With 411VM immediately establishing itself as the must-see/own video from its inception in 1993, and instantaneously advancing skateboard progression, it wasn’t a surprise that it only took until the third issue to showcase the scene in Philadelphia. Fresh skate footage was hard enough to come by in the pre-internet days of borrowed/copied VHS tapes, and East Coast output was even more scarce, but 411VM absolutely fulfilled its commitment to covering lesser-documented scenes with this Metrospective articlefrom issue 3 featuring Ricky Oyola, Lil’ Stevie Williams and Matt Reason bringing the East Coast approach to the world. This section appeared on the tape immediately after the article on the World Industries park, which I think proves that both these places were as critical to the advancement of modern street skating as each other. Fred Gall was formally introduced to the world via his Love Park-heavy Rookies part in 411VM issue 8, just one year later, with what still remains one of the most quoted and rewatched parts of the ‘90s.
When 411VM returned to Philly for its second Metrospective article fromissue 13, just two years later, the rest of the world was already adapting to the ‘pushing harder on bigger wheels’ approach that would explode the following year with Dan Wolfe’s era-defining Eastern Exposure 3 video. This second Metrospective article for Philadelphia set the stage perfectly for this turning point of trick/spot selection and style, featuring a slightly-less-Little’ Stevie, Sergei Trudnowski, Bam, Jimmy Chung, AJ Mazzu, Matt Reason, Mike Maldonado, Vern Laird, and Ricky Oyola. Much like the 1993 part, this is a heavy crew of Sub Zero riders and associates.
View on Instagram
It speaks volumes on the skateboarding happening in Philadelphia, and how constantly up-to-date and vital 411VM was, that these two video parts appeared just ten issues apart, before the East Coast even blew up like it did. - Neil Macdonald (@scienceversuslife)
View on Instagram
