RED BULL’S EXCELLENT GOU MIYAGI DOC IS A MUST-WATCH
Gou Miyagi has painstakingly cultivated an image over the years as the most enigmatic man in skateboarding. That’s not easy in this day and age, when even the most mundane pro activity gets a retweet. Red Bull’s "Out Of Frame" mini-doc shows how it’s possible to still do your own thing, in your own way, and have a massive cultural impact by shedding a little light on Miyagi and his unique approach.
Guests include his filmer/friend Takahiro Morita, Chopper, Chris Haslam, Madars Apse, Ryan Decenzo, and Heroin head honcho Fos, to name a few. “Out of Focus” isn’t your run-of-the-mill fluff piece, though—there really is no better reference work on this major figure in not only Japan’s skate culture, but as someone who has had an outsized influence on “creative” skateboarding as a whole in the past decade. For example: equal time is devoted to Sukebo "Skateboard" Rocky, the manga that inspired Miyagi to skate, as is spent on his signature “penis” move (don’t Google that).
The only tiny critique is that a quick refresher on the recent Japan skate boom would’ve been much appreciated (Subspecies, FESN, Lenz series, etc.)… next time. Regardless: domo arigato, Red Bull.
