Believe it or not, when we started skating back the early 2000s, there was no YouTube. The average Internet connection speed was so slow you had to leave your computer switched on over night just to download the new Dr. Dre album. Accordingly, sucking a full-length video through the fucking telephone line took the better half of a week, I shit you not. As a result, watching the newest, hottest skate video was a matter of going to the next skate shop and either convincing the clerk to put it in the store’s VCR or just straight up buying it (thus limiting your weed money considerably).
One of those skate shop VCR sessions involved the independently produced, Pac-Man-themed Chomp On This, released in 2002. It was a very special video back then, and it still remains unique to this day. The premise is as simple as it is unorthodox: filmers and professional skateboarders changed fronts, giving the faceless but devoted videographers an opportunity to shine on the other side of the camera. As a result, what they lack in skill, they make up for in cheerfulness. They’re not pros and they know it. Still, they’re having so much fun it’s hard not to enjoy watching them kickflipping five stairs at Love Park. The video’s self-awareness carries a lightness that never fails to get us hyped to go skateboarding.
It’s obvious from the start Chomp On This doesn’t take itself too seriously. In fact, the video makes fun of it’s own shortcomings right out of the gate: the intro sequence is a spoof of skateboarding’s most infamous spots, including Atiba Jefferson faking a kickflip down Hollywood High’s 16 stair set and Lee Dupont fake-ollying the now-demolished Leap Of Faith gap. Setting the tone for the rest of the incredibly entertaining video, the intro thus recognizes the videographers as the unacknowledged heroes of skateboarding.
What follows is a tour-de-force of parts, featuring, among others, such famous filmers and photographers as the Jefferson brothers, Ty Evans, Giovanni Reda, and Ryan Gee. There are a couple of friends parts, all of which are equally amazing. Although the video’s focus rests on the filmers, their appearances are intercut with parts from pros, including a young Brandon Biebel, Jamie Thomas, and Eric Koston (the latter two are introduced as “The Chief” and “Froston” respectively).
Actually, let’s talk about those parts. Koston’s (Froston’s) part consists of half skateboarding, half party footage, featuring a shitfaced Koston disguised as GG Allin. His part is edited to Allin’s “Bite it, you Scum” and is arguably the most energetic of the bunch. Biebel’s part is expectably funny, in a bro kind of way, while Jamie’s offers banger after banger. It’s spiced up with snippets from horror classic Nightmare On Elm Street, and The Chief is frequently wearing his signature “Freddy Krueger” sweater, which was released by C1RCA back in the day. Peculiarly, Chomp On This features Jamie’s only part ever edited to hip hop, namely TRU’s gangsta track “Hoody Hoo.”
Speaking of music, Chomp On This has an incredibly varied mix of rock, punk and hip hop. Aaliyah, Ja Rule and Tupac are taking turns with Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols and Guns ‘n’ Roses. While the skating is fun throughout the video, it’s the soundtrack that makes some segments unforgettable. It’s one of those soundtracks that you will want to create a Spotify playlist for and listen to it while you skate.
In conclusion, Chomp On This is still a great video to watch before a skate session and a vital part of skateboarding history. The good times these guys are having is evident in every frame. It may not live up to today’s trick standard, especially with so many non-pro parts, but its vibe is so contagious it’ll make you want to grab your board instantly. And, after all, isn’t that the sole purpose of a skate video? If you haven’t seen it yet, do it now. Chomp on this, punk!
CHOMP ON THIS was released in 2002. It features Atiba Jefferson, Ty Evans, Brandon Biebel, Jamie Thomas, and Eric Koston. It has a has a runtime of 59 minutes.
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