you have the chance; that will make the work worth it.

Although indignant and defensive at times, I have put the effort into these videos for the viewers of Culpeper. Tim and I have dedicated years of our lives to these projects, not to mention the time put in by the skaters, and the contributions of musicians and council friends. Watch them, think about them. Never let their meaning be lost, especially Rep The Pep. We ride for Hunner, who can never ride among us again. Skate forever.