Around The Internet: May 2nd, 2010

So, I was at Miramar Longboards' Facebook page, checking out photos of their decks... like:



....and,




...when, totally out of the blue, I stumbled on this little gem:




"Whoa...!" Is this finally proof that longboarding isn't "gay"...? I don't care, man. Just look at the booty, for pete's sakes...

So, I start thinking that it's kinda weird that 'ol girl's holding a Sector Niner. I mean, it's Miramar's Facebook, right? Not, Sector Nine's...

No worries: I'd still ride it.

Then, I noticed the "copyright" tag in the corner. Being the four-eyed geek [with terrible eyesight] that I am, I had to kinda squint it a bit, to barely make out that "Scott Church" in the corner. So, what'd I do?! I Googled that shit, of course...

And, I found this:

http://www.scottchurch.net/

Okay guys, you can totally trust me on this one: It's well worth the three seconds that it takes to cut and paste that URL. No, seriously. Check it out.

Now, here's my question: If I say that I "love" his work... does that make me a finely nuanced appreciator of high art...? Or, just a pervy four-eyed geek...?

Elsewhere on the internet, Concrete Wave Magazine finally rebuilt their website. Looks good, too! You'll find it here:

http://www.concretewavemagazine.com/

They did a really good piece... by "they", I mean Keith Gillogly, of course... on the trials and tribulations of the "core retailer". It's called "Malled To Death", and it's right here:

http://www.concretewavemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148&Itemid=196


I'm a huge fan of The Pin-Up Files (I know, I know... obviously, I'm a dude, dude...):

www.thepinupfiles.com

... and, through there, I found the artwork of Andrew Bawidamann:





"Bad Habit", circa 2001...


See more Bawidamann, here:

www.bawidamann.com

Then, there's the usual skate-related discussions at Skull and Bones and Slap, some funny sarcasm at Skate and Annoy, and the latest in "industry news" at Boardistan and Shop-Eat-Surf...

But, honestly, I'm kinda feelin' the Miramar Girl. Lates.

The Silent Boycotting of IASC

Last week, IASC had another round of their customary jack-off get togethers out at Woodward West. Naturally, as a harsh (and, frequent) IASC critic… I wasn't invited. Of course. To give them credit, that's probably the smart thing to do. I mean, if you know ahead of time that you're gonna be having a nad-rubbing circle jerk, you wouldn't really want the press there, wouldya…?

Not that I would have gone, anyway. First of all, rubbing the gonads of IASC's stupidest doesn't qualify as a "good time" in my book, for starters. And, secondly: The going price for "inclusion" (everything at IASC does have it's price, after all...) was a lofty $800 a head. Not even including airfare.

Now, I'm not entirely sure if the IASC Assholes have gotten this memo yet, but: We're In A Recession, Fellas. Not every skater in the world is a multi-zillionaire like you poofs are. Remember to check "reality" once in a while before we schedule these bullshit-sessions, alrighty guys…?

So, no: I wasn't there. But! Thankfully, ShopEatSurf.com was! Whatever the fuck "ShopEatSurf" is. As a certifiable fatass, I can totally grub down with the "eat" part. But, I hate shopping to the Nth degree, and I can't surf for a shit. Regardless: They were there. And, according to them, here's what IASC was discussing during their nad-rubbing bender (via Brooke's forums at Silverfish Longboarding):


"How and Why Athletes Go Broke"
Presenters:
Pablo Torre, reporter for Sports Illustrated
and Ed Butowski, Director of Financial
Literacy for the NFL and NBA
Moderated by Greg Weisman, shareholder with SILVER & FREEDMAN


Okay, wait up here for just one second. Sports Illustrated...? The NFL? The NBA?! What, IASC is taking advice from jocks now...? I can't believe this shit. Do you dudes actually think that I'm gonna go ask Kobe Bryant how to do a kickflip? No, dumbfucks. Of course I wouldn't, because I'm not a retard. Then: Why are we asking the NBA, how we should be running the goddamned skateboard industry...?!

Anyway, I'll digress. Back to the stupidity list:


"Social Media and Action Sports"
Late to the game, on a budget... what to do?
A break down the spectrum of social media
Presenters:
Greg Cargill, Founder of Big Method
Espree Devora of Zexsports

("Late To The Game"... now, that's a bit more up IASC's alley...)


"Ethical Sourcing: Exploring Sustainability,
Innovation, and Actionable Solutions"
Panelists:
Cara Chacon, Director of Social &
Environmental Responsibility - Patagonia
Yadira Hurtado, Code of Conduct Specialist -Timberland
Tina Cheung, Business Development
Manager Social & Environmental Responsibility -
Intertek
(Take this Survey to help tailor the panel just for you!)


"Video Games and Digital Entertainment"
The past decade of Digital Technology has been a race to the next new product - with each new development it seems we are riding a tidal wave of change.
Panelists:
Lisa Hudson, Black Sun Productions
Gaylene Nagel, Director of Brand & Experiential, GOGII/
textPlus
Ralph D'Amato, Director of New Media, Tony Hawk Inc./900 Films/ShredOrDie.com
Paul Kersh, New Media Manager, 4Fini / Vans Warped Tour

[Can we "tidal wave of change" IASC out of existence, I wonder...?!]


Apparently, you can even read the whole fluff-file here:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...ZDQyZDhk&hl=en


Thank God That's Over...

Now, let's take a close look at this bullshit for a second. IASC is around, presumably, to advance the promoting, and the sustainability, of skateboarding… right?

That is: Getting your ass on a skateboard, and riding it. Am I correct on this, dudes?

Okay, then. You, tell me: What The Fuck does any of this bullshit have to do with "Getting On A Skateboard, And Riding It Around"…?! Because, it looks to me like this nad-rubbing sesh was all about "Helping Us Sell This Shit Out Even More!".

As for me, I would have thought that IASC would be discussing much more 'useful' topics, like:

"Russian Roulette With Limbs: How and Why IASC Keeps Shooting Itself In The Foot",

"Screwing The Core Skate Shop: The Next Level",

"Promoting Pathetic Products: How To Sell 'Shallow, Stale, and Boring' Forever And Ever",

"Turning On 'The Hype Machine': When Substance Runs Dry, Let Stupidity Reign!",

"Turning Profit Into Pomp: Scoring Beers, Bongs, and Babes for Old, Ugly, Arrogant Millionaire Has-Beens",

and lastly, "The Promising Future for the Corporate Marketing Wheezing Windbag!"

I've gotta admit, though… I found the "Ethical [Out]Sourcing" a bit funny. That's a good one, guys. Ten years after Dwindle first "Went To China"… now, all of a sudden, we're concerned with "the ethics of outsourcing"?! Man, that is some funny shit! IASC's new tagline should be "Act Now, and Think Ten Years Later!".

There ya go, fellas. Don't thank me now! But: The bill's still in the mail.

Boycotting IASC

Personally, I think that it's high time for us- average skaters- to firmly kick IASC squarely in those well-rubbed gonads of theirs. I think that all of us… shops, skaters, moms, dads, Patriotic Americans, everybody… should start boycotting those motherfuckers. Kill 'Em All! That's what I say. Just, go here…:

http://www.skateboardiasc.org/members/

… and, start resolving to never buy anything from any of these guys, ever again.

Which brings me nicely to my next topic:

Chappy?! What The Fuck, Dude?!

As I stopped by IASC's website to start compiling my "boycott" list, I was shocked and amazed to find that the first company on my list, was Abec 11? Holy Mother Of Christ, man. Chris has actually drunk the Kooky Kapitalism Kool-Aid, and joined The Poof Party?! Man, I can't believe that shit...

Whatever would possess and otherwise stand-up, and incredibly smart, sincere, and savvy guy like Chap to join the IASC Clusterfuck, is wholly beyond me. We even tried to call 'ol Chap for comment… but, apparently, he was tied up in meetings. Figures…


The "Silent" Boycott.

Anyway, I was talking "boycott" over here. As I was wandering through that list… and, remembering the last couple years' worth of industry news, gloomy press releases, and regular and depressing reports of job layoffs, red ink, and never-ending downsizing… it occurred to me that, in a way, the "boycott" is already well in effect. I mean, these guys are suffering pretty badly. Which is weird, because when you talk to many a non-IASC brand… those dudes seem to be doing a hell of a lot better than any of those IASC heads are. Indeed: Many of those non-IASC brands are actually growing, and thriving in this "depressed" environment of ours.

Which makes me wonder if the market really is "depressed"... or, if it's merely shifting away from IASC's membership…?


Stinky Feet

This week, another recent phenomenon came to the "news" forefront: That Foot Locker (parent company of CCS) has designs to compete in the "mall-market" against Zumiez, PacSun, etc.

Which basically means that: Foot Locker is now going to be, a "skate shop"! Fuck me, dude. Imagine that shit! Skateboards, at Foot Locker?! I mean, how much "gayer" can shit possibly get, guys?! "Queer Eye For The Straight Skater" reality shows? "Buy a baseball glove, get a free pair of trucks?!" How about, "Cleats: The New Off-Road Skateboarding Accessory! Double the effectiveness of your push overnight…!"

We've seen all of this before. Every single time that skateboarding gets over-played like this, it fully dies. It happened in the mid-'60s, the late '70s, the late '80s… and, it's happening today. When you take skateboarding... and, you turn it into a poofy, corporate, money-making, willy-wonka-daycare gay-off… of course, kids at some point are gonna go, "Holy shit, man. This shit's pretty fucked up…!", and leave. In droves.

And, really- who can blame them? It almost becomes embarrassing to be a fucking skateboarder, when it reaches this sort of over-the-top lunacy. When every little booger-headed asshole is suddenly "a skater"… who the fuck wants to associate with that?! I'd rather crawl into a cave and die, than run with that kind of "crowd".

As would, I might add: Most true-blue skaters. That's why skating dies. Well: "Mainstream" skating does, at least. Not, "reality" skateboarding, though. That shit is everlasting... and thankfully, it's also IASC-proof, too.


Going Under, Fast

In times like these, skaters take skateboarding back to the last "refuge", where shit stays real: The Underground. There, is where all the good shit lives, and thrives. Foot Locker simply doesn't exist to The Undergrounders. Zumiez never existed to The Undergrounders. Money doesn't mean squat, to The Undergrounders. But: Principles sure as hell do. Staying true to skateboarding, does. Having fun without all the attitude and bullshit, does.

As skaters begin wising up, and going back to The Underground with their shit… and, supporting Underground media (like The Solitary Life), Underground companies, and Underground skate shops… y'know, other people that, like The Undergrounders themselves, just wanna keep skateboarding real, raw, and raging… the IASC Companies, and everything that they stand for, and everything that surrounds and supports them… will die.

It's happened before. And, it will surely happen again.

Don't believe me?! Well, thankfully, you don't have to look very far. Just, look around this blog. There is cool shit going on all over the place. Indoor bowls in abandoned warehouses. Independent music. Skate clubs forming, and taking skateboarding back. New companies, all over the place... new companies, I might add, that still support American jobs, and the American economy. These aren't "new" or "revolutionary" ideas at all. They're just the good things that skateboarding always stood for, until IASC bastardized it all, and took skateboarding to places that suited IASC's interests... and, fattened up IASC's wallets... but, didn't necessarily reflect all that well on skateboarding, itself.

Bottom Line: IASC watches out for the interests of IASC's members. Not, the interests of skateboarding, as a whole. That might be the best reason ever, to kill this organization.



The "Alternative IASC"

Here's another nail for IASC's coffin: The Alternative IASC. A loose federation of skateboard companies… usually, smaller ones… that are starting top talk amongst themselves, about forming a new group of skateboard companies. One that more closely stands for the stuff that "skateboarding" has traditionally stood for. Increasing the fun. Putting out Good Vibes. Supporting Core Shops. A focus on quality, honesty, transparency, and integrity. Promoting "skateboarding" the way that "skateboarding" deserves top be promoted. Not, via video games. Not, by getting skateboarding into the fucking Olympics. Not, by selling their souls to every corporate chain-store in the world. But: By promoting what "skateboarding" really is: Having Fun On Skateboards. On a truly-inclusionary basis, mind you.

After all, everyone really should skate. Shouldn't they…?

However: This group believes that people, ultimately, should come to skateboarding. Skateboarding, should not go to them. You don't "dumb down" skateboarding, to make it palatable or acceptable to the average asshole. That, does a major disservice to skateboarding.. as well as, doing a minor disservice to the average asshole, as well. You're selling something to that asshole that "used to be cool", instead of selling him something that actually is cool. That's the rub, guys. We're selling everyone short, just so that you can sell "skateboarding" out.

But, IASC doesn't have the will, nor the wisdom, to tell their asses from their elbows. Let alone, to distinguish between fine distinctions like these. And, that's just too damn bad.

That's the basic difference in philosophy that sets the "Current IASC" apart from the "Alternative IASC". The Current IASC is trying to be skateboarding's pimp. The Alt-IASC wants skateboarding to Be The Pimp.

That's a pretty huge difference that means an awful lot, to an awful lot of skaters.

I wonder who I'll be supporting…

Product Review: American Nomad Kristian Svitak

That's the Svitak (on the left), next to the Danforth that came in the same package (on the right). The shapes give you a pretty solid clue as to what they're designed for: The Olson-esque shape of the Danforth lends itself to "big" terrain, while the blunt-nosed Svitak lends itself to retro-street skating, or tighter terrains...


Just The Facts, Ma'am:

Width: 9.375"
Length: 30.25"
Wheelbase: Double-drilled for either 14" or 15" wheelbases.
Nose: 4.50", or 5.50"
Tail: 6.50"

Construction: A fairly beefy 7-ply maple.

Concave: Double kick, 5/8" deep, no rocker.



It's not the deepest around... but on a retro-street deck, you don't really want that "glue-footed" feel, either. This concave keeps you in place just fine, but also allows you to get around in the board for quick ollie-setups, and even the occasional kickflip.


Price: $46.95, direct from Nomad


The Set Up:

1/2" hard risers, 60mm 92a NOS Santa Cruz Bullets, and Independent 169's (aka, "Same as the Danforth").


The Good:

I got this, along with the Danforth skull-and-crossbones deck. So, everything that I said about the great guys, the prompt and punctual service, the speedy shipping, and the bonus goodies goes with this one, too.




Obviously, the graphics reflect Kristian's Ohio roots (he grew up in Cleveland). The shape is a heavy nod to his favorite deck as a kid, the Powell-Peralta Per Welinder street model. This one has a more "modern" twinkick concave, and is a little narrower then the OG. As such, it's a little more functional than those old planks were. The double-drilled wheelbase is a nice touch, too.


This deck is a smidge bit smaller than the Danforth. As such, this one would be great for:

- Smaller dudes,
- Tighter terrain, or
- Retro-style street skating.

The double-drilled nose is an awesome addition to this deck, giving it a lot of versatility. Unlike most double-drills that are about 1/2" apart, this board has a full-inch spread. That gives this board a bit more "definition" than most double-drilled decks. That could be good, or bad. Or: You could just drill more holes to suit your tastes. Whatever.

Like the Danforth, the wood is still pressed stateside, and it takes a hell of a beating. The squared-off nose is functional, modern, and comfortable, while the hips give the deck a retro-street feel.

Set up with the 14" base, this board really does excel at getting into, and out of, tight places. With the full 15", I thought it was a great mini-ramp and tight-tranny tool.




This view really emphasizes the truly all-around potential of this deck...


The Bad:

Just like the Danforth, a little bit of rocker would have done wonders for this deck... as a lowered midsection would have helped loads with overall comfort and stability, as well as adapting well to street ollies, et cetera.

Being a fairly big fellow (6'5", 320 lbs), I found this deck to be a smidge bit "small". Most skaters, though, definitely won't have this problem. They'll find it "plenty big".

The Final Verdict:

A really fun little deck that you can trust to last you for quite a while, from a really great crew.

And The Road Goes On: OIS Muncie, Indiana

Today (Saturday, May 1st, 2010), I took a little ride "up north" to go skate with the Old Indy Skater bros. This week's "scheduled" session was supposed to be at Lawrenceburg's excellent outdoor, concrete skatepark... after which, I had plans to go check out a couple more parks for the Concrete Disciples heads. But, after reviewing the day's rain-report (which called for a shit-ton of the stuff, all weekend long), Bart decided that it'd be far better to head up to the OIS "Secret Spot", to escape the impending wet doom.




This, my friends, is the much-talked-about OIS "Secret Spot". Bart is amazing, man; he seems to be able to talk almost any buddy, into almost any thing. How in the hell he unearths these treasures, is still way, waaaaaayyy beyond me. He's like, a skate-spot bloodhound or something. Anyway, he discovered this bowl, it's owner, and started smooth-talkin' his way into "key holder" status. Quite an accomplishment, I must say. I wish I had the keys to a tight, fast, wooden bowl, too.

The secret to Bart's success comes down to one word, kiddies: Respect. Bart is well-respected by almost everyone, because Bart respects almost everyone. He's extremely courteous, super thoughtful, and highly responsible. Here at the Secret Spot, we clean up the ramp before we skate (it gets dusty, as you can probably imagine)... we leave the owner a few bucks for whatever he'd like to spend it on... and, we clean up after ourselves before we leave. A little bit of common courtesy gets you a long way, kids. And, as you can plainly see: Here's the proof...!





After the Secret Spot Session (which ripped, thank you very much Mr. Bart, and Mr. Tim)... I made my way to Solution up in Muncie for some skatepark-documenting stuff for The Disciples. Contrary to the rumor mill and popular belief, the park is chugging along nicely, under brand-new ownership. Still clean, tidy, well-kept, and big as hell, it's actually getting a major "upgrade" next month, with a re-vamping of the street course, and something about a "bowl" going in there. Hmmm! Now, that might be worth remembering...! After all, what would possibly be better than skating two wooden bowls, in one day...?

Skateboard Clubs: Membership definitely has its perks. Start yours today.

Support The Skatepark Day April 24th, 2010

On Saturday, April 24th, 2010, the big, all-day "Support The Skatepark!" shindig went down at Indianapolis' own Major Taylor Skatepark. Major Taylor, of course, is currently at risk of getting closed 'n dozed forever... so, we all tried to get everyone out to show the 'ol park some love. Naturally, Indiana being Indiana, the weather was less-than-cooperative that day... but, there was a pretty strong showing, nonetheless. Here's my photo-journal from the day:




I arrived at an unusually-late 12:00 Noon, to find a pretty healthy session already in progress. Although the Old Indy Skaters were supposed to be there, many weren't. Later, I found out that they'd gone and skated a slightly-secret, indoor mini ramp after their early-hours sesh... dammit! That's what I get for slacking, I suppose. Anyway, I arrived to find the park all clean and tidy... a pleasant surprise, given the number of kids there. Things are looking up, folks (with a little bit 'o help from the OIS Dudes).





The crowd wasn't nearly as huge as you'd find on a "typical Saturday", given the perpetual threat of rain and all... but still, it was a good turnout, nonetheless. Everyone was cool, mellow, and having a good time. And, that's all that counts, really.





There were quite a few little kids there, teaching each other new stuff. I don't know if The City realizes just how many of our youth actually use the park, or how positive of an experience that it can be in a kid's life. Here, a couple of little dudes are teaching each other the basics of dropping in [for the first time]





This kid was cool as hell; he was busting cleanly-caught kickflips down the five, consistently. The kids are alright...





Nice, big, colorful ollie over the hip. The city makes a huge deal out of the "tagging" that goes on there... as do, most cities. I've heard that Lawrence just sand-blasted their brand-spanking-new skatepark, to get rid of the graff... but really, the paint does make the concrete a little slicker (which is nice)... and, it's a wonderful protectant against the elements. Maybe it's even one of the reasons why Major Taylor has been holding up so well through the years...? And, this picture woulda been a lot more mundane, without all those vivid colors.

The city would probably be doing itself a favor to maybe not stress the negatives, and look at the positives: This dude could just as easily be picking up a crack habit, impregnating his teenage girlfriend, or filing for public assistance at taxpayers' expense. Instead, he's ollieing hips. That's progress worth noting, city bosses.




Our own Tim Devlin, lipslide on the island. Tim basically grew up here, as did a good many of us. It's become our home-away-from-home, our sanctuary, and our retreat. It'd be a damn shame to doze it now, and not let future generations of skaters have the same kinds of experiences that we've certainly enjoyed.




Bikers, too, use Major Taylor's skatepark on an ongoing and regular basis. Even more kids that are doing something positive with their time, instead of making themselves a public menace. Tell me: Where will they go if Major's dozed, hmm.....? Your "infrastructure" just might become our new skatepark! Clearly, you don't want that...




Parents are usually out at Major Taylor, in force. Whether it's just to spend the day taking the passive role, and just chillin' on the sidelines, watching their kids (and, everyone else's) learning the tricks of the trade...



... or, taking a bit more of an "active" role, like spending a nice, warm afternoon shooting photos of the action around them. Lots of folks bring full-on picnics for the whole family, and enjoy sitting under the nearby shade trees.



The bottom line is pretty simple: Major Taylor was built at great taxpayer expense (I've heard that Major Taylor cost upwards of $500,000 when it was built, ten years ago...)... and, it would really be kinda stupid to spend even more money, just to tear it down. That would definitely not be an acceptable "return on the taxpayers' investment" in our kids, folks. Lets figure out a way to preserve and protect this resource for the skaters of the future.

The Collection: Funhouse Skateboards

My collection of skateboards just keep growing my leaps and bounds over here. This week, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Funhouses:




Ahhh... a classic! The OG "Ticket Puncher". This is the board that I spent most of my time on, during my 2008 Summer Tour. I got my first one as a freebie from JJ himself, for an old Concrete Wave product review. Great board, but a little small, wheelbase-wise. So, I re-drilled it 1" longer, and went with that. And, it seriously rocked after that. Once I had that little secret stuffed under my belt, I went ahead and ordered another three or four Punchers, along with a couple of the limited edition, all-black "Golden Ticket Punchers". But, the OG "tester" is the only one I've ever ridden, 'cuz they're practically indestructible. Set up with Indy 169's, 60mm 92a NOS Bullets, and Bennett Big Red Rubbers (on the bottom) to keep everything swiveling nicely.





This is from the very first run of Cherry Bombers, I believe... with the old, "short" mold, coupled with the "long", double-drilled wheelbase... which resulted in a steep-as-hell nose and tail. Perfect for small-transition skating, though... like the shallow end of bowls, or the short quarterpipes at the far end of Bloomington's park. Makes 'Hell Concave' look sooo wussy, by comparison. Set up with Indy 169's, and 60mm 95a NOS Bullets.




This one's a "Mini Ticket Puncher", the "cruiser" of the [old] line. Unlike most "cruisers", though, this one has a fully functional, twin-kick, and steep-ass concave. JJ's artwork is so iconic... like, it was meant to be put on skateboards, and nothing else. The detail is absolutely incredible. And, JJ is the coolest guy you could ever imagine... a solid program that I end up supporting over and over and over again [obviously]. Set up with Bennett 4.3's, 62mm 78a Alligators, and OG Big Red Rubbers [again].


I actually have a lot more Funhouses in the archives... Big Fish, Jack The Drippers, and on and on. Some are out on loan here and there (Jeremy, y'ever set up that Dripper, for pete's sakes...?!)... but, these three are generally, my go-to Funhouses. I racked up many a good memory on these. And, if JJ could ever figure out how to stop selling out of everything (he's gettin' purtty popular these days...), I might finally be able to pick up a few more...! Let's pray together, okay...?

Thanks for everything, big fella. I'll call in an order soon enough...

Window Shopping: Tailtap, May 2010

This is a column that I've been wanting to do for a minute or so now. Basically, it's a fun chance for me to drool all over my laptop, while I'm checking out all of the cool-ass shit that I'd probably be buying, if my bank account weren't perpetually running on empty. Damn skateboards, man. More addictive than crack, I tell ya. Anyway: The first installment is a quick go-round at Tailtap (www.tailtap.com), to see what they're not selling me today, because I am one broke-ass bloke...






First of all, Buddy Carr (and his lovely, Traci) are fully cool-ass people. Seriously. Buddy's got some deep roots in skateboarding, and he's a straight ripper to boot. And, Traci's a wonderful lady with a killer accent. So, calling over there is always a treat. Maybe Buddy will pony up, and send over some skate-photos of some of his classic, fully-lapped smith grinds in ridiculous-sized bowls, because they're boss as hell. One can only hope...

Tailtap specializes in hard-to-find, classic skateboards from the '70s and the '80s, with a modern twist. Many of the brands that they deal with, are true legends of skateboarding. And likewise, they're [generally] not readily available, almost anywhere else. Very few shops have the depth of selection that Tailtap has. And some of their stuff is so exclusive, that it's only available at Tailtap.

Tailtap prides themselves on impeccable customer service. I'd say that it's "pretty good", most of the time. Only once did they piss me off... which isn't that bad, I suppose. On the other hand: There's always a ton of "freebies" in my packages, they're always packed carefully, and they always arrive on time. So, all in all, they've got a pretty good track record with me.

Alrighty, on with the drooling we go...!






Apparently, this was Tailtap's best seller of 2009: The Alva '77, complete with Bennetts and Alligators. So classic, man. I especially like the multi-view photos that Tailtap does [from time to time]; that's always helpful when we're buying in an online world. Just $159. Not too shabs!






Ahhhhhhh! Here's what I mean by "rare, and hard-to-find"! A classic Bahne Bob Mohr "Bullet" complete, set up with Bennetts and Alligators again. Just look at those tapered wheelwells! Beautiful. A measly $145?! Nutty.






The brand-new(ish) Bennett "Locker Rocker". Meant to be a quick little commuting-to-class bullet, it features a nose hole for hanging up in the locker, on your wall at home, or locking up to a bike rack... I'm not so sure about that last one, though. Wheels and trucks can still be swiped... but, it's a cute little fucker. Wish I had one... or, at least side pics of the board, so I can see if it has any concave or not. Another $159.00 swoop in the making.






Dogtown Matt Archbold model, with GFH Fatties, and Randals. This is skateboarding in the raw, kiddies. If it had Bennetts on it, I'd say go get one, find a pool, and start learning how to truly rip. Again with the $159 dealy.






The strikingly beautiful, $321.00 Loaded Dervish, complete with Orangatangs and Paris trucks... although, those look like Randals to my eyes. One of our perpetual "best of" winners here at The Life. Feel it.






Tunnel always comes up with the coolest shit. Here's the new "Baldy Pipeline" model, set up with Bennett Vectors and Tunel Rocks. If yu ever wanted to skate like a legit Z-Boy, here's your best chance. The subtle (but effective) spoon-nose concave is a Tunnel trademark (It's the same concave used on the slightly smaller "Retro" complete), and it allows you to fully max this bad boy out in roundwall situations. The 8.5" width is a huge improvement in the bowl-ability of this puppy... and, as I recall, the wheelbase is pretty generous, too. This, is my personal must-get for 2010...





Here's what happens when my slacker-ass slacks off: Shit sells out! Dammit...! And, they even leave the photo up, just to make me weep myself to sleep every night. Thanks, guys...! I love you, too...





I knew I shoulda never left the "completes" section. Classic Cadillac Wheels poster repros, only eight bucks each. I need to swindle a raise, dude. No joke.





Big. Wide. Hard. Conical. And, mach-speed fast. Rainskates. Some of the best in the biz...


I think that's enough masochism for one night, broham. Go swipe some of this shit before I can, you lucky dawg you. "Ask for a raise"... I got it. Laters!

Product Review: Pressure Drop RD42

Editor's Note: We originally reviewed this for Concrete Wave Magazine [online]... oh, maybe three years ago now? When CW re-built their website, the review somehow got vaporized into oblivion, somewhere. We decided to re-review it, because it kicks so much ass. Believe me, it's well deserved.




Here she is! She's a beauty, ain't she...?


Just The Facts, Ma'am:

Width: 9.75"
Length: 42"
Wheelbase: Just shy of 32"
Nose: 2.75"
Tail: 3.00"

Construction: A burly 12 mm thick slab of concaved Birch, with a gloss black formica finish. Very stiff, very tough.

Concave: A straight-through 1/2". No nose kick, tail kick, rocker... nothing. All concave, all the time.

Price: $80.00, direct from Pressure Drop (www.pressuredroplongboards.com)


The Set Up:



As you can see, the concave runs straight through the board, with no other bends or kicks anywhere. Note the wedged front Bennett, and the de-wedged rear. This results in a super-turny front, and a more stable rear... great for minimizing (or, eliminating) "speed wobbles".


I've had this set up a number of ways, but my favorite is probably when it's set up with wedged/de-wedged Benett 6.0's (front, and back); 71mm 78a Bennett bottle-green Alligators; 1 1/2" Shorty's hardware (because, it's guaranteed not to break); and, Ninja 7's.

71mm 81a (red) 'Gators spend a lot of time on this, too. Greens for cruisin', reds for racin'.


The Good:

This board kicks so much ass, where do I even begin...?!

Let's start here: What this board was actually designed for, is unlimited downhill and ditch racing. Think Indian School, or The Bear. We're not talking the pussy-sized little things that you see around most interstates to move water to and fro. The Bear, is fucking massive. If you've never seen it, Google it.

Basically: This board was designed to cope with Hell On Concrete. Ridiculous speeds, and unrelenting torture. That immediately explains why it's built so tough.

Of course: Living in Indianapolis, Indiana is sort of like living in the middle of the world's biggest cornfield. Not a hill anywhere for miles. So, there's no way to really "test" this thing in it's designed realm. Not for me, at least.

So, what do I do with it?! Lots of speedy, long-distance cruising. Mostly, day-trips down The Monon Trail... a 12-mile-long (plus) paved walkway/bikeway that runs straight through Indy. It drops about 500 feet over those 12 miles... an almost imperceptible incline. Yet, this thing builds up enough speed to get my ass stopped by bike cops. For booking it at 35mph. On a slight incline. Nutty.




Close-up of the wedged Bennett/Alligator setup. For racing or serious downhilling, a cantilever truck... such as a Randal 180, or a Paris 195... would be better. But, for pumping in and out of foot and/or automobile traffic? This setup works the best.


Being a thick-ass top-mount, and set up with the risers and the taller-based Bennett 6.0's, it is a bit high off the ground. No worries: You can easily (and, quickly) pump a ton of speed out of this thing. No need to touch the ground at all, really. Three or four pushes, and you're gone for the day.

Basically: Set up as it is, this thing hauls ass, yet pumps not unlike a GS slalom board. The best of both worlds, really: Massive straight-line speed, and quick-response maneuverability.

This board has been run into hundreds of curbs by skaters that, unfamiliar with it's speed potential, wilson it into whatever happens to be in front of them. Walls, cars, little kids, whatever. Barely has a dent in it. "Tough As Nails" ain't got shit on this brute. They really do need to start building tougher kids, though...

The graphics, are nonexistent. Just a glass-black mirror-finish, and a small and nondescript "Pressure Drop" logo. I added some sticker-love over the years... but, I like the Spinal Tap black-ness. It's pretty bad ass. Fits the board quite nicely, I must say.

The ride is remarkably smooth, for such a thick and burly deck. The concave is deep, and comfortable. It effectively locks in your feet, while also aiding in quick rail-to-rail response for linking turns. Birch has a tendency to absorb and dissipate lots of bumps and vibrations... much more so than Maple does... so, it's smooth as butter. It gives the general feeling of flying around on an extremely quick and nimble cloud at all times. I like that.

The Bad:

When you buy a board like this, and you want to get the most out of it... it's very, very important to invest a few good, hard-earned dollars to set it up well, and set it up right. It ain't cheap. Use the best that money can buy, and you'll love it forever and ever. Think of it as an "investment" instead of an "expense", and you're good to go.

The other thing is: The "versatility" of this board is extremely limited. It's basically designed to do one thing, and to do that one thing excessively well. If you don't like moving around at terminal velocity? Don't buy this board.


The Final Verdict:

If ridiculous straight-line speeds, a good day's pumping workout, or long-distance skating (or, commuting) are your bag? Then, absolutely: This is the best buy you'll ever make. Laters.