We all need some good sunnies, and who better to drive your style than Jamie Thomas. That’s why OTIS has signed him up with a “multi-year partnership.”
“My idea of a perfect collaboration is two forces coming together to create a delicate mixture of quality, style, purpose and passion,” continues Jamie. “I feel that we accomplished that with Overkill and I’m pleased to present the first of hopefully many collections to come.”
And yes, they look good, and will be available at retail March 1, 2022. Please follow the jump for the new collection and the official word from OTIS.
It’s newsies time. Obviously, this list is overloaded with Olympic content since that’s what snowboarding is up to right now. And Shaun White is the biggest news from Chinaland. Shaun, and the terrible judging. But, oddly, few outlets wrote about that. Censorship? Probably not, but you know the journalists who are visiting China and hope to stay and/or return to the country don’t want to upset the PRC media watchers. Click the link for the list. And get going. This is enough to make it look like you’re working for the rest of the afternoon!
Vans is not letting Walmart off the hook in their blatant copying of Vans shoes (see the images above), according to a story on The Fashion Law. Vans filed a suit last year against Walmart’s rather obvious design borrowing, however, Walmart apparently complained that Vans “waited too long” to file suit. Vans believes “a preliminary injunction to block Walmart from continuing to sell “copycat” versions of “virtually all of [its] bestselling shoes” is necessary.” Can’t really blame them.
Vans has since lodged its reply to Walmart’s memo in opposition, taking issue with Walmart’s arguments, including the retailer’s claims that Vans lacks robust trademark rights, primarily for its OLD SKOOL sneaker. Looking specifically to the OLD SKOOL mark, Vans states that “based on longstanding use dating back more than 40 years, substantial sales and advertising, unsolicited media references, popular culture usage, and intentional copying by Walmart, Vans is likely to succeed in demonstrating that the OLD SKOOL trade dress has acquired secondary meaning.” In terms of sales, Vans says that it has generated “$10 billion in lifetime sales and current revenue of over $1 billion each year in U.S. sales of shoes bearing the OLD SKOOL trade dress.”
This entire case is just another example of how suspect Walmart’s entire business model really is. And we’re stoked that Vans is taking it to them full press. Click the link for the rest of the story.
Circle Jerks are back with a whole new video for Wild In The Streets directed by Atiba Jefferson and filmed by Ty Evans (who were 5 and 8 years old in 1982 when the album came out). Chomp on that while you count the cameos!
After 18 years and introducing over 6,000 kids from historically forgotten communities to action sports STOKED founder Steve Larosiliere is stepping down as president and moving to a new role on the organization’s board of directors. The new president is Dr. Patricia Charlemagne.
[Charlemagne] is a seasoned nonprofit executive with an amazing track record. She’s also an attorney and just received her doctorate in education and organization leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
A Shoc, the energy drink company backed by Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., has just signed a $15 million sponsorship deal with Thrill One, the Costa Mesa, California owners of Street League Skateboarding (among other action sporting assets), according to story in the Financial Post.
The two-year agreement is worth as much as $15 million and will let Thrill One invest in live events, locker rooms and media production. As part of the arrangement, A Shoc will be featured throughout Thrill One’s various assets, which include Street League Skateboarding, Nitro Circus daredevil action sports shows, Nitro Rallycross and a production house.. . . “It’s going to be a game changer for our existing properties and will level them up,” said Thrill One Chief Executive Officer Joe Carr. “We’re going to be creating a lot more content throughout the year.”
A Shoc promotes its caffeine delivery liquid as a natural energy drink designed for performance enhancement with no sugar added.
Former pro skater Evan Hernandez was just sentenced yesterday, January 19, 2022, to eight years in federal prison for “selling nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and laundering Bitcoin” for other drug dealers.
According to court documents, from at least March 2018 to March 2019, Hernandez distributed narcotics, conspiring with drug dealers to distribute the controlled substances over one of the world’s largest darknet marketplaces. . . Hernandez also was responsible for laundering Bitcoin for darknet drug trafficking operations.
Hernandez will also reportedly have to turn over “a 2010 Mercedes-Benz, approximately $35,000 in cash, and various watches, necklaces, rings and other jewelry” to the government. Seems like only yesterday he was that little kid in In Bloom. Bummer all around.
Merge4, the sock brand from Santa Cruz, California is releasing a set of socks celebrating the release of Jackass Forever.
The Jackass collection includes three brand new sock designs featuring iconic Jackass graphics: ‘International’, ‘Scattered’, and Skull’ – each constructed with light compression, padded soles, and a seamless toe and heel. And there may be more to come! “MERGE4’s Jackass socks are the only socks you want to be caught in, no matter if you’re cheatin’, lyin’ or kickin’ ass haha!” said Jackass star, WeeMan.
Get the while they’re available. Three pair for $62. Click the link.
The history of Grindline Skateparks is something every self-respecting skateboarder should know. Thankfully, Thrasher Magazine has made it easy for all of us with Grindland.
“Grindland – Red, Monk and the Birth of DIY” is the story of Mark Scott and Mark Hubbard, two visionary skaters from the Pacific Northwest who, along with dedicated friends, kickstarted the modern DIY/concrete skatepark revolution. From the early days of Burnside to 2019’s Rip Ride Rally, this film explores the friendship, struggle, triumph and tragedy of true iconoclasts, hellbent on building the skateparks of their dreams.
Great work by Michael Burnett and Matt Bublitz. Enjoy!
It’s a New Year. Time to bury those old habits, get out the list, and start working toward the new you in 2022. Or, just grab another Indian Summer Latte and scroll through this list of stories that you should have read last year. We’d put them in order of importance, but that would take way too much time and it would eliminate the joy you’ll find discovering a story you didn’t know you wanted to read. Take it away.
A Shoc, the energy drink company backed by Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., has just signed a $15 million sponsorship deal with 
Former pro skater Evan Hernandez was just sentenced yesterday, January 19, 2022, to eight years in federal prison for “selling nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and laundering Bitcoin” for other drug dealers.
Merge4, the sock brand from Santa Cruz, California is releasing a set of socks celebrating the release of Jackass Forever.
