DVD Review – NO FRIENDS 9 : ROAD TO RUIN
NO FRIENDS 9 : ROAD TO RUIN // No Friends Prod.
Already the 9th No Friends video ! I still remember watching No Friends 1, it feels like it was 2 years ago. Actually it’s been 8 years or something since the first NF video… Ah ! VHS tapes days…
This is the first time that Stoker doesnt edit the video and for those who have enjoyed his editing and filming talent since NF1 this is a new era. This new video is really good, like all NF vids but there’s a little something that is different, even if it’s not really perceptible. I guess it lacks the Stoker’ touch.
Anyway, the editing is still really good, the riders are good, the Hubb section is awesome, the Ross one as well and the Skippy one rocks ! The aussies smoked the Hawaiian barrels and ramps this winter and it shows in the video. So many guys killing it. The 2 backside pigdog barrels in the Lackey section are worth mentioning as well. The micronesia section is unbelievable, it’s your dream session. The music is good, the image quality as well. The only thing i disliked was the riders section opening titles, in a sort of big blurry white circle with the spinning letters effect on a black background which didnt match the NF usual artworks and the rest of the video that well. A must see anyway !
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Boogie Nation’s originality comes from the amount of underground rippers and the diversity of waves and spots you can see. So many good riders (hawaiians especially) and so many trips and sessions are featured in the video ! It’s refreshing. Lots of DK rippers in the video, Bud and Dub are killing it on the knee. The famous Dub DK roll is in this DVD and it looks pretty nice. The music matches the video and it’s refreshing as well. The editing and image quality are not the best you can find but the quality of the content is great.
Saturated Thought was a really good surprise, i didnt know what to expect and this new aussie video was actually really good. Mostly Hawaii footage from this past winter on the north shore and a little bit of Oz as well. The really mellow soundtrack and smooth editing fits the awesome water footage and super nice land stuff as well. It’s not a slow-mo shitty wannabe arty video. 
Segregation 2 : the new Chad Stickney DVD. Like Segregation 1, this new release has some pretty cool footage from all around the world, footage of riders you dont get to see in other videos, nice wedge footage plus Cali. and Hawaii stuff. The soundtrack is nice with a little bit of reggae and dub stuff. The only downside would be the editing which ain’t ‘pro’ editing but it’s nothing to worry about since the water footage and land footage is pretty good. Lots of nice DK footage as well. Definitly worth watching
Life is one nice aussie DVD. First thing you’ll notice : the waves are fucken massive in that video and the guys are fucken charging. The music choice is good and fits the crazy footage, specially on that massive right hander in the middle of nowhere with Tau, M. Novy, R. Matic, B. Bayfield, Tyge etc. It’s worth watching the video just for that freakin’ session ! 
The 5SOUTH DVD. 5SOUTH managed to release a nice DVD showing the talent of all their team riders (richie leon, edo escobedo, james dawson, brian pelton, mike lepierre, dave wells, tim mendoza, matt hicks, omar leon, alex zimmerman, kevin jimenez, wally sani) and their friends. The editing is really clean, with nice titles, almost each rider has its section, the images are good too. The level aint really ‘pro’ when it comes to riding but they’re definitly good (both prone & DK) and you’ll be surprised to see how good cali breaks can get. The music choice is good and the overall feeling of the DVD is good. It’s all about friends but it’s a nice & clean video and you won’t fell like you’re watching an amateur thing, this DVD is the real deal, specially if you’re from cali, you gotta watch it.
This is Jason Bitzer’s latest video. First thing you’ll notice : there’s a lot of hawaii footage in it, with Maui, Outer Islands and Oahu spots & riders, underground rippers included. The hawaii contests are covered too, the Honolua Bay footage from last year is cool. Then you’ve got footage from all around the world, with Brazil, east coast USA, Mexico etc. 
This is California videoman Chad Stickney’s first video. Among the last videos i’ve seen i enjoyed Segregation quite a lot. We need more small productions like this DVD. Chad went everywhere to film that one, and he filmed stuffs that we never see in other videos. 
This is Ian’s latest release. No surprise here, Ian always releases good vids, with good footage and the best riders riding the most critical waves. The footage quality is good, the editing is quite simple yet effective, and the music could be more diverse. You’ll watch cool Shipsterns, Luna park and chopes footage as well as Indo and Oz footage. Good overall video.
This is the third DVD of the Retrospect Serie of DVDs, it’s pretty good, and both old spongers and beginners or younger guys will dig it cause you’ll see rare footage of the best spongers (former pros as well as the new generation of guys) back in the days. I specially appreciated the Shark Island Story DVD which comes with this third retrospect DVD set. You gotta the island footage from the early days, it’s really entertaining. The editing and music is basic but good and the quality of the images is good too considering that some of the footage is really old and wasnt filmed with the equipment that we have now…
