Lucky Scooters | Blake Bailor at Ohio Dreams

Daddy only got a minute of footage at Ohio dreams, but it is a quality minute.  270 back lip 270 fakie, uprail briflip, half cab board, everything was sick.  Makes my day seeing footage of this guy.

Lucky Scooters- Blake Bailor Plazatage

The top comment on Youtube says it all- "Damn Blake that was fucking sick, I didn't even know you rode, I thought you just went places and got wasted."  Turns out he does ride, and he still kills it.  Tyler Bradley and Evan Larson also killed it with the filming and editing.

Lucky Scooters Three in One: Jarred Jacobs Street, Bailorzone, Ohio Dreams with Kota and Lil Jon

Lucky riders have been busy as always lately. Jared Jacobs made a tight edit for the Lucky AM Team. He is really coming up in the street scene, love watching him ride. Then we have Blake Bailor getting down at Sammy in the Bailorzone, some messing around clips, and some legit stuff. And finally Lil Jon and Dakota hit up Ohio Dreams, and you already know they hold it down, so watch that for sure.

Lucky Scooters Frideday #1 with Blake Bailor and Mike Montgomery

Two of my favorite riders on Lucky got together for the first of many, Fridedays. Check it out. Mike's backlip was so smooth.

Lucky Scooters | Blake Bailor Faceplant

I've heard before that Blake has a knack for nailing the ground with his face.  Sadly I've never been able to witness it in person but this'll have to work for now.  If you listen he says "I'm ok" so it sounds like he's fine.

Lucky Scooters | Blake Bailor Welcome Back!

It's been a good year now since Blake last had serious footage, and he doesn't disappoint with this video.  He doesn't seem to have slowed down much at all, still killing it on the handrails.  Classic tune as well.

James Gee Return to Lucky Interview

This week Lucky announced that two of their OG riders, James Gee and Blake Bailor, have returned to the Lucky team just six months after leaving to start apparel company ADVCT. We at Inside Scooters were able to chat with James Gee and get the scoop. Before reading the Q&A, here’s a bit of background:

Obviously 2012 has been a big year for Lucky. For a while the company seemed quiet, and then everything started to change in a flash. Before we knew it, Dakota had signed a multi year contract, and Lucky Veterans, Blake Bailor, Evan Yamada, and James Gee had left the company..and made it pretty clear why.  Lucky moved on, releasing a whole new line of products, and continued to expand it's team. Dakota went on to do exactly what Dakota does, and slayed every competition in front of him, including the World Championships. The younger Lucky AM and Lucky Title Team riders were doing their thing placing in competitions as well. It left people wondering if Lucky's street riding presence was gone for good. However with James Gee and Blake Bailor back to join Mike Montgomery and Lil Jon, I think it's safe to say there is still some hope for LSP's Street riding roots.

- First of all, congratulations on your return to the Lucky Team! To start, what have you two been up to?

James: Thanks a lot man pretty stoked to be back. We’ve been going to college up in Bellingham, Washington about an hour and a half away from home where we run our apparel company, ADVCT, and chill with all the homies. Recently just had winter break where we rode a ton and got this whole thing to happen.

- Ok, so when you left, you guys went on the record that you didn’t think Lucky was heading in the right direction. Why the change of heart…was leaving a mistake?

James: We just assumed that Lucky was transforming into this company that wasn’t the way Lucky was before. After signing Kota we were worried that Lucky was going to make a total 180 degree turn where the company only targeted the younger riders and focused only on park riding. There were some other things heading up to this situation where we weren’t seeing eye to eye with the company. We were told the opportunities were coming and that Brian had all these ideas planned out for us, but we got impatient. We got to start ADVCT and Brian was pretty much our mentor for the company so I kept in touch with him. We met in the beginning of winter break and talked a lot and we started chatting more and more about me getting on lucky again, developing parts, and other stuff everyone will get to see this year from Lucky. I would say it was a mistake…I just really like Lucky it’s like home to me.

- Was this a group decision? Is Evan Yamada back on the team, too?

James: This was an individual decision. As I said I met up with Brian in the beginning of the break and he brought up bringing me back and I was all ears. He even said it was weird that he was dealing with just me because Blake, Evan, and I have always kind of have been a package haha. I know Blake met with Brian separately a week or so after me. I don’t know anything about Evan I don’t want to speak on his behalf.

- Okay, fair enough. So you both left as Kota came on to the team. Any beef with him, or are you just going to each do your own thing?

James: There is definitely 0 beef with Kota. Kota is a monster and I’m looking forward to riding and working with him. To get this straight, I don’t hate park riding—park riding is sick. I just prefer to ride street. I ride park sometimes and there’s no reason to have hate for someone that rides a certain terrain/way.

- I’m looking forward to the Devin Super Tramp video. But tell me, now that you’re both back on the Lucky team, what can we expect from you in 2013?

James: I was brought in to watch every clip filmed in the 2 days of filming and there was seriously sooooo much footage. I have seen the Devin Super Tramp video as well and it’s buck. In terms of what’s coming from me, I would say you can expect more street edits, a strong presence at street events, HD filming, new products, signature parts, etc. Lucky plans product launches in August every year so look out for some of the newer product and signature parts then.

- Last question…are you still running ADVCT? 

James: Hell yeah dude. It is definitely harder then we have thought, but we are learning a lot about business. Lucky supports us and allows ADVCT to be in the videos and descriptions of the videos to help us out. Stay Advocated!

Well I have to say that’s it’s great to see you guys back with Lucky! Any last shout outs?

James: Thanks a lot Lucky for another opportunity and letting me do what I love to do. Thanks to everyone that supports me and ADVCT. 

Lucky Scooters | James Gee and Blake Bailor Are Back!

Whoa, didn't see this one coming.  Its good to see these guys back on a parts company again.  I wonder if fellow ex-rider Evan Yamada will soon follow suit.  I'm also looking forward to the videos these guys have coming out.

James Gee Interview: What happened with Lucky?

I recently got together with James Gee, because myself and a lot of other people have been wondering what exactly went down with Lucky? All we knew was that the core Lucky guys were gone, and this "New Lucky" and Dakota were in. You guys can check out the interview below.

Hey James, before we get started I just want to make it clear to everyone, and to you that if we're doing, this the intention is not to bash Lucky in any way, correct?

That is correct. I have no hard feelings towards Lucky or anyone apart of the company. I will be super honest and straight forward with everything.

All right, just wanted to be clear on that. So, as everyone knows by now the core Lucky riders have left the company. Those riders being You, Evan, and Blake and some other riders. So what exactly happened dude?

And the novel begins.. It happened over a long period of time. Blake, Evan, and I have been with Lucky since the BEGINNING. Way back when it was just an idea and even when the company was based out of Brian's garage. In the beginning we loved Lucky, everything about it. We thought the parts were sick, Brian loved all of our ideas, we were coming out with tons of new videos, and promoting the company like crazy. As time went on Lucky was getting bigger and bigger. They had to make big business decisions so that the sport and the company could grow. Once Lucky was at this stage they started adding a lot more staff to the company and hiring many people for different things. Since there became more workers there needed to be more money so everyone could get paid. Everyone knows that the sport is very young and most of the riders in the sport are young kids/teenagers. The company had to do whatever they could to get that money or else there would be no Lucky. Lucky started targeting more towards the younger kids/teenagers about a year and a half ago and that is what kick started us from fading away Lucky.

We didn't agree with the decision because we are older riders we want the sport to grow up so that the scene isn't meant for just little kids and that it is for everybody. The three of us couldn't be mad though, Brian dropped everything for this company. He gave us opportunities we would have never had. Lucky is Brian's job/career and he will do anything possible to make sure he can support his family which we totally respect. Time went on and we felt the company was getting more childish. The image of Lucky was totally changing. I remember when a lot of people thought Lucky was so cool, but then people online and around the world started agreeing with us and thought Lucky was changing. During all this we had ideas for the company to get our image back in place, but they were shut down. We eventually got to the point where we didn't really enjoy what we were supporting and we weren't motivated to create videos and do the things we were asked to do. Since we didn't do those things Lucky stopped paying riders. Just like a boss would do to a worker in any other business, if you aren't doing the job they wont pay you. We got really frustrated at them because we told them we have stuck through everything with you guys for 3 years, we have provided every clip we have ever filmed for you, we helped you ever since the beginning and we felt that taking away our pay was a slap to the face.

(At one time, this was the Lucky Scooter Parts Team...Mike Montgomery wasn't here for this photo though. Everyone in the photo except Lil Jon has left the company)


A week goes by and we hear about Dakota signing a multi-year deal with Lucky. We were never informed about Dakota it was just as a surprise to us as it was to the rest of the world. Obviously if he is signing a multi-year deal the kid is obviously getting paid. Since they cut our pay a week before we totally assumed that all of our pay was going straight to this kid, though we cannot prove that, it was just an assumption. That is what really hit hard and hurt the most. The kid has done nothing for the company, he hasn't been with the company since the beginning helping it grow, and all the sudden hes the superstar of Lucky? The day we found out we went to the office and we talked to Alex Bean, the GM, and let him know we were through and it was time to move on and doing our own thing with ADVCT. We eventually went over to Brian's house and dropped the news on him too. They understood how we were feeling and they tried to keep us on, but we just couldn't. Even after quitting we were disappointed with the company. We feel that they tried to hide our departure from the company. I just wish there was a thank you to use or something that they could have released.

 Wow.. well that definitely shed some light on the whole situation. So be honest though, is it anything personal against Dakota? And Lucky's decision to bring him onto the Team?

Everyone thought that we left Lucky just because Dakota joined the team which isn't it. As you can see from the story that is not the case. People need to understand that we left because Lucky was changing as a company. Lucky WAS a street based team, everyone knows Dakota for his park riding. It was a business decision to pick up Dakota and a smart one. I think Lucky will do great with him, but that was when we knew that Lucky really has changed. We didn't even know about it until everyone else did. It was like our opinions didn't matter anymore. We didn't want to support a company that we didn't even support anymore. Definitely no beef with Dakota hes a ripper.

Damn, had no idea it went down like that. What about Brian? I know Brian to be one of the coolest dudes in the sport, How is the relationship between all of you guys now?

Brian wasn't just our boss he is a family friend. We have known him for a long time and he totally respected our decision in leaving the company. He knew that we didn't support what they were doing and that we were crossing paths and things weren't working anymore. He told us why things have changed and we totally respect him for his decisions. He said if we are ever struggling for parts that we can call him up and he can take care of us. Even after the conversation at his house when we told him we are quitting he still manages to hit me up and let me know how much we meant to him and he tells us without us he couldn't have gotten to where he is today. He is a great guy. I will miss working with him.

Yeah, I hear you there dude. He's a good dude. So basically right now, You, Evan, and Blake, who are definitely some of the top riders in the US, now have no sponsors? What are you guys' plans now?

Well Evan and Blake were sponsored by the Mothership Distributuion shop out here in Washington while they were on Lucky, so they still have that, but I just have ADVCT to look forward to. Kinglsey hit me up the other day and said that Mothership can help hook me up too. I'm not gonna go out looking for a big named company selling myself to them, but if a company came to me and wanted to talk I would definitely listen.

Cool cool. So do you guys wish that things could've gone differently between yourselves and LSP? Or was this something that was going to happen eventually anyways?

Oh yeah for sure 100%. We all wish things went differently with Lucky. I could easily say that we never wanted to leave Lucky. That is why you saw many riders come and go from the company and we always stayed. If the company stayed to its beginning roots I think Lucky would be hands down the best company out there and I would rep it so hard.

 

I think we all agree there man. How have things been going with ADVCT?

ADVCT has been a pain to get going, but it is finally coming all together. We got pretty much everything done now. We got a couple people hooked up to rep the company, but everyone will have to wait until the welcome videos come out. Next week the website will be open along with the shop so anyone can order some gear! Check out inside sometime next week with pictures of the products and the website release. The official release date is not set in stone, but check out our Facebook page and you will be one of the first people to know when its coming out. www.facebook.com/advctscooters

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Can't wait for that bro. What do you guys see in the future for Lucky?

Hmmm, Lucky is pretty damn big. Even though a lot of people are really bummed on Lucky with this set back and total image change, I think Lucky will still be one of the top brands out there. I can totally see Lucky products hitting the stores of Walmart just like you see MADD stuff. Lucky is dedicated to give the sport the best products which is why you saw a massive product drop from them. I still think they have some of the best forks out there. They are going to be in the game for a long time I can imagine.

 

Any last words you want to say to anyone, or Lucky? And if you got any shout outs, let em go.

Thanks a whole lot Brian for everything you have done for me. Thanks Lucky for giving me the opportunity to travel around the US to do what I love the most. Thanks to everyone who supports ADVCT Δ. Like the ADVCT facebook page and follow us on Instagram @advct. Swerve.

ADVCT Scooters Chill Night Sesh

ADVCT riders James Gee, Evan Yamada, Blake Bailor, and their homie Kingsley Okocha grabbed the flood lights and hit up a local school for a chill night sesh. Check it out below, and don't forget to check out the ADVCT Facebook

James Gee ADVCT Interview

- James, how you been dude?

James: Dude I've been great. Riding a whole bunch, stackin footy still, and I got another month of summer to chill.


- Nice dude, tell me about the summer, anything memorable go down?

James: This summer a lot has went down. We have been marking spots on google maps and have been seshing new spots every time we go out to film now. Crazy hammers going down. But I got a whole month still for even more memorable stuff such as the street jam coming up on september 1st with a lot of crazy dudes coming out


- That's awesome man. So, I've been hearing rumors about you being involved in a new company? Let's hear the details dude.

James: Yeah yeah! The companys name is ADVCT, but known as Advocate. We chose the name cause we want the sport to grow up a bit and not have the idea of scooters being little kids snaking people anymore, because that isn't what scootering is at all. We want scooter riders to have sick T-shirts that they want to wear not just when they ride, but when they are hanging with their friends or at school. The shirts will be ready for this fall and we already got some awesome ideas. Check out and give us a like on our facebook page for all the updates.

Facebook
 

- Sounds pretty tight dude. Is this something you kind of always saw yourself doing at some point?

James: This has been an idea for over a year now. Blake Bailor, Evan Yamada, and I went to the same school and talked about creating something of our own and its not until now we are really making moves and getting things done. We all agreed that most scooter T'shirts are all the same. All of them have just the big chunky logo in the center of the chest. We thought it would be cool to have some designing on the T-shirt with a smaller logo somewhere on the shirt. Just wait till you see some of them they are really tight.




- Can't wait to check some out. So you mentioned Evan Yamada, and Blake Bailor, you guys have been down for a while haven't you? 

James: We have known each other ever since elementary school. These dudes are my best friends and I'm excited we get to work in a business together and see where it takes not just us, but the sport as well.



- Damnnn. Brosss for lyfee. You guys have any financial backers that are helping the company get on its feet?




James: Our financial backers are our parents. Most parents are down to invest in their kids and we are lucky enough to have such good parents and role models that will do so. They know that the sport is something we are super passionate about and that we will work hard at it so that the money will be in good use. Obviously we will pay them back which will take time, but we know that. We are just excited to get it going.


- Family supporting Family is always a good thing. Tell me about some of the products we can expect from your company.

 James: In the Fall we are coming out with 4 products to start off. They will be made out of high end material, 100% cotton, and well fitted T-shirts. The 1st one will be in either black or white with ADVCT on the upper chest. The 2nd shirt will be a baseball T shirt, (haven't decided on what color) like the ones in the picture I sent. 3rd will be a crewneck with big letters going down the shirt with a triangle. Finally the last one will be what most of our shirts in the future will be like. Its going to be a pocket T with a sick design that I don't want to give out just yet with small ADVCT letters going down the pocket. Gonna be real sick you will be able to see all the T-shirts on our facebook page and up on our website when it is up and running.




- Wow going hard with the designs. Does this affect your guys' relationship with Lucky Scooter Parts in any way?

James: This definitely has effected our relationship with Lucky. But Lucky is the chillest company and will always support us. They think this is great for us and hope we succeed. It may lead to a split off from each other, but we really don't know because nothing has happened yet.


- Yikes.. one of the longest running Teams in the sport possibly on the verge of ending? Crazy talk. What is your ultimate goal with this company?

James: The ultimate goal with the company is to have everyone love and rep our shirts. We want sweet scooter shirts that you can wear without being embarrassed. We want to change the clothing industry in the sport and hope other companies follow our ideas. Long term goals are to create parts in about a year or two. We got ideas for parts already that seem really cool that we might be able to start testing next summer.


- Looking at the state of the industry right now, what are some of the problems you see?

James: Problems I see in this industry are ads, websites, and as I have said before clothing. Lots of ads in the sport look like a kid taking a photoshop class in high school could do it. Same with some websites out there. Take some time and learn to make the website look great. I have been spending hours and hours studying website stuff to make sure that when I release it that it will look great. Also I think the industry needs to work on their video productions. Lots of really good riders who are sponsored have crappy cameras and 0 editing skills that make the video less enjoyable and not fun to watch.


- Words of wisdom right there. Would you eventually like to see more riders try to get involved in starting companies, and less people who don't ride, and will never ride, but are just trying to cash in?

 James: I think that would be awesome to have more riders starting their own companies. A lot of riders out their want to ride for rider owned companies because no one knows riders better then a rider. But I think it is good to have these big named companies out there as well. These big named companies are the ones that are making the sport grow and I have nothing against them what so ever. If rider owned companies want to get bigger they will have to make some decisions that the big named companies make all the time. But I really do bet there are companies that are out there trying to just cash in money, which is terrible. They don't care about us, they don't care about the sport, they care about themselves.


-  Wow.. a rider that understands that we need the bigger companies in the sport? Didn't think you guys existed... So, when we gonna start seeing some Promos from You, Evan, and Blake?

James: PROMO TOMORROW FROM MYSELF CHECK IT OUT HERE ON INSIDE AT NOON. Been working on it for over a year now. The video is all street and every spot except 1 clip was filmed here in Washington. I think its way better then what my OPUS part was so everyone check it out and enjoy. Blake's been filming for awhile, but you will prob see his later this year. And since Evan snapped his arm hes going through physical therapy so hopefully he can get back on the scooter soon and bust out as he always does.



- Damn you guys heard it, here on Inside-Scooters, at 12:00PST, James Gee Promo dropping. Any last words or shout outs, let em go now dude.

James: Ahhh. Shout out to Push it, all the riders our their that support me, and all the scooter bros. ADVCT ▲


Interview by Steven Tongson

HOOD RICH

Sick edit featuring Logan Fuller, Hep Greg, Blake Bailor, Jon Zegarra, and a clip from King Och. A lot of rail clips in here. Logan and Greg shred up the vert ramp as well. Pretty sick to see two riders that kill it in street, and can also ride a vert ramp like that. Good clips all around in here.

Blake Bailor Opus Part

The Opus parts continue with Blake's. I think Blake has my favorite section so far. I've always loved his style, and he has some really good rail clips in this section. Love the last two clips, you don't see people get super creative with rails like that too often, so it was definitely good. Check out Blake's Opus part below.

Lucky Scooter Parts Nor Cal Ride Day

Blake Bailor, Tyler Garcia, and AM Rider Jake Sorenson are heading to Nor Cal for a ride day. All further details on the flyer below.

Blake Bailor + Jake O'Donnell Super 60

Originally this was going to be a Super 60 with Jake and Mike Montgomery...however, Mike wasn't able to make it, and Blake rode with Jake instead. Jake kills it, I love his style so much. Blake is a ridic rider too. Bar board 180 fakie on that rail was so rad.

Thanks to Drew Lichty for the edit, and Sam Short for the intro.