Remember what life was like before video games? If you wanted to play football, you went outside and actually played football. If you wanted to play the guitar, you got a guitar and learned to play it. Now we have Madden 09 and guitar hero to keep kids glued to their couches. This trend has even swept through skateboarders. Tony Hawk's series of video games exploded into living rooms across America in 1998, sparking an entire generation of 'virtual' skateboarders. Actually learning to skate is really hard, and it requires patience, time, and quite a few scars. Playing the video game, on the other hand, takes about 6 minutes to learn, and the only risk of injury is mild thumb calluses. In this clip, it seems that even dogs are now following this trend. You think that after playing the game, this dog is ever going to go out into the cold and jump on his actual skateboard? Doubtful. Whats next? Virtual leg humping games?

The 2010 MSR sponsorship program is open to all applicants for two more weeks. All riders will need to submit an up to date resume directly to MSR’s Corona headquarters, prior to the November 30, 2009 deadline. No outside sponsorship website applications will be accepted.

Please note that a valid email address will be required to apply for sponsorship this season. Don’t miss your chance to join the MSR team, alongside Kevin Windham, Nick Wey, Team AMPRO Yamaha and many more top notch riders.

Mail resumes to:
MSR MX
Attn: Rider Resume
1055 Montecito Dr
Corona, CA 92879

Email resumes to:
msrcustomerservice@msracing.com

Check out the recently revamped MSR product site at www.msrmx.com

About MSR

MSR was founded in 1971 by motorcycle racing legend Malcolm Smith. What started off as a small accessory business importing throttle and brake cables is now an industry leading motorcycle apparel and hard parts manufacturer. MSR offers a complete line of riding gear, covering the motocross and off-road rider from head to toe with innovative designs and second to none performance. MSRHP is constantly progressing its line of revolutionary hard parts that make your bike perform better, last longer and look more stylish.

MSR utilizes exceptional distribution through Tucker Rocky and a continued focus on producing quality products to satisfy its thousands of loyal dealers and customers. From a first time rider to supercross star Kevin Windham, MSR is committed to providing you a superior product.

MSR - One Brand Fits All

To help increase dealership traffic, the Motorcycle Industry Council Board of Directors has launched Revive Your Ride! the first industry-wide promotional campaign designed to help raise consumer awareness about special dealership sales, incentives and activities across the nation. Dealerships can download logos, advertising templates and other promotional items, all for free at www.mic.org/reviveyourride.

Revive Your Ride! can do for powersports retailers what Black Friday does for holiday sales: send riders and those who shop for them to powersports retailers across the country. It is an industry-wide campaign with a unified theme, style and design that can be used by all powersports retailers to help break through today's marketing clutter.

"The theme Revive Your Ride! can mean accessorizing the motorcycle you already have, pulling a machine out of the back of the garage and putting it back on the road or trail, getting some overdue service done, sizing up some fresh riding gear, and, yes, it can mean a new bike or ATV too," said Frank Esposito, member of the MIC Board of Directors and president of Kendon Industries, Inc. "The unified theme, style and design, if used by many dealerships, repeatedly, can collectively cut through today's marketing clutter. We want a clear message to customers that regardless of how much they have to spend, now is the best time to visit their local motorcycle dealer, aftermarket outlet or service shop. The product selection is great right now, the deals are generous and there is plenty of expert dealership staff to help."

Retailers can begin to use the Revive Your Ride! theme and promotional tools now to jump-start the ATV and holiday shopping season. The promotional tools are designed to be simple and flexible, and can be tailored to fit local market conditions and individual dealer needs. The Revive Your Ride! website contains a number of promotional suggestions that dealerships can add to what they are already doing to give customers even more reasons to visit retailers now.

Esposito and the MIC's Board members conceived Revive Your Ride! to help dealers build floor traffic. It was further developed with input from the aftermarket members and is supported by a wide range of association members. A list of actively participating MIC member companies can be viewed on the website. In addition, MIC member agencies, media outlets and others are involved with 'in-kind' support.

"It's built so dealerships can make it work for themselves and make it work for their customers - the ones they already have and the ones they want to gain," said board member Eric Anderson, change agent of Vroom Network. "It's free for everyone to use as they see fit, and we hope it's adopted by many. We think that Revive Your Ride! can offer a marketing boost and help do for powersports retailers what the Superbowl, Thanksgiving and Presidents, Memorial and Labor Day sales events help do for department and grocery stores."

Early participating MIC members include:
Advanstar
Dealernews
GE Money
Kendon Industries
Motorcycle USA
Parts Magazine
Powersports Business
Schiefer Media, Inc.
The Creative Works
Vroom Network

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national industry association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment firms, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office near Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at www.mic.org. Visit Revive your Ride! website at www.mic.org/reviveyourride.

As the weeks wind down until the season opener in Grand Rapids, Mich., January 8-10, the 2010 AMA Arenacross Series roster is starting to take shape as longtime series supporter Storm Lake Honda announced its rider lineup for the upcoming season.

“Having a shop that stands behind us and knows racing is awesome,” said Team Manager Matt Draper. “Storm Lake Honda is one of those few dealerships that understand the sport and when we need something, they go out and do whatever they can for us to make it happen. They’ve never once not done something they said they would and that is hard to find.”

Leading the way for Storm Lake is defending AMA Arenacross Lites Central Region champion Kurt McCabe. The Iowa native relied on consistency to claim his first career AMA title last season and just a few short weeks ago, rode to a dominant Lites class victory in front of his hometown crowd at the Des Moines prequel.

“Kurt will be our Arenacross class rider for 2010,” added Draper. “He will run some select Lites races for the chance to run that number one plate. I feel that he should run that number one every chance he gets because you never know if you’ll get that chance again.”

Joining McCabe is a pair of young up and comers in Ricky Draper and Brian Foster. For each rider, the 2009 season was their debut on the pro level and each gained valuable experience that will prove vital in their foray into the AMA Arenacross Lites class.

“Ricky (who was previously injured) was just released and will be racing next weekend,” explained Draper. “Unfortunately, Brian suffered an injury and will be out for a few months. We’ll be holding his spot though awaiting his return. The initial plan was to have Brian compete in the East Coast Lites and Ricky the West Coast Lites but with the recent changes we’ll see how things work out. Both riders are also qualified for the premier class and will take a shot at the main events at select races.”

Storm Lake took advantage of getting an early jump on 2010 at the Des Moines prequel, bringing all three riders to compete one final time before the official start to the season. With McCabe’s aforementioned success and a solid seventh place effort from Foster, it looks to be a promising year for the Iowa-based team. The chance to race in Des Moines was great for us. It gave us an opportunity to ride our new bikes in a race environment and I’m really happy with how we performed,” Draper continued

The 2010 AMA Arenacross Series kicks-off in Grand Rapids, Mich., January 8-10 from Van Andel Arena. Tickets for all rounds of the 2010 season can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com and www.arenacross.com.

For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.

Come celebrate the holidays while riding orange with KTM staff and enthusiasts. KTM North America, Inc. would like to extend a Christmas invitation to all KTM riders to come and ride at Pala Raceway on Friday, December 11, 2009 from 9:00am – 5:00pm absolutely FREE.

Each year, the KTM west office holds an internal Christmas party exclusively for KTM staff. This year, in spirit of the holiday season, KTM President, Jon-Erik Burleson, along with the promoters of Pala raceway and presenting sponsors Jagermeister, FMF, Powersport Grafx, Motorex, Thor and GE Money have decided to open the invitation to all KTM riders for FREE!

KTM dealers and presenting sponsors will be on hand to show their new product and give you great gift ideas for your family and friends this holiday season. KTM riders Tommy Searle, Ronnie Renner, David Kamo, Nate Kanney, Cory Buttrick, Mike Brown, Kurt Caselli, Russell Bobbitt, Kasey Martinez, Brenden Ritzman and Michael Sleeter will be present to turn laps before the start of their 2010 racing season. Renner and some of his very talented freestyle friends will put on an afternoon freestyle exhibition. In addition, Jagermeister will bring a live DJ to blast rockin’ music through the pits all day. To top it off, Santa Claus will be on hand to take pictures with riders young and old before the Christmas holiday.

A lunch will be served between 12:00pm and 1:00pm with all proceeds going to the local Fire Department. Raffle prizes from the presenting sponsors will be awarded throughout the day, including one to the person with the most holiday spirit. No RSVP is necessary. Mark your calendar now for this exciting event and show up at Pala Raceway December 11th "Ready to Race."

Shawn Watson, Shane Bonifay, Phillip Soven, Nick Davies and more are currently shredding the CWC as you watch this video. The guys recently just got there and CWC put this little video together of the action. CWC cable park is the worlds premiere cable park. Just look at the quality of obstacles and watch the guys take full advantage of the creative layout.

Motoendurance.net Sponsorship
Due to the constant flow of resumes coming into the MotoE corporate offices after our November 13th deadline, the deadline for resume submissions has been extended to Friday, December 4, 2009.

Motoendurance.net will be reviewing resumes for 3 levels of support (PROFESSIONAL, ELITE and EXPERT) for the 2010 race season. Motoendurance.net will review submissions from Motocross and Supercross riders of all levels.

Sponsorship Responsibilities
Selected riders will be held accountable for completing and providing feedback on submitted workout protocols designed for specific increases in speed and fitness. Responsibilities will also include enhancing the MotoE branding program (both on and off the motorcycle) established for 2010.

Sponsorship Benefits
In addition to the MotoE Human Performance Programs, all selected riders will receive additional support from MotoE partners: Concept 2 Rowers, Man & Machine Performance Systems and Hammer Nutrition. Depending on the sponsorship level, various discounts will be provided to all MotoE Performance Training Camps held in Haines City, Florida.

Resume Requirements
Please submit your 2010 race schedule, your current list of sponsors, race results and personal accomplishments for the last three seasons (if applicable) directly to Robb Beams at robb3@earthlink.net .

Sponsorship Notification
Selected riders will be notified by December 11, 2009 to provide the necessary time to build a foundation for success within 2010 race season.

www.motoendurance.net

Considered one of the most versatile packs ever, the OGIO Flight Vest offers tons of storage and disperses weight evenly around the torso. The 70 oz. (2.0L) hydration reservoir located on the ventilated back comes with an insulated hose to keep you hydrated in any weather condition. Dual side expansion buckles and multiple adjustment points allow a customized fit. Whether you’re a fisherman, photographer, medic, off-road rider, skier or snowboarder the multifunctional storage pockets throughout the Flight Vest will match your demands.

The Flight Vest retails for $129.99. For more information visit www.ogio.com or contact your local Ogio dealer.

Colors: Stealth
Size: Once size fits most
Weight: 3.44 Lbs/6.8 Kg

The view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Banks. All photos: MORINformed

The Brooklyn Banks. Nuff said, yous guys better understand the importance of the place. If you don't know, yous better take the gabagool (some kind of Italian sandwich meat) out of your ears, and ask somebody. Cause, guy, if you think yous going to be able to skate them for the next fwhore years, yous can forgetaboutit.

That's my best New Yorker impression, it sucks, I know, but as they say in the Big Apple, I'm just a "So Cal Wussbag." One thing is for sure though, this So Cal Wussbag knows how important the legacy of the Brooklyn Banks are to New York skateboarding. It's just a shame the legendary skate spot sits directly under an even more legendary construction. The Brooklyn bridge is over a hundred years old, and needs a facelift, so guess what? Skateboarding on the Manhattan side of the bridge (the Banks are actually in Manhattan) is going to have to be put on hold for a few years.

There is one positive thing to remember though, the Banks are not dead. They are just going to have to go into a four year hibernation. That leaves us skateboarders, especially the NYC guys, with a few objectives. First and foremost, make sure the amount of the time the city has said this construction is going to last, is the amount of time it is going to last. We are in a recession, and construction tends to slow down in hard times. Also, I've watched the Sopranos enough to know there are some heavy unions over there that have ways of getting their way. If they want the job to slow down, it is going to slow down. That is, unless you want to "sleep with the fishes," or be buried under the new Giants stadium, that they are currently in the process of building.

Secondly, and maybe most importantly, it has to be made sure that the Banks are kept skateable. We all know the city has no issues with steam rolling the whole area. It's not like they haven't already changed over the years. Watch Jamie Thomas' opening run in Welcome to Hell, then watch I don't know, the new Zoo York video, which has to have some Banks footage in it. Shit, I was at the premier, but for some reason my memory is a little fuzzy. Anyway, watch some recent footage from the Banks, and you'll for sure notice some differences in the geography of the spot. That's because a few years ago the city tried to get rid of the place, but because of the efforts of the NYC skate scene, the Banks were saved. The spot became a city sanctioned skatepark. It was a DIY effort led by Five Boro skateboards general, Steve Rodriguez (pictured above with the megaphone). He was like that guy who stood in front of that tank in Tienanmen Square, but unlike in China, Steve didn't get steam rolled, and neither did the Banks.

Now, fast-forward a few years and the Banks have been on their game. I was at the last Back to Banks, a grassroots, free-entry-to-all contest at the spot, put on by: Steve, 5 Boro, Volcom, Emerica, World Industries, Bones, Skateboarder magazine, Red Bull, Metro Plus and Tech Deck. I've never seen so many people at the place, it was one of the coolest skate contests I've been a part of (check out Colin Provost above with a blunt on the barrier at the last Back to the Banks). It just goes to show how many people skate the place, and what it means to the people of New York. It's sad to think there won't be another Back To The Banks gathering for at least four years.

So once again the Brooklyn Banks are under attack, and need the help of the creators that inhabit them. The Brooklyn Bridge needs renovations, so the century old pathway, and the safety of the people that use it, are going to be the number one priority of the people of New York. That leaves the skateboarders of the city to hope this happens as soon as possible, with the least amount of changes. We'll see.

I know all of you all kids are all like... all confused when it comes to skatepark riding. You are all like all-ways running into people all the time and being in the way somehow all the time all-ways. Lemme help you. I am a nice guy and so are the guys at ride BMX, so here is a feature they did on what NOT to do at a skatepark. I wrote something similar to this but was less rude and edgy... therefore theirs is better. READ.

Now that you are skatepark educated! Go to the 2009 Etnies Skatepark Fall Classic in Lake Forest, CA. Sunday, November 29th, from 10 in the MORN to 4 in the EVE. Get your groove on with the street and flow contest and of course a BIG AIR contest. Meet pro riders Rob Darden and Corey Martinez (both on Arnette sunglasses?) and have a grand old time.

I might go and enter. Yes I said I might GO AND ENTER. LAteddy. Doing tricks. I do tricks? Yes. I do.