It's summer again and it's time to build. IT'S GO TIME!
This is the kick off for the next Board Builder's Online Build Off Contest.
For those of you that are new to our little game here it is in a nut shell. This is a contest where you post pictures of a skateboard you built and we all vote on which we think is the best built board. Now by built I mean built. From the ground up. You press and shape your own board and then finish it. This is a great way for people to see how it's done and for builders to show off their skills.
We've been doing these for a few years now and they just keep getting better. The talent just keeps growing and improving. Many first time builders have entered these contests and later gone on to become real professional custom board builders. You never know. You could be the next superstar builder just waiting to be. So please feel free to try your hand at building and even enter a board. The Board Builder's Forum is one of the most informational places you could ever go to to find out all you need to know about building your own skateboards. So check it out.
The O.G. “Down Souther” Longboarder, Jeff Tatum is always coming up with new “old” photos. Predictably, many of them feature JT grabbing some air on a longboard –whether the photo is 30 years old, or from yesterday. These just came into the ‘Fish, with a note from JT…
Where the Heck is This and What’s he Skating?
Genuine, 1970's Longboarding.
JT writes, "Braaaaaaaaaah! Another rare JT pic of the month! Everytime I post stuff in my gallery on the ‘Fish, I’m just blown away by how many skaters can nail down when the photo was taken and what the skateboard is. These guys are way better than my memory! I can tell you all about the pools and how they skated, but who knows when it all was! So, here’s one for the historians: can you tell me where this was, what kinda wheels, pads, trucks???"
Ex G&S teamrider from the 1970's and current scion of Skogging Chris Yandall (a.k.a. "The Wild Samoan") was arrested by San Diego Police for skateboarding with his girlfriend on their way to the beach for some skating.
According to Yandall, they were in the Pacific Beach area, skating toward the Mission Beach Boardwalk, when he carved into the street to avoice some pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk. Yandall used the Bike Lane to get around the sidewalk traffic, but then had to avoid yet another pedestrian that stepped out into the bike lane with a small child in tow. Yandall, who can turn on a dime with one foot on the board, tossed down a hard turn and footbrake to stop fully right in front of the flustered Dad, who apologized and went back up onto the sidewalk. Yandall apparently laughed it off and headed up the bike lane for a few yards, then back up a driveway onto the sidewalk.
This might be just another "no big deal" part of the silver-crested Samoan's day, but our men in blue were nearby, witnessing this horrible crime with mouths agape in horror. You, gentle readers, will be glad to know that the public safety was preserved, order was maintained and this may make a permanent mark on someone's record!
Have you heard of the Downhill Divas?Stoked shredders, coaches and “students”, they skate pools, parks, slalom, slide and speed throughout North America and include skaters ranging from your big sister to speedboarders Judith Rogers & Carly Richardson, all-arounders like Isabelle Fried & Judi Oyama, & cone rippers Lynn Kramer and Cat Young.Now, the gang are bringing their Women-Only skate club events back to San Diego and the Central Coast!
SKATE LIKE A GIRL!
We've managed to sneak our crews into past Diva clinics, and we've reported to you how totally organized and stoked Isabelle and her team are. The Divas is open to all female skaters, regardless of experience! Are you just learning to skate, and looking for a fun, supportive place to learn and work on skating technique without your pesky boyfriend or hubby trying to tell you how "he'd do it"? Ha Ha!! Are you already shredding, but want to learn about sliding, slalom or speedboarding? Isabelle and her crew include Divas that were "new" just like you not too long ago, and skaters at the very top of womens' competitive skateboarding.It’s open, stoked and fun!
[We recently were working on a project that required an in depth look at the history that makes the sport we engage in, what it is. In the research we cam across the website of Jim Goodrich. The obvious wealth of knowledge he has about the sport and his personal experiences are laid out in a well researched timeline of skateboarding . Granted many people are sighted as sources but you have to give credit where it's due. Read on and learn.]
Skateboard History Timeline - 1920s to 2007
This timeline is primarily the result of input from skaters and those who were directly involved in skateboarding's history. However, it is still a work in progress as I receive additional input. Compiled by Jim Goodrich. Revised July 2007. Contributors and sources are listed at the end [This is published with explicit permission from Jim Goodrich. The author holds all copyrights to this work.]
1920s - The first known skateboard type product is a three-wheeled, stamped metal device with pedal-car like wheels, and an adjustable heel cup and toe clip. Usually sold in pairs with a set of poles, they are apparently designed to mimic cross-country skiing. It has a 3" by 10" riding surface, and no steering mechanism.
1930s - Another three-wheeled device, the "Scooter Skate" is a skateboard/scooter hybrid; it can be ridden with its included handle or without. The bulbous rocket-ship style metal deck has a riding surface of 6 1/2" by 13", with steel roller-skate style wheels. There is no turning or steering mechanism.
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