Brewce Martin, the madman behind Skatopia has team up with Volcom to bring you a collaborative clothing collection. Skatopia is one of, if not the, craziest skate facilities in the world. I think it was actually named the only thing cool in Ohio by the state's governor. It's out in the middle of nowhere, and is full of sketchy pools and bowls, and just everything hesh. It's a place you go to blow shit up, shoot guns and skate.

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:

When it comes to style in modern skateboarding there are many names that come to mind, but one in particular is 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:

Ed Templeton has been creating a pretty stacked team over at Toy Machine. He recently added one of the best skaters in the game, Leo Romero, and now in his latest move The Blood Sucking Skateboard Company has acquired one of the best young guys out there, Colin Provost. The Huntington Beach shredder parted ways with Element, and now won't have to leave town to bug his boss for decks. Go to www.toymachine.com for more on Colin and his new sponsor.

The Tempster and the 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:

Since we're in the midst of the World Series of Major League Baseball I figured I'd give 10 reasons skateboarding is better than baseball. And don't get me started on the World Series, a series in which the damn Yankees are going to win, again. What's this going to be their 27th title? Their fans like to brag about how much they win, but it's pretty hard to lose when you buy all the talent. It's like if Starbucks employees bragged about how much more money the coffee giant makes than some indie coffee shop. Anyway, here's the Top 10 Reasons Skateboarding Is Better Baseball:

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.

The Tony Hawk 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:

Skateboarder, artist, photographer, book maker extraordinaire, Ed Templeton has teamed up with his long time shoe sponsor, Emerica, and indie rock duet, No Age, to bring you a little collab. These shoes are pretty, pretty, pretty rad. How could they not be? Emerica's been making some of the best shoes in skateboarding for over a decade, No Age has been rocking Williamsburg and Echo Park for more than a minute, and who doesn't love Ed Templeton. Well actually, I met this guy, Noah, in New York one time that didn't like Ed, but he didn't really have a reason why. He was one my friend Kadillac's friends, and he was always prepared for the onslaught of his words. He would actually warn you, and be like, "Your not going to like what I'm about to say, but I don't like Ed Templeton."

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.

In this world of ours we've been able to rid ourselves of so many awful things. Polio, Small Pox and Malaria are no longer the issues they once were. Slavery for the most part has been abolished. Segregation is no longer the world problem it once was. Even AIDS isn't the death sentence it was in the 80s. Shit, Magic Johnson's had HIV for almost as long as I've been alive, and I'm 26.

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:

Here's a damn video, of a bunch damn ams, killing it at Volcom's damn HQ, on a course provided by the damn SPot crew. Sit back, grab a damn refreshment, get as comfortable as you damn well can, and watch the damn footage.

Jamie Thomas and the crew over at Black Box announced the premier dates of the new Zero movie 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: