Stoked Mentoring is a non-profit in Los Angeles and New York that connects with disadvantaged teenagers through action sports, teaching them life skills and and connecting them with mentors through surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. On May 2-3, Stoked is hosting two fundraising “Stoked Sessions” art shows at Upper Playground downtown. Over 200 artists, including names [...]
Aussie surf brand Billabong announced last week that it had acquired longboard makers Sector 9 and, subsequently, Sector 9’s truck brand, Gullwing. I’m stoked on this otherwise standard industry news because I designed the baseplate type for Gullwing’s Charger model. The Charger itself was designed by Neil from Carver Skateboards.
I caught the Steve Rocco doc The Man Who Souled the World at the Swerve Festival yesterday. The more I think about it, the more I think it spent too much time laughing over Rocco stories from back in the day and not enough telling you why it was so important or historically significant. But [...]
The Wall Street Journal brings the debate over blank decks to the masses today in an article titled “Avid Boarders Bypass Branded Gear.” The last time I mentioned this, it was partly to say how ridiculous I found the IASC’s pamphlet, Under Fire: A Special Report on the Skate Hardgoods Industry, and I wrote, “You [...]
Terribly sad news out of Baltimore last weekend that 27-year-old, British expat BMX rider Stephen Murray broke his neck while attempting a double backflip during the AST Dew Tour in Baltimore. According to EXPN’s coverage, he “suffered career-ending injuries to his spinal cord and vertebrae.” Surprisingly unlike other major sports organizations, there is no organized [...]
