Thrasher Magazine

To celebrate Alexis Sablone's new shoe, CONS threw one of the most extravagant release parties with the full team in attendance at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Big pros, fresh kicks, famous artworks and not famous influencers, see why Trevor Thompson called this night a movie. —Ted Schmitz

Normally to be featured in this museum, you have to be one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, have gone to an Ivy League art program or, I imagine, have known who to bribe. Alexis for sure did one of those

If you were worried that a stuffy museum party was gonna be light on the skating, don’t worry. I linked up with a local to snap this manny down 5th Ave

Then this dude got the scroll in first try

Yo, this is my beat

Shit, nevermind. Let’s see if any skaters are here yet

Couldn’t ask for a better first sight. The crowd was stacked with shop owners from across the country. Here we’ve got Guido from Civil and cornerstone of the Phoenix scene Trent Martin from Cowtown

And we got shop owners that are also pro skaters! WKND and Plush’s Trevor Thompson came with a light bite to eat. Hope that holds him over…

The Sablone inner circle. Alia Huffman, her fiancé Trevor and Alexis' partner Josephine Noel

Finally, the team arrives, fronted by our 2020 FOTY and man behind Mason’s epic new part

The gang’s all here! Ryan, Shane, Louie, Erik, Ben and Lee. Just a couple nice fellas!

*Record scratch* Cue the bad-boy rock ‘n’ roll music

Sage was really happy to see me

JD actually was

I always like it when famous skaters have to get wristbands. It means there’s a security guard in there that has no fuckin’ clue who they are

But we all know these guys. Erik Herrera and the State College’s hometown hero

One of these guys is taller than the other one

Boston…I’m gonna need you to stand up. Armen from Orchard and Brianna Delaney are in the building. Well, in this picture they’re just right outside of it

First looks

The museum restaurant is also the guest-of-honor jail. Let’s see what’s goin’ on in there

What, no PBR? This is one classy VIP lounge

My captions are all pretty much tong in chips

Louie just uses his hands—like Ryan Townley on a boardslide, or Mike V on everything

Jax Effs knew how to get a smile out of Sage

In 20 years, this caption will be “A bunch of people that used to be pro and the chosen one”

Boston…I’m not fuckin’ kidding. Stop hating my boardslides on ledges and get the fuck up out of your seats. Lee Berman and Jahmal Williams are actually in the building

Jahmal and Moose talked fatherhood and I dipped before I said some stupid shit like, “I’m a dog dad, so I get it”

Every caption of young skaters with prodigious talents always says, “The future’s lookin’ bright.” Well if it ain’t broke, use it for this picture of Zion and Jax

After two years in New York, I thought I would be friends with Sage by now. Instead, I just take pictures of him when he’s not looking...because I’m normal

The owners of my favorite back tail, my favorite switch flip and my favorite testicle ornament hanging from a beltloop…

The one in yellow made Purple. The other one is Alexis Sablone who was on New Balance when that video came out

Erik is nice, but I like that he looks pissed to get a drink

Zion and Jax’ dad knows exactly what the fuck is goin’ on. Speaking of what’s going on, shouldn’t we see the museum?!

Frank Lloyd Am I Wright?!

Nesser probably saying, “I could shove over this railing.”

Before we judge, remember everyone interacts with art in their own way, you fuckin’ snob

Hey, look, it’s Walker Ryan Lee!

And Yaje!

My favorite thing about Elias is that he’s really nice, fun to talk to and super talented with a camera. My least favorite thing about him is that, like Nick Boserio, he’s a fake bald guy. That’s right, full head of hair under that cap

Alright, let’s look at some art. More of Alexis Sablone's talents on display here

“What is this?”

"A skatepark for ants?!" Before you think that Zoolander quote is too low-brow, keep in mind Terrence Malick loves it

This picture is called, “Dan Flavin fluorescent light piece or DJ set prop?”

These green walls supposedly make a face when you look at it from above. I might be too close, but I think these people are the boogers...or the beard

Second looks

I knew that acai bowl couldn’t hold Trevor over. Maybe these fries will do the trick...

SOTY in a Sci-Fi hat

I blew the focus, but everyone here is too sick to not show. Leo, Elise and BA

This thing was better attended than some retrospectives! Now let’s go find more people with pink hair

Nailed it

Not quite, but red eyebrows might be a new one for the blog

Did this person come through to promote a book about the genocide of the native American population? Probably not, but you should check that one out regardless

Being a pillar of the skate world wasn’t enough. Now she’s one for the art world too. And since I brought up art, I might as well use it as my segue to look at some...

My friend Walker is more of a words guy

It looks simple and elegant, but there’s a delicate intricacy to it as well. You wouldn’t know about that, would you, Louie?

This piece looks cool, so does the little man Jax

I was happy to see this couple enjoying a painting that I for sure know the name of

Oh shit, it’s fiancés Emily and Andrew!

I asked Jahmal if I could take a picture of him looking at art and he told me this one from Paul Cézanne is one of his favorites. I will be Wikipedia-ing Cézanne the second I’m done here so I have something talk about other than the fact I'm a dog dad

I actually do encourage you to break away and experience art whenever you can. Even if it sucks, it’s better than your stupid fuckin’ phone

You might meet some great company!

Blew the focus here too ‘cause Ben’s Contax made me nervous

I told Mark Del Negro I needed my flash for this one and he said, “Extra red.” That was funny to me so I’m telling you too

You saw that switch three flip noseblunt on the front?! Jared shot it

Last on our tour through the galleries, I thought these people were celebrities 'cause they kinda looked like it. But then I noticed a whole floor of New York types behind me

Now he's stealing food from the woman of the hour?! At least I think that salad hit the spot

Stoked to see Steiner and Jersey Dave, seen here with BGPs from Moose and JJ

I heard Jeremy Elkin (middle) had something to do with the night’s video. Let's go see it

“Alright, this one’s for the motherfuckers in the back….errrrr…top”

Alexis said something like, “It’s really nice to be here and thank you for coming.” But it would've been sick if she said, “Yeah, I ate the grapes at Whole Foods, and look at me now!”

Museum and a movie?!

Yes, that’s correct

Standing room only

Wait, there’s jocks here?!

FUCK THAT

Cass and company agree

Here’s another picture of Walker because he moves on Saturday and we're gonna miss him

Throw a peace up if you have the best shove in the building

This dude doesn't have the best shove in the building, but he told me this picture was going to be worth a million dollars someday. I forgot to ask him who to invoice...

Someday, they’ll be dropping thousands of dollars for your shoe party too, Jiro

How did I end back up here?

This collage is called, “I had a hard time taking a picture of that face with my 85mm”

It honestly amazed me how many people came for the art…

Nevermind, that’s just Emily and Andrew again

Last looks with Alexis and a fully satiated Trevor Thompson (please watch Sir Palmer again)

It is really cool when the people you love get celebrated. I think Josephine agrees  

BIG LOVE

Take us out, guys!

Leaving the event I had some thoughts that might be too weird considering the occasion, but if you’ve made it this far, what’s another minute? Walking through, you could feel a certain buzz, like this hum of a crowd that was excited to be inside the Guggenheim. Maybe it's like being "on the list” for them is being "in the van" for us. It just kinda seemed like a bunch of people were there to be among the types of people that are photographed and filmed in esteemed places. And it’s cool to have a lot of New Yorkers there to celebrate one of the best skaters out. But I wished there was a way to communicate to some of them just how sick her catalog is. How Alexis is epic, not because she’s acknowledged by brands that can rent out museums, but because she works for clips until she can barely walk. Because she has the superlative switch flip. Because her Seize the Seconds part was exactly what we hoped to get out of her being on CONS. She did it the hard way, through blood and struggle when there was no fuckin' money. I hope on top of recognizing her for being the skater that was honored at this famous place, you take some time to watch one of her parts again and send a clip of Alexis to a friend. She fought for those and we're lucky to have them.