Last night (July 22, 2009) after crews completed the Converse Coastal Carnage bowl set-up on the sands of Huntington Beach, California Converse’s Steve Luther invited a few people to roll the bowls before any of the official events get started. Tom Grom, Grant Taylor, Remy Stratton, Wade Speyer, Eli Reed, and The Skateboard Mag’s Kevin Wilkins got in on the afternoon session.
But this was just cruise rolling. The real wrecking beings tonight at 7 PM for the Industry Photo Shoot and ends with the Coastal Carnage Finals at 3 PM on Sunday July 26, 2009. For more info visit Converse Skateboarding.
Mornings are still quiet at the Huntington Beach Pier, but that is all about to change as the weekend crowds (and monster swell) begin to roll in. We cruised the scene early to check things out. Follow the link for more photos from the beginning of the 2009 US Open of Surfing. [click to continue…]
Converse (sibling of US Open of Surfing sponsor Hurley in the Nike family) is presenting a $50,000 “invite only Mini Bowl Jam” at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach called Costal Carnage July 24-26, 2009.
. . . more than 40 A-list skaters competing for a $50,000 prize purse in a mini bowl jam. The uniquely designed double bowl features a cradle, a spine, and a variety of hips and corners. The jam format is broken up into 10 qualifying rounds which pit four riders against each other at the same time. Practice starts this Friday, July 24th, with qualifiers running all day Saturday and then finals on Sunday.
There were rumors buzzing around last weekend that Bam Margera had been admitted to the hospital for an overdose. TMZ, the bastion of skateboarding rumor control has spoken to Bam and here is what they say is the real story:
We just spoke to Bam Margera who said he was rushed to the hospital Sunday after a four day drinking binge — not because of a possible drug overdose. . . The “Jackass” star blames the “4-day bender” on marital problems, telling us “I may get a divorce … booze helps.” . . TMZ also spoke to Bam’s mother — who told us Bam’s wife Missy called 911 because she was worried about his health after learning that he popped an Ambien during the drinking bender. . . Margera says his kidney and leg muscles were a mess from not eating or drinking enough water — but the hospital flushed out his system and he was released to his home after speaking to a psychiatrist.
At The 2009 Maloof Money Cup Chris Cole went home with the most biggest check on skateboarding’s biggest check weekend ever. Rob Brink interviewed him afterwards to find out how he won the $100,000, what it means to him, and what he’s going to do next. We were most impressed by Cole’s skateboarding work ethic.
It’s almost like a “self contest” where you’re like, “How much stuff can I get done as fast as possible? Can I make all of it? “How fast can I make it and how good can I make it?” And then it’s almost like, you’re not bummed if you don’t win because of the money or because of anything except you’ll be bummed that you didn’t do your best. ‘Cause if you do your best and you didn’t win that’s fine. I was out there and I had an awesome time.
There are other questions as well so be sure and read Part 1 and Part 2.
Michael Blabac is apparently done with is book tour and now DC has put up a special website to celebrate, according to a post on Skatedaily.net. Here’s what Bryce Kanights had to say about it:
Dig into the site and absorb his vivid portfolios, related video content and pick up a copy of the book…a must have for any skateboarder new school, old school or no school. It’s time to get schooled!
The only thing better than a profile in a local newspaper, is a profile in a magazine that goes in most local newspapers in the world. . . like Shaun White’s profile in this weekend’s Parade Magazine. It features top secret insights into the extreme life for newspaper readers in the heartland.
White can hop on a snowboard, zoom down a steep hill, shoot off a ski jump, and simultaneously flip and spin while in midair—thus executing what is known in the swaggering parlance of his sport as a “backside rodeo 540.” That’s three 180s. Put him on a skateboard and he’s apt to perform similarly dizzying stunts in a vertigo-inducing half-pipe made of concrete or wood, showing reckless disregard for the integrity of his bone structure.
There is a completely different world of skateboarding out there. And it’s called slalom. The New York Times checks in with some “graying skateboarders” during the Seismic United States Nationals last weekend in Lafayette, Colorado.
In a sport that celebrates youth, slalom skateboarders are more likely to be middle-aged; there are about 500 active practitioners in the United States. With virtually no news media coverage for slalom’s roughly 75 races each year, it is one of the most obscure disciplines in skateboarding.
And even though Camp Woodward is running slalom camps, we’re guessing it’s going to stay that way.
To help raise money for the The Tony Hawk Foundation Tony has decided to sell off his personal time to anyone willing to pay through the nose. It’s called the Tony Hawk Experience. Here’s what a $75,000 donation will get you (and three of your friends):
I (Tony) will pick you up at LAX in my 620hp Jeep SRT and we will visit cliché tourist spots (Hollywood sign, Sunset Blvd, Venice Beach, etc) with Tom Green on our way to the X Games. You will then have VIP passes to see any and all X Games events or just sit in the booth with me while I commentate the skating competition(s). Dinner with Tom Green and Shaun White at Sushi Nozawa, Matsuhisa or try some blowfish at The Hump… or we can get the true LA Paparazzi experience at Koi. This package also includes four signed complete Tony Hawk model skateboards. . . NOTE: must take place between July 30 – Aug 2.
It would kind of be fun to put together a group of the world’s most annoying kids and then buy them one of the $100,000 packages just to see it all on video. Because, it’s for a good cause.
