Big Shoes and Big LOVE: The Sabotage Crew Speaks
9/24/2021
The Sabotage Crew and the Philly scene offer some of the most captivating skating out. Brian Panebianco leads the charge, both behind the lens and killin' ledges with the best of 'em—no wonder he got closing duties in their newest. Whether it's calling back to Kalis and Stevie's heyday or just hittin' the road with the homies, the Sabo vids continue the street skating tradition that will never die. It only makes sense why DC would link up with the squad for a collab on some kicks. We called up some key players to get their feelings on Philadelphia legends, harsh East-Coast elements and, of course, how Muni stacks up to LOVE.
A recaptured era and one smart collab, the new Sabo and DC flick takes you back and brings you up to speed
Shanahan shoots a backside 180 over the barrel with skyscraper pop
John ShanahanWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Muni.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down there?
Either Kevin Bilyeu’s switch tré over the bump to can or Tyler Dietterich nollie tré over it. I also watched Quel Haddox backside flip over the domino—that was pretty unreal.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Probably Penny when he’s obsessing over a spot and wants someone to figure something out. Also skating with Jahmir gets me hyped because he just goes for it right out of the gate. I like to catch and bail my tricks a few times before I go for it, but when I see him putting it down no matter what, it makes me want to do the same.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
I think if I had to pick a shoe to skate in for the rest of my life it would be the Lynx.
Frontside half Cab with a bar to spare in Miami
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
It’s always nice to skate with a crew full of like-minded individuals that care about the culture and history of skateboarding.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Stevie and Kalis, Wenning and Pappalardo, Fred Gall and Matt Reason.
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
Rock salt in the winter.
Free WiFi and a bump for flingin' backside flips? This Barcelona plaza has it all
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
The spots hit different. The changing of the seasons keeps things exciting and the people are characters.
Current clothing style inspiration?
The weather and OG skate shit!
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
Yeah, they are very practical.
LOVE or Muni?
City Hall.
Shanahan books a domestic flight at his favorite spot, nollie backside flip
Jahmir Brown
What’s your favorite spot in Philly?
The 5th Street flat gap.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down at the gap?
All the tricks that I did.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Shanahan.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
The Lukoda.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Joe McPeak, RIP.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Cecil B. Moore.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
Everything East Coast Beast Coast.
No false modesty, the man knows his switch biggie's crazy
Current clothing inspiration?
Has been and will always be tracksuits and sweatsuits.
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
I mean, we both know someone gonna find a way to make this drawlin’.
It’s always nice to skate with a crew full of like-minded individuals that care about the culture and history of skateboarding.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Stevie and Kalis, Wenning and Pappalardo, Fred Gall and Matt Reason.
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
Rock salt in the winter.
Free WiFi and a bump for flingin' backside flips? This Barcelona plaza has it allWhat’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
The spots hit different. The changing of the seasons keeps things exciting and the people are characters.
Current clothing style inspiration?
The weather and OG skate shit!
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
Yeah, they are very practical.
LOVE or Muni?
City Hall.
Shanahan books a domestic flight at his favorite spot, nollie backside flipJahmir BrownWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
The 5th Street flat gap.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down at the gap?
All the tricks that I did.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Shanahan.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
The Lukoda.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Joe McPeak, RIP.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Cecil B. Moore.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
Everything East Coast Beast Coast.
No false modesty, the man knows his switch biggie's crazyCurrent clothing inspiration?
Has been and will always be tracksuits and sweatsuits.
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
I mean, we both know someone gonna find a way to make this drawlin’.
LOVE or Muni?
Why are you even asking this question? LOVE, man.
Far from Philly, Jahmir jumps the bar to bank with a switch shove. Stevie would be stoked
Josh KalisWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Currently, Muni.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down there?
Something tookie related.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
It’s a mix of the whole scene, but maybe Penny after fixing the ledges.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Kalis and Lynx.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Penny, Jah and Kev.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Gangster Rich.
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
Humidity.
Part force, part finesse, Kalis brings his signature blend to this crusty 360 flip noseslideCurrent clothing style inspiration?
Nineties hip-hop.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
Aesthetics.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
It’s dope. I had to force my way in, though.
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
If they look dope, yes.
LOVE or Muni?
Muni, for sure. LOVE was torn out.
Kalis catches a timeless switch flip back tail in Chi Town
Andrea BethkeWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Muni.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down there?
Tookie heads sitting on the stage snorting lines, running around acting all crazy right next to two kids playing and blowing bubbles.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Shanahan.
Any scary times filming for this video?
Skating stairs always scares me since my ACL surgery. I don’t take too much impact.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
Feels good to be around the Sabo crew, they’re always trying to be out skating, making spots skateable and lurking the plaza late on cold nights. It’s really motivating.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Always loved the way the OG Lynx look.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Sourbeer, Penny, Trivs, B-Dougs, Jahmir, Bilyeu, Tracy G, Kalis, Wenning, Kevin Taylor, Jimmy Chung, Jaesun and McPeak.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
The Philly Four from Static 2.
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
Winter.
Avoiding the worst of winter with a switch crooks in the Southeast
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
Crusty street spots build character.
Current clothing style inspiration?
Baggy pants and t-shirts.
LOVE or Muni?
LOVE Park forever.
Andrea clears the grate with a great crook shove
Chris FaloWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Muni.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down there?
Some people getting stabbed or a lady having sex outside in front of her kids.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Brian Panebianco, he's always fixing spots and getting shit done.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
It’s family.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Lynx.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Josh Kalis, Dylan Sourbeer and Jimmy Chung.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Jaesun.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
It’s different from everything else.
Current clothing style inspiration?
Raekwon.
Some people getting stabbed or a lady having sex outside in front of her kids.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Brian Panebianco, he's always fixing spots and getting shit done.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
It’s family.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Lynx.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Josh Kalis, Dylan Sourbeer and Jimmy Chung.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Jaesun.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
It’s different from everything else.
Current clothing style inspiration?
Raekwon.
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
Yeah, got some on in the video.
LOVE or Muni?
Besides the architecture, they are very similar. Everyone's still out having a good time.
The Miami side hustle is hittin' the ledge next to the Triangle, noseslide nollie big heel
Did LOVE die? Maybe the ground's gone but DC and the Sabo squad keep its soul alive
Simmeon Perryman
What’s your favorite spot in Philly?
My favorite spot in Philly is Muni, but I’m from Cincinnati.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down at Muni?
Craziest thing I’ve seen at Muni was mass people that look like junkies, smoking a joint and they was looking like they was OD off the joint that I figured was tookie.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Everyone brings me hype to the sesh, for real. John and Jahmir remind me we real athletes out here.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
I’m glad to be a part of it. Wild thing was, I didn’t even know I was going to be in it. It was like a surprise, for real. First time seeing something about it was on my homie Sid’s Instagram story. Shit was tight! Also, I grew up watching all of Sabotage—all the homies like Kalis, Penny, Jah and John. Being around them opened my eyes and fo'sho motivated me.
Yeah, got some on in the video.
LOVE or Muni?
Besides the architecture, they are very similar. Everyone's still out having a good time.
The Miami side hustle is hittin' the ledge next to the Triangle, noseslide nollie big heelDid LOVE die? Maybe the ground's gone but DC and the Sabo squad keep its soul alive
Simmeon Perryman What’s your favorite spot in Philly?
My favorite spot in Philly is Muni, but I’m from Cincinnati.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down at Muni?
Craziest thing I’ve seen at Muni was mass people that look like junkies, smoking a joint and they was looking like they was OD off the joint that I figured was tookie.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Everyone brings me hype to the sesh, for real. John and Jahmir remind me we real athletes out here.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
I’m glad to be a part of it. Wild thing was, I didn’t even know I was going to be in it. It was like a surprise, for real. First time seeing something about it was on my homie Sid’s Instagram story. Shit was tight! Also, I grew up watching all of Sabotage—all the homies like Kalis, Penny, Jah and John. Being around them opened my eyes and fo'sho motivated me.
Any scary times filming for this video?
Scariest part filming in this video was when I did that crooked tailgrab. The generator went out on us so we had to get all the homies' phone lights and all the lights we had in there just to film. The roll up was sketch because you can’t see the ledge ‘til you get close up to it. It got dents in it too, from when people break the knobs off.
Crook tailgrab, illuminated by those scary things in our pocketsWhat’s your favorite heritage DC?
The Stags or Lynx.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
When I think of LOVE, I think about Kalis, Brian Panebianco, Kevin Bilyeu and Brian Wenning—just lines, lines, lines!
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
I don’t have nothing wrong to say about skating on the East Coast. I love it. It’s unique. No spot is easy. I always gotta work for it out here.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
Biggie, Mike Jones and Max B.
Simmeon rips a top-rope Smith in the 'Nati
Kevin BilyeuWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Muni.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down there?
I saw a homeless guy get stabbed in the chest with two knives and kept fighting with them in.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
It’s like hanging out with your friends and people you knew for years.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Jaesun, Josh, Stevie and Sabotage.
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
Frozen bushings, salt, ice and snow on the ground in the winter—humidity in the summer.
Switch crook between the carps
Frozen bushings, salt, ice and snow on the ground in the winter—humidity in the summer.
Switch crook between the carps
My favorite is anything DC from 1997 through 2001.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
It looks the best.
The spot's rusty but Kevin ain't, switch front crook in the clean fit
Current clothing style inspiration?
Nas, Rakim, Prodigy, Wenning, Pappalardo, Kalis, Stevie, Harold Hunter and Spencer Fujimoto.
LOVE or Muni?
LOVE Park was the best place to skate in the world.
Quick up then nollie frontside flip, even the can's yellin' for Kevin
Mike Hoag
What’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Currently, Muni!
Who brings the most hype to the session?
Jahmir, always trying to get you to push it to the next level!
Any scary times filming for this video?
I was in Chicago and left the session to go to 7-Eleven for some water, and as soon as I walked to the coolers these two guys made a run for the door with their bags filled up with stuff. The clerk tried stopping them and all of a sudden a fight broke out. The clerk managed to hit the lock activator for doors which trapped the four of us in. They were punching on the dude and willing to do anything to get out. I’m just sitting back like, What the fuck is goin' on? I’m trapped in here with these assholes and can’t even get out. Some crazy shit pops off in Chicago late at night. I was just thankful to get back to the session in one piece. I managed to film the whole ordeal on my phone. It was actually pretty funny when I went and watched it a few hours later.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
It’s dope. All those guys are so talented and motivated.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Lynx OG.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
For skaters, it’s Kalis, Penny, Bilyeu, Jahmir, B-Dougs, Liedtke, Sourbeer, AJ, Tracy, Cuz, Higgins and Jamal. As for lurkers, it’s Philly Jesus, McPeak and CJ Picture Guy.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
It looks the best.
The spot's rusty but Kevin ain't, switch front crook in the clean fitCurrent clothing style inspiration?
Nas, Rakim, Prodigy, Wenning, Pappalardo, Kalis, Stevie, Harold Hunter and Spencer Fujimoto.
LOVE or Muni?
LOVE Park was the best place to skate in the world.
Quick up then nollie frontside flip, even the can's yellin' for KevinMike HoagWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Currently, Muni!
Who brings the most hype to the session?
Jahmir, always trying to get you to push it to the next level!
Any scary times filming for this video?
I was in Chicago and left the session to go to 7-Eleven for some water, and as soon as I walked to the coolers these two guys made a run for the door with their bags filled up with stuff. The clerk tried stopping them and all of a sudden a fight broke out. The clerk managed to hit the lock activator for doors which trapped the four of us in. They were punching on the dude and willing to do anything to get out. I’m just sitting back like, What the fuck is goin' on? I’m trapped in here with these assholes and can’t even get out. Some crazy shit pops off in Chicago late at night. I was just thankful to get back to the session in one piece. I managed to film the whole ordeal on my phone. It was actually pretty funny when I went and watched it a few hours later.
What’s it like to skate with the Sabotage crew?
It’s dope. All those guys are so talented and motivated.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Lynx OG.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
For skaters, it’s Kalis, Penny, Bilyeu, Jahmir, B-Dougs, Liedtke, Sourbeer, AJ, Tracy, Cuz, Higgins and Jamal. As for lurkers, it’s Philly Jesus, McPeak and CJ Picture Guy.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down at Muni?
Anytime a tile gets propped, shit’s about to pop off! It’s pretty intimidating when that happens. Those cans aren’t moving either. Bring ya' A game.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Penny, Bilyeu, Jahmir and Jamal.
Current clothing style inspiration?
Shanahan’s always getting fits off!
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
Yeah, why not? Multifunctional.
LOVE or Muni?
LOVE.
Hoag skips the street with a colorful backside flip
Brian Panebianco
What’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Muni, of course.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down there?
Switch flip back tail on the rail.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Kalis.
Any scary times filming for this video?
John almost didn’t get into Spain because he showed up with no vaccine and no negative test.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Lynx.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Shit, so many good memories thinking how good we had it. I think of how different it would be if we still had it—place was the best.
Out from behind the lens, the auteur jabs a switch 180 nosegrind
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Too many people: Sourbeer, KT, and Kalis, though.
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
Nothing. Yeah, the cold sucks but we have Miami just a two-hour flight away and we are way closer to Europe—love it here.
Fourth time's a charm, Brian blunts across the whole damn city
Why did you do the bluntslide twice?
I did it four times, actually. Once long lens, once fisheye, once for the sequence, then that made me hate how slow the long lens looked so I did it long lens again. It took a bunch of time going back for each of those.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
The spots have character.
Anytime a tile gets propped, shit’s about to pop off! It’s pretty intimidating when that happens. Those cans aren’t moving either. Bring ya' A game.
Who do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Penny, Bilyeu, Jahmir and Jamal.
Current clothing style inspiration?
Shanahan’s always getting fits off!
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
Yeah, why not? Multifunctional.
LOVE or Muni?
LOVE.
Hoag skips the street with a colorful backside flipBrian PanebiancoWhat’s your favorite spot in Philly?
Muni, of course.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen go down there?
Switch flip back tail on the rail.
Who brings the most hype to the sessions?
Kalis.
Any scary times filming for this video?
John almost didn’t get into Spain because he showed up with no vaccine and no negative test.
What’s your favorite heritage DC?
Lynx.
Who comes to mind when you think of LOVE Park?
Shit, so many good memories thinking how good we had it. I think of how different it would be if we still had it—place was the best.
Out from behind the lens, the auteur jabs a switch 180 nosegrindWho do you think of when you think of Philadelphia?
Too many people: Sourbeer, KT, and Kalis, though.
What’s the worst part about skating on the East Coast?
Nothing. Yeah, the cold sucks but we have Miami just a two-hour flight away and we are way closer to Europe—love it here.
Fourth time's a charm, Brian blunts across the whole damn cityWhy did you do the bluntslide twice?
I did it four times, actually. Once long lens, once fisheye, once for the sequence, then that made me hate how slow the long lens looked so I did it long lens again. It took a bunch of time going back for each of those.
What’s the best part of skating on the East Coast?
The spots have character.
What would it take to get the LOVE graveyard pin?
I haven’t told almost anyone where that place is, even people I skate with every day.
Current clothing style inspiration?
Photosynthesis Fred Gall with the yellow tees.
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
I thought that was such a good idea when I was 13, but also haven’t owned a pair since I was 13.
LOVE or Muni?
LOVE.
Switch crook caught on film, just like every photo he grew up on. Sing the praises of our guy and Sabotage one more time then go prop some tiles Photo: Taketomo
I haven’t told almost anyone where that place is, even people I skate with every day.
Current clothing style inspiration?
Photosynthesis Fred Gall with the yellow tees.
Yes or no: zip-off cargos?
I thought that was such a good idea when I was 13, but also haven’t owned a pair since I was 13.
LOVE or Muni?
LOVE.
Switch crook caught on film, just like every photo he grew up on. Sing the praises of our guy and Sabotage one more time then go prop some tiles Photo: Taketomo -
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