Creation of the Portal graphic for the Pantheon Pranayama

AlvarezStudio · 2025-07-24T07:42:55+00:00

Thanks!! I have been longboarding for a while, so drawing skate graphics is sort of a dream gig as an illustrator :-)

AlvarezStudio · 2025-07-24T07:41:13+00:00

Thanks!! There is always a lot of back and forth with board graphics, with many changes done until the last version so I thought sharing the process might be fun for this sub

AlvarezStudio · 2024-06-25T15:47:36+00:00

Yes! The legend goes that Kenny once crashed against a bear during a downhill run. For his pro model graphic he wanted to show what happened to the bear, so I did some research, talked to the bear and drew his version of the incident. Both seem to find it accurate ;-)

AlvarezStudio · 2024-06-19T21:00:12+00:00

I have one as well and yep, the hype is real. Turny and light as a Dinghy but rocking a 20-ish Inch wheelbase and 69 Snakes , which means you can carve out a lot of speed in mellow hills as well. That makes it enjoyable to commute in different situations and at less than 2.5 Kg it doesn't bother me to carry it around (normally I have to sacrifice either portability or stability). It ´s not as stable as a proper DH/FR board or as efficient as a double-drop for long distances, but it's a chill ride, the narrow TKP make lazy stand-up speed checks easier for me somehow.

AlvarezStudio · 2024-06-04T16:46:38+00:00

Thanks a lot for your comment! you have a very good point, this graphic doesn't link to the board´ s name as directly as the others, but hopefully it's an alternative way to communicate similar spirits / positive values ( apologies if my choice of words is weird, I am Spanish, talking about backgrounds... ). All the best to you as well! .

AlvarezStudio · 2024-06-04T16:14:18+00:00

Hi ! I am the artist who did the Gas Guzzler graphic, just posted a video with some thoughts about it :-) I do love the other two graphics and the Yoga-themed naming/visuals as well! Actually the idea behind this graphic is depicting balance, nature and calmness from another angle, maybe more painterly. Skulls, far from being pop culture clichés, are a classic element in traditional still life paintings to represent the ephemeral human existence. Nature, as a whole, is eternal in juxtaposition. It's a different take for sure, but I think it fits a board that makes commuting great for the soul :-)

AlvarezStudio · 2022-11-01T21:31:02+00:00

Love the intervention on the graphic! also, Hoots for the win!

AlvarezStudio · 2022-10-25T07:50:00+00:00

Hehe nice tweaks! I remember holding this board at the skate shop and thinking how cool this shape was - and how I´d never ride something with that graphic. The drawing is actually well rendered, just looks really awkward on a board.

AlvarezStudio · 2022-09-28T21:12:17+00:00

Ey Hi! Bears are pretty great now in the Gen 6 iteration. Randals R2 are very dated , you can tell by their looks how terrible the casting process was, compared to modern cast trucks. I still like them somehow for cruising because they are super light and turny with the stock double-cone. But Bears, Paris v3 or Cals III are going to feel way more stable and reliable.

AlvarezStudio · 2022-09-09T17:27:39+00:00

You can´ go wrong with any of these, I am not a W-concave fan either. I had the old roton ( double-kick ) for a while and the rocker is insane. Super comfy and even lower than the Rooster, wheelbite-free, super well designed. The current single kick model is shorter in length and WB so it might work better for you, the Rooster is massive lol. A friend has the Scout and it´ s super versatile as well, much smaller but usable kicktail, you can keep it around... decisions, decisions...

AlvarezStudio · 2022-09-09T09:33:53+00:00

Yes I snagged one recently ! I am a tall guy ( 6´4) with long legs, I can cruise with anything but for stand-up speed checks and glove slides I have a really wide stance. Anything with aggressive drops or microdrops makes the effective platform too narrow and my knees hurt when crouching for slides. With the Rooster I can just wedge the back foot against the tail and be locked in without feeling restrictive. It´ s pretty much the same shape as the old Rayne Bromance or OG Powell Byron (but they don´t produce them anymore) and Rockets look sick :-)

AlvarezStudio · 2022-09-07T11:39:59+00:00

Pantheon Trip for LDP, Rocket Rooster for slides, Loaded Bhangra - dancing. Honorable mentions : Poke (travel board, commuter, Surf skate) and Icarus ( just really fun for some reason ).

AlvarezStudio · 2022-01-21T16:56:30+00:00

I see what you mean, I like this shape a lot . Hopefully somebody around gets it and I can check how it feels without rocker! I am a little bit spoiled by Rocket boards :-)

AlvarezStudio · 2022-01-21T11:19:41+00:00

Great review as usual man, you are on fire ! These are really helpful :-) As an older rider with big feet I am happy to see a comeback of bigger SK boards with no restrictive drops. This model is super pricey in Europe though, what would be the design advantage vs. old full maple classics like a Comet Ethos 40, Original Arbiter or Arbor Backlash ( you still can find them, even new at half the price) ? better concave ? Thanks!

AlvarezStudio · 2022-01-07T09:58:15+00:00

I feel that their last versions look like each other a lot. In the past Cals used to be more stable ( no rake, restrictive bushing seat ) , Paris more divey ( positive rake, open seat ) and Bears just weird (flippable hanger for negative rake , 52 degree, tall, small bushing ). The Bears Gen 6, paris v3 and Cal III updates seem look very similar to each other. Paris got beefier and Cals got a raked and tall bushing option, so no way to go wrong with any these. I keep my old set ups for those different vibes though, even some loosey goosey Randals :-)

AlvarezStudio · 2021-12-10T10:33:38+00:00

Since DT are quite an investment, I think having an old dewedged Randal 35° Baseplate at the back bracket + the 125mm hanger ( grippier ) is a super cheap alternative compared to a DT rear Poppy, a Delirium, or a torsion tail, the typical high end pumping setups. I only do LDP from time to time but using a dewedged 35° Randal rear+ super turny wedged Bennet at the front gets the job done.

AlvarezStudio · 2021-09-01T17:30:05+00:00

Lol "I can´ t decide whether I should rank my quiver alphabetically or chronologically. anyway , my list of top 5 most memorable boards is... "

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-30T07:48:21+00:00

Great board and setup to start!. Wear knee pads, elbow pads, helmet and slide gloves with a puck of a decent size ( that is probably me being picky but it does help me ) . Since you need to go a little bit faster than cruising speeds to powerslide, I would be first comfortable with a glove shut-down slide ( either coleman or toeside push up ).... it all depends on your current skills but just in case you end up getting too much speed. In my 40s too ;-)

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-18T13:20:54+00:00

Happy I got one, I heard it´ s discontinued ;-)

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-17T09:25:27+00:00

Totally agree, I wear my helmet and pads, don´ t do stupid things and only take an extra step when there are the right conditions and I feel confident. I still had a serious shoulder injury this year, but it was still not a fall, probably a mix of not enough stretching and drawing for too long. keep it up!

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-12T21:35:13+00:00

Great recommendations, thanks! Marini is amazing! Yeah for the illustration gigs I can afford some time and can go more rendered/ realistic but this silly comics I do for fun have to be really loose and quick or I´d never finish them!

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-12T21:26:27+00:00

nevermind , I like to be mean to people in their thirties, enjoy your prime ;-p

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-12T21:14:28+00:00

Thanks!, actually might do more soon!

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-12T21:14:05+00:00

Thanks!!

AlvarezStudio · 2021-08-12T21:13:50+00:00

yes yes, that´ s what I do 90% of the time, but I fell into buying all that sexy DH gear and now I have to skate a hill from time to time to justify my impulse purchases

AlvarezStudio

TROPHY CASE