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Chris 'Cookie' Colbourn is pro for Element skateboards

Chris 'Cookie' Colbourn is pro for Element skateboards
It's taken a while and generated a fair amount of forum conspiracy theories in the process but, finally, Chris 'Cookie' Colbourn is pro for Element skateboards.     After being left out of the most recent Element full-length, (directed by ex Emerica video head honcho Jon Miner) it looked very much as if this multi-talented North Dakotan ripper would be stuck in man am purgatory forever. Slap's vociferously outspoken forum community offered various potential reasons for this, from aesthetic conflicts with Jon Miner over filming, through to more wild theories regarding his War & Peace being part just being too good to sit amongst the 60 minute full-length without taking away some shine from his team mates. Regardless of whatever the thinking was behind this bizarre omission - this unassuming maniac's ascension to pro status was announced yesterday making him the latest pro skater for a brand with a massive back catalogue of highly influential and era-defining pros.   With the above in mind, we thought it provided excuse enough to remind you of a few other memorable pro skaters to have emerged from the Element Skateboards brand over the 20+ years since its birth. Props must be given to Element also for having an extremely diverse approach to team riders right from the very outset, with an unashamed embrace of non-US skaters stretching back into the earliest days of the brand. So without further ado - here are a brace of some of our favourite Element heads from over the years in descending chronological order.     Curtis McCann - Skypager - 1993 This one is from the very first Element video release, back when the brand was co-owned by Andy Howell and Johnny Schillereff (Element's current CEO) and was called 'Underworld Element' prior to the 1994 re-brand as 'Element'.  Aside from notable appearances in various Powell-Peralta videos, this is UK legend Curtis McCann's only full pro section and coincided with the release of his pro model on UE making Curtis the first UK street skater to receive a pro model from a US skateboard brand. Light years ahead...     Next up, from the same 1993 release is Julien Stranger's (yes, he rode for UE too) Skypager part. Pay close attention to 1:11 for the first ever documented nosegrind pop out and the last trick which still makes no sense 26 years later. This part could come out today and still blow minds. (Watch the full Skypager video here.) Chris ‘Cookie’ Colbourn is pro for Element skateboards       Jumping forwards a year and we have another super progressive before-its-time section from the much missed DC native Pepe Martinez. Count the NBDS in this one and pay atention to the style. Lord Finesse! Pepe Martinez - Element 'Fine Artists' 1994     Next up, it's 1998 and Tim O'Connor joins Element with this short but banging shared part on their 'Third Eye View' release. Nollie hard flip nods to Julien Stranger's Skypager part at 1:35.  The year 2000 sees Element skateboards bless us all with one final, short-but-sweet section from one of skateboarding's most influential and often overlooked pioneers - namely Natas Kaupas (click this link for more).     It's 2005 and Element skateboards release 'Elementality Volume 1' - this is peak Bam Margera madness - driving Ferrari's over unicorns, FDR destruction and a pre-booze addled Bam.     The first decade of the new century begins with the 2010 release of Element skateboard's first European focused project showcasing the likes of Ross McGouran, Madars Apse, Phil Zwijsen and various others. Full-length below. Chris 'Cookie' Colbourn is pro for Element skateboards     A year later and Element's golden child Nyjah Huston announces his return to the brand with eight minutes of handrail destruction in the form of 2011's 'Rise & Shine' stand alone section.     Two years later and Flip skateboards SOTY and Canadian big lad Mark Appleyard jumps ship, announcing his switch to Element skateboards with this 2013 'Soul Rebel' part. The steez...     Closing up on the present day now so what better place to end this than with Brandon Westgate's epic 16 minute raw files War & Peace release from Thrasher? When you've got Heath Kirchart towing you in on the sesh, you know you're 100% down with the greatest.       And there you have it: a whistle-stop tour of some of your favourite Element skateboards releases from the last two decades. If your wallet is now itching to spend some coin - why not head over to the site and have a peruse of our massive Element range, including a huge sale section on jackets and winter apparel? Happy hucking... Chris 'Cookie' Colbourn is pro for Element skateboards!
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