Whenever anyone mentions a turf war in Watts, California most would think it was gang related. But recently, the people battling over a gravel lot near the world-famous towers are not bangers, but artists, City Councilwomen, and skateboarders, according to a story in Time Magazine.
L.A. City Councilwoman Janice Hahn hopes the park will provide a positive outlet for kids, and has met with local residents over the last two years to garner support for her plan. But some members of the community are outraged at the idea an athletic facility in the shadow of their iconic Towers.
Those against the park say it will “jeopardize” the artistic legacy of the towers and bring “tagging, gang issues, and an open space for drug dealing.” Our favorite quote, not surprisingly comes from The Tony Hawk Foundation’s Executive Director Miki Vuckovich: “”The Towers represent Watts’ creative history,” he says, “and the kids on their skateboards represent Watts’ creative future.”
In the spirit of a winter that just doesn’t seem to want to end we offer this DC clip of Devun Walsh, Iikka Backstrom, and friends lofting into some mid-winter fluff ‘n stuff. Yes, this clip will be everywhere today, but we enjoyed it and so might you.
Apparently, the tiger sharks at Holualoa Bay on the Big Island of Hawai’i have been hungry lately. Two surfboards have been chomped in the last four days, according to a story in the Star-Advertiser.
The shark had come right up the tail of the board, clamped down over the skeg, pulling the back half of the 8-foot board under water, Honebrink said. . . The surfer, identified by Grace as Theresa Fernandez, was trying to grab onto the nose of her surfboard and paddle away from the shark, then the shark let go, he said. . . On Sunday at midday, a woman and her 3-year-old grandson were riding a stand-up paddleboard when a large shark knocked them both off the board about 20 feet offshore and took a bite out of the board, but didn’t touch them.
Just hope those Kona sharks keep craving fiberglass.
Artists Cody Hudson and Jared Eberhardt have a video art clip that is featured in the Scion Installation 7 art show. Here they talk about how the piece came about and what it means, or doesn’t mean.
Apparently, after viewing the amazing art featured in the show you’ll feel an undeniable urge to purchase a small, boxy, micromobile from Toyota. Or, at least their marketing people hope you will. Don’t let that stop you from check out The Scion Installation 7.
In an apparently move to become completely Laurent-Free Burtons Snowboards announced today that Super Rep Laurent Vrignaud is calling it quits and will be moving on “to pursue new opportunities as of June 1st.”
“Laurent has been a part of the Burton family for so long, and we all thank him for dedicating over two decades of his career to growing the brand and the sport,” said Jake Burton, Founder and CEO of Burton Snowboards. “Everyone here wishes him the best on his next chapter, and we look forward to a new era with our valued dealers in the territory.”
In other Laurent rumors it appears that former Burton CEO Laurent Potdevin (who left the company on May 3, 2010) has finally found a new home as President of Toms Shoes.
We’ll pretty much listen to Ed Templeton talk about anything, but when he’s talking about skateboarding and art, then that’s required viewing. According to Skatedaily.net, this is an interview done by Wunderbaum Magazine in anticipation of his latest art show My soul is worried but not me.
The show runs at the Nils Staerk Gallery (in Copenhagen) until June 25, 2011.
Australia’s gold medal girl, Torah Bright, has just signed on as an equity partner and endorser of Liquid Nutrition, a “smoothie, food, vitamin, and supplement retail chain in Canada, according to The Phoenix Business Journal.
Liquid Nutrition plans to use the six athletes as it looks to grow. The announcements coincided with the public listing of Liquid Nutrition’s stock and the beginning of its franchising push, both of which are occurring today.
Torah joins two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, and NY Yankee’s catcher Russell Martin on the Liquid Nutrition squad. At least it’s not an energy drink.
The ultimate skate shoe history book, Made For Skate, is now an iPad app. For those who’ve never seen the book, or worn out the print version, this app comes as a welcome e-relief. It is absolutely FREE. If we had an iPad we’d download it right now. Guess we’ll have to wait until we’re at Grandma’s house.
The event brings together the most dynamic names of surf and the beach in fashion, arts, design, architecture, music, film and sports. On May 26th, 27th and 28th. The Festival was envisioned by entrepreneur and surfer Romeu Andreatta. Festival Alma’ 11, will culminate in this eighth edition to celebrate the “Life At The Beach”, as the theme of this year’s festival.
Whenever anyone mentions a turf war in Watts, California most would think it was gang related. But recently, the people battling over a gravel lot near the world-famous towers are not bangers, but artists, City Councilwomen, and skateboarders, according to a story in Time Magazine.
