Late last June, the Emerica team went on their Wild Ride, a motorcycle tour through Northern California. I went along to film for Epicly Later’d and here is some of what I saw. It’s a long one.
This is Heath’s bike. He started riding first and became the inspiration for the yearly tour.
We camped in each town. This is Jon Miner, the real filmer.
Braydon. Probably pretending not to look psyched even though he’s always psyched.
Slash. He’s only 20 years old. No lie.
The first night we arrived at Lake Shasta where Emerica had a houseboat for us. Everyone was hanging on the boat and this creature was lurking in the shadows.
It was Sabermaster. He’s a 17 year old kid that lives near the lake and stalks through the woods with lightsabers he bought on ebay because of a lack of friends or at least peers to make fun of him.
Honestly, I really liked Sabermaster and even met his parents to get them to sign a release for the show. But the kid is seriously so out there that I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around it.
The next morning started off like this. We spent the whole day on the houseboat.
Emerica encouraged anyone to come on the tour. Most people were too intimidated, but a mom and her two sons followed them all the way from Oregon.
Every houseboat should have a slide; it’s like a more fun fire escape.
Too many dudes and not enough skis.
More dudes.
There were too many of us on the boat to begin with and just all day people were jumping, sliding or falling off.
Except Erik Hamamoto. He wrecked on his bike the day before and broke his collarbone among other things.
Chill mode.
There was a bridge that everyone was jumping off of.
Shane Heyl and Justin Regan jumped off the top.
Shane was the first one to go and looked pretty psyched.
Matt Ball jumped too. He’s got nothing left to lose.
Spanky’s knee was wrecked so he liked the off days when he didn’t feel bad for not being able to skate.
Miner.
Kirchart.
Austin Stephens is a good dude.
It gets a little weird here. Blair Alley let me borrow his tilt-shift lens. It does this to photographs.
Neckface bought a slingshot and the kids took it over.
Target practice.
Anakin was fishing.
Hiking.
Boozing.
Brocano.
We docked in an empty cove and called it home.
Sabermaster showed up again.
He performed for us. He actually climbed the bank and made animal sounds did a lazer light show. You’ll have to see the footage to know what I’m talking about.
Fireside Hsu tells the gnarliest campfire stories.
Nightscape one.
Nightscape two.
Heath looked all refreshed in the morning.
Leo wore a coonskin cap most of the trip.
Andrew autographed his signature model.
Yuba City ripper.
This kid was just trying to come up. He did a fatty-to-flatty backflip.
Senn, Herman and Suski.
Skatepark not prison.
Herman self-medicates.
We never got to the campsite before dark.
Grass Valley was actually the dustiest campground.
Blair made a friend. He probably ate a full pack of graham crackers.
Spotted this etching down at the swimming hole.
Jeremy and Herman.
Austin really roughs it.
This doesn’t stop anyone for taking your stuff. Purely decoration.
Suski’s rad. He should be playing lullabies for his newborn girl soon.
Jerry got a lot of good photos on the trip. Ask him about the drunk girl in the laudromat. Priceless.
This was Jerry’s idea.
Riding in the RV was a joy. Neckface sprayed this in people’s tents.
Customized Powerbooks.
Almost as good as the U2 ipods.
Jam session at the Sacramento campgrounds.
Peter.
They’ve really captured the essence of my youth at the Sacramento skatepark.
Westgate.
Jeremy Moore.
Matt Ball.
Sean Eaton.
Just in case you have to punch someone’s shin.
Emerica Motorcycle Club.
The next day we did a Zumiez demo in Milpitas. They had a backstage area for the VIPs.
Autograph #329 of the day.
Ed drove up for the day.
Marquis has the weirdest frontside shuvits.
There was only half a screw holding the rail in.
Figgy tried to steal some guy’s girlfriend.
Heath is sometimes over it.
Petaluma diner.
Our RV was much more glamorous than those crappy motorcycles.
Heath interrogated Figgy for hours, trying to see if he could handle himself on Emerica. It wasn’t looking good when Peter asked Figgy why he brought cologne on tour.
Westgate solidified his spot by trashing a hotel room on the first day of the trip.
Marquis was just trying to sleep. Damn.
Slash’s coordinates.
Stolen stakes.
I left my $300 camera light out and found it in the fire in the morning courtesy of Leo. He paid for it.
Heath’s had the same flag for the last few years and the states of the union continues to decrease.
Westgate is an eastcoast powerhouse. 360.
Epicly Later’d in progress.
Farmscape one.
Farmscape two.
The young ones enjoy nature.
Down To Fuck. Spanky and Neckface shared this one.
The Goat is Shane, Andrew and Spanky’s band.
Neckface made a shank out of his toothbrush. That was the only thing he used it for all ten days.
Jerry will skate anything.
It’s weird how all anyone does when camping at night is stare into the fire.
More signings.
The kid didn’t like the swastika they drew on his forehead, so Slash replaced it with Manson.
Peter Hackett is a badass.
This kid rips the Santa Rosa park.
Back at the campsite, staring into the fire.
Sean.
Matt drunkenly told me all about his ex-girlfriend and wanting to kill the owner of American Apparel. We really bonded that last night in Petaluma.
Check the fire reflection.
Blue and green.
This was the start of a really good night for Herman.
Bryan earned that one.
This was our last day in the RV. Trip’s coming to a close.
The Phoenix Hotel in SF. Last stop.
Gimme some shoooooes!
Since I was 12, I always wanted to go on a pro skate tour. I’m really glad I got to do it. But I’m also glad I don’t have to do it. Here’s to hectic times, unfavorable conditions, adventure and friendship. Thanks to Patrick, VBS and Emerica.
Goodbye.
Its rad you got to go on that trip…..Slash is a ripper huh…he skates blackbox all the time. Nice photos.
damn.. what an epic photo mission. Better and better all the time.
Yeah Bryan! I can see from your other stories that the sketchy shorts have been in effect for years. And here I thought they were special just to creep out all the skaters. Rock on!
ahh man, the "austin is a good dude" one, and "jerry's idea" are fucking amazing. will you sign my board?
I wish I had my MacBook Pro neck face customized. Amazing portraits especially of Austin. Very good work my friend.
eh bryan! great photos, and good to meet ya! i'll see ya. PS….shrewgy was right, creepy but you legitimized them.
awesome
damn, the colors are so fucking good. nice work
great fucking photos! the tilt-shift is a little weird, but interesting. keep up the awesome!
Matt Ball is a porn star. No joke.
Sick. I didn't realize when I saw them before that you were using a tilt shift and I though it was just some weird photoshoping. Congrats on a job well done. Can't wait to see the episodes. Are they done yet?
This is a really great set. I like the portraits especially.
Truly awesome pics there, how much p-shoping is going on colour wise? Fukin great trip man
Beautiful photos! They're as close to real as you can get without being there. Well, maybe. It was a crazy time and can't wait for next year. 🙂
good shit, shaun told me that the emerica team came to yuba shitty, haggard taggards sick as hell, need any of his footage, get at me
Nice pics, looks like a great ride… I've been from Cali to Sturgis and NY myself. What is the deal with Heath and the USMC jacket?
beautiful pics, you really captured the essence of the ride..
I am curious as to why Heath is wearing the Dress Blues of a US Marine? Did he earn the title? I doubt it, and I believe that its also inappropriate. I know that if none of you were ever Marines then you couldn't possibly understand what the uniform of a Marine is all about, thats why only Marines have the right to wear it, it's about respect, and by improperly wearing it, he disrepects all Marines, past and present. This isn't a comment of hate, just something to think about in the future. Just 2 cents from a young Marine combat veteran.
Heath is at war with life. or handrails