I have reviewed several skate videos on my blog, judging them by several categories. These categories were mostly looking at the action seen in the part. However, there is much more to developing an amazing skate video than just the action alone. So what separates the forgettable from the unforgettable? Let’s break down the key elements that make a skate part stand out.
The Skating
The meat and potatoes of any great part is obviously the skating itself. You need a solid skater or team of skaters, first and foremost. Video editing and music can enhance what you have, but they can’t make up for what’s not there. Even if the angles are bad and the quality is poor, the tricks are still what they are. That said, it’s not solely about the sheer difficulty of the tricks being showcased. Variety is crucial. You want a reasonable mix of obstacles like stairs, rails, ledges, and gaps. Personally, if the same tricks or obstacles are used over and over, there is a high likelihood I will not finish the video. Even if a skater has an amazing backside flip down a gap, I don’t want to watch it four times in the same video. Mixing up the skating shows versatility and adds visual distinction to each clip.
Spot Selection
Spot selection plays a huge role in how memorable a part becomes. Skating iconic spots adds weight to your tricks because viewers instantly recognize them. At the same time, finding new spots or skating familiar spots in creative ways can be just as impactful. It’s always a treat to see unfamiliar spots that haven’t been touched before in new videos. Some of the most memorable parts feature skaters destroying spots that nobody else had touched, or skating obstacles in ways people hadn’t considered before. Mix up your locations too. Shooting in different cities at different times of day keeps the viewer on their toes, not knowing what to expect.
The Music
Song choice is absolutely critical and can make or break a video part. The music needs to match your skating style and personality. One of my favorite parts that makes excellent use of a song track is Mark Suiciu’s “Verso” part. He has a particularly creative and delicate style, and the slower, ambient soundtrack compliments it perfectly. If I sat down to watch a GX1000 video, full of massive hill bombs, and heard this soundtrack, I would be extremely confused. The song should also reflect the time period and feel authentic to who you are. Nothing kills a part faster than using a song that feels forced or doesn’t match the vibe of your skating. Something I’ve heard discussed recently is to avoid skating to songs that are, “bigger than you”. While I can see how this could be used pretentiously, I think there is some truth to this topic. Watching an up-and-coming skater with a massively popular song behind them just feels… off. It can come across as arrogant, even if they don’t see it like that. Moral of the story, find interesting songs that you enjoy and fit your vision.
Editing
The structure and pacing of your part matters more than most people realize. You will likely have several tricks that stand out more than the others. It’s important to space out these tricks and not use them all at once. You want to hook viewers from the start with something solid, keep things fresh with unique angles and varied tricks in the middle, and of course end with the banger of the part. The way tricks sync up with the music can elevate a part significantly. A great example of this can be seen in lil Dre’s “Manifest Destiny” part. The tricks are lined up with a beat drops in a perfectly satisfying manner. These details add up to create flow and movement to a video, which is important for keeping viewers interested.
The Ender
Pick any random skateboarding magazine cover. Whatever image you are looking at, it is likely an ender to a video. Every properly written story leads to a climax, and video parts are no exception. The final trick needs to be something that makes people’s jaws drop. Deciding what trick should take this spot is an important decision that some editors miss judge. If tricks done in the middle were on a similar level to the ender it can leave the audience feeling unsatisfied. I always love when videos end with the most risky stunt, like a massive gap or handrail. Even if the last trick is super technical and impressive, the gnarliest tricks always seem to wrap up videos the best.
Have you watched my heelflip tutorial video yet? Watch it here.
