Dave Bachinsky
Pools and more
November 2022
How would you describe the Boston skateboard scene and its community?
Grade A DIY builders. They’re always fixing up a spot or searching out new territory. Boston is a city built around the 1700’s and it’s constantly being redeveloped with amazing spots. If you’ve never been to Boston, add it to the list.
How is this community seen from the West coast?
The west coast gives a lot of support to anyone that deals with 4 seasons. They love seeing some New England goodness, especially with all these new video parts coming out.
What are some of your Boston underground heroes?
Dana Ericson.
Which local skaters were you looking up to when you started skating?
Chris Trembley, Zered Bassett, Pj Ladd.
‘I think it’s a great place to harvest a craft but there wasn’t many indoor parks for skaters.’
At what point in your career did you leave the East Coast and why?
Ever since I was 16, my friends and I would take trips to Canada, Florida, California, etc. Around 2011, I moved out to San Francisco and was living at Thrasher DoubleRock skatepark in San Francisco. It was the best of times! After 3 years of traveling during the summers and escaping the winters to SF, I wanted to switch it up to skate with my best friend Manny Santiago and he was living in Los Angeles. Once I got down there I never left.
Do you think you would have had the same career if you stayed?
No way, winters would have changed me. I think it’s a great place to harvest a craft but there wasn’t many indoor parks for skaters. It’s only been a dozen years with social media in our lives and that’s allowed skaters to live anywhere and be supported. The only way to get seen back in 2012 was a video parts or getting a photo in the mag. Social media has really broke that barrier.
On that note, your kickflip down el Toro in 2006 has gotten a lot of attention for all the right reasons. Do you think you would have gotten the same reaction if you did kickflip down 20 stairs somewhere in MA?
With all the bricks I hope so (laughing). The first person to do a trick over 15+ set with a brick landing tag me. I’ll send you over a gift.
What is your connection with Boston today?
Between September and October, I fly back to cruise with the friends and film. Other than that, just visiting family over the winter holidays.
‘Personally, I love to see someone push the barrier.’
You started shapethree where you recycle skateboards into something new. Can you keep up with the demand as most of your items are sold out on your website?
No, I wish! I remember when the pandemic hit, I had to shut down shop and I had 26 back orders. Thank you to every single person that supported. Much love! I can’t wait to get back building!
What is more remarkable is that with each item purchased, you donate a percentage back into to the local skate scene where you grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts to build a proper skate park. How much longer you think until you got all the funds? Once its built make sure they name it after you.
In 2015, 2017, and 2018 we built a new obstacle at the park and threw a bbq best trick with everyone. It was super fun to put on those events at the park I grew up skating every day.
Interesting that you called it shapethree as I learnt from a Thrasher interview that you have an obsession with the number four.
(laughing) Four is my favorite number. But I’ll tell you how Shapethree came to be: My good friend, Pat Donfro made a local skate video called Shape and then a year later Shape Deuce. It was all the Massachusetts friends & I shared a part in it. After 3 years we never made the next video Shape3 and one night I was thinking about the process of a skateboard and how it aligned with 3. Someone cuts down a tree, it becomes a skateboard, and then once it breaks I turn it into something new. I instantly called Pat and he was cool with me using the name.
‘Every pool is a different shape set in a different landscape, so I knew it would look amazing.’
Let’s talk about ‘one pool at a time’ where you take bird-eye pictures and videos of pools. They look absolutely stunning. What triggered the idea?
Thanks so much. I love a birds-eye view (laughing). It really just kind of came to me. I was out skating with friends daily putting the drone to use. Early one morning I was listening to a podcast by Kevin Rose, and he got me into learning about NFTs. I quickly realized I could connect all the dots with skateboarding, Shapethree, and these drone shots. I just had to figure out how. Every pool is a different shape set in a different landscape, so I knew it would look amazing. I was camping in Idyllwild and the idea came to me that I could possibly loop my friends skating in a pool forever. After multiple attempts of filming, I figured out the line has to be done twice in a row and hopefully they roll over the same exact spot in the 2nd line as they did in the 1st run. After 2 weeks of having ghost trails of crossfades, I finally got the 1st video to seamless loop forever. Shout out to Steve Caballero for making it happen! From the start, I wanted to connect the digital NFT space to the physical world. Each video sold 25% goes to the skater & 25% goes to Shapethree to build a unique tiny home that has a skateable feature. I’ve always had the dream to build a tiny house next to Manny Santiago in Puerto Rico. I don’t want to promise anything, but the idea is when the tiny home is complete, I’ll be giving holders of the collection weekend pass tokens. That will allow them free stays at the tiny home, or they can trade them.
What’s a NFT?!
It’s a digital token that represents videos, photos, membership passes, art, music, and in-game items. So just like Instagram, I’m looking through an exchange but I’m buying and selling photos and videos. It’s a worldwide traded digital asset that’s connected to the blockchain. Each transaction is recorded and everything I own / sell is transparent on the blockchain. I started to invest in crypto and I kept hearing about NFTs. My only regret is not discovering this universe sooner. Since July 2021, I’ve supported over 400 artists from all over the world; it’s been a learning experience and it has literally changed my world. I had endless questions until I spent some time really digging in. That’s why I want to help educate people that want to learn. NFTs are here to stay & they are so powerful. 1 million dollars was raised in 30 seconds for Ukraine 🇺🇦 .
Please message me if you’re a photographer, filmer, or artist and want to get involved in the space or have any questions. I’d love to help get you involved.
Do you get up early for those shots to make sure no one else rides the pool?
That’s the goal but the lighting isn’t always great. Usually, I have to edit all the people around the pool out.
Which is your favorite pool shot in your collection so far?
Both of my uncles’ lines are my favorites. Steve’s line is filmed at a backyard pool with a fence boarding it with a maple tree with fall colors. It’s visually amazing. The other line is Paul’s and we shoveled out a bowl for 5 hours in the freezing cold. I’m so glad my drone kept up to capture the line.
Is there one particular pool that is barely skateable, but you love how it looks from a bird-eye perspective?
Haven’t stumbled into that yet & I hope I don’t. (laughing).
Who builds the best pools?
Skateboarders.
I am sure you are not short of cool ideas. What is next on your wish list?
An invert, I’d so hyped to do one. To learn that one.
Last question. If you could interview a person, who would it be and why?
I’d have to say Jeff Frost. Personally, I love to see someone push the barrier. His art pieces are in-motion time-lapses of his paintings. He’s working in abandoned houses for over 24 hours making amazing creative pieces come to life digitally.
‘The first person to do a trick over 15+ set with a brick landing tag me. I’ll send you over a gift.’
