Classics: Heath Kirchart "This Is Skateboarding"

Leo Romero goes back to 2003 and digs out his favorite skater, Heath Kircharts part from the Emerica video, This Is Skateboarding.

[@endangeredoddities]

the back tail kickflip might be the best single trick clip ever. he starts out, you can't see him, he finishes, you can't see him. it's like he solely exists for that moment to do the trick.

[@DouchedByDemocrats]

Dig it

[@masontexas]

okay socrates

[@atticusfinch6038]

Poetic grasp of film. you should make movies if you dont already

[@byronhansen1]

Schrodingers back tail

[@masonmcconnell9375]

hell ya man a very iconic BSTS kickflip out

[@american_psycho1147]

Almost 20 years later and this is still one of my favorite parts ever and Heath is still one of my favorite skaters ever

[@Mordorer]

The speed he skates at is far beyond driven. Fav skater growing up and fav skater growing old.

[@apexscape]

that front board was flyin

[@joshuasmith6346]

Hes so was so well rounded and his tricks were ahead of their time.

[@RemmyRiffs]

Far beyond driven? You listen to some Pantera before writing that comment? Lol.

[@Mordorer]

@@RemmyRiffs guilty as charged. Hah

[@gfeast4518]

@@RemmyRiffs perhaps he skated f’ing hostile

[@wsdamico]

Nobody catches a board like Heath...

[@teerikangas]

You can hear that snap miles away. Lovin it..

[@evertamaya5317]

so true!

[@jafrocubic2]

That was exactly what was going through my mind watching this. Just a beautiful thing to watch.

[@julianmilnes9594]

I'm in England, just heard it...

[@whochairs]

Exactly! Something about how he seems to delicately catch his flip tricks with just his toes is near majestic.

[@christophersantiago6011]

For all you who don't know, this man was the first to hit El Toro.

[@z96109]

actually Jerry Fowler was.

[@rodrigocisneros916]

@@z96109 wasnt it nuge?

[@orbonds3603]

For those of you who dont know chris santiago was the first to take el toros(the bulls) entire load in his ass

[@NickVanzwol]

Pretty sure Nuge first to hit stairs after Heath first lipslid it

[@LurkKlerk]

Zack think that was just a rumor. Heath said somewhere that he heard Jerry Fowler noseslid it, but that it wasn’t true. May be in his epicly latered where he talks about it. Edit He talks about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4fQoISNqcSna6c

[@alfredoking14]

2003: back tail kickflip to fakie on a handrail still unbelievably gnarly more than 10 years later

[@ilikeemerica9619]

He was the first one to do it I think.

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

+IlikeEmerica96 He was the first to Kickflip into a back 50-50 - he pulled it on the 7-stair at UC-Irvine when he was an Amateur on Foundation - it was about a year before the Kickflip frontside boardslide on the 7-stair flat bar at El Dorado High School. (He also is the first to kickflip noseslide a handrail, kickflip back lip a handrail, and back noseblunt a handrail - there are actually three more kickflip handrail tricks he pulled before anyone else did, but what they are momentarily escapes me...)

[@MrFowlancer]

+Ryan Ortega probl a kickflip front 50 -50 ? kickflip bs noseblunt, sw kickflip boardslide

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

Kirchart never pulled a Kickflip, Back Noseblunt, and the switch flip was late, but that KF 50-50 may be correct, though I've no way to confirm. I just remember these things from elementary school, really.

[@anhiirr]

still one of the best ones ive ever seen in a part i remember seeing it for the first time with the editing of the song it blew my mind... top 5 skate parts for me. Top 5 skate vids in general too what can i say born in 92 i grew up on this shit lol. HK forever my fave skater of all time my fave street skater.

[@MrRichallen1984]

Heath may have one of the best styles of all time.

[@Blkout88]

This is the best skate part of all time in my eyes. The music, the slams, the nighttime skating all come together to create a part soo depressing but amazing at the same time. Heath Kircharts style is simple yet elegant and defines the street skater of that era. This was one of the first parts i saw and 13 years later its still my favourite part.

[@GregMuniz7]

It’s the definition of a true street part. Forever a classic. My personal fave part of all time is his mindfield part tho.

[@trevorbeecroft9788]

Fucking excellently stated, my friend. True nostalgia for me.

[@ramonalaneband]

i got this video when i was 13 for christmas and i was so hyped. i popped it in the dvd player with my parents and grandparents all there in the living room and that was the opening scene.

[@PoliticaV]

Can’t get enough of Heath Kirchart

[@skadude113]

I remember seeing his part when I was younger and leo romero is so right, that first line I was like damn that's rad! the way he skated in this part made you think "that could be me" but mixed with "wait it's Heath Kirchart so never mind" haha still one of my favorite parts to this day

[@S7RauzZz]

One of the deepest, touching parts ever

[@smiauu]

lol

[@mikeseely5953]

I agree

[@Rob-in-hood]

Sight unseen was better, this part was really short for him and at the time lackluster

[@Rob-in-hood]

And the fact that this was deeply touching to u is beyond strange😳

[@HARDL3FT]

My first video part/ video ever. I feel you

[@user-nc4mz4pu3b]

this was my favorite part in 2004...its now 2021 and I haven't been on a board in over a decade, but god damn does this still seem exceptional. The picnic table lines from this tape are forever engraved in my mental. Endless style from Heath.

[@yancieb]

This was my first skate video I watched when I started getting into skating. Downloaded off Limewire. Im so happy Heaths part is what introduced me into skating by complete chance. Always felt the name alone was bad*ss.

[@scottsmith8162]

Heath Kirchart was a game changer.

[@Market_Wizards]

The sweetest nostalgia. Keep shredding everyone

[@spec3280]

Sight Unseen was my first skate video back in 2001. I didn’t know what I was looking at back then, but I knew it was something special. What a heat era in skateboarding. Now I watch a heath part and it almost brings tears that my eyes.

[@halkcabheelman]

This video was in my vhs player for at least 2-3 months and I watched this video every night before falling asleep in middle school. Still one of my favorite skate videos and this was definitely my favorite part.

[@TJALOL]

2.35 - Sickest noseblunt EVER on a skateboard, show me a better one, you won't find one! it's so perfect, the way the wheels touches the rail first and THEN he locks it, the sound it makes. WOW, that's skateboarding at its finest.

[@fayswan69]

Was thinking the same thing.

[@peps1mega]

Jon Allie Dying to live is pretty iconic too

[@stevencandelaria909]

The backside flip is rediculous, and no one will ever float a kickflip like Heath. Fuckin beautiful.

[@Mordorer]

Reynolds might have something to say about that. You know back in the day they both had a rivalry. Friendly of course. But they pushed each other to greatness. My homie was a goofy skater and I was regular, funny cuz his fav skater was Reynolds and mine was Heath. Worked out for the best. We both did things we’d never be able too. Always push, if it doesn’t work peddle harder! Haha fast.

[@bingload]

Heath is a skateboarding legend that needs to be remembered by the young kids, follow this mans abilities and try to emulate them.

[@timr5185]

love his style when he lands his tricks. most definitely one of if not the best of all time.

[@Clownconspirator]

back tail kickflip gives me chills no matter how many times I watch this

[@skatesamTX]

First skate video I ever bought and saw when I started skating. Still one of my favorites!

[@ThePokemonCard]

It's crazy how in 2019 this still gets me hella pumped

[@adamstow3848]

grew up watching this everyday one of my favourite videos of all time

[@brandonritchie106]

Bro this dude makes me look at back tailslides in a different light,my favorite trick by the way, it’s one that even some pros can’t do, that back tail kickflips out to Fakie was a work of art

[@DVerdict]

Insane style even for 2020. An underrated skater, less known to the younger generation.

[@ScareyW]

I remember watching this when i was younger.. so much inspiration..

[@emd1791]

Fuck I hate getting old. This video makes me nostalgia hard when I was in highschool my friends and I would be out all day and night skating even during the week. No cell phones. Biggest social media at the time was MySpace. Just skateboarding and hanging out with friends in real life skating hard and filming videos. What id give to go back 17 years.

[@nvsoliveira]

This is Skateboarding is the best video ever!

[@coshannon]

I love when classics by thrasher are 5 years old on KZbin.....🤔

[@evertamaya5317]

thank you Heath kirchart!

[@neusprach]

This is still one of the best parts ever. Timeless.

[@Ziggernaut]

2023. If you guys are watching this after Heath's interview in Hawk vs Wolf you people are legends yourself 👍

[@taylorstove803]

Still the best kickflip front 50 50 ever. So stylish and powerful.

[@iconic_filmdirectors]

one of the most brutal slams in skate history.this part is just awesome. emerica forever

[@MotoIndie]

That slam is ICONIC. Used to watch this nonstop

[@OscarOffTheCuff]

Leo Romero himself is slept on. Dude is so good at skateboarding

[@draconianTL]

he was SOTY in 2010 after destroying every handrail in the universe

[@Mordorer]

He’s In a band now. Can’t be bothered with skateboarding anymore.

[@aussietrue612]

Cheers for the memories, Heath..!

[@TraeDSmith]

one of the best opening parts to any skate video

[@patrickisles2378]

that lipside is so clean :')

[@11bisthewaytobe13]

One of the best kickflips....ever

[@MrTradisrad]

His part in sight unseen blew my mind too

[@Thelordofthematrixtrading]

This is a lifetime of inspiration

[@beardfootofficial]

My friends and I used to watch this to get hyped then go film at night ❤

[@hofx666]

His speed and power when he lands is so sick. The go big or go home style is something that no one really does anymore. Riding look a bulldozer

[@Jaberwoky5]

1. Song: DJ Premier, Rakim, Nas & Krs-One - Classic 2. Song: Mellow - SHINDA SHIMA Youre welcome ;)

[@reachddb]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6akYXuHab-imMU You're welcome as well. ; )

[@anhiirr]

skateboarding personified right here, one of the best to do it....IMO the best i dont wanna see anyone bs flip or bs flip variation in or out of any trick unless its HK....i must have watched that switch lip at UCI like a million times over its disgusting how clean it is....all of his parts have easily entirely clean trick lands in lines or otherwise his sentiment to skateboarding and its documentation and spot destroying is one of the highest.

[@mariusheimisson3432]

The kickflip front fifty down the handrail is hands down the most incredible trick I've seen

[@thehandleiwantedwasntavailable]

This part hyped me so much at the time. I must've watched it 100x over the years (no joke). The footage, editing, skating and music all combine to create a part that is unlike any other I've seen in 30+ years watching these things.

[@technodrome]

Same. That catch and turn on the backside flip still remains my favorite ever to date. One of the best skate parts to take with you as witness to the grave.

[@michaeld2060]

One of my favorite lines hands down. Heath put in so much time and work for this one ☝️

[@eduardovelasquez5511]

This part change my whole life !!!

[@mikeseely5953]

that slam is gnarly. i love that he went back. something like that could put fear in a man.

[@tilen3870]

He actually made the trick before the bail. He made the 50-50 alone (the clip you see in the part) and then decided to return and film it in a line. Then the bail happened. Hope I don't make Heath smaller in your eyes tho, the man's still a legend!

[@bertoaben8224]

Thumbs down, really?? Heath is so sick.

[@methodone950]

19 years later and still my fav skater and great song too.

[@nathanbellamy1976]

The man. A man in turmoil. Legend.

[@mattiasantangelo9421]

he's the lonely "elegant" skater i've ever seen. look to his body, it almost doesnt move compared to the others. everything he does is sooo smooth and clean

[@homelessathome]

Jerry Hsu as well

[@albertosamaniego2476]

2:14 best bs flip in the history of skateboarding

[@MikeysMadHouse]

The sound of his board smacking his feet and him completing the turn with board attached is so pleasing. Not sure how else to put it.

[@theredball]

Right he made the 5 stair look good

[@HauntedHarmonics]

coming off a fucking rail no less, that shit blew me away

[@wellbi]

What about MJ's Fully Flared one?

[@HARDL3FT]

That was perfect but Reynolds BS flip Wallenberg is the GOAT

[@ThePokemonCard]

Legendary

[@endlessgrind6951]

Those boardslides are buttery smooth.

[@danielhintner5807]

I remember when this is skateboarding came out. We were sitting in our local skateshop watching it for hours. The backtail flip out blew my mind back in the days

[@BradConroy_guitar]

He just looks cool, everything is so smooth.

[@ThePokemonCard]

2020 I’ve skated for 18 years and I still watch this legend. It makes me just go and really hard

[@cyrosubod2317]

Me too

[@cyrosubod2317]

I broke my collarbone last week

[@ThePokemonCard]

@@cyrosubod2317 did you recuperate my bro!?

[@sethcox3872]

2019...still a killer🙌

[@brodrickrobertson3459]

I loved the art Heath made out of skate parts!!!! Why he is 1 of my all time favs.

[@benrodnisky1]

So much style , the flip front 50 at the end..

[@NicolasSeptien]

Any heath kirchart part is epic

[@theawesomekid221]

This was the first skate part I ever saw and will forever be the inspiration I need to skate. There are so many great skaters out there that I look up to, but when I saw this part, it was magic; just jaw dropping. Heath's part was what tied the knot.

[@cammyd.3292]

one of my fav parts of all time!!!

[@beedee132]

Definitely my favorite of all time.

[@JeremyTBradshaw]

Timeless balls of steel with such nice (and timeless) moves.

[@HubbaSparxx]

Best part of all time. Best song too

[@ColinBrunnemer77]

This part is sooooo sick, easily one of my favorites now, I can't believe I haven't seen it before

[@brandoncleary518]

First kick flip front 50 I ever witnessed as a kid and still the best one I’ve ever seen

[@MexicanRedBeard]

Just beautiful.

[@jayceelim467]

This part gets me HYPED! HK all day 😤🦾⛽️

[@funkydankspliff]

My favorite part of all time ever and forever

[@Rob-in-hood]

Heath was ona diff level then any skater to where ppl could not wait for his parts to drop, even a add was like a Xmas gift. It’s not like today where dudes rip on other ppls styles and the stuff they skate but today there’s so many of us and footage getting dropped daily back a Heath part then it was like watchin man land on the moon💯

[@pauliedibbs9028]

My senior year in high school was one of many great skate videos..

[@GauntLife]

Great part. Great video.

[@tepaneyoulie2140]

One of the Best ever Still have the VHS but no player

[@mrfellah]

His style... One of a kind

[@polobubblevest]

timeless

[@theawesomekid221]

polo bubble vest forever

[@juanramirezgonzalez2213]

Heath Kirchart is truly awesome personified

[@chriskoegler4881]

Sixteen years later and that switch front lip and that kick flip front 50-50 are still freaking heavy.

[@recession81]

This and the end are my favorite

[@eddie95ee]

way ahead of his time. fast and big skating right there gentleman.

[@mayleye]

I never seen a skater before or since who can ride away from a huge set in perfectly straight line totally composed...UNreal

[@jonathanaiglon5321]

such a part such a song!

[@kyleortiz8634]

Nice skating Heath Kirchart, that is some nice finesse with your feet, sweet soft touch. 🙏♥️ Kyle

[@mooraga]

I remember him as one of the first street skaters that was riding 8.25 or bigger boards but his production models were 7.75 -8.0 cause of the market at the time. His boards looked like tanks for the era and I loved it

[@nucca13]

This video is 10 years old already? Damn getting old sucks.

[@GregMuniz7]

17 years now. Really getting old here.

[@user-gh9qg1sg7t]

20 now...

[@drakewicker2999]

@3:15 is the best clip I’ve ever seen , he comes from the shadows. Love it

[@adriansalabanzi2250]

So good

[@leethomas7659]

Heath and Cory Kennedy are by far my 2 all time faves.

[@sarelgaurMD]

awesome part

[@kenvetro742]

one of the most influential skaters of all time

[@leeisenberg]

incredible...

[@edgarxii.]

Timeless

[@aminestoisthebesto806]

He stomps every trick so clean. And most of his tricks he could have gotten seriously injured on. Damn. All those switch tricks scared me. He looks fearless.