SKATE NEWS

Only a few weeks before Salt Lake City hosted the Dew Tour from September 11th to 14th, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department (SLVHD) had approved health ordinance #21, an ordinance effectively curtailing a homeowners' right to a backyard ramp.

Just 10 days after the Salt Lake Valley Health Department enacted section 4.5.21 on August 7th, Nick Hale, skateboarder and Salt Lake Valley resident, received an unexpected letter informing him that he would have to tear down his miniramp. The ordinance was part of a comprehensive list of activities— fireworks, garbage collection, the use of certain types of motor vehicles and swimming pool equipment— deemed harmful to the community's hearing.

Unfortunately, Nick had just purchased nearly $3,000 worth of Skatelite to refurbish his ramp's surface.

"I was in disbelief especially since it was a noise ordinance, specifically," says Hale. "You know, I had never considered the thing (miniramp) to be noisier than a basketball hoop, swimming pool or barbeque, or any other backyard activity.

Spitfire

Mountain's On Fire
This past Saturday, it was announced that Stereo pro, Daniel Shimizu, has left the team. No word as to where he'll be heading to as far as a board sponsor is concerned, but if I was to take a wild guess, I'd say he ends up back with old teammate, Ethan Fowler at Bummer High. Again, that's just a wild guess. Don't hold me to that one.

In other team news, Lance Mountain is riding for Spitfire Wheels. Look for Lance's newest pro wheel at your local shop. And when I say "Local shop," I mean not the mall.

In the skate world, no team change is official until a press release is issued or an ad comes out featuring a newly acquired rider. Ex-Lakai rider and newly turned pro, Alex Olson is featured in Vans' newest ad, so he must be on Vans. Now that Alex has the same shoe sponsor as his pops, Steve, could a signature line of goods be in the works? If it isn't already, I'm sure it will be soon.

Fourstar

Fourstar's "A Tribe Called Mapquest" Tour

There's a bunch of new online videos that just surfaced, worth checking out. Dwindle Distribution, the father company of brands like Enjoi, Darkstar, Almost, Blind, Speed Demons and Tensor just released an amazing behind the scenes video about how they make their boards. Vox Footwear has a little "Welcome" clip of their newest am rider, Tyler Surrey. The kid is super good. Adio has a newly vamped video page of exceptional footage from some of their riders. Gino Iannucci's Epicly Later'd episode 7 is up and running.

The entire Fourstar team will hit the road this October for a coast to coast barge that's been cleverly tagged, "The Tribe Called Mapquest" Tour. The tour will include 4 separate demo stops in Arizona, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina.