[Link: Thrasher]
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Skateboarding
The National Steinbeck Center, a sometimes functioning, strangely modern looking museum plopped right in the middle of the lettuce fields of Salinas, California celebrates the life of California writer John Steinbeck and that’s why we find it odd, that they are looking for “skateboard art” for an art show they are curating called “What the Deck.”
The National Steinbeck Center is seeking artists for an exhibition and fundraiser that will have the artists showcase their work on a skateboard deck in the “What the Deck?” art show. The works of about 50 artists will be exhibited in the center’s rotunda. Live skateboarding and exhibit sponsors are needed, with proceeds to benefit the National Steinbeck Center and Dorothy’s Place soup kitchen in Salinas.
Nothing says skateboarding like the Joad family. . .
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Last night a Salt Lake City, Utah man was reportedly hit with a skateboard after he allegedly tried to sell some fake drugs in Pioneer Park, according to a story in the Salt Lake City Tribune.
The skateboarder, whom police arrested on suspicion of assault, said the alleged drug deal took place at Pioneer Park about 5:15 p.m. Sunday, spokesman Dennis McGowan said. . . At some point after the alleged buy, the skateboarder tracked the man down to 50 North and 600 West and hit him with the skateboard, McGowan said. . . Police found and arrested the skateboarder at a nearby coffee shop.
Get arrested for assault? Why not volunteer for some drug charges as well.
[Link: The Salt Lake Tribune]
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A “passing motorist” found the body of a 20-year-old male skateboarder at the side of the road on Nashua, New Hampshire’s Todd Road on Sunday night July 12, 2009, according to a story on WMUR.com.
Police said the man had a visible head injury, and it appears he died accidentally and hadn’t been lying in the street for long. The man’s skateboard was found close to his body. . . A toxicology test is also being performed
[Link: WMUR.com]
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Back in the day, the story that usually got written following a hot afternoon spent at a Carl’s Jr. sponsored blow-out skateboarding event in the heart of Orange County, California would have been filled with whining and complaining–loads of it.
There would have been whining about not having access to the proper locations, or about how far away media parking was, or that the event wasn’t treating the skaters or the endemic media right. Those stories were reckless fun to write, but they really can’t be written anymore because those days are over. This was especially true at the Maloof Money Cup Presented by etnies and Monster.
We rolled in skeptical. Anything this slickly produced can’t be good, right? We watched the seemingly flawless Fuel HD live webcast on Saturday night and thought that it all might just be some kind of TV hoax. But when we arrived at the Orange County Fair Grounds on Sunday afternoon July 12, 2009 we discovered that it really was as good as it looked online.
The Money Cup was set up perfectly from the parking, to the media access, to the grand stands for the civilians, all the way to the vert ramp/mini mega and the street set up that California Skateparks built. Media got front row seats to the entire street course, and great spots at either end of the vert ramp. The fans had elevated grandstands that offered a great view on the entire event. There was even shaded VIP seating up top for the super VIPs (we got shut trying to get up there, but then so did Pierre Andre (click the watch the video) so we didn’t feel so bad).
The only problem was that the skate action was so rapid fire that it was really difficult to keep up with what was going on. It was almost easier to follow on the webcast because at least then someone was eliminating the options and forcing us to focus on one thing at a time.
When faced with P-Rod, Chris Cole, Sean Malto, Peter Ramondetta, Nyjah Huston (pictured left), and Torey Pudwill in a jam format heat skating on different parts of the section it got kind of crazy. We found that they only way to follow along was to sit with three or four friends who we could turn to when we heard the crowd erupt and say, “What was that?” The amount of quality skating being thrown down literally required eight eyes to take it all in.
So, rather than try to get any of it down here, we’re going to suggest that everyone do what we’re going to do as soon as we post this: point the browser over to Fuel.TV and watch the vert and street finals again so we can figure out exactly what we saw. Either way we know one thing: we’re already looking forward to seeing it again next year.
In the meantime, click here to check out our Maloof Money Cup photo gallery, or follow the jump for the complete results.
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According to the 2008 SIMA Retail Distribution Study released yesterday by the Boulder, Colorado based research firm Leisure Trends Group 2008 saw a slight decrease in skate/surf retail sales (down 3.5 percent to $7.22 billion) and the “softness was most apparent in the fourth quarter of 2008.”
Apparently, December 08 was a bad month in retail. Who knew? Or how about this insight. Did you know that: “Passion and youth largely drive the surf industry. Surfers and skaters view the industry as a lifestyle, not a passing trend.”
But don’t worry, according to SIMA President Doug Palladini the “powerful brands” will see us through:
“While the surf/skate retail industry is not immune to the downward pressure on retail sales nationwide caused by the global recession, the resiliency of the surf/skate industry is very positive and promising,” says Doug Palladini, SIMA President and Vice President of Marketing for Vans. “Powerful brands with close connections to their consumers will see us through these challenging times and put us in a strong position as the overall economy rebounds.”
Thank god for the titans of industry. For more of this kind of in-depth analysis into last year’s retail disaster, follow the jump.
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Why deal with hordes of plastic surgery disaster moms at the Orange County Fair Grounds when Fuel.TV is offering up the 2009 Maloof Money Cup online and in HD.
FUEL TV, the only network dedicated to the lifestyle of action sports, is proud to webcast the most anticipated skate contest of the year, the 2009 Maloof Money Cup, in high definition quality. On Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, viewers will be able to watch the webcast of the second annual Maloof Money Cup semi finals and finals live on FUEL TV’s website at www.fuel.tv/maloofmoneycup.
We are so there. Follow the jump for all the details.
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Next week the iPath team including Adam Alfaro, Richie Jackson, Fred Gall, Kenny Reed, Matt Rodriguez, and Bob Burnquist are headed for the Great White North for Up In Stoke The Tour. Actually, we’re more stoked about the co-stars Jaws Homoki and Ben Raybourn.
Dates Are:
July 17th Vancouver, British Columbia
July 18th Victoria, British Columbia
July 19th Kelowna, British Columbia
July 21st Dufferin Square, Toronto, Ontario
July 23rd South Parc, Montreal, Quebec
July 25th Ottawa, Ontario
So who was it that told us iPath was over the whole weed thing?
[Link: iPath.com]
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Tom Jones, of the St. Petersburg Times recently wrote up a list of the ten most Influential sports figures of the last 50 years. We haven’t even heard of most of the guys on the list, but down there at the bottom of the list in a six-way tie for number ten is Tony Hawk. Here’s what Jones said:
Coming up with a list of 10 is impossible, so here’s a six-way tie for 10th. Among those are Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and, later, Michael Jordan for saving the NBA in the 1980s; skateboarder Tony Hawk for helping extreme sports join the mainstream; Nike founder Phil Knight for creating the most popular shoe and apparel company in sports; and the unnamed person who created the major sports story of our generation — the man or woman who introduced steroids to sports.
Aside from the steroid thing, not bad company. But then Tony is good that way.
[Link: The Post-Tribune]
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Mark Gonzales has a new art show opening at New York City’s Half Gallery. The opening reception is this Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 6-8PM.
Half Gallery, 208 Forsyth St. NYC.
[Link: Half Gallery via Club Mumble]
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