AB’s Top 5 Videos of 2025
It’s already somehow the end of 2025, and here I am writing another list of our favorite videos. This is the 3rd year we’ve had the opportunity to make a top 5 for AB, and while I admit it does seem silly and a bit antiquated at times doing the ‘year end list’ formula, I think it is incredibly important to slow down at the end of the year, and take a thoughtful look back at the insane amount of work people have put into these projects.
To select AB’s Top 5 Videos of 2025, we compiled every NW video that dropped this year and sent the list to our contributors (& a few friends) to vote on their favorites. Over the next few weeks we will be releasing interviews highlighting each of our official Top 5 Videos of 2025, so check back here for updates.
the sound
Simon Bannerot had an incredible year in 2025, multiple magazine covers, inking a new shoe deal with ASICS, traveling the world, dropping multiple parts and appearing in various edits. According to Skatefolio he dropped an insane 26+ minutes of footage, all of which was eaten up eagerly by the AB crew. One of the standout moments was when Simon was officially introduced on ASICS this year via a video aptly named The Sound.
The video by Jacob Palumbo featured Simon, Emile and the rest of the ASICS crew all over the Northwest skating just about anything; a huge steel monument, a light pole, a barrier, a full size vert ramp, a bank to ledge and the crustiest NW backyard pool you’ve ever seen. ASICS has consistently released really good videos featuring a heavy helping of skaters from our zone, and The Sound was another favorite to add to the list. The video felt like it really captured Simon’s skating, spontaneous, flowing and stylish.
DUMB BUNNY
Dumb Bunny by BC’s Chance Swainson and Braeley Wong is another video that snuck in at the end of the year and immediately won a spot in all of our hearts and minds. This video was filmed primarily in Vancouver and Victoria, BC, but there’s a good amount of footage from all across the Northwest. One of the things I liked most about it was the spots; they’re crusty, rough, and many were unseen (at least to me). Some of them look really fun, but others look pretty damn hard to skate. One thing all of the spots have in common when placed together in a timeline is that they produce a look and feel that only our little NW zone can offer. The best part about of all these cutty little gems is that this crew skates each one to their full potential. Final thought on the spots, I loved the consistent sprinkling of roof spots throughout the video, that was a nice touch.
The 17+ minute video features a long list of skaters, but the curtains for the project went to Dylan Timmins, who had one of our favorite parts, leaving me hyped after each rewatch. I was so hyped in fact, I sent it out to a bunch of friends who live in different areas that might not have stumbled across it yet. Everyone I sent it too loved it, but the best response I got was from my friend Brian who said “Dude that video was fuckin dope. Filming and editing were great. And my favorite type of skating to watch is exactly the dude with the last part. Exciting and hairball lol you don’t know what you’re gonna get”. I couldn’t have said it better myself, so I’ll leave it at that.
SPLINTER
We included this video in our list even though it isn’t technically a “NW” video (whatever that means?) because half the skaters in the video are from the NW, plus of course Girl co-founder Rick Howard did once live in Vancouver, so we’re counting it. Splinter was filmed and edited by Daniel Policelli and delivered us skating from NW skaters Simon Bannerot, Griffin Gass, Rick McCrank, Breana Geering, Jasper Dohrs, Cory Kennedy, and the rest of the crew.
The vibe of the video was more current in both length and style than some of the longer, skit-filled, classic Crail videos, but Daniel still managed to embed some Girl essence with his editing, titles and music selection. Throughout Splinter Simon Bannerot’s all terrain aura is in full display, skating just about every kind of obstacle one could fathom. Griffin Gass delivers clip after clip of tech wizardry. And this wouldn’t be complete without mentioning what a treat it was to see footy from Rick McCrank.
LIOness
Our first selection we’re highlighting for 2025 was the Lioness video from Portland brand Otherness. The video was a collaboration between Mat O’Brien and Dane Ichimura, and the duos creativity paired wonderfully. The video was short and sweet but full of flavor, with lots of art, animations, illustrations, textures throughout the edit.
Beyond helping with filming, editing and animations, Dane also provided us off with the perfect amount of footage from him to keep us wanting more. We also got to see some skating from the two NW transition kings Levi and Brent, who really just make swimming in the deep end look a bit too easy. One of the many unique aspects of the video was how they blended HPX and VX footage simply by layering a textured backdrop, which I thought was a really simple yet beautiful way to handle the every pervasive black bars on the side of most VX footy. Overall, we loved this video, and we can’t wait to see more from the crew.