Destroying By Example - Erik Ellington

In the mid nineties, skateboarding exploded, the decompression of a bored generation, propelling each of its best practitioners to the rank icon, rock star. Alcohol, drugs, partying and world tours were the norm. Erik Ellington was one of them, one of the best, the embodiment of relentless charisma & style.
Two decades on and at 38 years of age, Erik is a veteran. A life fighting inner demons has lead to a new chapter, one of sobriety, abstinence and responsibility.
Director Sebastien Zanella presents Destroying by Example, a thoughtful portrait on one of the most intriguing personalities skateboarding has produced. In an unprecedented interview Ellington shares his plight, his inspiration and what led him to lead such a positive change in lifestyle.
Supported by KREW

[@zuzurewind]

There are so many skaters that lose their cool, but Ellington is one of the select few who just gets cooler as the years go by.

[@Killedbydeaf]

Zuzu those are facts

[@ciscoak9074]

Its us AK boys. We keep our kool.lol jk but ya the dudes a G.

[@MycoMatty]

Three years later and this is still 1000% true.

[@joseportillo8949]

Going thru sobriety now thank you a lot erik ❤

[@skadude113]

Best of luck to you, you got this!!

[@AHappyMediumSkateboarding]

Legend

[@strategicmulatto3212]

every skater should see this film.

[@flederbar4552]

Such an important issue, that needs to be heard. Iam skating for 23 years and have been through similiar behaviours .And yeah Erik, its all about keeping or getting back our innocence ❤

[@toynazi]

Drinking, partying and having a good time has a very short shelf life. Kinda like skating at a pro level. Put the two together and you create a fireball charging down a dead end street! I have lived it, And I crashed and burned.

[@morty_falch8049]

you have a least been on fire, and live to tell the tale....

[@chetrok1]

I think it breaks down to we're fkn animals when we skate live on adrenalin and are way prone to live hard when we dont skate, been there too, fkn over it and still skate, skating saved my life, its always there and will always be

[@MrJayra210]

Great summation.

[@rafaelparra116]

we love you Erik, your style is like no one else's, thank you for everything you've done for skateboarding!

[@carlos_sk8s370]

So nice great job and big thumbs up to Ellington

[@skadude113]

Always loved Ellington from back in the Baker days. Its awesome to see him have a level head and turn his life around for the better. This is just a beautiful video so glad I saw this. I really love what he said in the end. Makes me happy to think about skating and I really hope I ride until my body just won't let me anymore. Not everyone understands that but skaters do fersure and its like our own "secret society" as he said haha super rad.

[@Eric-mz9en]

First seen Ellington skate in Misled Youth. Always loved his part. Really the whole video was great.

[@jjb.6152]

thank you, I needed that in my life right now

[@22braden]

I am entering this now and I seriously have found out that this is 100 percent my life and my responsibility and I trashed it because of drugs and alcohol. I have hit bottom and I can only go up from here. Thank you Erik for this video.

[@BreakfastClubPaintball]

Still one of the best videos out there

[@kasumcanaganacanagana9414]

Wow what legend this man is. Keep living your dreamlife,you totaly deserve all the good things happening in your life now.

[@close2bone]

amazing and inspiring video: i saw it in a bad time of my life, and it helped me so much. Seb Zanella, still the greatest. Ellington is an hall of famer

[@binksvideoart7174]

This is one of the most inspirational things I've seen in a long time! The Thrill Of It All was the first skate video I ever saw and Erik has been my favorite skater since then. I hope Erik never stops skating because I want to see more videos like this and more skate footage of Erik with good video quality like this.

[@STREETCOFFEESkate]

These keep being better, great job Seb and big up to Erik for being a real ass dude !

[@johnnyeverest9756]

The name of the song is Come On Live Long - Trough

[@RealSurfStories]

Beautiful work. BRAVO!!

[@jinkings]

Well done Erik! This was inspiring! Keep up the good work

[@preciousbash]

Yaaaassssssssssssss!!!! Loved this!! Keep skating man!!!

[@kickashi2.015]

Great vid, keep em coming

[@gr1mace702]

One of my fav skateboarders

[@ryanhancock1234]

Been my favorite skater since I started in 1995

[@jeremymcclure3372]

love Erick he looks alot better so stoked for him

[@wombatonsteroids]

Meanwhile on BakerBoys: Dustin Dollin... Erik is so well spoken. Really admire what he's done for the skate community.

[@corymartin2759]

Erik Ellington is da best. Keep yo head up

[@AltarOfDisease]

Gonna be sober like this man

[@johnnyboy2653]

this was so well filmed

[@coreygrace3680]

Sebastian Zanella deserves more credit, I love his work! Stoked to see the new vid, I surf, skate, and video make!

[@ronthunders6124]

skateboarding has gotten jim greco, andrew reynolds, shane heyl, erik ellington, ect off drugs!! skating is looked at by the public as something bad, but its a pretty consistent cure for addictions it seems like

[@vet5555]

secretspy1 I agree. Greco needs to find a wife or something lol

[@fr-ik3749]

spanky is divorced and jim is part owner of deathwish and bakerboysdist. i dont think jim need a wife or kids to be happy, its not for everybody.

[@jaym3260]

I think I got exposed to drinking and drugs through skateboarding. But I quit years later and it was because I wanted to keep skateboarding and surfing. But where I grew up drinking 40s and skating went hand and hand.

[@rickysaldana9853]

Skateboarding is something that’s always there, no matter how many times you put it down, and you can always rely on it to be there. Once you’ve burned all your bridges drinking or lost everything skateboarding will still be there. Im slowly learning alcohol is never a reliable comfort, more of a predecessor to something negative usually. Skateboarding although can introduce you to all these things will be with you with or without it all

[@textmyplug2908]

Motivation for us skaters

[@JackedBlack88]

Such a good dude

[@robgillies1961]

Great dude

[@chetrok1]

Erik thank u

[@corymartin2759]

Two words, ............ Thank you

[@GNARCOTIC8585]

Amazing

[@antoniocamacho2603]

Me hubiera gustado conocer a ellington lo he visto en videos por más de 20 años pero nunca en persona, saludos bro

[@RByrne]

I can really relate to him saying he was slick enough to get through bad situations okay. Feel the same. Being a fairly educated, smart person who can sweet talk and bullshit people hurt me more than helped.

[@chetrok1]

Not moving with the herd and going against what the status quo does is alienating as fuck, however Im alive to skate today and thankful as fuck, thank you for being an inspiration Erik

[@CG-jo3gd]

Great videos, wish you had more sub and views you deserve it

[@frankaaron5704]

Yes.

[@421Space]

The Thrilla of Manila tattoo, sick!!,

[@androiddrewbot9839]

Dope love you dood 🖤😷

[@Mikephx528]

Ellington is the man

[@psilohcyben2378]

Quit drinking a few months ago, this helps, merry christmas evryone

[@kollodialessilber1156]

Stay strong brother. You can do this

[@anthonynakayama9962]

Yo me too and oddly enough i can learn tricks i never thought i could land in a matter of days

[@psilohcyben2378]

Fuck yeah dude thats what its about

[@roberterickson77]

EE Skateboarding legend. The white Danny Trejo @ 4:42. Love and respect!

[@strawberryjpeg6000]

this is so fucking inspiring

[@Gilbakjr]

I really need the song!

[@metalman462]

cool video

[@shawnladue8986]

I remember when that dude use to skate for turtle back in the day in Phoenix.

[@SY-jy5hv]

Amazing video anyone get the song?

[@vaughnsigal4560]

*Applause*

[@sebastiaocarneiro4122]

😍😍😍🎩🔝🎩

[@Jmbuckets4488]

Hey guys, digging your stuff. What cameras are you shooting with?

[@toddctessier]

Anyone figure out the music track to this video clip?

[@claymationwaves]

i would say you did it right because every other brand was annoying geeky skaters but these guys were cool

[@edzcelbernardo4785]

What's the theme song of the film ???

[@kblock4295]

705th 👊

[@johnwoods7478]

...All the original baker boys and flip riders all push the same like an OG.. because realistically dudes hate pushing and just like to cruise and that's also why i got Bronson raws.💪

[@MrKillshot2]

What song is this?

[@steveperry7799]

HIs "wife" took it all

[@ryurtgh.981]

is he off Supra??

[@severianxi6990]

So what happened to the other guy?

[@luisg1653]

Is that the same orange truck he had?

[@nathanbellamy3308]

Legal costs aside, how are legends like Ellington not living in mansions?

[@nathanbellamy3308]

Skateboarders are incredible introverts. Fame brings extroverted attention. That's really why so many start drinking and druggy. But it often leads to terrible paths. I know this all too well. I'm 44 and still struggling. Well done Erik stay strong

[@gratefuldrifter6588]

myfavorite skater has always been,but im happy he done what makes him happy,me im 37 and still loaded on drugs and drink,it is not cool,fuck its a discustying way to live.but no shit i have to drink a bottle of discuting cheap wine just so i can skate and think and feel stable.they say my liver is fucked but i still live the fucking filty life man,fuck piss and fuck drugs they do kill you.and please dont judge me man,i know im a fuck up,but it is to me normal,sober ill rather die.i cant handle it,ive been helped over and over,sorry fuck my story,erik good on you bnro,im gonna be the same,if not they say ill die,its scary knowing you are killing yourself.but i am weak,thats the word.but i will get by,erik does the dopest bigpins ,so dope.hes the man.will always love and respect him.but i got to tell everone fuck drinking fuck drugs,ill rather fuck a chick.peace brothers love to all take care its a jungle out there.

[@elionaidgranados1005]

Everyone that rides for Baker r deathwish has issues shout out to na homie Antwan and Furby lol

[@johnwoods7478]

...7:50 thank me later.🤙

[@miguelrangel332]

Yo Ellington dude if u can read this im trying to stop the brew.my son is about to be one and im divorced cuz of alcohol and she took him..im a skater and I hear u im 24.I need help

[@cxde2705]

Stay positive dude youll be ok

[@russelldesoto9044]

I just came across this comment and it says it is six months old, how are you and your family doing now? Do you still need help?- a friend whose been there.

[@neph2143]

EE

[@anonymoushadoww]

Jesus Christ Freed you from that Lifestyle and you are in a blessed position to help others!