Grown Ass Men

B-Herms. Allegedly injured twice trying both tre flip AND hardflip down Hollywood High 16 (maybe the tre was the idea after said hardflip appeared via another talented soul's feet in Hallelujah?), and according to a friend a patron of only skating seriously on Sundays, Bryan's part in Stay Gold is something of an enigma and a masterpiece all at once. With more than a minute of picnic table lines in the same school yard and his potentially historical Walk of Fame kickflip nosemanny, his part seems divided into a sort of intro/chill sesh and actual banger hunger. Unfortunately for the critical, variety pursuant viewer like me, Herms does two nollie inward heels, two nosegrinds, three hardflips, two tre flips, two switch fs flips and two switch front heels in addition to repetition of these go-to's in his picnic table party and another nollie inward in the video's intro. It seems a bit saddening when some of the only variety present in his part is a nollie flip, although his opening 12 set nollie tre flip in all its perfection and loftiness lends weight to balancing the equation. Faux-scientific analyzation aside, Herman's talent is highly evident despite injury and the go-to curse. Tricks at the same spot in the same clothing lend a bit of awe to the fact that he can toss undisputed bangers (plural, mind you) without even leaving a gnarly spot. I'm led to believe his part took a very small amount of time to film as far as being healthy and productive goes. It does diminish the impact of the part, however, that his ender was predictable and also a trick he is famous for, and also considering what Reynolds accomplished at the same spot that did not involve flipping frontside in the same video (not that skateboarding is about comparison, but certain things do need consideration). Yet this part will probably be one of the most remembered in Stay Gold; Herman's last full outing was Baker 3, and some time has passed since we saw him at his growing stage in that release. Sporting a chain necklace and a large stature, each trick has such pop and control that it literally dwarfs Kevin Long's following segment in a rather unexpected and unfortunate way. Plus, the standout status follows the unique nature of his part, including the daring to have such a long schoolyard segment and so many tricks at the same spots. If not anything else, the first half of his part, from the Walk of Fame through his switch front heel/nollie inward line, will be the guts of the remembrance, and the most significant footage of Bryan possibly ever. After all, it's hard to forget such a massacre of one spot, with such pop, variety (cough?) and relaxed feel. It's not at all unrealistic to imagine that these lines were seriously a by-product of boredom and a good session, either separately or in combination. Either way, to have the ability to amass a part like that requires a certain industry respect and notoriety, and to successfully release it in such an anticipated video is a feat all its own.

Now, although his part lends an air of the nonchalant to an otherwise serious video full of life-threatening maneuvers, that's not to say that I don't still find myself wishing for a part he went for 100%. But that not being the case, we are left with a little glimpse into the talents of this man, and the timeframe and issues with which he had to deal with to release it. As Reynolds said in his video discussion, Herman may not have tried, but he easily walked away with one of the most memorable parts of the video based purely on who he is, and how it was done. Pretty cool, to say the least.