Skatepunk

The Zero video "Strange World" premiered last night in Encinitas. As expected, it's a great video, with some great surprises. I condensed my notes into a simple twitter screen grab last night, but here's the complete version:

To start, the owner of the La Paloma Theatre told Jamie Thomas that if the tape wasn't at the theatre at 630pm, he'd cancel the event, and Jamie made it with four minutes to spare. Some things never change. I'm glad he made it. Prior to the late start time, I was quite entertained listening to Jake Phelps (sitting behind me) talk about everything from who sucks and who rips to how bad he hated the music that was playing (Joy Division). Jake's got a great way of making pretty much everything he says entertaining.

Jamie came out and made a short introduction and let the crowd know that due to late editing on the video, the credits at the end had to be left off. Justin Regan later announced that it probably worked to the video's benefit--it ended with a total bang. But I digress.

The intro was another epic slam section, getting the whole crowd going with slams that continue to get gnarlier and gnarlier just like the skateboarding that they're evidence of. This was the kick-in to Garret Hill's part, which for me was a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen much of this kid and he killed it, with a good mix of tech tricks mixed in with his big bag of burly-ness. Keegan Sauder was next, with perhaps my favorite trick of the whole video -- over a hip for a noseblunt slide on a huge ledge. Keegan was definitely a crowd favorite. The next song lasted through John Rattray, Sheldon Meleshinksi, Tony Cervantes, and Ben Gilley, which was solid, but it would've been good to see more Rattray.

Next was Marisa Dal Santo, with an absolutely mind-blowing part. She has put to rest any doubt about how gnarly she is, and she's dragging a generation of girls up with her -- expect this part to motivate girls all over the world. You can also bet on this: this part will become a standard for sponsor-me videos. If your sponsor-me video isn't up to par with Marisa's, pull it off YouTube, call your filmer, find some courage and/or balls, and go back to the drawing board.

Donavan Piscopo, Elissa Steamer and Dominik Dietrich shared a part, with Elissa shining as usual! Good to see DD's Europe flavor in the mix, too. Tommy Sandoval had some of the gnarliest stuff I've seen in a while. Would've been good to see more but after the Fallen video... you know.

Jamie Thomas filmed his whole part in a cool looking abandoned warehouse with a conglomeration of rails, banks, gaps, ledges, beautiful lighting, and some new angles on his shredding. Aussie Dane Burman was next with a really good part -- it started kinda slow but his skating is powerful, stylish and he does good tricks. James Brockman's part was more than a few people's favorite. I've never really been a fan, but there's no doubt he rips.

Next was a great part with Tom Asta and Chris Cole. Tom matched Chris trick-for-trick -- it wasn't any sort of torch-passing, but definitely a sign of some shining talent to come - master and pupil for sure. Pretty interesting to see Cole skating to hip-hop, too. I think it was a cover of that SouljaBoy song...? Chris Cole's backside kickflip 360 down Carlsbad was amazing.

That left Jamie Tancowny with the last part. There were tons of highlights -- of course his backside overcrooks at Rincon was amazing, but his last trick was a kickflip over stairs, bar, and fire hydrant at a spot in Vista that Jamie Thomas ollied in his first Toy Machine ad in 1994. Nothing has been done over it since, and Lil' Fucky kickflipped it. Nothing's been done down that in 15 years! Kid's got it going on.

It's getting harder and harder to make videos of this caliber, but let's hope that these guys find a way to keep at it. We need this kind of Strange World in skateboarding.

Zero Video Premiere Check Out

This just came in from Havoc.TV and I have no idea what it is... but it's funny. I got imagine that Shecks is in on it.

Darth Sheckler on Havoc TV Check Out

Kabul's skateboarders get their own park
By Andra Jackson, The Age, Australia
October 29, 2009 - 10:40PM

Afghanistan's fledging skateboarders will get their own international standard skateboard park today, thanks to a couple of Australians.

After making do with pot-holed pavements and dried up concrete fountains, Afghanistan's fledging skateboarders will get their own international standard skateboard park today.

It is thanks to the vision of two Australian skateboard enthusiasts, Sharna Nolan, 32, Fitzroy and her partner, Oliver Percovich, 35, from St Andrews who two years ago saw the potential in giving Afghanistan's war disaffected youths a new direction in life through the sport. They set up the project, skateistan, which will build the world's first co-educational skateboarding school, which will also offer classes in literacy, maths and English, open its doors at the skatepark complex.

The pair, along with international supporters, organised donations of skateboards and gave lessons to youths off the streets of Kabul, impressed the Afghan National Olympic Committee.

The governments of Norway, Denmark, Germany and Canada donated $US827,500 while Architects For Humanity donated $US86,000 and $US100,000 came from fund raising around the world.

The complex includes two classrooms equipped with computers and internet access, a boys' and girls' locker room, a cafeteria and office space. Three hundred youths — 60 per cent of them girls — are enrolled already, Ms Nolan said, and two of Kabul's leading mullahs are backing the spread of the sport.

Today's opening will be attended by several ambassadors, including Australia's ambassador to Afghanistan and the president of the Afghan National Olympic Committee, General Mohammad Zahir Aghbar.

Speaking from Kabul yesterday, Mr Percovich said that when he arrived in Afghanistan with just one skateboard, "it wasn't my idea to come to Afghanistan and build a school. It's come from the kids".

He said he was "absolutely elated" at the opening of the skatepark. "It is a whole lot of people getting behind an idea and making it a reality".

Ms Nolan said that about 100 local skateboarding recruits from Kufu orphanage, from a mixed mini circus and from local neighbours f who have been taught by the Skateistan teachers will show-off their new skills at the opening. Professional skateboarders from the US, the Netherlands and Syria will give demonstrations.

German ambassador Werner Lau said: “Skateistan offers these children a zest for life. This diversion from their often difficult existence gives the youth hope of a life of peace and security.”

--End--

More info:skateistan.org

These photos are so important and impactful to me that I wanted to share them, but they came from the Skateistan website. This is a great cause, worth supporting and spreading the word about. The photo above is from the original fountain that the Skateistan School was first held in, and the photos below are of Cairo Foster at a demo at a temporary site, and the hall that the new park is built in. The last photos are from some of the local "spots" in and around Kabul, and of their own version of Go Skateboarding Day. Amazing.

New Skateistan Park Opens Today! Check Out

Check out this article -- I'm sure it's not long before Skatestoppers® are in place in Wheaton, Maryland. If you're in the area, get yours before they amend the laws!

Oh, You Mean The Skateboard Park? Check Out

Well, thinking about the ultimate skate rock tour, bands like JFA, The Faction, and the Big Boys come to mind. There are other legends: Agression, Los Olvidados, Drunk Injuns, Riot .303, The Kingpins, Clay Wheels, US Bombs, Exploding Fuck Dolls, and more. But of the newer bands the two that I'd like to see most on one bill are The Goat and Bad Shit. Now that would be a show! Reynolds, Spanky, Atiba, Shane, Beagle One-ism, Phelps, Boozy, and TNT -- what a list! (You heard it hear first.)

Ultimate Skate Rock Tour? Check Out

I am sad to write that Sin Elgelja has passed away in Australia. Apparently his sister found him in bed and could not wake him up. Sin was a great skateboarder, a generous and funny man, and always a smiling face. He was the first team manager and a designer at Airwalk in the 1980's, he rode for Madrid for years, and was known for being "Vic" in a hilarious series of Airwalk ads featured in Poweredge Magazine. He later was a lead designer at Duffs. He is already missed.

Sin Elgelja R.I.P. Check Out

Last night the first class of the Skateboarding Hall Of Fame was inducted in a ceremony held at Vans Skatepark in Orange, California. The first group of inductees was voted on by a large field of skateboarding media, industry leaders, and IASC members, and consisted of skaters from the first four decades of skateboarding history. A short video and photo montage was shown before each skater was brought up on stage. The inductees were: from the 1960's, Bruce Logan; from the 70's, Tony Alva; the 80's, Tony Hawk, and from the 1990's, Danny Way.

The event was pure skateboarding style, not too fancy, and was held in the middle of the street course in the park, with a Combi-bowl session prior, random skating throughout the evening, and lots of cool items to bid on in the silent auction, with all proceeds going to IASC and the Hall of Fame, which has now been given a permanent location at Todd Huber's Skateboarding Museum at Skate Lab in Simi Valley, California.

The speeches were just the right length of time. Bruce Logan's brother--Bob or Brian?--told some stories about the early days of Logan Earth Ski before Bruce made a short and sweet thank you speech that included remembrances of many of the skaters from the early days of Skateboarder Magazine: Bob Mohr, Danny Bearer, Torger Johnson, Baby Paul Cullen, and more.

Tony Alva was obviously very honored by the induction -- he told some stories, explained a lot of his early wilder days as "what happens when you mix ego and alcohol," and was very humble, which was great to see. Tony was my first favorite skateboarder and I enjoyed hearing his thoughts. He was very respectful of a number of his early mentors, and gave Steve Van Doren a huge amount of respect as a lifelong friend, confident, and believer.

Steve Hawk was there accepting for his brother Tony, who, perfectly enough, is on tour with the Birdhouse team in New England right now. Tony made a short speech on video, which was nice, and Steve told a couple good stories which we might not've gotten out of Tony.

Finally, Danny Way was representing the 1990s, which was perfect -- this year marks his 20th year as professional skateboarder, and like Tony Hawk, he's showing no signs of stopping. Jim Fitzpatrick, who was one of our hosts for the evening, told a story about a prophetic Todd Hastings walking into a boring meeting at Powell in 1988 and proclaiming that he'd seen the future of skateboarding, indeed the next Tony Hawk, and his name was Danny Way. Twenty years later and Todd was right -- Danny, more than anyone else, has made the same kind of mark and lasting impression on skateboarding that Tony has.

The whole evening was very enjoyable. It felt like a skateboarding event should, and although there were only about 225 people there, it was a good group and didn't feel forced. Jim Fitzpatrick, Don Bostick and Don Brown, with help from IASC President John Bernards, held the evening together nicely.

Congratulations to Bruce, Tony, Tony, and Danny -- the honor was well-deserved and well-received and it couldn't have been a better first class for the Skateboarding Hall Of Fame.

Skateboarding Hall of Fame Inducts First Class! Check Out

I love this photo of Bibi and Oscar on the subway in New York. Either they're disabled or so oblivious to their surroundings that they could be considered disabled. Either way, great juxtaposition. 2008.

Priority Seating For Persons With Disabilities Check Out

The Jesus Lizard played an amazing show the other in San Diego, at the Casbah. This band is one of the best I've ever seen live, they are incredibly tight, incredible musicians and David Yow is just a nutso performer. So great. I'll have more photos up in the band photos section soon enough. If you get a chance to see them on this tour, take it. You won't regret it.

The Jesus Lizard! Check Out

This Friday, come check out the SoCal premiere of the Pete Koff film about Tim Brauch. It's called SuperCharged and is very well done. The film will show at etnies, 20162 Windrow Drive in Lake Forest, 92630. The event is free and open to all, with free tacos while they last, and free Pabst Blue Ribbon to all with proper 21+ ID. We hope to see you there!

Tim Brauch "SuperCharged" -- SoCal Premiere at etnies Friday! Check Out