GrindTV.com - GrindTV Skate Blog Videos en http://www.grindtv.com/skate/blog/ 60 Created for adrenaline junkies, GrindTV.com is the premiere destination for action sports videos, photos, athlete profiles, news, music and more. Copyright 2009 GrindTV.com Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:25 PST Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:08:25 PST GrindTV.com - GrindTV Skate Blog Videos http://images.grindtv.com/images/1/images/base/placeholders/0_45_45.jpg http://www.grindtv.com/browse/skate/videos/ 45 45 <![CDATA[Skatopia x Volcom]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11611/Skatopia+x+Volcom+/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:41:44 PST
The boys behind the Stoneage gear, Volcom's skate line, thought what would be better to associate themselves with than Skatopia? A magical land of concrete and explosions that every true skateboarder should experience at least once. Click here to check it out.

Here's a little video of what Skatopia is:







]]> <![CDATA[Ali Boulala A Style Master]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11588/Ali+Boulala+A+Style+Master/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:22:07 PST Sewden's own, Ali Boulala. With a name like that how could you not be stylish? Shit, just signing his name is steezy. Ali is the complete package when it comes to creating a cool persona around professional skating ability. While he was skateboarding for a living he was simply put; different. The way in which he skated was like no other, the way in which he dressed was like no other, and the way he acted was like no other.

That brings us to what is so sad about the skate career of Ali Boulala; it was cut short. He is currently incarcerated in Australia after a motorcycle accident that killed his friend and fellow professional skateboarder, Shane Cross. Boulala had a blood alcohol level of .162 at the time of the incident and was found to be responsible for the crash and sentenced to 4 years in prison, even though the Cross family never pressed charges. Boulala was critically injured in the crash and sustained brain injuries that will have life long affects on his motor skills. It was just an all around sad thing that happened on that Australian night two-and-a-half years ago. Ali made a gigantic mistake, and is now paying for it.

His friends in the skateboard community have done a great job of making sure his contributions to the skateboard culture are never forgotten. He hasn't stepped foot on a skateboard in over two years and still managed to have a part in the biggest skate video release of 2009, his long-time board sponsor, Flip's Extremely Sorry. Out of all the brands in skateboarding, Flip was affected by that crash more than any other, by far. They lost two riders, as Cross was one of the deck manufactures best up-and-coming ams. Even though Shane and Ali haven't skated in years, if you go to www.flipskateboards.com, you'll see that both still are listed as team members (with profiles on each), and Boulala still has pro-model decks, and Cross has a limited edition Extremely Sorry deck. Never Forget Shane Cross.

To keep the memory of Boulala alive the guys over at Shake Junt have even released a limited edition Ali Boulala tee shirt that features the one and only Swedish ripper in mid Michael Jackson tip-toe pose. That's the thing with Boulala, he was such a unique character that he will never be forgotten, and this shirt parallels his persona to that of the King of Pop on a skateboard.

Just like Jackson, Boulala combined great talent with a unique sense of style that set him apart from the rest. His get-up could best be described as a modern day gypsy, meets pirate, meets jester. He would combine some of the most outrageous pieces of clothing together perfectly, and that combined with the way he just chose to skate made his video sections some of the most anticipated. Whether it was old Baker videos, or Flip's Sorry trilogy, he would always find some sketchy thing to ollie off of, onto something even sketchier. He would find some ledge that went down an insane amount of stairs, and do the most stylish nose slide down it perfectly, and in some crazy gear to boot. One of his most famous displays of sketchiness, came in Flip's first video Sorry, when he attempted two 25 stair ollies. Not one but two, and the compression his body experiences in the second sends shivers down anyone's spine.

Style in skateboarding is such a subjective thing, but at the same time one of the most important. If you don't have style no one wants to watch you skate. From the way you just push, to how you skate, to the clothes you wear. It all comes into play. One Ali's impacts on skateboarding can be seen in the pants a lot of skateboarders wear now. During his infamous Piss Drunx days he was one of the first to start wearing the super tight pants. He combined them with leather jackets, and punk rock accessories. Then 10 years later you have a guy like Corey Duffel, but Ali did it first. Then, he moved onto his gypsy/pirate/guitar face and that's about the time we lost him.

Ali Boulala was a style master on a skateboard, who threw caution into the wind with every crazy thing he attempted. It was that ultimate risk taking behavior that ended Shane's life, and his own skateboarding career. Everyone makes mistakes, some worse then others, but with this one it's hard not to be mad at Ali. Let's just hope that something positive can come out of this, like someone thinking twice about driving drunk. I would be a lier if I said I've never driven after some drinks, but with events like this on my mind I don't anymore. I hope there more out there like me. Skateboarding lost two very good skateboarders, and two of it's most stylish. NEVER FORGET SHANE CROSS and FREE ALI BOULALA.

Here's Ali's two 25 stair ollies:

















]]> <![CDATA[Colin Provost On Toy Machine]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11572/Colin+Provost+On+Toy+Machine+/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:14:03 PST www.toymachine.com for more on Colin and his new sponsor. ]]> <![CDATA[Toy Machine x Thrasher x Cherry Skatepark]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11570/Toy+Machine+x+Thrasher+x+Cherry+Skatepark/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:15:48 PST Toy Machine crew, teamed up with The Phelper and the Thrasher crew, to do a little Skatepark Roundup at the Cherry park in Long Beach, CA. Check out the video below:


Thrasher Skateboard Magazine



]]> <![CDATA[MORINformed's Top 10 Reasons Skateboarding Is Better Than Baseball]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11569/MORINformed%27s+Top+10+Reasons+Skateboarding+Is+Better+Than+Baseball/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:39:45 PST
1. Nothing is considered foul in skateboarding.

2. Skateboarding doesn't make it's females do something totally different.

3. I'd rather have a P-Rod than get an A-Rod.

4. Pretty much everyone in skateboarding can go switch, not everyone in baseball is a switch-hitter.

5. Skateboarding's one hitters make you feel much better.

6. Skateboarding's Reds (bearings) don't totally suck.

7. The only pitchers in skateboarding are at the bar.

8. The only 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases skateboarders know are WAY better.

9. If it rains you can just skateboard inside.

10. Steroids would probably ruin how you skate.



















]]> <![CDATA[Ride Rolls Through Rye]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11537/Ride+Rolls+Through+Rye+/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:55:46 PST Ride tour recently rolled into Rye, NH. Wow, Ride Recently Rolled Into Rye, say that three times fast. Besides creating some alliteration for skate nerds like myself, some serious Birdman soaring transpired. Check out the video below courtesy of Quiksilver:



]]> <![CDATA[The Tempster x No Age]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11536/The+Tempster+x+No+Age+/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:38:33 PST
Anyway, this shoe looks like it could be a must have. It's a thin high-top with some Ed/No Age art work adorning it's nooks and crannies. They look to me like they're canvas, and are animal friendly since Ed is vegan. For info click here.

]]> <![CDATA[MORINformed's Top 10 Reasons To Not Push Mongo]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11527/MORINformed%27s+Top+10+Reasons+To+Not+Push+Mongo/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:16:22 PST
With all the cures the human race is capable of, why do I still see kids all over the place pushing their skateboards with their front foot. It's called mongo, and it's the worst habit as a skateboarder you can ever get into. It's like Heroin or something, once you've been pushing with your front foot for a few years, it's almost impossible to cure. I live in Huntington Beach, CA, which isn't a skate ignorant town, for the most part people here know what's up when it comes to a skateboard. That said, I still see kids in my neighborhood pushing mongo.

So why does this problem still exist? I'm guessing irresponsible skateboard buyers. If you buy your kid a baseball bat, you teach them how swing it. If you buy your kid a basketball, you teach him how to dribble. So, why is that when you buy your kid a skateboard, you don't teach him one of the most important things, how to push the damn thing. If you claim you-yourself don't know how to skateboard, then look it up. Schedule it between their piano lessons and soccer practice, or whatever other means of structure you force into their lives.

Top 10 Reasons To Not Push Mongo:

1. It looks stupid.

2. If you're any good, I think you're going switch the whole time and rip, when you don't.

3. Did I mention it looks stupid.

4. You have to do the dumb foot juggle thing when setting up for a trick.

5. I heard every time you push mongo a kitten dies, and your palms get hairy. Actually, that may be from something else.

6. You're pushing with the ankle you're going to sprain the most. Unless you are a switch magician, you're probably going to tweak your front ankle more.

7. Did I mention it looks stupid.

8. Once you're labeled as a "mongo," it's like being an "untouchable" no one at the park will want to associate with you.

9. Skate groupie chicks can smell the mongo on you from a mile away.

10. You'll never be able to skate The Berrics, because like Mike Carroll said, "No one pushes mongo here."

The only time getting into the mongo habit is a good thing, is if you can break the habit and learn to push regular. Then, you'll be able to push regular when you're going switch. In case you're a visual person, here's a little video of some kid pushing mongo:































]]> <![CDATA[Volcom Damn Am Video Recap]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11511/Volcom+Damn+Am+Video+Recap+/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:34:10 PST


]]> <![CDATA[Zero Set To Premier Strange World]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11510/Zero+Set+To+Premier+Strange+World+/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:21:09 PST Strange World, including the world premier which will be at 7:00 p.m. this Thursday night at the La Polma Theater in Encinitas, CA. If we've learned anything from the past it's that Zero does not disappoint when it comes to videos, which include classics like: Thrill Of It All, Misled Youth and Dying To Live.

The current team roster over at Black Box's original deck company looks pretty stacked. Names like: Thomas, Cervantes, Sandoval, Tancowny, Steamer, Brockman, Rattray, Sauder, Meleshinski, Hill and Gilley garantee the movie is going to be evil. I feel like I'm forgetting someone. Oh yeah, some guy with the last name of Cole. I think he's won a few contests this year.

After the world premier, the next showing will be on Halloween at Reign Skate Shop in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, followed by a showing at Southside Skatepark in Houston, TX on November 7.

To hold you over here's a little footage of Ben Gilley set on destruction courtesy of Zero:









]]> <![CDATA[Gareth Stehr Hollywood Showing]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11505/Gareth+Stehr+Hollywood+Showing+/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:06:31 PST
Gareth's art is influenced by skate graphics of the past, and pop culture icons like Morrissey and The Rolling Stones. One of the medians he uses is resin, giving his creations a very shiny appearance, which means they pop. That's one objective of a good artist, constantly trying to find a means to make their style more distinctive. Gareth seems to have found this with this series of eye catching works.

The one negative thing about this show is it seemed like a lot of the guests were there just to be seen, and socialize, which I know is a trait of a lot of art shows and Hollywood in general. So, I guess just like everyone in LA says, "It is what it is." It just sucked to see so much creative expression adorning the walls, and people no paying attention to it. Instead waiting in line for their free Pabst, standing around trying to look cool, talking with their backs to the art, and not thinking, which I thought is what art was supposed to make you do. Not to rant or anything. All and all I thought it was a cool showing with some good art.

Here's some photos all taken by MORINformed:


Jim Phillips-esque. Phillips meets the Rolling Stones, or Stoned Phillips.


Powell meets Morrissey, or Powellissey.






Required protection after a night of free Pabst.


Pat Melcher was on DJ duties.












A good deal as far as Hollywood goes.

Here's Gareth's part in the Foundation video, Cataclysmic Abyss:








































]]> <![CDATA[Damn Am Championships]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11498/Damn+Am+Championships+/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:01:50 PST
As always The Skatepark of Tampa, or SPOT, crew set up a rad course, and were funny as hell on the mic all weekend. I love there announcing steez' they'll make fun of what you're wearing, what tricks you're doing, where your from, what race you are, etc., but they'll be the first to give you props when you do something sick. And like every year the contest had a Halloween theme. This year the SPOT guys dressed like white trash, and believe me they have enough muses being from Tampa and all. It was pretty classic seeing Vern, a black guy, transform into white trash. It reminded me of when Dave Chappelle is the newscaster on the Chappelle Show, and just looks like he got antiqued or something. Anyway, the contest and all the events of the weekend went off. There were a few surprises, like Clint Walker coming out of nowhere and winning the Best Trick and finishing 2nd overall. And by "nowhere" I mean Oklahoma.

It's great what Volcom and SPOT are doing for skateboarding. A worldwide contest series with no entry fees, and a Championship contest where all the top Ams from around the world get together and compare what they have. This is what helps skateboarding move forward, no media stunts where some guy jumps the Grand Canyon. Let's hope they keep up the good work in 2010.

Here's the top 10 finshers:

1. Luan Oliveira
2. Clint Walker
3. Tommy Werner
4. Felipe Gustavo
5. Brodie Penrod
6. Tommy Knuth
7. Louie Lopez
8. Chase Webb
9. Felipe Ortiz
10. CJ Dixon
















]]> <![CDATA[A Life Of Creation]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11493/A+Life+Of+Creation+/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:37:00 PST
Here's some photo all taken by MORINformed:












Jason Lee print.




My favorite piece there, it's the Dr. Seuss characters mourning the death of the great Doc.
I'm a big fan of Teddy Geisel's work.






Some more J. Lee.






Dave from the Skatetanic Rednecks.




The man behind the show, Jose Cerda, who apparently had a few adult beverages.


Apparently I had a few adult beverages too, because when I took this I thought it was
in focus.

Oh yeah, and in case you forgot Jeremy Wray gave us one of the greatest ollies in the history of skateboarding check it out:

















































]]> <![CDATA[Rumble In Romona]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11450/Rumble+In+Romona+/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:59:49 PST Rumble In Ramona 2009. Here's a little video of the action:


Thrasher Skateboard Magazine



]]> <![CDATA[Adidas In Paris]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11437/Adidas+In+Paris+/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:11:20 PST City of Light and get their baguette on. This reminds me of a quote from an American literary legend, Mark Twain. He said in his 1878-79 journal, "A Frenchmen's home is where another man's wife is." Mr. Twain was known to be a bit of a bigot toward toward people hailing from France. Now, I'm French and I don't see that one as a put down. If anything that's a put down to the other man who couldn't please his wife.

Anyway, here's a video of the Adidas skate team's 10 day trip through Paris:





]]> <![CDATA[Behind The Scenes Of The Extremely Sorry Premier Courtesy Of Volcom]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11426/Behind+The+Scenes+Of+The+Extremely+Sorry+Premier+Courtesy+Of+Volcom+/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:37:05 PST


]]> <![CDATA[Jeron Gets Roberts-ed]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11425/Jeron+Gets+Roberts-ed/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:18:56 PST www.crailtap.com with Jeron Wilson, but with voice over from Chris Roberts (pictured on the left. Photo: MORINformed). It goes perfect. Chris may have a future in this, he should of been a voice in Spike's movie. Click here to check it out.]]> <![CDATA[Bucky Takes Dew Tour Vert]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11423/Bucky+Takes+Dew+Tour+Vert/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:17:04 PST Photo courtesy of Alli Sports

Coming in to the Playstaion Pro Orlando a mere six points seperated ratings leader, Bucky Lasek, and Pierre Luc-Gagnon and Any MacDonald. Pretty much whoever won in Florida, won the tour. Bucky was able to stick a 360 backlip, switch 540 and nollieflip stale fish which gave him a score of 90.88, a Playstation Pro vicotry and the Dew Tour Championship.

2009 has been good to Bucky, who earlier in the year was able to finally get a win in the Bondi at the Pro-Tec Pool Party. Now, he can add a Dew Tour Championship to his pile of career victories. Here's a little video recap:







]]> <![CDATA[Cole Keeps To His Winning Ways]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11405/Cole+Keeps+To+His+Winning+Ways+/ Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:34:18 PST Photo courtesy of Alli Sports

Chris Cole has clinched the overall Dew Tour Skate Park Championship today with his win at the Playstation Pro in Orlando, FL. The Zero rider can now put the Dew Tour Championship oversized check, next to his Maloof Money Cup oversized check. Paul Rodriguez finished second, which boosted him to 3rd in the overall Dew Tour standings. Youngster, Chaz Ortiz, finished 5th, and in the process the fifteen-year-old was able to hang on to 2nd place overall.

It has been an amazing year for Cole, and skateboarding, he has proven on this sunny day in Orlando that it is possible to be a respected core skateboarder, and a Dew Tour champion. Below is a little video recap and full results of the Playstation Pro and Overall Championship.

Playstation Pro Orlando
1. Chris Cole
2. Paul Rodriguez
3. Greg Lutzka
4. Danilo Do Rosario
5. Chaz Ortiz
6. Milton Martinez
7. Rodolfo Ramos
8. Ryan Decenzo
9. Timmy Knuth
10. Austen Seaholm

Dew Tour Skate Park Championship Standings
1. Chris Cole
2. Chaz Ortiz
3. Paul Rodriguez
4. Ryan Decenzo
5. Rodolfo Ramos
6. Greg Lutzka
7. Carlos De Andrade
8. Milton Martinez
9. Kurtis Colamonico
10. Danilo Do Rosario



























]]> <![CDATA[Chris Cole Set His Sight On A Dew Tour Championship]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11397/Chris+Cole+Set+His+Sight+On+A+Dew+Tour+Championship/ Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:51:45 PST Photo: Elsa via Getty Images

If Chris Cole is able to win, or at least fend off Ryan Decenzo and Chaz Ortiz, he will complete his year of dominance. He won at the Maloof Money Cup, he won at the Wallenberg contest, and now sits atop the 2009 Dew Tour Street Championship Standings as the circus roles into Orlando. He certainly has the repertoire to do it, all you have to do is watch his Battle at the Berrics against Dennis Busenitz, to see he has just about everything, click here to check it out.

Cole doesn't seem to get rattled either, he was skating for 100 grand at Maloof and killed it. At Wallenberg, he was skating a super-sketchy spot, with no room to breathe in front of a suffocating crowd, and only had about an hour to stick his tricks. He destroyed both contests, got a ton of money at the Money Cup, and a ton of core respect at Wallenberg. Check out some Wallenberg footage from your friends over at Thrasher:


Thrasher Skateboard Magazine
If Cole is able to bring it home this weekend, he may just ansewer this question.The Skate Park Finals will be tomorrow from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm EST. The prelims were yesterday, so along with Ortiz and Decenzo, Cole will skate against to top 9 qualifiers:

1. Greg Lutzka
2. Milton Martinez
3. Danilo Do Rosario
4. Rodalfo Ramos
5. Timm Knuth
6. Chris Mendes
7. Paul Rodriguez
8. Jordan Haffart
9. Austen Seaholm


















]]> <![CDATA[RAT Amateur Skate Tour Stokes Texas Scene]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11375/RAT+Amateur+Skate+Tour+Stokes+Texas+Scene/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:39:50 PST



A new amateur skateboard series emerged in the Lone Star state this summer and by all accounts…it was a huge success! Called “The RAT” (Regional Amateur Tour) the series included four events kicking off at the Grapevine Mills Mall in Dallas on May 16th and wrapping up at the Katy Mills Mall in Houston on July 18th, the series also stopped in Austin and San Antonio along the way. Texas has always had strong skateboard culture and all of the host cities are chocked full of shredders. With $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs…there was unbelievable talent at every event.


Thanks to some serious non-endemic sponsor support (SCION, Monster Energy Drink, McDonalds, Sun and Ski Sports, Time Warner Cable, Comcast) and strong industry partnerships (FUEL TV, Kicker, Skullcandy, Triple 8, Element, Guapo, City Stars and Hype) The Texas RAT Tour was a grassroots series on steroids!




Three events took place at high-traffic Sun and Ski Sports locations and one at the Round Rock Skate Park just North of Austin The retail events included both mini-ramp and a street best trick comps and the park event featured bowl and street. Built by Dallas based pro skater Mike Crum and the crew at Push Productions, the impressive mini-ramp was not very “mini” measuring 30’ x 30’ with five foot walls and a seven foot extension.


Over 160 riders from ages 6yrs to 29 years old competed in the series and some standouts included one of the sports rising stars, Ke’Chaud Johnson, who won or placed in both street and/or mini at every stop. Others who destroyed the mini and bowl included Edward Sanchez, Ben Johnson, Ryan Thompson, Chris Gray, Ramey Beres, Josh Hurley and Edward Montes. On the street side, Max Taylor, Chris Arriaga, Taylor Jett, Bobby Deandreade, Rowdy Altum, Mark Roberts and Josh “Shortbus” Johnson led the charge.



“Our ultimate goal was to create a series of events that would give Texas skaters an opportunity to get together with their friends, show off their skills and compete in a relaxed, fun environment”, said tour organizer Bill Geiger. “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!”


In 2010, Geiger plans to add stops in Oklahoma City, OK. and Corpus Christi, TX for a total of six events and a projected purse of $15,000. To avoid the brutal summer temperatures that are inherent in the southwest, the events will be split between Spring and Fall.


For full re-caps and pictures of the inaugural season and to get information on next years series, " www.SkateTheRat.com .









]]> <![CDATA[Fourstar Clothing's 12th web Video Doesn't Disappoint]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11369/Fourstar+Clothing%27s+12th+web+Video+Doesn%27t+Disappoint+/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:05:19 PST Editor's note: If you didn't already know how big Brian Anderson is look at him dwarf Frank Grewer in the photo above.

On a not-so-regular basis Fourstar clothing releases little videos on their website to show their styley clothes in action. Their latest release is from their Gang of Fourstar European trip a few months back. It was supposed to be released on Monday, but because of overwhelming demand, the video crashed, I think that's what you call it when it doesn't play. I don't know, I'm not a computer guy. It had something to with bandwidth, and traffic, and I think somehow Bill Gates was involved. Anyway, because of technical difficulties most of the world saw it yesterday, or as I like to call it "Tuesday."

To get the proper avionce I sat down "Tuesday" with a nice frosty Stella and a bowl pop corn. Right off the bat I found out my Stella was the only frostyness that was going to be in attendance. Fourstar boss, Frosty himself, aka Eric Koston, couldn't make the trip because of a little thing called child birth. His wife Ashlee gave birth to their first mini-Koston a few months ago, and guess what? Baby Frost makes an appearance at the very beginning of the video, which was a nice little surprise.

Minus Koston, the Fourstar team is still killer with names like: Brian Anderson, The Gonz, Guy Mariano, Mike Carroll, Tyler Bledsoe, Rick Howard and the soon to be S.O.T.Y., Sean Malto. Oh, did I speak too soon? He did destroy 2009.

The video was aesthetically pleasing as usual. Fourstar has a secret editing weapon known as Aaron Meza, and as usual he killed it. The skating was on point, and for all you skate fashionistas out their, you get to see different ways of combing the new Fourstar threads. I'd have to say the gnarliest part of the video is Brian Anderson's fall. It can't be described just watch the video, click here to check it out.







]]> <![CDATA[Volcom, The New Google?]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11368/Volcom%2C+The+New+Google%3F/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:06:14 PST here to check it out.]]> <![CDATA[Board Thieves Get Cocky]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11356/Board+Thieves+Get+Cocky+/ Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:53:52 PST
"TheInternet is a wonderful thing. On August 29th, in SF CA, our band wasplaying at the Chili Bowl cook-off. We had our boards in front of thegear' "some asshole stole one and ran off with it. Well, through thepowers of the Internet, we found out who they are: Derrick Cervantesand Mark Goncalves from Modesto. Stealing skateboards leads to badkarma, bros. When you're working as a dishwasher at Bennigans maybeyou'll get it. What comes around goes around."

Thanks,
Jake Phelps

Here's the You Tube video:










]]> <![CDATA[Jason Lee]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11355/Jason+Lee+/ Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:19:26 PST My Name Is Earl, as well as characters in several of Kevin Smith's movies including: Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma. Just like with Spike Jonze, most of the world knows of him and his mustache because of his mainstream film presence, but not the skate world. We've known of Lee since he was that teenage ripper hailing from Huntington Beach, CA. Another skateboarder who went on to stardom from a town that knocks down it's only skatepark to a build a ticket booth for the High School football team. Hey, Huntington conservatives, how many pro football players have been produced by the H.B. football program. Then look at how many pro skateboarders come from the area. Maybe you guys should play to your strengths, just a little food for thought.

Don't get me started on that, back to Jason Lee. He's one of the forefather's of the "street" movement of skateboarding. He along with the crew he skated with, names like: Mark Gonzales, Guy Mariano and Tim Gavin, changed skateboarding forever. They helped move its focus from the vert ramp, which not everyone has access to growing up, to the streets, which most of us inhabit. Hell, they brought skateboarding to your habitat. How rad is that? It'd be like living in a vert ramp (if you're a vert guy), or on a baseball field (if you're a baseball player). Because of skateboarders like Jason Lee kids all over the world saw you didn't have to have a skatepark in your town to skate.

Lee and Tony Hawk were the first two people to get signature shoes on the skate footwear giant (at the time), Airwalk. These were the days before everyone and their brother had a signature shoe. He's appeared in several of street skateboarding's most influential videos including Rucbbish Heap and Video Days. It was in the Blind film, Video Days, that he probably made his biggest contribution to skateboarding. His part was just perfect, some of the best style ever seen, combined some of the best tricks ever seen, at the best spots ever seen. Video Days was the first street video that wasn't filmed in just a few days. The video's producer, Spike Jonze, and crew, really put some time into it, making sure it featured the best street skateboarding of the day. Not to mention, the classic scene when Lee, Gonzalez, Rudy Johnson and Guy Mariano drive a car down to Mexico and wreck it off a cliff.

Lee made his acting debut in a small role as a teenage drug consumer in Mi Vida Loco, acting alongside Jonze. These two making their first acting appearance in a motion picture together has more than a hint of foreshadowing. Those two small roles have transformed into mega roles for both of them.

Fast-forward a decade and Lee has been in some classic movies and on a hit T.V. series. How funny was he as Brodie in Mallrats, with that whole stink palm pretzel thing, or as Azrael in Dogma. And almost anyone who watches network television has seen his redneck, mustached character "Earl," from the My Name Is Earl. He took his killer personality that shined in those early skate videos and transplanted it onto the big screen and network T.V.

Beside having stints as a professional skateboarder and Hollywood actor, Lee is a co-founder of Stero skateboards with friend and fellow pro skater, Chris Pastras. The brand was formed in 1992, got some momentum, then disappeared for a few years, but the two brought it back in 2003. Stero is currently in business churning out skateboards as we speak, which isn't a given in these economic times.

So, there you go, another member of the "street" skateboarding revolution of the early 90s who was able to use skateboarding as a launchpad for a persuite of another passion. Skateboarders are naturally creative beings, who get involved in it as another outlet for creative activity, and healthy competition that doesn't involve coaches, laps or pep rallies. And that my friends is the perfect type of personality for an actor, producer, artist, etc.

Here's a clip from Jason Lee's first role, a professional skateboarder:

















]]> <![CDATA[A Quick Vid From Quiksilver]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11349/A+Quick+Vid+From+Quiksilver+/ Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:21:46 PST


I thought that shot of Alex Olson above looked familiar, then my brain kicked in and I remembered that I took a picture of a window ad in the big Quiksilver window of Jack's on Main St. in Huntington Beach. Yeah, that's right! The big window in the heart of surf retail in none other than Surf City, USA. Check it out below:


Storming the Bastille in Surf City.


And the chicks have noticed. Pro surfer Jordy Smith - 0. Alex O - 1.









]]> <![CDATA[Zero's Winning King Of The Road Video]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11340/Zero%27s+Winning+King+Of+The+Road+Video+/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:12:25 PST Thrasher magazine announced a week or so ago that they're bringing back the King of the Road contest for 2010. It goes like this: skate brand teams are chosen to compete, they're given a list of things to do and places to go, and whoever brings back the best footage wins. It's all made into a video and is usually premiered at the S.O.T.Y. party in San Francisco. Here's the winning footage submitted by Zero in 2004:


Thrasher Skateboard Magazine



]]> <![CDATA[Supra Has A Deathwish]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11339/Supra+Has+A+Deathwish/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:43:58 PST
Deathwish has a perfect name for these little collabs just add "Has A Deathwish" to the name of whatever brand wants to combine forces. Although, I can see few situations where this may not be the best idea. Like, if they wanted they wanted to be a part of (Product) Red. Yeah, I don't think that would be a good idea.

Anyway, here's the Supra x Deathwish goodies:


Greco's shoe.


Another view of Jim's shoe.


General Ellington's shoe


Another view of Eric's shoe.


Antwuan Dixon's shoe.


Another view of the Twaun.





















]]> <![CDATA[A Tribute To Matt Hensley]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11314/A+Tribute+To+Matt+Hensley+/ Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:54:53 PST Historics got a few pro skaters to do a little tribute to skate legend and acordian player of Flogging Molly, Matt Hensley. The song is a cover of Sub Society's "A Lot Less," a tune Hensley skated to in the H Street video, Hocus Pocus.

To pay homage to someone who paved the way for what skateboarding is now, modern day rippers like Heath Kirchart, John Rattray, Alex Olson, Braydon Szafranski, and others adorned themselves in the skate fashion of the late 80s and early 90s, rode Old School boards and did Old School tricks. The man being impersonated himself, Mr. Matt Hensley, even makes an appearance. The video is directed by Epicly Later'd's Patrick O'dell, and edited by Girl's Aaron Meza. Check it out:





]]> <![CDATA[Live Interview Slash And The Nuge]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11308/Live+Interview+Slash+And+The+Nuge/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:28:53 PST <![CDATA[Reynolds And Hsu Check Out The Newest Thrasher]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11306/Reynolds+And+Hsu+Check+Out+The+Newest+Thrasher/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:56:55 PST

Thrasher Skateboard Magazine





]]> <![CDATA[Jenkins x Koston x Carroll x (RED)]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11281/Jenkins+x+Koston+x+Carroll+x+%28RED%29/ Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:42:07 PST 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.

















]]> <![CDATA[Soft Hands, Bears On High Heels, Vampire Beavers And Rowley]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11274/Soft+Hands%2C+Bears+On+High+Heels%2C+Vampire+Beavers+And+Rowley+/ Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:30:36 PST


]]> <![CDATA[Bob Burnquist And His Happy Accident]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11256/Bob+Burnquist+And+His+Happy+Accident+/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:23:26 PST Extremely Sorry, and you'll see what he's been doing on the mega ramp to mega rail lately is insane. Oh, you haven't seen it yet? Ha ha, I was at the premier, and let me tell you, what Bob does in his section has brought "mega skating" to another level.

Then, just the other day this video started floating around You Tube. It's Bob doing an oh sh*t to board slide. Check it out below. I'll give you a little play-by-play of what he was probably thinking. Since Bob is Brazilian, I'll do it in Portuguese. Ah Nao, Ah Nao, AH NAO! Bom.





]]> <![CDATA[Wild In The Parks Championships]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11226/Wild+In+The+Parks+Championships+/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:57:33 PST Photo courtesy of Volcom.

In the current skate world of X Games and Dew Tours, it's always uplifting to see grassroots contests still going down, because you know skateboarding is from a DIY ( Do It Yourself) lineage. It's even more uplifting to see these comps not only go off, but reward the deserving standouts with a good amount of cheddah'. That's exactly what Volcom's been doing with their Wild in the Parks skate tour of contests throughout the world. Free entry, free food, tons of giveaways and cash money for the deserving.

It all came to a head this past weekend in Arizona for the $20, 000 WITP Championships at Rio Vista skatepark. With that much money on the line (it's a lot for unknown ams), the winners from areas all around showed up, and the shredfest began. Here's the full results:

14 & Under:
1st: Alec Majerus - $2,500
2nd: Alex Pellegino - $1,500
3rd: Phil Hansen - $1,000
4th: Ethan Loy - $750
5th: Wyatt Millhollan - $500
6th: Ryan Thompson
7th: Jace Torkelson

15 & Over:
1st: Jordan Repin - $2,500
2nd: Garritt Gilbert - $1,500
3rd: Derek Szeto - $1,000
4th: Dustin Colombo - $750
5th: Aaron Wilson - $500
6th: Micheal McCoy
7th: Mike Roman

Pro-Am:
1st: Brodie Penrod - $3,000
2nd: C.J. Dixon - $2,000
3rd: Julian Christianson - $1,250
4th: Jordan Maxham - $750
5th: Aaron Homoki - $500
6th: Jack Olson
7th: Derek Lemoine

Check out some video highlights:




































]]> <![CDATA[Volcomics #2]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11225/Volcomics+%232+/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:46:20 PST here to check it out.]]> <![CDATA[Spike Jonze]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11207/Spike+Jonze+/ Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:36:08 PST FILM page, which will dive deeper into the world of skate videos. Who's behind them? Required Viewing? What's Next? And so on. I thought it is only fitting that the first piece I write with my full focus on "film," should be about the most talented person in skate cinema, Spike Jonze.

Jonze has not only been behind some of the best skate videos ever made. Come on, Mouse and Yeah Right!, enough said. He's also a respected cinematic producer in the world of music videos, and movies. He's currently about to celebrate the major motion picture release of a project he's been working on for almost a decade now. Where the Wild Things Are is a children's book by Maurice Sendak, that will be brought to life on the big screen. To coincide with the release Crailtap, the distribution company that slings Girl skateboards, a brand Jonze is part owner of, ran a contest on their site that challenged people to send their images, GIFs, videos, drawings, etc., that could use some "wilding up." Basically, the most creative use of one of the Wilds Things, a monster-like character in the movie, in a work of art wins. The winning entry by Darryl Collins, was a clip of Chris Cole from Thrahser magazine's recent Wallenberg skate contest, but Collins removed Cole and inserted a Wild Thing doing a flip and landing on Cole's board. Seen below.



On to his impact in music. The recording artists Jonze has produced videos for are a who's who list of popular, and not so popular music. He's worked with major stars like: Kanye West, Weezer, Notorious B.I.G., Bjork, The Beastie Boys, Daft Punk, Puff Daddy, Beck and Sean Lennon (John Lennon's son). As well as underground sensations like: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mike Watt, Pharcyde, Dinosaur Jr. and M.C. 900 ft. Jesus. He has been behind some of the most memorable music videos of the past decade-and-a-half, like Pharcyde's "Drop," where he used a very tediously talented backwards filming technique. Some other notable videos are Fat Boy Slim's "Praise You," and "Weapon of Choice" featuring Christopher Walken. You know what there's just too many to name, there's the "Buddy Holly" video for Weezer, and the one where the guy mails himself, just go check out his box set.

That brings us to why Jonze is relevant to the GrindTV FILM page, skateboarding. Not only is he part owner of one of the biggest skateboard companies in the world. He has been behind some of the best skate videos ever made. All of his skate flicks are required viewing by anyone who considers themselves a street skateboarder. Girl Skateboard's Mouse is one of the most influential skate video of all time, and it's follow up Yeah Right! changed how skateboard videos are filmed. Jonze has just brought a level of film production to skate cinema that as has never been seen before. Some other videos he's been behind are BLiND's Blind Days, Chocolate's Hot Chocolate! and Krooked's The Krooked Chronicles.

Wait, you thought you were going to get through this article without any mention of Fully Flared. Impossible. Spike Jonze produced the most technically advanced, and most talked about skate video of all time with the release of Lakia's Fully Flared. The cinematic masterpiece he, Ty Evans and Cory Weincheque created was breathtaking. Not to mention, because of their parts in this video alone, Marc Johnson won Thrasher's Skater of the Year, and Guy Mariano won three Globes at the Transworld SKATEboarding Awards. As far as production talent and skateboarding talent goes, this video has yet to be equaled. Although, there is a Chocolate video in the works, and I'm pretty sure Spike has something to do with it. Check out the Fully Flared trailer below.



So there you go. My first entry dedicated entirely to the GrindTV FILM section. If you didn't already know, I hope it enlightened you as to how influential Spike Jonze has been to skateboarding. And I thought it would be impossible to start with anyone else. Stay tuned for more from the world of skateboard film.













]]> <![CDATA[Rowley's Ruling The News Stands]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/11109/Rowley%27s+Ruling+The+News+Stands/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:25:48 PST Thrasher. In case you didn't know, Mr Rowley is on the cover of the current issue of The Skateboard Mag. Check it out at the bottom.

Not bad for someone coming off a broken ankle, huh. Geoff may have Beckham beat this month, as far as Red Coats on the cover of US publications go. Pick up a copy of Flip's Extremely Sorry when it's available on DVD to see what the hype's about.





]]> <![CDATA[Jani Repeats And Foundation Conquers]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8084/Jani+Repeats+And+Foundation+Conquers+/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:53:32 PST Jani Laitiala with his winnings. Photo: MORINformed

Last Saturday night, the Vans Downtown Showdown went off for the fifth year at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. This is one of my favorite contests of the year because besides watching some of the best skateboarding in the world go down, you can cruise around the sets at Paramount and get creepy. It's funny because as you walk, the era of the prop buildings change, one second you're in old Europe or something, then walk 50 yards and your in a modern city, and if your drunk and get lost, you may even end up in the wild west.

Anyway, the contest is unique as far as skate contest go because four teams design the four obstacles skated by everyone. This year it was Girl, Flip, Creature and Black Label that designed what was skated. My favorite was the Creature 12 Step Program, a 12 set with ledge, rail and wallie to rail options, I just thought the name was funny as hell. As far as design goes though, Girl's China Bank, was the best, and the judges gave them Best Obstacle. In one of the funnier moments of the night, when it was announced that Girl won, no one from the team went up and got the award. It's not that they weren't there, I was sitting at a table in the Booze Area, with Mike Carroll and few of the Girl employees at a table to one side of me, and Brian Anderson, Sean Malto and Daniel Castillo sitting on the floor to other side of me. They were just over it, and didn't feel like going up.

Well, just like last year Jani Laitiala won for overall Top Pro Performance. And not like last year, Foundation took Overall Team, and Nick Merlino took Overall Am. Angel Ramirez was Foundation's only pro in the contest, which meant he had to skate every obstacle, which he did, and killed it. Therefore, he took the MORINformed Award for Best Performance By Someone Who Could of Probably Gotten A Public Intoxication Ticket (at the time), and he was still killing it. Stay tuned for What Really Happened. Here's the full results:

Girl’s Little China Bank
1.Zered Bassett (Zoo York) - $2,500
2.Angel Ramirez (Foundation) - $1,500
3.Ron Deily (Zoo York) - $1,000

Flip’s Extremely Sorry
1.Jani Laitiala (Blind) - $2,500
2.Nick Trapasso (Toy Machine) - $1,500
3.Louie Lopez (Flip) - $1,000

Creature’s Hesh Cross
1.Vince Del Valle (Black Label) - $2,500
2.Angel Ramirez (Foundation) - $1,500
3.Jani Laitiala (Blind) - $1,000

Black Label’s Drunk Tank
1.Nick Merlino (Foundation) - $2,500
2.Billy Marks (Toy Machine) - $1,500
3.Felipe Ortiz (Blind) - $1,000

Top Am Performance: Nick Merlino (Foundation) - $5,000

Top Pro Performance: Jani Laitiala (Blind) - $10,000

Overall Team Winner: Foundation ($30,000), Blind 2nd ($15,000), Toy Machine 3rd ($5,000)































]]> <![CDATA[A Tribe Called Map Quest]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8080/A+Tribe+Called+Map+Quest+/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:36:22 PST A Tribe Called Map Quest, and was a little play on words, combining the legendary hip hop group, A Tribe Called Quest, with the second best direction giving website, Map Quest. Everyone knows that Google Maps is better. Like these guys even need Map Quest, they all have iPhones with Navigation, and navigation units in their vans. The thing about the Fourstar/Girl/Chocolate/Lakai crew, aka Crailtap, they make some of the most high quality videos in skateboarding very quickly. Check it out:



]]> <![CDATA[Neck Face Makes The News]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8064/Neck+Face+Makes+The+News+/ Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:20:09 PST Neck face (on the left) and Braydon Szafranski at the Brooklyn Banks. Photo: MORINformed

Nasty Neck Face and his nasty dummy have made the nasty Miami news. Neck's been down in Florida working on his "The Devil's Disciple" showing, a haunted house for a Miami art gallery. To create a little hype, the one with a neck as a face put up a slaughtered dummy in the window of the gallery, facing a main road. It got such a reaction that it made the Miami NBC Channel 6 News. Check out the video below :



In case you don't know, Neck Face is an evilly sick artist, who besides putting on shows at respected galleries around the world, does artwork for Vans, Altamont and Baker. This isn't the first time he's recently been in the mainstream media. A few weeks ago, Lindsay Lohan went shopping, and a bunch of dumb fucks cared enough that pictures were taken, and words were written. Well, if you look to the right of that "style master," the guy with the shades on in the picture below, Neck face had apparently done some NYC tagging before Lohan arrived.









]]> <![CDATA[Get Ready For The Showdown]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8063/Get+Ready+For+The+Showdown+/ Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:50:51 PST Some of last year's lineup ready to destroy. Photo: MORINformed

One of my favorite contests of the year is fast approaching, which means there's four skate teams out there vigorously working on the final touches of their creation. The Vans Downtown Showdown is a contest that pits skate team against skate team, in an effort to build the best, and most creative skate obstacle. Then, invites other skate teams along with the four builders to destroy what has been created. And it's all set to go down tomorrow at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA. If you don't live in Southern California there's no need worry, just cruise over to Vans tomorrow at 5:00 pm PST and watch the live feed.

The jam style contest gives everyone skating an allotted amount of time to skate each brands obstacle. In the end the judges decide who to give up the loot to for: the best skater at each obstacle, the best team at each obstacle, overall best team, the overall best skater, and best obstacle created.

Last year, Jani Laitial and the BLiND team were the overall winners, and Creature's Pure Evil 666 was voted the best obstacle. I can't wait to see what's going to be skated this year. The four teams doing the building are: Flip, Girl, Black Label and Creature. Along with four builders, participating teams will be: Blind, Foundation, Toy Machine, SK8MAFIA and Zoo York.

Expected skaters include: Mike Carroll, Rick Howard, Brian Anderson, Alex Olson, Sean Malto, Mike Mo Capaldi, Guy Mariano, Geoff Rowley, Louie Lopez, Curren Caples, David Gonzalez, Jake Duncombe, Ronnie Creager, Jani Laitiala, Neil Heddings, Sam Hitz, Shuriken Shannon, Chris Troy, Adam Alfaro, Corey Duffel, Sierra Fellers, Abdias Rivera, Ed Templeton, Austin Stephens, Johnny Layton, Billy Marks, Leo Romero, Kellen James, Peter Smolik, Wes Kremer, Zered Bassett, Brandon Westgate, Chaz Ortiz, Eli Reed and more.









]]> <![CDATA[The Altamont Crew Goes To SXSW]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8053/The+Altamont+Crew+Goes+To+SXSW/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:13:10 PST here. I think it's funny that they had the Starbucks van for the old guys, and the Stoner van for the youngins. I would of for sure been in the Starbucks van, I have a two venti a day habit.]]> <![CDATA[Go R.I.P. For Eric]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8050/Go+R.I.P.+For+Eric+/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:23:24 PST ransworld SKATEboarding editor, Eric Stricker (pictured above on the right), passed away last night. No other details have been released.

Eric was a Chicago area native and prided himself on giving Midwest and East Coast rippers the coverage they deserved. Anytime I needed anything at a Transworld event he was down to help. The skateboard world has suffered a major loss, and TWS will never be the same. He is survived by his wife Arnette, and skateboarders around the world. Go out and skate something for Eric.

]]> <![CDATA[MORINformed's Top 10]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8034/MORINformed%27s+Top+10+/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:45:06 PST Extremely Sorry, went down the other night at the Grove in Anaheim, CA to a packed house. The movie was four years in the making and didn't disappoint. It has an original soundtrack, and some original ripping. There's claymation, super-good camera work and insane editing. The people showed, and the movie went off. Here's MORINformed's Top 10 Observations From The Extremely Sorry Premier:

1. Where were all the ladies? Come on skate industry, I thought we got the ball rolling at Maloof as far as the female presence at skate events goes. And come on ladies, surfers aren't the only ones that need lonvin'. Skateboarders are scrawnier, paler and a lot dirtier. What's not to love?

2. Bob Bournquist's trucks need to be checked for magnets like they check for corked bats in MLB. That's only praise for Bob, because he skated the mega ramp to rail that insane.

3. Animals were harmed in the making of Extremely Sorry. A mountain lion and a pigeon both lost their lives for the greater cause of a great video.

4. Lance Mountain had the greatest section by someone 40+ in the history of skateboarding.

5. I didn't know Curren Caples skated out of transition so well. He's quite the well-rounded ripper.

6. Baron's soundtrack was rad.

7. Arto Saari was there to show support for his old sponsor.

8. Tom Penny has officially made the umbrella cool again.

9. Rowley's roof gap to non-intentional (I think) disaster was one of the craziest things I've seen in a while.

10. Where was Johnny Rotten. I thought for sure he was going to make his return to skate videos.



















]]> <![CDATA[Adidas In Europe]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8027/Adidas+In+Europe+/ Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:33:19 PST Diagonal. If you haven't heard me rant about him before, than I'll let you know Dennis Busenitz is one of my all-time favorite skaters, so pay extra close attention when he's skating. Silas isn't half bad either he won a little something called the Thrasher magazine Skater of the Year last year, and anyone who has ever seen Pete skate knows he kills it.



]]> <![CDATA[Cole: The Best Sreet Skateboarder In The World?]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/8016/Cole%3A+The+Best+Sreet+Skateboarder+In+The+World%3F/ Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:49:25 PST Photos courtesy of Black Box Distribution.

Professional street skateboarding is a strange little land. If you're lucky and good enough to become one of "those guys," you know, the ones who's names alone can sell skateboards, shoes, jeans, etc. There are some choices to be made. In a way it all depends on how good you are, your position in the pecking order of skateboarding for money, and how your current sponsors want to market you.

You have your strictly core video section, mag shots and demo guys, whose sponsors carefully present them to the skateboarding world, and try to make it look as best they can, that they only want "real" skateboarders to see. These guys wouldn't be caught dead at the X Games or Dew Tour for two reasons. One, it would ruin there image. And two, they're probably not consistent enough to even compete, skate videos are years in the making. The only major contests these guys are allowed to do are Tampa and Maloof, those two made it through "core" boot camp.

Then, you have your mainstream Dew Tour/X Games skaters. It's like the same four guys that win every contest: Sheckler, P-Rod, Chaz Ortiz and Lutzka (I'll get to Cole in a second). They have their skate industry sponsors, and then they have their world industry sponsors, not the skate brand World Industries, but corporations like Toyota, Axe, etc. These companies are what brings these skateboarders to the masses, and in return creates all the "Playa Hatin'" in the skate world. Every member of this crew has had legit video sections, gotten shots in all the mags and does the "core" stuff too, but they're choice to be in a TV show, deodorant ad, or car commercial has lost them their "core" credentials.

There really hasn't been someone who's been able to walk the fine line between the two worlds until Chris Cole. Koston to an extent, but he was never a super dominant force as far as X Games or Dew Tour go. Cole has been in just about every major contest this year, and either won it, or placed high. He is currently 1st in Dew Tour Championship standings, and has been on national television more times this year than Michael Jordan. The only time I saw MJ on TV in 09' was when he got inducted into the Hall of Fame.

At the same time Cole is getting all this mainstream attention, he's getting "core" love too. Mainly, because he puts in his time. He had a rad part in Fallen's Ride The Sky, which equals a fair amount of blood, sweat and tears (skate video sections don't just happen overnight). He destroyed Wallenberg and Thrasher editor, Jake Phelps, declared "it's a Cole world and we all just live in it." He stayed late last week at Jamie Thomas' grass-roots Crossroads Best Trick contest. A comp that anybody could of entered, he was pretty much skating with people that were probably fans of his. For his efforts he won a few hundred dollars (which I think he gave away), he could of made a lot more money up the 5 Freeway inking a deal with some corporation. That's another reason for no Cole hating, last time I checked all his sponsors were skate companies. And just the other day, he was part of the best Battle at the Berrics ever witnessed, where he and Dennis Busenitz put on a technical clinic. No money there, just the best of the best, battling for bragging rights.

If Cole keeps his tightrope act up, he could be one of the most successful street skateboarders of all time. He'll of made a lot of money, hell he just won $100,000 at the Maloof Money Cup, and will of never lost his membership card to the "core" street skateboarding community. We'll see.

Check out the videos below of Cole at Maloof (put the sound on mute for that video because the song is terrible) and of him killing the Black Box skate facility:





















]]> <![CDATA[Ramos And Decenzo Get Their Dew On]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/7999/Ramos+And+Decenzo+Get+Their+Dew+On++/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:29:43 PST
“I was really nervous when I woke up this morning, and I’m so happy that I won,” said Ramos. “I can’t believe it, and I’m looking forward to Orlando. I hope I can do it again.”

Right after the park final, it was off to the Energy Solutions Arena (you know that place where those bums the Utah Jazz play) for the Transworld SKATEboarding Best Trick contest. Eleven of the best ticksters in the area showed up, and it was Ryan Decenzo who brought it home with his switch 270 frontside boardslide to fakie, which pocketed him a cool $2,500.

"It’s insane for me because the last Best Trick contest I won at the Dew Tour’s Portland stop was the first Best Trick contest I’ve ever won,” said Decenzo. “Two Best Trick contests. Two for two. I’m stoked.”


Skate Park Finals

1. Rodolfo Ramos, Brazil, 88.83. 2. Chris Cole, Philadelphia, Pa., 88.05. 3. Nick Dompierre, East Freetown, Mass., 84.93. 4. Ryan Decenzo, Canada, 84.88. 5. Tyler Hendley, Mission Viejo, Calif., 82.18. 6. Greg Lutzka, Milwaukee, Wis., 80.53. 7. Carlos de Andrade, Brazil, 83.05. 8. Kurtis Colamonico, Long Beach, Calif., 79.10. 9. Paul Rodriguez, Tarzana, Calif., 78.40. 10. Chaz Ortiz, Chicago, Ill., 73.00. 11. Milton Martinez, Argentina, 71.20. 12. Adam Dyet, Salt Lake City, Utah, 65.80.

Dew Tour Rankings – Skate Park

1. Chris Cole, Philadelphia, Pa., 262. 2. Ryan Decenzo, Canada, 238. 3. Chaz Ortiz, Chicago, Ill., 228. 4. Rodolfo Ramos, Brazil, 212. 5. Paul Rodriguez, Tarzana, Calif., 210. 6. Carlos de Andrade, Brazil, 200. 7. Greg Lutzka, Milwaukee, Wis., 188. 8. Milton Martinez, Argentina, 145. 9. Kurtis Colamonico, Long Beach, Calif., 141. 10. Dave Bachinsky, St. Louis, Mo., 135.


















]]> <![CDATA[Bucky Wins In The City By A Lake Of Salt]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/7987/Bucky+Wins+In+The+City+By+A+Lake+Of+Salt+/ Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:11:31 PST Photo: Elsa via Getty Images

Skate veteran Bucky Lasek edged out Andy MacDonald and Sandro Dias to take first in vert at the Salt Lake City stop of the Dew Tour. His win boosted him into into the lead of the overall Dew Tour Season Championship standings.

The final jam session consisted of Lasek, MacDonald, Dias, Pierre-Luc Gagnon and Rob Lorifice. They all threw down bangers, but in the end it was Lasek with his switch 360 assault, and nose blunt into the gap that separated him from the pack.

"I just went for it today and had a good time," said Lasek. "I'm stoked to be going into the final Dew Tour stop with two first-place wins under my belt. Hopefully I'll get those oranges in Orlando!"

Set your cell phone reminders for October 15th, because that's where the Dew Tour overall championship will be decided. Bucky and PLG are neck and neck with only two points separating them going into the final stop, Orlando.

Check out some video footage from Alli:Skateboard Vert Finals

1. Bucky Lasek, Baltimore, Md., 90.25. 2. Andy Macdonald, Boston, Mass., 90.25. 3. Sandro Dias, Brazil, 89.25. 4. Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Canada, 88.75. 5. Rob Lorifice, Carlsbad, Calif., 87.50. 6. Bob Burnquist, Brazil, 84.00. 7. Danny Mayer, Omaha, Nebr., 84.00. 8. Renton Millar, Australia, 82.25. 9. Adam Taylor, Cocoa Beach, Fla. 10. Anthony Furlong, Tampa, Fla., 69.50


Dew Tour Rankings

1. Bucky Lasek, Baltimore, Md., 268. 2. Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Canada, 266. 3. Andy Macdonald, Boston, Mass., 262. 4. Sandro Dias, Brazil, 240. 5. Bob Burnquist, Brazil, 216. 6. Rob Lorifice, Carlsbad, Calif., 196. 7. Taylor Adam, Cocoa Beach, Fla., 192. 8. Renton Millar, Australia, 172. 9. Danny Mayer, Omaha, Nebr., 164. 10. Anthony Furlong, Tampa, Fla., 164.
















]]> <![CDATA[Rain, Pedestrians and Old Men: A Day In The Life Of Dustin Dollin]]> http://www.grindtv.com/blog/7972/Rain%2C+Pedestrians+and+Old+Men%3A+A+Day+In+The+Life+Of+Dustin+Dollin/ Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:59:33 PST Photo: Richie Kadillac

Spawn, aka DD, aka The Only Piss Drunk That's Still Drunk, aka Dustin Dollin recently went on a little skate cruise through the streets of Australia. He ran into people, creeped out some lovely ladies, taught an old man to skate, and got his rain dance on. All in a day's work for the Aussie terror. Check it out:





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