Looking Sideways: 10 Things
This week: rewilding Bike Park Wales, a view from outside the echo chamber, and some actual skate journalism.
1. This week’s Insights post, exclusively for paid subscribers, is on how to stand out when you’re applying for work.
Next week, I’m publishing the podcast from the second Creative Exchange session we ran live in London in June with Charlie Dark, Dan Adams, William Koitrand and Dani KM, also exclusively for my paid Insights subscribers. That one got feisty. Don’t miss it.
2. I got this ace message from a paid Insights subscriber the other day, who I’ve also been mentoring over the last couple of years. (Tbf I got another one five minutes later from a none-subscriber telling me I was full of shit, lol).
Paid subscribers remember - hit me up! You can DM me on here if you want to pick my brains about anything creative you’re working on, or to discuss a more formal (and heavily discounted) mentoring approach.
I’ll also be posting an Insights Open Thread soon where we can discuss what we’re working on and find the support everybody needs. I’m really enjoying the way this is going, and looking forward to seeing how it develops.
3. I had a brilliant day in Olympic Paris at the weekend. Didn't see any actual sport, but experienced a city abuzz and a day to remember with friends old and new.
4. Some lovely, ground-breaking news from my pals at Bike Park Wales - they’re expanding the site with loads of new trails and accommodation, and are also going to rewild the entire mountain. Is this a first time a commercial outfit has made a decision like this? It’s got to be up there, right?
I’ll be interviewing Rowan Sorrell, one of the main players behind BPW, in the autumn, and am also hoping to add them as members to my HKC Discount Club. Anyway, in the meantime, find out more about their brilliant, innovative rewilding project, above.
5. This Cole Nowicki piece about the Chris Cole allegations is just a brilliant piece of opinionated journalism. More of this please.
Get 10% off any session at the Wave with the code SIDEWAVES10, and hit the button below for more offers.
6. K2, keeping the ‘Fuck FIS’ dream well and truly alive with this one.
7. Friend-of-the-show Tony Butt has a new book out! He’s also writing a blog for me, and we’re running a comp to win a copy, so keep ‘em peeled.
8. I don’t agree with this take (‘It’s the fault of immigration/identity politics’) in the slightest, but it’s interesting to see how the riots are being viewed outside my particular echo chamber (‘its the fault of the media/political rabble rousers’), as in this Unherd piece.
9. After I mentioned my new running habit during HKC on the Nick Russell episode, a listener got in touch to share some interesting looking brand films with the line ‘Run films are the new skate films’. I quite liked this one, so I thought I’d share it above.
10. Finally, a lovely, summery bit of surfing from friend-of-the-show Maddie Meddings for Finisterre.
As ever, let me know which of these you enjoyed, or just say hello using the button below.
Appreciate you reading and sharing the piece , Matt
The running video is fresh and slightly unexpectedly a good watch. Who knew?