Sounds like a party! And it's for a good cause. Last year, Andy Jenkins, the Art Director of Girl Skateboards, created two limited edition Eric Koston decks for (PRODUCT) Red. They were designed as a set, and when placed side by side made a complete work of world awareness art. It was such a success that Jenkins went back into the studio and came out with two more Girl x (Red) decks, this time pro models for the hairiest Girl around, Mike Carroll.

In case you don't know what project (RED) is, it's an organization that partners with companies like Girl to raise money for The Global Fund. In case you don't know what The Global Fund is, it's a program dedicated to to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It was established in 2002 with the support of then UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and world leaders, to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases.

All proceeds received by The Global Fund that were generated by (RED) will go to Africa. Once the money arrives at the Global Fund every cent of it will then be allocated to one of the Global Fund (RED) grants no overhead is taken out. Currently there are Global Fund (RED) grants in Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda and Swaziland.

"We must all come together in supporting the global fund and the fight against AIDS. I applaud (RED) and it's partners for their vision and commitment," said former President of South Africa, and one of my all-time heroes, Nelson Mandela.

How many decks do you go through a year? Those wooden platforms of which we stand are the most replaced part of a skateboard. Especially, for old dudes like myself that are putting on some weight. I break a board more times than I get one for free, so I'm going to not be hypocrite and buy a set. You don't even have to skate, they are a work of art, hang a set in your house. Remember, these boards have a limited availability, so get them while you can. I've checked out a couple websites and the Carroll one is still out there for purchase, so go make a difference.

Along with Girl companies such as: Converse, Starbucks, Apple, American Express, Gap, Dell, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Windows, Special Edition and (Red) Wire have collaborations with (Red). If any of these brands make something you use, why don't you support the fight? I already have the (RED) Starbucks card (which gets an insane amount of use), and a (RED) scarf from the Gap. Yeah that's right, the Gap, it's O.K. to buy something there if it's for a good cause.

I'll leave you with a quote from Dr. Patrick Okoth, Site Coordinator at Mbabane VCT/ART Clinic in Swaziland. "The act of buying the (Product) Red item, wherever you are buying it from, is saving lives, not just a life, but it's saving lives...You have made a whole difference and you have together worked to make the world a better place for us all. So keep doing that."

For more on (RED) click here, and here's a little video of Koston and Jenkins talking about the project.

Pat O'Dell just dropped the second to last installment of the Beauty And The Beast Epicly Later'd series. A few very important things were learned:

1. Rick McCrank is more Canadian than Rick Howard.
2. A night of wizard staffs does not make for a good demo the next day.
3. If you give a bunch of pro skateboarders rules for attending your party, you're in for one.
4. If you attend a party in your tiny hometown, on a tiny island in Canada, and tell a skate crew like the Anti Hero/Girl
collab that all the girls on the island are spoken for. You are definitely in for one.
5. If you have a giant blow up Coors beer can in your house, and you throw a party, keep an eye on the thing.

Click here to check it out.

OK, so the second Girl/Anti hero tour, also known as Beauty And The Beast II, is wrapping up and I'm sure some shit went down. Like the first tour they probably have tons of footage, and we'll get to see our fair share of park destruction and wilderness hyjinx when the video comes out. Until, then we'll have to leave it to our imaginations.

Here's 10 things that may of happened. Once again this stuff may not of happen, it's 10 THINGS THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED:

1. Koston was tied up by the Anti Hero guys with Vans and Vox laces, and forced to watch evey pair of his Nikes burned. Until, Brian Anderson who's also on Nike, and is fucking huge, came to his rescue.

2. Marc Johnson got drunk and passed out in the van before they got to a demo.



3. Brian Anderson broke all his and the rest of the Girl team's boards.

4. Tony Trujillo and Frank Grewer showed the LA guys how to skate concrete-gnar-transition-parks.

5. John Cardiel did some fixie tricks.


Photo: Barrie Bloor via http://www.barriebloor.co.uk

6. Alex Olson complained.



7. Mike Carroll accessorized.



8. Andrew Allen ran out of socks, and was forced to skate without his socks pulled up to his knees for once.



9. Girl traded Malto for Robbie Russo.

10. The Anti Hero team's Wizard staffs were bigger.


Photo: Patrick O'dell via www.epiclylaterd.com.

Marc Johnson is on board, and apparently Stella too (photo: Mike Mo). Not Reynold's daughter, Stella, but the beer Stella Artois, which by the way has been around since 1366. That's amazing! That Belgian company has been getting people drunk for 643 fucking years. And Marc Johnson has been getting drunk for almost 20, and he's quite good at it. I got hammered with him a few months back at Gallagher's in Huntington Beach, and it was good time.

Speaking of good times, this Beauty and the Beast tour looks like it's going to be chalk full of good times I'll keep you updated.

Hollywood and the Bay Area have combined again, and set sail today. Well, actually last night, but that's beside the point. The vans are packed and already starting to smell like armpits and farts, and the parks have been entered into the navigation systems, so let's see what transpires.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you better pull your skate-uneducated-head out of your ass. The Beauty and the Beast tour, a combination of epic proportions, Girl x Anti-Hero. Yuppy meets gnar.

If you're around here's where they'll be:

August 8th, 3pm, Hailey Skatepark, Hailey, ID
August 11th, 3pm, Mobash Skatepark, Mobash, MT
Glenhaven Skatepark, 3pm, Portland, OR

Here's some raw clips from last year's tour, via Mike Carroll and Rick Howard: