SKATE NEWS

All the down south dudes on Nike ain't f*ckin' around. It's beautiful to see scenes popping up in every part of the US (and world for that matter), especially with guys like Grant Patterson, Justin Brock, Shane O'Neill, David Clark and Dan Plunkett bringing it back to the bottom of the map. Enjoy this video of them shredding their own turf in ATL.

In Memory Of The New York Legend

RB Umali Let's Loose A Fresh Edit Of Harold Hunter Day II

Zoo York
It's hard to believe that it's been over 2 years now that Harold Hunter left this earth. Harold was such an enormous part of the New York skate scene, it still feels strange to not spot him skating down the street or floating through the subway on any given day.

As you all know, this past May "The 2nd Annual Harold Hunter Day" celebration went off full-force at the Manhattan Bridge Skatepark. The event was jam-packed with skaters, lurkers and friends who came together to honor the memory of a true New York original.

RB Umali just released a new edit of the monumental day that pretty much highlights all of the good stuff that happened both day and night. Sick skating, heartfelt testimonials from friends and some after party footage which features the exclusive rhymes of the legend himself.

The Southeast Boombox Tour

High Grade Distribution

Creation Skateboards & Satori Movement have just announced a Southeast tour that'll be stretching across Florida and ending in Georgia. Along for the ride will be Creation pro's Ron Allen and Dave Caddo, as well as Mario Matabele, Kevin Radley, Chris Burns, Nathan Porter and Marky Clements. Good skating, good weather and positive vibes. Make a stop at one of their appearances and pick up on the good stuff.

HiFi Wheels

Stereo's bossmen Pastras and Lee have made a notable and welcomed push toward expansion and promotion, which is great if you've been craving more from the often below-the-radar team of stylish guys.

They have started a new wheel company, called HiFi Wheels, which has a wealth of names attached: Danny Supa, Daniel Shimizu (Bummer High), Cooper Wilt (San Pedro!), Mr. Pastras (boss), Todd Jordan (King of New York?), Bobby Puleo (found artist), Forrest Kirby (Port of Miami), Jack Sabback (bespeckled), Olly Todd (watch him in the old Landscape video), Tony Manfre (B-ball shorts), Ben Gore (new Stereo am), Matt Miller (ZOO YORK!), Nate Broussard (artsy Texan?), Zach Wagner (Old Soul) and Pat Stiener (watch Static III). Anyone a fan of stylish or underground rippers will be pleased. Enjoi.

SKATE NEWS

JOHNNY ROMANO SKATE JAM RAISES OVER $100,000
FOR MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

(HOUSTON, TX) – November 26, 2008 - South Shore Distributing and Fallen Footwear are proud to announce that the 12th Annual Johnny Romano Skate Jam raised $100,082.31 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

See our coverage here: photos, video highlights, more photos, sequence madness, bowl jam.

Over 50 top professional skateboarders including, Billy Marks, Dennis Busenitz, Jamie Thomas, Erik Ellington, Ernie Torres, Chris Cole, Nick Dompierre, Josh Harmony, Lizard King, Danny Montoya, Peter Ramondetta, and more competed in a series of best trick contests to raise money for Make-A-Wish.

2008 Johnny Romano Skate Jam Results:

BOWL JAM:
1ST Place: Andrew Langi $5000 Donation
2nd Place: Josh Mattson $2500 Donation
3rd Place: Tony Cervantes $1000 Donation

ZUMIEZ BEST TRICK:
Winner: Chris Cole $2000 Donation

STREET BEST TRICK:
1st Place: Chris Cole $5000 Donation
2nd Place: Gilbert Crockett $2500 Donation
3rd Place: Sean Malto $1000 Donation

As skateboarding’s largest and most well-known charity event, The Johnny Romano Skate Jam has raised over a half-million dollars for The Make-A-Wish Foundation since its inception.

Sponsors of the 12th Annual Johnny Romano Skate Jam for Make-A-Wish include Fallen Footwear, South Shore Distributing, Zumiez, KR3W clothing, Spitfire Wheels, Zero Skateboards, XingTea, Southside Skatepark, Independent Trucks, TransWorld SKATEboarding Magazine, Thrasher Magazine and Spotlight Productions.

A special thanks goes out to all the sponsors, skaters and volunteers who helped make this year’s event a huge success.

EAT CLOTHING SK8 COMP

BEAT EAT!
This is not a boxing match

Saturday November 29th, 2008

@ Somerset Skatepark
Start from 4pm

This is an informal skate comp, open to all skaters
in regardless of sex, age and level of skill
there is no limitation
just have fun and show us what tricks that you\'ve got!

Prize : deck, skate gear, clothings and more

SKATE NEWS

It's hard to believe that it's been over 2 years now that Harold Hunter left this earth. Harold was such an enormous part of the New York skate scene, it still feels strange to not spot him skating down the street or floating through the subway on any given day.

As you all know, this past May "The 2nd Annual Harold Hunter Day" celebration went off full-force at the Manhattan Bridge Skatepark. The event was jam-packed with skaters, lurkers and friends who came together to honor the memory of a true New York original.

RB Umali just released a new edit of the monumental day that pretty much highlights all of the good stuff that happened both day and night. Sick skating, heartfelt testimonials from friends and some after party footage which features the exclusive rhymes of the legend himself.
The Southeast Boombox Tour
High Grade Distribution

Creation Skateboards & Satori Movement have just announced a Southeast tour that'll be stretching across Florida and ending in Georgia. Along for the ride will be Creation pro's Ron Allen and Dave Caddo, as well as Mario Matabele, Kevin Radley, Chris Burns, Nathan Porter and Marky Clements. Good skating, good weather and positive vibes. Make a stop at one of their appearances and pick up on the good stuff.

Jamie Throws Down Ten

Zero's Jamie Tancowny Busts At The Black Box Barracks

BlackBox

Zero's Newest Am Gets Ten
Ryan Bobier, Dan Murphy, Pete Eldridge, James Hardy, Gilbert Crockett, Windsor James all had'em. Now, it's Zero Amateur on th rise, Jamie Tancowny, who is the newest Black Box rider to get a video installment of "10 Tricks" at the Black Box dojo. Peep that stylish as hell Euro Gap acid drop from this newby.

Never Say Goodbye

Slap Magazine Says So-long To Print

Slap's Digital Departure Party


Slap's last tangible issue ever. Kirchart's wearing all white on this one, frontside bluntsliding into what I like to think as, the heavens. Good night sweet prince.
This is a tearjerker right here. I grew up reading Slap Magazine. I remember the days when it was still all black & white and the ink would rub off on your fingers like a wet copy of the New York Post. The mag grew quickly through the years, eventually becoming one of the main contenders in the world of skate media. In time, I was lucky enough to have my own words grace the pages of the magaziine. Now, the final print issue of Slap Magazine has hit newstands for the first and last time.

As a last issue, it's been beefed up quite a bit with tons of worthy content. Inside is a Leo Romero interview featuring strictly sequences of the young buck, a Tiltmode Army piece, a "One In A Million" road trip article, a Slap forum grill-sesh with Jersey's Bob Puleo, a banger for the curtains page and last but not least, a scary interview with Black Metal pioneer, King Diamond. What?!!!

While it's sad to see Slap retire from the print ranks, it's good to know that it hasn't been given the traditional axe the way so many other print mags have over the last couple years. It'll be interesting and exciting to see the mag take on a new life when it's exclusive web format drops this December 1st. Tha'ts coming up real soon.

To celebrate Slap's decent into the world of online, the High Speed crew are throwing the SLAP Digital Departure Party. It'll all go down on December 6th at the On Six Gallery in SF. On the walls, they'll be work from 20 artists who have been featured in the mags "Portfolio" section over the years. Stop in to see work by Andy Jenkins, Todd Bratrud, Jeremy Fish, Chris Johanson, Jason Jesse, Arto Saari and more. Handling the one's and two's will be DJ John Cardiel, as the re-debut of Stereo's A Visual Sound and Tincan Folklore burn your goddamned eyes out.

Active Am 2008

The kids got wild out in the OC

The 2008 Active Am was pretty fun this past weekend. It was held on Saturday in Mira Loma right near a cow ranch, which was great for the flies. They got a vacation away from all those vacas and got to hang with the humans and feasted on the hamburger smorgasbord. They were also entertained by the ripping ams. The above video shows some highlights from the event (Vincent Alvarez, switch tail and switch lip; Andrew Langi, front blunt on the extension and blunt to back disaster; Davis Torgersen, nosegrind and nollie nosegrind; didn't know the guy who did the front feebs, but he ripped; Marius bailed that back noseblunt a few times, but finally landed it and Greg and Marisa raved). To end it off, Judge Brad Staba stage-dove off the quartepipe onto boxes full of backpacks they planned to gift to all the participating ams. And, Julian Davidson and Gilbert Crockett showed the crowd how fun dorking around on your skateboard can be when you're f**king amazing. Greg Robinson got my vote for greatest TM of the year (if there is such a thing). All in all, pretty fun.

SKATE NEWS

Whatever makes me happy and sets you free…Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were there. I was too busy blogging. Antihero hasn't been busy blogging, that's for sure. Don't they know what the kids crave? They crave blogging. They're probably too busy actually traveling around with Girl, making videos (Beauty and the Beast) or graffitiing walls (Get a job!). What little they have kept up on is on their Antihero blog. They should put up more posts. The kids love it.

Alien Lapse

Alien Workshop
I think a lot of people get frustrated when they go to an internet site and they haven't updated the page with new stuff in a while. Most internet surfers get quite flustered about it, in fact, which seems to be an indication of the lack of interesting real-life events in their own life. But, to be fair, I think we all understand that feeling of checking a site and hoping to see something new. Alien's site, for example, has had few postings over the past weeks. I've been checking it frequently. And, even though they updated it recently with some pics of them putting the finishing touches on their upcoming video Mind Field, I kind of wanted more. But, then again, I don't really care, either. I can find something to do in the mean time (like getting my stomach ready for Thanksgiving). I mean, Alien videos are some of the most original and epic there are…as long as they deliver, I can wait.Still, stay tuned for updates.

"Hi (insert Element TM's name here), we're thinking of taking a roadtrip to Halifax. Do you think you could send us over a semi full of skateboards? Oh, you can? Cool. Thanks man."
When I watch this video of some of Element's Canadian associates, I think 1) there are so many good skateboarders in the world (and there are more and more as the world turns) and 2) how can the TM deal with all these dudes? I mean, does Element have a whole other team of TMs that handle all of the guys that are skating for them? Do they have a whole wing of the warehouse devoted to sending out boxes of boards and gear? I don't know their TM at all. Is he some sort of superhuman? Geez. Try not to think about it.

Analog

Arto Saari Signature Jean
With the economy being in a drastic state of absolute panda sh*t and all, it makes perfect sense for everyone to be shopping for good deals almost exclusively. If you didn't already know, this Friday marks another installment of Black Friday. No, no, no...silly, Black Friday isn't a Norwegian Black Metal band, it's the day after Thanksgiving where consumerism rages on within us all. As retailers mark down prices for this apocalyptic day of rampant spending and grappling over inventory, shoppers around the U.S. line up in the early morning hours to get a stronghold of discounted merchandise.

And if you weren't certain of it, skateshops fall into this category of retail, people. Yep, they too will be selling new skate stuff at unbeatable prices on Black Friday.

One brand that I'll be on the look out for this Friday is, Analog. Not only do they have an insanely talented skate team, including Arto, Reider, Janoski and Salazar, the gear they've been producing as of late has been super solid. And their newest line of signature denims are probably the best example of this.

Analog

Stefan Janoski's Signature Denim
Arto Saari's signature Analog Jeans are my favorite at the moment. They feature a nice, snug fit without being too tight (a 17 inch leg opening) and are made of 99.5% cotton/.5% spandex. Bend your knees while throwing down a sag if you want. It's ok. They have a button-fly, cell phone pocket and come in a dark blue wash that fades nicely after a few washes (my dog pissed on my lap the second day of wearing them).

Another denim I'm backing is Stefan Janoski's signature jean. It comes in a slightly baggier fit, with an 18 inch leg opening. Still featuring the 99.5% cotton/.5% spandex stretchability, they too feature a button-fly and dark blue rinse that get better with each run through the dryer.

This Friday, be on the lookout for these and other Analog selections at your local, skater-owned skateshop. Give these bastards as a gift or wear'em yourself. Either way, you're coming up on a win. Support your local skateshop. Support skateboarding. And most importantly, wear pants. It's the right thing to do.
Danny Way Injured In Brazil

Way Breaks Two Vertebrae During A Mega Ramp Warm Up

DC Skateboarding

While taking some practice runs for the Oi! Mega Ramp Contest in San Paulo, Brazil, Danny Way took a gruesome slam that has left him seriously injured. Though Danny is expected to make a full recovery, it's been reported that he will be out for at least 6 months with two broken vertebrae. Below is footage of the very hard-to-watch Mega Ramp slam, documented by a Brazilian TV station.

Danny Way has a broken bone count that could rival Evel Knievel's, so I think it's safe to say that this slam will go down as just another minor setback for Way and his gnary as hell agenda. Stay up, Danny and get well soon.

SKATE NEWS

While taking some practice runs for the Oi! Mega Ramp Contest in San Paulo, Brazil, Danny Way took a gruesome slam that has left him seriously injured. Though Danny is expected to make a full recovery, it's been reported that he will be out for at least 6 months with two broken vertebrae. Below is footage of the very hard-to-watch Mega Ramp slam, documented by a Brazilian TV station.

Danny Way has a broken bone count that could rival Evel Knievel's, so I think it's safe to say that this slam will go down as just another minor setback for Way and his gnary as hell agenda. Stay up, Danny and get well soon.

Oi! MegaRampa Brazil Results

Oi! MegaRampa
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Final Results
1. Bob Burnquist
2. Jake Brown
3. Andy MacDonald
4. Buster Halterman
5. Rob Loriface
6. Adam Taylor

Best Trick
Bob Burnquist

Highest Air
Jake Brown

SKATE NEWS

Once again Active threw a massive am contest in its homeland in Southern California’s Inland Empire. This year they had it smack dab at its head quarters in Mira Loma. Tons of companies came out to support, give out free stuff, and in general, a good time was had by everyone that came out. Product tosses were pretty much going on constantly throughout the day, and there was a mini street course for the fans to skate when they were too hyped from the contest to watch anymore.

The invite-only list of amateur rippers was a who’s who of tomorrow’s pros, the Neil Heddings approved course was top notch, and the skating didn’t disappoint. Peep the photos below and stay tuned for videos and sequences of all the nuttiness. Marius Syvanen’s backside nosebluntslide on the extension won him $1,000 for best trick and was the gnarliest trick of the day. Brandon Westgate consistently crushed the whole course with ridiculous pop and flick to win first. He kickflipped the double-sided Euro gap pyramid twice in a row! The tall and stylish Andrew Langi mixed his flip tricks on the pyramids with his insane tranny skills on the extensions and quarter pipes to bring home second. Daryl Angel was killing the rails with a fakie ollie back lip, and even a fakie five-0 and deservedly got third. As the winners were being announced, Brad Staba dove from the top deck into the stack of product boxes for no real reason, perhaps judging in the sun all day had driven him to such a stunt. The crowd rejoiced and headed for the afterparty. Stay tuned for videos and many more photo galleries very shortly.

NEW PRODUCTS

By now most of you should have heard of the Made For Skate event that is taking place in Damski (Netherlands) on November 30th and produced by Nike SB. Our friends from Ben G are hosting the Pop-Up Store for the event and have worked with Nike on a special “Made For Skate” Blazer SB. In terms of looks the sneaker was inspired by the very first sneaker ever made specifically for skateboarding.

24 pairs of the Nike “Made For Skate” Blazer SB will be available at the pop-up store. Make sure to make it out there should you be around!

Santa Cruz has gotten together with artist Robert Williams to work on a series of decks. The “Malicious” deck series was made for OG pros Eric Dressen, Tom Knox, Jason Jessee and Keith Meek. The decks feature the art of some of Robert Williams’ most prominent paintings. Via Supertouch.

The Santa Cruz x Robert Williams “Malicious” series is out now, so have a look at your local skateshop.

As previously reported by us, DVS got together with Huf and with Mighty Healthy to work on some sneakers and matching clothing. The Huf 5 Runner and the “Mighty” t-shirt out of the collaboration are now available at Active.

Most of you know Brixton for their excellent classic hats, thus we show you today some of their new styles. The Semi and the Bruiser are fitted caps and mesh caps, but with a more sophisticated and casual look. The Bruiser comes in beautiful wool uppers and the Semi is an interesting alternative to the classic mesh cap. Both come with short brims, this working well for all the biking enthusiasts among you.

WeSC has produced an exclusive range of headphones designed to match Nokia’s new, Nokia 5220 XpressMusic and Nokia 5320 XpressMusic cell phones. The Nokia + WeSC Visual Sound collaboration, available in red, blue and metallic green color ways, are being sold exclusively in selected telecom shops and WeSC concept stores in Scandinavia, since 18th of November, 2008. The headphones can be purchased with the Nokia 5220 XpressMusic and Nokia 5320 XpressMusic phones only, and will not be sold individually.

As part of their skateboarding line, adidas made this Superstar Vulc. Aaron Horkey added some of his artwork to the sneaker and it also comes with some glow-in-the-dark elements. Via Complex.

Rogue Status once again gets together with Alien Workshop to work on a couple of new Rob Dyrdek Pro Model decks. This latest release consists of two decks, both featuring trademark artwork by both brands.

Pierre Senizergues is the founder of Etnies and 100% back in the game, ever since introducing the PAS collection, that he designs himself. With the PAS 21 collection he celebrated 21 years in the skateboarding industry and logically he is now celebrating the 22nd year with the new line.

The etnies PAS 22 Collection consists of five styles, coming with wild multicolor prints. Distribution is very limited - the line will only be available at Colette.

We present you two styles out of the Vans Spring 2009 collection, that will be exclusively available at Active already before Thanksgiving. They will be getting in a Half Cab and a Chukka Low. Two great looking sneakers, with just enough details to make them interesting. The Half Cab is part of the Varsity Jacket pack and the Chukka Low has been designed by the Vans skate team.

Huf has always been known for strong New Era caps and that is not stopping any time soon. As part of their Fall/Winter 2008 collection, Huf has produced the maritime inspired “Anchor” New Era caps. They come in three colorways and will be released this coming weekend.

The Nike SB Slip-On, the Zoom Air Verona Premium, is coming in a new waterproof version. It features an off-white upper and has an overall really clean look. At the same time its perfect for the season, keeping your feet dry.

After giving you a first look at the XLarge x Vans Sk8 Hi a few weeks ago, we can finally give you a detailed look at the sneaker. The sneaker comes with a black suede upper and multicolor XLarge all-over print. The laces come in every color that are also featured on the sneaker upper.

The XLarge x Vans Sk8 Hi will be released on December 12th

SKATE NEWS

It seems as if pretty much every skateboarder on the face of the earth saw this one coming from a mile away...Yes, it's just been officially announced that Silas Baxter Neal is Thrasher Magazine's 2008 Skater Of The Year. There's no doubt that this dude has had an impressive year. He threw down a ton of mag interviews, handled a boatload of coverage, put out a sick part in the Habitat video, Inhabitants, and picked up some bangin' sponsors like Elwood and Adidas along the way. Silas skates everything and anything with extra speed and style. There's no doubt that this one is well deserved. To put an extra touch of authenticity to this news, Thrasher put this little video together of Jake Phelps' dropping of the monumental news.

SKATE NEWS

I'm definitely not one to blow up spots...especially skate spots. A sacred spot found, is just that. Sacred as hell. But usually, without fail, a good discovered spot will be infiltrated over night and often times, ruined by those who come in packs to skate it. There's nothing wrong with this systematic turn of events. It's just the nature of the skate game. Seek, find, destroy and move on. It's all about adapting people.

With that said, I don't feel bad about blowing up this particular spot, mostly because 12th & A is a public space which welcomes skateboarders. Yes. Welcomes them! As most of you know, after 3pm, the Open Road Park yard is open to any skateboarder who's down. For the past couple of years, kids have skated mostly the obstacles stored in a nearby trucking container. Now, I'm psyched to let you all know that there are three buttery-as hell, perfect height, marble ledges, permanently existing around the perimeters of the 12th & A Open Road Park. I told you this marble business was going off. And if that wasn't enough to have you already jotting down your lines, there's now a 4 foot mini ramp there too. So sick.

This is also the spot where high school skate class is going down. How ill would it be to skate those ledges while in school? The answer: Pretty g'damned ill.
The Drama Of J. Strickland

And The Continuation Of The Ongoing Baker Beef

Recently 48Blocks went and published what has already become a highly controversial Q&A with the infamously mysterious man himself, J. Strickland. For those who don't know, Strickland was one of the founding fathers of Baker Skateboards. Alongside Andrew Reynolds, Strickland built the brand from the ground up via a marketable image, graphics, a strong team and the now classic videos, Baker Bootleg and Baker2G. Somewhere along the line, hefty beef occurred and Strickland split from Bake, going on to start the now defunct, Bootleg Skateboards out of the NHS camp. Before long, a very public beef emerged between the Baker and Bootleg squads. Courtesy Deathwish Skateboards

Twuan's No Stranger To The System.
Each company released countless ads, dissing each other anyway that they possibly could. To me, the story was always confusing because a bunch of the Bootleg riders were down with the Baker heads from the start. Non of it really added up in my eyes, until now. In this interview, Strickland tells about his days with Baker & Bootleg, his blotched partnership with Andrew Reynolds, living in New York and so much more.

After reading this interview straight through, I thought to myself, "Wow, there is bound to be some hard feelings from some of the many names mentioned throughout this thing." I guess it didn't take long before some sh*t went down. A few nights ago, right here in New York, Baker/Deathwish family member Antwuan Dixon was arrested for allegedly going at J. Strickland with a hammer. Whether Twuan's actions were a result of this very interview is tough to say for sure, but regardless, it adds a sh*tload of gnarlitude to this already dramatic story. One thing's certain...Antwuan Dixon still does not give a f*&%.

Deluxe

Lost Days & Throwaways
In the old VHS days, salvaging "throwaway" footage wasn't easy. If a teamriders footage was good, but not quite good enough for their part, it might end up in the credits section, and even that was extremely limiting. Then came skate video DVD's and the introduction to the "Extras" portion of the disc menu. It was there that outtakes left to rot on the cutting room floor would live forever. In todays golden age of online immediacy, it's the throwaway that not only gets internet play like a motherfu*ck, it's the perfect way to hype a team video like nobodies business.

Real Skateboards has just posted a section on Deluxe site entitled, Lost Days And Throwaways. It features tons of amazing footage that's damn good, but not quite good enough for the new Real Video that will be dropping sometime in Spring 2009. At this minisite, there's tons of amazing footy from Real's roadtrips to NY, Denver, LA, the East Bay and more. Watch it now and give me one good reason that Dennis Busenitz shouldn't be crowned Skater Of The Year. Don't have a clue as to who might win? Don't sweat it, this Friday at 9am PT, Thrasher will announce the 2008 SOTY. It's on folks. It's on.

NEW PRODUCTS

Thinking outside the classic 7-ply maple make-up, BambooSk8 manufactures decks completely out of…you guessed it, bamboo! Besides the eco-friendly aspect, bamboo boards are lighter, stronger, and have more pop than the classic set-up, not to mention all-natural style points. Visit BambooSk8 for a list of retailers and try one out for yourself. Better yet, sign up for their ‘Win Free Decks for a Year‘ Contest - all you have to do is enter! And don’t be fooled by the phonies, BambooSk8’s decks are made from %100 bamboo.

Don’t hog it all for yourself, share some of the cool with your little one. Hook up your baby with some Crib Shoes by Vans. These slip-ons are available for both girls and boys. Available at both In4mation locations. Phone orders are welcomed.

You can hate, but you can’t argue. Nike SB truly knows. HUF just got this fresh cotton in stock. But don’t fret if you can’t make it out to Cali, these tees should be available at other select SB retailers now.

Skaters, bikers, and sneaker lovers, listen up. Introducing the Vans Syndicate Max Schaaf pack. Representing vert skater, vintage motorcycle enthusiast and longtime Vans rider Max Schaaf, this pack is a classic representation of Vans styles. The pack consists of two colors of the the Mountain Edition - red is lookin’ fresh - and Era Shoes, made of superb high quality leather and fire resistant suede and canvas so your foot doesn’t melt while you’re riding your motorcyle. Each shoe will be released in black/white and red/white colorways and will come with matching handle bar grips. The shoe box is modeled after vintage motorcycle parts packaging and is something special in itself. Vans Syndicate is s premium collection and online hub Robust Flavor has the shoes for phone orders right now at (866) 9-Robust. What you waiting for?

With all the benefits the digital world brings us - light speed information sharing being the cornerstone - it still has its drawbacks. The toll of the ‘net and the struggling economy brings another magazine to its knees, longtime skate mag Slap has released its final issue: December 2008. But the good news is Emerica pros Heath Kirchart gets the cover and Leo Romero gets a 14-page interview. Slap went down with a fight, and hey, it’s not completely over because their website is now the new place to catch up on all the news. And word on the street is their forum is the best out.

Just a reminder that the Mighty Healthy Skateboard decks are available at your local Mighty Healthy retailer. There are three differnt sizes and themes to choose from, act fact though, because there were only limited amounts of decks produced!

LRG and G Shock have teamed up before in the past for the “Time Is Money” witch quickly sold out as soon as shops received the piece. Now they are teaming up again for LRG’s 10 Year Anniversary, this time using the G Shock Frogman Watch. These watches will be limited to 1,000 and will only be available at select LRG Retailers.

What good are your $200 kicks when you’re wearing some dirty $2 socks? Exactly. Look good shoeless with this batch of socks from KR3W. Apart from low, mid, and hi white and black logo socks, KR3W changes it up a bit with the narrow-striped Eva and broad-striped Willy models - each come in two colorways. Check out the full lineup below and hit up Factory 413’s newly opened online store to purchase. $8-$12

For the wall or the wallride, you decide. Skate fashion icon Diamond Supply Co. linked up with veteran skate label Chocolate Skateboards for this muppet flaunting “Lil’ Diamond D” Deck, Chocolate pro Daniel Castillo’s pro model board. Chocolate brings the deck quality while Diamond brings the style steez. Stunts, Blunts, and Skateboards, ya dig? “7.75 x 31.13″ $45.99

For years now, Tech Deck has given skaters and non-skaters something to do in the classroom. Now Tech Deck introduces their Collector Series - same miniature decks you love, but with old school style, or as Cab says, “Toys for lil old school boys”. Pictured above is skate legend (and rising artist) Steve Caballero’s retro Powell dragon graphic. Like all Tech Deck fingerboards, it also comes with metal trucks, graphics wheels and grip tape. As a bonus, the collector series comes with a cool retro sticker and display-ready pack. Check out a larger image below and stop by your local skate shop to purchase.

Coinciding with these P-Rod II’s, the Gucci-flavored Nike SB Varsity Jacket is finally available. And if you’re looking for the an easy stocking stuffer or just a hat/glove/scarf combo, check out the new Knit Gift Pack. Also available are the Lance Mountain Crewnecks and Tees the new SB Knows Tee. Hit the link below to see it all.

Deluxe Distribution (Real, Spitfire, Thunder, Anti-Hero, Krooked) released their Holiday 2008 Catalog. Clcik the link below to catch up on all the new product from these highly notable skate brands. Word is there’s a tight video clip on the Anti-Hero page. Check your local skate shop for the goods.

The Nike SB “Mosquito” Dunk Low Premium made a buzz a few weeks ago as word leaked that it was a limited edition Quickstrike that would only be available at select accounts. Well, apparently someone got their hands on it and has it up on eBay, a size 11 for $200 to be exact. Incredibly detailed, the shoe is made of suede, patent leather, and nubuck and features a half translucent red/half speckled green sole, a cartoon mosquito printed on the insole, a Band-aid resemblant perforated skin-toned/lime green/blood red color-up and areas of 3M reflective material. There’s also hints of gray and baby blue. Click “Read more” below to view detailed photos. If you’re a size 11, make your move, if not, keep an eye out for these to drop at select accounts over the next few weeks. We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything.

Those weenie quarter socks ain’t cool kid, hack ‘em back up with these Fourstar Pirate Hi Socks - classic skate logo. Choose from black or white. Don’t forget to stuff those stockings! $7.99