January 2010

John Cardiel In The CUTTS

by The Editors on January 26, 2010

NorCal skate legend John Cardiel takes In The CUTTS on a tour of Sacramento skate spots. His 2004 injury in Australia has not slowed him down one bit as is obvious in this interview. He can’t skate the way he used to, but he rolls a fixie better than most.

[Link: IntheCUTTS via ESPN]

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Rob Brink vs. TSM’s Best Am Tyler Bledsoe

by The Editors on January 26, 2010

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How can you not keep reading an interview that starts out like this:

Ask anyone who knows Tyler Bledsoe and they’ll tell you that on the rare occasions he actually does speak, it’s usually the funniest, most epic utterance of the day. They’ll also tell you how gifted of a skateboarder he is… which is no bullshit. In fact, despite it’s complimentary nature, is still probably an understatement.

As we’ve reminded Rob Brink several times. . . if we read everything we posted we’d never have time to post. But this one looks good and we’d read it if we had time. Honestly.

[Link: Rob Brink via Skatedaily]

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Verizon Has A New Daily Habit

by The Editors on January 26, 2010

Vzw Logo 1024Verizon Wireless has signed on as title sponsor of Fuel TV’s Daily Habit according to a press release.

Aside from “branding in all show graphics, as well as online banners and a unique brand page on the FUEL TV website” the company is also buying lots of coverage for their athletes.

Many of Verizon Wireless’ sponsored athletes will appear on “The Daily Habit,” including surfer, musician, and “Drive Thru” star Donavon Frankenreiter; surfer and “New Pollution” host Matt Beacham; surfer Sterling Spencer; freestyle motocross rider and three-time X Games Gold Medalist Kyle Loza, six-time X Games Medalist Todd Potter; three-time X Games Silver Medalist and 2008 Red Bull X-Fighters Series champion Mat Rebeaud; legendary skateboarder Omar Hassan; two-time X Games Gold Medalist and three-time AST Dew Tour winner BMX pro Daniel Dhers, and others.

We’re having a hard time getting used to the new face of sponsored editorial, but it looks like it’s here to stay.

[Link: Fiercewireless]

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Friedberg Wins $25k In Nikon Video Contest

by The Editors on January 26, 2010

Thanks to help from friends all over the world, 411vm founder Josh Friedberg won the $25,000 Audience Award in the Nikon Festival for his video New York State Of Mind.

The Nikon Festival Audience Award winner is San Antonio resident Joshua Friedberg. He will receive $25,000 as the top fan favorite for his video “New York State of Mind.” The video captured twenty four hours in New York, featuring renowned locations. “I got into video through skateboarding and learned how to shoot by just doing it,” said Joshua Friedberg, Nikon Festival Audience Award Winner. “That’s part of why I think the Nikon Festival is such a great event, it motivated people to be creative and get out there and shoot.” . . . He credits retweets of his Festival video via Twitter by media personalities Bam Margera, Steve Berra and Tony Hawk as a key to his win. Friedberg plans to use the $25,000 to help revive 411 Video Magazine that covers the skateboarding community.

Way for the skate community to pull together. Hope 411vm can climb back on. Follow the jump for all the details.
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Rebagliati Rolls The Olympic Torch

by The Editors on January 25, 2010

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Ross Rebagliati, the first snowboarder to ever win an Olympic Gold medal (and have it taken away and given back) took to the streets yesterday on a skateboard and carried the Olympic Torch for 300 meters near Osoyoos, BC without smoking it. According to CTV it was pretty heavy.

“That was very, very exciting, emotional,” Mr. Rebagliati, 38, said after completing his torch run on wheels, as his wife, bundled-up baby and parents tried to keep up on the side of the highway.

Rebagliati took the opportunity to talk to the media about the legalization of marijuana.

“Prohibition didn’t work; this isn’t working,” he said after running with the torch, which some have even said resembles a giant joint. . . “You look at the numbers; it’s not helping by throwing people in jail. I think the thing we can focus on is helping people with addictions, taking a proactive view. . . How can we help people rather than throw them in jail?” Mr. Rebagliati was jubilant in his post-skateboard moment, and either forgot about his party’s edict that he not speak to the news media, or chose to ignore it.

Smoke two joints in the morning, smoke two joints at night. . .

[Link: CTV Olympics]

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Vancouver’s Olympic Halfpipe In Progress

by The Editors on January 25, 2010

Grading-Pipe

Arena Snowparks is making moves with the Olympic halfpipe at Cypress Mountain and it looks like they have a bit of snow to work with in spite of what we’ve been hearing lately, according to the snow park builder’s blog.

ASP crews have started construction on the halfpipe at Cypress Mountain, site of the Olympic snowboard events. Despite some challenging weather conditions in Vancouver area the pipe is starting to take shape with the right wall pushed and step out and the left wall currently being pushed. Construction on the pipe will continue throughout the next two weeks as crews ensure that every available flake of snow sees it’s way into the pipe.

We’ve also heard from reliable sources that Cypress Mountain is buying snow from Mt. Baker, trucking it over the border and using it to build the pipe. With 21 days to finish it up, it would appear that things are moving in the right direction. We’ll be checking back to see the progress.

[Link: Arena Snowparks via Push.ca]

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US Olympic Snowboard Team Named

by The Editors on January 25, 2010

Looks like Greg Bretz and Elena Hight made it in there. Too bad the US can’t take six men in Boardercross because then Shaun Palmer and Ross Powers probably would have made it.

Here’s the rest of them:

2010 U.S. OLYMPIC SNOWBOARDING TEAM
(name, hometown, age as of opening ceremonies, birthdate, (past Olympics))

Halfpipe Men
Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 19, 12/19/1990
Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 22, 11/12/1987
Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 21, 3/20/1988
Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 23, 9/3/1986 (2006)

Halfpipe Women
Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 28, 04/10/1981 (2006)
Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 26, 07/26/1983 (2002, 2006)
Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 20, 08/17/1989 (2006)
Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 23, 01/27/1987 (2006)

SBX Men
Nick Baumgartner, Iron River, MI, 28, 12/17/1981
Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, CA, 31, 11/8/1978 (2006)
Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, ID, 27, 03/19/1982 (2006)
Seth Wescott, Sugarloaf, ME, 33, 06/28/1976 (2006)

SBX Women
Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, Girdwood, AK, 24, 04/17/1985
Faye Gulini, Salt Lake City, 17, 03/24/1992
Lindsey Jacobellis, Stratton Mountain, VT, 24, 08/19/1985 (2006)

PGS Men
Tyler Jewell, Steamboat Springs, CO, 32, 02/21/1977 (2006)
Chris Klug, Aspen, CO, 37, 11/18/1972 (1998, 2002)

PGS Women
Michelle Gorgone, Boston, 26, 10/18/1983 (2006)

Follow the jump for the official USSA press release.
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Torah Bright Doubles Down?

by The Editors on January 25, 2010

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When we first met Torah Bright she was a cute 14-year-old rolling around the world with Danny Kass and the Dingo, seemingly without supervision. Obviously, her parents had a lot more trust in her than we would have. But it looks like they were right, according to a story in the New York Times.

“Torah has the athleticism and the technical ability to win; she clearly knows she is the favorite going into all of this,” said Bright’s agent, Circe Wallace. “I’m never worried about her being grounded. She’s focused in a positive way you don’t see from many in snowboarding, much less other sports. It’s refreshing for sure. . . “What’s coming up could be the perfect storm for making Torah a star beyond snowboarding. She has the talent, the personality, and the visibility is now coming. She’s poised to take off.”

And brother/coach Ben Bright says she’s got a double cork down. And as we all know, that’s gold medal talk.

[Link: New York Times]

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Kevin Pearce Moves Units

by The Editors on January 25, 2010

Kevin Pearce is moving units at a Salt Lake City, Utah hospital and that’s good news according to doctors.

Elaine Skalabrin, MD, Medical Director of Neuro Critical Care who has been one of Kevin’s doctors, states “Kevin is making excellent progress and will move from the Critical Care to Neuro Acute Care unit at the University of Utah Hospital today. He is working very hard to make daily progress in therapy, and his sense of humor and optimism are apparent as he begins his rehabilitation.”

Gotta take the good news as it comes.

[Link: Kevin’s Facebook Page]

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Ken Block Drives A Ford Festiva

by The Editors on January 25, 2010

We always thought Subaru’s were kind of cool, but apparently Ford stepped up and offered DC Shoes co-founder Ken Block a better ride in a Festiva. We’re guessing this Festiva is like no Festiva we’ll ever drive. Ken will be driving it in the Sno-Drift rally this weekend in Atlanta, Michigan.

The upcoming rally, Sno-Drift, has not been Block’s best race over the years and therefore the expectations isn’t that high. The main thing is that Block reach the finish line which isn’t an easy task with the aggressive driving style Block has. The goal throughout the season is a completely different thing. . . “The goal is off course that Ken Block wins Rally America but for us it’s also a good opportunity to show the world what Swedish engineering stands for,” added Eriksson.

We wish Ken the best. We’ll see what happens. More images of the Sno Drift 43 after the jump.

[Link: Rally Buzz]
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