In mid-September we took it upon ourselves to go check out the street spots of England. The crew was Dustin Dollin, Chima Ferguson, Caswell Berry and from the UK and Ireland we had Harry Lintell, Gav Coughlan and Nick Stansfield. Braydon Szafranski came along with Dustin as a tour guest as well. We managed to hit up a good few cities and counties and bump into a bunch of old friends as well as make some new ones, too. The rain only came out to play once - although this was partly in us planning around it. It was fun not knowing where you've end up the next day. It was more fun cruising the streets and hanging out with everyone. If you get chance, go take a look at the UK for yourselves. We weren't disappointed and you won't be either.

The full article is in stores now, the January 2011 Issue of Sidewalk (#172). Heaps more photos and the edit from the trip are below. Enjoy!




This was the first spot of the tour. It was opposite our hotel and a hitting the lip is a good way to get your travel-weary legs back in the game.


...And this was right outside our hotel. What you can't see is the old lady in the wheelchair, head to toe dressed as a marine. I'd like to think they we're off to a fancy dress party - but at 11am on a Thursday, I don't think so.


Nick, Chima and Braydon enjoying the sun, while it lasts.


Caswell giggled for about 15 minutes at this label on a manhole cover. I'd never noticed it before, yet nowadays I can't move without seeing one. Funny how that happens, eh?


Braydon Szafranski. Southend-On-Sea.


Two Aussies and a rainbow. If the rainbow wasn't enough to give it away, just look at their little faces. It wasn't warm!


Football break! Chima Vs. Gav.


I guess Chima won?


Caswell undertaking some serious work.


The crew and the wind.


Dustin makes good use of the manual pad.


Gav Coughlan, Harry Lintell and Caswell Berry. Three happy men.


More football. That thing was a good purchase to keep the blood flowing if you weren't skating.


I woke up to try to figure out where to take the crew for breakfast. I found these two next to the hotel in amongst coach loads of old people. They'd found the spot for the English breakfast.


Yep. Skating while raining. Dustin comes prepared.


We ended up in several spots next to childrens playgrounds. There rarely was ever a kid to play in there. Except for Chima, maybe?


It's raining hard. Dustin is straight in there with the plan. Pool! Ben Powell from Sidewalk stands his ground on the table at The Works skatepark in Leeds.


...and the crew say their goodbye's to the park!


These machines are in every service station up and down the country. You never win. These lot proved it.


The House Of The Dead. These two are kinda good at video games.


Caswell wasn't so good, though.


The rainy day continues. It's time for bowling.


Bowling. Aussie style!


Cheers mates!


This is Chris Johnson, the photographer for the trip. The after-shapes on his bowling technique were immense.


Caswell has style on the lanes, too.


Checking scores or staring out the photographer? You decide.


This shirt was on purely by chance. As soon as we got onto the lane, the tee came out. Dustin never does anything by halves.


You know this is going to be a fun meal when these are the sights while waiting for the table, right?


When we sat down, Nick thought that his finely folded napkin was actually a hat. even when he found out otherwise, he didn't give a shit. He was into it.


Y'know when you are that one dude who ordered the thing everyone is envious of? That's be Dustin.


Three Aussies. Dustin Dollin, Chima Ferguson, Jacobs Creek.


Ben's old pad. There's more skate history here in all of the boxes and shelves than most of you could ever know.


Ben's new pad. Mandatory hand signs.


Harry's fake tooth fell out. He makes a replacement via use of a cigarette filter here. I'm not sure it held up to the task for long, though.


Chris Johnson standing outside another bloody Travelodge. They all look the same when you get inside. On a tour where we were moving on each day to a new place, arriving in the black fo night, you'd wake up forgetting where you were until you can find the sign outside.


Mark Baines and Dustin. Mark is an old friend of Dustin's and always down for a game of pool and to show visitors the spots of Sheffield. Plus, he's pretty much killed them all, too. Thanks for looking out for us, Mark!


Monday morning breakfast pool games.


I forget this guys name. Because I'm useless like that. He's a friend of Mark's and was stoked on getting a game of pool and a beer in with Dustin.


This is the audience for Dustin as he gets his session on. They're always there for him.


Braydon, Louis Slater and Dustin. Louis rips and always had. He runs Ravenous Distribution and is another good, old friend of Dustin's for the Warner Avenue days.


Canal boats. The quietness. The sunshine. This was the start of a great day.


Caswell and Chima stopping boards from shooting in the river. I think they may have had more chance if they'd spread anlong the drop a little more, but they seemed happier this way.


Braydon and Dustin thank the sun God's. Each in their own way.


Andy Horsley is the designer and one of the photographers for Sidewalk. He is also one of the funniest humans on the planet. That's a fact. As Braydon shows - It's all about Andy!


Skate spot window shopping.


Chima gives his support to the crew skating the road gap from his corner of the van.


This crew loves long drives. Feel the hype!


Brian was the manager of Nottingham Forest Football Club. Chima rides for Volcom. Two deserved statues.


Dustin and a jumping Kangaroo outside Spanky's place.


Bloody Mary's on order at the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which is claimed to be the oldest pub in Britain.


Ye Olde after lunch cigarette break.


Caswell's head unfurled and the walls were left with his message.


Chima would like you to know that this is a fact.


I'm not sure what you are meant to RSVP to, but count me in.


Gappy Lintell.


Gav with the ungrindable Backside Smith.


DD rode shotgun the entire time. He's a first class tour DJ and never sleeps up front. Speaking as a driver, that is exactly what you want from your co-pilot.


Dustin was so excited about this spot he forgot his shoes. He's demonstrating the amount of fun to be had on that ledge while Harry dives in at the deep end and hopes the gaps in the wall don't get him.


Post Impossible Caswell and the crew. That impossible he did was unreal. So perfect. Good work Caswell!


Andy and Chris from Sidewalk. The last night and the last meal. This was a good trip with a damn good crew.


Same seats a little later. The fun is kicking in.


12 seconds later, that expression changed for everyone. The ribs were horrible. I'm pretty sure they were boiled as opposed to grilled...They had the colour of dog food. Urgh.


...Hence Nick's face.


But at least the seafood was good.

Thanks to Sidewalk, Chris, Rye, Andy, Ben and Tina. You rule. Thanks to Brownie, Baines and Phil for the Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Essex hook ups. Without you we'd have not had some of the epic sessions we got in.

...and thanks to the British rain for only taking us out for one day.

Photos, text and video by Kevin Parrott.