NEW PRODUCTS

Supreme has released news regarding its latest artist-collaborated collection of skate decks. Bringing to light numerous iconic and established artists’ over the years, Christopher Wool is no exception to the mix as the Chicago-born native who’s art-world career in 1984. With 1984 becoming the year that marked his first solo show, Christopher Wool’s work is often featured in black and white primarily as his earlier works were characterized by “tightly controlled, gestural drip paintings and canvases utilizing decorative rollers on white backgrounds to produce floral and gate-like images.” Three years later, the artist would advance his style dabbling extensively into black/white stencil works with selective phrases. His consistency would lead him to showcase his art at the such venues as the Whitney Biennial 1989, Museum of Modern Art, New York, the New Museum of Art Lucerne, Switzerland, and Contemporary Museum of Art, Los Angeles. Three limited-edition skate decks designed by Christopher Wool will release on October 2nd stateside and October 4th in Japan.


Legendary skate co. Black Label brings us two new decks from longtime pro Salman Agah. The gold/black deck with the elephant is a graphic that Obey Obama giant Shepard Fairey did for Agah celebrating 20 years of the admirable Black Label elephant logo while the other deck is a graphic adapted from Jason Adams‘ “Cadillac Ranch” series of paintings. Trickling into official Black Label shops now, So Cal Skate Shop got first online dibs. Check out a detailed shot after the jump.

Wednesday kicks off the month of October and Nike SB supplies us with another stellar drop. A few shoes that we’ve seen (”Boba Fett” Dunk Hi, “Gold Rail” Dunk Low, Lance Mountain x Craig Stecyk Blazer Hi) along with a new sunny sky-colored P-Rod II (above), Blazer Low, and Tre AD. Hitting shops in the U.S. and UK now.

As the anticipation for the new Alien Workshop video Mind Field is reaching a boiling point (was slated for a Spring ‘08 release), we can at least try to cool down by viewing their new Fall/Winter ‘08 Catalog. It’s full of all your skate hardgoods like new decks, wheels, bearings as well as lots of apparel and accessories–check out the cool pillows and pillow cases. Besides their paramount skateboards, Alien is one of few skate companies that has an eye for style, so their apparel is known for being on-point. Check out the whole Alien Workshop Fall/Winter ‘08 Catalog and hold your peace a little longer as the video is set to release very soon!

SKATE NEWS

Wow, what a milestone. Since 2002, the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped low-income communities open free public skateparks, and the opening of Wasatch County’s skatepark in Heber City, Utah on July 28, 2008, marked the 300th public skatepark to receive financial assistance from the THF. For more information on this incredible park and even more incredibler achievement, keep reading for the full press release…

300th Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Opens

Public skatepark nonprofit organization hits milestone.

9/25/08 (Vista, CA) – The opening of the Wasatch County Skatepark in Heber City, Utah on July 28, 2008, marked the 300th public skatepark to open that received financial assistance from the Tony Hawk Foundation. Since 2002, the Foundation has been helping low-income communities develop free public skateparks, and to-date has awarded almost 400 grants to help pay for their construction, including the $5,000 grant to Wasatch County in 2007.

The Wasatch County Skatepark is a 20,000-square-foot free public park, and features a broad range of terrain types for skaters of all styles to ride, challenge themselves, and enjoy the benefits that skateboarding offers. From providing a safe place to skate, away from traffic and other dangers, to promoting a healthy, active lifestyle, the Wasatch County Skatepark is a haven for skaters in northern Utah as well as those who travel to the area to visit the acclaimed facility.

Through grants and technical assistance, the Tony Hawk Foundation helps communities across the U.S. build free, quality, public skateparks in low-income areas to give at-risk youth access to safe, sanctioned places to skate. With over 13-million skateboarders in the U.S. and only about 2,500 skateparks nationwide, most skateboarders are forced to skate in the streets, in parking lots, and other locations where they’re often not welcome. Public skateparks provide not only a safe place for them to pursue their passion for this healthy, athletic, and creative activity, but also helps them build a sense of community.

The next deadline to submit Tony Hawk Foundation Grant Applications is October 1, 2008. Applications are currently available online at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

The Tony Hawk Foundation will host its Activision Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit in Beverly Hills, California on November 9, 2008. For more information, visit the event Web site at www.standupforskateparks.org, or contact C.C. Flashman at cc@tonyhawkfoundation.org or 760-477-2479.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $2,400,000 to 391 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

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.