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Chase Hawk - No Distractions

Solo missions in tire slashing country

27 Jul 2015

ChaseHawk BMX DIG AW Riding-3

Gathering speed for a line.

Words and Photos by Andrew White

As I said before, last December I was handed a BMX photographer’s dream assignment: Chase Hawk riding pools solo in California for etnies over the course of a week. A small crew, early morning wake up, cooperative weather- needless to say I didn't’ think it could get any better.

To break it down further, consider the elements. Chase Hawk: ultimate respected rider from all angles. Abandoned pools: great to photograph, always different, rewarding, and weird. One-on-One: some riders would buckle under the pressure but with the ambition Chase had for what he wanted to get done it was a necessity. And with local Fresno skate legend Peacock not only tour-guiding us around the area but also lending his pool cleaning equipment, the recipe was there for a solid time.

The experience certainly didn’t disappoint. Chase produced so much on that trip, handling nearly as much riding as an entire team would on a similarly lengthed mission. It was rare we’d wrap before the sun forced our end to the day. And though I love street riding and all its charm, it was refreshing to be shooting a rider who wasn’t in anguish at the top of a stairset doing internal mental gymnastics trying to validate his plane ticket. The sessions were chill, though by the nature of Chase’s smooth riding that may be a bit deceptive.

The cream of this trip as well as all DIG’s other ongoing coverage of the Etnies Chapters project is being saved for a cumulative print piece to go alongside the DVD release. We shot some heavy bangers which will be reserved for print (at Chase’s insistence no less, a rarity these days). To see a rider so stoked to save photos no less for a long term project was pretty refreshing. Here’s the others from our trip to the sketchiest weirdest place in California.

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Shooting a table in this amazing scene was a must. Thanks for the good looks Chase!

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Crackhead Donny's camper.

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Skyway frame.

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The final move to get done during the rain session was this transfer over the love seat. Them trannys are steep! Just imagine having a pool like this in your back yard.

Chase produced so much on that trip, handling nearly as much riding as an entire team would on a similarly lengthed mission.

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I love collaborating with a rider on a photo. After shooting this tuck during the day, Chase insisted we go back with proper supplies to shoot it through fire. Our less than safe fire technique ended up working out, and no skin grafts were necessary.

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Alley-oop floating air during the choreographed filming run with Manzoori. Seeing these two work together is pretty awesome. Plenty of BMX filmers know how to skate a line, but none are ex-pro skaters like Mike.

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This trip had plenty of pup representation which was just fine by Chase.

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Sad stray getting some organic all natural snacks.

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This bunch did not care for me.

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This guy was all about us.

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Chase said this was his favorite pool from the trip, but unfortunately he only had maybe a half hour to ride it before a surprise rainstorm came in. You can only prepare so much…

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I loved this spot. We had to pay the homeowners a case of Bud Light, and in return we got free reign of their amazing pool, and got to pet their five dogs. This sub was calling for a footjam, and Chase answered.

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it was refreshing to be shooting a rider who wasn’t in anguish at the top of a stairset doing internal mental gymnastics trying to validate his plane ticket.