SKATE NEWS

In the past couple of years, New York transplant, Billy Rohan has done more for the NYC scene then most could imagine. He's secured a school yard designated for street skating, offering a new obstacle almost every week, runs a series of after school skate programs, plotted and hosted three breakthrough skate contents across the city and is now the only skateboarding teacher in New York's high school curriculum. This past Sunday, the New York Times ran a story about the skateboard class Billy teaches for 9th and 10th graders of the East Side Community High School. Check out the full article here. And in case you didn't figure it out, that's Rohan beneath that ninja suit. Don't you wish your High School teacher skated this good?

Dekline

Perhaps you want to know more about who this is. Perhaps I (and Static III) can help you.
I came across this Dekline advertisement in a magazine and I wondered who the hell Soy Panday was and where he came from. Turns out he grew up French, with Indian blood, and his name could have any combination of the following etymologies: Soy—1) As in, short for Sawyer, 2) The name of a bean used in soy sauce or, perhaps, 3) the Spanish verb meaning "I am." The latter makes more sense, when you take into account that Panday derives from the Indian surname Pandey, meaning "learned man" or "scholar." If those are the origins of his name, his full name means "I am a learned man." Pretty sick name for your parents give you.

Apparently more important to this particular skateboard site, Soy Panday is also ripping and reminiscent of the worldly cruising made largely famous by Kenny Reed (a friend of his). He rides for Britain's Landscape skateboards. Ironically enough, many of these skaters who seem born out of the hippy movement that espouses a dislike of globalization have reaped so many rewards from skateboard coverage on a global scale. Rad and weird how these things flip and spin upon their head. However he got noticed, he's entertaining to watch skate in Static III. Take a look.

Skater of the Year

Would race or gender be as central to a SOTY vote? Maybe, but not as much. A good skater is a good skater.

Atlas

Atlas skate shop is down for Obama.
Atlas

Change Atlas can believe in.

Atlas Skateboard Store are throwing their influence and weight behind Obama. The shop made some very limited-edition decks endorsing the candidate with all proceeds from those sales going towards his campaign.

And don't forget about Lakai who made some limited election series kicks so you can do your civic duty while still looking Flossy.

Get out there and vote. Do it today before you go skate. And, though you might like to, remember Koston for President might not be the best choice (he still needs to learn hardflips before he can run my country).