We decided to make Jackson Pilz’s brain hurt, by getting him to look back at some photos we’ve published over THE years, DELVE in to his memories AND SHARE a little somethin’-somethin’ about them.
ABOVE: BACK SMITH – MELBOURNE, 2012 – PHOTO: ANDREW MAPSTONE
I’m trying to think when I first learnt back smiths. I’d say it would have been pre-teen, maybe even pre double digits. I’m not one of those rich folks with high ceilings, so that 50% off chandeliers sale isn’t appealing at all. If you hung a chandelier in my house, you’d get your shoelaces tangled in it.
GAP TO CELLAR DOOR – NEW YORK, 2017 – PHOTO: ANDREW PETERS
This was my first trip to New York. Me, Jimmy Roche and Sydor went over there, it was so fun. It wasn’t actually an official skate-trip, we all paid our own way and just skated, partied, and holidayed it up. Looking at all these photos makes me realise what a shit memory I have. I think I had a full body slam trying this but other than that I think it might have been a rare quick one to get.
LIPSLIDE – ‘MERICA, 2007 – PHOTO: BRIAN FICK
Far out, I remember another photo from the same session was in my new gen, so I’m guessing roughly that I was 16. 13 years, wow. This is kind of a depressing thing you’ve got me doing here, realising how old I am. This was back in the Billabong days when I was a just a skate-rat having all his flights paid for, which was way better than going to school. I also remember I’d get a huge clothes budget, which I’d save up till the end of the year and then take all my friends and family in there to try and spend it. I ended up with so many travel bags, because they were the best way to take huge chunks out of the allowance and use it up.
COVER KICKFLIP – OUTER MELBOURNE, 2013 – PHOTO: ANDREW MAPSTONE
I think you can thank Mappy for coming up with this idea. My one and only Journal cover! It feels like so long ago now, but it didn’t take too long to do, just a few tail drops and then the kickflip. This is a major road, so the traffic is a butthole for sure. I have been there with other people since this and you just spend most of your time waiting for a set of traffic lights to turn red, which actually turns out to be just sitting around waiting for the cops to arrive.
CROOKS POP-OVER – PORT MACQUARIE, 2013 – PHOTO: ANDREW MAPSTONE
This was my first Volcom trip and I actually thought this was Coffs Harbour, which is probably because the only thing I can remember about this trip is having gastro and dying the whole time. I do know this is one of those spots that looks way more appealing in photos – but everything about it is just kind of crowded and runs in to itself.
COKE GUZZLER – SUNSHINE COAST, 2008 – PHOTO: WADE McLAUGHLIN
This portrait is just a horrible reminder of my mostly embarrassing childhood. People use to freak out at how much Coke I would drink. We’re talking at least a 2 litre bottle a day. I’m still a sucker for a classic Coke. As for that sweet necklace, I think that might have been a present from a relative, I remember my younger brother Eli had one too.
DIGGER STALL – BRISBANE, 2015 – PHOTO: ANDREW MAPSTONE
I can’t remember how we ended up here, but the guy who started those Penny Boards was building some crazy house, with this bowl. All this heavy machinery was there to dig a giant dam and they were more than happy for us to skate it. It was actually mellower than it looks – six foot and perfect. Still cant believe how lucky I am to have a park in my backyard all these years later. Everything just fell in to place, I’m super lucky.
KICKFLIP – SUNSHINE COAST, 2008 – PHOTO: WADE McLAUGHLIN
This would have been one of the first photos I had run in the mag that was shot by Wade. Our parents are old drinking buddies and we’ve known each other since we were around 2 years old. A classic case of a Sunny Coast spot that isn’t really a spot. Just a shitty drain with a landing that’s about the same length as a board. FUN FACT: James Hall heelflipped this a year later completely blacked out.
BOARDSLIDE – COTTON TREE, 2016 – PHOTO: WADE McLAUGHLIN
This was one of those spots that’s been there forever, but I’d never gotten around to stopping and having a look at it. I remember Dawesy skated it way back and that inspired me to want to do something on it. So, I finally dragged everyone there. We had no filmer up here at the time, still don’t! So, Wade filmed it on his camera before shooting the still. Pretty sure he asked me to do it a few times.
THE WALLRIDE – SUNSHINE COAST, 2016 – PHOTO: WADE McLAUGHLIN
This is another spot we’d skated since we were super young. I remember getting kicked out of this spot when I was 14 by a guy swinging an axe at us. I would have bought Wade a beer for nailing the photo, but I didn’t have to as there was already a mini party happening off to the side. It was my friend Bray-Bray’s 21st, so we were all getting ready for a big one.
SORRY MATE, NOT SURE WHY THIS IS HERE…
This is the exact face I make when I offer my daughter Olive some food and she says no, so I sit down and then she wants the food.
