by The Editors on April 1, 2009
When Naples Police Officer Jullian Cercone, 26, caught Jose Vega, 13, his brother Michael and their two friends skateboarding in an area where they weren’t supposed to she could have roughed them up. But she didn’t, according to a story in Naples News.
Instead, she found a solution that would make the businesses happy all while keeping the boys rolling. . . “If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be skateboarding,” Jose said. . . . Cercone also used her encounters as an opportunity to build a relationship with kids in the community. . . .“I think it’s important for the young kids in the community to develop a good rapport between themselves and the police department,” Cercone said. “They are the future of our county.”
Cercone went so far building rapport that she actually paid for the kids’ membership at the local skatepark. See, not all cops are power mad authority freaks. Apparently, it’s just the dudes. . .
[Link: Naples News]
by The Editors on April 1, 2009
[April Fools Day Story 2009] With Proactive Ink-X there always is a second chance and no one knows that better than Antwuan Dixon, Jereme Rogers and Braydon Szafranski, all of whom have reportedly signed on to back Proactiv’s new face tattoo removal creme, according to a press release posted on the South Of The North blog.
Known for its wide range of celebrity supporters, Proactiv will feature the three new members of the skate world in the brand’s 11th national television program, which began airing nationwide in America during peak face tattoo season. The new cycle will serve as a unique platform for the skaters to share his experience of what a face tattoo has done to their position in society. . . adds Rogers, “When you put it on your face, you can feel it actually getting the ink out. It feels like you have a brand new face. I might get a face tattoo of a dolphin sitting in a recliner hitting a bong like my friend Jimmy got in Cabo on spring break. I mean shit, it ain’t nothin’ Ink-X can’t get out.”
Hey, we never talk shit about a man’s need to get paid.
[Link: South of the North]
by The Editors on April 1, 2009
[April Fools Day Story 2009] Looks like Sole Technology’s Mr. Party All The Time Don Brown is throwing in his big red Skatepark of Tampa drinking cup, according to a press release sent out today.
“I just know it is time for me to jump from this DRINKING SHIP sinking ship. I’ll always remember partying myself into the slammer in Tampa with the SPoT hooligans! I just know that they have bigger bankruptcy issues to focus on right now than bailing me out of jail, so I’m quitting their Party Team for now,” said Don Brown, former SPoT Party Team Member. “Without the SPoT Party Team to regularly bail me out of jail I might find myself locked up with no alternative, so I will be seeking sponsorship from Liberty Bail Bonds. Does anybody know their team manager?”
Never thought we live to see this day. . . follow the jump for all the info.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 1, 2009
[April Fools Day Story 2009] Looks like even the coolest guys in the skateboarding world can be dumb with their money. In a story released this morning the Skatepark of Tampa has announced that it will be filing for chapter 11 reorganization protection after opening too many stores and running up nearly $20 million in debt to a Tampa gentlemen’s club.
Owner Brian Schaefer said that he hopes the bankruptcy filing, while painful, will allow the company, which is celebrating its 16th anniversary, to begin the healing process and return to being a strong company with 993 stores instead of 1001. . . “We look forward to creating a great Skatepark of Tampa that is an asset to all of its partners,” he said. . . . Schaefer and GM, Ryan Clements, have met with 30 vendors in the past three weeks to explain the situation, Schaefer said. He said vendors have been very supportive and have said they will ship fresh goods to Skatepark of Tampa on a COD basis. Some have even said they will offer SPoT credit terms as soon as Skatepark of Tampa filed for bankruptcy, Schaefer said.
For the rest of the sad, sad story and a chart featuring the top 20 creditors click the link.
[Link: Skatepark of Tampa]
by The Editors on March 31, 2009
Tony Hawk launched a all-out scavenger war this morning by announcing to his 200,000+ followers via Twitter than he had a couple complete skateboard decks to hand out.
“Whatup Twit-talkers! I have a couple of complete skateboards to give away today. Stay tuned . . . First one is for 760 locals: Palomar Oaks Way just south of Palomar Airport Rd. Look behind the fire hydrant just across the bridge. Go now
Within 50 minutes a girl named KT Alach of Carlsbad, California had hunted it down and Twittered a photo back up with the new deck in her hands.
T.Hawk is killing it with the instant Twitter marketing. Funny, that this is the first time we’ve seen Twitter used this way, and we have to admit, it’s really pretty genius use of the technology.
[Link: Tony Hawk]
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
There are times we see stories that we really wished we had done first, but never did. Slap Skateboard Magazine’s Ron Cameron Portfolio by Mark Whiteley is one of those pieces.
Ron Cameron could be one of the most underrated skateboarding artist/designers ever to work in the business. From the Nothing Is Cool design for Blockhead Skateboards to the RVCA logo (yeah, he’s responsible for the V and the Artist Network Program), Ron has been working behind the scenes creating some of the most original designs in action sports. It is Ron’s take on the commercial side of skateboarding, however, that spoke most to his deep history in skateboarding. Here’s part of what he says:
It really is difficult to earn a living in the skateboarding industry. I always just egotistically thought my talents. . . like I would produce great work and the money would come and that’s not true. A lot of times if you don’t go in with money you don’t go out with money. And that’s the hard lesson I learned. And you need to take care of business no matter how ugly it feels to you. And if you think you’re going to become a businessman asshole. You’re not. You’re just taking care of that part so you can continue to do art.
Wise words. Follow the link for all the images and an audio interview with Ron.
[Link: Slap Skateboard Magazine via Skatedaily.net and Ron Cameron]
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
Davie, Florida police officer David Rodriguez, 25, has received a two-day suspension and been ordered to attend anger amanagement classes after he reportedly slammed a 10-year-old skateboarder up against his car while the child was skateboarding in front of his own house, according to a story in the Sun Sentinel.
“He threw him like he was a rag doll,” said the boy’s father, Joseph Smith, who witnessed the April 6, 2008 incident and filed a complaint the next day. . . Smith says his son was left with a cut on his knee, a bruise on his chest and a fear of police. . . Rodriguez was facing a battery charge, but Broward prosecutors closed the case on Nov. 17 after both parties agreed to mediation and the boy’s father decided not to press charges.
Reminding us once again that people who want to be police officers should automatically be disqualified from service.
[Link: Sun Sentinel via Skatedaily.net]
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
by The Editors on March 30, 2009
Sole Technology’s Don Brown and Pierre Andre discuss the re-release of their seminal skate shoe the etnies Rap in a new video clip up on the etnies site. Say what you will about the state of the skate fashion industry, but it’s still nice to see the big guns out on the interwebs pitching their own products. . . . isn’t it?
[Link: etnies]
by The Editors on March 29, 2009
Dreams came true on March 28, 2009 for Clairemont, California’s Jonathan Azevedo when The Make-A-Wish Foundation built him a skateboard park right in his own back yard.
“I just rode in a imousine to and from SeaWorld and there is a ramp in my backyard. And that’s not possible. That denies every law of physics and the space time continuum,” he said. “How is that even possible? Seriously, I’m freaking out.”
Sounds like Jonathan was about as happy as a kid could be, right? Not surprisingly people in the comments of the story immediately began complaining about the “traffic this monstrosity will generate.”
You stay classy, San Diego.
[Link: CBS8.com]
