SKATE NEWS

JESSUP GRIPTAPE ANNOUNCES NEW DC GRIPTAPE COLLABORATION

Jessup Griptape and DC are pleased to announce the new DC branded griptape collaboration. The DC branded griptape will feature various screen-printed DC logos styles and come in a co-branded custom designed box. Jessup Griptape, the leading griptape brand, has been producing premium skateboard specific griptape since 1975 and is widely revered by skateboarders’ world wide as the best griptape in skateboarding.

“DC is the perfect partner. They have a long-standing commitment to skateboarding and unbelievable team. We continuously seek to align ourselves with the core brands that continuously build skateboarding,” stated Bud Smith of Jessup.

The co-branded griptape will be available exclusively through DC. The collaboration is the one of a few for select core skateboard companies that will have Jessup Griptape offered as their own griptape product.

DC and Jessup team rider PJ Ladd put it quite simply, “The original skateboard griptape. Perfect grip, no holes, plain black.”

Check out the Jessup griptape and DC website for additional information:

GRIPTAPE.COM

DCSHOES.COM

Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation To Open Its First Skate Spot in Los Angeles


The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza foundation is pleased to announce it has begun development of its first “Safe Spot, Skate Spot” in Los Angeles’ Lafayette Park this January. The Lafayette Safe Spot Skate Spot will be completed by late February 2009.

The Safe Spot Skate Spot is a program developed by The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation to support legal and safe skate spots for communities interested in developing skateable terrain for their skateboarders. Based from the skate plaza concept, the Safe Spot Skate Spot program will provide an alternative option for communities to develop real legal street skating locations given limited budgets or space restrictions.

The Lafayette Safe Spot, Skate Spot was developed in partnership with the Foundation, Newline Skate Parks and California Skate Parks. At just over 7000 square feet of skateable terrain the spot will contain ledges, benches and stairs that flow through the park’s natural landscape. Funding from a generous donation by CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company of the Carl’s Jr.® hamburger chain to the Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation secured the development of the Lafayette skate spot.

“I’m excited to see the first Safe Spot Skate Spot come to life,” said Rob Dyrdek, the Foundation’s Founder and Director. “We realized that cities want to help their skateboarders but are often lacking funds or space and this concept provides the perfect solution for both. Skateboarding has always been defined by great spots and I hope that we are on our way to creating the next great, legal spots for skateboarding.”

Lafayette skate spot is expected to open in late February 2009. For more information and updates on the Lafayette spot, the Safe Spot Skate Spot program and The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation, visit the new updated website at www.skateplaza.com.

The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation seeks to promote the sport of skateboarding by assisting municipalities with the design, development, and construction of locations that maintain the integrity of terrain occurring naturally in urban environments and where the sport of skateboarding in its purest form is encouraged rather than discouraged.

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Black Label pro Jason Adams is diving into the art world with his exhibition, “Stencils Aren’t Art”, currently showcased at Flogging Molly frontman Matt Hensely’s pub Flying Elephant. Paintings include Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie), Duane Peters, and Johnny Cash, just to name a few. Catch more of his work below as well as the full flier. Stop by the show and pick a piece up - word is it’s selling quick.

In a somewhat strange mix of cultures, the ultra-talented Girl skateboard team, hip-hopper Kanye West, and famous producer Spike Jonze recently got together for a special movie shoot. Pictured above (from left to right) is Eric Koston, Kanye West, Spike Jonze, Rick Howard, and Mike Carroll - check Carroll’s coat! Wow. According to Kanye West’s outspoken barber Ibn Jasper:

Kanye and Spike Jonze shot a short film a couple weeks ago and Spike had the the guys from GIRL Skateboards come down to the set. They were in the “Benjamins Remix” video as extras, but this time they actually played real parts in the film…

“Read more” to see other entertaining photos, like Koston hitting the dance floor, then visit F.M. Phenomenal for a breakdown of the event.

NEW PRODUCTS

Gold Wheels has been in the skate game for quite a while. They have been providing skate heads with outstanding wheels and have a great team. Now, they have posted up this shot at NY based brand Acapulco Gold. The graphic is of the bear they used in previous seasons all cut up into pieces with Acapulco crossed out. Stay tuned as more information develops.

Converse Skateboarding is back. Their Spring ‘09 Collection (and solid skate team) made headlines across the ‘net, now Converse will re-release another retro sneaker, their iconic 80s Weapon High, but upgraded with skate tech and dubbed the Weapon XHI. Unlike the retro version, this one features a beefy ankle strap for extra support while you’re locking in that back tail. The shoe will come in black, white, and chocolate and will go for $80. Also, a new white Ashmont shoe (bottom right) will be released as well ($65). Expect these shoes to hit Converse Skateboarding accounts soon, as they’re part of the Spring ‘09 lineup.

Over the past few years, Lakai went beyond the core skate crowd and became well-received in mainstream culture. Popular cross-culture models like the Telford and Manchester come back in revamped colorways for Lakai’s Spring ‘09 Collection, and new additions like the Commerce LK (above) are sure to make a buzz. Also part of the mix is the Crailtap Series, which features the Koston and Howard Select Mid done-up in Crailtap themes, and The 10th Anniversary Editions, which features the return of the beloved Staple model - yup, you read right, the Staple is back!

Diamond Supply Co. teams up with top leading skateboard company DVS for another collaboration, this time using their Dayton model. The last time these two brands teamed up, they had kids lining up outside the Diamond Supply Co. Flagship store waiting for the store to open.

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Quiksilver is doing a digial zine of all the trips the guys go on this year. The first chapter is Brazil. It’ll have a second Brazil chapter added in a couple weeks, and a bunch of guys are in Australia to get footage for an Australia chapter.

Vista, CA& The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza foundation is pleased to announce it has begun development of its first "Safe Spot, Skate Spot" in Los Angeles' Lafayette Park this January. The Lafayette Safe Spot Skate Spot will be completed by late February 2009.

The Safe Spot Skate Spot is a program developed by The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation to support legal and safe skate spots for communities interested in developing skateable terrain for their skateboarders. Based from the skate plaza concept, the Safe Spot Skate Spot program will provide an alternative option for communities to develop real legal street skating locations given limited budgets or space restrictions.

The Lafayette Safe Spot, Skate Spot was developed in partnership with the Foundation, Newline Skate Parks and California Skate Parks. At just over 7000 square feet of skateable terrain the spot will contain ledges, benches and stairs that flow through the park's natural landscape. Funding from a generous donation by CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company of the Carl's Jr.® hamburger chain to the Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation secured the development of the Lafayette skate spot.

"I'm excited to see the first Safe Spot Skate Spot come to life," said Rob Dyrdek, the Foundation's Founder and Director. "We realized that cities want to help their skateboarders but are often lacking funds or space and this concept provides the perfect solution for both. Skateboarding has always been defined by great spots and I hope that we are on our way to creating the next great, legal spots for skateboarding."

Lafayette skate spot is expected to open in late February 2009. For more information and updates on the Lafayette spot, the Safe Spot Skate Spot program and The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation, visit the new updated website at www.skateplaza.com .

The Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation seeks to promote the sport of skateboarding by assisting municipalities with the design, development, and construction of locations that maintain the integrity of terrain occurring naturally in urban environments and where the sport of skateboarding in its purest form is encouraged rather than discouraged.

One of the perks of working in skateboarding is that sometimes little treats come across my desk. I get lots of crap, too. But every so often real collectible gems and memorabilia come my way as well.

Earlier this week, I got a great addition to my skateboard historian's library in the form of a new title, "Made For Skate." The book, systematically breaks down the history of skate shoes from our surf roots (surf brands like Makaha and Hobie made some of the earliest skate shoes) and winds its way through boom and bust and boom again to our present-day saturation of abundant footwear and its crossover appeal to street wear culture.

Best of all, the book is stuffed with nostalgic photos of skate footwear eras gone by. Does anybody reading this remember the Etnies Skrews or Sheep Shoes or even Airwalk Enigmas and NTS? Well, then you can relive your glory days on the coffee table with this bad boy.

Nike SB played a hand in getting this book to print and their influence shows in a strong Nike presence throughout. Haters can hate, but one the thing the book does do is show Nike's prevalence in skate culture from the '70s onward. The book doesn't shy away from Nike's ill-fated attempt to break into skating in the mid-late '90s either. It also gives even play to Consolidated's attempts at keeping the larger brands out of skateboarding. And ample respect is given to the originators and innovators like Vans who's Half Cab is still one of the best shoes to actually skate in on the earth (sure that's just one man's opinion but that doesn't mean it's not a correct one).

Overall, the authors go out of their way to be thorough, fair and balanced in their presentation of this unique and essential part of our history. It's a good read and will have a place of prominence on my shelf for years to come.

For those of you who don't have the coin to shell out for a serious hardcover book, you're in luck that the entire tome is available in pixel form here. If you do have the means though, I highly recommend picking one up. It is sooo choice.

SKATE NEWS

AWS Mind Field Premiere @ Vans Skateparks!

Head down to either Vans Skatepark in Orlando, FL or Orange, CA to watch the new Alien Workshop video Mind Field on Saturday, February 7th @ 7PM (local time). The event is free and there will be tons of giveaways. Check out awsfilmworks.com for more information about the video that features Vans Skate Team rider Anthony Van Engelen!

This just in from RVCA:

Raymond Molinar and RVCA have officially parted ways.

Raymond is a great skateboarder and an amazing person. We wish him
the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

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