SKATE NEWS

With the re-release of the 1988 Sick Boys, Red Bull did a nice interview with Bryce Kanights about the making and significance of the film. To get the scoop on everything from BK’s Wheaties intro to Julien Stranger pulling the first frontside boardslide on a handrail ever, give it a read.

We just got word that one of Tilt Mode’s finest, Jose Rojo, is now totally officially on etnies. So, now that his shoe deal is signed and sealed, could that mean enjoi has a pro board in the works too? We’ll have to wait and see…

Stereo is proud to introduce part 1 of Jason’s new segment on the Stereo website called, “The Earl Files.” In this episode Jason takes us for a tour of the set, with special guest Chris Pastras. Stay tuned for monthly Earl Files episodes starting in 2009…

Stacy Peralta, maker of the Dogtown & Z-Boys documentary has a new project focusing on the Bloods and Crips of Los Angeles, California. Check out this interview and a heavy trailer from the film. Some funny stuff about his Burger King Whopper Virgin commercials, too.

SKATE NEWS

Tony Hawk Foundation Supports First Concrete Skatepark In South Carolina
Organization continues growth with addition of Jamie Thomas to Board of Directors.

12/16/08 (Vista, CA) – The Tony Hawk Foundation Board of Directors met in December to select the recipients of its Fall 2008 Skatepark Grants. Among the 27 communities to receive a grant is Columbia, South Carolina, whose proposed 16,000-square-foot Owens Field Skatepark project will be the first custom-concrete skatepark in South Carolina, and also the first skatepark project in the state to qualify for a Tony Hawk Foundation grant.

The Board also welcomed new member Jamie Thomas, whose long history as a pro skater and industry leader had an immediate and positive impact on the group, which also includes Tony Hawk, Lenore Hawk Dale, Pat Hawk, Steve Hawk, Kent Dahlgren, Sandy Dusablon, Bobby Kotick, Jared Levine, Mike Vallely, Erica Zohar, and Lior Zohar. Each Board Member brings a unique background to their work with the Foundation, and the addition of Jamie further diversifies the Foundation’s governing body.

Since its inception in 2002, the Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded 427 grants worth over $2.7-million to help construct free, public skateparks in 48 states. The latest recipients of Foundation grants include both urban and rural communities in 18 states.

The newest video that everyone's been sh*tting their pants over in nervous anticipation, now has itself an official release date. Alien Workshop's Mind Field will be released around the world on 02/06/2009. That's February 6th, 2009 for all you scholars. In addition to full-length parts from Heath Kirchart, Arto Saari, Mikey Taylor, AVE, Josh Kalis, Dylan Rieder, Jason Dill, Omar Salazar, Rob Dyrdek, Steve Berra, Grant Taylor, Tyler Bledsoe and Jake Johnson, the DVD packaging of this one will include a 60+ page photo book featuring images from the extensive making of the video. If you're into torturing yourself and want to take part in a day to day countdown til' its release, go here. If you're a patient, reasonable person, check the Workshop-released statement about the video below and sit your ass tight.

"Filmed and built over the span of 2005-2009, Mind Field is the 4th full length audio/visual offering by AWS. A document of the team's raw ability and eclectic personalities interlaced with The Workshop's undying pursuit of visual individuality and creative freedom."

SKATE NEWS

Despite being virtually unknown beyond the imaginary East Coast line, Substance Skateboards has been making quite a name for itself, especially on its NYC home turf. With a solid team of rippers, the brand has taken mostly a grass roots approach to spreading it's name via tours, demos and skate event appearances. Now, Substance has upped the ante by releasing a promo to a worldwide audience thanks to the world wide web.

Substance Abuse is the short but impressive promo that's running on their site right now. It features the entire Substance team and showcases stand-out parts from up and comer Nick Sassa, Rob "Manimal" Campbell, Phil Ladjanski and the beastly skating of Robert Mont-Lopez. In my opinion, online promos are usually hit or miss, especially if the company is an independent one. However, Substance Abuse is good. It's actually real good. Check it out right now and discover a company that may not have the advertising budget of Mountain Dew, but has the chops to hang with the big boys.
thing about skateboarding, hands down, is the resourcefulness of each and ever one of us. Sometimes it's a chore just getting a few bucks in gas money, for driving your friends to a spot. Many skaters are either too young to have money or too caught up in making due at their job that they don't have enough cash to stretch anywhere else.

But, when we can give, for the most part, we give, whether it's half your meal to your homie, an IOU from your local skate shop for a set of bearings or an old deck to the kid just starting on the corner. Recently, the whole crew over at Bordertown made an internet plea and multiple friends and companies answered. Fallen and Thrasher with DLXSF, 510 Skateshop and Caliskatz teamed up to hold a raffle to raise money for the project. Also, the Ferocious Few and Hightower are holding a benefit show this Thursday, December 18th at Thee Parkside. If you want to win some new gear or see two ripping bands, go forth and enjoy. To donate in any way, go to www.oaklandskatepark.com.

BlackBox Sale

"Fallen jacket jacket humdida humdida jacket, fallen jacket going once, going twice, gone…Slave beanie beanie humdida humdida humdida slave beanie, in the back there, slave beanie humdida humdida, sold!"

Stereo had a little product sale and now Blackbox is following suit with a warehouse sale of all four hefty brands—Slave, Mystery, Fallen and Zero.

SKATE NEWS

Looks like the MMC will be bigger in 2009, airing on NBC and MTV2. Read on for the official news:

The Maloof Money Cup (MMC) announces a media partnership with Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, to bring MMC to NBC and MTV2. On the heels of a very successful first year, the new partnership expands the 2009 MMC broadcast coverage to 3 1/2 hours in original content, from its initial one hour of programming in 2008. This extended coverage allows MMC to better showcase the competing skaters while highlighting their histories and accomplishments in skateboarding through individual profiles during the broadcast.

“Because of the great success we had with the inaugural Maloof Money Cup, I am very excited to announce that our 2009 TV coverage has more than tripled between NBC and MTV2,” said Joe Maloof, president of Maloof Companies. “The Maloof Family is thrilled and honored to be associated with Alli, NBC and MTV. Although we will continue to maintain all creative rights and autonomy, we will work closely with Alli to continue to deliver the world’s greatest skateboarding event.”

SKATE NEWS

Thrasher really does do the best job of choosing the best representative as Skater of the Year. It's easy to throw out a list of guys who have the right look, do the longest rails or have flashy side projects that tap into our urge to be entertained. But, when someone like Silas Baxter-Neal comes along—a guy who's most flashy attribute is that he can skate anything and everything, from the tech guy curb to the bowl-trowled-out cement skatepark—it's refreshing to see that skateboarding still can do all of the talking if it needs to.

Little expense was spared at this year's SOTY party, with a ripping photo booth, an open bar for a portion of the night, skate celebs, a sick EA Skate 2 promo with all the heads in the game and a bumpin' Too Short show (or Too Tall as the bum called him outside). Thanks Thrasher. It was an amazing event. Silas definitely deserved it.

Three Up Three Down

SF's Most Lubricated Spot

Noseblunt…first try…powering through the bum sitting on the stairs
SF is known for having some of the most historic spots—what's left of Embarcadero, Third and Army, Pier 7, China Banks…it goes on and on. The City is filled with weird bumps and some of the most boots rails or gaps that go down hills into oblivion. The rail that Frank Gerwer front boarded in Cash Money Vagrant, for example, is quite possibly one of the scariest things I have ever seen in my life.

The three up three down spot at the Armory is much less frightening, but when you see it in person, you start to realize just how impressive some of the tricks done on it are. Recently purchased by the pornography company, Kink, the future of the spot was in question, but it still remains, with the door open now and a little more life coming in and out of the building. The spot was known for lurking bums and human turd land mines. Ironically, it took a porn company to clean the place up a little bit.

My friend Mahar and I checked it out while we were in SF and imagined our dream tricks on the historic spot. He landed the noseblunt first try for Poser of the Month.

After the noseblunt, Mahar put on his SF guy coat and glasses and I played that one Postal Service song that goes,"blip bloop blip bloop, blip boop blip blip, blip bloop blop blop."

The gate's open, but not much has changed. Still got the bum sitting on the stairs. I didn't see any myself, but I heard it wasn't too hard to run into human caca in the past, either. I think this place might need a fluffer or a Swiffer or whatever.

C1rca Footwear Goes Live With A New Site

So it looks as if C1rca Footwear has updated the sh*t out of their website with a handful of eye-pleasing components. Head over to C1rca.Com for the latest Men's & Women's Footwear and Apparel, Rider Profiles and blog madness. There's a nice little blog up in there and a few must-see videos of Peter Romandetta, Windsor James, David Reyes and a bunch of unknown others (accept Magnus Hanson) who I'm assuming are on the C1rca flow program.

Not sure if you all noticed, but in Ryan Gallant's recent Plan B TV BS 180 Switch Front Crook "Trick Tip," he's wearing a C1rca shirt and even possibly chasing photo incentive with a big-ass C1rca sticker on his board. Though the ex-DC member isn't officially listed on the roster, it might just be safe to assume that he'll soon be on there. Another rumor that has no physical evidence at all, is that Ryan's ex-DC teammate and current Plan B teammate, Brian Wenning is also on the C1rca squad. Only time will tell for sure.

Erik Ellington sent us this fantastic news over the weekend. Congrats to you and Luci!

Mya was born at 1:51pm at 9lbs and 5oz!!!
Luci NAILED it and is recovering fantastically and Mya is as healthy
as she can be, yeahhhhhhh!

This week’s Sk8mafia Saturday is going down at San Diego’s Memorial Skatepark in conjunction with the Doogood Conservatory. Skate for free if you bring canned food or make a holiday card for the homeless.

NEW PRODUCTS

These days, it doesn’t matter if you don’t make the varsity football team because there’s doper varsity jackets from your favorite clothing labels dropping weekly - just peep the Play Cloths Letterman Jacket. Well, Vans takes the varsity jacket craze straight to their popular Half Cab Pro model by applying chenille (fluffy varsity jacket material) on the upper along with “Half Cab” printed on the back heel for a university-theme. Plus, the good ol’ American boy color-up adds a scholarly touch. If the varsity jacket doesn’t do it, a pair of these will have a cheerleader hanging on each arm.

Wow. It’s finally here. Alien Workshop’s long-awaited skate DVD Mind Field will drop February 6, 2009. Expect parts from Josh Kalis, Arto Saari, Anthony Van Engelen, Heath Kirchart, Steve Berra, Rob Dyrdek, Mike Taylor, Omar Salazar, Dylan Reider, and Jason Dill along with ams Tyler Bledsoe, Grant Taylor, and newbie Jake Johnson. The DVD will come with a 60-page photo booklet featuring images from the making of Mind Field. Check out images of the DVD case and booklet below. Yup, we’ll be standing in line.

The Bionic Man aka Danny Way

The Bionic Man aka Danny Way just doesn’t stop. We recently showed you his vertebrae breakin’ fall in Brazil, but 38 year old pro skater is up again and still pushing strong, strong enough to land an interview at the Wall Street Journal - yeah, skateboarding’s come a long way.where Danny discusses his influence in the skate world, the evolution of The Mega-Ramp and the future of skateboarding.

Reese Forbes High Ollie Challenge is officially back.

After a long decade, the Reese Forbes High Ollie Challenge is officially back.
It’ll take place at ASR on January 23-24th in San Diego. Who’s got that pop to break the record of 43 inches? Listen to what Reese says about the current record:
“…Were here in 2009 and its time to bring it back! I care for the interest in this competition and for the sport and commodory of skateboarding. It’s what has always interested me. Surrounding yourself with people you respect and pushing each other beyond you’re expectations. This year my hope and guarantee is that the record WILL be broken!!! There will be an elimination day and a pre-qualifier for the main event.”

NEW PRODUCTS