Passport Control – Yoshi Tanenbaum
Euro-traveller, Yoshi Tanenbaum gets Kingpin’s Passport Control.
During no more than two weeks in Europe this summer, in between visits to Bright tradeshow, Berlin Open and CPH Pro, Stereo skateboards AM from Washington, D.C. left a permanent impression and managed to bag enough footage for this Passport Control part.
Given the ridiculous amount of talent he possesses, Mr. Tanenbaum passes hands down. What's more, it’s a pretty safe guess, we'll be seeing much more of him sooner rather than later… at the latest at next year's Street League: Three amazing Damn AM wins this year now grant him a spot at the 2016 series!
That said, Yoshi, we'll have you back here any time!
Mr. Yoshi Tanenbaum, would you tell us where you’re from?
I was born in Jerusalem, Israel. I moved to Johannesburg, South Africa for about three years after that. From there I moved on to Washington D.C. or Maryland. Been living there since.
What’s you’re background?
I guess that would be Jewish/Middle Eastern.
Why are you visiting Europe?
A lot of the videos I would see growing up skating were from or were filmed in Europe. And after seeing all these crazy spots, all these awesome people I really wanted to go out there and see for myself. It just looked so awesome.
What did you expect before coming the first time?
I had no idea what to expect. I was kinda nervous; even on my second visit. I just wanted to skate as much as I possibly could and stack clips. Mark Nickels hooked it all up for me.
Local spot at home:
Freedom Plaza in Washington D.C. I go there pretty much every other day. That’s our meet-up spot, even though it’s a bust and you get kicked out all the time. Sometimes you get an hour if you’re lucky. Everyone still goes though.
Freedom Plaza in Washington D.C. I go there pretty much every other day. That’s our meet-up spot, even though it’s a bust and you get kicked out all the time
Local/meet-up spot while away:
It depends. In Berlin it definitely was the “Bänke” spot, the Warschauer benches.
Stereotypes found true:
In Germany people really drank a lot!
Stereotype found wrong:
Nothing really. I’d never thought I would go to Germany that often, so I never really paid much attention to any existing stereotypes. Maybe I’ve got to pay more attention!
Biggest misconception:
I never knew what to expect, it was hit or miss. Mark got me out (to Europe), and from then on I had to rely on other people to show me everything. Or else I’d be stuck! I’ve been with the right people though – you guys know everything!
Best city in Europe:
Berlin. And Copenhagen was pretty crazy. More cities to check out though…
Thing you really missed:
Being understood, haha.
Surprise discovery:
That I got to skate the Kulturforum in Berlin. I’d seen footage of it and just never expected to get to skate there myself.
In Germany people really drank a lot!
Spot you really wanted to skate:
The dish spot in Berlin.
Spot that in reality turned out completely different from what you’d expected (why?):
Pretty much every spot we went to. Because even if you’d seen a spot, you never know what’s around, how everything looks like. You just don’t get that from a magazine or a video. Then, when you go you realize: Wow, this spot’s over here…?!
Best skate homie found abroad:
I would say Denny Pham and Farid Ulrich were some of the best friends I’ve made over there. But I’ve also met tons of other really cool people, everyone’s been really awesome.
Coming back where and when?
Hopefully back to Berlin in October, so pretty soon. Mark (Nickels) wants to get me out to film a part in the Shelter park and also finish up a part we’re filming – getting my German career going hahaha…
Ok, thank you Mr. Tanenbaum. Enjoy your stay; and come back soon…