Culture shock is not usually experienced on an extreme scale by Americans who are touring a Canadian metropolis. Globally speaking, the cities north of the border are not much unlike those of the US (outside of the ridiculous accents, unnecessary apologies, and self-deprecating humor). This theory of likeness is of course with the exception of those regions within the French-speaking province of Quebec (and arguably Newfoundland, where the language attempted to be spoken can be difficult to pin down). Touring these areas of the country will truly provide a foreign and worldly experience. And this fall, for many of the heads on KR3W, visiting Montreal did just that.—Luke Callahan
From the article in our January 2015 issue. Watch the video here.
Photos by Cameron Strand
Spencer Hamilton
With Montreal being just outside of Ottawa, what were some of the things you wanted the crew to experience in your home turf?
You always got to show ’em the strip clubs. Definitely a favorite upon arriving in Montreal.
Are the strip clubs an essential place to check out in every city? Just to compare and contrast from each other?
I’m not too partial to strip clubs, but certain cities you’ve got check ’em out. Of course in Atlanta, you’ve got to check it out there.
Being familiar with the spots and the history of what’s gone down, what were some of the more stand-out sessions?
The long rail that Kirby lipslid and AJ feebled and back 50’d. That was the first spot I’d ever went to in Montreal, like 12 years ago as a little kid, like, “Whoa, this is the sickest rail!” Never skated it, never had the balls. I’m not the kind of guy that would jump on that but always wanted to. To see them just roll up [and skate it] no problem. That was probably my favorite trick of the whole trip—AJ’s back 50.
Song of the trip?
[Laughs] I was just listening to tropical house music. Kygo. “Sexual Healing” Kygo remix and “Let Her Go” Kygo remix.
Advice to those thinking of going to Montreal?
Get your damn plane ticket. It’s the best. There’re spots galore. One of my favorite cities in North America.
Who from KR3W would you like to travel with on the next trip? Anyone you haven’t toured with yet?
Windsor [James]. He’s the funnest to hang out with, but I haven’t gone on a trip with him yet.
Chris Gregson
Describe the Montreal experience in three words.
Poutine bread bowl.
Explain.
AJ was saying, “I’m going to make millions, move to Montreal, and make a poutine bread bowl.” Then we were drunk, and it kind of sounded like “poutine Red Bull.” Just order a poutine Red Bull [laughs].
How does Montreal differ from other cities you’ve been to?
Montreal has some of the best spots I’ve skated in my life. Everyone is so welcoming with their spots. They had the craziest spot book I’ve ever seen. Some of the descriptions said, “East Coast–type run-up. California landing.” [laughs].
Trip highlight?
TRH-Bar. It was a three-story bar. The second story had a bowl and third story had a replica mini ramp of The Big O. We got there and they handed us a bottle of Jameson and a pitcher of Coke. That session was fun.
Something you learned about one of the other dudes on the trip?
Spencer Hamilton is the healthiest person alive [laughs]. He would make everyone breakfast every morning. He spent like 500 dollars on groceries and fed everyone with the best meals—gourmet food. He had some lady deliver groceries from this organic farm a few hours outside of Montreal. It was crazy.
Who was MVP?
Oscar [Candon].
One track to sum up the trip?
“Easy Street” by Amanaz. We’d listen to that in the van in the morning. It’s super easy on the ears for when you’re not feeling too hot.
Advice for anyone heading up to Montreal?
Hang out with the Dimestore dudes.
Who from KR3W would you like to tour with next?
It would be sick to go on a trip with Ellington.
AJ Zavala
How was Montreal different from cities in Southern California?
Obviously they’re speaking French and stuff, but there’s also whole different genre of spots there. More skating around from spot to spot.
You folded your ankle a few days into the trip. What are your time killers during injury?
I wasn’t trying to hold anyone back. I would just get pushed to the spot on my board and my butt or whatever, and I’d go watch shit go down. But even when I’m hurt I’m still eyeballing spots. I was getting pretty jealous. That bump spot that Oscar switch front three’d, I had to sit there and watch. Hopefully I can go back and not be hurt and get to skate some of the stuff I didn’t get to skate.
Did you get in on any of the free Canadian healthcare?
I could tell it wasn’t broken or anything, I’d just rolled it. I should have taken advantage of it [laughs].
Get in there for a free physical. You learn anything about one of the guys that you didn’t know before the trip?
That dude Oscar is one of the most insane dudes on a skateboard ever. Every spot we’d go to, he’s able to do anything he tries. He’s just a wrecking ball. Just the best style ever.
Anyone else on KR3W you haven’t traveled with yet? Who would you like to see on the next tour?
Tom Penny would be insane to watch skate in person. Ellington, too. I grew up watching those dudes in videos.
Boo Johnson
Describe the Montreal experience in three words.
Epic. Cold. Cool [laughs].
Cold? Were you ill-prepared?
Cold as shit. I wasn’t ready for it. I’m a Cali boy, I need warmth.
Who was MVP on this trip?
Oscar or AJ. They just look hungry. They’re killing it, they’re fresh, and Oscar had just gotten off from a Europe trip and came on to this one 100 percent ready, no complaints.
Tell me about “the ranch.”
This guy had everything. We skated this aluminum ramp in the field. He had two other ramps in his barn, but he had pigs in there. We stayed away from there. Ain’t trying to get no flu. They had a skateboard/snowboard, too. A snowboard with no bindings, it was weird. Somehow they brought snow in from somewhere and set up a downhill ramp and different rails. It was sketchy. Me, Gregson, Kirby, and Spencer took this quad out into the far cuts. We were smashing, couldn’t see anything. Next thing you know, Spencer’s endo-diving into a ditch and Kirby goes flying. We couldn’t get it started after that and just walked back to camp. [Note: Later that night a Vespa was later launched into the bonfire as part of an explosive vehicular sacrifice.]
Anyone on KR3W that you haven’t traveled with yet? Who would you like to see on the next trip?
I think I’ve traveled with everyone. I’d like to have Erik [Ellington] on the trip. Lizard King, Windsor [James]. Get some of the legends on there.
Taylor Kirby
First time in Montreal?
First time out of the country.
What were you expecting going into it?
I haven’t heard much about Montreal, but JS Lapierre [the tour guide] is from Montreal and he’s the shit. He was going to show us around, so I knew it was going to be a good time.
So you already had a French-Canadian preview?
Yeah, he lived at our house for two or three months.
Describe the Montreal experience in three words.
Permanently inebriated. Can it be two [laughs]?
Explain.
It started making fun of someone as a joke, and then we just took it too far, it was fun.
Who is permanently inebriated?
That’s neither here nor there [laughs].
Trip highlight? Any high-jinks stand out?
Oh yeah, either that insane ranch we went to, or Oscar [Candon] stealing this crazy lesbian’s blow-up doll inside the bar. She chased him around the block.
MVP?
Either Brown or Oscar.
What’s up with your portrait technique? Strand said it was impossible to get a candid photo of you.
I just feel weird when someone’s pointing a camera at my face when I’m doing nothing, so I just make a weird face.
Is it trauma from a school portrait experience?
No, I don’t think so. I just don’t like attention.
Is there anyone from KR3W you haven’t traveled with yet? Who do you want on the next tour?
Lizard missed out on the Montreal trip. It’d be sick if we could get him on the next trip. That’d be the shit.
Oscar Candon
Describe the Montreal experience in three words.
Tabernac. Permanently drunk.
This was your first time skating with a lot of these guys. Whose skating shocked you most?
Kirby, for sure. He rarely misses his tricks—it’s pretty amazing. Gregson as well. Fucking hell. I don’t know, man, they’re all good skaters, so it’s hard to pick one.
The other dudes unanimously decided you as the MVP on the trip. Was there something about Montreal that got you as hyped to go as hard as you did?
Are you kidding me?I am amazed. That’s not possible.
I’ve seen the edit. The clips don’t lie.
I don’t know, I don’t feel like I really skated good on that trip, but I try and do my best I guess. I’m stoked that they’re stoked.
Any advice to anyone thinking on heading to Montreal?
Meet JS Lapierre, because he’s the shit, and then make JS take you to the street where all the bars are.
What song sums up the entire trip?
This terrible song that Spenny kept putting on in the Van. I don’t know the name, but if you ask Brownie [TM], he’ll know. It’s a happy song. It’s fucking shit [laughs].
It’s called “Tropical House.” Who from KR3W would you like to travel with on the next trip? Anyone you haven’t toured with yet?
I haven’t met Windsor James. That’s the only dude I haven’t traveled with.
Being from France, what was your takeaway from French Canada?
They’re way nicer and more, how do you say, they greet you better than French people greet strangers who come to France. But they have the gnarliest accent. It sounds like shit [laughs].
Watch The Montreal Experience tour video!
