Last weekend a serious bowl contest went on down under. Bondi Beach, Australia played host to skaters from all over the world at the Vans Bowl-A-Rama When the coping dust settled, Pedro Barros took top honors above Bucky Lasek and Bob Burnquist. In the Masters Division, Steve Caballero reigned supreme. Our friends from ESPN Brazil were on the scene and got us some exclusive video from the event.
The Focus Magazine Trade Show in Philadelphia appears to have been an overwhelming success. Rounded up some video footage of the shindig. This first edit is from Andrew Cohen.
I’m glad that Chris Nieratko gets paid for writing and running shops, because he can’t film for shit. Here’s his footage from the Focus Trade Show mini-ramp contest.
ESPN’s Josh Brooks caught up with Reese Forbes to discuss his recent departure from Skate Mental and getting back in the mix with Michael Leon at Stacks.
After this footage of Cory Kennedy surfaced a little over a week ago, it apparently blew up the internet. Catching the attention of NJ Skateshop Owner/Vice/ESPN writer and new father Chris Nieratko who took upon himself to call Cory to get the inside scoop on the trick now dubbed the Merlin Twist.
Dean Dickinson, Bruce Crisman and Justin Inman give a first hand account of the flipped Jeep action at Burnside that was all over the internet last month.
Steve has a bunch of cool things going on. He recently wrapped up a huge tour, aptly titled “The Gypsy Tour” and there is a full length documentary about the bicycle company he founded in 1993 on tour right now. I thought it was fitting to ask him some questions about those things and some other tidbits that you may or may not care about. Check it out below. Continue..
I must admit, I know little to nothing about the current state of flatland. I know a few of the bigger names and some of the larger events but that’s where it ends. With that said, I really enjoy flatland. I always have. Ever since Day Smith’s part in Hoffman Bikes’ Madd Matt, it has intrigued me. There’s something about the lack of things needed in order to do it that really draws me to it. If you’ve got your bike and a good spot, you’re all set. One of the things I don’t like is how segregated it is from other disciples of BMX and I can’t help that is a problem of both sides.
Either way, a couple of interesting flatland related things popped up on the internet recently. One being an interview with Trevon Hall by Brian Tunney of ESPN BMX. Trevon Hall is a Trinidadian flatlander who was sick of sharing the basketball courts and eventually got designated flatland spot. The other is Matt Wilhelm’s newest Dan’s Comp commercial. I don’t get how he spins so fast. Read the interview here, watch the Wilhelm video below and while you’re at it head over to Fat Tony’s site for more flatland related goodness.
ESPN Action Sports is pretty awesome. Not only do they keep you updated with news like Gabe Kling being down but not out and cool articles like this, but they (particularly the surf writers) keep you posted on all the weird business sides of action sports. It’s kind of like reading Transworld Business but with less jargon. Today I was reading about how Nike almost bought Burton and about all the companies that are under the same roof. It’ funny to think of the Converse skateboarding market and then realize that Nike actually owns Cons. The best “one roof” is all the weed companies. Billabong owns Element and Dakine, as well as slightly less funny, Nixon and VZ. I wonder if McKinney’s got any calls for Revenge? I bet Bong knows they’d make a killing off those grips from every burnt out surfer with a beach cruiser. If you wanna read the full article, check it out here.