2011 Orchard Year in Review

The year 2011 marked our sixth year as a business and the first complete calendar year at our Allston location. Here's a recap of what the team has been up to along with the events, accolades, and all the other stuff that went down over the past 12 months: (note: there are A LOT of links in here, make sure you check 'em all out!)

Expedition-One Pro Joey Pepper put out a grip of footage and made some power moves in the process. Along with some tropical tricks in Skateboarder Mag's 9 episode Amazon documentary, Pepper had a couple of Berrics appearances, a face melting minute part in Expedition's Madness and then this mindblowing Remix part. In the process Joey has picked up a few new sponsors including Imperial Motion apparel and HUF Footwear. Be on the lookout for upcoming signature models from both brands in 2012!

Kevin Coakley has been putting in work and chalking up the frequent flyer miles. In between Blueprint tours across the states and a journey to the center of the Earth, Coakley spent most of the spring in southern cali and the fruits of his labors can be seen in his welcome to Brixton clip, as well as in a handful of Berrics clips including a Bangin, an Off the Grid, Broadcast Wheels Trajectory, fakie crooks Trickipedia, and True Blue with Blueprint.

Fritz Mead has been on a crushing spree of his own this past year, with curtains in the 1031 Skateboards "Get Bent" flick, as well as a full part in "Sea Level" one of the year's best independent DVD releases. Not to mention a photo or an ad in just about every single issue of Thrasher including a mindblowing contents page and a 6 page interview. Fritz was all over the place this past year, and will keep the session going by starting off 2012 on a Thrasher trip to Uruguay with some heavy hitters.

This upcoming year will mark the 20th anniversary since Jahmal Williams' first pro model board was released by Toy Machine, and in 2011 Jahmal still keeps it moving.
The Chrome Ball Incident came through with an interview covering Jahmal's 20+ years in the skate spotlight, and Transworld did an Off The Board video piece highlighting Jahmal's development as an artist and the emergence of his brand Hopps and it's distinct creative direction. In between running a brand and family man responsibilities, Jahmal still finds time to keep pushing himself as a skateboarder with a mini-part in this year's "Welcome to MIA" vid, and filming for the upcoming Static 4.

Jahmal's Hopps teammate Jerry Fowler also had an appearance on The Chrome Ball Incident, as well as a cameo in Kenny Anderson's Converse commercial. A true inspiration for the working class grown man skate rats, Jerry officially became a firefighter in 2011 and still manages to put out quality skate footage.

Frankie Nash was announced this year as the newest Orchard team member, and filmed his welcome clip in the month after finishing up his Sea Level part. Since then Frankie picked up the Habitat flow and has been stockpiling footage for the Suede Peach vid and next Orchard vid, as well as getting some coverage in Focus and an interview in Skate Jawn.

GoPro aficionado Lurker Lou recently launched a board brand with an old friend. Check the Iron Claw Skates site for the promo and other vids and product.

Steve Durante spent a good chunk of the year on the road putting in work for the sleeper hit video of the year "The Other Ones". Check past issues of The Skateboard Mag and the NJ Scums YouTube page for more Steve sightings.

Orchard Co-Owner Broderick Gumpright has been taking his vitamins and hitting the gym getting ready for the next Orchard video, and had a mini-part in the CODA Skateboards vid "Slappy Hour"

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2011 was a year jammed pack with skate events both inside the shop and out.
Wonderbar was gracious enough to help us host a number of all-ages skate video premieres including Expedition's Madness, Welcome To MIA, Shake Junt's Chickenbone Nowison, Poisonous Products, and Real's Since Day One.

We also held our first in-store skate contest with the Dead of Winter Miniramp Jammer, as well as hosted a handful of pro appearances and demos from the following teams:

Element Skateboards
Habitat Skateboards
Low Life Tour with Baker, Deathwish, & Shake Junt
Omit Clothing
Etnies Shoes

We took the show on the road for skate jams and contests including:
Orchard 5th anniversary Jam at Subliminal Skatepark in Shrewsbury
Red Bull's Manny Mania contest at Smith Playground in Lower Allston
Go Skate Day jam at Robinson playground in Brookline
8th annual Helloween skate jam at the Chinatown courts in downtown Boston.

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The Extension Gallery on the second level of the shop played host to a number of amazing exhibitions this past year with works from emerging local artists as well as iconic figures in the skate-art world.
Orchard OG super-employee Michael Chew has documented all of the openings, including:
!nd!viduals Collective - "Lovesick Cafe"

"Over & Done" with Isaac McKay-Randozzi and "The Worst is Yet To Come" with Mark Penxa and Don Pendleton

"Through My Eyes" by Zered Bassett

"Rituals" by BLACK MATH

"Brain Dead" by Tallboy Chris Coulon

"Supply & Demand" with Chris Yormick, Rich Jacobs, Russ Pope, Jay Howell, and Tim Kerr.

"The Pre-Vinylite Society" hand-painted sign show curated by Josh Luke of Best Dressed Signs

"Live..Suburbia" book release and reading by co-author Anthony Pappalardo

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A huge thank you goes out to our patrons and fans who have supported us over the past 6 years! Thanks to your continued loyalty we were given the accolades of Best Skateshop by Boston Magazine and The Weekly Dig, as well the informal title of One the Last Great American Skateshops given by Thrasher Magazine.