The Skateboarder's Journal

We've Moved!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:57:00 +0000

Please visit version 2.0 of "The Skateboarder's Journal"!

3rd Annual April Fools Skate Jam

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:56:00 +0000

Here they come again! Bigger, better, and faster than Ever!

Central Coast Mothers Favorites Announces their 3rd Annual April Fools Skate Jam.

Turri Road will be one of the fastest runs, with one killer corner, coming off one of the most mountainous start ramps this side of Pluto, called Thunderdome.

On Sat. April 5th, They are shutting down Turri Road and setting up an incredible skateboard event that will blow you away! Ten of the top 20 US skateboard racers will race on a John O'Shei set, mile long GS course. The course is long, the starting ramp is huge and watch-out for that 1st big corner ... lets just say it'll be a favorite location for spectators. Confirmed racers include the worlds #1 Men and worlds #1 Women Racer.

After the pros run we're running a shorter course for the Masters, Open and Kids. Any experienced skater is welcome to skate. It'll be a great opportunity to learn and get advice from some of the worlds fastest skateboard racers.

This is one event that should not be missed folks. It'll be filled with chills, thrills, a few spills, and a guaranteed fun for all.

Check-out our web page, (www.ccmfslo.com), for more information.

Skate Softly and carry a Big Stick

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:53:00 +0000

About six months ago, after seeing some stand-up paddle surfers here in Morro Bay, I thought about making myself a paddle for my longboard skateboard. Thinking about it was as far as I got.

A couple of weeks ago the crew at Kahuna Creations sent me one of their boards and a "Big Stick" to try out. As soon as I got it out of the box, I headed down to a sweet new bike path that runs along the harbor in Morro Bay, to give it a go.

I have to say I really enjoyed "paddling" along the bike path. The rubber tip on the business end of the paddle offers a nice grip/pushoff, it's also less jarring than I thought it would be. It was also a great upper body workout, especially on the slight uphill section.

Of course, I got a few weird looks from the surfers driving along the road next to the path, but hey after you've skateboarded across America three times, you get used to weird looks. While I was "paddling" on asphalt, a woman walking along the path pointed out a "stand-up paddle" surfer making his way through the bay.

The craftsmanship of the "Big Stick" is excellent, wood core/fiberglass wrap with a nice little handle at the top for added leverage.

For more info and a 10% discount on a Big Stick click here and use discount code "oldskateguy".

Here's short clip of my first paddle.

Happy Birthday Uncle Chucky

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:40:00 +0000

I first met Chuck Barfoot in the late 1970's when he was still working with Tom Sims. From our very first meeting, I knew Chucky was the real deal, a no BS kind of guy. Chuck always took real good care of Paul Dunn, Gary Fluitt and myself when we were riding for Sims, he even gave us some of his "secret sauce" bearing lube before one of the Capitola races.

Chuck has been around the surf, skate and snowboard industries for a long time now and has never really received the credit he deserves, so it was nice to see this piece in the Santa Barbara Independent...read and enjoy.

Also visit the Barfoot site.

Ian Johnson: Artist lands on his feet

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Ian Johnson's work is featured right now at San Francisco's White Walls Gallery, another show is coming up in Tokyo in May and a book on his art is due in August.

The 28-year-old who dropped out of art school credits his recent success to one thing: skateboarding.

"Skateboarding is entirely responsible for where I am right now with my art career," says Johnson, who is known for his detailed portraits of authors and jazz music icons from the '40s, '50s and '60s. "I've always been into art but never really considered it as a career until Western Edition launched."

Western Edition is the San Francisco skateboard company that Johnson started in 1999 with Kent Uyehara. Johnson is the company's art director. More here.

Baltimore Officer Suspended After Video Surfaces of Him Berating Skateboarder

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Posted everywhere so why not here?

The Baltimore Police Department suspended a police officer after a video surfaced on the Internet showing the officer berating two kids for skateboarding, putting one of them in a headlock and pushing the boy on the concrete.

The video shows Officer Salvatore Rivieri approach the kids at the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, the area where they apparently were skateboarding. The kids tell Rivieri they didn't know they couldn't skateboard there.

"You back-talk me, I'm not your father," Rivieri says. "You hear me? I'm not your father. You give that attitude to your father. You give it to me, I'll smack you upside the head. Shut your mouth, I'm talking." Complete story.

Volcom Offering Suits - The Apocalypse Is Upon Us

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:50:00 +0000

From the International Herald Tribune...

At a Christmas dinner, a relative was wearing a spiffy striped polo shirt. I liked the shirt so much that I asked about it, expecting it to be a golf item from Brooks Brothers with the iconic Golden Fleece logo. But he quickly corrected me - the polo was from a skate and snowboard apparel company. And the logo was a faceted stone, not a sheep.

"It's Volcom," said the relative, Aaron Behle, who is the chief executive and general manager of Dragon Alliance, an eyewear company that specializes in sunglasses and action sports goggles. "And, get this," he added. "Volcom makes suits." Read more.

IASC Announces the 5th Annual International Go Skateboarding Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:45:00 +0000

The International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) announced today the 5th Annual International Go Skateboarding Day (GSD) will be held this year on the first day of summer, Saturday, June 21, 2008.

Go Skateboarding Day, founded by IASC, is recognized internationally by skateboarders, skateboard companies and the industry as a whole as an official holiday and continues to grow exponentially each year; both the number of people who celebrate it and the number of events taking place in its honor around the globe. Complete article.

Burton Acquires Alien Workshop and Habitat

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:47:00 +0000

First Channel Islands...now this.

DNA Distribution, which includes skateboarding brands Alien Workshop, Habitat and Reflex, today announced that the company has been acquired by Burton.

The two companies began discussions over a year ago and found that they share a common approach in the way that they contribute to boardsports culture, including a commitment to creating long-lasting relationships with their teams of international athletes. In addition, both are committed to advancing and innovating hardgoods technologies, as well as the artistry and creativity associated with these sports; supporting a solid team of amateur riders; and providing best customer service practices.

DNA Distribution will continue to operate in Dayton, Ohio and CEO and Co-Founder Chris Carter will continue to oversee the DNA brands, which include Alien Workshop, Habitat and Reflex Bearings.

"We are very excited to bring the DNA family of brands to Burton -- a company that we truly respect," says Chris Carter, Chief Executive Officer for DNA Distribution. "Burton clearly leads their market in terms of team, innovation, marketing and values. Joe, Mike and I look forward to leveraging Burton's strengths to reach the full potential for the DNA brands: Alien Workshop, Habitat and Reflex." Complete press release.

Carts Of Darkness - 50+mph On A Shopping Cart

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:03:00 +0000

In Carts of Darkness the treacherous mountain roads and discarded shopping carts of North Vancouver become the rivers and boats of self-exploration for a group of homeless ‘free birds’ who have few chances at joy. Carts of Darkness is a cinematic Trojan horse, utilizing a filmic vocabulary, visual flair and humour often missing from “message” films, as a way to bring viewers, especially young ones, to the issues. The film adopts the tropes of extreme sports filmmaking; fluid flowing cinematography, intense music, visceral pulse pounding action and irreverent characters unbounded by society’s constrictions, to bring viewers deep into a world and deep into people they would normally look away from. They'll come for the carts and the crashes, the booze and the bruises, but they'll stay for the story of a unique brotherhood and a quiet redemption. - Jonathan Orr

It is a story of the endurance and resourcefulness of a group of homeless men and a filmmaker trying to keep up, while overcoming perceptions around disability.

Shot in stunning high-definition, and featuring tracks from Black Mountain, Ladyhawk, Vetiver, Bison, and Alan Boyd, of Little Sparta, Carts Of Darkness captures the risk and intensity of life lived on the very edge.

Matt Costa Releases His Second Album

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:55:00 +0000

Matt Costa didn’t launch his music career by conventional means. In fact, the 24-year-old literally fell into the business. In 2003, the Huntington Beach native shattered his leg in a skateboarding accident. With 18 months of rehabilitation looming ahead, Costa picked up a guitar to pass the time.

Five years, one crude demo, an independent album and a couple of friends-with-benefits later, Costa has released his second album (Unfamiliar Faces on Jan. 22), well on his way as a rising star in the singer/songwriter world.

Full story.

Heath Ledger - Rides A Skateboard In His Role As "The Joker"

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:03:00 +0000

When I first started seeing the previews for the "Dark Knight" I had no idea that Ledger was playing the role of the Joker. And then, this morning I was reading an interview with the Christopher Nolan, the film's director, who was originally unsure of a skateboarding Joker...

"I'd fretted about the reaction of Batman fans to a skateboarding Joker, but the actual result was a proliferation of skateboards among the younger crew members.

"If you'd asked those kids why they had chosen to bring their boards to work, they would have answered honestly that they didn't know.

"That's real charisma - as invisible and natural as gravity. That's what Heath had."

The complete article is here.

IOC's View On Skateboarding Jumping-Off Point For Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:56:00 +0000

The Olympic debate continues...

Should skateboarding be an Olympic Sport? TSJ says yes. I've been supporting this idea since the 1980's. And here we are in 2008 still hearing the same silly arguments against it, here are
a couple.

Skateboarding will lose its soul/core.
Skateboarding hasn't been core in years. When you can get a finger board and ramp with your Whopper, you gotta know it lost's it soul a long time ago.

The skaters won't wear uniforms
I guarantee you , if a skater makes the team, he'll wear the uniform. Think about it, skaters already wear uniforms...you know what I'm talking about.

It's time for the sport to grow up...even if just a bit.

Here's an excellent article from the Rocky Mountain News, read it.

Surf Legend Corky Carroll Writes About His Skateboarding Son

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:38:00 +0000

Corky probably doesn't even remember this...back in the mid 1980's when I was working as a consultant for Surfer Publications he let me camp out in his guest house.

Ok, on to the real story. Corky's son Tanner is hoping to become a professional skateboarder, so being the good dad, Corky set out to learn more about the pro skate scene. See what he found out.

adidas Skateboarding Shoes Spring 2008 Releases

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Here's a sneak peek of the adidas Skateboarding Shoes Spring 2008 range. There are some interesting models in this first drop...See the line-up. And if you can't read Chinese, just keep scrolling for the English version when you hit the site.

"Made in America" - Stacy Peralta's New Documentary

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:35:00 +0000

"They're not born killers"

Director Stacy Peralta discusses his new film, "Made in America," collaborating with gang members and why American teenagers are murdering one another.

See the interview.

Heath Ledger Found Dead In NYC At Age 28

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:58:00 +0000

Played Skip Engblom In Lords of Dogtown

I was very sad to hear this news. I was in the Del Mar contest scene with Skip in the "Lords of Dogtown". He seemed like a very nice person. When I asked him to sign an autograph for a friend's daughter, he took the time to ask about her and personalize the autograph. During breaks in the filming he would grab a skate and push around on the freestyle platform.

More here.

X-Dance Film Festival Opens

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:34:00 +0000

The X-Dance Film Festival features 44 films from over 200 entries this year starring some of the biggest names in action sports. Travis Pastrana's "199 Lives" is a biographical story on the motocross star. "Across the Grain" features Tara Dakides and her rollercoaster of a ride through the world of snowboarding. Tony Hawk also has a film that will be shown.

The festival has gotten so big, it had to move from Park City to Salt Lake City. It runs from January 19-23 at the Off-Broadway Theater. Visit the X-Dance site.

Q&A With Rodney Mullen

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:57:00 +0000

The Mutt To Speak AT UCLA

One might call him the Thomas Edison of skateboarding. Having invented dozens of standardized tricks such as the ollie and kickflip, Rodney Mullen is one of the most decorated professional skateboarders in history.

Today, Mullen will visit UCLA to speak about his transition from outcast college student to soul skater. But first he sat down with the Daily Bruin’s Devon McReynolds.

Daily Bruin: What made you want to start skating?

Rodney Mullen: I grew up in Florida, and I never really felt like I fit in. It’s probably a common bond that a lot of skaters have and I certainly felt that. I really liked the individuality of it, where you don’t have to dress up all the same. You’re really on your own. You didn’t have a coach, no one’s going to tell you what to do and it never ends in terms of the possibility of what you can do. It presented problems from the folks because in the 1970s the culture saw (skateboarding) as a thing for bad apples. My father was really against it and thought it would lead nowhere. It was kind of a hard thing to overcome. The interview continues here.

Rubicon Skateboard School - Teaching Skateboarding In The UK

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:04:00 +0000

Rubicon Skateboards operates an awesome down to earth British skate school. Conceived in 2005, they are easily the biggest and most active provider of skateboard lessons and demo's in the country. Through primary and secondary schools, county council projects and special events, they have taught thousands of boys and girls of all ages and abilities, to learn to skateboard. Their instructors travel on a daily basis to whoever wants to learn and bring the equipment they need. First Aid trained and fully insured - they promote healthy lifestyles and positive mental attitudes in children - in a fun and safe environment.
Read more about this progressive company.

Skateboarding Around The World

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:44:00 +0000

New Zealander trying for the Guinness Book of World Records’ longest skating trip.

NICEVILLE — After more than four weeks on a skateboard from dawn to dusk, Rob Thomson has developed an easy rhythm.

Six, seven, eight times he pushes off with one foot. Switch. He does the same on the other side, his arms matching the rhythm.

The 27-year-old New Zealander has a long way to go on his beat-up long board. He’s going for the Guinness Book of World Records for longest skateboard journey. His goal is 5,100 miles, more than 1,500 miles longer the current record.

“The main reason is adventure,” he said, pulling off into the grassy shoulder just outside of Bluewater Bay. “To experience a life less ordinary for a while.”

Read the complete article. To learn more about Rob Thomson’s adventures, go to 14degrees.org.

The 14degrees Journey is a proud supporter of the Lowe Syndrome Association, USA. Find out more about the disease and the association at www.lowesyndrome.org.

Personal note from the publisher: My son, Jack Marshall Smith, passed away May 6, 2003 from complications due to Lowe Syndrome, he was 14 years old at the time. I would like to thank Rob for choosing The Lowe Syndrome Association as his charity.

BOARDFREE: THE AUSTRALIA BOOK TOUR 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Between 29^th January and 5^th March Dave Cornthwaite, the British man who pushed a skateboard across Australia from Perth to Brisbane in 2006, is returning Down Under for a six week speaking tour to promote the book about his incredible adventure.

The BoardFree Australia Book Tour comes one year after Cornthwaite rolled into Brisbane on his famous board, Elsa, completing a world record breaking 5823km skate across the country. The journey, which caught the attention of millions around the world, raised over $60,000 for three charities including Sailability Australia and Lowe Syndrome, and has since inspired many other experienced and novice skaters to embark on their own journeys for charity. Visit www.boardfree.co.uk to find out more about BoardFree.

Skateboarding World Records

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:52:00 +0000

Found this over at About.com, Thanks Steve.

Skateboarding is full of opportunities to set and break world records, and it is new, fresh and inventive enough that people are setting records all the time. Here is a list of some of the most impressive skateboarding world records:
Highest Ollie
Danny Wainwright from England holds the official record for the highest ollie at 44.5 inches. However, there is video footage of a skater named Jose Marabotto from Peru ollying a stack of skateboards. Many people think that the stack should be over 50 inches tall, but as the trick is only in a video, it's hard to tell and unofficial.

More records.

Skate New Zealand Trek Begins January 11th

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:45:00 +0000

Words cannot express the appreciation I feel for what the Skate New Zealand crew is about to undertake. It has been almost five years since my son, Jack, died from complications due to Lowe Syndrome, there is not a day that goes by I do not think of him. Efforts such as "Skate New Zealand" will help to bring a cure to this awful syndrome.

Thanks Nate, Adam, Jestah, Sheldon, Kari and to everyone who has donated and or supported this trek.

Please visit the Skate New Zealand website for more information. You can learn more about Lowe Syndrome here.

Kenny Likitprakong Makes The Leap From Skateboard To Vineyard

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Smith) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:09:00 +0000

Kenny Likitprakong exudes the American free spirit, idealizing Woody Guthrie and the iconography of the hobo. It is best witnessed in the two passions - skateboarding and snowboarding - that he picked up by high school, when he spent all his free time careening down slopes and half-pipes. Yet being a winemaker was his last choice as a profession, a fallback after most other paths - doctor, filmmaker, professional skateboarder - had been knocked out.

Clearly, Likitprakong lives to take risks. He likes to think of himself as making wines for other skateboarders. "I want to run my wine company like a skateboard company," he says, without the sort of corporate values that strip wine of its individuality to make it work on the mass market.

Complete article here. Check out Kenny's Hobo Wine Company website.