As a magazine publisher, a number of skate videos cross my desk each year. While each one has a unique quality, I had a sense there was something truly special about “Livin Free.” Little did I realize, when I started to investigate the story behind this video, that it would turn into a four-page story. While “Livin Free” is on its way to becoming a hit in the longboarding world, the story behind the film turns out to be just as intriguing. Turns out that reality doesn’t bite after all.

I love this earth. I love skate road trips, waking up inside my tent, unzipping the door, breathing in salt air, studying the furrowed bark of a redwood tree and the sound of sea gulls debating. I enjoy these experiences of nature before I push off on my skateboard to go get a cup of strong coffee and ride the local skate spots.

A tribute to the downhiller Mecca Mary Hill. Covering the history of this pantheon of speed.