SKATE NEWS

A 100 person collective of creativity relating to contemporary art, skateboarding, and street culture. All organized by the unstoppably productive Bob Kronbauer. TransWorld’s own Eric Stricker, Blair Alley, and Mike O’Meally are up in it. Check it out!

Here’s an interesting one in the NY Times about the massive amount of home foreclosures and how it’s stoking out pool skaters around the world. Read on.

Here’s a secret… If you pick up next month’s (February) issue, you might just see one-half of the cover devoted to the one and only Christian Hosoi. What’s the other half all about? Check out Fuel TV’s Daily Habit on Wednesday (New Years Eve) at 6 p.m. pacific time and let guest host, TransWorld Surf’s very own Chris Cote, and featured guest Holmes tell you all about it.

Etnies announced via its Web site that Rune Glifberg is no longer on the team. For more on Rune, stay tuned to the Flip blog as the Extremely Sorry deadline quickly approaches.

Political

Black Label

Lance Conklin, Ron Paul supporter

Skating got even more political this year, but not in the typical sense of interview-pulling power moves or team transitions (although those did happen—see Arto Saari leaves Flip for Alien, bunch of dudes get on Converse, Nyjah leaves Element). No, I meant nationally in the presidential election. People stated their allegiance in ads and on the internet. A few of the guys at Black Label threw their support behind Ron Paul and John Lupfer got a photo with a Ron Paul sticker on his board. The Berrics put out the Koston Dope logo, Lakai released their Election series and every pro or am interview featured questions about who he interviewee would a) go and vote for, b) vote for if they were old enough or c) vote for if they were to theoretically vote (even if they clearly didn't plan to). All in all, the skate community was on the right side of history, generally backing political candidates that stood for people other than rich old white guys.

We Lost Some Greats
The Story of J-Grom

First there was Ray Underhill in August, then Van Wastell and Johnny Romano in September. It was hard to see them all go. Ray was a staple of the 80s Bone Brigade, Wastell was a skater with impeccable style and friend to many and Johnny Romano reminded us just how grateful we should be for the life we get. There is so much more that can be said about them, but if you knew them or were inspired by them, their influence will live on in your own life. Here are some sites to remember them by: Romano's Blog , a Matix tribute to Wastell and a site devoted to Ray Underhill.They will be missed.

SOTY

Silas Baxter-Neal showed there was no need to dress up. He was what he was and what he was, was impressive. He was the epitome of skating everything. Check the interview.

The Bottom Fell Out

This review of 2008 may seem like a depressing reminder of all things sh*tty, but eventually good will come out of this year's economic decline. First, where there is loss, there will be a new opening to build a greater and stronger skate industry. Second, while pay may suffer, we'll have the constant reminder that skateboarding is fun (often more fun) when there's no money and it's just you and your friends spending hours by a ledge in a back alley or pooling your money to get a little bit of food to share in the middle of the day. The best memories, it seems, are borne out of the moments that don't work out seamlessly. Lend your hand to others. Bring friends and acquaintances together. It's time to remember how great we can be. Grapes of Wrath