Cousin P

The Vaillancourt Fountain (AKA “Québec libre!”, or “Free Quebec!”) the centerpiece of EMB is in the process of being demolished. The first slide in this set of photos was taken by me on the morning of November 7th, 2025. It is perhaps the last unobstructed snap of the sculpture before the fence was erected minutes later. (See Slide 2). From the late 1980s until the mid 90s, EMB was the most important hub of street skating on the planet. When it became a bust, and its status diminished, it transformed into a place of skate pilgrimage. (Slide 3, from 2016). Like many holy sites, it has clearly seen better days. And yet every skater who looks at these photos can hear the sound of those bricks and the rush of that dirty fountain water. To paraphrase the band Fugazi, “Development wants, development gets. It’s official. Development wants this (fountain) gone, so the city just wants the same.”

44. Still skateboarding, still playing guitar. Thank you for the wonderful birthday messages. Photo by my friend, bandmate, and birthday neighbor @incrediblechange . (His birthday is two days before mine)

New Orleans bonus videos. TURN UP THE VOLUME UP 🚨🔊🔉 1) Canal Street: A young man figuring out Radiohead’s “Creep.” 2) Same performer in Slide 1, joined by a friend takin’ the 1993 Buzz Bin hit to new place 3) Congo Square: Monsieur delivering the history of Congo Square in under 1 minute

First trip to New Orleans. Consider my mind blown! Incredible food, music, and architecture. A proper melting pot. Even managed to see the National WWII Museum. And to top it off, a Ugandan-Louisianan wedding at a Bosnian vineyard. Ain’t that American?! Congrats @nassali09 and @dre.jd

Little Kolo turns 1 today! He’s just a little baby😸

The final @slowimpactaz recap post. I want to extend my thanks to @ryan_lay @mocrandall @eli__shepherd @jokamundo and countless others for their dedication to organizing and running this gathering in the desert. To all the skate rats who made the trek from all over the world. To the industry professions and sponsored skaters who hooked us up with product, hung out with us, and treated us as equals. And to #skatetwitter: whose jokes, generosity, and dedication to drip remains unmatched 🫡🏜️

@slowimpactaz recap continues: A lot of catching up with old friends and new friends, more skating in unseasonable heat, and big laughs all round!

Day 2 of @slowimpactaz : Paper Sessions; a wonderful and moving conversation between @villagepsychic and @antwuandixon ; a meeting of the @williekalema fan club (met @suminaynay )!; a big plate Mexican dinner with @mostlyskateboarding , @mmunzenrider , and @frozenincarbonite ; Perry Park session!

Night 1 of @slowimpactaz : Opening skate session at Mitchell Park and The Great Skate Debate

I took this desert selfie on March 1st 2026 while driving back from @slowimpactaz 4. This marks exactly a year that learned that 18F, the federal agency I worked for since 2020, had been illegally dissolved by DOGE. 18F was a digital services agency within the Technology Transformation Services department of the General Services Administration (GSA) of the United States government. The last year has been challenging and I was unsure about how I’d process very big anniversary. At every Slow Impact, I feel like so many people experience a “boost” from all the fun and community. Some people got their creative mojo back, some got sober after one too many late nights at Casey Moore’s, some sponsored skaters leveled up in sponsors. I vocally hoped that my Slow Impact boost would result in answers about my career, justice for my colleagues and I, etc. At midnight local time I was standing around with friends, reflecting on the day, when a wave of relief washed over me. I was with friends from all over the world at a skateboard event that I’ve attended every year since its inception. At 43, going on 44, I’m still skateboarding and playing guitar. Despite being firmly in middle age, I’ve not let go of the two things that defined 16 year-old me. More importantly I’ve found a community of BRILLIANT, funny, and talented people who accept me and challenge me. It’s inspirational spend days building and politicking with pro skaters, skate industry employees, professors, students, zine makers, activists, Olympians, and even fellow government employees. It’s so humbling to meet listeners of the @mostlyskateboarding podcast. As the recently departed Jesse Jackson said “I am somebody.” With crisis and uncertainty defining every passing day, I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. But I am somebody. My job title may have changed, but I am somebody. My sense of purpose may be challenged, but I am somebody.

Back in Summer 2020, while I was awaiting the completion of my federal background check, I joined the @mostlyskateboarding podcast as a cohost. Over the last 6 years we’ve discussed a wide variety of subjects in the skateboard industry and skate culture. We’re all located in different parts of the country, but this weekend we’re gathered at @slowimpactaz a skate conference in Tempe, AZ. This weekend also marks 1 year since the dissolution of 18F, a cataclysmic event that I’m still processing. But I’ll save the memorial for another day. For now, I’m going to celebrate the Mostly Skateboarding pod’s contributions to skate discourse and the fact that our stickers can be found on 6 continents. Photo by @theorydoor .

The dynamic duo: Olly and Kolo