https://www.sourcebmx.com/?currency=gbp

Phil Bartlett - Newf In La-la Land

From one end of North America to the other

26 Aug 2015

Phil-Bartlett-California-Crook-DIG-BMX-DF

19 stairs and tall at the end, "SLO Torro" as it's been nicknamed by skateboarders is no joke. Phil hung onto a crook by the tip of his peg.

Words and Photos by Devin Feil

Newfoundland and Los Angeles sit at opposite ends of North America, but they might as well be on different planets, entirely. One is an island off the Eastern coast of Canada and the other is the capital of California nestled between desert and the Pacific. The entire Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is populated by roughly half a million, whereas Los Angeles is approaching eight times that within city limits. In January Phil Bartlett made the trip to La-la Land from his home in Newfoundland seeking respite from the long harsh winter. To get the true LA experience Phil and a few friends rented an apartment in DTLA and rode the city for a few days before venturing up out of the smog to the Central Coast. Was it best kind though?

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing

Describe Newfoundland in 5 words:

Fishing, drinking, jigs, snow, island

The heat seemed to get to you while you visited California in January, was it as hot then as summer in Newfoundland?

Literally melted during the month of january in cali. Our summer is about as warm but it's a lot more windy and damp considering it's an island.

Could you compare and contrast spots in Newfoundland versus California?

Spots in Newfoundland and California are hard to compare, because during the winter the salt trucks dump salt all over the roads, so most spots I grew up riding as a kid are eroded away by now haha! Only similarity is handrails are low in Cali and also low in Newf.

I heard you guys joking about the poor run ups back home all trip. What's a typical Newfie run up like?

Typical run up is a curb in front, usually big bumps and holes in the way from years of salt haha!

With winters so bad what do you think has kept the scene in Newfoundland going?

Winter makes everyone that more stoked when the springtime hits, good motivation. But for the last 7 years or so the BMX scene was kept alive in the winter thanks to Rob Yetman from Turndown BMX Inc. Shout out to rob for making everyone's winters a lot better.

Phil-Bartlett-California-Feeble-Rail-DIG-BMX-DF

No worries about the run up here. Phil feebles his way top to bottom in a city where the only salt on the roads might be from the mist coming off the Pacific.

Why with all the great rails to be had why'd you want to rogue mission that 6 stair inside the school in Pasadena?

Haha Pasadena 6 stair rail looked a lot better from a distance, but I was there at the time and couldn't help but put pegs on it anyway.

School had just let out weren't there high school kids watching you ride? What was that scene like? Does that sort of thing mess with you?

There were kids watching me jumping down the rail and falling all over the place laughing. Decided to pump some Andre Nickatina on my iPod and forget about the children haha!

Related Video

Phil Bartlett Welcome To The Make

Peg Leg's Newf connect joins The Make - More Info

"One thing I've never seen anywhere other than Skid Row is people just squatting down and taking a scat right on the sidewalk in broad daylight haha! It literally made me puke one day out riding." - Phil Bartlett

What sort of differences in food did you notice during your visit?

Main difference in food I noticed is the amount of Mexican and taco joints is about the same as fish and chip restaurants here. We have no Mexican food in Newfoundland, not even Taco Bell.

How about the way people are in public?

People are not as friendly in The States, Newf is old fashioned like the type to hold a door for someone, help thy neighbor.

Anything jump out to you as odd about Los Angeles?

One thing I've never seen anywhere other than Skid Row is people just squatting down and taking a scat right on the sidewalk in broad daylight haha! It literally made me puke one day out riding.

Phil-Bartlett-California-Hills-Gun-DIG-BMX-DF

Phil's first time firing a gun. Shooting clay pigeons atop a hill with a view of the ocean is a quite an introduction to the hobby.

What was it like firing a gun for the first time? How did the location at to the experience?

Firing a gun was super fun and it capped off an amazing day of riding with amazing people. Shout out to Andrew (VanCura) for letting all of us crazy Newfs fire his shotgun and also Connor (Caron) for bringing us up to the mountain to wyle out.

What would you tell someone from Los Angeles to expect when visiting Newf?

They would expect to have a wild time on the rock and prepare to be screeched in with Newfie rum which also includes kissing a fresh cod fish.

Give us a taste of Newfie slang to finish things off. What's you favorite local saying and what it means?

"How's she gettin on by?" As in how are you doing. Hard to think of a Newfie saying since I was born into it, so adapted to it by now I've been molded by it haha!

Speaking of which, is LA best kind?

Haha yeah LA is so best kind I wish I could visit more often!

Any thanks?

Shout out to you (Devin Feil) for doing this article and all the hospitality during both of my stays in Cali. Thanks Paul Pike for everything and Orlando at The Make for keeping it real.

Related Video

Antlife Project - Cali Ting

A few crazy Newfs let loose in Los Angeles... - More Info

https://vimeo.com/120011872

"They would expect to have a wild time on the rock and prepare to be screeched in with Newfie rum which also includes kissing a fresh cod fish." - Phil Bartlett

Previous

Wisdom Of The Ages: Garrett Byrnes

7 pieces of wisdom from the wild-haired legend on two wheels...

Next

Team Talk: Simone Barraco, Trey Jones, Joris Coulomb & Seth Kimbrough

The good times and the bad - In front of the camera and behind the scenes with a diverse mix of the Shadow crew.

Related Content

Mungall
Play Button

Richard Mungall Unseen

The man, the myth is back...

25 Feb 2015
Matt-Barchus-Shook-Gotta-Blast
Play Button

Matt Barchus - Shook 'Gotta Blast' Section Remix

One of Connecticut's finest in his prime

25 Aug 2015
Xx25 Mw Pzlk Ehqdefault
Play Button

Video Vault: Richard Mungall - Peg Leg

Classic Mungall...

25 Feb 2015
Alex-Raban-Santa-Barbarians
Play Button

Video Vault: Alex Raban - Santa Barbarians DVD

Raban embarks on The Quest For The Holy Rail

10 May 2015
Phil-Bartlett-Welcome-To-The-Make
Play Button

Phil Bartlett Welcome To The Make

Peg Leg's Newf connect joins The Make

26 Aug 2015
Antlife-Project-California-Ting
Play Button

Antlife Project - Cali Ting

A few crazy Newfs let loose in Los Angeles...

19 Feb 2015
AntLife-Corner-Brook
Play Button

AntLife Corner Brook Trip

Heavy street riding from the Newfs...

20 Oct 2014
https://harobikes.com/collections/bmx

Latest Content

P8 Rm X VC9 Lkhqdefault
Play Button

IN THE CUT - JULIAN ARTEAGA | CROWN JEWELS

"YOU'RE GIVING ME ANXIETY!"

28 Mar 2025
Mv Ic4 Id U8 Q Yhqdefault
Play Button

THE LAST SESSION - VANS COMBI BOWL

The official send-off!

28 Mar 2025
O Psno Pw L Bt4hqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: Chris Doyle Bike Check 2025

S&M MOD Build

28 Mar 2025
C kz4 H1 Bz Ihqdefault
Play Button

POST TIME - Full Video

Florida's finest

27 Mar 2025
Ghidm Gqutchqdefault
Play Button

RIXIN BIKES: JACK HENNICKE BIKE CHECK

A walk through of his current Rixin/Merritt bike build.

27 Mar 2025
To ENLV Uknnshqdefault
Play Button

AANGLES / Denim Cox

Flat out!

26 Mar 2025
Dtpm9v F5vpshqdefault
Play Button

The Backbone Zone - Alex Liiv

"From hucking & hoping to finding a mature approach to life and BMX"

25 Mar 2025
Q Dn Hdawx WB Ehqdefault
Play Button

"SLEPT ON" - Devon Anderson

Couple years of stacking

25 Mar 2025
C D9 Z Zhz Az8hqdefault
Play Button

These BMX trails videos were way ahead of their time

Dave King, Matt Priest, Bob Manchester & More

25 Mar 2025
6s Kwlq Bvg6shqdefault
Play Button

XYLOPHONE

Spain / USA

24 Mar 2025
Ih J Jbtwn F Uohqdefault
Play Button

Zach Bearley MABII Section! - Kink BMX

Mediocre At Best II Sneak Peek

24 Mar 2025
Tp TK Pnz Re0ghqdefault
Play Button

CONDOR SYNDROME - ROBIN PFLUG

Let 'Em Fly

21 Mar 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025
Expert Top 3 Roll On crop

REPO: Keeping it local at the UK 'ROLL ON' Flatland Jam

"My desire was to give something back" – Mike O'Connell

5 Mar 2025
Snow Fight – Naoki Gaman2

20 Tips For Surviving Simple Session 2025

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

20 Feb 2025
SS finals samples 4

SIMPLE SESSION 25 WRAP UP

Highlight videos, results and more

19 Feb 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

18 Feb 2025
Stack

DIG BOOK #2024

AVAILABLE VIA THESE BIKE SHOPS AND DISTROS

30 Dec 2024
New dig apparel main image

NEW DIG BMX APPAREL

Available now

27 Dec 2024
30 YRS POSH BOOK MNTN V V 004

(Almost) 30 YEARS OF POSH WOODS

Now available

24 Dec 2024
BSD Grime Safari Reed Stark Austin 6

Reed Stark - A Photo Safari

Safari Forever...

6 Dec 2024
Et FW24 Dig Magazine Collab Shoot 031

Introducing the DIG X ETNIES Collection

Celebrating a 25 year partnership

7 Nov 2024
24 photo comp web leader

THE 2024 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

15 Oct 2024
Greystoke issue 2

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 2 OUT NOW

132 pages of tangible, hold-in-your-hands BMX print media.

11 Oct 2024