80 OLD SCHOOL DECKS 10
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Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The deck is easily the most important part of your setup. The deck you choose can greatly affect how you skate. So which deck is best? Well, that all depends on what you're looking for in a deck. Which one ollies highest? Which one is best for sliding? Which one lasts the longest? These are the questions I get bombarded with each and every day, so let's take a look at the different types of boards, shall we?
The shape is the most often criticized part of the skateboard, and the most technical. When choosing a shape, you must consider many different factors. Length, width, nose, tail, and wheelbase. Most of today's skateboards fall within the width range of 7.5 inches, to 8 inches. There are several that are a bit smaller, and a bit bigger, but for the most part, they fall within that half of an inch. The smaller boards tend to be easier to control and do flip tricks in the driveway with, whereas the wider boards are easier to carve and manipulate in a pool. Lengths generally don't stray from the 31" - 32.5" mark. Likewise, the smaller boards are easier to control while flipping. The other dimensions are geared towards personal preference. Some people like a long nose, and some people like a short wheelbase. The best thing to do is to experiment, try a few out, and decide what is good for you.
So, what else? When do you need a new board? If it breaks, or cracks, it's probably time to look for a new one. If you skid the nose or tail a lot, the edge will get sharp. This is called "razortail", and your board will chip a lot easier. This takes away from the amount of "pop" you get out of a board. So does getting it wet, or if it cracks. All of these will affect the amount of "pop" you get out of your board (or the strength of your board, if you will).
As far as durability goes, there is no conclusive evidence as to which ones are strongest. Most boards are 7-Ply, which is seven layers of plywood glued together. Some companies claim to have lighter decks, usually due to using thinner layers of plywood, or not as many, or crossing beams, which is laying the plys in different directions, creating a cross grain. These things can decrease the overall weight of your board slightly, but at the same time they can make it slightly weaker. Some board companies even add a few thinner plys, just to make their boards that much more durable. Some increase the concave of the boards, to make it more durable.
There are a few board companies out there that offer slight variations, or innovations in their board construction. For example, Flip offers "New Wave Construction" a patented system which uses corrugated stiffening ribs on the surfaces of the board to increase performance. Real Skateboards, too has a unique approach. They have "Triple Beam Construction" which uses seven Hard Rock Maple veneer plys, three of which are cross plys. This maximizes the pop and durability of the board.
If your board is stiff, it will perform at its peak. If it is soggy (from water damage, or just excessive flexing), then it wont perform well. But if it's too stiff, then it becomes brittle. If it is brittle, then it will break easier. So there must be a middle ground, right? Companies are coming up with new innovations everyday, to try and be the next big thing in board construction. But we have yet to see conclusive evidence leaning one way or the other.
It should be duly noted, though, that no matter how bad your board is, too thick, too thin, too soggy, too brittle, too chipped, too cracked, chances are good that the problem with your skating is you. Don't forget to have fun, okay?
The shape is the most often criticized part of the skateboard, and the most technical. When choosing a shape, you must consider many different factors. Length, width, nose, tail, and wheelbase. Most of today's skateboards fall within the width range of 7.5 inches, to 8 inches. There are several that are a bit smaller, and a bit bigger, but for the most part, they fall within that half of an inch. The smaller boards tend to be easier to control and do flip tricks in the driveway with, whereas the wider boards are easier to carve and manipulate in a pool. Lengths generally don't stray from the 31" - 32.5" mark. Likewise, the smaller boards are easier to control while flipping. The other dimensions are geared towards personal preference. Some people like a long nose, and some people like a short wheelbase. The best thing to do is to experiment, try a few out, and decide what is good for you.
So, what else? When do you need a new board? If it breaks, or cracks, it's probably time to look for a new one. If you skid the nose or tail a lot, the edge will get sharp. This is called "razortail", and your board will chip a lot easier. This takes away from the amount of "pop" you get out of a board. So does getting it wet, or if it cracks. All of these will affect the amount of "pop" you get out of your board (or the strength of your board, if you will).
As far as durability goes, there is no conclusive evidence as to which ones are strongest. Most boards are 7-Ply, which is seven layers of plywood glued together. Some companies claim to have lighter decks, usually due to using thinner layers of plywood, or not as many, or crossing beams, which is laying the plys in different directions, creating a cross grain. These things can decrease the overall weight of your board slightly, but at the same time they can make it slightly weaker. Some board companies even add a few thinner plys, just to make their boards that much more durable. Some increase the concave of the boards, to make it more durable.
There are a few board companies out there that offer slight variations, or innovations in their board construction. For example, Flip offers "New Wave Construction" a patented system which uses corrugated stiffening ribs on the surfaces of the board to increase performance. Real Skateboards, too has a unique approach. They have "Triple Beam Construction" which uses seven Hard Rock Maple veneer plys, three of which are cross plys. This maximizes the pop and durability of the board.
If your board is stiff, it will perform at its peak. If it is soggy (from water damage, or just excessive flexing), then it wont perform well. But if it's too stiff, then it becomes brittle. If it is brittle, then it will break easier. So there must be a middle ground, right? Companies are coming up with new innovations everyday, to try and be the next big thing in board construction. But we have yet to see conclusive evidence leaning one way or the other.
It should be duly noted, though, that no matter how bad your board is, too thick, too thin, too soggy, too brittle, too chipped, too cracked, chances are good that the problem with your skating is you. Don't forget to have fun, okay?
HOOTER OPEN
Hooters Open in Cocoa Beach Florida Results and Photos.
Hooters Open Pro Final Results 1st Place Benji Galloway 2nd Place Morgan Burgess 3rd Place Jimmy The Greek 4th Place Donovan Rice 5th Place Mason Huggins 6th Place Nolan Munroe 7th Place Mikee O'Friel 8th Place Tim Johnson
Benji Galloway Tailslides his way into 1st Place.
1st Place Benji Galloway, 2nd Place Morgan Burgess, and 3rd Place Jimmy The Greek
Hooters Open Masters Final Results 1st Place Buck Smith 2nd Place Curt Baker 3rd Place Jason Parkes 4th Place Ernie Els 5th Place Paul O'Hara 6th Place Tony Walsh 7th Place Todd Johnson
1st Place Buck Smith brings home the bacon .
Click on the flyer below to go to the official Florida Bowl Riders Cup website!
empiresk8.webs.com
Hooters Open Pro Final Results 1st Place Benji Galloway 2nd Place Morgan Burgess 3rd Place Jimmy The Greek 4th Place Donovan Rice 5th Place Mason Huggins 6th Place Nolan Munroe 7th Place Mikee O'Friel 8th Place Tim Johnson
Benji Galloway Tailslides his way into 1st Place.
1st Place Benji Galloway, 2nd Place Morgan Burgess, and 3rd Place Jimmy The Greek
Hooters Open Masters Final Results 1st Place Buck Smith 2nd Place Curt Baker 3rd Place Jason Parkes 4th Place Ernie Els 5th Place Paul O'Hara 6th Place Tony Walsh 7th Place Todd Johnson
1st Place Buck Smith brings home the bacon .
Click on the flyer below to go to the official Florida Bowl Riders Cup website!
empiresk8.webs.com
LOS ANGELES, CA—X Games Brazil makes its debut in Sao Paulo, April 25-27, 2008 at the Sambódromo Do Anhembi. Many of the world's top action sports athletes will be competing in the disciplines of Skateboard Street, Skateboard Vert, BMX Street, BMX Vert, Moto X Best Trick and Moto X Step Up. ESPN has teamed with one of South America's premier sports marketing agencies, Reunion Sports & Marketing, to organize the event.
Brazilian ripper Sandro Dias."We are very excited about bringing the X Games back to Brazil," said Rick Alessandri, managing director, X Games Franchise. "The excitement of the X Games transcends cultures and borders and we're thrilled to bring our event to a region of the world that shares such a strong passion for action sports."
"We are pleased to work with Reunion Sports & Marketing to bring X Games Brazil to Sao Paulo," said German von Hartenstein, Managing Director, ESPN in Brazil. "We look forward to hosting these world-class athletes in Brazil and watching them compete with the country's best action sports athletes."
Event sponsors include master sponsor Parmalat, Guaraná, Honda, Ipiranga, and Oi. Tickets to X Games Brazil will be sold through Ticketmaster.
ESPN will produce 15 hours of original programming from X Games Brazil. A total of 9 hours of live programming will air on Brazil's two ESPN television networks, ESPN and ESPN Brazil as well as air throughout Latin America. Six one hour highlight shows will air on ESPN Brazil and ESPN networks in Latin America after the event.
empiresk8.webs.com
Brazilian ripper Sandro Dias."We are very excited about bringing the X Games back to Brazil," said Rick Alessandri, managing director, X Games Franchise. "The excitement of the X Games transcends cultures and borders and we're thrilled to bring our event to a region of the world that shares such a strong passion for action sports."
"We are pleased to work with Reunion Sports & Marketing to bring X Games Brazil to Sao Paulo," said German von Hartenstein, Managing Director, ESPN in Brazil. "We look forward to hosting these world-class athletes in Brazil and watching them compete with the country's best action sports athletes."
Event sponsors include master sponsor Parmalat, Guaraná, Honda, Ipiranga, and Oi. Tickets to X Games Brazil will be sold through Ticketmaster.
ESPN will produce 15 hours of original programming from X Games Brazil. A total of 9 hours of live programming will air on Brazil's two ESPN television networks, ESPN and ESPN Brazil as well as air throughout Latin America. Six one hour highlight shows will air on ESPN Brazil and ESPN networks in Latin America after the event.
empiresk8.webs.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
AST BEIJING
The AST China 2008- Beijing Invitational is the AST'sfirst international expansion effort- a three-
day event featuring Skate Vert and Skate Park conteststhat will also include BMX Vert demo's
throughout the weekend, a concert on Saturday night anda festival area for fans. It willbe held
April18-20, 2008 atthe Beijing Coliseum in the Daxing District of Beijing.
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FLORIDA BOWL RIDERS CUP
Benji Galloway wins the 1st stop of the Florida Bowl Riders Cup
The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and the energy was full on!
Florida Bowl Series Stop #1
Cocoa Beach Skatepark
by Sergie Ventura.....
This was the first stop of a 3 part series and what a way tokick things off in 2008. Thesun was shining, the weather was perfect, and the energy was full on!
This was my first time to these events and it was anunbelievable sight of progression and skill. The talent that rolled over theconcrete this weekend was amazing, made me think, see, and believe that ourfuture in skateboard is bright. The level that these kids were skating at wasdefinitely a sight to see! Check out what happened!?
In the Am division,
Timmy Knuth took top honors with his lein air to noseblunt tailgrab in, fs kf to lein disasters, fs kf over the hips, fast lines with highspeed grinds in the deep.
For the ladies...
Julie Kindstand took top honors again, adding another notchon her 1st place sector of here belt! Fine smooth lines with transfers only some made all weekend! Congrats gurl!
Masters
My hat goes off to these guys because most of us grew up watching these guys skate, and to see them still ripping after all these years was an honor again!!!!!!
It was a heated finals, Todd Johnson showed his originality with his lines, carving the vortex in ways only he could do, I don't think that I saw anyone else do his lines! Smooth, calm style that put him in 7th,fs airs from shallow to deep both ways was impressive! Tony Walsh an Paul O'hara carving up the place, not disregarding the cradle at all! Hope the young guns were taking notes! Ernie Els just missed the podium with his fast lines inthe deep. Jason Parkes, skated padless mind you, and had creative speed linesthru the vortex as well. Curt Baker, was on fire, everywhere and fast, he did tricks where most would do set up tricks, putting him in second behind last years champ, Buck Smith.
Well, if you didn't have your notebook out, hope you had your video camera out cuz Buck was getting bucked in the finals!!!!! His display of back to back tricks when you didn't think he had enough speed to even do a trick was a fine display of Bowl riding! Smithverts in the deep, along with his lein disasters on every part of the park! Especially when you didn't think he would do a trick, he would do something unexpected, not to mention his CARVE GRINDS everywhere, he was one of few who actually carved properly throughout the park, his lines were nothing but fabulous! Speed/power/style being the main elements accompanying in his bag of tricks!
The pros was heated about 100 degrees more heated
After a long knee recovery, Tim Johnson was back in the saddle with his display of long
Big transfers that no one else was doing. Stalefishes and FSairs in the deep putting him in 8th, welcome back, Tim to the Johnson!
Mikee O'Friel, coming from the West had smooth tricks around the tight corner, pivots to fakie all the way around into beautiful les twistin the deep, landing him in 7th
Nolan Munroe, coming from the northeast, started his runs in mach 4, going into the Cradle everytime, almost clipping the edge after going 11 o'clock at full speed, this guy had many transfer lines, he displayed the mall, and his 4ft BS airs in the deep and his friend the 5ft 360 vairial put himin 6th.
Mason Huggins, another one coming off a last year injury,was on fire with his smooth techinal style in the small section of the park, don't let that fool you, the stuff he was doing was nothing less than small!!!!! Ally oop bs nosegrindsto bs revert, crossbone lein airs over the hip to tail smack! Bs tailslide the clamshell to revert and just to add in for flavor, kf no grab in the Cradle! Welcome back Mason! I'm sure this series is just getting you started for the rest of the year with this big 5th.
Donovan Rice, what can you say about his staple guns in the deep, fs rockslide around the deep with his hand following the whole time inmach speed, fakie fs tailblocks to disaster on the clamshell put him in 4th.
Jimmy the Greek was in final mode again, his originality, his difficulty of tricks and where he decided to do them, with or without nospeed, put him in 3rd. You could see it in his eyes! He did everything he wanted, whenever, and whereever he wanted! A master on his skateboard! Crail disasters, while dodging everyone in the deep????
Morgan Burgess, this is one to watch out for because he's doing your lines, his lines, and everyone's lines but with his tricks, kf 50 50 on the quarter, 540's, heelflips, and also, dodging everyone while doing itall. He's an inspiration for the younger generation for sure, justifying that"you too can do what I do with perserverance!" this is why he got 2nd!
Benji (I am still jet lagged) Galloway was just himself again! Showing how to do something other than a setup trick before his banging tricks. The back to back combos and the difficulty of tricks he was doing wasfine display of competition riding, not to mention his lines were original, doing fs ollies over hips most would just carve or grind over. His fs RnRslides in the deep are one of my favs, bs lipslide over the shallow hip, fsinverts from deep to shallow over the hip, come on, do I need to say anything else?
The energy and hype was thru the roof, that's because thesky was the limit this weekend and we were outdoors, there was no roof!!! If you missed out, you can get this same feeing during the next stop in Oviedo, Fla. March 29th-30th, until then see you there.
Check the Photo Gallery for more pics....
Pro's results
1. Benji Galloway
2. Morgan Burgess
3. Jimmy the Greek
4. Donovan Rice
5. Mason Huggins
6. Nolan Munroe
7. Mikee O'Friel
8. Tim Johnson
9. Kevin Kowalski
10. Sean Barclay
11. Jordan Price
12. Will Powers
13. Sergie Ventura
14. Chris Berry
15. Chris Lehman
16. Packy Fancher
17. Timmy Knuth
18. JJ Naico
19. Sky Siijeg
20. Mike Peterson
21. Levi Combs
22. Matt Giles
Master's
1. Buck Smith
2. Curt Baker
3. Jason Parkes
4. Ernie Els
5. Paul O'Hara
6. Tony Walsh
7. Todd Johnson
8. Mike Rogers
9. David Ector
10. Kelly Lynn
11. Donny Griffin
12. Shawn Coffman
13. Kurt Thuemmler
14. Tony Misiano
15. Ray Fennessey
16. Brett Popini
17. Joe Ayala
18. Garr Poe
19. Jesse Martinez
Ladies
1. Julie Kindstrand
2. Amelia Brodka
3. Marlee Miller
4. Stacie Roberts
5. Heidi Fitzgerald
6. Brooke Crawford
7. Jen Stranko
8. Erin Wolfield
9. Megan Mabry
10. Althea Hewitt
11. Noelle Stolp
12. Jessica Rua
13. Lindsea Lumpkin
14. Emma Howell
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