Lat34.com Quick Hits Action Sports News Blog

Who's Your Favorite Skater?

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:43:00 EST

I know that you�ve always wondered who my favorite skateboarders of all time are. I know that you�ve been losing sleep at night because of this. I�ve been leaving you hanging for some time now but today is your lucky day because I�m finally going to reveal who I enjoy the most. So here it goes... My favorite skaters to watch live. 1. Rick Kosick 2. Paul Higgins (ESPN Analyst for X-Games Asia) 3. Christian Slater My favorite skate parts. 1. Pat Chanita (H-Street Video just because of his red shoes) 2. Joey Surrell (World Video when they jump that poor kid at Lockwood) 3. Christian Slater (Gleaming the Cube) Anyway, now that you feel fulfilled with my favorite skater picks, check out this video from SGV where a few skaters give their thoughts on their favorites.

Shaun White Looking Good In Vogue

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:42:00 EST

If you were to ask any random person on earth who doesn�t know Shaun White, �What do you think his profession is?� I think the majority of people asked would say, �That young man is definitely a model�. Well that or a cast member of Cirque Du Soleil. He�s not really a model but has made it into Vogue, which I�m sure is one of his life long dreams. Be sure that when you�re at your local magazine stand buying Thrasher, Big Brother, and Transworld Skateboarding, to get the latest copy of Vogue. It�s the one with Giselle Bundchen the cover. Come to think of it, maybe that's why you should buy it.

Women's Rip Curl Pro Sets Semifinals

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:41:00 EST

The men closed out the second round of the Rip Curl this morning before handing over the waves to the ladies, who powered through Round Three. There were no huge upsets, though Silvana Lima and Jacqueline Silva did get knocked out. Check out the full results below for the round three results and the semifinal match-ups. For more about the events you can check out aspworldtrour.com. Rip Curl Women�s Pro pres. by Ford Fiesta Round 3 Results Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.76 def. Nicola Atherton (AUS) 8.83 Heat 2: Layne Beachley (AUS) 16.96 def. Serena Brooke (AUS) 6.83 Heat 3: Megan Abubo (HAW) 12.33 vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 12.00 Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.84 def. Karina Petroni (USA) 7.26 Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.33 def. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 7.83 Heat 6: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 14.67 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 12.27 Heat 7: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.97 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 10.33 Heat 8: Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 10.00 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 7.03 Rip Curl Women�s Pro pres. by Ford Fiesta Quarterfinals Match-Ups QF 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) vs. Layne Beachley (AUS) QF 2: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) QF 3: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) QF 4: Amee Donohoe (AUS) vs. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)

Shaun White Dominates US Open Slopestyle; Buaas Leads Women

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:41:00 EST

Shaun White hasn't hit that many events this season but when he does, he makes it count. The red-haired wonder dominated the Burton US Open Slopestyle finals on Friday with a huge run full of 900s and even a BS 1080. Because White hasn't participated in many events this season, he finds himself in the top 20 for the season's TTR results. Tomorrow's halfpipe contest will be the final event of the season and determine the overall TTR champ, llikely to be Kevin Pearce, but Peetu Piiroinen and Risto Mattila are also in the running.after placing in the top ten results for the Slopestyle contest. The women's TTR leader going into the US Open, Torah Bright, missed the Slopestyle finals but Jamie Anderson didn't and moved into the top TTR spot with a #2 finish. However, Bright is likely to gain some ground back tomorrow in the halfpipe contest. Next week's Roxy Chicken Jam will be the final women�s event of the Tour. Norway's Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas won the Slopestyle contest on Friday. Check out this story for the full results from the event and more about the Slopestyle finals..

Aloha Volcom Squatters

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:40:00 EST

The Volcom team packed up and rolled through Hawaii, touring the island paradise with humble means by sleeping in hobo like conditions. Floors of a gutted abandoned building was their Hawaiian resort. It�s hard to believe that Volcom couldn�t put them up in something slightly nicer like a Motel 6 or even a hostel but I guess this tour shows that they are real cowboys; cowboys in Hawaii. What did this mean for Angel Ramirez, Caswell Berry, Brandon Westgate and Nike Trapasso? It meant a lot of dust, dirt, cold water, no accessibility to the outside world and one hell of a good time judging on the photo below. Check out the video filmed and edited by Thad Croskey and I�m sure it will inspire you to become a hobo just like I was. As a matter of fact, I�m going outside right now to roll around in my dog�s poo.

Matt Beach Wins a Youtube Award

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:39:00 EST

If you�re an online nerd like me, you probably know that the 2007 Youtube.com awards were just awarded and if you�ve seen any of these videos, you�re probably thinking, �How the heck did this win?� There were only a few videos that I thought were really cool. Like for instance the video that won best music video. It had a pretty catchy hook but the entire song is the hook and the song got a little annoying after a while. But you have to check this video out. I swear, this kid�s voice is amazing. You look at his face and the voice that comes out is the last sound on earth you would ever imagine coming out of that mouth. Pretty crazy isn�t it? I wonder what he will sound like when he hits puberty. Then there�s the award for best sports video. And guess what? It�s a skate video. This video is really dope actually and reminds me of a Sony Bravia spot called �Balls� but this one is less dramatic and I think could have been a little better. The concept definitely deserves the award though. The skater in it is Matt Beach and was shot in Portland Oregon.

Bam Margera / Chris Cole in Element Vid

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:12:00 EST

The world needs more Bam Margera. And actually more Chris Cole ain't bad, either. Check out the latest episode of Element TV (#71 if you're counting) which shows off Bam having some fun in his new private park with Chris Cole and Kerry Getz. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. I have done all the work for you and put the video below, but you can always check out more at the Element site.

No Action For Bells in Day One

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:11:00 EST

There was no action today (Tuesday) for the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach for the guys. It was the first day of the holding period for the men's contest while the women's contest holding period starts tomorrow (the 19th). But since we're talking Australia it will be tomorrow later today. I'm confused. Oh well, just be sure to check out the official site starting about 10 hours from now to see if the event's on. Until then, check out the Rip Curl-sponsored world champion surfers next to the Bells' Beach trophy. Mick Fanning did win here in 2001, while Stephanie Gilmore was champ in 2007.

Konttinen Wins at Quiksilver Snow Jam

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:10:00 EST

The beautiful landscape of the Czech Republic was the setting for the Swatch TTR 3-Star Quiksilver Snow Jam this past weekend in Pec pod Snezkou. The contest was a slope style setup blessed with a blanket of snowfall the night before getting everyone ready for the first day of qualifiers. It was Teo Konttinen from Finland who was takes the 3-Star Title and 550 TT R Ranking points, plus the 1st place cash prize of the 12 thousand euro purse. The evening was set for the leading 20 riders to compete in the Quiksilver Snow Jam best trick contest. Each best tricked earned the riders 50 Euros in cash. That�s just enough cash for some late night drinking and partying; a sport, which the Czech�s dominate. Check out the Top Ten Results for the Quiksilver Snow Jam 1. Teo Konttinen FIN 2. Matti Kinnunen FIN 3. Martin Cernik CZE 4. Marc Swoboda AUT 5. Jan Zajic CZE 6. Jesse Rontti FIN 7. Matej Novak CZE 8. Tuomas Alapieti FIN 9. Ville Paumola FIN 10. Matej Matys SVK

Darkstar Southern Tour

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:10:00 EST

Darkstar took a skateboard tour this past summer across the South. The clean and squeaky south. Here is a quick edited montage of their skate park demos with skaters Chet Thomas, Paul Machnau, Gailea Momolou, PLG, Terell Robinson, and more.

Official Skate Contest in Sacto

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:09:00 EST

It�s official; streetwear hat brand Official will be holding its �Will Skate For Money� skate contest on April 6th. If you have never heard of Official before they are mostly a streetwear brand that do the occasional skate collaboration. It was conceptualized by Jason Maggio who is founder of street culture magazine Vapors, in December 2006. They constantly keep a fresh flow of hat designs to their shops. They�re pretty fresh so check them out. Click here for past episodes of Official. Anyway the contest takes place at a secret location until announced on April 5th one of the most colorful and romantic cities in the United States; Sacramento (a.k.a. "cow-town"). There�s a $300 prize for best trick so check it out if you have a dope trick in your arsenal of tricks. But just promise that if you show up, try not to look as bummed as the kid in the flyer below.

The Basics With Paul Rodriguez

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:09:00 EST

Have you ever wished you could do a backside 5-0 grind? Well here�s your chance because Paul Rodriguez or as they call him on the streets �Rod Rig� will teach you on another edition of Plan B�s. �The Basics� Now when you watch this, don�t think you will be able to grind as long or as cleanly as Rod Rig. And I think the demonstration he provides is due to his pristine truck sponsor Silver, which he so proudly represents on his t-shirt. Anyway, watch this and then go outside and learn. Then come back inside to be disappointed and then turn on your Sony Playstation.

Botner Victory at Nordic Open

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:08:00 EST

The $10,000 Swatch TTR 3-Star Nordic Open at the Hemsedal Park in Norway took place this weekend with beautiful conditions and perfect weather (until the finals). Hemesdal is one of the sickest parks in all of Europe and rider Eric Botner took full advantage of home court to take first place after results were taken from the semi-finals due to a blizzard canceling the finals. On the women�s side, Norwegian rider Sigri Heen took home first place and 550 TTR Ranking Points. Go to the snowboard-mag for more info and pics.

Epicly Later'd Episode 14: John Cardiel

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:08:00 EST

Man, this John Cardiel series of Epicly Later�d is going to make for a really good documentary. I hope they release this in full some day. This episode chronicles the events and settings that lead up to John getting paralyzed during the filming of Tent City. It�s a really heartbreaking story to see how everyone there reacted to the accident and how things just seemed to abruptly change for all of them.

Jackass Steve-o Committed

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:37:00 EST

Speaking of Jackassworld (see the item below), the site has an update on Steve-O, the Jackass/Wild Boy who was hospitalized a few days ago. You may have heard about it (if you don't read TMZ, well, then we're telling you about it now) but more details have come out. First off, Johnny Knoxville introduces the blog post by telling everyone that he and a group of six friends (Jeff Tremaine, Big Regg, Swizz, Rick Kosick, Dimitry Elyashkevich, Cordell Mansfield and Trip Taylor) went, with the blessings of Steve-O's family to confront him at his apartment to convince him to get help for a spiraling out of control life. When Steve-O refused, they had him committed. Ouch. We told him we wanted him to get help and when he refused we told him we were taking him to get help regardless of what he wanted. It was a helluva thing to have to do and a sad thing to do but it was the right thing to do. I lost a lot of tears when I came home from admitting Steve-O into the 5150 ward and I�m not ashamed to say I�ve lost a few tears since. Knoxville wrote. Then he introduces a note from Steve-O himself, sent to friends by his assistant. Here's an excerpt: I figured that, since I am an extraordinarily �tough� individual, I could handle it, and my legacy would be comprised of only that which could be described as �intense.� After four days in a psychiatric ward, a.k.a. �looney bin,� a.k.a. �cuckoo�s nest,� it has dawned on me that a great deal of what I produced, while on narcotics-induced �highs,� was a bunch of manic bullsh*t that made little-to-no sense and, furthermore, was devastating to those who love me the most. At this point, I am no longer �5150-status,� which was the three-day �hold� on me, resulting from suicidal behavior. I am now �5250-status,� which means that the �hold� has been extended to 14 days, for the exact same reasons. I�m not getting out of this �insane asylum� any time in the immediate future, so I�m going to learn as much from the experience as possible. So far, I�ve figured out that I did a great deal of damage to my brain by abusing drugs and, now that they�ve all worn off, I�m facing the consequences. I suppose it is an ironic �eye for an eye� situation that I am in, coping with the lowest �lows� that I�ve ever experienced as a form of punishment for the emotional distress that I have put my loved ones through with the self-destructive behavior that led me here. It's heavy stuff. And he's obviously reached the bottom of that valley that many addicts and people with destructive behavior have to get to before they can climb back out. You should check it out. Let's hope this is the start of something positive. And to show that Knoxville and company haven't lost their sense of humor about this, check out the image they have accompanying the blog entry. Lol!

Colby West Gets Double Honors at Ski Halfpipe at 48Straight in Sun Valley

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:36:00 EST

Colby West put a nice cap on his season by taking the Paul Mitchell Halfpipe Competition at the 48Straight event at Sun Valley, ID, and in the process taking the season-long title. Coming in second was J.P. Solberg and Simon Dumont took third. Following the halfpipe event, the skiers took part in the "Monster Hit" compeition, which essentially was a best trick contest. Peter Olenick took first, followed by Solberg, Dumont and West. Check out the Jeep Skiing site for more. FINAL RESULTS � PAUL MITCHELL SKI HALFPIPE COMPETITION March 16, 2008 - Sun Valley, ID 1. Colby West � Canterbury, N.H. 92.2 2. J.P. Solberg � Waterville Valley, N.H. 90.0 3. Simon Dumont � Bethel, Maine 86.8 4. Peter Olenick � Aspen, Colo. 79.8 FINAL RESULTS � �MONSTER HIT� SKI HALFPIPE COMPETITION March 16, 2008 - Sun Valley, ID 1. Peter Olenick � Aspen, Colo. 2. J.P. Solberg � Waterville Valley, N.H. 3. Simon Dumont � Bethel, Maine 4. Colby West � Canterbury, N.H. 48STRAIGHT SEASON CHAMPION � Colby West

Mick Fanning Weds; Kelly Slater Coming to Bells

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:35:00 EST

It's been a busy weekend down under. The Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach is coming this week and after much speculation, it appears that yes, after all, Kelly Slater will be there. Slater said he didn't plan on attending after winning the first event of the season at the Gold Coast, but his fellow pros took it with a grain of salt -- with good reason. "It�s just his style," Taj Burrow told The West Australian. "He normally turns up at the last minute, even late for his heat sometimes, and blows people out of the water." Current world champ and runner up to Slater at the Quiksilver Pro Mick Fanning has other concerns -- the 26-year-old married Karissa Dalton on Saturday. "That�s his deal,� he said. "I�m not going to worry about what other people are doing." Fanning's wedding was held at a golf course on the Gold Coast and guests, including Joel Parkinson, Dean Morrison and Mark Occhilupo, dressed up in 19th-century costumes. The Rip Curl Pro could kick off as early as later today US time (which would be morning of the 18th in Australia). Check out the official site to watch action live.

Louie Vito, Kelly Clark Close Out Grand Prix Season With Wins

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:34:00 EST

After a day's delay, the halfpipe finals went down Sunday at the US Snowboarding Grand Prix finale in Killington, Vermont. Louie Vito won the men's event, as well as the overall season title -- an honor that earned him a brand-new Chevy Avalanche. For the women, Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark took also took the women's event and season title. "I'm stoked on the truck. I got beat out of the tie breaker last year so I guess I had to wait a year but now I have a fresh looking Avalanche and it feels good to get it," Vito said. Clark won the season title last year, so she had plans for her new Avalanche. "I'm going to give my truck to my dad because I won one last year. My dad really needs a new car and I think my whole family will be really happy if I give it to him." The finals were delayed thanks to poor weather on Saturday. Kicking off action in the morning was a Slopestyle session, won by Janne Korpi for the men and Claudia Fliri for the women. Read more at the US Snowboarding site. OFFICIAL RESULTS - 2008 CHEVY U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX Killington, VT - March 16, 2008 Halfpipe Men 1. Louie Vito, Columbus, OH, 45.40 2. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 44.20 3. Peetu Piiroinen, Finland, 43.90 Women 1. Kelly Clark, West Dover, VT, 46.40 2. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 43.60 3. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 39.90

Billabong Pro Mundaka Reportedly Canceled

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:47:00 EST

This year's ninth stop on the ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro in Mundaka, Spain, is reportedly being canceled. Unofficial reports have sprouted up across the web, though a message thread on ASP partner website FantasySurfer.com claims unofficial confirmation from ASP sources. The 2005 edition of the Mundaka Pro was canceled because of poor conditions due to harbor dredging and many surf fans questioned the value of the location though memorably it was at Mundaka in 2006 where Kelly Slater clinched his eighth world title (despite Bobby Martinez winning the event). Speculation is already building over where a replacement contest would be held, though Western Australia is being ruled out as it's being predicted as the location of this year's Rip Curl Pro Search in August. However, precedent points to the likelihood that there will not be a replacement named. The ASP has not had a 12-event season since 2003 and last year when contests in Fiji and Japan were dropped off the schedule, no replacements were named leaving a 10-event season, which is what would be the case again this season if Mundaka is canceled without a replacement. When it's official, we'll let you know. But until then, we'll leave you with this photo of Kelly Slater celebrating in what might be Mundaka's most memorable moment...

Don't Forget to Draft Your Fantasy Surf Team

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:53:00 EST

Surfer Magazine, in conjunction with the ASP, has its latest edition of Fantasy Surfer ready for the season. You can play it for yourself here. I've already got my first team picked out for the Quiksilver Pro and have lined up Kelly Slater, Bobby Martinez, Damien Hobgood, Bebe Durbidge, Ben Dunn, Luke Munro, Dane Reynolds and Roy Powers. You can change your lineup after every contest as long as you stay within the funds you have (you start with a $50 million budget). I know I am a little American heavy for now, but Mick Fanning is going for $12M and Taj Burrow for $11.5M so Kelly Slater's $10.5M is a relative bargain. Team name is the SoCal Swell if you care. Good luck everyone!

South African Surfing Awards Honors Jordy Smith

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:52:00 EST

If I saw Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Ryan Sheckler, and Shaun White, all on a ballot for the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award, I would totally vote for Paul Higgins, the ESPN Asian X-Games announcer. Unfortunately, he's not on the ballot. So my second choice would have to be the kid with the bright shining smile, SHAUN WHITE! And YES! He did win the Action Sportsperson of the Year Award. I hope he celebrates with honor, by inviting Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Ryan Sheckler to his celebration party. And if possible, Paul Higgins. In other news, Roger Federer of Switzerland won the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year Award. Too bad he couldn't win the Aussie Open.

AST Dew Tour Announces 2008 Schedule

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:51:00 EST

The AST Dew Tour, the world's premier season-long action sports tour, today announced its schedule for the 2008 season (June-October). In addition to returning to Portland, Ore. and Orlando for the fourth time, the Tour will stop in Baltimore, Cleveland and Salt Lake City for the second consecutive season. "We are very excited about returning to Portland and Orlando after three successful seasons, and are eager to bring the AST Dew Tour back to our newest host cities, Baltimore, Cleveland and Salt Lake City," said Wade Martin, president of AST. "All five host cities have demonstrated great support of action sports and we know the fans will embrace the Tour in even greater numbers in 2008." The complete 2008 AST Dew Tour schedule is as follows: Event Date Location Panasonic Open June 19-22 Baltimore, Md.�Camden Yards Sports Complex Right Guard Open July 17-20 Cleveland, OH�North Coast Harbor Wendy's Invitational Aug. 21-24 Portland, Ore.�Rose Quarter Toyota Challenge Sept. 11-14 Salt Lake City, UT�EnergySolutions Arena PlayStation� Pro Oct. 16-19 Orlando, Fla.�Amway Arena Entering its fourth year, the AST Dew Tour is the most watched and attended action sports property in the world. Attendance for the 2007 AST Dew Tour totaled nearly 300,000 and an average of 41 million viewers tuned in via NBC and USA each year. The top athletes in the world will take part in this year's Tour, all competing for the highly coveted Dew Cup that will be awarded in Orlando at season's end to champions in each of the six disciplines. The 2007 Dew Cup winners include Nate Adams (Freestyle Motocross), Jamie Bestwick (BMX Vert), Ryan Nyquist (BMX Dirt), Daniel Dhers (BMX Park), Shaun White (Skateboard Vert) and Ryan Sheckler (Skateboard Park). Entering its fourth year, the AST Dew Tour is the most watched and attended action sports property in the world. Attendance for the 2007 AST Dew Tour totaled nearly 300,000 and an average of 41 million viewers tuned in via NBC and USA each year. The top athletes in the world will take part in this year's Tour, all competing for the highly coveted Dew Cup that will be awarded in Orlando at season's end to champions in each of the six disciplines. The 2007 Dew Cup winners include Nate Adams (Freestyle Motocross), Jamie Bestwick (BMX Vert), Ryan Nyquist (BMX Dirt), Daniel Dhers (BMX Park), Shaun White (Skateboard Vert) and Ryan Sheckler (Skateboard Park).

Surfer Missing Following ASR San Diego Show

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:07:00 EST

This note from Hurley following the ASR show this weekend: Dane Williams from the Hurley Marketing Dept. has been missing since Friday night at ASR (Action Sports Retailers Tradeshow). He was last seen Friday night at close to 2 am by the Hard Rock Cafe outside of the Marriott Gaslamp in San Diego. We are worried because no one has had contact with him since then. If you have heard from him or seen him, please contact the San Diego police department (619) 525-8400) or call: Amy- 714-553-4375 Jessica- 714-330-6952 Danny-714-613-2369 Or his parents Jim and Valen- 714-960-1341 Dane is pictured at right.

Torey Pudwell...Your Lord Of The Lines

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:25:00 EST

While most of our attention might have been on Aspen this weekend for Winter X 12, there was a contest going on farther south that involved no amount of snow. We're talking about Matix's Lord Of The Lines skate contest that popped off in the midst of the ASR Trade Show in San Diego. The unique contest involves a setup that challenges its skaters to come up with the most creative line using a pre-determined set of manny pads/ledge boxes, one that will be used by every skater in the contest, hence the name of the contest. Well this year's event saw the title of Lord Of The Lines bestowed upon DVS/Matix skater (hmmmm favoritism???) Torey Pudwill who was followed by eS skater Bobby Worrest in second, and everyone's favorite Joey, Joey Brezinski, in third. The three shared a prize purse of $16,000 and bragging rights until next year. For more on how the LOTL contest went down check out the footage Transworld put up from the event here and also their photos from the event here.

Surfing Mag Interviews 5 From 'The New Crop'

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:23:00 EST

Some might say that '07 featured the best class of emerging surfers in quite some time, what with the dominant form shown by Jordy Smith on the WQS and the appearance of the new European wonder Tiago Pires among other notable rising stars. With that in mind Surfing magazine decided to gather five such surfers, Smith, Tiago, Dayne Reynolds, Jay Thompson, and Ben Bourgeois, whom they deem as "The New Crop", and interview them to find out where their heads are at and how it got there. The group interview was originally published in print but thanks to Al Gore and Uncle Technology (brother of Father Time and Mother Nature) the internet gets a shot at an extended version of that interview. You can check Surfing Magazine interview "The New Crop" here. Also on a related note check out how Surfline ranked the pros with the close of 2007 here.

Shaun White Dominates Superpipe For Gold at Winter X 12

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:22:00 EST

Shaun White didn't qualify first in the Men's Superpipe at Winter X 12 yesterday and he was quick to remedy that injustice by coming in with a huge first run out of three, scoring a 93.00. But he didn't stop there. In heavy snow that slowed other riders, White pulled out a huge third run including a Frontside 1260, a Frontside 1080 and a Frontside 900 and Backside 900. White scored a 96.66, coming close to his record score of 97.67 set in 2003 on the Superpipe. The win also gave him his 12th overall Winter X medal and tied him with Tanner Hall as the only athletes to get Gold seven times. Also, White became the first athlete to win gold in the Superpipe three times. Japanese sensation Ryo Aono, who did qualify first yesterday had a strong first run, scoring an 88.00, but his second run was a throwaway and his third the same. Mason Aguirre, who qualified third, was in third until Kevin Pearce took his final run, pulling an 85.66 to edge Aguirre for the Bronze. In the beginning of the competition, snow was falling but it cleared up by the time Aguirre and the top qualifiers took their first run. However, the snow was back in the third round, just in time to affect the top six boarders. Though White and Pearce were pretty much unaffected by the snow, Aguirre, Aono and Danny Kass all seemed to have problems...For more on the Superpipe Finals check the official recap here. The Superpipe was the final event of the day and of the Winter X Games 12. For all of the results from the day, plus photos and more, check out our Winter X Games coverage home... SNOWBOARD SUPERPIPE MEN�S FINAL Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Sunday, January 27, 2008 Name / Bib # / Hometown / Score 1. Shaun White / 347 / Carlsbad, Calif. / 96.66 2. Ryo Aono / 324 / Matsuyama City, Japan / 88.00 3. Kevin Pearce / 343 / Norwich, Vt. / 85.66 4. Mason Aguirre / 300 / Mammoth, Calif. / 84.33 5. Kazuhiro Kokubo / 377 / Sapporo, Japan / 83.00 6. Antti Autti / 329 / Rovaniemi, Finland / 82.00 7. Danny Kass / 337 / Portland, Ore. / 81.00 8. Iouri Podladtchikov / 384 / Zurich, Switzerland / 73.66 9. Gary Zebrowski / 388 / Papeete, Tahiti / 65.00 10. Elijah Teter / 385 / Belmont, Vt. / 52.33

Peter Ramondetta, Garret Reynolds Win at Simpel Session 08

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:21:00 EST

The BMX Street finals at Simpel Session 08 (mentioned below) just wrapped up and Garret Reynolds ended up taking the top honor with Gary Young in second. Daniel Dhers ended up in third. Reynolds also won the Snickers BMX 180 Long Jump with an 8.5 meter jump... Full results forthcoming. Earlier in the day Peter Ramondetta (USA) won the skate street contest followed by Chris Pfanner from Austria in second. Last year's winner Enis Fazilov of Finland was third. Sierra Fiellers won the Red Bull Best Trick contest and placed ninth overall in the skate street finals. Here's the official site.

Simpel Session 08 Finals Underway

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:21:00 EST

If you're on the west coast are you awake? If so, you should be watching the live stream of the Simpel Session contest over in Estonia. You can watch it on the official site. They've got a little bit to learn about webcasting, as you hear Russian guys yelling and calling for judges, but heck, it's fun. First up will be the Skate Street finals, followed by the BMX finals later in the day. Here are the results from Saturday's qualifying sessions. For skate I know the top 18 made it to the finals because Sierra Fellers was the first skater to take to the floor. We'll post the winners later. Again, check out the webcast if you can. SKATEBOARDING QUALIFIERS: 1. Jani Laitiala FIN 2. Chris Pfanner AUT 3. Axel Cruysberghs BEL 4. Magnus Hanson CAN 5. Ondro Leskoviansky SVK 6. Tomas Vintr CZE 7. Samu Karvonen FIN 8. Peter Ramondetta USA 9. Ruben Rodriguez USA 10. Miki T�htinen FIN 11. Ross McGouran UK 12. Hugo Liard FRA 12. Niko Ojanen FIN 14. Fabian Verhaeghe BEL 15. Lukas Danek CZE 15. Harri Puupponen FIN 17 Georges Agonkouin FRA 18. Sierra Fellers USA 18. Teemu Korhonen FIN 20. Chris Astr�m SWE 21. Erik Toivanen FIN 22. Enis Fazilov FIN 23. Madars Apse LAT 23. Chris Haslam CAN 25. Gena Kakusha RUS 25. Wille M�kel� FIN 27. Sam Pairtax FRA 28. Aleksandr Tubin EST 29. Florentin Mairfaing GER 30. Hendrik Gross EST BMX QUALIFIERS: 1. Garret Reynolds USA 2. Daniel Dhers VEN 3. Scotty Cranmer USA 4. Gary Young USA 5. Tyler Morrow USA 5. Ben Hennon UK 7. Chase Hawk USA 8. Colin Mackay USA 9. Anthony Napolitan USA 9. Morgan Wade USA 11 Maxime Charveron FRA 12. Kym Grosser AUS 13. Brad Simms USA 13. Mike Miller UK 15. Bruno Hoffman GER 16. Jason Phelan IRL 17. Michael Beran CZE 17. Aaron Ross USA 19. Tony Watkinson UK 20. Harri Main UK 20 Karl Poynter USA

January ASR Ends in San Diego

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:20:00 EST

With the X Games going on it's easy to forget there's plenty else out there going on. One of the bigger things was the ASR show down in San Diego. It wrapped up yesterday, but we were there on Thursday and Friday to see what was going on. Check out our recap here. We have some photos, too -- from Thursday and from Friday.

Super Big Winter X Games Wrap-Up For Saturday

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:19:00 EST

So much stuff happened Saturday at the X Games it seemed easier to do this wrap-up for all the key points and observations. So don't read too fast, you might miss something... * The results are the results. You can see the big ones here but there were a lot of repeat performances to follow Gretchen Bleiler, Sarah Burke and Tanner Hall, each of whom repeated Gold in their sports on Friday. Saturday Nate Holland, Andreas Wiig, Tucker Hibbert and Jamie Anderson repeated Gold (for Holland and Hibbert it was more than just a repeat. Where's the drama? Maybe in Men's Superpipe later today... * Speaking of men's Superpipe, the main story should be Ryo Aono's huge runs that kept him a solid #1 going into tomorrow's finals, but what about Shaun White's interview? I don't know if the best part was the guy in the back with a special poster (see below) or White's incomprehensible "Armageddon" reference. Or maybe it was the was reporter Tina Dixon's reaction to said interview and how she quickly said "Thanks Shaun" and got the hell out of there. We would post the video but ESPN's lawyers don't like that. * We will post Shaun White (and Gretchen Bleiler's) Oakley commercial. It was funny and is Shaun's latest cinematic masterpiece. It's also below. * Speaking of which, White's broken board was the story of the Slopestyle finals. Read more here. And it didn't look it was broken on a practice run -- at least not according to the video we saw on ESPN. * And since we're talking about Shaun White, it seems we're not the only one. Check out this article -- no surprise that more than a few athletes are wondering why Shaun White became the face of the X Games. Actually, it was more like Gretchen Bleiler was the face of the X Games this year. Here's one more fun piece. There are plenty more out there. * One more article of interest. What's with Sports Illustrated posting a Winter X Games story? Okay, so it's really the AP. That's cool. It's all about Shaun. Palmer. * The Jumper Big Air contest was fairly entertaining. I was entertained by the "Jumper" cam and the "Jumper" presence of Rachel Bilson, who was surprised to hear the words "Rodeo" and "540" used in the same sentence. And the "Jumper" bibs. Speaking of which, have you heard of a movie named "Jumper"? Apparently it's coming out soon. I wish I could see a preview or learn more about it somewhere... * Here's one last thought. I am very happy I was watch SnoCross on my DVR. I couldn't get to lap 25 fast enough. Keep up with all the latest results in our Winter X Games coverage home...

Holland and Jacobellis Win Snowboarder X Gold

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:18:00 EST

Nate Holland edged Markus Schairer today to take gold in the Men's Snowboarder X contest at the Winter X Games in Aspen. Winning the event is nothing new for Holland, who has already scored gold before. The same goes for the women's winner, Lindsey Jacobellis, who took her fourth gold in Snowboarder X. Last year Jacobellis missed winning Gold after a fall that echoed her widely-seen fall during the Olympics in Torino. For more on Jacobellis' redemption and Holland's third consecutive Gold check the full recap here. Keep up with all the latest results in our Winter X Games coverage home... Men's Snowboarder X Results - January 26, 2008 1 Nate Holland - 93.48 2 Markus Schairer - 93.81 3 David Speiser - 95.80 4 Graham Watanabe - 104.42 5 Seth Wescott - 109.23 6 Derek Wintermans - 119.85 Women's Snowboarder X Results - January 26, 2008 1 Lindsey Jacobellis - 102.00 2 Tanja Fredien - 102.67 3 Sandra Frei - 104.33 4 Dominique Maltais - 104.62 5 Mellie Francon - 112.05 6 Zoe Gillings - 126.88

Jamie Anderson Repeats Her Slopestyle Snowboarding Title at Winter X Games

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:17:00 EST

Jamie Anderson edged rookie in her second of two runs to win her second-straight Gold medal for Snowboarding Slopestyle at the Winter X Games in Aspen, CO. Anderson scored a 90.66 in her second run after falling in her first. Claudia Fliri scored an 83.33 for second and Spencer O'Brien was third with an 80.00. Cheryl Maas of the Netherlands, who led in qualifying, had the final run of the day and the opportunity to overtake one of the top three but fell during her run. For more on the Women's Snowboarding Slopestyle Finals check the full recap here, otherwise keep up with all the results in our Winter X Games coverage home...

Andreas Wiig Defends His Slopestyle Snowboarding Title at Winter X Games

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:16:00 EST

Andreas Wiig started off big, scoring a 92.00 in his first run, and held off competitors like Shaun White and Kevin Pearce to win the Snowboarding Slopestyle competition at the Winter X Games for the second year in a row. White accidentally broke his board before his first run and had to use it any way. On his second run he did use a new board but was unable to cleanly land a Cab 1080 and ended up with a lower score than his initial 83.33, which was good enough for the Bronze. Pearce scored the silver with an 88.33. White was looking for his seventh gold medal of all time at the Winter X Games, hoping to tie the mark set by Tanner Hall earlier in the Games. With the finish, White has 12 overall medals, a record,including six gold, three silver and three bronze. He still has the Superpipe finals coming up to add to his total. For more on the Men's Snowboarding Slopestyle Finals check the full recap here, otherwise keep up with all the haps in our Winter X Games coverage home...

Bleiler, Olsson Win Gold at Winter X Games 12

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:15:00 EST

A couple of big competitions closed out action on Friday night at the Winter X Games in Aspen. First, Gretchen Bleiler edged Torah Bright in the Superpipe finals in snowboarding (it was her third gold medal) and soon after Jon Olsson won the first-ever Big Air ski competition. To read more about Bleiler's win Click here (plus photos). You can find out more about Olsson's win here and just keep up with all the haps in our Winter X Games coverage home...

The Berrics Gets In-Depth With Jason Lee

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:15:00 EST

Given that they've just featured the Stereo Skate team in their United Nations section, it's only natural for The Berrics to pull Stereo's bossman and resident Hollywood celebrity, Jason Lee, aside to get profiled in their Department 8 section. As mentioned before here and in The Berrics' mission statement the Department 8 section is geared towards getting fans of the site interested in things that aren't necessarily skate-related (think art), so for this interview the focus is more on the different non-skate hats Lee wears including network television actor, photographer, and budding director. Check out the Department 8 interview with Jason Lee here. While you're at it also check out the Clinical Research interview (skate related) they did with one of Stereo's best, Clint Peterson.

Epicly Later'd Teases Us With John Cardiel

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:14:00 EST

You all are probably wondering what's going on with Epicly Later'd. After putting out a steady stream of episodes, from the Emerica Wild Ride arc all the way down to the recent Daewon Song stuff, the well seemed to have dried up these past couple of weeks. But fear not as it looks like Patrick O'Dell has been busy working on a John Cardiel episode, one that looks like it'll be worth the wait. Check out the two separate Cardiel trailers O'Dell has put up on VBS here (Trailer 1) and here (Trailer 2).

28 Day Winter: A Snowboarding Narrative

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:13:00 EST

About a week ago we linked to a couple of photo books that were worth checking out. In those cases the books were both skate-oriented and also self-published (via publishing sites on the web), this time around though we got a new photo book worth checking out that's snowboard-oriented and professionally published. The book is called "28 Day Winter: A Snowboarding Narrative" and it focuses on riders for the Burton Team on their August 2006 trip south of the equator to places like Chile and New Zealand. The photos were shot by Dean �Blotto� Gray, Jeff Curtes, and Adam Moran, and of course feature some amazing shots (check below for just one example) which you can preview over at the book's official site here.

eS' 'Gnarliest! Slams! Ever!'

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:13:00 EST

Ever since Jake Brown took his amazingly well-publicized slam at last year's X Games people all over the skate world have had to re-evaluate their list of greatest slams ever (c'mon we all know you've got one in your mind). And that's just the case with eS who have recently released their "Gnarliest! Slams! Ever!" list where surprise, surpise Jake Brown took first. The best part of the list? 5 of the 6 links have Youtube links...making it a list you're probably gonna wanna see. The worst part of the list? Heath's slam wasn't higher...but then again it isn't like this list is scientific or anything. Check out eS favorite slams here.

Fallen Gets Far-ther East

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:12:00 EST

A little while ago we mentioned how the Fallen Team was over in the Far East (China to be exact) taking advantage of the country's numerous skate spots (and possibly its women too). At that time they had posted 3 separate galleries of photos from their trip thus far...well now they've added two more galleries and these are from the heart of China (aka not Hong Kong/Shanghai). You can check all the black and white mischief from China (including the first 3 galleries) here.

Winter X Qualification Results: Women's Snowboard Superpipe

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:39:00 EST

Even though we won't get to the real thick of things at Winter X Games 12 until Friday evening think of this as a pre-course appetizer as results have been posted for the Women's Snowboard Superpipe qualification. With the results it looks like Winter X Cover Girl Gretchen Bleiler is living up to the billing by being the top qualifier. Check the full qualification results with pics below, and stay tuned for more coverage from the event. SNOWBOARD SUPERPIPE WOMEN�S Qualifying Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Thursday, January 24, 2008 (Top 6 advance to finals) Check the site for the full results

Burton Sets Up Shop On iTunes

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:39:00 EST

Being both a powerhouse and an innovator in the industry it's only natural for Burton to seize upon any opportunity to advance in terms of technology, and their latest step is just that as Burton has launched it's Burton Studios on iTunes. The venture is just another step for Burton in its quest to make its video content more readily available for it's audience (as well as another way to find a new revenue stream). With Burton Studios the company will now offer their videos along with their own "TV Shows" for download via the program I'm pretty sure almost 95% of you kids have for a fee of $1.99. As of now Burton is only offering their latest video "Thanks In Advance" and episodes of their newest show, Terje's Season Pass (also airing on FUEL TV) up on the Studio page, but I'm willing to bet they're gonna start loading that thing with a lot more stuff once the money starts pouring in. You can access Burton Studios via the link here or in the "TV Shows" section of iTunes. For more info on Burton Studios including more info on the two items up for download check the official announcement here.

Catching Up With The Champ (Stephanie Gilmore)

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:39:00 EST

Wanna know what's been going on with Stephanie Gilmore since her landmark ASP World Title win at the Billabong Girl's Pro Hawaii? Well, so did Surfing Magazine so they caught up with the amazing Aussie in Sydney to get some answers (not necessarily in the Dragnet way). See what they got out of her here.

More From MJ's Skater Of The Year Party

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:38:00 EST

We got more coverage in from the Marc Johnson Skater Of The Year party held in San Francisco last week...and they're good because they come straight from the source, Thrasher Magazine. Given that it was Thrasher throwing the party you know they had all the access they needed to take these pics and the results: plenty of girl pics, plenty of "skaters attending" pics, and most importantly plenty of pics of the man of the hour Marc Johnson. The gallery kinda speaks for itself, check it out at Thrasher's site here.

The Berrics Hits Us With The Stereo Team Footage

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:37:00 EST

As promised The Berrics have finally released their "United Nations" feature on one of the most original/stylish skate companies out there, Stereo Skateboards. The clip features the full Stereo arsenal as amateurs like Zach Wagner and Tony Silva get their tricks in with the team's pros such as Clint Peterson and Daniel Shimizu and even the OGs Chris Pastras and Jason Lee (he probably has lots of time off thanks to the Writer's strike). What's worth note is how the 2+ minute features every nook and cranny of the Berra/Koston wonderland getting put to use. As with all Berrics clip it's definitely one worth checking out, which you can do at United Nations department here.

Ryan Sheckler, Danny Way, Tim Curran As A Side-Order At The ASR

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:35:00 EST

Though the business side of the ASR is a major part of the gathering, there is always stuff on the side worth checking out while in San Diego for the trade show and this weekend's version of the ASR is no different. Two such "side orders" to the ASR include the long awaited premiere of Rip Curl's 'Lightning Strikes...The Movie' which details Mick Fannings long and winding road to the ASP World Title. The premiere will take place 4pm this Friday, Jan. 25 at the ASR booth in the convention center. Later on that night you can catch the second event worth mentioning, the 1st Annual Momoo Benefit / Live Auction which will feature both a musical performance by surfer/musician Tim Curran and also Escalera (Danny Way and Bob Burnquist's band), and an autograph signing featuring Way, Burnquist, Ryan Sheckler, Rob Dyrdek, and Damien Hobgood. The star-studded event will take place at the La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas (a short drive from San Diego) with doors opening at 7pm Friday night. For more details on special event check the flyer below, and for more info on the premiere of 'Lightning Strikes...The Movie' check the link here.

Shaun White + Target = No Volcom

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:33:00 EST

Shaun White's already been associated with Target for awhile now (six years in fact) but the two have decided to move to the next level with White releasing a new line of clothes for the company. And we quote: The line will feature clothing for young men and boys and will be available in late July. This appears to be the final straw for another one of his sponsors, Volcom... Check it out. Can Ryan Sheckler be far behind? Also related, while Volcom may be losing one of its best breadwinners it's picking up something that could be potentially lucrative in their deal to purchase sunglass manufacturer Electric Visual. Check out Volcom exec Richard Woolcott break down the deal here.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES! First Winter X Games Results

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:32:00 EST

So here's your first taste of results from the Winter X Games in Aspen. Tanner Hall took first in the Men's Skiing Superpipe qualifiers followed by Simon Dumont. After those two masters, it wasn't even close. Between the two of them they have won about the last six or so gold medals in the category so it's not really a surprise. Here's the results. Top 10 advance to the finals. Keep up with all 2008 Winter X Games coverage here. SKIING SUPERPIPE MEN�S Qualifying Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Name / Bib No. / Hometown / Score 1. Tanner Hall / 526 / Kalispell, Montana / 95.33 2. Simon Dumont / 504 / Bethel, Maine / 89.33 3. Kevin Rolland / 531 / La Plagne, France / 82.66 4. Andreas Hatveit / 507 / Sudndalen, Norway / 78.00 5. Mike Riddle / 513 / Sherwood Park, AB, Canada / 75.33 6. Jossi Wells / 517 / Wanaka, New Zealand / 75.00 7. Matt Hayward / 528 / Red Deer, AB, Canada / 73.00 8. Colby West / 522 / Canterbury, N.H. / 72.33 9. Peter Olenick / 510 / Aspen, Colorado / 72.00 10. Sean Field / 540 / Tahoe City, Calif. / 70.00 11. Sammy Carlson / 501 / Tigard, Oregon / 69.00 12. John Symms / 532 / Salt Lake City, Utah / 67.00 13. Stefan Thomas / 533 /Park City, Utah / 65.33 14. Xavier Bertoni / 536 / La Clusaz, France / 45.00 15. Justin Dorey / 538 / Vernon, BC, Canada / 36.66 16. Brent Abrams / 539 / South Lake Tahoe, Calif. / 19.00

Movies About Pastrana, Dakides and Bra Boys Lead X Dance Film Festival Winners

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:30:00 EST

The X Dance Action Sports Film Festival held its awards ceremony last night in Salt Lake City, UT last night. We have the winnersm below. "The Windsurfing Movie" actually won two awards including Best Director, while the best overall film was the Travis Pastrana bio-pic "199 Lives" while "Bra Boys" won Best Documentary. Best Biography went to the Tara Dakides film "Against the Grain." Tony Hawk was also given the Athlete of the Year honor. Lat34 will have more soon from the scene... BEST EDITING WINNER: The Man Who Souled The World BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN AN ACTION SPORTS FILM WINNER: Transgression BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE WINNER: New Emissions of Light and Sound BEST SOUND TRACK WINNER: The Windsurfing Movie BEST SHORT FILM WINNER: Fishbowl BEST ADVENTURE FILM WINNER: Journey to the Center BEST BIOGRAPHY WINNER: Against the Grain BEST DOCUMENTARY WINNER: Bra Boys BEST CORE FILM WINNER: Enjoy BEST EMERGING FILM MAKER WINNER: Britton Caillouette, Sliding Liberia BEST DIRECTOR WINNER: Johnny Decesare, The Windsurfing Movie ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Tony Hawk BEST ACTION SPORTS FILM WINNER: 199 Lives We've got photos and more coming soon!

Skier Billy Poole Killed While Filming For Warren Miller Film

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:25:00 EST

Big mountain skier Billy Poole has been killed while filming for the latest Warren Miller film in Utah. The accident after Poole jumped off a cliff and landed in a rocky area between the Solitude and Brighton ski resorts. This is the second time that someone has been killed shooting for a Warren Miller film. The last time is happened was in 1993 at Lake Tahoe when Paul Ruff was killed after jumping off of Thimble Peak. Poole, 28, was sponsored by Black Diamond. Check out some video of him in action below. Read more about the accident here.

"Life of Ryan: - What You May Have Missed

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:25:00 EST

Unless you just haven't been paying attention you know we have been doing recaps of "Life of Ryan" after each episode on Tuesday night. This week's episode might be worth a little bit of a special mention thanks to an appearance by P-Rod and Jereme Rogers and some Plan B shooting for the company's upcoming vid. So if you want, check out the recap or see the photo gallery.

Get Inside the Winter X Games

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:24:00 EST

Is it already here? The Winter X Games start this week in full force on Thursday. We'll be covering it here on Lat34 with updates, results and photos but we also have an insider's perspective for you from Jeffrey Sadis, one of the techs on-site working with skier X and boarder X athletes. Check out his first updates for us here. There's info about the course, the athletes and more. This is something you won't see anywhere else...

Pearce, Clark Take Halfpipe Finals At BEO 2008

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:45:00 EST

Kevin Pearce and Kelly Clark took the top honors in the halfpipe as the Burton European Open wrapped up earlier today in Laxx, Switzerland. Pearce locked up the win with his third run out of three, scoring a 94.33, edging Shaun White and his 90.67. Peetu Piiroinen of Finland finished in third with his run of 84.00. For the women, Kelly Clark had a huge first run of 92.67, setting the bar too high for anyone to catch up, including second-place finisher Torah Bright, who scored an 88.33. Hannah Teter was third with an 82.67. Cheryl Maas was a distant fourth with a 71.00. The Women's Halfpipe Podium at the BEO (photo courtesy of the BEO) For a full recap of the Halfpipe Finals of the BEO 2008 check the link here, also head over here for the full results from the halfpipe and slopestyle.

Robbie Maddison Breaks World Distance Record on Motorcycle

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST

Aussie FMX rider Robbie Maddison made history on New Year's Eve 2007 by setting a new long-distance jump record of 322 feet, soaring more than the length of a football field in Las Vegas. Maddison's jump eclipsed the 310 feet reached by Ryan Capes in 2005. The jump was part of the "Red Bull Experiment" -- the first in what appears to be a series of world-record breaking attempts across different sports. After his first jump, Maddison appeared to be disappointed that he missed his goal of around 360 feet and took off to make a second jump. He cleanly landed that jump but failed to eclipse the record-breaking mark a second time. What made the jump even more amazing was the fact that earlier in 2007 Maddison broke his right leg while competing at the Red Bull X Fighters contest and he didn't event start riding in earnest until early December to train. The "Experiment" was originally scheduled to feature the first-ever flip of an off-road vehicle by Rhys Millen, but he was injured training for the jump on December 24. ESPN showed the footage of Millen's crash for the first time during the live broadcast, and what apparently happened was during a test jump Millen's ramp malfunctioned and his off-road vehicle overshot the protective set of cardboard boxes that were set up to cushion the landing of the vehicle. Millen broke three vertebrae in the accident. Red Bull didn't replace Millen in the night's festivities, but other athletes were interviewed, including Moto masters Brian Deegan and Mike Metzger and Red Bull super snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White. Evel Knievel was remembered many times through the night, not only because he passed away last month at the age of 69, but also because he attempted the world-famous jump at Ceasar's Palace 40 years ago to the night of Maddison's jump. That jump, which was only 151 feet, was unsuccessful and footage of his terrible crash has been seen thousands of times since. Maddison said he had spoken to Knievel's family and that he was "honored to be able to do this and represent him."

And Just Like That The WQS Picks Up Again

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:23:00 EST

There's no rest for the weary, especially for those surfers on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS). That's because shortly after the finish of the 2007 WQS season at the O'neill World Cup Of Surfing just a couple of weeks ago, the 2008 season is already ready to pick up with the O'neill Sebastien Inlet Pro, which begins January 4th. The O'neill SI Pro, taking place at Sebastien Inlet, Florida (duh), is the biggest and most prestigious surfing contest on the US East Coast as well as being one of the top 3 events on mainland meaning the event will be packed with tons of quality surfers. Not only that, there's also the fact that the opening event for the 2008 WQS season has raised the stakes by upgrading to a 5 star WQS event (from a previous 4 star ranking), meaning that in some way if you're looking to qualify for the 2009 season you've probably got to be there, which in turn means tons more quality surfers including CJ Hobgood who's not only there to spoil the fun for the up-and-comers (he's already qualified for the 2008 and is most likely gonna qualify for 2009 off the strength of his WCT showing) but also there to defend his 2007 O'neill SI Pro title. As mentioned the waiting period for the event will start on January 4th (running until January 11th) with 192 scheduled competitors ready to take to the WQS points (as well as the $110,000 purse) like desperate retail scavengers at a post-Christmas sale (sorry just got back from T.J. Maxx). For more on the upcoming O'neill Sebastien Inlet Pro check out the official ASP release here.

Your Chance(s) To Shmooze With The Mike V. And Marc Johnson In January

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:23:00 EST

Two quick skate events coming up this January that you might wanna keep in mind: � First is Active/Element's "Charge The Parks" event with Mike Vallely taking place on January 12th, where you'll be able to hit up two different skateparks in Corona, CA (about an hour away from L.A.) and "skate, shed blood, and get gnar with Mike V." Each session that afternoon will make available an Element/Active prize package to one of the skaters at the session (could be you) Mike V. feels went the hardest. The first session will take place at 1pm that afternoon at Huber Skatepark while the second one will take place at Harada Skatepark starting at 3pm. For more info on the event check the Active announcement here. � The other event roughly a week later is more of a celebration. "For what?" you say. Well for Marc Johnson being named Thrasher's Skater Of The Year. On January 18th Thrasher will toast to Marc Johnson with a party in San Francisco where more than likely lots of pros will show up as part of some sort of congratulations. The best part is that the party is open to all, meaning you've got a chance to physically pat Marc on his back and tell him "Screw the other guys, your part in Fully Flared was the best". The only catch (admittedly it's a really small one) is that you gotta RSVP, most likely way ahead of time. The party itself will begin when doors open at 7pm and will feature music from legendary Norse gods Valient Thorr and "special guest DJ". There'll also be the premiere of Thrasher's 'King Of The Road '07' video. For more on the event check the info/flyer here.

Nike SB's P-Rod II (The Jordan Version)

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:22:00 EST

I remember reading an article awhile ago about the possibility that Paul Rodriguez's connection with Nike could be a low level equivalent to Michael Jordan's historic connection with the shoe giant, where the Nike SB P-Rods could be an iconic shoe just like the ubiquitous Jordans. By the looks of the newest release of P-Rods it seems like someone at Nike SB has taken some amount of inspiration from that article. As seen in the pic included below (courtesy of In4mation) the Nike SB P-Rod 2 (aka the J-Rod) pays homage to the Jordans of yester-year with the black/red/grey colorway and the cement print that is distinctly Jordan's. Of course the shoe is still an SB shoe with logo and P-Rod signature to boot but something tells me that tons of non-skating sneaker heads are gonna try to get their hands on this so as fill out their 80's inspired closet. Apparently the shoe is out now (haven't been to Undefeated in a bit) so I'm guessing there's probably not much stock left, though you can obviously check out your local spot. For more shots of the J-Rods as well as some other new stuff from Nike SB check In4mation's blog here.

2007 In The Eyes Of Surfing Magazine

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:22:00 EST

Just last week falling in line with media standards we put up our top 10 stories of the year. In it of course we covered everything from skating to surfing to snowboarding and beyond so we weren't able to focus of some of the nuances of the year. Lucky for us Surfing Magazine has picked up the slack in terms of surf stories with their Top 16 stories of the year (why didn't they choose I nice round number like everyone else). Looking through the list we're glad to see we got our part right as they, like us, have chosen the top surf story to be the dominance of the Aussies on tour this year with nods Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, and Bede Durbidge's Men's World Title, Women's World Title, and Vans Triple Crown wins respectively. Obviously it's not only about the obvious (redundancy count: 1) top story though, there's plenty of moments that captured their editors' eyes including the Sunny Garcia/Neco Padaratz dust-up at the Pipeline Masters, humanitarian gestures by both Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz in the Middle East and Dave Rastovich off the coast of Japan, and the phenomenon that is Jordy Smith (2 out of the 16 stories). Though some of those stories we've covered before we're pretty sure you wanna get another set of eyes on those stories as well as the others, you can do so at Surfing Magazine's Top 16 Stories of 2007 feature right here.

FUEL TV For January 2008

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:21:00 EST

It's nearing the end of a month (a year even) so like clockwork FUEL TV has provided us with some of the programming highlights for the upcoming month. First among the programs worth noting is the series premiere on 8pm EST New Year's Day of Terje Haakonsen's "Terje�s Season Pass". As mentioned before, the 6-part series will feature Terje spending time with top pros such as Nicolas M�ller, Shaun White, Mads Jonsson and Kevin Pearce to do the obvious (ride) as well as to get a peak into the life, from contests to tours, of someone at the top of their game (as if Terje himself couldn't provide all that info straight up). Other programming highlights of the non-premiere type include the multiple WCT broadcasts including the Roxy Pro Hawaii (January 21st @ 8pm EST) and the Billabong Pipeline Masters (January 28th @ 8pm), as well as the Blue Carpet Special for the latest wakeboarding film "Push Process" (January 21st @ 8:30pm) featuring our girl Dallas Friday, Andrew Adkison, and Danny Hampson. For the full FUEL TV Program Highlights for January 2008 check the link here.

Shaun White: Stone Cold Criminal (Try To Read That While Staring At The Picture Below)

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:12:00 EST

It's been a long standing rule within the hiphop community that if you want to up your reputation (and thus your record sales) you should have some type of run in with the law (preferably of the "getting shot" variation). It's one of the reason 50 Cent has done so well with his career and one of the reason why Brian Austin Green hasn't. Well it looks like that unwritten rule is seeping into all aspects of pop culture including snowboarding, and the one leading the charge is Shaun White according to recent reports. That's because Shaun White was cited by the Breckenridge Police Department this past weekend for his role in "second degree criminal tampering". Sounds serious huh? I think I remember hearing similar charges in regards to members of the Gambino Crime Family. In those cases it involved wise guys trying to influence jury pools to get them off on charges of racketeering and murder. But as we all know White is in no way involved in La Cosa Nostra and his citation proves so, because what White was accused of tampering with is...get this...a fire extinguisher. Nope no guns, no blood, no corpses, just some gaseous powder that does nothing but save lives and make bears happy. The citation stems from White's recent trip to the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge (where he was presumably at for the Chevy Grand Prix last week) where, according to reports and security camera footage, "a white male with long red hair" was seen chasing down a female friend in the game room of the resort and eventually pulling a fire extinguisher from the wall, putting it on the ground where a "large cloud of smoke" discharges. The incident gets further Saved By The Bell-like when later that night White was detained by the same police department in connection with a stolen vehicle (though White was later ruled out as a suspect). Now remember when I wrote "preferably of the 'getting shot' variation" well obviously White didn't read that part of the manual because this type of run in with the law will do nothing for his reputation except possibly...no wait, NOTHING. It actually might have an adverse effect, sort of like when Eddie Murphy got caught soliciting a transvestite or when Kevin Costner came out with 'Waterworld' (man that joke never gets tired...kinda like Kevin Costner's character in 'Waterworld'). Read more about White's newly minted criminal past check out the hilariously straight-forward news report on the incident here (my summary of the events couldn't have been any better).

Shaun White, Gretchen Bleiler Win Grand Prix Gold

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:13:00 EST

Shaun White showed some of that Olympic form as he won the halfpipe competition at the kickoff event of the Chevy Grand Prix of snowboarding in Breckenridge, Colo. Gretchen Blelier, also an Olympic medalist, took the women's title over Kelly Clark and former gold-medalist Hannah Teter. Teter's brother, Elijah, was third for the men after Steven Fisher. For full results and more details check this out. Some photos follow...

Stephanie Gilmore Wins ASP World Title

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:42:00 EST

ASP world tour rookie Stephanie Gilmore has clinched the world title today in Hawaii at the Billabong Pro Maui. Gilmore earned the title when her two pursuers for the title, Sofia Mulanovich and Silvana Lima, were defeated in round three by Keala Kennelly and Roseanne Hodge, respectively. Ausiie Gilmore is the first surfer, male or female, to win an ASP World title as a rookie. Thanks to three wins so far on the tour, at the Rip Curl Pro, NAB Beachley Classic and Mancora Peru Classic, had a strong edge over Mulanovich, who won two events this season, and Lima, who had no wins but five top-three finishes. To watch the event live (when it's on) check out the event website Round three reuslts for the Billabong Pro Maui follow. Heat 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) 11.75 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 7.75 Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 10.25 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 7.50 Heat 3: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 18.65 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 9.75 Heat 4: Keala Kennelly (HAW) 15.90 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 7.50 Heat 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18.55 def. Rochelle Ballard (HAW) 10.25 Heat 6: Claire Bevilacqua 15.00 def. Amy Donohoe (AUS) 12.00 Heat 7: Megan Abubo (HAW) def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) Heat 8: Roseanne Hodge (ZAF) def. Silvana Lima (AUS)

Andy Irons Dominates Round 1 Of Pipeline Masters; Competition On Hold For Today

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:13:00 EST

After a days worth of action yesterday that saw Andy Irons impressive return to the Vans Triple Crown and Adrian Buchan's defeat of Kelly Slater, The Billabong Pipeline Masters is off today due to small surf. As mentioned yesterday featured a completion of Round 1 action where a newly married Andy Irons reinserted himself into the Vans Triple Crown conversation with a event high score of 17.50 that boosted him straight into Round 4 (all first place finishers and the top 8 second place finishers in Round 1 heats at Pipeline get a direct line to Round 4). The defending Triple Crown winner Irons had been AWOL from the O'neill World Cup Of Surfing two weeks ago in order to get married, but with his Round 1 score at Pipeline he's looking to end his WCT year on a high note. While Irons pulled off the event's highest score for a heat Aussie Adrian Buchan came through with the event's highest single wave score with a 9.63 in Heat 6 of Round 1 which was good enough to push Kelly Slater into Round 3 action (the middle 16 finishers at Round 1 head to Round 3 while the last 16 finishers head to Round 2 to face HPSU qualifiers). Buchan had re-qualified himself for the 2008 Dream Tour after the first two legs of the Triple Crown so he was riding some personal momentum when he faced Slater. For the rest of the story check the site...

X Games Dubai Results & Photos

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:14:00 EST

The X Games Dubai went down this past weekend in the Middle East which means that we weren't able to be there (you know how far the Middle East is? Far). But we are able to get you results plus some photos from the event. For photos from the Skate Finals (Vert and Street) check the gallery here, for photos from BMX and Moto X check the gallery here. X Games Dubai 2997 Results: SKATEBOARD STREET FINALS: 1. Tyler Hendley (USA) 87.44 (Gold) 2. Dayne Brummet (USA) 86.67 (Silver) 3. Tomas Vintr (Chezk Republic) 86.22 (Bronze) SKATEBOARD VERT FINALS: 1. Pierre-Luc Gagnon (Canada) Gold 2. Rune Gilfberg (Denmark) Silver 3. Juergen Horrwarth (Germany) Bronze BMX STREETSTYLE STREET FINALS: 1. Garrett Reynolds (USA) 93.44 (Gold) 2. Aaron Ross (USA) 92.78 (Silver) 3. Van Horman III (USA) 89.56 (Bronze) BMX FREESTYLE VERT FINALS: 1. Simon Tabron (UK) Gold 2. Steven McCann (Australia) Silver 3. Jay Eggleston (USA) Bronze

Mike V., Bam M., Chad M. And Kat Von D

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:49:00 EST

Some of you are probably fans of the tattoo shows on TLC like Miami Ink and more recently L.A. Ink and London Ink (the best one of the bunch in my opinion). And if you are a fan of the shows you probably know that Kat Von D from L.A. Ink is pretty good friends with Mike Vallely who's been on the show before (as well as Steve O from Jackass). You've probably also seen that they've been trying to build a mini-ramp inside the shop ever since the beginning of the show. Well the two storylines have converged in an episode that's finished filming and will air soon, as Mike V. stops by the shop again bring with him fellow Element skaters Bam Margera and Chad Muska to do some damage on the newly finished mini ramp (makes me wonder if Element and the show's producers have some type of deal in place...oh wait Element hints at it themselves). As mentioned the episode just finished filming so details aren't known as of yet BUT Element has posted some photos they took from the filming featuring Vallely, Marger, Muska, Kat Von D and the band Veins Of Jenna who I guess performed as part of the ramp christening. Check the gallery of photos here to get a taste of the episode to come.

Wild Ride On Epicly Later'd Comes To A Close

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:48:00 EST

After 16 episodes of tour madness with some skating and profiling thrown in the Emerica's Wild Ride story arc has come to an end with Episode 17 on Epicly Later'd. This time around instead of focusing on any specific skater the episode brings it back to why they were all there in the first place: The Wild Ride Tour. The culmination of that tour was the special Wild In The Streets Main Event held in San Francisco earlier this year (July 4th) where tons of local kids gathered to take a marathon-like skate through the streets of the city with the boys on tour joining them, which the first half of the episode focuses on. The second half of the episode mostly involves reminiscing on the tour itself with many never seen before clips getting editted in while Emerica brand manager Justin Regan talks about his hopes that all the skaters who took part in the tour will remember it as something special. Though it's the final episode of the Wild Ride Tour it doesn't mean show host Patrick O'Dell is done...he's already teased us with the fact that the next episode of Epicly Later'd is gonna profile Daewon Song which means we'll obviously keeped tuned (on MTV as well). For the final episode of Emerica's Wild Ride on Epicly Later'd go here.

Day 1 At The Roxy Pro In The Books

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:38:00 EST

The first day of the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach saw two rounds of action completed and, more importantly, three different pros keep their hopes. First and foremost was Stephanie Gilmore who kept her hopes of clinching the World Title at the event alive despite a sketchy first round heat that landed her in Round 2. Gilmore had early round jitters to blame as she scored a 4.33 in her first round heat, but things got back on track as she posted the day's highest total (18.10), including the highest single wave score (9.60), in her Round 2 heat. By advancing to Round 3 Gilmore still has a shot to win the World Title crown at this event (the penultimate event on the Women's Tour) which would put her in the history books as the first ever to win the Title as a rookie. The second pro to keep her hopes alive was Megan Abubo who after winning the Reef Hawaiin Pro earlier this month is looking to also grab the second leg of the Vans Triple Crown with a Roxy Pro win. Abubo was placed in a tough heat for Round 1 as she had to face legendary pro and reigning World Champ Layne Beachley as well as Rochelle Ballard, but Abubo rode the momentum she had built at Haleiwa and topped her heat to head into the Quarterfinals where she'll face the likes of current WCT No. 2 Silvana Lima in her heat. The last story of note is that of Rochelle Ballard, the iconic women's surfer who's been a stalwart on the women's World Tour through the years who also is making this year's Tour her last. Given the fact that she's planning on retiring from the Tour her performance at the Roxy Pro determine how much longer her swan song will last. Luckily her hopes to keep surfing is still alive as Ballard eeked through her Round 2 heat after scoring a 5.33 (the eliminated Jacqueline Silva had scored a 5.00 in the same heat). Ballard as mentioned has been a staple of the World Tour having been on the Tour since 1991. Despite winning no World Titles in that span Ballard has finished in the top eight of the year-end rankings 10 times, including a No. 2 finish in 2004. She has also been a driving force behind the upsurge of women's competitive surfing through her work with the union and other activities. To read up on Rochelle Ballard's Roxy Pro experience in light of her nearing retirement check the profile the Honolulu Advertiser has done on her here. For more on the first day's happenings at the Roxy Pro check the official recap here.

Roy Powers Wins The Reef Hawaiin Pro

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:20:52 EST

In what proved to be a grueling final day of competition Hawaiin native Roy Powers topped a stacked field and took home the 2007 Reef Hawaiin Pro title and a 2008 ASP World Tour berth. The day saw 5 rounds of action take place in intense surf conditions where many surfers were left spent having used all their energy to endure the 12 to 20 feet waves that pounded the surfers all day. Powers defeated Aussies Bede Durbidge (who finished 2nd) and Joel Parkinson (3rd), as well as Haleiwa local Sean Moody (4th) in a Finals heat where Powers nearly pulled of two perfect scores despite having already surfed through three 25 minute heats earlier. What's more impressive is that Powers along with Moody had earlier in the day taken down both 2007 World Champ Mick Fanning and defending Triple Crown Champ Andy Irons in the same Quarterfinal heat. Fanning had come into the contest riding a wave of momentum with both his World Title and Santa Catarina Pro win in bag and he showed it early with a high scoring heat in Round 5. But in Round 6 Fanning's score dropped, though he eeked out a berth in the Quarterfinals where he eventually was eliminated by Powers and Moody. Also of note in today's action Taj Burrow was eliminated early in the Quarterfinals by Basque surfer Aritz Aranburu who also took out Bruce Irons and clinched a 2008 World Tour spot before bowing out in the Semifinals. With the win Powers not only took home $15,000 but also took the early lead in the Vans Triple Crown standings and ended up in the 12 spot on the WQS rankings board (the Reef Hawaiin Pro is a 6 star WQS event) thus assuring qualification for next years tour. For more on Power's win including post-game quotes from all the major players at this year's Reef Hawaiin Pro check the official recap of the final day's action here.

The Perfect Time For A Flip Feast Tour Lookback

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:20:22 EST

While you're feasting this weekend on whatever Thanksgiving dinner had for leftovers why not also feast on another Feast that happened earlier this month, and that's the Flip's Feast Tour (clever usage of the word "Feast" huh...next word to play with: "redundant"). The tour update comes courtesy of Flip themselves as they have posted two separate recaps from the Northwest stops of the Tour (from Medford, OR to Spokane, WA). The recaps themselves are mostly about the randomness of touring with photo galleries featuring very little skating in favor of a lot of shenanigans (check out the ongoing tour van wars full of mustard, honey, ketchup, and probably other stuff not worth mentioning). There's also plenty of in-store shots full of packed in sweaty kids grabbing for any free product, which I know some of you are all well aware of. All in all the photos are definitely worth a look at if only just for the shots of the vans post mustard-ing, you can check out the Flip's Feast Tour's Oregon recap here and the Washington recap here. Also check out the Skateboard Mag coverage of the Flip Feast Tour for a different perspective (and up-close shots of the Ketchup covered vans). You can check out their galleries here and here.

The Roxy Pro Promises Plenty Of Drama

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:20:02 EST

While the men just closed the book on the first leg of their Vans Triple Crown the women are gearing up for the second leg of the Triple Crown with the Roxy Pro (which doubles as both a World Tour event and a Triple Crown event). When the event begins tomorrow out on Sunset Beach in Oahu there'll be two main stories to follow, the first being hometown girl Megan Abubo's chase for the Triple Crown. Abubo had been previously struggling (by her standards) for much of this year's Tour but with her dominating performance at the Reef Hawaiin Pro (both the first leg of the Triple Crown and a 6 star WQS event) she assured herself a berth (her 12th) in next year's Tour relieving some of the pressure she's been dealing with. Abubo now is looking to see if she can ride the momentum she built for herself at the Reef Hawaiin Pro and grab another win at the Roxy Pro to boost her chance at earning the Triple Crown as well as her first Tour win of the season. For the rest of the story check the site...

A Look Back On Active's Bling Fest And Am Competition

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:19:22 EST

You can thank some egghead scientists for pretty much everything associated with modern life and the following is no different, because if you missed out on any of last weeks action at the Active Bling Fest and Active Am Contest held in Rancho Cucamonga, Califonia (not a great place to be other than for the contest by the way) you don't have to worry (not like you were worrying anyways) because 411VM has put up footage of both events. As a reminder the Active Am was won by Sun Diego skater Wes Kremer while the Bling Fest had two (you can actually say 4) winners, the overall winner being Billy Marks while the KREW Best Trick winner was Adam Dyet (get our recap of the event here). You can watch the highlights of both events at the 411 update here.

Snow Resorts: On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:18:58 EST

As we're officially moving into the holiday season and closer to the official beginning of Winter it's worth taking note of the various snow resort openings across the country (actually just the West for now) in case you're starting to get the urge to hit the slopes, so we've done you a favor and listed a few of the recent openings from across the land below: � Open three days ago (Nov. 21st) was world famous Vail Mountain in Vail, Colorado. The resort opened up two of its Born Free trail for snowboarding/skiing while the The Eagle Bahn Gondola will offer scenic rides for those just interested in seeing some snow (most likely old people). For more info on Vail check their official website here. � Another Colorado resort, Beaver Creek, opened up yesterday with both the beginner Haymeadow run and the intermediate Latigo trail open for snowboarding/skiing. For more info on Beaver Creek check their official website here. For more check the site...

Megan Abubo Wins The Reef Hawaiin Pro

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:01:22 EST

Bucking this season's trend of extended off days for contests the Reef Hawaiin Pro has been all business the last few days and yesterday was no different as the women's side of the event wrapped up competition, finishing four rounds in one day. By day's end the spotlight was on Hawaii's own Megan Abubo who took home the Reef Hawaiin Pro crown over 2nd place finisher Layne Beachley, and 3rd place finisher Karina Petroni. Abubo's landmark day (this was her first ever win at the first leg of the Vans Triple Crown) started off on a high note as she scored the first perfect wave of the event and her career in the first round of the contest. Things never really looked down for Abubo from that point on as she went on to take the event with consistency throughout her heats. With the win Abubo not only takes home a $30,000 purse but also requalification for the 2008 ASP World Tour as well as the lead in the Vans Triple Crown standings. Though she didn't finish first in the event Karina Petroni also had a day to remember as her 3rd place finish has earned her a spot on the 2008 World Tour, making her the first Floridian to join the Tour since 2002. Of the feat Petroni said, "It feels fantastic, it really does. I�ll be the first East Coaster since Lisa (Andersen) and I�ll go on and represent for the United States." Other news from the day included Jacqueline Silva clinching the 2007 WQS crown with her Quarterfinal finish (the Reef Hawaiin Pro is also a 6-star WQS event), and four heats of men's action. A detailed recap of the whole day's events from Abubo's win to the men's heats can be found at the recap here. But yeah congrats to all the winners, especially Megan Abubo and Karina Peroni both of whom also happen to be past Girl On girls. Check out Abubo's Girl On Profile here, and Patroni's profiles (she was so great she had two) here and here.

Help Support Stephen Murray

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:00:56 EST

For those of you living in Southern California we got a great way to celebrate the upcoming Veteran's Day holiday and benefit a great cause at the same time. Mother's Tavern, a bar in Sunset Beach (near Huntington Beach), will be holding a Stephen Murray benefit night this Saturday where 100% of the bar's profits from the night will go towards the Stephen Murray Family Fund. If you aren't aware of the story of Stephen Murray and the Stephen Murray Family Fund, a story which we've been following for quite some time, you can get up-to-date right here. The actual event will begin at 8pm at Mother's Tavern and will feature appearances by Murray's friends (he's got tons of them), raffles and most likely a real up-to-date update from family members. The address for the event are as follows: Mother's Tavern 16701 Pacific Coast Highway Sunset Beach, CA 90742 Phone: 562-592-2111 Also in other Stephen Murray related news, a group of BMXers from the Props Rock-N-Roll Tour (which Stephen planned to participate in prior to his injury), have gotten together and organized an auction to benefit Murray's family fund. The riders including icons like Mat Hoffman and Morgan Wade, will be auctioning off 11 autographed bikes on eBay as well as memorabilia from the Tour including banners, shirts, helmets, etc. The auctions will have staggered start dates with the auction for Mat Hoffman�s bike having already kicked the auction off earlier this month (though it's still up for bid until the 10th). Each bike will also come with pictures of the pros posing with their respective bikes for added collectibility. For more info on the auctions as well as a link to each auction as they become active check the Props Visual site here.

Wendy's Inks Deal With The Dew Tour, Creates Real Life Value Meal

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:00:16 EST

In "I wonder what Shaun White's thinking about this move?" news: starting next year what used to be known as the Vans Invitational, the third stop on the AST Dew Tour held annually in Portland, will now be known as the Wendy's Invitational. That's because it's been announced that Wendy's, yes that fast food hamburger joint, has signed on to become a multiyear title sponsor of the AST Dew Tour. What this means is that beyond the naming of the event Wendy's will also receive tour-wide exclusivity in the restaurant category along with the general marketing benefits of being ultra-visible at a highly attended and broadcasted event. On the other side of the equation the AST Dew Tour will get a big fat (and by all indications grease-stained) check which means both parties walk away from the table happy (and with a higher cholesterol count too). As a side note (well actually not a side note since the entry started off with a mention of this) it'd be great to see the look on a 6 year-old's face at the Wendy's Invitational when they think that Wendy has just won the Skate Vert contest at her own contest. It'll be just like the first time a stoner watches Donnie Darko. To read more on the business aspects of Wendy's and the AST Dew Tour hooking up check out the official announcement of the deal here.

Dolphins + Surfboards = Hayden Panettiere In A Bikini

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:28:39 EST

We knew we had to draw you into this story through some underhanded way, thus the attached picture, but this is a nice story worth reading. Pro Surfers including Dave Rastovich, Karlie Mackie, and Karina Petroni as well as celebrities such as Panettiere (pictured at the event), model Hannah Fraser Rastovich, and Australian actress Isabel Lucas took part in an event to help bring awareness to the commercial slaughter of dolphins in Japan. The event took place in the "notorious killing cove in Taiji Japan" over the weekend as the group of surfers, activists, and supporters paddled out on boards and formed a circle in the cove to protest the estimated 25,000 dolphins and porpoises that are are slaughtered by Japanese fishermen each year and are harvested for their meat in annual drives or captured for sale to marine and captive swim parks. Upon completing the circle the group also laid flowers in the water as a symbolic offering for the dolphins that have been killed. The whole event was watched by police and local fishermen (who are involved in the dolphin hunting practice), who earlier had planned to stop the event but changed their mind after negotiating with the group led by Rastovich in a surprisingly peaceful meeting. To find out more about what happened in Japan check out the story here, to find out more about the cause itself head to the Surfers For Cetaceans site here.

Red Bull's Glamis Invasion This Weekend

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:55:09 EST

In other Red Bull/Motorcross news: This Friday and Saturday night Red Bull FMX riders including Travis Pastrana, Ronnie Tenner, Jeff Tilton, and others will be paying the Glamis Beach Store in California a visit to screen the newest movie from Pastrana and the Nitro Circus crew, 'Thrillbillies'. It's good to hear Travis Pastrana has taken a break from his Rally Car career and squeezed in a little time for FMX. The event begins at 8:30pm Friday night and 7:30pm Saturday night so if you're interested in checking out Pastrana hold court make sure you're at the Glamis Beach Store (5379 E. State Hwy 78, Glamis, CA 92227) at those times.

Stops For The 2008 Red Bull X-Fighters Announced

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:53:30 EST

The Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour is back at it for 2008 and this time they're planning to hit the good ol' U.S. of A. If you didn't know the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour is a motorcross tour that features the world's top riders making stops at some of the most unique places in the world (unique in the sense of "They had a Moto X event there?") to showcase their skills. Past stops have included bullrings in Spain and castles in Ireland so hopefully you get the drift. For 2008 the creativity doesn't stop as Red Bull has planned a five stop jaunt through Mexico City, Rio De Janeiro, Rome, Fort worth, and Madrid. Mexico City will feature riders facing off in the now familiar setting of a bullring at the Monumental Plaza de Toros in April. After that it's headed to Rio in May where Brazilian samba will meet motorcross at the famed Sambadrome. Then it's off to Rome where the event will take place in the historic Circus Maximus where motorcross will now take the place of Charleton Heston-like chariot racing. Following Rome the tour will make its first ever American stop as it goes after the Toby Keith demographic by hitting up the rodeo at the Forth Worth Stockyards in Texas. Finally come July the tour will head back to Europe and visit a familiar haunt at the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. Sounds like a whirlwind tour full of adrenaline, motorized madness, and stereotypes. For more on the 2008 stops of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour check the official announcement here. Complete dates and riders list will be announced later.

Pastrana Takes Rally America Title

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:21:51 EST

It seems now we have an answer to why Travis Pastrana had forgone a lot of recent Motorcross events for rally car racing, as this past weekend Pastrana took his second Rally America National Championship Series title. Pastrana's title came after placing first at the final race of the Rally America championship, the Lake Superior Performance Rally in Houghton, Michigan. Heading into the event Subaru Rally Team USA driver Pastrana was tied with DC Shoes owner and fellow Subaru team member Ken Block for second place in the overall point standings, both just four points behind overall leader RockStar Energy Drink Rally Team driver Andrew Pinker. Within the first day of the event though Block was knocked out of title contention after damage to his car eliminated him from the contest, then in the following day Pinker fell behind both his fellow RockStar teammate Tanner Foust and Pastrana, leading to Pastrana's eventual win. Pinker still finished second in the overall standings with Block coming in behind him at third. To read more about Pastrana's win and to get the complete final standings of the Rally America Championship Series check Rally America's official site here.

The AST Goes Global

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:20:38 EST

Hot on the heels of our profile of the SMP Skatepark in China, the AST (the people who bring you the Dew Tour) has announced the creation of the AST China to take place in Beijing in April 2008. The AST China will be a Skateboard Vert and Park event featuring some of the top skaters who qualify on the basis of their Dew Tour point standings (ummm we have feeling Ryan Sheckler and Shaun White will be some of the first participants named). In addition to the Dew Tour participants local Asian skaters will get a shot at the pros as qualifications will take place throughout China for skaters looking to take part in the AST China competition as wildcard-like qualifiers. The venue, sponsors and prize money and all the other meat and bones of the inaugural AST China competition will be announced at a later date. To find out more about the AST China and to keep up-to-date with AST announcements check the AST home page here early and often.

Bucky Lasek Wins Skate Vert in Orlando; White Injured

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:11:48 EST

Bucky Lasek showed why he was the Dew Cup champ the last two years by taking the PlayStation Pro in Orlando Sunday, but the win came in the shadow of an injury to this year's Dew Cup champ, Shaun White. White was injured while practicing after he had completed his first of three runs. He was knocked unconscious but was eventually able to leave under his own power. He was reportedly diagnosed with a concussion on the scene and, according to Dew Tour officials, he was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Hospital for further tests and observation. Even with the injury, White ended up in third behind Lasek and Pierre-Luc Gagnon. Check out a gallery here from the finals and the full results below... Skate Vert Finals - 2007 PlayStation Pro 1st- Lasek, Bucky- 95.50 2nd- Gagnon, Pierre-Luc- 94.00 3rd- White, Shaun- 91.00 4th- Macdonald, Andy- 88.25 5th- Furlong, Anthony- 83.75 6th- Postec, Jean- 83.25 7th- Taylor, Adam- 82.25 8th- Dias, Sandro- 71.75 9th- Burnquist, Bob- 68.50 10th- Mayer, Danny- 65.25

Dhers Takes BMX Park Finals in Orlando; Wins Dew Cup

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:11:11 EST

Daniel Dhers has won the BMX Park finals at the PlayStation Pro in Orlando, the final stop of the AST Dew Tour. The win also gives Dhers the Dew Cup and the $75,000 payday that comes with that. Dhers edged Mike Spinner in a close final, winning by only half-a-point. Ryan Nyquist was in third-place, followed by the legendary Dave Mirra. For more, you can look at our gallery here from the finals and the full results are listed below... BMX Park Finals - 2007 PlayStation Pro 1st- Dhers, Daniel- 94.67 2nd- Spinner, Mike- 94.17 3rd- Nyquist, Ryan- 92.67 4th- Mirra, Dave- 90.33 5th- Enarson, Dennis- 89.67 6th- Canina, Diogo- 88.17 7th- McCann, Steven- 88.00 8th- Cooke, Allan- 87.50 9th- Darden, Rob- 86.50 10th- Tooker, Marcus- 85.00 11th- Harrington, Josh- 84.83 12th- Cranmer, Scotty- 83.50

Regulars Take etnies Surf GvR

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:10:08 EST

There were other events happening this weekend other than the Dew Tour. One of the more exciting ones was in Oceanside, CA, where the etnies Goofy vs. Regular surf contest went down. The contest was easily won by the Regulars, who were led by team captain Evan Slater -- Surfing magazine's editor-in-chief. TransWorld Surf editor Chris Cot� led the Goofy team. There was a prize purse of $50,000 split among nboth teams. See the results below. Surfers marked with an * were selected by the team captains as the starting five for each team. GvR Surf - Final Results - Oct. 21, 2007 Regular Team: 1. Team MVP Sebastian Zietz � $8,000 2. Jay Thompson � $4,500 3. Austin Ware � $2,000 4. Toby Martin � $1,500 5. * Cheyne Magnusson � $2,500 6. * Ratboy � $2,000 7. * Kieren Horn � $2,000 8. Chris Waring � $1,000 9. Noi Kaulukakui � $1,000 10. * Adam Virs � $2,000 11. Brandon Guilmette � $1,000 12. Jason Bennet � $1,000 13. * Sunny Garcia � $2,000 14. Kyle Knox � $1,000 15. Sean Marceron � $1,000 Goofy Team: 1. * Timmy Curran � $2,000 2. * Cory Arrambide � $2,000 3. * Mike Losness � $2,000 4. * Mike Todd � $2,000 5. * Tonino Benson � $2,000 6. Travis Mellem � $750 7. Eric Snortum � $750 8. Ricky Whitlock � $750 9. Matt Keenan � $750 10. Dylan Slater � $750 11. Josh Buran � $750 12. Jeremy Heit � $750 13. Ryan Carlson � $750 14. Kai Barger � $750 15. Jesse Merle Jones � $750

Soven, Friday Win at Tig� Pro-Am in Mexico

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:09:40 EST

Also taking part this weekend was the 2007 Tig� Pro-Am Wakeboard Championships in Cancun, Mexico. Phillip Soven continued his domination of wakeboarding scene in 2007 by taking another win, while Dallas Friday made her way back to the podium over the higher-seeded Emily Copeland Durham and Raequel Hoffman. Check out the main results below... Pro Men's Final Standings 1. Phillip Soven 2. Danny Harf 3. Andrew Adkison 4. Trevor Hansen 5T. Rusty Malinoski 5T. Adam Errington 7T. JD Webb 7T. Daniel Watkins 9. Austin Hair 10T. Chris O'Shea 10T. Bryan Hutton 10T. Tino Santori 13. Chad Sharpe 14. Danny Thollander 15. Ricky Gonzalez 16. Randall Harris Women's Professional Finals Heat #: 01 1 Friday, Dallas - USA 56.11 2 Copeland, Emily Copeland - USA 54.89 3 Merritt, Raimi - USA 47.00 4 Hoffman, Raequel - USA 39.56 5 Hoffman, Shawna - USA 38.22 6 Jackson, Jenacee - USA 28.33 Professional Wakeskate Finals Heat #: 01 1 Hansen, R. - USA 80.00 2 Taylor, Nick - USA 66.67 3 Grubb, Brian - USA 50.00 4 Balzer, James - CDN 36.67

Adams Wins FMX in Orlando; is Dew Tour's Athlete of the Year

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:56:53 EST

Nate Adams made it four out five in this season's AST Dew Tour by taking the PlayStation Pro in Orlando Saturday. Adams already won the Dew Cup last month in Portland but the win means he is this year's AST Dew Tour Athlete of the Year, an honor bestowed to the athlete who scores the most point over the length of the tour. Adams is the only athlete so far this season to win four of five stops, although Shaun White can match that Sunday in the Skate Vert finals. However, since White finished third in his only non-win tour stop, Adam's second-place finish means he is the Athlete of the Year. For the honor Adams takes home an additional $25,000 to go along with the $75,000 he wins for the Dew Cup and the $15,000 he earned for winning the PlayStation Pro. Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg had a strong showing, ending up in second for the contest, followed by Todd Potter. For the Season, Adam Jones was second in the points race, followed by Mike Mason. FMX Final Results - PlayStation Pro 2007 1. Nate Adams, Glendale, Ariz., 93.17. 2. Jeremy Stenberg, Temecula, Calif., 92.33. 3. Todd Potter, Temecula, Calif., 91.50. 4. Jeremy Lusk, San Diego, Calif., 90.73. 5. Takayuki Higashino, Japan, 89.83. 6. Dustin Miller, Gardnerville, Nev., 89.67. 7. Wiley Fullmer, Chino, Calif., 89.67. 8. Mike Mason, Carson City, Nev., 89.50. 9. Mathieu Rebeaud, Switzerland, 88.87. 10. Myles Richmond, Cherry Valley, Calif., 84.00. AST Dew Tour FMX Final Points Standings 1. Nate Adams, 475. 2. Adam Jones, 276. 3. Mike Mason, 257. 4. Jeremy Lusk, 256. 5. Todd Potter, 246. 6. Jeremy Stenberg, 217. 7. Wiley Fullmer, 193. 8. Myles Richmond, 186. 9. Takayuki Higashino, 180. 10. Beau Bamburg, 178.

Kelly Slater Detained By Police For Living Out Our Fantasies

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:10:29 EST

From the "I Would Have Done The Exact Opposite Files" comes news that Kelly Slater has been detained by police in Israel. Allegedly bodyguards for Slater got in a scuffle with photographers who were trying to take pictures of the pair together outside the hotel Slater was staying at with his Israeli supermodel girlfriend Bar Rafaeli. Photographers who were there called it a "brawl" but they're paparazzi so we take that with a grain of salt...actually with a whole salt shaker worth of salt. Reports say the scuffle broke out after Slater pushed one of the photographers causing the scuffle to break out. This isn't the first time the same Israeli supermodel girlfriend has been involved in a scuffle with photographers, a similar scene broke out last time she was in Israel with her then boyfriend notorious model dater and life coach Leonardo DiCaprio. Now here comes my commentary: See if this was me we were talking about none of this hoo-hah would have ever happened because I would have been inviting photographers to take pictures of me with a supermodel. Hell I would have hired a town crier to follow us around and announce "Hear Yee! Hear Yee! This be Cary with his supermodel girlfriend Bar Rafaeli!" while ringing a bell and possibly carrying around one of those huge arrows those real estate people use for open houses. The town crier would also be wearing neon colors like he was a fan of electronic music or neon colors. But then again when has Kelly Slater ever listened to any of my advice? To read more about Slater's run-in with the law check the AP report here. To see what all the big fuss is about with Bar Rafaeli just look to the right.

Greg Lutzka Takes Skate Park in Orlando

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 20:34:04 EST

The Sheckler Show sputtered to a stop in Orlando Saturday, with Ryan Sheckler losing in a close final to Greg Lutzka. Sheckler already clinched the Dew Cup in Salt Lake City but the second-place finish means 2007 is the first time Sheckler will finish a Dew Tour with less than four wins. Of course, Sheckler was hoping to win all five tour stops, but Lutzka had other ideas. Sheckler's may still be able to lock up the Athlete of the Year honors, depending on how Nate Adams finishes in the FMX finals later Saturday. If Adams wins, he will be the Athlete of the Year. With a second-place finish, Adams and Sheckler would be tied, leaving the door open for Shaun White to take the honor with a win Sunday in Skate Vert. Photos to come, but check out the resules below plus a couple of shots from the Skate Park prelims on Thursday... Skate Park Finals - PlayStation Pro 2007 1st - Lutzka, Greg - 90.83 2nd - Sheckler, Ryan - 89.58 3rd - Araujo Jr., Rodil - 85.08 4th - Santos, Fabrizio - 84.33 5th - De Andrade, Carlos - 81.92 6th - Ortiz (A), Chaz - 80.42 7th - Seaholm, Austen - 81.75 8th - Fuenzalida, Danny - 81.00 9th - Barr, Jason - 77.25 10th - Peterson, Mike - 76.50 11th - Ramos, Rodolfo - 75.25 12th - Parent, Thomas - ---

Parslow Wins DMX Dirt in Orlando; Nyquist Takes Dew Cup; Murray Profiled

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:44:22 EST

Luke Parslow has won the BMX Dirt finals at the PlayStation Pro in Orlando, FL, the final stop of the AST Dew Tour. But the real focus going into the day appeared to be the race for the Dew Cup -- the honor given to the best overall athlete over the tour's five stops -- between Ryan Nyquist and Cameron White. Nyquist won the first two tour stops but has stumbled since and was not at the top of his game Saturday, failing to complete the final trick of his first run and leaving the door open for Cameron White after scoring an average of 87.09 in his final two runs. White couldn't finish his first run and had a great second run. But he needed a win to take the overall Dew Cup and a score of 85.19 to take the lead. He failed to complete his third run allowing Nyquist to secure the Dew Cup. The race for the Cup was forgotten during the second set of runs when Ryan Guettler fell while trying to land the double backflip. Guettler was knocked unconscious from the fall and was taken off the field on a stretcher after regaining consciousness. He did not require hospitalization but the medical staff was careful since Stephen Murray was paralyzed in June attempting the same trick. The crash came a day after T.J. Lavin suffered a compound fracture in his leg during the BMX Dirt prelims. Guettler was the number one qualifier on Friday thanks to landing the first-ever 1080 in a dirt competition and was expected to throw an amazing run during the finals. Guettler was up and walking later in the competition but the medical staff did not allow him to complete his third and final run and were determining whether to clear him for the BMX Park competition, which will hold its prelims Saturday night. Following the finals, Murray was honored with a special that featured the first look at his fateful run that resulted in his paralysis (the actual crash was not shown). Murray, his family and his fellow riders were interviewed about the crash and the aftermath. The TV package featured a look at Murray in Craig Hospital in Denver, where he is undergoing physical therapy. In the extensive interview, Murray revealed that though he's been paralyzed below the neck, he was recently able to move his thumb and index finger. "I'm a fighter, you know. I'm not going to believe that I'm going to be... a quadriplegic all my life" Murray said, "I don't think I'm ever going to compete again. But I just want to be there for my kids.. Be there for my family." Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family. BMX Dirt Finals - PlayStation Pro 2007 1st Parslow, Luke - 92.67 2nd Enarson, Dennis - 92.67 3rd Napolitan, Anthony - 92.33 4th Doyle, Chris - 92.17 5th Nyquist, Ryan - 90.33

Kagy Wins in Orlando but Bestwick Takes the Cup

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 07:09:10 EST

Chad Kagy has won the BMX Vert finals in Orlando at the PlayStation Pro, the final stop of the AST Dew Tour. For Kagy, the win shows a glimpse of what might have been had Kagy not broken his collarbone in August before during Big Air BMX practice at the X Games. The result was he missed one stop of the Dew Tour and didn't make the finals in the second as he wasn't full recovered. Kagy actually tied with Jamie Bestwick with a 92.67, with a tiebreaker going to Kagy. It was a crowded final, with Steve McCann ending in third and Simon Tabron in fourth, both ending with a score above 92.00. The win was not without controversy, as during his first run Jamie Bestwick's pedal broke off as Bestwick dropped in, causing a spectacular fall and basically giving him a 0 score. Had he been allowed to redo the run, he might have been able to break a tiebreaker. Kagy also fell on his first run but finished more of it. chad_kagy_xgames12finals_160x130 Despite the second-place finish, Bestwick wins the BMX Vert Dew Cup, but this does mean that for the first time in the three years of the Dew Tour Bestwick failed to win four out of the five tour stops. Kagy and Bestwick weren't the only ones to have a fall. Veteran rider Dennis McCoy fell hard and was knocked out and was taken to the hospital. He was later released. We have tons of photos here and for a recap check the official release here. You can see some of the shots below. BMX Vert Finals - PlayStation Pro 2007 1st Kagy, Chad - 92.67 2nd Bestwick, Jamie - 92.67 3rd McCann, Steven - 92.33 4th Tabron, Simon - 92.17 5th Robinson, Kevin - 90.33 6th Walker, Jimmy - 88.33 7th Parker, John -87.83 8th Warden, Zack - 87 9th Eggleston, Jay - 86.33 10th McCoy, Dennis - 82.67

Guettler Leads BMX Dirt Prelims Behind First-Ever 1080; Lavin Breaks Leg

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 07:08:39 EST

Prelims at the BMX Dirt competition in Orlando ended with some bad news this afternoon as we got word that TJ Lavin (pictured) suffered a serious break in his leg during one of his jumps. Lavin usually does color commentary for NBC's Dew Tour broadcasts so obviously that's uncertain right now. We'll try to keep you updated with his condition, but as for now we're hoping for the best for Lavin. TJ Lavin With BikeIn terms of the results, Ryan Guettler has finished first in the prelims in what has been one of the most unpredictable events for the whole dew tour. So far Ryan Nyquist (currently 6th in the Prelims, 1st in the Dew Cup standings) has been the only competitor to finish first in the BMX Dirt Finals twice at the Dew Tour while James Foster (3rd in the Dew Cup Standings) has been the only rider to take first in both the Prelims and Finals in the same stop. So the finals, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, are definitely something you got to keep an eye out for. As for Foster, he missed the finals along with Corey Bohan, so both are officially out of the race. Meanwhile, Ryan Guettler is not in the Dew Cup running but he still pulled out all the stops by landing the first-ever 1080 in a dirt competition, following his landing that trick in the BMX Park finals last month in Slat Lake City. The trick gives Guettler an edge in the over contest but Nyquist still has his eye on the prize. BMX Dirt Prelims Results - PlayStation Pro 1st Guettler, Ryan 95.67 2nd Enarson, Dennis 92.33 3rd White, Cameron 91.5 4th Marks, Joey 90.33 5th Napolitan, Anthony 90 6th Nyquist, Ryan 89.5 7th Doyle, Chris 89 8th Cooke, Allan 88 9th Parslow, Luke 87.83 10th Ellis, TJ 87.5 11th Nastazio, Cory 87.33 12th Canina, Diogo 87.33

Sheckler is Good ; Skate Park Prelim Results From The PlayStation Pro

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 07:08:06 EST

The Skate Park Prelims at the the PlayStation Pro picked up today after a weather conditions (read: rain) only allowed for partial heats Thursday evening. The Prelims finished up with - surprise, surprise - Ryan Sheckler taking the top spot, while Rodolfo Ramos finished behind in second and Fabrizio Santos rounded out the top three. The Skate Park finals will take place Saturday evening, and while Sheckler's already got the Dew Cup won, 2nd place is still up in the air as Rudolfo Ramos (currently 3rd in the Cup standings) looks to be breathing down Greg Lutzka's (2nd in the Cup standings, 8th in the prelims) neck. Stay connected for more coverage from Skate Park at the PlayStation Pro. Skate Park Prelims Results - PlayStation Pro 1st Sheckler, Ryan 92.25 2nd Ramos, Rodolfo 87 4th Santos, Fabrizio 85.5 5th De Andrade, Carlos 84.25 6th Ortiz, Chaz 83.75 7th Seaholm, Austen 82.75 8th Lutzka, Greg 80.75 9th Fuenzalida, Danny 79.25 10th Parent, Thomas 79 11th Barr, Jason 78.5 12th Peterson, Mike 78.25 13th Fernandez, Chad 77.5

The Free Flow Skate Park Finals At The PlayStation Pro

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 07:07:36 EST

Hidden in the midst of all the Dew Tour action from the pros at Baltimore all the way to Salt Lake City was the fact that the AST Free Flow Tour was also running alongside the big boys. Well now that the Dew Tour has hit its finale in Orlando with the PlayStation Pro the youngins from the Free Flow tour have gotten a chance to show their craft off on the main stage with the Free Flow finals. First up was the Free Flow Skate Park finals which was won by 13 year-old wonder Chaz Ortiz. Could he be the next Nyjah Huston? One of the guys from Banquet seems to think so. Keep up with what happened with our photo gallery from the Free Flow Skate Park Finals in Orlando here.

Skate Vert Prelims At PlayStation Pro

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:56:51 EST

Though he's already secured himself a Dew Cup win with his showing last month at the Toyota Challenge it seems Shaun White isn't taking a stop off and is still looking to go all out at the PlayStation Pr,o as Prelims wrapped up today with White scoring a strong 87 to top the field. The fight for second in the Dew Cup race is still going strong though as Pierre-Luc Gagnon holds a thin lead over Bob Burnquist going into the finals. As of now Gagnon looks to be in good position finishing 3rd at the prelims compared to Burnquist finishing 6th, but we're still going to have to wait until the Finals Sunday to see how it all shakes out. Stay tuned for more coverage of Skate Vert at the PlayStation Pro. Skate Vert Prelims Results - Toyota Challenge 1st White, Shaun 87 2nd Lasek, Bucky 85.5 3rd Gagnon, Pierre-Luc 83.25 4th Macdonald, Andy 82.75 5th Postec, Jean 82.5 6th Burnquist, Bob 81.5 7th Mayer, Danny 80.25 8th Dias, Sandro 80 9th Furlong, Anthony 79.75 10th Taylor, Adam 77.75

Creature Skateboards Looks To Follows In The Footsteps Of Jonas Salk

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:14:18 EST

Remember those lame razor scooters that were being ridden around by those lame people (including lame businessmen and lame fratboys at my college) just a few lame years ago? If you don't that's a good thing, if you do then we're sorry, and if you actually had one then we're extra sorry, because you were one of those lame people. Well if you belong in the latter group Creature skateboards is here to help you with their Save A Life Rehabilitation Plan. The "plan" calls for any current owner of a razor scooter to head over to Santa Cruz Skatepark on October 30th to hand over their instrument of lameness in exchange for a Creature complete or deck "no questions asked" (hahaha). Only the first 12 to give up their razor scooters will get a complete, after that it's only decks, but either way think about it why burden yourself and your children's future with the possibility of being spotted with a razor scooter? The event (which is quite possibly one of the greatest skate events ever conceived) starts at 12 noon, so if you're itching for that free complete get their early but also not too early that you'd be spotted holding a razor scooter for longer than several minutes.

Chad Muska and Mick Fanning Share Their Trade Secrets (Well Kinda)

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:13:44 EST

You know that feeling of listening to certain music in order to pump yourself up or to get you in the mood prior to going out to skate/surf/snowboard? It's something you'll find that is common for most athletes regardless of sports, though it just so happens that athletes in the "traditional" sports usually listen to some god awful music. That's not the case with skater Chad Muska and surfer Mick Fanning as they've shared with EXPN some of their favorite tunes to listen to. In Chad Muska's case it comes in the form of a list of 5 albums he feels are must-haves, for Mick Fanning it's in the form of an interview about what music he leans on to get him going, and in both cases the choices are pretty dope (ODB's 'Return to the 36 Chambers' for Muska, Hanson's 'MmmBop' for Fanning). To get an idea of the music playing inside each of these athlete's heads check this article for Chad Muska and this article for Mick Fanning.

Jake Brown to Miss Dew Tour Finale; Aiming For LG Championships

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:21:11 EST

Jake Brown, the Aussie skateboarder who became a household name after falling nearly 50 feet during the X Games in August, has started skatebording again, but will miss this weekend's AST Dew Tour finale in Orlando, FL. However, he's optimistic about making the LG Action Sports Championships in Dallas on November 9th. "I just started skateboarding two days ago for the first time, really," he tells Lat34.com. While he's riding again, Brown says not everything is back to normal. His wrist hasn't completely healed and he doesn't have the full range of motion back. Because of this, he can't land many of his normal tricks quite yet. Much of the hoopla around the crash, which saw Brown make the rounds among talks shows, has died down and Brown is fine with that, eager to get back to competing. But that doesn't mean anyone is forgetting about the amazing slam. Blind Skateboards has come out with a new Jake Brown deck commemorating the moment (pictured at tight) named, very appropriately "Slam.".

Bobby Martinez Wins Billabong Pro Over Burrow

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:00:23 EST

Bobby Martinez has won the Billabong Pro in Mundaka for the second year in a row (pictured at right in 2006), defeating Taj Burrow in an exciting final. Martinez had the advantage pretty much throughout the whole match, but Burrow did come close to catching up in the closing minutes of the match, scoring a 9.33 on one of his waves. Martinez had two 8.00+ scores, however, and had the match in hand. Today's action started with Martinex taking on world No. 1 Mick Fanning, taking the heat fairly easily 14.17 to 11.67. Burrow took on Kelly Slater in the second semifinal and had no problem, scoring a 14.00 to 4.93. The win by Martinez leaves the door open for Fanning to clinch the world title in Brazil with a win or poor showings by Burrow and Slater. Check out photos of previous action at the Mundaka Pro here.

Gilmore Wins Beachley Classic

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 07:59:50 EST

Stephanie Gilmore has won the Beachley Classic in Australia for the second time in a row, taking a close final from Silvana Lima, The win propels Gilmore back to the top of the ASP Women's World Tour with Lima a close second. There are three events left on the tour this season. ASP Women�s World Tour ratings after Stop No. 5 of 8 1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 4308 2. Silvana Lima (BRA) 4226 3. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 3811 4. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 3504 5. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 3326 6. Layne Beachley (AUS) 2882 6. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 2882 7. Rebecca Woods (AUS)2448 8. Jessi Miley Dyer (AUS) 2347 9. Melanie Redman- Carr (AUS) 2232 10. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 2114 NAB Beachley Classic Final Results: Heat: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)15.43 def Silvana Lima (BRA) 15.33 NAB Beachley Classic Semifinal Results: Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA)14.17 def Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)10.00 Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)16.60 def Sofia Mulanovich (PER)11.67

Zero Team Wins Vans Downtown Showdown -- McCrank Top Pro

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:57:30 EST

The Vans Downtown Showdown just finished in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios and the big winners were the Zero skate team, led by Tommy Sandoval who placed first in one of the four obstacles. Zero split $30K for the top honor, while second-place and $15K went to Toy Machine, led by Billy Marks. Toy Machine won the event in 2006. Third-place and $5K went to Girl, which had the overall top pro Rick McCrank and overall top am Alex Olson. More info to come with photos, but check out the top results below for the four obstacles that were part of the event. Creature Obstacle 1st Place - Tyler Mumma ($2,500) 2nd Place - Tony Cervantez ($1,500) 3rd Place - Al Partanen ($1,000) Girl Obstacle 1st Billy Marks ($2500) 2nd Mike Mo Capaldi ($1,500) 3rd. Sean Malto ($1,000) Real Obstacle 1st Place - Rick McCrank ($2,500) 2nd Place - Alex Olson ($1,500) 3rd Place - John Rattray ($1,000) Foundation Obstacle 1st Place - Tommy Sandoval ($2,500) 2nd Place - Jonny Layton ($1,500) 3rd Place - Rick McCrank ($1,000) Overall Top Am - $5,000 Alex Olson Overall Top Pro - $10,000 Rick McCrank Team Rankings 1st Place - Zero ($30,000) 2nd Place - Toy Machine ($15,000) 3rd Place - Girl ($5,000) 4th Place - Creature 5th Place -Real Skateboards 6th Place - Black Label 7th Place - Foundation Skateboards 8th Place - Alien Workshop "Bang Your Head 'Till You Die Award" (honorary) Omar Hassan

Billabong Pro Semifinals Set, Fanning Gets To Wait Another Day

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:53:43 EST

Talk about suspense, after being this close to securing the overall ASP World Title with two events left to go current ASP ratings leader Mick Fanning is going to have to wait until after Spain to possibly take to the 2007 ASP throne. That's because despite Fanning advancing to the Semifinals at the Billabong Pro Mundaka yesterday, the two surfers that are still within arms length of Fanning in terms of ASP points, Kelly Slater and Taj Burrow, are also on to the Semifinals thereby blocking Fanning from snatching the point advantage he needed to take the crown. Mick Fanning Mundaka 300wAll of this happened in a day that saw the final heats of Round 4 along with the Quarterfinals run to completion. In the quarterfinals current ASP #2 Slater defeated Jeremey Flores while Burrow, who's currently #3 on the leaderboard, knocked off Bebe Durbidge setting up a Semifinal heat where both will face off against each other for the 16th time (Slater has won 10 of the previous 15 matchups) for a chance to possibly face Fanning in the finals. Meanwhile Fanning took out Taylor Knox in his Quarterfinal heat setting up a Semifinal matchup agains defending Mundaka champ Bobby Martinez, who topped Phil MacDonald in the Quarterfinals. In speaking of the day's developments and his overall perspective on his World Title hunt Fanning said, "You have to keep the pressure on, it�s not over yet. I�ve got to keep getting through heats, get another good result and try to finish strong here....That�s surfing, it just comes down to the end.� For more on the Quarterfinals at Mundaka and the Semifinal matchups check the official update here.

The Bonanza That is Jereme Rogers

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:35:12 EST

This is just something that's too good to be missed. Following in the footsteps of his DVS brethren, Daewon Song, Jereme Rogers has gotten the "Echo" treatment on his latest commercial for DVS, but with a twist (check out the different tricks on the rail). If you hadn't seen the Daewon commercial and don't know what I mean by "Echo" it's this effect where they show multiple shots from a trick inside a video shot. Awww crap it's just to hard to put into words. Seriously just take a look at the Jereme Rogers commercial for yourself below and also get a refresher on the Daewon commercial that started it all here. And another thing Plan B also has some footage of Mr. Rogers up on their website. Check that out right here.

Birdhouse Previews "The Beginning"

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:34:44 EST

As we come up on the premiere Birdhouse's eagerly anticipated "The Beginning" the company that's home to the Hawk, as well as Shaun White has released a new 30 second trailer for the film. The film actually premieres today but that's an invite only type thing (meaning you probably won't be catching it tonight) so you'll have to wait until Birdhouse unleashes its premiere tour for the film throughout the country starting next week, the details of which can be found here. Otherwise, check out the trailer below...

Lifestyle Working Celebrity Challenge At The Beachley Classic

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:34:09 EST

Something to keep note of: this Sunday as part of the NAB Beachley Classic (going on now) they'll be holding the Lifestyle Working Celebrity Challenge. It's one of those surfing-based charity events which will feature of course Layne Beachley herself and a whole bevy of Australian celebrities (remember the Beachley Classic is held at Manly Beach in Australia) including Megan Gale, Guy Leech, Toby Rand of Rockstar Supernova fame and Big Brother's Gretel Killeen. Read the details about it here. Now you might be like, "Yo I'm not from Australia I don't know any of those 'celebrities' and quite frankly I don't care. Now why are you even bringing this up???" My answer would then be, "Ummm have you ever seen Megan Gale???" At which point you would say "No". At which point I would post this picture:

Drunk Driving on a Skateboard?

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:33:44 EST

Alright this right here was to good to be passed up. In what seems like one of the biggest blunders in verb usage history an Australian man has been convicted of drunk driving......on a skateboard. It seems Corey Mitchell Symes, a 22 year-old apprentice carpenter, was going past traffic lights and swerving between lanes at high speeds while clutching an open can of rum. After police stopped him they tested his BAC and noticed it was a .095 (about equivalent to a Keith Richards' breakfast snack) and booked him. At the courthouse Symes pleaded guilty and was quickly convicted and fined for $300AUS. I really don't know what to say about this, seriously. At what point did Symes not consider pulling out a standard dictionary and pointing out the uses of the verb "to drive"? I understand that he was probably breaking a law either way, but if they were just charging him for drunk driving I would expect remedial English would have been a bullet-proof defense. Sadly Symes is only an apprentice carpenter and isn't sophisticated enough to deal with legal constructs or say early childhood development (mainly language development). So all of this just makes for a hilariously sad story he can pass on to his kids, who we presume he won't be reading to. To check out the story and make sure it's really true check this news report.

Event Bulletin: Active's Yellow Snow Jam

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:33:13 EST

If you're living in Southern California you can stop off at the Active Store in Mission Viejo to check out the Yellow Snow Jam this Sunday from 2pm to 6pm. The event promises 10 tons of snow, a rail, cheerleaders (don't know how they'll work that), yellow snow cones, free gear, and a "Make It Rain" contest. Of course this isn't an event just to have an event as it's tied in with different sales going on at the store including 40-60% off last season's snowboarding leftovers, as well as a free Bear Mountain lift ticket for the purchase of a complete snow setup. We suggest if you're hard up on cash just head on out there for the snowcones, cheerleaders, and the chance to nail your stupid little brother with a snowball for taking away all your parent's loving attention ever since "that day". Sound good to me.

etnies Goofy vs. Regular Takes On Surf

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:52:11 EST

We just finished up the etnies Goofy vs. Regular Skate Competition which means it's time to move on to the next Goofy vs. Regular contest etnies has set up, and that's the GvR Surf Competition which will be held October 20th to 21st at Oceanside. Though teams have not yet been finalized for the event team captains have as Chris Cote, editor of Transworld Surf, will helm the Goofies while Evan Slater, Surfing Magazine's editor-in-chief, will play boss to the Regulars. Now it's up to them to pick the best team to rep their feet. Also of note the musical act for the Surf Contest this year will be MxPx (as opposed to the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs for the Skate contest). For more details on the early info for the GvR surf check the Transworld press release here.

Big Black Broadcasts Baby Birthing Bnews

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:52:33 EST

In this case the puns on the name just make themselves. MTV's 'Rob & Big' star Chris "Big Black" Boykin has announced that he is going to be a daddy. People Magazine reports that the baby will be a girl and has an expected landing time of somewhere around February. In speaking to the magazine Big Black stated that he's going to be an excellent father because he plans to "learn on the fly." At this point after watching episodes of 'Rob & Big' we're pretty sure "on the fly" means buying a mini-horse that'll piss all over the baby's sofa, playing the role of a male stripper to put the baby to sleep, and building a random-ass time machine as a toy for the baby. The baby's ratings will soar through the roof. For the People Magazine's story on Big Black's soon to be bundle of joy click the link here.

Ricky Carmichael: The End Of An Era?

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:52:53 EST

Straight from the Never-Saw-That-Coming files is word that Motorcross legend Ricky Carmichael has pulled out of the U.S. Open of Supercross this weekend. Carmichael is essentially being forced out of the sport he loves due to a medical condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) that he's been diagnosed with. CFS is exactly what it sounds like as it's a disorder that causes profound fatigue that may be worsened by continued physical and mental activity. On account of this Carmichael might actually be done for his career as it was planned, prior to the CFS diagnosis, that the U.S. Open would be one of his final competitions, which is sad news to hear. For more about the story including quotes from Carmichael himself click here.

A Day/Night At The GvR Finals

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:51:17 EST

So you got the photos from GvR. You got the results from GvR. You even know how much each skater pocketed from GvR. There's one last thing you need and that's a detailed story/recap from the finals, which we got for you. Get a full (and I mean FULL) lowdown of exactly how the GvR finals went from a ground-level perspective, including heat/run breakdowns and all that good stuff. For a recap of the GvR Finals head over here. Also check out these nifty little sequences we got from the finals of Tyler Hendley and David Loy (click on the thumbnails to get a larger pic).

Team Regular Wins etnies GvR

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:51:02 EST

Just a quick update on the final results for the main etnies GvR contest down in Lake Forest, CA. After two years of Goofy domination, Team Regular took back the GvR crown Sunday. After a full day of action it came down to the Jam sessions to determine the winner. Going into the final jam session for both teams, the Regulars held a slim 26 pt. lead but a spectacular session for the Regulars, led by David Loy, Leo Romero and Bill Marks (who came in for Rick McCrank) gave the team a huge score of 467 points for the final jam, setting the bar high for the final Goofy session, which included Nyjah Huston, Jereme Rogers, Nick Fiorini, Tyler Hendley and Darrell Stanton (later replaced by Alex Olson). The team tried hard, with Huston and Rogers among those landing some huge tricks but also getting some major slams. If Goofy was able to stay within 25 points, the team could have challenged the Regular team for a game of SKATE for a bonus of 25 pts., but it wasn't to be. Regular held on and took the crown for the first time in two years.

Don't Forget: Goofy vs. Regular Webcast

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:50:45 EST

Alright if you're not in town, and by town we mean Southern California, for the skating bonanza known as Etnies' Goofy vs. Regular you might want to get down with the webcast available through IBN Sports. Much of the early afternoon will be spent on practices but competition will pick up around 2pm with the Women's Bowl Contest followed by the Grand Master's Bowl Qualifying shortly after. Action will then pick up in the evening with Pro Bowl Qualifying (if you can see the pattern you can see that today is a day of Bowl skating), followed by the Grand Master's Bowl Finals, and then finishing up with the Pro Bowl Finals. Watch the webcast of GvR right here. Now if you aren't sure what the Goofy vs. Regular contest is all about read up on it here so you can be fully prepped before you hit the webcast.

Frontline Rail Jam

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:49:58 EST

We know you're probably not reading this from Sweden or anywhere close to Scandanavia but we felt it's worth keeping you up-to-date on the Frontline Rail Jam happening in Stockholm tomorrow. Who knows maybe you can use the info to impress your friends or that special someone you look at with adoring eyes. The Rail Jam is a session that's put on by the clothing company, Frontline, featuring some of the top jibbers around (especially of the Northern European variety) such as Marc Frank Montoya, Joni Malmi, Kareem El Rafie, and others. Plus this year they'll be putting up a mini-ramp for skaters to do damage on right next to the session, and you know it can't be that bad of an event if they're promoting the after-party (featuring MFM on the wheels of steel) as much as the event itself (I really can't tell if I'm being sarcastic right now). To get an idea of how the action at the Frontline Rail Jam goes down check out the photo gallery of the 2006 Rail Jam over at Frontline's site then keep a look out either there or here for some type of wrap up coverage of the 2007 Jam once it finishes up, unless of course you are actually reading this from Stockholm in which case you could probably just actually go.

Jim Phillips' Screaming Hand in 3D

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:49:10 EST

Are you young but remember the 80's like some of these hipsters seem to? Or are you old and consistently try to relive old memories/glories like Sylvester Stallone does? If you answered yes at any time to one of those questions then you might remember Jim Phillips, he was the art designer for Santa Cruz Skateboards who came up with one of the most lasting images from skate art history, the Screaming Hand (other candidates: the Bones Brigade logo, the Powell logo, and Vans logo). Come December, thanks in part to toy company, Made By Monsters, and website, Garage Works Industries, the Screaming Hand will be available to you in a new, unique form as a model figure (see the pic) for $100. Though I may sound like George Foreman, or now Evander Holyfield, shilling out a product like an unbelievable effective fat-fighting grill, this Screaming Hand model is really pretty cool. Imagine putting it on like a plain white shelf on a plain white wall, not cluttered with random stuff like it was a TGIFridays but with some design and class. You get the idea right? Now just imagine yourself putting $100 into the pockets of Garage Works Industries.

Ballots Open For Thrasher's Skater Of The Year

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:49:43 EST

Thrasher Magazine's Skater Of The Year award has been a staple in skateboarding for decades. Among past winners there have been Daewon Song (last year), Chris Cole (2005), Arto Saari (2001), Andrew Reynolds (1998), Eric Koston (1996), Salman Agah (who I distinctly remember winning it the year I started skating...1993...man I'm old) and yes of course Tony Hawk (the inaugural winner in 1990). Well it's getting to be that time of the year for Thrasher to name another one and here's your chance at becoming a part (though only minor) of the whole process. Voting has now begun for the award and unlike our political system, where you're only allowed to vote for predetermined candidates, your votes can be for anyone you choose. Just email Thrasher at soty2007@thrashermagazine.com with your choice in the subject header. Please refrain from doing something stupid like voting for Tay Zonday or something, this is serious.

Video Roundup: Organika Oakland, Black & Blue Trailer, Foundation's King Of The Road, Cliche's Gypsy Tour 2, and Paul Rodriguez At The X Games

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:46:31 EST

� Organika Skateboards' got Karl Watson, Walker Ryan, Kelly Hard, and Jack Curtin hitting up one of those freeway/road barrier things in Oakland here. � Vox Footwear has a trailer up for their video Black & Blue Volume 2 (hey that rhymes) which features their team riders. Check out the clip here and if you're interested you can pick it up at your nearest skate shop since it's already available for purchase. � Thrasher Magazine has a clip of Foundation's part in their King Of The Road segment here. � Fuel TV has the second clip from Cliche's Gypsy Tour 2 with some French language thrown in (since Cliche is a French brand). Check the clip, along with other Gypsy Tour clips, here. � Active has pasted together highlights from Paul Rodriguez at X Games 13 and posted them up right here. � DC's got footage of their European team's trip to Italy, check it out here.

Writers Of Article Lack Corneas

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:43:57 EST

In a mistake of 'Crying Game' proportions (I'm talking about the mistake I made in watching the ending to 'Crying Game' not the ending itself) a writer from the lovely British periodical The Telegraph has dubbed what is obviously a bike with extra wheels, "The Half-Skateboard, Half-Surfboard Bike". Take a look at the picture we've included here and tell me this reporter isn't Oedipus Rex (post-incest-learning Oedipus that is)...I mean it's a BIKE with four (admittedly feminine) wheels instead of the front wheel. Yet based on his crazy logic the four front wheels in someway evoke a skateboard while the ability to lean into turns evokes a surfboard. Makes you wonder how this guy passed Junior-High Biology class (specifically the unit dealing with Classification). Just think of what he might have called a zebra (a "half-oreo, half-shirt-on-a-Jersey-Shore-party-goer horse"?), or a hyena (a "half-fox, half-Miami Sound Machine, dog"?), or even Dolph Lungren (a "half-man, half-killing machine object of my affection"?). I mean seriously is the content of the article even worth mentioning? The answer: No.

'Mash' Premiere In Los Angeles

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:43:22 EST

If you've ever been to San Francisco you would know how big bicycling is there, what with the impracticality of driving, the hilly streets and the general liberal culture. You'd also know about the dangers of bicycling in San Francisco too, what with the dense traffic, hilly and narrow streets, and the spontaneity of things (random obstacles). Well 'Mash' is a film dedicated to exploring all aspects of bicycling in San Francisco, from the inspiring feeling of riding to the physical dangers of riding, with an artistic touch as the film is helmed by photographers Mike Martin and Gabe Morford (if you can imagine a Girl/Chocolate skate video production but done for fixed-gear bicycling then you'd get the idea). 'Mash' will be having its Los Angeles premiere October 13th (next Saturday) at the Vine Theater in Hollywood, so if you were interested in catching the film keep your calendar open that night. And as a teaser check out the trailer at the film's official homepage.

MHI's Andy Warhol Decks

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:42:57 EST

You thought we forgot about informing you about all the "cool" "hip" stuff that'll get you looks "on the streetz"? Well you thought wrong. This time around with help from High Snobiety we got clothing line MHI's collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation skateboard decks. If you didn't know the Andy Warhol Foundation is now working with several clothing/product lines (i.e. Levis) to produce work featuring famous Warhol motifs. In this case it's the print screening motif that was utilized in the set of 4 decks, here check out what some of the decks look like (photos courtesy of High Snobiety), and if you were interested you can pick 'em up at Hanon.

NORA Cup Party Photos / Some 'Nothing But The Truth' Premiere Photos

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:42:33 EST

In case you missed out on the NORA Cup Awards, or you just like photoshopping yourself into other people's pictures, check out Transworld BMX's photo gallery from the Awards afterparty. Like most photo galleries we come across there's always the either one completely wasted person in the group or the one who's acting like they're completely wasted, you try to spot him. You can find the NORA Cup Afterparty Photo Gallery here. Oh yeah also check out Keith Hufnagel's photos (albeit only a few) from his trip to L.A. for the Nike SB 'Nothing But The Truth' film premiere at his Honeyee blog.

Metro Ski And Snowboard Show Tickets

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:42:21 EST

The Metro Ski And Snowboard Show is the annual ski and snowboard expo/gala type thing held in London that unofficially marks the start of the snow season in that country. The show always features lots of demos, booths, products, and all around stuff of interest for the ski/snowboard enthusiast. This year the show will be held in a 5 day span from October 24th to the 28th and it will feature things like a Rail Jam hosted by Burton, an Ice Rink, an art gallery of board designs, an indoor quarterpipe, and a village of resort vendors among other unique features. Needless to say the event is something worth hitting up if you are in town (we realize for many of you this is a totally different continent we're talking about), and luckily Nollie.tv is giving away some free weekday tickets to the show, so if you are a native Brit or happened to be headed to London around the time here's your chance to live out a pseudo-'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' dream. Entry details here.

The 9th Annual Tim Brauch Memorial Contest

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:02:20 EST

Tim Brauch was a top skater in the 90's who died unexpectedly from a heart condition in 1999 at the age of 25. One of his sponsors, skate/snowboard retailer Sessions, has held the Tim Brauch Memorial Contest ever since his death, donating proceeds from the contest to the Tim Brauch Memorial Fund which helps fund skatepark developments and scholarships. This year's Tim Brauch Memorial Contest was held at Scotts Valley Skatepark in California this weekend and as with all of the Tim Brauch contests this one was heavily attended by those who wanted to celebrate his memory. Among those in attendance and participating were skate legend Steve Caballero, Benji Galloway, and Holly Lyons. The contests included 5 Categories: Pros, Grandmasters, Women's Bowl, Ams, and Groms. The winners included Galloway (Pros), Caballero (Grandmasters), Julie Kindstrand (Womens), Jerry Gurney (Ams), and Anthony Anaya (Groms). Along with the contests there were also raffles and plenty of giveaways. For more details on this weekend's Tim Brauch Memorial Concert including full results and a photo gallery slideshow check out the contest recap from Sessions recap from Sessions.

Tara Llanes Update - Good News

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:02:04 EST

Here's an update from James Herrera, Tara's friend and trainer. It was sent out yesterday: Hello Everyone, Yesterday, we had a pretty exciting afternoon at the hospital. Tara was able to flex her left upper quad muscle for the 1st time since the accident. It was a HUGE breakthrough moment for T. Keep sending the positive vibes her way and hopefully more and more muscles will continue to awaken. She also learned how to wheelie in the wheelchair, a feat which took her about 2 minutes to master. I think bunny hops are coming soon. Thanks again to everyone who helped at Interbike with product donations for an upcoming auction, t-shirt purchases, and other fundraising efforts. The Giant folks were instrumental in securing booth space at both the dirt demo and convention center. Russ, Patrick, Travis, and Tiffany at Giant were amazing! Also thanks to Marzocchi, Kenda Tires, and Oakley for their contributions. A special thanks to Brian and Paula Lopes for all their help raising funds thanks to Brian�s Lopes 55 line of Oakley apparel. For more about her latest news, check out Tara's MySpace page where she makes some posts herself. Also, you can check this blog post to find out about some new shirts for sale. To support Tara through donations of any type, visit the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery website. To get updates on her condition, check out our update page as well as her MySpace page. Here are a couple of recent photos from her MySpace page.

Latest 'Proving Ground' Trailer

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:00:55 EST

So we got ahold of the new 'Tony Hawk's Proving Grounds' Trailer. It focuses on the Hardcore Skater aspect of the game. If you didn't know 'Proving Grounds' features a system whereby the player can choose from 3 different skate styles/"paths" (Career, Rigger, and Hardcore) which determine what kind of tricks/functions/settings can be unlocked in gameplay. In the case of the Hardcore Skater things such as Skate Checking (like ice checking in hockey), and Aggro Push are detailed in the clip as well as Mike Vallely's and Dustin Dollin's appearances in the game. Here check it out for yourself:

Man and His Spandex Suit Breaks World Record

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:00:32 EST

Alright we realize that the tights and the helmet make it pretty lame, and we really don't have an interest in these types of things usually, but still 130 mph?!?!! I don't even think my first car (not to mention my current car, the 2002 Nissan Altima I call "Ol' Bessie") ever went that fast. See Markus Stockl recently hit that speed going down a mountain on a plain old mountain bike named "Intense M6" (Markus knew better than to touch the name "Ol' Bessie", that's mine jerk), breaking the world record set eight years ago by...Markus Stockl. The feat was accomplished in La Parva, Chile on a mountain with a 45-degree decline, meaning it was steeper then your mother's failing mortgage rate, and accordingly the speed picked up quicker than your mother's chance of foreclosing. Sure enough Stockl isn't satisfied with his record though and plans to to break the Eric Baron�s� 222km/h record for prototypes. Keep pushing the envelop Markus, give it 110%, and live like there's no tomorrow. See that's the type of encouragement your leotard will respond to. Oh yeah I forgot, the whole event was sponsored by Red Bull who so nicely provides us with a report on the story here.

Bestwick Updates Us On His Recent Doings

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:00:11 EST

A Post-Toyota Challenge Jamie Bestwick has posted an update on his blog about the Dew Tour event at SLC, as well as info regarding his part in the Canadian documentary 'Buried Life'. If you didn't catch our feature on 'Buried Life' the first time around, the film is about 4 friends on a tour trying to complete a list of 100 things to do before you die, including things like getting a tattoo, being a knight for a day, longboarding a crazy hill, learning to surf, getting on the front page of the paper and more. It seems as though Bestwick was called upon by the filmmakers to help them accomplish the "fly on a BMX bike" item on their wishlist, and according to the blog entry he was quite successful, helping Ben from the film "fly" and even getting Dave to do a backflip into a foam pit. For Bestwick's write up on the experience click on this link. To find out more about 'Buried Life' check out our original feature on it here.

FIS Snowboarding World Cup SBX Results

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:59:17 EST

Days after finishing first at the first FIS Snowboarding World Cup Event at Valle Nevado, Chile, defending champ Lindsey Jacobellis finished sixth at the second World Cup SBX event. Jacobellis' sixth place finish happened despite her being crashed into by a fellow contestant causing her to wipe out. Her US Snowboarding Teammate Graham Watanabe finished 5th in the Men's competition. For more details and full results check out the US Snowboarding Team's SBX recap of the FIS World Cup at Chile.

U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Makes It Just That Much Harder

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:58:16 EST

Due to the ever expanding field of quality riders the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix has announced that it will initiate a qualifying system based on previous season's results for its 2008 Grand Prix events at Breckenridge, CO, Tamarack, ID, and Killington, VT. The move is intended to make sure that only the cream of the crop end up competiting in the Grand Prix events as potential riders for the event increase every year. In speaking of the move Tour Director Eric Webster says, "Moving to a qualification process is a testament to how big snowboarding has become in the U.S. There are so many talented riders out there right now that the Chevrolet Grand Prix simply cannot accommodate the large field sizes in the existing format. That's why U.S. Snowboarding created the Chevrolet Revolution Tour two years ago. It provides a pipeline for up-and-coming riders advancing through the ranks and on to the next level, the Grand Prix." For more information on the qualification changes check the report here.

CJ Hobgood: ASP's North American Man Of The Year

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:56:59 EST

Floridian Surfer CJ Hobgood has taken the 2007 ASP North American Men's Title off the strength of his North American ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) run this past season, including first place showings at the O�Neill SI Pro (Sebastian Inlet, FL), the Jeep Body Glove Surfbout (Lower Trestles, CA), and the Honda U.S. Open (Huntington Beach, CA). In speaking of his WQS results Hobgood was quite clear about what led him to take on the tour. �I definitely wouldn�t have done the WQS this year if it wasn�t for my results in North America as I would have been too far behind the ball,� Hobgood said. �As it was the other way around, I was put into a position where I couldn�t turn down the WQS. All I had to do was show up to a few more events and get some insurance.� Hobgood is currently sitting at #6 on the WQS tour and #15 on the WCT with an excellent chance at qualifying for next year's WCT, yet Hobgood still plans on returning to some of the same WQS events next year, saying �I�ll definitely be doing the Sebastian event and the Huntington event and we�ll see about the rest as I love lowers as well.� Congrats CJ.

Stephen Murray Update: New Benefit Announced

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:56:09 EST

Cory Nastazio is hosting a "Ride for Stephen Murray Benefit" that will take place this Saturday, Oct. 6, in Tehachapi. The event, sponsored by Vans and Team Soil, will take place on Nastazio's trails and feature appearances by a slew of pro riders from all BMX disciplines, including Jamie Bestwick, Kevin Robinson, Ryan Guettler, Ryan "BIZ" Jordan, Joey "Whitesnake" Marks, Adam Aloise, Brian Foster, TJ Ellis and Nastazio, himself. There's no information about the time quite yet but the location follows: 1250 Arabian Dr, Tehacahpi, CA 93561 In addition to the riding there will be live music, a DJ, mud wrestling, go-go dancers, plus food and vendors. More details as they are released. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

And The NORA Cup Award Winners Are...

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:55:50 EST

So the 2007 Transworld RideBMX NORA Cup winners were announced last night and the winners included Jamie Bestwick (for Ramp) and Aaron Ross (for Street). If you didn't know the NORA Cup is something like the Oscars for the BMX world, where the pros themselves vote for who they think are the best riders in diffent categories like the two mentioned earlier as well as Dirt, Flatland, Race, and Video Part. With BMX Vert wins at pretty much every Dew Tour stop so far (minus the Right Guard Open) it's no surprise Bestwick ended up with his trophy, meanwhile Ruben Alcantara won for his part in the amazing Etnies' video 'Grounded'. Here check the award winners for yourself. Jamie-Bestwick-320x240.jpgDirt: Corey Bohan Ramp: Jamie Bestwick Flatland: Matthias Dondois Race: Kyle Bennett Street: Aaron Ross Video Part: Ruben Alcantara, Etnies' "Grounded" For more info on the awards and party pics (coming soon) check Transworld Ride BMX's homepage for updates.

Event Notice: Bam Margera In-Store

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:55:34 EST

If you happen to be in Florida on October 1st you might wanna head over to Quiet Flight Surf Shop at Orlando's Universal Studios City Walk. That's because Jackass/Viva La Bam/Bam's Unholy Union star Bam Margera will be stopping by the shop to sign autographs and do the fan shmoozing thing in conjunction with his sponsor Element Skateboard. The event starts at 3 pm and runs to 6 pm, and for those that purchase $25 worth of stuff at the shop you won't have to worry about waiting in line to meet Bam, 'cause you'll be getting a "Cut In Line" VIP pass. That begs the question though of whether there will be a line for those people who have a "Cut In Line" pass.

Slater And Irons Out After Round 3 At The Quiksilver Pro France

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:15:53 EST

WOW, what a way for the action to pick up. Both Kelly Slater and Andy Irons (pictured), the two giants of surf, have been eliminated from the Quiksilver Pro France after their Round 3 heats. Slater scored a heat total of 9.13 and was eliminated by Tahitian wildcard Michael Bourez, while Luke Munro took it to Andy Irons, who scored a surprising 4.00 total for his heat. But all that isn't to say that there aren't still several top pros still in the running to win the thing. Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, and Taj Burrow (ahem) plowed through their Round 3 heats, and in the case of the latter two, all the way into the Quarterfinals where they will face each other with both also keeping an eye on their WCT standings. For the full rundown of the day's events check the Round 3, and a partial Round 4, recap here.

Quiksilver Pro ON -- With Complications

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:15:00 EST

It looks like round two of the Quiksilver Pro is on in France. Problem is it's at an alternate site Capbreton so you can't watch along on the website's webcast at http://www.aspworldtour.com/quikprofrance/. So far, the only big name to be knocked out in Round Two is Bede Durbidge. We'll give a full recap when all is done for the day but you can always go to the website for an update.

Maturity Comes In All Sizes: The Red Bull Guitar Hero Party

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:14:27 EST

Sick of Toyota Challenge/Dew Tour tidbits? Well we aren't, that's why we're offering you a peek inside the life of Dew Tour athletes during off hours via photos from the Red Bull Guitar Hero party at the Toyota Challenge. Alright this might not be exactly the glamorous type lifestyle we all know these athletes are living (full of hard partying and groupies) but it's still nice to see guys like Kevin Robinson and Ryan Sheckler looking like wide-eyed 12 year olds with toy guitars. Here's a little preview (that's Shaun White to the left getting, we assume, full nelson-ed):

'Life of Ryan' Rolls On -- Latest Episode Recap

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:13:38 EST

Look, I can understand if some of you out there don't want to watch "Life of Ryan," even if it is paired with a show of such unquestionable quality like "The Hills" on MTV. But you might be interested in what happened during this week's episode if only because it dealt with X Games and Ryan's inability to place in, much less win, the event. It's kind of sort of interesting in a after-school special way (too bad those aren't around anymore). Anyway, check out the recap and the photo gallery. There's a photo below of him falling during X Games to whet your interest. Is it whetted?

Bravo To ESPN And The X Games

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:12:30 EST

This is something I love to hear about. We've got word that this past X Games featured a 84% Recycling Rate in terms of resources used. The feat was accomplished through a pretty extensive program that included comprehensive composting of organic material (including compostable service products such as cups, plates, etc.), three-way collection receptacles that provided sorting for trash and recyclables throughout the venues, the reusing/recycling of wood and cardboard that would otherwise have been headed for the landfills, and donations of surplus construction material to Habitat For Humanity. Seriously all of this is really cool news since an event like the X Games is so huge and could have easily lead to a mass amount of waste, a la most NASCAR events. To learn more about the eco-friendly initiatives the X Games is involved in check out http://www.xgamesenvironmentality.com/ also learn about how some other action sports athletes are doing their part environmentally here.

What's Next Mr. Hawk? Urinal Cake Endorsements?

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:11:58 EST

Wow it's like every week we have a report on Tony Hawk expanding his empire of riches, and this week it's no different. This time around it seems Six Flags Over Texas Theme Park in Arlington is planning a Tony Hawk rollercoaster to go along with the Tony Hawk rollercoasters that's already been created at their other parks in St. Louis and San Antonio. The 'Tony Hawk Big Spin' will "spin riders around in a face-to-face seating arrangement while going up and down a series of hills and curves" in what would seem like a 21st century version of the famous teacup rides (the one that left me embarassed that one day 12 years ago). The new coaster will be part of the deal Hawk signed with Six Flags a couple of years ago that allowed the Six Flags park to host Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam tour. Read up on the details of the ride here. No word on whether the 'Tony Hawk Big Spin' will offer riders Hot Bites after boarding the ride or if the ride will journey through a river of Hershey's Chocolate Milk. Let's hope so.

Video Roundup: Non-MTV Ryan Sheckler, Element's European Team's Footage, Arto Saari's Favorite Things, Mike Mo's Nollie Heelflip

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:10:44 EST

� Transworld's got Sheckler highlights from the Toyota Challenge complete with fawning teenage girls. Check the Sheckler clip here. � Head over to the Element website to check out some footage they've posted of their European team skating multiple locations. The clip is pretty short but they have some nice manuals thrown in there. You can catch the clip here. � Strangenotes.com Skateboarding (the Santa Cruz family of companies) has a clip up of Arto Saari goin' through some of his most favoritest things in the world (including his motorcycle, vintage camera, and Vampire stake). Check out the clip here. � Lakai's got Mike Mo's attempt at a crazy nollie heelflip as a preview for their upcoming 'Fully Flared' skate film/video. Check it out here. We don't condone skitching though, or the cussing. � And finally just for the hell of it, because it's so dope the Daewon Song DVS 'Echo' commercial.

News Flash: Helmets Still Safe Though Uncool

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:10:10 EST

Quick note: A report out from the National Ski Areas Association, a trade group for the ski industry, shows that helmet use among skiiers and snowboarders has reached a record high this past year. Their survey showed that roughly 40% of those surveyed were caught using the devices, key amongst them kids age 9 and younger. This compared to the previous 25% in 2002-2003. For more on the survey check out this article.

Shaun White: Quote Machine on His New Nickname, New Attitude, Shiny Dew Cup

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:05:50 EST

Shaun White may not have won the Toyota Challenge Skate Vert title, but he still took home the Dew Cup thanks to his three wins in a row up until now. Still, it was obvious that the "Red Zeppelin" wasn't thinking about the Dew Cup after he fell during his third run and the frustration came through. "Pierre had an insane run, but I don't know, that last run is going to be haunting me for awhile," he said after the contest (don't forget Bucky had you beat, too, Shaun). "It was a fakie frontside 540. I don't know what happened. When you're on a skateboard, it's like one wrong tap of your foot and the thing goes flying away, so I just messed up, but I'm on the podium still, so it's okay," White also said. "I had to go snowboard before this contest, so that didn't help me." "I'll go home and chill out a little and decide if I'm going to the next one, I already got the cup, so...." White also talked about the pressure on him. "It's funny. I mean, nobody comes up and says, 'Dude, you gonna win them all?' but I'm the only one getting all this heat. But it's cool, I've been trying to deliver the best I can, but you gotta make a mistake here and there." You may want to check with Ryan Sheckler about that heat, Shaun. He just didn't get any this week since he lost last month. After all, Sheckler's got a reality show tracking his every move, too. Anyway, what's up with that "Red Zeppelin" nickname? Apparently The Flying Tomato The Animal Shaun likes Led Zeppelin and his hair is red so someone came up with it. I personally like Red Led more. We haven't heard anyone else say it yet so we'll see if this one sticks. Oh, but any story about White wouldn't be worth writing if we didn't include some thoughts about the 21-year-old skater that Bob Burnquist shared on the official Dew Tour site. �It�s good to see Shaun White so focused on skateboarding this year, and the energy he brings to everything here is really positive and really exciting,� Burnquist said. �He�s definitely earned my respect for what he has done. But he still has a lot to learn in skateboarding. To me, Pierre-Luc Gagnon is a way more complete skateboarder. Bucky Lasek is a way more complete skateboarder. He really does bring some elements that nobody else has, and I�m really looking forward to seeing how much more he will push everything.� We would be remiss if we didn't remind everyone that White said last month, "I think times have changed and Pierre (Luc Gagnon), he's an amazing skater. He's the one I'm looking at to step it up. Not putting Bucky (Lasek) down..." Ah, the wonders of TiVo. You can check out photos from the finals here.

Dew Tour Sets Attendance Record in SLC

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:06:40 EST

The Toyota Challenge made its debut in Salt Lake City this weekend after two years in San Jose and it looks like it was a good idea. Including Sunday's action the estimated attendance at the EnergySolutions Arena was set at 61,910 over the four days. That's a record for the tour. Fans crammed the stands in just about every event, with huge crowds for BMX Dirt and FMX. What's not clear is if the number includes everyone who showed up for the Skate Park finals on Saturday night who had to come back the following morning for the rescheduled event. Even so, it was impressive to see the crowds. More than most, it also seemed that fans lined up for Ryan Sheckler, thanks to the visibility of his show. Most visible were the girls in their teens with hand-written notes on their shirts, but no doubt there were hordes on top of that who didn't go that far. The third Dew Tour will wrap up next month in Orlando with the PlayStation Pro from Oct. 18-21.

Pastrana Comes In Third At Rally Colorado

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:07:47 EST

As an update to something we mentioned earlier here the Rally Colorado race (featuring Travis Pastrana) finished up this weekend with Subaru Rally Team USA driver and DC Shoes owner Ken Block taking first place. Second place went to the RockStar Energy Drink Rally Team of Tanner Foust and Chrissie Beavis while Travis Pastrana finished third. If you, like us, were wondering why Pastrana was at Colorado instead of Salt Lake City for the Dew Tour's Toyota Challenge, Pastrana calling the Rally Colorado "the most fun I've ever had in a car in my whole life" might give you an indication. And when the fun comes in the form of his 2006 Subaru WRX STi toppling over a cliff and landed 60 yards off the road in a field, you can understand why. No word on whether Pasatrana seeks to dance naked with venomous cobras in a pit full of ebola laced razors for the sake of having the most fun ever in a room his whole life soon.

Jen Smith: Roxy Jam Cardiff Champ

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:08:17 EST

After a big weekend of festivities that included concerts, raffles, paddleboard contests, and a boatload of dog-and-pony shows, the Roxy Jam Cardiff closed up shop with Jen Smith dominating the Women's Pro Longboard competition. In the final heat Smith took on previous Roxy Jam Cardiff champ Lindsay Steinreide, along with Leah Dawson and Kaitlin Maguire, scoring an 8.50 and 6.90 to top the field. All four surfers ended up getting invites to the Roxy Jam Biarritz Women's World Longboard Championships in 2008, so in a way bragging rights were shared by all. But Smith's win wasn't the only comp-based news from the event Megan Godinez (Kanehoe, Hawaii) was awarded the $3,000 Schick� Quattro� for WomenT Style Award for her aggressive rail grab off the top maneuver, while Lindsay Steineride was awarded $3,000 for The Hansen Surfboards Longest Nose Ride. with prize money getting thrown around like that it sounds like I might have to get into Women's Longboarding myself. But first I'll have to deal with this whole XY/XX Chromosome thing.

Yeomans Wins Oakley Newport Beach Pro

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:08:56 EST

5000 Large and second place on the 2007 Macy's California Trifecta Surf Series, that's what was handed over to Nathan Yeomans when he took the 2007 Oakley Newport Beach Pro title. Yeomans pulled a surprise win over Adam Virs after a late run where even he started out thinking the event was already over. That all changed when he threw down a massive shotgun aerial in the final moments of his run. But don't get all sad for Virs just yet, he's still risen to the top of the Trifecta Surf Series with his 2nd place finish. Next up for both surfers is the No Fear Mexican Surf Fiesta (like the Oakley NB Pro, an ASP WQS 2-Star event) in San Miguel from October 4-7, 2007.

Surf Contest Updates: Quiksilver Pro France, Oakley Newport Beach Pro, and Roxy Jam Cardiff

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:09:36 EST

We got a busy weekend of surf going on as three different contests are busy with their going on's: Quiksilver Pro France First up to bat we have the ASP WCT Quiksilver Pro France where they are in the middle of Round 1 (action has been called off today). Highlights of the action so far include ASP WCT Rookies Luke Munro, Dayyan Neve and Ricky Basnett advancing to Round 3 on the strength of their first round heats with Munro beating out reigning champ Joel Parkinson in his heat. Others who are advancing so far include Bobby Martinez, and Trent Munro. The rest of Round 1 will pick up when competition commences and will feature pros such as Mick Fanning, Andy Irons, Taj Burrow, and Kelly Slater. Round 1 Heat Results: Heat 1: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 12.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.74, Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 8.40 Heat 2: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.50, Tim Reyes (USA) 11.33, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.46 Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA)15.16, Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 14.17, Luke Stedman (AUS) 11.00 Heat 4: Trent Munro (AUS) 15.33, Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.00, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.56 Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Gabe Kling (USA) - Resurf Heat 6: Luke Munro (AUS) 16.17, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.50, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.07 For more of the good stuff from France check out the official recap at the Quiksilver Pro France site. Oakley Newport Beach Pro Next up we got the Oakley Newport Beach Pro (an ASP WQS Event) where Quarterfinals action is getting heated (no pun intended). Yet again Kilian Garland upped the ante by racking up the highest score of the round with a 14.75 (out of 20) Quarterfinals Results: (1st and 2nd advance) QF 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 13.35, Nathan Yeomans (USA) 12.10, Kyle Knox (USA) 6.80, Anthony Petruso (USA) 4.15 QF 2: Kilian Garland (USA) 14.75, Shaun Burrell (USA) 9.75, Michael Hoisington (USA) 9.25, Nick Rozsa (USA) 8.60 QF 3: Austin Ware (USA) 14.35, Micah Byrne (USA) 10.50, Cory Arrambide (USA) 10.15, Dustin Barca (HAW) 6.30 QF 4: Daniel Jones (HAW) 13.25, Adam Virs (USA) 7.85, Travis Beckmann (USA) 6.85, Jesse Evans (USA) 6.10 Head to the contest's official site for more on the happenings as well as webcasts of the event. Roxy Jam Cardiff Lastly we got Day 1 at the Roxy Jam Cardiff which featured top notch female longboard surfers ignoring the spotty conditions and taking it to the streets (or waters in this case). Among the highlights of the day was Bianca Valenti scoring the highest totals of the day, Megan Godniez and Stacia Atina not far behind Valenti, and Kelia Moniz and Julie Whitegon advancing in the qualifiers. Qualifiers will then face off with the top 16 seeds in the next round who include Women's World Longboard Champion Jen Smith, Mary Osborne, and Julie Cox. For full results from Cardiff check the official site here. Whew...did you catch all that?

DC Moto Releases New Video With Pastrana, Adams, Carmichael, McGrath

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:56:26 EST

Hot off the presses: DC continues to pump up its Moto offerings -- we told you about the launch of its TeamWorks line last month -- by releasing a new video featuring the team showing off the goods. The vid features Travis Pastrana, Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath and Nate Adams talking about one another and the gear they have. Has some nice action shots and lots of interviews, which I actually liked. Specifically, Pastrana and Adams talking about one another. Pastrana, always the humble one, says of Adams, "Nate Adams... by far he's the best freestyle rider in the world... he's really the first person who came into freestyle a freestyler." Nice. Nate, your thoughts on being called the best freestyle rider in the world? "Pastrana's obviously a crowd favorite and a showman and he does so many things. It kind of makes me mad," Nate said. "I practice freestyle all year and he does ten different things and can still show up to a freestyle contest and still beat me. It makes me mad." Doh! Watch the video below. Check out the DC website at www.dcshoes.com for more about DC Moto TeamWorks.

Sheckler Tat Generator

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:57:31 EST

Speaking of Surf Expo (see item below), the guys at Skatepark of Tampa, who produced the Volcom event, always take great photos and Surf Expo is no exception. But there was one that caught my eye of a little ryan sheckler tat envy (okay, maybe not envy) that I pulled part of below (see all the photos). Turns out there is a Sheckler Tat Generator where you can imprint young Mr. Sheckler with any written word you'd like. It's hilarious. Check it out...

Volcom Big Gig AM Results

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:56:09 EST

We told you about Rune Glifberg winning the Volcom Big Gig Mini Ramp Contest on Saturday at Surf Expo in Florida. Well, we are reminded that we didn't give you the AM results from Sunday. So here you go: Results of the Am contest on Sunday 1. Mark Clements - $500 2. George Evans - $400 3. Chris Lehman - $300 4. Dustin Blauvelt - $200 5. Dalton Dern - $100 6. Josh Folley - $100 7. Shawn Hale - $100 8. Alex Brunelle - $100 9. Timmy Knuth - $100 10. Jordan Price - $100 Check out a couple of photos below from Volcom plus some video, too. Click here for more...

Element Demo/AM Contest in Torrance

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:55:24 EST

Element's got a pretty interesting event coming up in Torrance, CA on Sept. 29 at the Del Amo Mall. There will be an AM Contest with the winner receiving a year's supply of boards. The contest will be followed by a team demo featuring Chad Muska, Tosh Townend, Tony Tave, Ray Barbee, Chad Tim Tim and more, along with a team signing inside the Beachworks store. Click here for more or see the flier below.

Behind the Scenes at the Surfer Poll Awards

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:55:05 EST

We were all over the Surfer Poll & Video Awards last week with a huge photo gallery and a recap of the show. But one thing we definitely were not was backstage. But that's what we have Ben Marcus for, who was backstage and gave us glimpse into what some of the craziness was like from back there. Here's what Ben had to tell us: In 1996 I dreamed up the Surfer Magazine Surf Video Awards, as a way to sort through all the dozens of surf videos, movies and DVDs produced every year, and whittle it all down to the best of the best. The first show went off at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, and it was a huge success. The Video Awards were a lot of work every year, and I directed and helped edit them for four years, from 1996 to 2000. After leaving Surfer, Jesse Schlunz took over and the show has now blown up into a big night, held in front of thousands at the Grove in Anaheim. Fuel TV broadcasts the show and there is also a webcast. I went to the Surfer Poll and Video Awards this year with some friends, because I told them backstage was always the most fun place to be. I had helped put together the intro clips for Brock Little to present the Heavy Water award, and a grateful Surfer staff flowed me four yellow bracelets that allowed all acces.. This year, it was the most fun place to be and hear are some photos I took in between clapping and whistling � and shielding my wahine�s eyes from the Naked Guy. And here is his great gallery with captions. Check out a tease below.

We're Still Watching 'Life of Ryan'

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:54:36 EST

We hope you appreciate the fact that we're still watching "Life of Ryan" so that you don't have to. We have completely given up any hope that this show will feature skating. Of course, next week will be the X Games episode so we'll have to watch that and see if we're in the background. Anyway, this week Ryan struggles with landing a girlfriend. He might hit some paydirt but it comes at a price with his younger brother, Kane, being left out. Read the recap and then check out the photo gallery from the episode.

Poker Tourney to Benefit Chris Ackerman, Stephen Murray

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:54:17 EST

Before Stephen Murray and Tara Llanes there was Chris Ackerman, the motorbike rider who broke his neck in 2003 at the age of 21. Ackerman wasn't a pro, but still heavily involved in the Metal Mulisha, which has put on poker tournaments to help raise money for The Chris Ackerman Trust. Ackerman was also featured in Brian Deegan's recent film "Disposable Hero," This year the 3rd Annual Chris Ackerman Poker Tournament will take place on Friday, Sept. 21, in Lake Elsinore (see a flier below). This year's event will also raise money for Stephen Murray's Family Foundation. There will be a FMX demo and among those scheduled to appear are Brian Deegan, Todd Potter, X Games winner Kyle Loza, Ronnie Renner and more. Additionally athletes will sign autographs and there will be a silent auction. The specific details about the poker tourney are that it has a $40 buy in plus a $20 re-buy. Tourney starts at 7:30 p.m. (demo is at 6:30 p.m.). Visit http://www.chrisackermanpoker.com/schedule/ for more info. If you want to donate to The Chris Ackerman Trust, send a check or money order to: The Chris Ackerman Trust 24869 River Oak Ct. Wildomar CA 92595 Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family. And if you're feeling charitable, maybe you would like to help out Tara Llanes, as well. To support Tara through donations of any type, visit the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery website. To get updates on her condition, check out our update page as well as Tara's MySpace page.

Some Sick Scotty Cranmer Video

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:54:01 EST

Speaking of BMX, check out some new video from Felt that shows Scotty doing a crazy front flip. Last year Cranmer was hot on the Dew Tour and this year he's not been much of a factor in contests (except the X Games) but as his videos always show, he's certainly still one of the best. Check out the video on the FeltBMX site and you can also remix it on Jumpcut (just follow the link).

NORA Cup Will Honor the Best in BMX During Interbike

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:53:46 EST

Some details about the NORA Awards, which honors the Number One Rider in BMX (street, ramp, dirt, flat, race, and best video part, specifically). This year it will be held on Sept. 27, the second night of Interbike, and be hosted by TJ Lavin. It's open to the public and put on by RideBMX, which has the riders choose the best among themselves. It will take place in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino -- which means no oneunder 21 allowed, kiddies. Check out the flier below.

Mountain Dew Revamps Website: 'We're Not Just About Action Sports'

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:53:27 EST

Brandweek has a big long article about the relaunch of MountainDew.com, which positions the brand as more than just an action sports brand. How are they going to do that, exactly? Well, but copying everyone else of course. According to the article, the site will try and succeed where sites like Coke.com and Bud.tv have failed, by interacting with the audience and asking for them to create user-generated content. Novel idea. "The challenge is to show that we're not just about action sports," says Jason Thalappillil, interactive marketing manager at Pepsi-Cola North America. Some of the "sports" apparently featured on the site are parkour and mountain unicycling. I say apparently because there's no way I will go to MountainDew.com to look for myself. Parkour? Please.

Rally Car Racer Colin McRae and Son Killed in Helicopter Crash

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:53:08 EST

Legendary rally car racer Colin McRae and his five-year-old son were killed yesterday when a helicopter McRae was piloting crashed near his home in Scotland. Two friends also in the helicopter were also killed. McRae won the world championship in 1995 and placed second in the rally car race at X Games 12 last year to Travis Pastrana. Read the full story here and you can see a Colin McRae photo gallery here.

PLG, Tabron Win in San Diego

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:04:08 EST

Okay, we've said it before and we will say it again. Whenever Shaun White and Jamie Bestwick do not compete, you'd better watch out for Pierre-Luc Gagnon and Simon Tabron. Well, lucky for those dudes White and Bestwick don't compete (yet) on the Action Sports World Tour, which came trucking into San Diego this weekend after opening up in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago (Guess who won there? Yep, you are right). Note to all you vert fans out there -- looks like Bucky Lasek just isn't the same skater he used to be since he got that knee surgery in June. Anyway, here are the final results for Skate Vert and BMX Vert. Apparently there was some inline, but we honestly didn't sit around to watch. VERT SKATE FINALS RESULTS 1.Pierre- Luc Gagnon 2.Rodrigo Menezes 3.Andy Macdonald 4.Bucky Lasek 5.Jean Postec 6.Elliot Sloan 7.Buster Halterman 8.Neal Hendrix 9.Alex Perelson 10.Danny Mayer VERT BMX FINALS RESULTS 1.Simon Tabron 2.Steven McCann 3.John Parker 4.Koji Kraft 5.Jay Eggleston 6.Austin Coleman 7.Mike Mancuso 8.Danny Williams 9.Ben Snowden 10.Tom Stober 11.Tom Haugen 12.Tony Campos Should have some nice photos coming soon...

Stephen Murray Update: An Update From Cynthia Murray

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:52:36 EST

Stephen Murray's mother is back in the UK after a visit with him in Denver. She has posted an update along with photos from her visit on BMXTalk.com: Hi, I am now back from Denver after an emotional week with Stephen. To carry on from my last posting Stephen had horrendous neck pain after his teeth extractions. His neck muscles locked and he had to have a sheepskin collar and heat massage to loosen up the muscles alongside his pain medication. He had a very sleepless night on Thursday and so Friday he was extremely tired and a bit down. He hadn't managed to do any physio or occupational therapy all week and it seemed as though he couldn't progress forwards at all. However, he asked me to go and visit the children's hospital in Denver and organise with the co-ordinator on the oncology ward for goody bags of stickers/posters/videos to be sent to the children. This was a very humbling trip and we are organising it so I can deliver them on my next visit in October. I then went on to visit Tara Llanas at the Denver Health Clinic. Unfortunately I didn't see her as she had just come out of a second surgery but I did speak with ther Mum and good friend Polly for an hour or so. It looks as though she will be going to Criaig with Stephen in a couple of weeks when a bed becomes available. I gave Tara's mum Stephen's best wishes and told her that he was looking forward to competing in the gym against her!. Over the last few days Stephen has started to get back to where he was a few weeks ago, prior to the developemnt of asthma, the lung infection and the wisdom teeth extractions. As you can imagine, this was a bit of a set back in his recovery but everything now appears to be under control and he is really motivated to work as hard at possible at getting off the vent. I am so proud of my son for the way he has conducted himself throughout this tragic ordeal. He is a true Brit! Please continue to give him your support. Not only Stephen but all the family appreciate it so much. It is surprising where you can gather strength from when you need to. Thank you Cynthia You can see the photos Cynthia posted below with her captions. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Rune Glifberg Wins Volcom's Pro Mini-Ramp Jam at Surf Expo

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:52:20 EST

Rune Glifberg took another contest Friday, winning a Mini-Ramp Jam at Surf Expo put on Volcom. Full results below. There will be an AM contest today starting at 12 noon ET and it will be webcast live on Volcom.com. Here are the results plus a couple of photos from Volcom following... FInal Standings: Volcom Mini Ramp Jam Sept. 15, 2007 1. Rune Glifberg - $10,000 2. Kyle Berard - $7,500 3. Mike Peterson - $5,000 4. Chet Thomas - $3,000 5. Remy Stratton - $2,000 6. Donny Barley - $1,500 7. Tyler Mumma - $1,000 8. Justin Strubing - $1,000 9. Will Powers - $1,000 10. Ben Schroeder - $1,000

Kelly Slater's on the Road to Domination

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:52:01 EST

We told you yesterday about Kelly Slater winning the Boost Mobile Pro and jumping to No. 2 in the Foster's ASP World Tour rankings right behind Mick Fanning. More importantly, perhaps, is that the win marked Slater's 34th career tour win, breaking his tie with former world No. 1 Tom Curren. It took Slater 16 months to break the tie. Curren's record stood for 16 years and at this time it looks like Slater is in good shape to hold on it for just as long or longer, especially since Slater doesn't seem like he's slowing down anytime soon. Any way, we have a good recap of all the action from the finals right here and a photo galerye of action from throughout the entire event. With four events to go, including the Quiksilver Pro in France starting on Sept. 20th, the race for the Foster's ASP title is on.

Slater Wins Boost Mobile Pro Over Sullivan

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:51:44 EST

Kelly Slater has won the Boost Mobile Pro in Lower Trestles. The win over Hawaiian Pancho Sullivan thrusts Slater right back in the hunt for the Fosters ASP World Championship. More on the win, including photos, coming soon! THE FINALS Kelly Slater (USA) 13.40 def. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 10.60 BOOST MOBILE PRO SEMIFINAL RESULTS: SF 1: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 15.24 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 5.33 SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.83 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.33

Life is Good When You're Ryan Guettler

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:51:29 EST

No doubt Ryan Guettler is one of our favorite BMX riders. No matter what he does, you know you're going to get a show. There is an update about what's going on in the next couple of week with Guettler on Colony BMX. Now, Dew Tour is no surprise, but Guettler in Vegas for Interbike? That's something that would be fun to follow... Anyway, here's a shot of Ryan with his new pimped-out bike -- look for a similar model coming in '08 from MirraCo.

You Can Make a Living Skateboarding?

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:51:11 EST

Apparently the town of Silverdale in Washington is pretty small. It has about 15,000 residents and was settled way back in 1854. People there like to sit in their rocking chairs and watch the boats during the whaling festival. The pride of Ketsap County, Silverdale is home to Kitsap High School where the Christian punk band MxPx formed. That's about it for this town. So you can imagine how the locals react when one of the lads about town looks like he could actually be a pretty good skateboarder -- maybe good enough to go pro. Send out the reporter! Discuss the obvious! Ah well, maybe 14-year-old Mikee O'Friel does have what it takes to be a star. But don't exactly look for him to "live fast die young"... "I have to be getting A's and B's in school or the skateboarding goes away. C's are not good" he says in the article. "I want to go to college eventually and I know skating cannot be forever." "My dad has made it clear that drugs and smoking and drinking would be the end of my skating days," he continues. "It goes on, but I stay away from it." Well, maybe there's no Baker sponsorship in his near future. But Plan B's always looking! Seriously, this kid rips as you can see in the video below. Maybe he's the next Curren Caples or Nyjah Huston. Well, they're younger so that doesn't quite work. Still, we're looking forward to seeing more of him.

Dew Tour to Expand to Winter Starting in 2008

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:50:56 EST

The AST Dew Tour has done a great job establishing itself as a major action sports tour over the last two years. Now it's taking that experience and extending it to Winter. Starting in December 2008, the AST Winter Dew Tour will feature snowboarding and freeskiing in three cities over three months. Additionally, each event will be open to men and women. Similar to the regular AST Dew Tour, the Winter Dew Tour will have a points system for the three stops with overall tour prizes in addition to prizes each stop. Also, coverage of the events will probably air on NBC and USA. Read the full press release here....

Tara Llanes Update: Physical Therapy Begins

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:50:40 EST

There is an update on Tara Llane's condition on her MySpace Page: Tara has started her second day of physical therapy at Denver Health. Fitted and wearing her turtle shell with the help of her PT, she was able to get out of bed and sit upright in a chair. Finally able to get out her room, she is very excited to see what the rest of the hospital looks like. We will be posting some photos later today. Her spirits continue to stay strong and she becomes more anxious to start her rehab at Craig (still the front runner for inpatient rehab). If you are considering sending flowers and/or gifts to her hospital room, we ask you make a donation instead to her Road To Recovery Fund (tarallanesroadtorecovery.com). If you are interested, Tara still loves to receive hand-written notes/cards. You can send these directly to: Denver Health Medical Center 777 Bannock Street, Room B336 Denver Colorado, 80204 For the latest on Tara Llanes' condition, check our update page for Tara.... Be sure to support her by visiting tarallanesroadtorecovery.com.

All About Billabong's 'Trilogy'

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:09:41 EST

Better late then never, but in the spirit of the Boost Mobile Pro's upcoming finale this weekend, there's a nice review of the premiere of the new Billbong film "Trilogy" that took place last week during ASR in San Diego. The movie follows Andy Irons, Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson in action across the world in a movie filmed by the legendary Taylor Steele over the last two years. The movie will get a premiere in Europe on Oct. 5 and 6 during the Billabong Pro Mundaka and down under at Cremorne Orpheum on Oct. 25th (invite only -- sorry). Read more here....

Quiksilver to Shed Rossignol?

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:50:18 EST

Quiksilver is apparently considering selling its Rossignol division. The company, which specializes in selling skis and snow gear, was purchased by Quiksilver in 2005 for $500 million but has struggled. The possible sale was brought up in a French newspaper, which indicated the company's skil business may be sold but the name still kept by Quiksilver for clothes.. A little more info here....

Burton Snowboarders Tour to Support 'Thanks in Advance'

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:50:03 EST

Members of the Burton Snowboards team will be hitting the road this fall to promote the company's new film "Thanks in Advance." Each stop will usually be accompanied by an autograph signing, screening and afterparty. Currently dates for the US and Japan are announced with Europe to soon follow. Among those featured in �Thanks in Advance� are Keegan Valaika, Nicolas M�ller and women riders like Elena Hight, Kelly Clark and Victoria Jealouse (pictured). Locations include North Cascades, Winter Park and Mt. Baker. Here are the dates announced so far... 9/28 Burlington, VT 10/1 Bay Shore, NY 10/2 New York City, NY 10/3 Chicago, IL 10/4 Denver, CO 10/5 Calgary, Alberta 10/7 Seattle, WA 10/8 Salt Lake City, UT 10/9 Sacramento, CA 10/11 Irvine, CA 11/2 Osaka, JPN 11/3 Osaka, JPN 11/4 Ehime, JPN 11/5 Tokyo, JPN 11/6 Seoul, Korea 11/7 Seoul, Korea Check out Burton's website for more details about each stop.

Boost Mobile Pro Round Four Gets Ready

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:48:57 EST

We already talked about the huge upsets yesterday. Now round four of the Boost Mobile Pro is set to take place later this morning with a few interesting matches, including Kelly Slater vs. Freddy Patacchia and CJ Hobgood taking on wildcard Dane Reynolds (right). The other wildcard, Jordy Smith, takes on Aussie Ben Dunn. �I�m excited � I came into that heat thinking I was going to have to get 9.0s to beat him because that�s what he consistently posts,� Reynolds said after his defeat of Fanning. �I know Mick holds the No. 1 seed, but I tried not to really think about it in that way. I just did what the waves called for.� Reynolds� win came after knocking out World No. 2 Taj Burrow yesterday. He scored the the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.93 out of a possible 10 in the first 10 seconds of his heat against Fanning. �His whole heat was that one wave,� Fanning said. �When someone comes out and starts with a 9.93 it�s pretty difficult to catch up. Congratulations to him though, he surfed insane out there. I�m looking forward to having him on tour, he�s smartened up a lot in the last year, it�s great, it�s people like that that push the sport of surfing. It�s great to have those guys on tour.� Slater is the only top 10 surfer still left in the competition and he has a real chance to catch up to World No. 1 Fanning. �I think I�d actually be a little bit more intense about my focus if Mick was still in this because I�d have no choice but to win the event if he were to finish equal 5th or better,� Slater said. �It does take a bit of the pressure off if I look at it the right way.� �I need to get, at worst, a 3rd in this contest to put myself into striking contention through Europe. If I were to win here and then better Mick and Taj in France I�d probably be right there in the hunt, same thing with Andy. That said, if Jordy knocks out Andy it might put all of the pressure back on because then I�d really need to capitalize on the situation,� Slater said. �Either way, I like the situation.� Yeah -- that said, you'd better like the decision. Slater has made the finals at Trestles for the last three years and lost last year to upstart Bede Durbidge, who has already been eliminated. You can watch all the action today on the live webcast with the first call at 7:30 a.m. PT. Let's hope the waves pick up... BOOST MOBILE PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS: Heat 1: Troy Brooks (AUS) 13.70 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.00 Heat 2: Chris Ward (USA) 11.50 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 9.60 Heat 3: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 14.50 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.73 Heat 4: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 16.73 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.00 Heat 5: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 16.77 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.77 Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.33 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 13.97 Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.00 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.27 Heat 8: Dane Reynolds (USA) 17.70 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.50 Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.67 def. Rob Machado (USA) 9.73 Heat 10: Frederick Patacchia (HAW) 12.27 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.90 Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA) 16.90 def. Victor Ribas (BRA) 11.66 Heat 12: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.94 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 13.47 Heat 13: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.67 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 12.40 Heat 14: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.00 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.93 Heat 15: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 13.90 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.83 Heat 16: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.50 def. Leonardo Neves (AUS) 10.50 BOOST MOBILE PRO ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS: Heat 1: Troy Brooks (AUS) vs. Chris Ward (USA) Heat 2: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Neco Paearatz (BRA) Heat 3: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA) Heat 4: C.J Hobgood (USA), Dane Reynolds (USA) Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Fred Patacchia (HAW) Heat 6: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS) Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS) Heat 8: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)

Surfer Poll Awards -- Full Results and Coverage

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:19:18 EST

The Surfer Poll Awards went down last night in Anaheim, CA at the Grove Theater and everyone who was anyone showed up to take part. Even the few winners that couldn't be in country sent in videos and the only wrinkle was a few of the top vote-getters in the poll had to take off due to an early call for the Boost Mobile pro this morning (the contest has to go off, so watch it live at http://www.boostmobilepro.com/). Anyway, the crowd was crazy and the the awrds show one of the more interesting you will see. After it was all said and done, Kelly Slater ended up on top for the Men (#13 in the last 15 or so years) and Sofia Mulanovich won for the Women (her third win in a row). "Young Guns 3" was the big winner in the movie category, followed by "Bra Boys." Check out the full recap here then check out our extensive photo gallery. We'll probably have some more coverage soon, so check back. Until then -- enjoy what we've got!

Garrett Reynolds Wins BMX Street in Mexico

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:19:00 EST

More results are filtering in from X Games Mexico... Garrett Reynolds has won in BMX Street. Reynolds did recently place on the AST Dew Tour in Cleveland, but most other podium regulars like Daniel Dhers, Dave Mirra and Mike Spinner were not on hand... 1. Garrett Reynolds USA - 91.00 2. Aaron Ross USA - 89.44 3. Van Homan USA - 89.11 4. Corey Martinez USA - 88.44 5. Alistair Whitton USA - 88.11 6. Rob Wise USA - 87.89 7. Will Love USA - 87.78 8. Christian Balcameda ARG - 85.56 9. Josh Harrington USA - 85.22 10. Hector Garcia MEX - 83.11 Skate Vert and Street finals coming soon -- Pierre-Luc Gagnon took first in qualifying, followed by Sandro Dias and Rodrigo Menezes.

Why You Telling Me This News: Revolver Entertainment Signs Deal

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:18:36 EST

Ok so the headline reads "Image Entertainment Signs Exclusive Sales and Distribution Agreement with Newly Formed Revolver Entertainment LLC, a Subsidiary of the Highly Acclaimed UK-Based Revolver Entertainment LTD" so you're probably thinking, "ehhhhh. NEXT." But what you might wanna know is that this means there will now be North American distribution for '3000 Miles: Gumball 3000' a film that follows Tony Hawk, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Mike Vallely, and Mike Escamilla as they participate (again, for some of them) in the Gumball 3000 race. If you've ever seen the Jackass episode where they take on the Gumball race as well as European broadcasts of the race you should know that this is something you'll wanna catch when it comes out in November. OK now you can continue on with your porn surfing.

After 'Skate' EA Plans To Self Destruct

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:18:16 EST

Alright I thought this was kinda funny. An exec at EA Games in talking about expanding it's video game empire is thinking about producing Cricket and Badminton games. Traditionally EA Games has stuck with the traditional sports (Football, Futbol, Basketball, etc.) but as one can see with 'Skate' they are starting to go beyond that. But Badminton and Cricket?!? What after Magic Cards? Get the word straight from the execs mouth here. Then begin laughing here.

Color Magazine's Skate Culture Photography Issue

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:17:54 EST

Though you might not find it at your local newsstand/bookstore (since it's a Canadian mag) Color Magazine is something worth ordering, especially the current issue. This month (or actually 2 since it's a bi-monthly mag) they are focusing on photography with features on the photography of Flip pro Arto Saari (the dude that killed both his 'Sorry' and 'Really Sorry' parts), skatespot photography, C1rca pro Peter Ramondetta, and other good artsy stuff. And to make things better Geoff Rowley is featured on the cover. To order the magazine or just to catch a glimpse of what'll be in the actual pages head over to their site.

Round One of Boost Mobile Pro Complete

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:17:36 EST

The first round of the Boost Mobile Pro in Lower Trestles is complete and there were few surprises. No one is eliminated in the first round, so Andy Irons' surprising third place finish in his heat to Rob Machado and Kai Otton can be redeemed in round two. The same can be said for last year's winner, Bede Durbidge, who was bested by Adriano de Souza in his heat. Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater had no problems with their heats, dominating early. Sunny Garcia, a last-minute replacement for the injured Damien Hobgood, finished second in his heat to Fanning. Other surfers who didn't win their first-round heat included Taj Burrow and Bobby Martinez. You will probably see some action tomorrow and can watch it live on www.boostmobilepro.com. The holding period for the Boost Mobile Pro (presented by Hurley, let's not forget) runs through Sept. 15. BOOST MOBILE PRO ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS: Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Sunny Garcia (HAW) Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA) Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF) Heat 4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS) Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA) Heat 6: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA) Heat 7: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS) Heat 8: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Trent Munro (AUS) Heat 9: Pancho Sullivan (HAW vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) Heat 10: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) Heat 11: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS) Heat 12: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA) Heat 13: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) Heat 14: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Michael Lowe (AUS) Heat 15: Bernardo Miranda (BRA) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF) Heat 16: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)

ASR Day Two: Cole Wins Game of Skate

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:17:20 EST

The second day of ASR brought a great skate contest featuring some of the top street skaters doing their thing in the �S Game of Skate which was open to the public and followed by the global premier of �Special -- the first full-length DVD from �S in more than five years. Chris Cole won the contest, taking $10,000, followed by Nyjah Huston in second (winning $5,000) and Mike-Mo Capaldi in third ($2,000). Read more about Day Two of ASR here and then check out a gallery from Day Two. Check out some of the photos below to see who was there...

Tabron Takes BMX Gold; Potter Wins Best Trick in Mexico

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:16:55 EST

Simon Tabron has proven once again that he is the best BMX Vert rider in the world not named Jamie Bestwick. Tabron dominated the competition with a 94.00 thanks to his trademark 900 while Jay Eggleston was within reach with a 92.67 and Zack Warden took bronze with a 91.33. The Moto Best Trick came down to three Americans and had a similar finish to X Games 13. Kyle Loza, who won gold at X13, was second in Mexico thanks to his trick "The Volt," while Todd Potter took gold with the "Kamikaze." Third-place and bronze went to Jeremy "Twitch� Stenberg with a "Double Can Indie Flip� to "Heel Clicker� combination. Get a full breakdown of the day's action here. Sunday brings the finals for Skate Street and Vert, as well as Moto Step Up. You can watch some of it live on EXPN.com -- if you're lucky (I didn't seem to get it to work) and if you're bilingual, you can head on over to ESPN Deportes to read about all the action in Spanish. Some photos are coming, too... Keep an eye on this space for when they come!

Hobgood To Miss Boost Mobile Pro; Sunny Garcia is In

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:16:33 EST

After injuring himself having some fun in Costa Rica, the world's No. 6 ranked surfer, Damien Hobgood, is going to miss the Boost Mobile Pro in Lower Trestles, which is expected to start today. Former world champ Sunny Garcia will take his place, facing current world champ Mick Fanning in round one. Hobgood's injury will also cause him to miss the next stop on the Men's World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro in France. Read more, including some quotes from the players at hand, here. Here are your first round match-ups. You can watch live on www.boostmobilepro.com. Heat 1: Travis Logie (ZAF), Ricky Basnett (ZAF), Mark Occhilupo (AUS) Heat 2: Danniel Wills (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Trent Munro (AUS) Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Troy Brooks (AUS) Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Stedman (AUS), Neco Padaratz (BRA) Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Adiano de Souza (BRA), Gabe Kling (USA) Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Luke Munro (AUS) Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Jordy Smith (ZAF) Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Sunny Garcia (HAW) Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Cory Lopez (USA), Dane Reynolds (USA) Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW), Kai Otton (AUS), Rob Machado (USA) Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS), Shaun Cansdell (AUS) Heat 12: Bruce Irons (HAW), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Dayyan Neve (AUS) Heat 13: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Bernardo Miranda (BRA), Victor Ribas (BRA) Heat 14: Michael Campbell (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) Heat 15: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Michael Lowe (AUS) Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Royden Bryson (ZAF)

Tara Llanes Update - Special Visitor and More

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:16:13 EST

Tara Llanes had surgery on Friday to lengthen the rod already in place in her spine and was recovering from that surgery through today. Here's the latest update from her MySpace page: Playing catch up on sleep throughout the day, Tara had some fun today, playing dress up with some sweat bands and sunglasses (sent by Smith) and spent some time with a special visitor, Cheri Elliott. Coach James also brought in a mini-basketball hoop with a Nerf ball so she can continue to work on that left-handed shot. Tara is still feeling the effects from her surgery yesterday but continues to improve each day. You have no idea how much your messages, comments, emails, thoughts, etc. help and keep her motivated. Please keep them coming. To support Tara through donations of any type, visit the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery website. To get updates on her condition, check out our update page as well as Tara's MySpace page. A recent photo of Tara showing her strong spirit is below. More can be seen on her MySpace page.

X Games Kicks Off in Mexico

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:15:35 EST

In case you missed it, the first ever Mexico X Games is going on right now in Mexico City. It's not as crazy in terms of schedule as the regular X Games with BMX and Skate Vert and Street, along with Moto Best Trick and Step Up. There's actually a simulcast of the action going on over at EXPN.com but the times are a little funky and the sound doesn't seem to work for me, which is just as well since I think it's in Spanish right now. Visually, it looks like they are holding it in a dark warehouse, with the ramp well lit and nothing else really visible. I just sat through about an hour of this silent simulcast and apparently was watching a reply of yesterday's BMX Vert elimination round, despite the website saying new action was supposed to be underway. I found this out after noticing that Simon Tabron led with exactly the same score, followed by everyone else showing up with the same score, including eliminated riders. Ah. The eliminations for BMX Vert and Skate Street happened yesterday and while they don't really matter in the long run (especially since as far as I can tell there were no real upsets), you can read what went down here. Looks like the simulcast is back on to the Skate Street eliminations. I wish I had someone to bet $20 that Greg Lutzka will finish second... I'll write more once I understand what's going on...

What's Going Down at ASR So Far?

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:14:25 EST

Friday was the kickoff of the September edition of the ASR tradeshow -- the biggest event in the industry when THOUSANDS of people and hundreds of companies descend on San Diego to plan what you will be buying for the next 6-12 months. We'll have a little more detail about some of the stuff going down at ASR later, but we have a photo gallery from the floor that shows you what you're missing if you're on the outside looking in. We catch a few of the stars who were there Friday, as well as some of those within the industry itself. Throw in some cool booths -- well, you should just see it for yourself. And just to whet your appetite, here are a few of the photos...

Chocolate/Girl Releases European Tour Video

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:13:35 EST

Do yourself a favor and head over to Crailtap.com to catch the 'We're Ok Eurok Tour' video the Girl/Chocolate team has put out. If you've seen any of the previous videos/films released by the Girl family of companies you know that they usually put out real top-notch stuff, from the skaters to the cinematography to the music (does Spike Jonze ring a bell?). Well this one's no different. With skaters like Jeron Wilson, Brian Anderson, Devine Calloway, and Sean Malto doing unbelievably clean runs you know you can't go wrong, plus it's shot beautifully...seriously when they talk about skate films they're talking about these guys. To see the clip (it's a pretty large quicktime file though) head over here. Watch it twice like me if you have to. It's that dope.

USA Today's Travel Section Tackles Surf Spots In Hawaii

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:13:04 EST

What started out as a good idea for an article might end up really pissing off local surfers, because USA Today (one of the most widely distributed newspapers in America,,,if you didn't know) has decided to cover some Hawaiin surf spots based on recommendations from local surfshop owners. Given that many locals don't really wanna see tourists from the Midwest stopping by to gawk at their hidden gem, we got the feeling that this article might not go over to well with certain locals. Covered in the article are famous spots like the Banzai Pipeline and Castles in Waikiki, as well as places like Waipio Beach, Pohoiki Beach, and Launiupoko. Though these places are probably well known to Hawaiin locals they're probably still undiscovered fantasy lands for those who read USA Today like me. So if you are like me and need to learn where to get stared at awkwardly while in Hawaii study this article and the accompanying photo gallery/slide show.

Sofia Mulanovich: Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival Champ

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:12:41 EST

After a couple of slow days at the start, the 2007 Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival roared into action with three days of back-to-back action culminating in Sofia Mulanovich's triumph at the finals. Mulanovich (who had previously won the whole WCT shebang in 2004) took out Silvana Lima in the finals after Lima took the initial lead. With Stephanie Gilmore and Chelsea Hedges having been knocked out in earlier rounds, the overall finish at the Festival had big implications on the current ASP WCT rankings. With her win Mulanovich moved from No. 6 to No. 3, while Lima jumped up to take the No. 2 spot. The third place finisher at the Festival, Samantha Cornish, now stands atop the WCT rankings despite being defeated by Mulanovich in the semifinals but 3 more events still remain on the Tour leaving things still up in the air. sofia mulanovich rip curl festival champRIP CURL FINAL RESULT: Heat: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 15.55 def Silvana Lima (BRA)14.00 RIP CURL FESTIVAL SEMIFINAL RESULTS: Heat 1: Sofia Mulanvich (PER)16.25 def Samantha Cornish (AUS)11.75 Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.75 def Amee Donohoe (AUS)10.00 RIP CURL GIRLS FESTIVAL QUARTERFINAL RESULTS: Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.00 def Melanie Redman Carr (AUS)9.25 Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER)14.00 def Alana Blanchard (HAW)5.50 Heat 3: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 12.25 def Layne Beachley (AUS)5.00 Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA)11.10 def Roseanne Hodge (ZAF)9.25 To read more on the finals action head over to the recap here.

High Drama At Round 3 Of The Rip curl Pro Girls Festival

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:11:58 EST

After posting less than stellar early round scores Stephanie Gilmore, the ASP World No. 1, saw her time at the Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival in Spain come to a premature end as she was knocked out in Round 3 by WCT rookie Roseanne Hodge, who will move on to the Quarterfinals to face Silvana Lima. Similarly World No. 3, Chelsea Hedges, also saw an early exit in Round 3 at the hands (or the feet/board) of wildcard Alana Blanchard, who will continue on and face 2004 ASP Champ Sofia Mulanovich in the Quarterfinals. But the day wasn't all about upsets as both World No.2 Samantha Cornish and Layne Beachley came out unscathed from their Round 3 matchups and will head into the Quartefinals to meet Melanie Redman Carr and Amee Donohoe respectively.

An Update on Tara Llanes

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:11:42 EST

An update from Tara's friends and family is posted on her MySpace Page. A fund to help with her expenses is being set up but is not done as of yet. Here are some more details: Tara's room is so full of gifts and flowers that there is barely enough room for the nurses and doctors. At this time, we ask you save your money for the "Road To Recovery Fund." We are currently setting up a website that will allow for you to send your contributions directly to Tara to cover all medical expenses. Although she is covered under insurance, there will be additional expenses. As mentioned previously, we are looking into the top rehab facilities to get Tara up and walking again. All donations will go directly toward her rehab such as personal care, various equipment, housing modifications, etc. We are told that our #1 choice of rehab facilities may run up to $2000+ per day. For all you Southern CA friends, Missy will be organizing an event to raise funds that will cover non-medical expenses such as travel and day to day items for Team Llanes. There will also be opportunities to take photos and write messages to Tara that will be sent over all together. More details to come so stay posted! And this update from Wednesday night: It has been another long day, full of doctor visits and flower deliveries. Your support continues to bring a smile to Tara's face. Sleeping has been tough because she is very uncomfortable but she was finally able to sleep for longer than an hour today. One of these days, she will hopefully sleep through the whole night. We are still working on getting the "Road To Recovery Fund" website up and running. Continue to check back for the official announcement. We've set up a page where we will list all of the updates for Tara -- You can check it out.... We'll also post updates here, too...

Stephen Murray Update: Two Updates From Family

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:11:22 EST

There haven't been very many updates coming out about Stephen's recovery but brother Martin has posted an update written by Stephen's mother on BMXTalk.com: It's been a while since we have done an update but there has been so much going on in the background. Although we are in daily contact with Melissa regarding Stephen's condition, it's better to do an update when one of the family is visiting Stephen as all of Melissa's time is taken up with looking after Stephen's physical care and flying back and forth to California to see Mason and Seth. I have been busy with Stephen's benefit jam here in the UK and so this update is from our Mam, Cynthia. Hi, After being away from Stephen for 5 weeks, I had expectation of this visit being more relaxing than when I was here in Denver the last time. How wrong can you be! I arrived late on Friday evening and Stephen was in good spirits although he had just started having some issues with secretions from his lungs. By Saturday evening he was started on steroids and antibiotics as the the secretions from his lungs had become infeced and he was having difficulty with his breathing and there was concern that he may be at risk of pneumonia. On Sunday morning the steroids had started doing thir job by loosening up the mucous in Stephen's lungs but the problem with this was that these secretions were so thick that it was difficult to suction them oot of his trach. As the day progressed Stephen had a choking fit which was horrendous and which left him totally exhausted. The good news was that he didn't have a pneumonia but has been diagnosed with Asthma and it was this which was causing his breating difficulties. Monday saw a more settled day but he still was having trouble with tightness in his chest. To add insult to injury Stephen has had to have 2 wisdom teeth and 3 molars extracted today! All these teeth had vertical fractures which were caused by the impact of his head when he crashed in Baltimore. Today he is allowed no visitors and will remain heavily sedated. Of course this is a temporary setback but it halts his progress for all the other therapies such as physio, occupational health etc. It looks like he may have to remain in rehab longer than expected. This is so frustrating both for him and the family as we all want him home as soon as we can. Stephen's mind is so strong. He is becoming so more aware of what his body needs and what he needs to do to continue weaning from the ventilator and how to control his nerve pain. He is on so much medication I am surprised he has an appetite but he still manages to eat Cadbury's Chocolate Digestive biscuits! A couple of other sad events have happened in the short time I have been here. One of Stephen's respiratory nurses also works at the children's hospital here in Denver. Whilst she was ther last week she went into a room of an 11yr old boy who had a huge poster of Stephen on his wall. She told him that she was 'working' with Stephen (as he didn't know Stephen was injured) and this boy told her how much he loved Stephen and followed him. He asked her to give Stephen a sticker which he had out of a magazine. The nurse came back, told Stephen the story and Stephen was starting to put together some souvenirs for her to take back to him. The next day Stephen's nurse came in and told Stephen that this poor little boy had passed away. It's so sad. However, Stephen has decided that he wants to become involved with the children's hospital in Denver and I am going to speak to them on his behalf and to get together some BMX mags, stickers, souvenirs etc and send them over. The other sad event is Tara Llanas, the mountain biker. As you are probably aware she crashed at the weekend and is paraylsed from the waist down. Tara's mum, friend and trainer came to Craig Hospital yesterday where I met them. It looks as if Tara will do her rehab here, when there is a bed available, so Stephen and her will be able to spend some time together. I am sure that this will be motivational and positive for both of them. Hopefully the next few days will be calmer but who knows. Your perception of rehab is just physio and general therapy but there are still so many other clinical issues that need to be taken care of. Once Stephen has recoveered from his oral surgery I really hope he will be physically strong enough to continue weaning off the ventilaor which will give him such a better quality of life and then perhap his body will have the strength to start and respond again. Thank you all once again for your good wishes and support, it means so much. Cynthia We also received an update from Melissa's mother, Monika Giles-Freking. Stephen's spirits are as good as can be expected. His doctors tried to wien him off of the ventilator too quickly and with his zest for doing whatever it takes to get better, it did more harm than good I am afraid. As of this writing, he is able to breath on his own for about 8 hours a day. Until he is completely off, his rehab is taking longer than expected. Melissa is at his side, as well as Paul. Martin and his dad visited in August and his mom Cynthia is expected to come back to Denver in the near future. Melissa has brought his son Mason to visit which brings Stephen much joy. Stephen�s other son Seth remains at the babysitter's since school has started and he has begun Kindergarten. Stephen enjoys the visits from friends and loves to hear from all of his friends and fans via the Internet. Please, please continue to send him best wishes. As you can imagine, Melissa has not been able to work since the accident. I cannot emphasize how important it is to keep the Stephen Murray Foundation up and running. Whatever anyone can contribute would be greatly appreciated. On a more personal note....Stephen's accident has changed our lives forever. Never think it can't happen to you. Take each day like a gift (that is why they call it "the present"). Be grateful for what you have. It can be taken from you in a split second. Thank you for your prayers. Monika Giles-Freking Given the news about Tara, she couldn't more right. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Shaun White's Birthday: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:10:54 EST

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know this is the third story we've done about the red-haired one's magical growth into a man by reaching 21 years of age. But when details and photos keep coming out, what are we supposed to do, ignore it? Now it looks like we don't have to depend on any slezy gossip sites to take us inside. Turns out one of the Tomato's big sponsors, Volcom, takes you inside of the big dinner and party. What was on the menu, you ask? Well, check out the photo below. I'll take the Rib Eye, thank you very much. Anyway, I'm not going to go into a ton of detail except to say that this has the most photos and the most info about what went down. Yes, all of the naughty bits have been overlooked (one assumes), but that is to be expected. Okay, enough about that. See some of the photos below and then check it out.

X-Games Bandit Follows In Shaun White's Footsteps, Repeats In Freestyle Robbery

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:10:26 EST

The nerve of this guy: apparently the "X-Games Bandit" (who we talked about here) has hit his fourth bank in a month in Central California. Though successful in robbing banks the "Bandit" might not be as successful in conspicuous consumption because despite having already robbed 3 banks prior, the "Bandit" was still riding a skateboard the 4th time around. At this point shouldn't he have already upgraded vehicles? And how is it that security/police/authorities are letting him get away at no more than 20 mph? Are these robberies happening in a town of human-sloth hybrid species? Or is the police force being led by the 96 year old Matlock? This story is just full of questions and question marks. See if you can help me solve the riddle of the "X-Games Bandit", clues hidden here.

Example #595010 Of Celebrity Looking Awkward

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:10:07 EST

Last time around we had Courtney Cox looking awfully gawky on a surfboard (remember Jennifer Aniston's bikin? That was for the boys). This time around we have Hollywood superstar (I almost wrote douchebag) Ashton Kutcher looking roughly the same on skateboard. Luckily it's not a longboard yet something must be said about the fact that it looks like he used that skateboard to roll out of the J. Crew catalog he was stuck in. I mean look at the shoes, and his sleeves are rolled up like he's gonna handle some business. My guess is that business will involve mediocre romantic comedies with formulaic story arcs. Hey that's just my guess but it happens to be edu-ca-ted. Oh yeah it looks like Cameron Diaz is throwing some oranges at him, probably in some "quirky" plotline explained here.

Seattle Weekly Covers The Growing Christian Skate Movement

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:09:52 EST

As skateboarding has grown in the past decade to the level it's at now (check the new 'EA Skate' commercials, or 'Life Of Ryan') there has been an increasing drive to mix the activity of skateboarding with religious evangelism. Just as with music we have seen evangelicals start branding a whole new "genre" of skaters with their Christian beliefs. Seattle Weekly has thus gone out to cover this growing phenomenon and the teens that are involved in the movement, focusing on the 'Skate Church' of West Seattle. Regardless of your opinion on the matter the article is an excellent read to get an idea of what's happening out there in terms of the mash-up of skating and religion. For the full (quite long) Seattle Weekly article head over here.

The Never Ending Search For The Cool Alert: Ready Amongst Willing

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:08:33 EST

Check out Ready Amongst Willing, the new clothing/skate brand that's offering shirts like the one you see below. They're a brand that intends to represent skateboarding as something other than just an activity. In their words, they "exist as a brand to tell the story of our lives as skateboarders." Sounds pretty amibitious right? Check out their website to see if they follow through on their promise.

New Charges Brought In Emery Kauanui Jr.'s Murder

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:07:46 EST

San Diego prosecutors have added charges to the 4 men accused of beating professional surfer Emery Kauanui Jr. to death on the night of May 24th. The new charges stem from previous alleged assaults perpetrated by the 4 men, in addition to charges brought against a 5th man who was involved in Kauanui Jr.'s death but not originally charged. The men are said to have been apart of a small local gang, "The Bird Rock Bandits". Kauanui Jr.'s death occurred as a result of a spilled drink that escalated into a bar fight between Kauanui and the accused. Eventually the fight continued at Kauanui's home where the accused had followed Kauanui which led to Kauanui's death. Emery Kauanui Jr., who was 24 at the time of his death, was a local surfer who was sponsored by San Diego's Liquid Foundation Surf Shop and took part in multiple local contests as well as some in Hawaii. For more on the charges brought check this link, for more information on the original incident go here, and to learn more about Emery Kauanui Jr. click here.

Headzone. Apply Directly To The Forehead. Directly To The Forehead? Directly To The Forehead

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:07:07 EST

You know about Bob Knight? He's that insane college basketball coach (famously/formerly of the University of Indiana Hoosiers, now of Texas Tech Red Raiders) that just looks like he's a wife beater. Yeah you know him. Remember how he used to yell at his players like some rabid half-man-half-beast-100%-ass? He even got busted for choking one of his players. Well now surfing coaches are gonna have the ability to channel Bob Knight themselves thanks to Mark Ellis, the creator of Headzone. Headzone is a waterproof helmet that has a built in radio receiver and headphones that will allow surfing coaches to broadcast their "suggestions" and "techniques" to their surfers out in the water. Usually surf coaches had relied upon hand signals and such, where the sheer assholery of any asshole messages would have been lost in the translation. Well not anymore. To read up on this fascinating technology check this link. I wonder if the helmets will allow novice surfing kids to hear the tearing up of their child like enthusiasm for the sport? I just wonder.

Cardona Games Wrap-Up

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:06:39 EST

In case you missed it this past weekend the Cardona Games 2007 went off in New Zealand. The event isn't just some dinky snow event with a couple of contests, nah, the Games involved Freestyle Skiing, Snowboarding, Moto X and Snowmobiling topped off with music from Salmonella Dub DJ Sound System. With an event this jam-packed highlights were a plenty: from the first ever Moto X backflip on snow to Lindsey Jacobellis winning the Snowboarding Halfpipe event you can get the lowdown/recap right here and if you were one of them sticklers for details you can get the full results here.

Shaun White's 21st Birthday Pants - I mean - Party

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:05:57 EST

You know that completely over-used phrase "Party Like A Rockstar"? I know you've heard it before, they even made a song about it, a terrible one at that. Well Shaun White actually took it there this past weekend with his 21st birthday, because the man of the hour showed up in foreskin-tight leopard-print pants. You don't believe me check the picture...oh yeah that's Tony Hawk there admiring the pants with one hand and admiring something else with the other. Either way you and I shouldn't be laughing though because the party ended up at the Playboy Club in Vegas and I'm pretty sure those pants didn't mean a thing to the female "fans" of White that were there. Actually I'm pretty sure pants, in general, don't mean a thing to those females. Ooops I think I mispelled something there I forgot to add an "i" and an "e" to one of the key words. Suffice it to say White had a fun time for his birthday popping bottles (legitimately now) and living the lavish life of someone who can afford better than Chuck-E-Cheese for his 21st Birthday Bash (thanks Mom). For more pics from White's party head to that Perez Hilton site.

Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival Sees First Day Of Action On Day 2

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:05:18 EST

After spending a day waiting in the Spanish sun the pros at the Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival finally got a chance to show their wares on Day 2 finishing Round 1 and 2 before conditions could get the best of them again. Day 2 featured no real upsets, though current ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore (pictured) was pushed into Round 2 before she got in the groove. On the other hand former champ Sofia Mulanovich needed no time to get into dominant form as she put up a 9.25 early. stephanie_gilmore_asp07_200x300RIP CURL GIRLS PRO ROUND 2 RESULTS: Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.00; Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)11.50; Caroline Sarran (FRA)9.25 Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW)11.75; Megan Abubo (AUS) 9.20; Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.00 RIP CURL GIRLS PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS: Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER)16.75; Melanie Redman-Carr 11.50(Aus); Melanie Bartels (HAW)9.35 Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS)10.25; Jessi Miley Dyer (AUS)9.10; Caroline Sarran (FRA)7.75 Heat 3: Chelsea Hedges (AUS)13.85; Alana Blanchard (HAW)11.20; Jacqueline Silva (BRA)8.05 Heat 4: Rochelle Ballard (HAW)12.90; Layne Beachley (AUS) 9.60; Megan Abubo (HAW)7.35 Heat 5: Amee Donohoe (AUS)6.60; Roseanne Hodge (AUS)6.30; Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)6.30 Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA)12.25; Rebecca Woods (AUS)9.25; Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)5.80 For more details on the first day of work at the Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival in Spain check out the official update here.

Event Reminder: Fighting 4 Dreams Art Show

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:04:50 EST

This Thursday if you're in San Francisco Real Skateboards/DLX Skate Shop has got some culture for you. The Fighting 4 Dreams Art Show presents works from Jeff Soto, Regino Gonzales, OG Abel, Maxx242 and others. Music at the event will be provided by BLKTOP Project. For more info on the event check the DLX website or the 111 Minna Gallery (where the show will be held).

IGN Interviews John Rattray

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:04:36 EST

While we're eagerly anticipating the release of EA's Skate (less than 2 weeks away) IGN has decided to add more kindling to the burning passion in our hearts for the game* by interviewing one of the skaters featured in the game, Zero's John Rattray. In the interview Rattray talks about what he likes about the game (the realistic treatment of skating), the changes in skate culture from its early years to now (not much changed), and the skate-ability of different cities (Barcelona - Yay, San Diego - Nay). Check it out here, it's actually a pretty good interview, and if you don't know much about EA Skate check out screenshots from the game to get an idea.

Random Notes And Updates

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:04:14 EST

We got a couple of event updates for you: � Mt. High's Buck Off Rail Jam (which we mentioned earlier) still went off despite the 100+ degree weather Southern California has been facing. Snow was still dumped on the site and the locals took full advantage of it. Read more here. � The Ledo Pizza Mid-Atlantic Skate Series Final event finished up with categories ranging from Red Bull Manny Mania/Best Trick to Street to Longboard included in the event. For full results go here.

Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival Update

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:03:51 EST

Though conditions have forced the first round of the Rip Curl Pro Girls Festival (an ASP Women's WCT event) to be put on hold in Spain, it doesn't mean you can't get caught up on the event through previews and such . For example you might wanna check up on the Round 1 heats, since it features World No. 2 Melanie Redman-Carr and 2004 ASP World Champion Sofia Mulanovich facing off against each other (with Melanie Bartels thrown in for added competition). You've also got Layne Beachley up against Megan Abubo and Rochelle Ballard. So basically what we're trying to say is keep an eye out on this one, because when it goes down it'll probably promise some fireworks, or waterworks...whichever works best.

Dyrdek To Act With De Niro And Pacino Then Ascend To Heaven Shortly After

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:02:38 EST

Rob Dyrdek's star just keeps on shining brighter and Hollywood has seemingly caught on. That's because the 'Rob and Big' star has just signed on to join the cast of 'Righteaous Kill' the...get this...Robert De Niro and Al Pacino cop thriller. Jesus Christ Superstar that's amazing. I was almost tempted to write that last sentence in all caps and size 24 font. This is De Niro and Pacino we're talking about. Together. In one film. Which hasn't been done since 'Heat' . If you've been living in an Amish community for the past ummmm 30-some years you probably don't know about De Niro and Pacino, but then again you probably wouldn't be reading this if you lived in an Amish community so actually I don't even have to explain who they are. The film will be written by the guy who wrote the excellent 'Inside Man' and will also feature 50 Cent, John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg. The plot will involve police investigating some vigilante killing, and we hope some gratuitous acting. At this time we don't know how Dyrdek will fit into the film's equation but we do know that he'll be working with ROBERT DE NIRO and AL PACINO. Good God what a life he's built for himself. For more details on the project (that's Hollywood speak) check out the official Daily Variety release.

Hurricane Felix Produces Waves Of Deaths...Oops I Mean Deaths And Waves

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:02:18 EST

Surfers are quite good at finding the silver lining in things. Like just a couple of weeks ago we were talking about some guys who took advantage of the waves caused by crumbling glaciers. Well this past weekend we got word of something similar. In this case the tragedy has been Hurricane Felix, the Category 5 storm that has ripped into Central America (albeit at a lowered Category 3 status). It seems that the storm had passed roughly 150 miles south of Jamaica creating some eye-opening waves along the south coast of the island, with some waves topping 15'. Surfers living in the area thus took to the beaches and took full advantage of the conditions. While we don't actually think of these surfers as callous in the face of tragedy, we'll still make sure to keep an eye out for the next surf story involving nuclear war with Iran or something like that. For more about the Felix surfers check the link here.

'Life of Ryan' Episode Two

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:02:02 EST

Hey, Monday was Labor Day, but not everyone took the day off. Ryan Sheckler was working after all -- he had a new episode of his show on. So that means we took the time to watch what went down. It was a pretty fast-paced episode, actually, featuring a few heartfelt moments. I was surprised, actually! Want to see what happened? Read our recap and then check out a photo gallery from the episode.

Mountain Biker/BMX Racer Tara Llanes Badly Injured in King of the Mountain Event

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:01:47 EST

Tara Llanes, 2006 USA Cycling Downhill National Champion and two-time national four-cross champion, was badly injured in the Jeep King of the Mountain contest in Beaver Creek, Colorado, this weekend. After crashing in a semi-final race against Jill Kintner, Llanes was airlifted to Denver Health Hospital where she underwent seven hours of surgery for a lower back injury. Additionally she has been diagnosed with a C-7 fracture which has been deemed as stable. She has since undergone an additional surgery. Although she is breathing on her own and able to communicate, Llanes has no feeling below her waist at this time. Her family and friends have come to Denver to support her. James Herrera, a coach who has worked with Llanes, wrote the following email to friends and fans: We ask that you have as much faith as Tara does throughout this difficult period. Please leave a message on this page www.myspace.com/mtbtara and we will make sure she receives each and every one of them. In the meantime, we are hoping Tara will be able to come back home in 1 to 2 weeks. Flowers and/or gifts may be sent to: Denver Health Medical Center 777 Bannock Street, Room B 316 Denver Colorado, 80204 A relief/rehabilitation fund for charitable gifts is currently being arranged. Information will be available later in the week. Lat34 will bring you more updates about Tara's condition as it is released. For more about her, check out our recent profile or her website. Tara is pictured to the right in a photo from her MySpace page showing her after her surgeries -- the thumbs up showing her spirit is definitely strong...

Shaun White is 21 - Lock the Liquor Cabinet

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:00:58 EST

Shaun White turned 21 today and while he's done and accomplished more in his 21 years than, oh, let's say 99% of all people alive, he couldn't legally drink or gamble in these United States until now. Of course, many of the foreign countries he has been hanging in have no such hang-ups. Indeed, the United States has the oldest minimum drinking age, with Portugal having no minimum; Norway, Switzerland and Germany at 16; and about 40 countries or more at 18. So chances are White has had his share of libations over the years, especially given that in his American Express commercial he hits several of those countries in just a weekend. As this helpful website points out, it's actually not against the law to drink if you're 21 -- usually you just can't buy liquor. Thanks for the clarification. By the way, Shaun White should buy the next round -- he can afford it.

Alana Blanchard Wins Rip Curl Girls Pro Jr., Takes Wildcard into Women's WCT Event #4

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:00:40 EST

Alana Blanchard, 17, has won the Rip Curl Girls Pro Junior in Spain against Pauline Ado, Laetitia Sudre and Lea Mengual, all from France. More importantly for the young Hawaiian, the win earns her a Wildcard entry into Round 1 of the Rip Curl Girls World Tour contest, which is set to start Tuesday. It is the fourth stop on the ASP Women's World Tour and marks Blanchard's first appearance in a World Tour event. Among Blanchard's biggest wins prior to this are two consecutive victories in the Women's Pipeline pro, including the 2007 honor earlier this year. Check out her official site for more about Blanchard and check out the Rip Curl Girls Festival site for more about the contest or to watch it LIVE.. RIP CURL GIRLS PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS: Heat 1: Melanie Redman-Carr (Aus); Sofia Mulanovich (PER); Melanie Bartels(HAW) Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS; Jessi Miley Dyer (AUS); Caroline Sarran (FRA) Heat 3: Chelsea Hedges (AUS); Jacqueline Silva (BRA); Alana Blanchard (HAW) Heat 4: Layne Beachley (AUS); Megan Abubo (HAW); Rochelle Ballard (HAW) Heat 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS); Amee Donohoe (AUS); Roseanne Hodge (AUS) Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA); Rebecca Woods (AUS); Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)

Action Sports World Tour Kicks Off - Tabron, Enarson and PLG Win

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:00:12 EST

The Action Sports World Tour has kicked off this year's series with an interesting event in Phoenix that featured the new BMX Box Jump event, won by 16-year-old phenom Dennis Enarson, who just won the BMX Dirt title in Portland on the AST Dew Tour. Among the other winners, Simon Tabron in BMX Vert and Pierre-Luc Gagnon in Skate Vert. We've got all the results here as well as a photo gallery of highlights. Be sure to check it all out. We've got a couple of photos below -- but like I said -- check it out!

Flores Wins the Buondi Billabong Pro

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:59:26 EST

Jeremy Flores has won the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal, defeating Josh Kerr in the final. Both Flores and Kerr are on the Foster's ASP World Tour and aiming for requalification. "This is one of the most important results of my life... Getting such a big event crown is definitely what I wanted since last year where I started to improve. I'm so stoked," Flores said. Read more about the finals. Final Results JOSH KERR (AUS) - 6.00 JEREMY FLORES (FRA) - 15.16 Semi Final Results Heat One BRETT SIMPSON (USA) - 11.33 JOSH KERR (AUS) - 13.50 Heat Two LEIGH SEDLEY (AUS) - 11.83 JEREMY FLORES (FRA) - 16.43

Random Notes: Plan B In Spain, Juliette & The Licks At SR

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:58:51 EST

* Plan B has put up some footage from their trip to Spain on their home page . Nothing vital to note just some cool footage to make you feel like a globe trotting pro. Oh and good call on The Clash. * If you're gonna be in San Diego for the ASR you might as well catch Juliette & The Licks (actress Juliette Lewis' band) performing live 5pm that Saturday (September 8th). It's FREE.

Bank Robber Dubbed 'X-Games Bandit', Sponsors Line Up

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:58:25 EST

Hey America's got talent, it's also got creativity. The proof: a bank robber who chose to get away by means of a bike or skateboard has been labelled the 'X-Games Bandit' by local press and authorities (who are Americans) despite not pulling a 360 filp or crooked grind in the process at all. The suspect was also described as being 20 to 25 years old, 5'8", and 150-160 lbs. which means the runner-up nickname must have been the 'Chad/Tim/Steve Bandit'. If you think about this story long enough possibilities are endless, had he used a getaway car instead would he have been labelled the 'NASCAR's Nextel Cup Bandit'? How about the 'War of 1812 Bandit' if he used a musket as a weapon? Or the 'Three Tenors Bandit' if he had a beautiful voice?

Aono and Pesko Win at World Cup Opener

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:57:56 EST

Swiss snowboarder Manuela Pesko and Japan's Ryoh Aono were the big winners in Cardrona, New Zealand, as the FIS World Cup kicked off. Pesko is the ladies' 2007 world champion and 2006/07 FIS World Cup winner. Coming in second was defending FIS World Cup snowboard cross champion Lindsey Jacobellis. Rounding out the women's podim was Clair Bidez, the reigning Junior Worlds half-pipe gold medalist For the men, Aono is the defending FIS World Cup halfpipe title holder in the halfpipe. Coming in second was Iouri Podladtchikov (Switzerland), followed by his teammate Rolf Feldmann. Full results and more here! Final Results - Halfpipe - Top Five Men 1. AONO Ryoh (JPN) 2. PODLADTCHIKOV Iouri (SUI) 3. FELDMANN Rolf (SUI) 4. WYNEN Luke (USA) 5. AUTTI Antti (FIN) Final Results - Halfpipe - Top Five Women 1. PESKO Manuela Laura (SUI) 2. JACOBELLIS Lindsey (USA) 3. BIDEZ Clair (USA) 4. YAMAOKA Soko (JPN) 5. CASTELLET Queralt (SPA)

Billabong To Premiere 'Trilogy' Twice. Billabong To Premiere 'Trilogy' Twice.

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:55:54 EST

What if I told you of a great DVD to pick up from director Taylor Steele? Odds are you'd think I was suggesting a porno with a name like that right? Well in this case you'd be wrong (we won't talk about the other "cases") because Taylor Steele is an amazing director of surf films. By the looks of things his newest work 'Trilogy' is falls in line with that description in terms of quality (just check the pic from the film). 'Trilogy' is Steele and Billabong's newest surf film which follows three titans of surf, Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson, and Taj Burrows, on their own individual journey to push the surfing envelope. For a film of such magnitude and with that lineup it's gotta have a huge premiere right? You betcha. The premiere is gonna be so big they're gonna do it twice. The first premiere will take place at the ASR Trade Show in San Diego on September 7th and will feature a show by Angels and Airwaves, the band that's featured prominently in the film. Then the following day the party...I mean premiere...will head on over to Las Vegas (smartest decision ever) for the second premiere at the Hard Rock Hotel. That premiere will again feature an Angels and Airwaves show as well as a beach party alongside the pool (I wonder if they're gonna invite Annette Funicello) and a wakeboarding demo in it. Sounds as wild as a Quiet Riot song. So to find out more about the premiere as well as the film in general go here. To see trailers and more photos from 'Trilogy' head to their official website here.

Dane Reynolds Headed For The 2008 WCT And Buondi Billabong Pro Update

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:55:14 EST

Despite being knocked out of the 6 star WQS Buondi Billabong Pro earlier this week Dane Reynolds has plenty to be smiling about with regards to his surfing career. That's because he's qualified for next years WCT. The qualification came about shortly after Reynolds finished 2nd at last weeks Sooruz Lacanau Pro causing him to jump up the WQS standings to second place. What this means is next year the "Young Gun" Reynolds will be competing against the pro's pros like Taj Burrows, Mick Fanning, and Andy Irons instead of hanging around plain folks like us (me specifically). Read the story here for more including reactions to Reynold's feat . Farewell Reynolds, you're off to bigger and better things. Which reminds me, there's still some Buondi Billabong Pro action going down over in Portugal. Day 4 featured conditions that caused the contest to move yet again south of the main site, yet there was still ample enough waves for Nathan Hedge to go off, Jeremy Flores to post the contest-high score, and reigning Buondi champ Tiago Pires to get upset. For the whole scenario check the update posted at the official contest site.

Puma Hits The Skate Market With Scott Bourne Shoe

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:54:49 EST

Shoe company Puma seems to following in the footsteps of its competitors Nike and Adidas and releasing their own skate shoes, previews of which have just been released. The Scott Bourne Clydes will pretty much keep the look of the original Clydes but with minor tweaking ostensibly for those who wish to skate with the shoes. Take a peak.

Snow Resorts Opens (Winter) Season With A Bang Part 3

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:53:58 EST

As I mentioned a couple days ago some resorts in California are starting their snow season off with nice little events, from the Buck Off Rail Jam at Mt. High to the Hot Dogz and Hand Rails at Bear Mountain. Well Colorado won't be outdone. They'll just be a few months late (Vail does open a little later than the resorts mentioned above). That's because they're kicking off the start of their Winter season with the Vail Snow Daze Event/Festival. The week-long event (from December 3rd to the 9th) will feature DJ sets, giveaways, free instructions, and other things that are par for the course. BUT the catch is that one of the nights will feature a music set with The Roots and Ludacris headlining. Beat that Cali resorts. Entry to the show won't be free though (awwwww) they will involve tickets but still this is The Roots we're talking about...and to a lesser extent Ludacris. So if you're up for it check out the official event page for more details on the show and the whole weeks worth of frozen water based fun.

Surprising Story Of The Day: Girl Loves Sheckler

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:53:04 EST

It premiered less than a week ago but we already got reviews back on 'Life Of Ryan', alright actually it's just one review and it's from the New York Daily News (essentially a tabloid dressed up as a newspaper) but so far everything's coming up roses in terms of first impressions. The reviewer must have let her teenage daughter (if she has one) ghostwrite the review though because the review mentions how hot and cute Sheckler was on the show and questions Cambria's decision not to get with Sheckler. As you can tell the review goes in depth in its critique of the show, there's even a swipe at the girls from 'The Hills', which precedes 'Life of Ryan'. You can just imagine the hearts dotting the "i's" on the original manuscript. Don't believe me? Here read it for yourself.

Musical Worlds Collide At Central Park

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:52:50 EST

Wasn't it just a little while back that Central Park was thought of as a place where joggers ended their daily jog as just another statistic? Well I guess not anymore because on September 22nd Central Park will play host to the New York Tokyo Music Festival. The festival is meant to bring together some of the most acclaimed hiphop artists from the States and Japan together on one bill. Featured acts include MF DOOM along with Pharoahe Monch (who I personally consider one of the greatest MCs ever) on the American side, and The Teriyaki Boyz (A Bathing Ape founder Nigo's hiphop group) on the Japanese side. The festival will also feature streetwear brands from both countries which seems to be all the rage with the cool kids today...as a matter of fact this event seems exactly like something the cool kids will go to, so maybe you should think about going if you're anywhere near NYC in late September. To find out just exactly how you can do that, as well as more about the acts playing head to the official homepage for the event.

Cartoon Network To Do A Feature On 9-Year-Old Skater/Surfer

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:52:08 EST

Have you ever heard of Kalani David? Well I hadn't up to this point in time. Supposedly he's this action sports renaissance man/boy that's only nine years old....Alright I just watched some clips of him and the kid is pretty damn amazing (cover your eyes when you read that Kalani, you'll learn about 'damn' in due time). He's like equally adapt at skating and surfing. Man what are they gonna have next? Rodeo bull riding fetuses? The thing is, like me, much of the world probably haven't heard of this Tremendous Toddler� (I'm hoping that nickname will stick, yep even past puberty) but pretty soon they will. That's because Cartoon Network has decided to feature the Korkriding Kid� (there's another one, damn I'm genius) on a one hour special this Saturday night (7 p.m.) as part of their 'Get Animated' initiative. The initiative is intended to motivate its children viewers into going outside and getting active so their legs/arms won't atrophy off due to too much TV watching, which strikes me as odd since if the initiative delivers on its message then the network that spawned the initiative will atrophy off the broadcast list. So Cartoon Network will use Kalani as a role model of sorts in the one hour special, and will of course profile him as well as have pros like Andy Irons and Bob Burnquist stop by to give Kalani some tips for their sports. If it all works out kids will hopefully end up amazingly gifted like Kalani, and if not they might end up like this guy. Find out how I found out about Kalani David here.

Red Bull Big Wave Africa Comes To A Quiet Close

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:51:42 EST

With most surf contests weather and surf conditions play a big role in deciding how the contest goes, this is all the more pronounced when it comes to big wave contests. So it shouldn't be a big surprise that this year's 'Red Bull Big Wave Africa' at Dungeons was essentially called off yesterday (there have only been three full events held at Dungeons over the last nine years) amidst unreliable conditions. What this pretty much means is that there was no BWA for 2007, which is understandable given the dangers inherent in surfing big waves. You can read about the cancellation here. Here's to hoping that 2008 will be different.

Southern California Resorts Start Snow Season Off With A Bang

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:50:35 EST

As we slowly move from summer into fall (almost at a snail's pace), snow resorts are setting up shop and lining up events in order to get riders to hit the slopes (and spend their money). The two major resorts that service Southern California are doing just that with two separate events. First up is Mountain High's 'Buck Off Rail Jam' on September 1st. The Rail Jam will be an open event where all visitors will be able to take advantage of the expected 120 tons of snow featuring 7 different jibs so long as they sign waivers and wear the proper gear (think helmets). The event will also feature a live DJ spinning as well as booths set up by vendors such as DVS, 32, Matix, Quiksilver, and many more with chances to get some good discounts on gear. Basically it's like Open House for Mountain High. HDHR LogoTwo weeks later Bear Mountain will be hosting the 'Hot Dogz and Hand Rails Pro Jib Contest' on September 15th. The contest will feature riders like Johnny Miller, Mike Burton, and Derek Dennison and much like the 'Buck Off' the event will also feature a live DJ and vendor booths. There will also be free giveaways and autograph signings by pros like Antti Autti and J.P. Walker. Sure does beat back-to-school night doesn't it? For details on each event head here for the 'Buck Off' and/or here for 'Hot Dogz and Hand Rails'.

Snowboarding World Cup Opens Saturday in New Zealand

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:50:07 EST

Ahhhh Labor Day. Perfect holiday for your final BBQ of the summer, college football, snowboarding, and poking your fat little cousin with a tree branch. Wait, what?!?!? Snowboarding? Yep snowboarding. Nevermind that I'm talking to myself and listen up for a minute. Competitive snowboarding is officially beginning its season this weekend in New Zealand with the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup. The event will feature riders such as Gretchen Bleiler, Tommy Czeschin, Clair Bidez (pictured) and others from the US Team trying to win the NZ$58,000 in prize money (you do the math/conversion) and rep their homeland in a place they're familiar with (the US Snowboarding team practices in New Zealand about a month every year). So if you aren't like me and don't think it's bizarre that we're talking about snow while Los Angeles is burning right now you can head over here to get more details.

Fuel TV's September Programming Highlights

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:49:50 EST

We get them up just as fast as they put them out. The "they" in this case is Fuel TV with their programming updates. This time around though they've helped us compile a month's worth of highlights together in one list. Highlights from the highlights include the Cliche team's 'Gypsy Tour', in which the team sets out to tour with virtually no cash, and the 2007 Billabong Pro Jeffrey's Bay. Wait I got a better idea, why don't you just check the list itself instead of making me do all the work. Oh yeah also don't miss out on �Strange Notes: NY to Shanghai� (the Crux Skate Team in China) and the �2007 Rockstar Masa Pro� (skate competition) airing tonight on Fuel.

Friendly Reminder: Kelly Slater Starred In Baywatch

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:49:29 EST

Did you ever forget that Kelly Slater actually had a prominent role (well maybe not prominent) in that lovely TV Show 'Baywatch'? Well his friends didn't forget.

Round 2 and 3 Action At The Buondi Billabong Pro

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:48:44 EST

As if in a mad rush to get as many good heats as possible in inconsistent waters the Buondi Billabong Pro (a 6 star WQS event) moved a little bit south from the main event site and opened up to banks for competition. The result was that round 2 was ran through and competition stopped after the sixth heat of round 3 with Daniel Ross pulling off a nice heat in Round 2. For more details from the day of surf check the link and stay tuned as action begins to heat up in the next few days.

Tony Hawk Starts To Look More And More Like Rupert Murdoch

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:46:55 EST

Oh man, in Tony Hawk's never ending quest to flood all media outlets he's finally gotten himself grouped together with Clay Aiken. In my book that's kinda like selling your soul for three spools of yarn and a bag of pogs (admittedly a big bag), but then again my book hasn't quite built a wradillion dollar (don't ask me if that's a real numeric unit, I failed math, and science, and P.E., that test I took at the local clinic) empire. Oh which reminds me don't forget to read Tony Hawk's Tony Hawk series of books available at your nearest book store. So back to the lecture at hand. Tony Hawk has signed himself up to star in Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice'...oh wait that's not it...Tony Hawk has signed himself up to star in the Celebrity Edition of 'Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader'. He'll be up against showbiz powerhouses like Billy Bush, Lauren Nelson, Kellie Pickler, and of course Clay Aiken in their fight against knife- wielding fifth grade war-criminals specially selected by Jeff Foxworthy*. You don't trust me? Well check it out for yourself here**. *Rules of the game are subject to Cary's imagination **We kid, we kid. It's all done for charity which is something we whole-heartedly approve of

Surf Industry Raises $500,000 For Environment

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:46:16 EST

It seems like we've been reporting a lot of Good Samaritan/feel good type stories recently involving the action sports. It's a good thing, actually it's a great thing, and today is no different. This time heavyweights from the surf industry got together at the Annual Waterman's Ball to celebrate the environmentalists among them and (more importantly) raise money for environmental causes. This year a total of $500k was banked to be distributed among 16 different non-profits focused on protecting the waters and oceans of our world. Also, as mentioned, a few surf industry heads were honored for their efforts in helping the environmental cause, including pro surfer Lisa Andersen ("Waterman of the Year"), singer Eddie Vedder ("Environmentalist of the Year"), and legendary surfer Randy Rarick ("Lifetime Achievement Award"). For full details on the event including more on the winners as well as a full list of the charities involved check this link.

Former USC Football Player Escaped Stardom But Couldn't Escape The Law

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:40:14 EST

Seems like Todd Marinovich just can't shake the memories of playing football. Even now, years after he became a flaming bust in the NFL (1st round draft pick by the Raiders), he'll treat anybody who chases him as if they were linebackers in the olden days...like policemen for example. That's because the other day a Newport Beach police officer tried to simply stop Marinovich from skateboarding on Newport pier. The result, Marinovich ran (or possibly skated) for his life just as if he was still on that field of manly competition...too bad he was actually on the field of life. Policemen though, unlike defensive linemen, don't give up chase and within 15 minutes they discovered the play Marinovich had drawn up for the scenario: Blue-28-Thunder-Left-Hide-In-Car-Parking-Lot. At the parking lot they found him huddled with his new found teammates: about one gram of methamphetamine , a metal spoon and a hypodermic needle. Needless to say Marinovich was arrested and charged with all the requisite drug charges. This all reminds one of that old Bon Jovi song, which I'm willing to bet Marinovich is quite familiar with, 'Blaze of Glory', except in this case there is no glory just a huge smoldering blaze, full of failure and disappointment (can you tell I'm a Raiders fan?). For more highlights of Marinovich's botched run head to this link

AST Free Flow Update From Utah

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:39:53 EST

Many times lost in the shuffle that is the AST Dew Tour is coverage of the AST Free Flow Tour (which is the amateur series run by the AST). But not by us! We got coverage of the skate portion of the Utah stop of the tour courtesy of a report by our friends down at Adventure Sports Weekly. The report gives you a taste of how it feels to be a up-and-coming teenager (the contest was only for 18 and under age groups) trying not only to get your name out but also just to do what you love with no regards for the Ogio packs crammed with goodies such as $120 sunglasses, certificates for free shoes, and plane tickets to Florida for the Nationals. Hey wait I have some regards for that, if any of the winners who received that prize pack wants to give it up contact me at the email address above. I'll help unburden your soul of those material possessions. But yeah the report can be found here. Oh yeah if you're living in Nashville don't miss the final stop of the Free Flow Tour on September 1st.

Oh How The Mighty Have Fallen: OP To Be Sold At Walmart

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:35:27 EST

I remember a time when OP along with T&C and eventually No Fear was the cool stuff to wear in elementary school. Well it seems things have gone half-circle as OP has agreed to an exclusive direct-to-retail deal with world destroyer Walmart. Now instead of happily wearing the same OP shirt every other day like I used to, younger kids are going to frown and make the gasface upon hearing their moms say, "Well Ricky/Steven/Dusty, now this is a nice looking shirt. Here let's get the blue one. Your favorite color is blue." while back-to-school shopping. So let's run a little checklist now. Dog food? Check. Paper Towels? Check. Maxipads? Check. Genocide? Check. Ocean Pacific Wear? Check. WOW Walmart's got everything, they should build one everywhere.

Notes And Reminders

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:35:07 EST

***EVENT REMINDER*** This weekend over in Huntington Beach, California they're having 'Boardfest', the "All Girl Action Sports, Music & Empowerment Festival" featuring surf, skate, snow, and music fun for all. One thing I would mention to promoters if you go though is maybe they should think about changing the wording on their promo line I quoted above, because with with an improper pause the event takes on a whole new persona for the listener. For a preview of the event check out this write up. ***EVENT REMINDER*** Though it's still early don't forget about the 9th Annual Tim Brauch Memorial Contest on September 29th and 30th which donates 100% of the funds towards skateboard park development and scholarships. Learn about it here. ***PRODUCT UPDATE*** Ricta has just released their newest 53mm Chad Muska Chrome wheel, which according to them is made up of the new "White Lightning" (sounds like a metal band) urethane that's more resistant to flat spots. To help kick off the product there's a giveaway you can sign up for here.

Speaking of Fuel: New Website Coming Soon

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:53:10 EST

We at Lat34 have been waiting for Fuel to relaunch its website -- something that's been in the works for awhile now. As fans of the network nothing pained us more than trying to use its website to check in on the latest about any of its shows. After having the beta site for weeks and weeks, we hear it's finally close to launching: Check it out (screengrab below). My opinion? Looks much nicer -- should be easier to watch clips from shows, which is great. A lot of flash on the front page -- that's something it has in common with the current site, still much better than what they have now. What do you think? Let me know! Maybe I will print some of the better opinions.

Dean Morrison, Mike Spinner Featured on Fuel's Daily Habit

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:13:38 EST

Get ready for a couple of interesting episodes of "The Daily Habit" on Fuel. Tonight, ASP Foster's ASP World Tour surfer Dean Morrison stops by along with Josh Kerr -- a promising all-Aussie surf lineup. Then tomorrow (Thursday) the show goes all-BMX Park as recent AST Dew Tour winner Mike Spinner stops by the studio (you know him -- he's only the first guy to land 1080 over a jump and a 360 triple-tailwhip) and Scotty Cranmer takes viewers on a tour of his indoor BMX park. Sweet. Episodes of "The Daily Habit" air each weekday at 9:00 pm ET (6:00 pm PT) while re-airing later in the evening at 12:00 am ET (9:00 pm PT), and the following day at 3:00 pm ET (12:00 pm PT) and 6:00 pm ET (3:00 pm PT)... For more about the show, check out Fuel's website.

BMX Gets an Olympic Warmup in China

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:13:23 EST

As a sort of test-run for the debut of BMX (racing that is) in the Olympics in Beijing a BMX Supercross event took place inside Laoshan track in China with Donny Robinson taking first in the Men's competition and Shanaze Reade doing the same in the women's competition. The event took place on a track that some found lacking but apparently was good enough for the International Cycling Union (UCI), which oversees the banner under which BMX enters the Olympics, to say about it, "Even if it's not the best, it's one of the best." Ringing words of endorsement huh? Sounds like it might be a rough year heading into the Beijing Olympics. For details on the event as well as hope-to-be-prophetic words about Shanaze Reade check out the report by Adventure Sports Weekly.

ASR's Goldbox Mission

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:13:07 EST

The ASR trade show for the past few years has had a good idea going: build a small area to feature up-and-coming brands in the hopes of shining a spotlight on something that might have gotten lost in the shuffle. See that's what they've been doing with their Goldbox Mission presented by Boost Mobile and this year is no different. First up to be featured in the Goldbox is Big Black's (of MTV's 'Rob and Big not to be mistaken for any other 'Big Black' you might know) label 'BB' which you might have seen him sporting all around. More of the same from skaters Terry Kennedy and Jim Greco as they will be hocking Brigada Eyewear. Other brands hoping to get the Goldbox Boost (pun intended...I hope the check's in the mail guys) include Lexie Barnes, Initium Eyewear, Elias, Hit + Run, Reqwium, Tavik, Atwater and Factor 54. Whew what a list. And there's more, check out the press release to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Man Breaks Speed Record On

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:12:48 EST

When he finally reaches the pearly gates of heaven one day Joel King will be asked "What have you done with your life?" At which point Joel King will be able to answer "I traveled 110 mph on a skateboard". St. Peter would then roll tape on his accomplishment. The nearby spirits would then drop all the heavenly things they were doing and point out the leather suit in which King accomplished his feat and the neon colors in which he decorated the board and his cat-suit. Despite being benevolent beings these spirits would then break into malevolent laughter, and despite being immortal beings living in a painless paradise these spirits would induce burning in their abs and groinal area due to the laughter. St. Peter would then roll tape of the countless hours King had spent building his cherished contraption. The footage would feature the plenty of nights he spent crying because the cylinders in the motor didn't align right, or the bearing of the wheels weren't functioning correctly. It might even show the moment at which his wife lost her love for him because of his obsessing over the machine. Tears will begin to fall from King's eyes, tears of humiliation. The spirits would then feel ashamed at their callous act. St. Peter would then let him in to the rejoice of all. Joel King would have finally found a place he was accepted. That's all just beautiful fiction though...well...except for this part.

Adidas And Marononi Collaborate On Retro Bike

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:12:29 EST

In line with what we saw earlier this month with the bike Puma designed Adidas is now releasing a cool new track bike to commemorate the opening of an Adidas Originals store in Montreal. The cycle is a collaboration with Marinoni Cycles, and design/creative-ideas company, Breadwinner, and is really a throw back to classic racing bikes (like the ones you see in those old movies with dudes wearing short shorts). The only thing is that this bike isn't gonna be mass produced and sold...instead it's going to be up for auction for charity. Damn. Check Breadwinner for more details on the bike.

Uncle Vito (Halfway) Stares The Law In The Face, Gets Charged

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:12:17 EST

Looks like "Uncle Vito" of 'Viva La Bam' fame is in trouble with the law again. This time for 12 counts of violating the terms of his bond, he's out on bond because of the charges of sexual assault on a child he's facing. The terms of his bond included checking in by telephone twice a week, random urinalysis by an approved provider, no contact with children under the age of 18 and no drugs or alcohol, but it appears he didn't live up to his side of the bargain leading to the current mess. For full details check out this report...here's to hoping everything turns out the better.

Who is the Top Snowboarder of All Time?

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:11:58 EST

It's an interesting question -- there are some obvious names that come to mind, but which person belongs on top? And in a sport where women are just about equal with men, would a woman make the list? We here at Lat34 wouldn't presume to make such a list (at least not now) but we found a couple of people/sites that do. One is a newly published list of the top ten influential snowboarders of all time. That "influential" is important, because right away it seems to favor some of the early snowboarders who paved the way for the Danny Davis, Torah Bright and Shaun Whites of the world. That list, written by Matt Belair, Snowboard Trainer and C.E.O of SnowboardAcademy.com is hard to argue with. Here it is (check out his post for his reasons) 1. Craig Kelly (pictured below) 2. Peter Line 3. Terje Haakonsen 4. Shaun White 5. Jamie Lynn 6. Kevin Jones 7. Shaun Palmer 8. JP Walker 9. Jeremy Jones 10. Travis Rice Belair is careful to note that "there is no number #1, they are all kings" but when you make a list, you have to have a top and a bottom. Craig Kelly seems to be tough to argue as number one as far as influence goes, but no doubt there would be some strong discussion about the order and content of the rest of the list. The second site we bring up is a poll site that has been up for almost four years. It asks users to choose their favorite from a list of 51 riders -- and this time it's just your favorite. Given that it's older, many young bucks aren't on the list -- so that may make a difference. Also, people can vote for as many or as few as they'd like... So scientific it ain't -- but it does have more than 3,600 votes. Even so, the list is crowded with only one clear leader... Favorite Snowboarders 1. Shaun White (9%) 2. Terje Haakonsen (5%) 3. Craig Kelly (3%) 4. JP Walker (3%) 5. Danny Kass (3%) 6. Travis Rice (3%) 7. Jeremy Jones (3%) 8. Phil Pare (3%) Five tied at 2% Given the fact that this poll is not on any website specific to the sport, it's hard to take it seriously, but you can't argue that the top seven, at least, are pretty strong riders and worthy of votes. All things considered, it's clear that Shaun White, Craig Kelly and Terje Haakonsen would be around the top of any list of top snowboarders. Let's just say the definitive list has yet to be done... Check our full story on this for related links...

Giggle Giggle Shaun White And Lisa Andersen Win Teen Choice Awards Giggle

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:11:37 EST

This past weekend both Shaun White and Lisa Andersen were chosen as Choice Action Sports Male and Female respectively by an audience eager to get their braces removed at the 2007 Teen Choice awards. How this awards show became the phenomenon it's become is still lost on this writer (along with the 'High School Musical' thing too) but apparently it was a huge event with celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Steve Carrell who won for Choice TV Actor (wait what?!?!?! Teens watch 'The Office'? I smell producer tampering, which is a great segue into...), Lauren Conrad from 'The Hills', and Jason Lee showing up. The award winners were given a surfboard as a trophy and most likely a package of goods that included a plethora of Clearasil products, and Chris Hansen's chat-log. For a complete list of the nominees and winners (especially for all you NAMBLA readers out there) check the winner's list here, and for a brief recap of the award show itself go here.

HP Helps Jake Burton Spread His Wealth....Of Knowledge

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:10:37 EST

As part of a greater $300 million campaign Jake Burton, founder of Burton Snowboards, is going to collaborate with HP, formerly Hewlett-Packard, to help market the new small business aspects of HP's "What Do You Have To Say?". The campaign is intended to help small to mid-size businesses take advantage of some of HP's new printing services as well as to help open up communication between businesses themselves, which is where Burton comes in. Burton will not only be a spokesperson for the new services but also be used as a 'role model' of sorts for the small businesses HP is trying to attract. Burton will share his own experiences in building Burton Snowboards from a company born in a Vermont barn to the huge indestructable super company you are all familiar with. Kinda think of it like a technology version of those Nike Ads for Kobe awhile ago where they showed his whole workout regime and everything, but this time instead of weights you have 'product' and instead of 'dribbling' you have 'branding' (I'm not sure what would be the equivalent of 'a female hotel worker from Colorado' though). I hope that all made sense, but if it didn't you still have this press release that'll explain it better. You can also check out the Burton portion of the "What Do You Have To Say?" campaign here.

'Life of Ryan' Episode One - We Watch So You Don't Have To

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:10:21 EST

So did you watch the first episode of "Life of Ryan" (Sheckler) on MTV last night? Sure you did! But if you didn't, we did and have not only a clip of the show (below) and a gallery of screengrabs from the episodes, but we have a full recap of the episode as well. Even if you watched it, you can check out what we thought.

Longboarding Alert: 2nd Annual Roxy Jam Cardiff

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:10:01 EST

As a reminder (I'm pretty sure we'll also remind you again closer to the date) the 2nd Annual Roxy Jam at Cardiff, California will be taking place September 22nd - 23rd. It's one of the three ASP-sponsored events held in North America each year and it's a big one...SIX stars! Long considered the "stepchild of surfing" women's longboarding will have a chance to strut its stuff as the weekend event will offer a pro competition, an open-to-public amateur competition (separated into 5 categories) as well as a paddleboard race (huh?). For more details on the event check the preview here.

The $84,000 Skate Video

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:09:45 EST

Ever think the skate videos you and your friends make at home (and can upload to your Lat34 profile) aren't worth much? Well here's something that might change your mind/turn some heads/wet your pants. Contemporary artist Shaun Gladwell's 'Storm Sequence' has just sold at a Sotheby's auction in Australia for $84,000 AUD (that's about $70,000 USD). 'Storm Sequence' is a five-minute, 37-second video loop, featuring Gladwell doing skate tricks as a storm front moves in with, some might say, "the elegance of a ballet dancer". See a screen shot of 'Storm Sequence' yourself and be the judge. Read the story for more details on the auction (check halfway down). As a fan of art in general I'm not going to be one to bash this, but I have a distinct feeling you're going to see a lot of rollerbladers videotaping themselves in the midst of a tornado in 35mm to cash in on this.

Skater One-Ups Blind Surfers

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:09:20 EST

Remember that story we mentioned about the surfing instructors who took several blind teenagers out to surf? Well 14-year-old Tommy Carroll says hello. Carroll is a teen who has been blind since the age of 2, and who despite his condition has picked up the art of skateboarding at local skateparks without assistance. What Tommy does is upon entering a new skatepark he surveys the scene by walking through it then by doing a preliminary skate through. This helps him create a 'mental map' which he then uses to actually skate the park like we do (well maybe not me...you and Tommy are probably better than me). Amazing huh? And you thought memorizing your PIN number was hard (if you really find it hard you should share it with me, I'll help you memorize it...here right it down on your ATM card and pass it over here). To read more on Tommy and the process by which he skates check out the Chicago Sun Times' write up on this extrordinary kid.

Pastrana At The Rally America National Championship

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:09:05 EST

In case you were following everything Travis Pastrana does in his career here's a new tidbit to store in your scrapbook: He just finished 2nd at the Round 7 of the Rally America National Championship. Supposedly it was a tough day to be a driver as it was all dirt and chaos, but seeing as I don't know anything worthwhile about racing in all forms I'll leave it to the report to fill you in on Pastrana's day.

Community Rallies Around Injured Motocross Rider

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:08:27 EST

There's an old Hillary Clinton saying (which came from an old African saying) 'It take a village to raise a child', well in the case of Ventura, Califonia, the saying is very much alive and true. This is because residents of the city have banded together to donate about $28,000 to a fund set up for Justin Eubanks, a 17-year old kid who was seriously injured in a motocross accident last month. While the total funds needed might eventually add up to over $1 million, because of the seriousness of his injuries, it is still pretty touching that regular citizens were ready, willing, and able to pony up this type of money for a kid in their community, including in one instance a lady handing over the jackpot she won at a nearby casino. To read up on the story and hopefully warm over that cold, dark, damp heart of yours (maybe I'm projecting) go here.

'Life Of Ryan' Promises To Be A Huge Hit So Long As Teenage Girls Have Electricity

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:07:27 EST

On the eve of the premiere of 'Life Of Ryan' (a reminder of which can be found below) the Orange County Register (essentially his hometown newspaper) has done a pretty thorough profile of Ryan for what seems like an audience that might not be too familiar with the kid to bring them up to speed. The article goes through the whole thought process behind the development of the show including quotes from the producers, execs, Gretchen Sheckler, and of course the star of the show himself. Surprsingly the article offers a good amount of insight into something that has been covered a little too much maybe, including this revealing tidbit from one of the MTV execs about her view of Sheckler and more importantly the key to MTV programming in general: "Most of the people who walk in, who have a little fame, come in with a little bit of confidence and maybe some attitude. He was just a really sweet kid, and we thought, 'Oh my God, girls are gonna love this sweet kid!'" So to read the OC Register's little pregame warmup to the premiere of 'Life Of Ryan' head over here and we promise the media onslaught, along with the anxious giggling, should slow down in a few weeks.

Beastie Boys' MCA Will Skate in Tony Hawk's Proving Ground; Soundtrack Revealed

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:07:12 EST

A few days ago we lamented the inclusion of a demo for Guitar Hero III on the new Tony Hawk game. Now we might have to buy it after all to get a chance to control MCA of the Beastie Boys in the game. Yep, that's right, MCA will be the latest celebrity skater who can be unlocked (following Travis Barker, Gene Simmons and others). Not only that, it looks like he will actually be skating on the moon - check out some grabs below... At the same time that was announced, so was the soundtrack, featuring 54 songs from everyone from Foo Fighters to Silversun Pickups to The Cramps to Kittens to The Rolling Stones. Here are some of the songs: # Angels & Airwaves -- "Secret Crowds" # Bad Brains -- "Banned in DC" # Beastie Boys -- "Electric Worm" # Bloc Party -- "Version 2.0" # Dag Nasty -- "Circles" # Folk Implosion -- "Natural One" # Foo Fighters -- "The Pretender" # Jurassic 5 -- "Radio" # Nirvana -- "Breed" # Reverend Horton Heat -- "Baddest of the Bad" # Silversun Pickups -- "Well Thought Out Twinkles" # Slick Rick -- "Children's Story" # Smashing Pumpkins -- "Tarantula" # The Clash -- "Clash City Rockers" # The Cramps -- "Garbage Man" # The Rolling Stones -- "Sympathy for the Devil" # The Sex Pistols -- "Holidays in the Sun" Well, hell, looks like we'll have to buy it after all... Get all of the songs here.

Aaron Cormican Rules East Coast Championships

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:06:51 EST

So there was plenty of surfing this weekend -- you had the WCT women's event in Brazil, the WQS event in France and then the East Coast Championships in Virginia. We told you Saturday about Courtney Conlogue repeating as the women's champ on her birthday. Well, yesterday Aaron Cormican won his second iEast Coast Championship in a row as well. Cormican defeated Jadson Andre, Adam Virs and Kellen Ellison in the finals. There was also some Longboard action (won by Tony Silvagni) and a Pro Junior comp, won by Brazillian Miguel Pupo. Read more if you dare.

HOLD EVERYTHING:

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:06:31 EST

If you haven't set your Tivo to record MTV tonight at 10:30 p.m. that means one of two things -- you don't own a Tivo or you forgot that "Life of Ryan," featuring some kid named Ryan Sheckler, premieres tonight. If you're hoping for the next "Rob & Big," I think you will have to hold your breath. But if you're looking for "The Hills" featuring someone with some talent well, you might be in luck. Maybe they should call it "The San" (as in San Clemente -- get it?). We have a page set up for the show where we will track the episodes, follow reaction and basically be a shrine to all things Sheckler. You can check it out. Meanwhile, I have to go take a shower.

Soven, Wing Top Wakeboarders in WORLD

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:06:12 EST

Phillip Soven won the Men's final of the Rockstar WWA Wakeboard World Championships today, earning him the title of the world champ. Meanwhile, Dallas Friday was upset by Amber Wing, who won the women's final. Soven's younger brother, Jason, also won a title, taking the Junior Boys division (9 and under) title. In all, seven titles were handed out in a variety of divisions. Check out all the results.

Cansdell Wins Top WQS Event -- France's Rip Curl Pro Super Series

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:05:57 EST

Shaun Cansdell may already be part of the Foster's ASP World Tour -- the "elite" tour as they say -- but that doesn't mean that winning the Rip Curl pro Super Series in France wasn't special. Cansdell defeated American Dane Reynolds in the final, which earned Cansdell a $20K payout and 3500 WQS points. Reynolds was perfectly happy with his second-place finish, which earned him more than 3000 WQS points and a $10K payout. More importantly, he now has unofficially qualified for the 2008 ASP Foster's World Tour along with South African Jordy Smith. Read more about the final.

WQS: Courtney Conlogue Defeats Karina Petroni to Win 2007 East Coast Surfing Championships

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:05:41 EST

Today was a special day for Courtney Conlogue -- not only did she turn 15-years-old, but she also won the 45th Annual East Coast Surfing Championships at Virginia Beach. While turning 15 was a first, winning the East Coast Surfing Championship was not as she won the contest last year. Coming second to Conlogue in the four-woman final was US Open runner-up Karina Petroni. Read more about the final. Final Results 1 � Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.67 2 � Karina Petroni (USA) 11.50 3 � Lindsey Baldwin (USA) 9.23 4 � Quincy Davis (USA) 7.37

Cornish Wins Billabong Pro WCT

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:05:25 EST

Samantha Cornish has won her first ASP event in four years, capturing the Billabong Girls Pro Itacar� over hometown favorite Silvana Lima in Brazil today. After failing to qualify for the tour last year and only getting to compete thanks to an injury wildcard, Cornish now finds herself ranked No. 2 in the world in the ASP Women's World Tour. Stephanie GIlmore is first, thanks to her equal 3rd finish today. Chelsea Hedges, who entered the contest tied with Gilmore at the top of the tour rankings, slipped to World No. 3 after her equal 5th finish yesterday. The women's world tour continues next month with the Rip Curl Girls Festival in Spain. Read the full breakdown here. Billabong Pro Girls Itacare Final Results Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.00 def Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.10 Billabong Pro Girls Itacare Quarterfinal Semifinal Results Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 14.75 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)9.00 Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA)8.25 def Rebecca Woods (AUS)7.75 Billabong Pro Girls Itacare Quarterfinal Results Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 8.50 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 8.00 Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.00 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.40 Heat 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 17.00 def. Layne Beachley (AUS) 14.25 Heat 4: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.25 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.30

Birdhouse To Premiere 'The Beginning' All Over The Country

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:04:55 EST

Almost ten years after the amazing video 'The End' (Wow am I really that old?) Birdhouse is finally following up with its newest video 'The Beginning' (hey better than calling it something like 'Live Free, Die Hard' or 'Endless Bummer'). Though they've suffered some attrition in between (Andrew Reynolds moved over to Baker, Rick McCrank to Girl) the film still features the Birdhouse stalwarts, Tony Hawk (makes sense since he's the OWNER), Jeremy Klein, and Shaun White, as well as some upcoming AMs like Justin Figueroa, Randy Ploesser, and of course Riley Hawk (makes sense since he's the OWNER'S SON...wait why am I yelling). In celebration of the release the Birdhouse team is premiering the film throughout the country starting from Southern California in October, all the way into the Midwest in November. So if you've been patiently waiting for this film ever since you turned off 'The End', like I have, check out the premiere dates here and see if you'll be able to catch one of them near your place.

Travis Pastrana Likes To Dip His Toe Into Everything (Possibly Even Your Food)

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:04:37 EST

Despite dominating his own sport of Moto X Travis Pastrana just can't stop scratching the itch that is race car driving, and this December Pastrana is going to try to prove that he is just as adept at racing than he is at motocross. That's because Pastrana has signed up to race in 'The Race Of Champions'. Now this race isn't some lame celebrity race event, it's a race where top race car drivers from around the world come to compete on a level playing field (each participant is driving the exact same car their competitors are) to see who can win based on skills alone. Past participants in the event include NASCAR champ Jeff Gordon, seven-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, and F1 king Michael Schumacher. This year is no different as Pastrana will face the likes of NASCAR Champ Jimmy Johnson in order to be crowned "The Champion of Champions" (which is what imaginatively they call the winner). For more on the event and Pastrana's participation in it check out the official release.

Surfers Teach Blind To Surf

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:04:20 EST

In a heartwarming story (enough to put my jackass-ery on hold) out of Massachusetts, instructors from a local surf shop decided to work with a local center for the blind to help share the exhiliration of surfing to some of the center's teens. Jamie Hosker, co-owner of Brickhouse Boards, took seven teens with some type of visual impairment out for a day of surf at Good Harbor Beach. After teaching them the basics of surfing while on the shore each teen then went out into the water and did their best to cath a wave while being guided by instructors. The teens ended up catching on pretty quickly and were hooked (just check the photo out below).

Needless Deaths

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:04:03 EST

These are stories that we probably don't want to post but feel compelled to, kinda like war reports. In two separate instances a skater and a "surfer" died in accidents when they tried to combine their sport with the art of driving. In Texas Kyle Darroca was getting pulled by his friends car while on a skateboard ("skitching") when he tried to ollie a few times. According to police on his fifth attempt Kyle fell and ended up getting run over by the vehicle. In the meantime in Iowa Ron Kuhfus was "car surfing" on his way home from football practice according to reports (in reality he was most likely just sitting on the trunk of a moving car, but "car surfing" sound wayyyyyy more dramatic and action packed huh?) when he fell of and hit his head on the pavement leading to his death. While both are sad deaths it's worth note that in the story on Kyle Darroca officials offer us an idea of how one accomplishes an ollie. So in the end you still learn from tragedy. ***Update*** As a sort of epilogue read this story on one community's reaction to a recent "skitching" death. As you can already guess reactions vary quite a bit and really depend on the person's perspective on skateboarding.

Clark, Finch Win in Halfpipe at Australian Open

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:03:33 EST

The Burton Australian Open ended Saturday down under and Andy Finch and Kelly Clark took the top spots in the halfpipe competition. Finch scored a huge 91.50 in his second run and never looked back. Louie Vito was the only rider to come close, scoring an 81.25 in his second run. Mitchell Brown was third. Chas Guldemond, who won the slopestyle title on Friday, finished in 15th place. Finch took fourth in the slopstyle competition. The women's contest was much closer, with Kelly Clark edging Elizabeth Beeman by a score of 79.25 to 79/00. Juliane Bray ended up in third with a 76.50, barely ahead of Elena Hight's 76.00. Jamie Anderson, the winner of the slopestyle finals, finished in sixth. Hometown favorites Torah Bright and Holly Crawford didn't compete. For Clark and Beeman, the finishes secure their spots at the top of the TTR rankings. Final rankings following the halfpipe finals are yet to be released. For more, you can check out the official site or the TTR site Men's Halfpipe Finals - Top Five 1. Finch, Andy USA - 91.50 2. Vito, Louie USA - 81.25 3. Brown, Mitchell NZE - 77.50 4. Horgmo, Torstein NOR - 75.75 5. Kokubo, Kazuhiro JPN - 75.50 Women's Halfpipe Finals - Top Five 1. Clark, Kelly USA - 79.25 2. Beerman, Elizabeth USA - 79.00 3. Bray, Juliane NZE - 76.50 4. Hight, Elena USA - 76.00 5. Furihata, Yuki JPN - 73.75

Giants Fall At The Billabong Girl's Pro Itacare

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:02:26 EST

After a bunch of lay days action picked up at the Billabong Girl's Pro Itacare, and when we say action we mean action (though maybe not the "action" you might be thinking of). That's because of the four heats that took place, three of them, yes three of them, featured upsets. The first happened when ASP rookie Stephanie Gilmore took out 2004 ASP Champ Sofia Mulanovich, this was followed by Chelsea Hedges losing to Samantha Cornish, then finally Silvana Lima topped reigning Billabong Pro champ Layne Beachley. As they say in the NBA, the playoffs don't start until someone loses on their homecourt. Well in this case it's not really the playoffs, and there really isn't any homecourt to lose, so essentially that was a terrible analogy...but I hope you get the point. The point: things are gonna be pretty intense going into the semi-finals. To find out how everything went down, and to get a post-game interview with the winners (look I wanna try and salvage some of that NBA analogy if I can) check out the wrap up of the quarterfinals at Itacare.

Round 3 At The WQS Rip Curl Pro Super Series

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:02:09 EST

A field of 144 surfers trying to make the 2008 ASP World Tour has been cut down to 24 with Round 3 finishing up today despite conditions that weren't exactly ideal. Pros like Luc Munro and Adrian Buchan took their heat with no problem while Jordy Smith took a relaxed approach (since he had already qualified for the 2008 Tour) yet scored the highest single score of the day. For full details of the day's work check out the update.

Bob Hurley Talks Trestles

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:01:51 EST

The Boost Mobile Pro in Lower Trestles isn't the biggest contest on the Foster's ASP World Tour but it is the only contest to take place in North America which means it gets a lot of press and everyone wants to show up. Hurley signed up last year to sponsor the event (officially it's called the Boost mobile Pro Presented by Hurley) and it's back again for another go. Transworld Business Magazine has a short, but interesting, interview with Hurley CEO Bob Hurley to talk about the event which is coming up with a holding period of September 9-15. Read the interview and get enlightened.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground Battles EA's Skate by... Using Guitar Hero?

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:01:36 EST

We've been talking about EA's Skate a bunch lately (Could it be because we're giving it away? Nahhhh) but only a few scant weeks after Skate hits shelves and slips into X Box's everywhere, the next installment in Tony Hawk's video game franchise will come out. Tony Hawk's Proving Ground will come out on October 9th and guess what will be included to help sell oodles of the games? A demo of Guitar Hero III. Ah, what? That's right -- buy Tony Hawk's Proving Ground and you will get five tracks in the Guitar Hero III demo that is included (only for X Box 360). I guess the idea is that some Guitar Hero fans will go out and buy a copy of the game just to play the demo (or rent it, as this blogger suggests). My opinion -- I would not buy the game to avoid getting anything that includes "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar. Yes, that classic is one of five songs included in the demo: Lay Down (by Priestess) Even Flow (by Pearl Jam) The Metal (by Tenacious D) Hit Me with your Best Shot (by Pat Benatar) Rock You like a Hurricane (by Scorpions) The last two were actually covers, I guess. Who really cares? The guys who actually like this game, I suppose. Am I the only person in the world who thinks Guitar Hero is just the worst thing ever? Yes, I think I am.

Mary Perkins Replaced By Matt Buyten on FreestyleMX.com Tour

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:01:16 EST

FreestyleMX.com has replaced Kiwi "Scary" Mary Perkins on its current 2007 National Boost Mobile FreestyleMX.com Tour with X Games gold medalist Matt Buyten -- though to be clear it was in Step Up so it really should be more like a "Fools Gold" medal. But seriously, F.O.L. (Freind of Lat34) Perkins was injured earlier this year and according to the press release the injury was still "seriously affecting her ability to ride and to confidently perform her gravity-defying famed 'Scary' Mary jumps and high-octane tricks." Hmmm. Oh, and then there's this: "While we made every effort to have Mary Perkins continue on with us for the balance of the tour... in a reduced capacity as a featured celebrity rider just appearing to sign autographs... she felt, since she could not perform as expected... or at least at this point in time... she would prefer to immediately discontinue her participation in the tour and return home for further medical care." Ouch. That's a lot of "..." (ellipses they're called). Anyway, that was Marc Burnett, the tour organizer. So Perkins is back in New Zealand recuperating. To find out more about her (she's a world record holder, after all), check out our Girl On profile and photo gallery. We'll catch up with her soon. To check into the dates of the tour, you can check out the website or our events calendar. (it's better) Oh yeah, here's the full press release for you, too.

Roxy Offers You Culture Next Week

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:01:00 EST

In a cool little collaboration Roxy and artist Elizabeth Paige Smith are holding the first ever Roxy Studio Exhibition next Wednesday (August 29th). The exhibit will take place at the Elizabeth Paige Smith Gallery in Venice Beach, California, and will feature works from artists like Jenny Bowers, Jeff Canham, Greg Lamarche, Rob Ryan, as well as Smith herself (who is a heavy-weight herself with LACMA and MOCA shows, among others, in her catalog). The exhibit will then be capped off with a screening of Smith's film "Ritournelle". ***Mental Note*** This is a perfect date event/thingy, it shows culture, good tastes, and class. Scrap the plans you made to take her out to play video games and check out your new car stereo system. Must click on this link to find out more details about this exhibit/film premiere. ***End Of Mental Note***

Preview of NikeSB 2008

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:00:46 EST

NikeSB.org had gotten an exclusive glimpse at the early 2008 clothing line for Nike SB. If you didn't know NikeSB.org isn't an official site for Nike SB but as you can see it's got enough hook-ups with the mothership that it could offer such a sneak peak (but we're not 100% sure this was really an exclusive since most of the shots look like they were pics taken of a catalog). The collection of course includes t-shirts, jackets, hats, hoodies, and bags...I don't know if your taste matches mine but I see several things in there that made my eyes sparkle, kinda like when you spotted your first love. Awwww how sweet, now go look at the pictures.

Reminder: Forget Summer, Remember The Australian Open Of Snowboarding; Slopestyle Results

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:00:14 EST

Don't forget this weekend the Garnier Fructis (what does shampoo have to do with snowboarding?) Australian Open is gonna pop off. It's the second stop on the Burton Global Open Series and is a Ticket-To-Ride (TTR) event. If you didn't know and happened to be a redneck the TTR is like the Nextel Cup Series in NASCAR, in that it's a competition based on cumulative scores from those events participating in TTR. Thus paying attention to the Australian Open is like making sure you watch "Godfather II" so that you won't be clueless when you watch the piece of cinematic trash that is "Godfather III." It's a little tough to follow the action down under... After all, it's already Saturday there and the Slopestyle Action has all gone down. Oh well, from work tomorrow we'll check the live scoring to see who wins on the halfpipe. We suggest you stop by the TTR site to get a briefing on The Open in the meanwhile. Men's Slopestyle Finals 1. Chas Guldemond USA 2. Torstein Horgmo NOR 3. Kazuhiro Kokubo JPN 4. Andy Finch USA 5. Alessandro Boyens GER Women's Slopestyle Finals 1. Jamie Anderson USA (pictured, right) 2. Jenny Jones GBR 3. Priscilla Levac CAN 4. Claudia Fliri AUT 5 Ali Deane AUS

'Dude Where's My Car' + Surfboard = 'Endless Bummer'

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:58:54 EST

Really quick note...I just read about Hollywood filming a teen-comedy called 'Endless Bummer' about a group of teens trying to track down a stolen surfboard. It will be directed by the guy who did 'Free Willy 3', and it just recently added Matthew Lillard (of 'Scooby Doo' fame) to its cast list. Can it get any better? YES, they can add Steve Guttenberg in the cast.

Jeremy Lusk And The Globe Team On Fuel TV

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:57:21 EST

Another short reminder, tomorrow both Metal Mulisha Member Jeremy Lusk and the Globe Skate Team will be featured on Fuel TV. Lusk will be the featured guest on 'Daily Habit' which is Fuel TV's daily lifestyle show. The Globe Team will be featured on 'United By Fate: Behind The Scenes Of Episode 2' which as you can clearly read is a behind-the-scenes special on Globe's short film series 'United By Fate' which includes skaters like the legendary Rodney Mullen, Vans Invitational winner Greg Lutzka, Mark Appleyard, and Chris Haslem. For complete info and air times for both shows check out the update. AND oh yeah don't forget to catch the rebroadcasts of the Jason Lee/Chris Pastras episode of 'Daily Habit' tomorrow at 3:00 pm ET (12:00 pm PT) and 6:00 pm ET (3:00 pm PT).

Newport Beach To Host 'Young Guns 3' Screening TONIGHT

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:56:35 EST

Just a reminder: If you like seeing the night sky and surfers in the night sky don't forget that Quiksilver is going to screen its film 'Young Guns 3' at Peninsula Park next to the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, California, tonight. For more about 'Young Guns 3' go here, to see what it was like at the last 'Young Guns 3' screening at Huntington Beach go here.

Jennifer Aniston + Courtney Cox + Surfboards = Bikinis + Awkward Poses

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:55:36 EST

Seems like paparazzi have caught friends (pun intended) Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox holidaying in Hawaii where they took up the sport of surfing and paddle-surfing. If you're wondering why the hell we're even mentioning this read the headline again, and if you still don't understand read it again, especially the part after the equal sign. Get it? Well fine then don't look at the following picture or these other ones

Hurley To Premiere 'Sound & Vision: Volume 1' To Worldwide Audience

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:55:07 EST

Though it's billed by Hurley as the world's largest surf film premiere in history (and they're technically right) it probably isn't. That's because the premiere for the first volume in the 'Sound & Vision' short film series is going to be packaged into the live webcast of the Boost Mobile Pro starting September 9th, which is expected to have around 300,000 viewers. Not to say that the film won't have a traditional premiere too... it will, in the form of ten satellite viewing events around the country. The 'Sound & Vision' series is meant to be a series of short films documenting the life of different Hurley pros, from Tim Curran, to Rob Machado. First up in the series is Yadin Nicol. For more info on the series, specifically Volume 1, head over here.

Baltimore Discovers That Skaters, Like Humans, Prefer Variety

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:54:16 EST

It used to be conventional wisdom that if you were gonna build a skatepark it would by default include things like transitions, bowls, ramps, and maybe even a mini-ramp. But as the city of Baltimore is figuring out, that's not necessarily what the skaters want. Inspired by the Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza in Kettering, Ohio, skaters in the Baltimore area are demanding a more street-based skatepark featuring the stuff that skaters skate which in any other setting would cause them to get in trouble by "the Man". The Baltimore Sun has thus written a great article dealing with the issue, including some interesting tidbits about the opposition, by skaters, one county faced when they planned to build a skate park for the same skaters. Seriously read the story it's pretty good...not in the lame way a newspaper article can be when it covers such a thing (except in one line they mention ramps and jumps, but that's excusable).

Aussie Duo Surfs All 50 States. USA! USA! USA!

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:53:50 EST

The AP has a cool little story about 2 Australians surfers who got creative with their plans to travel through My-Country-'Tis-Of-Thee. Instead of doing the normal thing and getting slapped by their fathers in a station wagon these guys decided to try to surf in ALL 50 states of the Union. What about the states with no surf you say? Well they would try to surf anything, usually something the state is famous for, which included cornfields in Nebraska, the 'Rocky' steps in Philadelphia, and a screening of the 'Wizard Of Oz' in Kansas. The trip was also funded mostly by the kindness of each state's residents, as well as Hurley which offered them a free ice cream truck to use as well as 800 shirts to sell for disposable cash. For the whole story, including other examples of their more unique instances of surfing a state check the AP article here then see if you could name me the 6 states of Australia.

Bula Presents Freeskiing's Cannes

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:41:41 EST

For most action sports the lifeblood is the film/video. In it you get to truly see the best and usually the biggest out of each athlete. Freeskiing is no different. So it's no surprise to hear that Bula, the largest manufacturer of winter snow accessories in North America, will present the International Freeski Film Festival (IF3) from September 13th to 15th in Montreal, the surprise comes from the fact that it will be just the first of its kind. The festival will screen films that feature freeskiiers like Tanner Hall, Simont Dumont, JP Auclair, and Victoria Jealouse. But the festival isn't just about screenings, there will also be autograph signings, parties, and of course the awards ceremony which includes categories like "Best Handjob" (don't get any dirty ideas just yet...the award is for best camera work). For full details of the event as well as the films that will be playing check out the event preview.

EA Skate Demo Is Up And Running

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:56:23 EST

First off: Did anyone tell you that Lat34 is running an 'EA Skate' contest where the winner will get an XBox 360, a copy of EA Skate, and a Chris Cole deck? Well if they didn't then: Hey! Lat34 is running an 'EA Skate' contest where the winner will get an XBox 360, a copy of EA Skate, and a Chris Cole deck! Now on to what's really at hand...EA has finally released its demo for 'Skate' on XBox 360 through the XBox Live Marketplace. The 1.1 GB (so get ready to read a book while it's downloading kids) Demo will give gamers a chance to adapt to the new Flickit trick system that is integral to the gameplay for skate and which EA hopes will set itself apart from 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater' franchise. More on the release of the demo can be found here and a review of the actual demo can be found here.

Oh Yeah And There Was That Thing Too: Snowboarding At The AST Vans Invitational

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:56:08 EST

Hidden in all the commotion that was the Vans Invitational this past week was the fact that beyond Skate, BMX, and Moto X, there was actually a snowboarding rail jam competition at Portland (Mt. Hood to be exact). The winner was Jonas Michelot who faced a field of mostly up-and-coming riders to take the top prize, the details of which can be read here.

As If You Didn't Know By Now: The X Games Are Big

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:55:38 EST

According to Active Mail Ordera press release from ESPN, X Games 13 was not only the most watched X Games ever on television it was also its own small media empire, as it posted record high page views for EXPN.com as well as ESPN360.com as well as all the other digital media it was offered on. As mentioned in an earlier story X Games 13 coverage included Television, Interactive Television, Mobile Media, Digital Media (via iTunes), and Online Content...all intended for you to get as many shots of Shaun White as you could, and apparently it succeeded.

X Games 13 With Makes Ratings History

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:33:01 EST

The success of X Games 13, held in Los Angeles August 2 - 5, reflects the evolving ways that fans engage in action sports today and were a success across television, online and mobile media across the globe. EXPN.com (ESPN.com's action sports hub) recorded its most overall traffic ever for an X Games with first time live webcasts as well as fan voting for competition. Telecasts of X Games 13 on ESPN delivered the most-viewed X Games ever among Households and Men 12-17, 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. ESPN's prime time telecasts were up 35% compared to 2006 among M12-17. "Once again the best action sports athletes in the world came to X Games and provided fans around the world with remarkable performances", said Rick Alessandri, Managing Director, X Games Franchise. "And the fans responded in record numbers across ESPN's global multi-media platforms", added Alessandri. For the rest of the story check the site....

FMX: Adam Jones Tops Nate Adams in Portland

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:54:40 EST

The FMX finals closed out the Vans Invitational on Sunday in Portland, OR, and Adam Jones followed his win at X Games 13 with another win over Nate Adams. Adams set the bar high with his first run of 90.83 but Jones bettered that with a 91.17. That was good enough to secure the win as Adams couldn't top that with his second run. More details to come! FMX - FINAL RESULTS 1st Jones, Adam 91.17 2nd Adams, Nate 90.83 3rd Mason, Mike 89.57 4th Bamburg, Beau 88.67 5th Stenberg, Jeremy 88.17 6th Lusk, Jeremy 88.00 7th Fullmer, Wiley 86.67 8th Rebeaud, Mathieu 85.33 9th Miller, Dustin 83.33 10th Richmond, Myles 82.00

Surfers Find Great Tow In Waves, Mother Nature Weeps

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:54:19 EST

In the Spike Lee film "Inside Man" Jodi Foster speaks of an old saying: "When there's blood on the streets buy property". Well it seems some surfers took the spirit of that message to heart as they've become the first known surfers to have surfed the waves caused by crumbling glaciers. Garrett McNamara and Kealii Mamala made the trek to Alaska in order to take advantage of the huge waves caused by the breaking of glaciers, a feat which they videotaped and then posted on youtube. The surfing itself is pretty amazing (check the footage below) with McNamara actually fearing for his life prior to getting towed into the wave by Mamala, but one has to wonder if it's as equally sad, see the phenomena of crumbling glaciers have been a result of global warming according to scientists. So while the bigger picture is one of tragedy the surfers have focused on the smaller picture that relates to them. For more on the actual story check the news report.

Man Has A Breathtaking Experience With Red Bull No Contest

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:53:37 EST

After drinking 8 Red Bulls within the span of 5 days an Australian man felt something funny happen: his heart stopped. Matthew Penbross was competing in a Motorcross event when the incident happened, leading ambulance officers to use a defibrillator on Penbross. Now Penbross is asking Red Bull to have a more detailed warning label on each can. Currently warning labels warn against excessive consumption but Penbross is looking to have them include more detailed possible consequences kinda like those medication commercials that warn of possible low blood pressure and diarrhea. To read more on Penbross and his adventures in Caffeineland check out the full story.

Skateboarders Involved In Hot Springs Incident Plead No Contest

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:53:09 EST

As an update to a story we have been following previously, the two Hot Springs skateboarders who were victims of the excessive use of force by a Hot Springs Community Services officer... I mean involved in a videotaped struggle with a community police officer during Go Skateboard Day, June 21st, have pled no contest to the misdemeanor charges brought to them. The two will get have to pay fines and do community service as punishment for their offence. Meanwhile the officer's involvement has been deemed to have used a proper amount of force in the incident, which can be seen here...oops I mean here. Details regarding the punishment can be found here.

Mike Spinner is BMX Park Champ in Portland

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:52:45 EST

Mike Spinner has finally done it -- after breaking out in a big way last year in Portland at the Freeflow tour (which took place at the same time and location as the Vans Invitational) he came back one year later to win BMX Park after some close calls. In doing so he knocks off Daniel Dhers, who had won three contests in a row (dating back to last year). More to come soon, including photos and more! Check out our full Dew tour coverage...

Dennis Enarson Tops BMX Dirt at Vans Invitational

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:52:18 EST

Dennis Enarson came virtually out of nowhere to claim a win on the AST Dew Tour in only his third event. The 16 year old Enarson didn't compete in the Dew Tour last year and made waves at the Panasonic Open where he finished in 3rd in BMX Park (he didn't make the finals in Dirt). At last month's Right Guard Open, he again missed the finals in Dirt while finishing 10th in Park. So to see Enarson totally dominate the competition was a bit of a surprise, but dominate he did, scoring in the 90s for each of his runs. Included in those runs, a variety of whips including two triple whips, two double whip 360s and more. Diogo Carina, 24, of Brazil, ended up in second despute running into some problems with his rear wheel before his third run. His tricks included a no-handed frontflip and a first-in-competition opposite double tailwhip. Last year's Dew Cup winner Anthony Napolitan stepped up for the first time this season, landing several new tricks and ending up in third. Two riders, TJ Ellis and Ryan Guettler, performed double backflips, the trick that Stephen Murray crashed attempting in Baltimore during the Panasonic Open. Ellis ended up in fourth while Guettler ended up in sixth, partially due to crashing during his final run while trying another double backflip. Ryan Nyquist, the dirt champ at the first two stops of the Dew Tour, finished in fith place. Morgan Wade, who led the qualifiers on Thursday, ended up in 12th place. BMX Dirt Final Results 1st Enarson, Dennis 93.17 2nd Canina, Diogo 92.92 3rd Napolitan, Anthony 92.00 4th Ellis, TJ 91.42 5th Nyquist, Ryan 90.84 6th Guettler, Ryan 90.17 7th Doyle, Chris 89.00 8th Nastazio, Cory 88.25 9th Mackay, Colin 88.17 10th Foster, James 85.84 11th Bohan, Corey 84.67 12th Wade, Morgan 82.83

Lutzka Wins Skate Park; Sheckler Second in Portland

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:51:48 EST

Ryan Sheckler was clear back in June as the AST Dew Tour kicked off in Baltimore: he wanted to win all five Dew Tour stops after winning three of five the past two years. After Friday's Skate Park finals in Portland's Vans Invitational, the best he can hope for is four out of five as Greg Lutzka edged Sheckler for the top spot. Fabrizio Santos was third. It's not only Lutzka's second Dew Tour victory, but also his second at the Vans Invitational, where he won in 2005. Lutzka has placed second at three Dew Tour events, including this year's Panasonic Open, so a win was possible, but still unexpected as Sheckler has been so dominant in the event this season. True, Sheckler did have a poor performance at X Games 13 only a couple of weeks ago, ending up in fourth while Lutzka was a close second to Chris Cole, but Sheckler's strong showing at the prelims Thursday made it seem like he was in pretty good shape to repeat. Through the opening runs, Sheckler seemed well in control. His strength is the jam session that follows the individual runs but he fell several times while Lutzka was strong and consistent, scoring a 95.50 in the final Jam for an overall score of 90.67. Sheckler's final score was an 89.83, giving Lutzka the win. After the loss, Sheckler didn't seem to take it well, reportedly refusing to talk to the media and "running away from Dew Tour staff," according to a report on OregonLive.com. He left in a minivan, his MTV TV crew following close behind. Even with the loss Sheckler holds a commanding lead in the race for the Dew Cup, 275 points to Lutzka's 218. If Sheckler is healthy and takes part in the next two events, Lutzka must win those events outright and hope that Sheckler finishes worse than second in at least one of them. Any other result means Sheckler is pretty likely to win the Dew Cup for Skate Park for the third consecutive year in a row. Check out our full Dew tour coverage....

Bestwick Tops Tabron in BMX Vert Finals

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:51:25 EST

Simon Tabron came close for winning his second AST Dew Tour stop in a row but Jamie Bestwick saved the best for last, winning the BMX Vert finals in Portland at the Vans Invitational with his final run scoring a towering 94.67, bypassing Tabron's 92.67. Kevin Robinson came in third with a 92.00 on his second run, followed by Steven McCann and his 90.83. Jay Eggleston rounded out the top five with an 89.17. Bestwick was determined to win this event after finishing a distant 7th at the Right Guard Open in Cleveland last month. "I wanted it really bad tonight and I think I put a little bit too much pressure on myself on that first run," Bestwick said after the win. "It took one run for me to realize just to stop being such an idiot and just get on with having a good time with riding." Whereas Bestwick fell on his first run, Tabron nailed his, putting down the 92.67. Tabron chose to play it safe with his second run, hoping Bestwick wouldn't come through. However, Bestwick had no trouble and his second run was smooth and jammed with tricks like an ally-oop tailwhip, flair turndown and a tailwhip flair. After the run Tabron and Robinson greeted Bestwick and waited for the score, knowing that he was going to have a big score. In Portland the vert ramp was located inside the Rose Garden and Bestwick received a rose along with his Vans Invitational trophy. The first two Dew Tour stops had outdoor ramps, which meant that weather played a pivitol role in the competitions. With the win Bestwick holds a 30 point win in the Dew Cup race ahead of Simon Tabron. Check out our full Dew tour coverage....

THIS JUST IN: Shaun White Wins Vert in Portland

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:50:03 EST

Shaun White has won his third AST Dew Tour event in a row, taking the Skate Vert title at the Vans Invitational in Portland today. More details to come soon, including photos and full results. Check out our full Dew tour coverage....

Quiksilver And Roxy Camps To Host

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:49:19 EST

In a bit of info that is sure to bring a smile to your face (except probably Rupert Murdoch's) children from chapters of the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, The Make-a-Wish Foundation, Woodcraft Rangers and various autism organizations will have a chance to hit the waves in a memorable day of surfing courtesy of the Quiksilver family of surf camps tomorrow, August 18th. The event is intended to help introduce disadvantaged kids to the enjoyment of surfing, or in the (better) words of Kathie Amrstrong, Executive Director of the Quiksilver Foundation: "The empowerment and personal achievement of standing up on a surfboard is something most of us take for granted in the surfing industry. But the benefits and joy of surfing cannot be underestimated. It is exciting that the QS Foundation can help to sponsor this one day where disadvantaged kids can participate in the life-changing experience of surfing in our Quiksilver and Roxy camps across the country." Bravo Quiksilver. For more information on the event and contact information for some of the camps involved head over here.

DC Teams With Moto X Athletes To Launch Line

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:47:53 EST

Despite all the dirt and dust they kick up during competition Moto X athletes also wanna stay fresh to death like the rest of us. So in that light DC has teamed up with their Moto X riders (specifically Travis Pastrana, Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael and Nate Adams) to come out with a new line of gear personally designed by the riders themselves under the DC TeamWorks banner. Each athlete will have a hat, shoe, and shirt with a matching color scheme so in case you really wanna be like these guys (maybe to the point of obsession?) you can wear the whole set together, as opposed to separately so that you wouldn't look like such a fanboy. For more info about the line as well as the whole TeamWorks project itself go here.

Fuel TV Programming Update For This Weekend

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:46:10 EST

Another day (or weekend that is), another Fuel TV update. This time surfer Dave Rastovich will be on "Firsthand" (airing Sunday at 8:00 EST) letting the camera get up-close and personal with him in his own setting, while Matt Kechele will be on "Daily Habit" (airing August 20th at 9:00 EST) to talk shop. For full airtimes and more details check the press release.

Sloppy Thirds At The Sooruz Lacanau Pro

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:45:44 EST

As they say with every good comes a bad. After a day of great conditions for round 2 the third round featured rough conditions that led to the officials calling the round off after heat 16. That's not to say that the day was uneventful though: CJ Hobgood won his heat, Dayyan Neve scored a 9 to win his heat, and Jeremy Flores made a forceful return.

DC Launches Moto Teamworks Collection To Honor Motocross Athletes

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:28:19 EST

DC is proud to present its first-ever DC Moto TeamWorks collection, a personality-based footwear collaboration built to honor four of DC�s elite motocross athletes. DC Team Riders Travis Pastrana, Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath and Nate Adams each worked with DC in the creation of their own customized TeamWorks collection pack that include a pair of shoes, T-shirt and hat. The riders were involved in all aspects of the design process by handpicking the shoe model, patterns, designs, materials, colors and details to suit their individual styles. �When developing the Moto TeamWorks collection, the main concept was to create something as a celebration to the guys and all their accomplishments,� said Ken Block, DC Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer. �Ricky, Travis, Jeremy and Nate have had overwhelming influence in the direction of motocross, and have set the standards for all aspects of it today. DC is very proud of all of our athletes, and it is great to be able to give something unique back to them.� Travis is considered one of the greatest motocross athletes to date. He has single-handedly progressed freestyle motocross by inventing almost every variation of a backflip trick performed today, including the infamous double backflip that earned him the Gold at X Games 12 and recently an ESPY for �Best Male Action Sports Athlete.� As if that weren�t enough, Travis is an amazing rally car driver, taking 1st in the 2006 Rally America National Championship, plus for kicks he enjoys racing cross-country moto and monster trucks. He is the definition of a versatile rider, and It only seemed fitting for Travis choose the Versatile shoe model when creating his collection. For more of the story go to the site...

Dave Rastovich Stars In FUEL TV's Original Series "Firsthand"

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:27:44 EST

Airing Sunday, August 19, at 8:00pm Eastern Time (5:00pm Pacific Time), and re-airing another 12 times during the week, pro surfer Dave Rastovich stars in FUEL TV's signature 30-minute series "Firsthand." As a professional free surfer, Rastovich is a new breed of athlete who earns his pay not by competing, but rather by traveling to surf the world. Experience the life of this introspective regular foot from Australia's east coast. Also, check out Dave's ocean activism, filmmaking, music, and flowing style of surfing from the land of sand bottom right hand point breaks. And of course, get to know "Rasta" in this episode of Firsthand. For more of the programming update head to the site...

2007 Vans Invitational Skate Vert

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:26:47 EST

Determined to prove he�s as serious about his skateboarding career as he�s been about snowboarding, Shaun White showed up in Portland ready to continue the AST Dew Tour streak he started in Baltimore back in June and carried through to Cleveland in July. Fresh off of yet another win in Los Angeles at X Games 13 earlier this month, White dominated Skate Vert Prelims at the Vans Invitational for the third stop on the 2007 Dew Tour, heading into his second run with the win already sealed and then improving his first place score of 85.25 by boosting it all the way up to a 90.00. Commentators like Dave Duncan can�t help saying things like �Shaun White is on fire,� and not just because of his famous red hair or his current winning streak. The most accurate word to describe White�s allure is �Amplitude�. From the first hit to the last, every time he drops in, whether in practice or in competition, White is skating harder, pushing higher, spinning faster, and pulling more technical flip tricks than anyone else. More importantly � and more noticeably � White is having a tremendous amount of fun, and the roars inside the Rose Quarter during his runs are evidence that his fun is infectious. Head to the site for the full report and results

2007 Vans Invitational BMX Vert Report

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:25:37 EST

The Vert ranks have been populated with pretty much the same faces over the last few years, but on the Dew Tour in 2007, that's changing. A handful of new entrants are spicing things up, and they're full of surprises since they're working so hard to establish themselves on the circuit. That was evident right off the bat in Thursday's Vert Prelims, when Brian Cunningham dropped in and threw an opposite flair, barspin to barspin back, and even came close to pulling a 540 tailwhip, which only a few of the most elite Vert riders have pulled in the past. Austin Coleman was up next, and he unveiled a double downside whip, which has never been pulled in Vert competition before. Jorge Jovel kept it rolling with a new superman to tailwhip and a string of flairs but, like Cunningham, couldn't put it all together to make the cut. Check the site for the full story plus results....

2007 Vans Invitational Skate Park Report

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:24:32 EST

Greg Lutzka, Austen Seaholm, and Wagner Ramos are pushing themselves hard to progress their own skating this year, each hoping to end the winning streak Ryan Sheckler has maintained on the AST Dew Tour for the last two years and on the first two stops of the 2007 Tour. Lutzka came closest in Vans Invitational Skate Park Prelims, nailing tricks like a tre flip and a huge frontside kickflip 270 over the hip. Seaholm�s tech wizardry brought him close too, with bafflingly complex combos like a nose manual g-turn to frontside rock-and-roll and an attempted frontside flip late flip that might have done the trick if he�d made it. Yet once again, Sheckler held the day. Sheckler�s first run score of 90.25 beat Lutzka and Seaholm by nearly five points, much to the delight of his screaming fans. The recent debut of the trailer for his new MTV reality skate soap Life of Ryan has Sheckler�s screaming fans out in even heavier force than ever before, and they vocally showed their sentiments when he ended up not taking his second run, apparently because of an injury sustained in the one minor mishap in his first run. Thinking a few steps ahead of himself as he approached a quarterpipe, Sheckler miscalculated and edged off the side of the ramp. The fall didn�t keep him from nailing the biggest trick of the night, a massive frontside kickflip transfer over a huge hip gap he�d been working on in practice all day, but he ducked out before his final run. For the full report and results check the site

'Life Of Ryan' (Sheckler That Is) Trailer Is Up

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:44:10 EST

Uh oh...teenage girls around the country are about to put their Tivo to work soon. That's because MTV is this close to premiering its Ryan Sheckler reality show, "Life Of Ryan". Come 10:30 EST August 27th it'll be like the kickoff to the Superbowl for girls that are into skateboarding. In the meantime they can hold themselves over with the trailer MTV just released for the show which features family drama, girlfriend drama, a possible prom (?), and of course Ryan with no shirt on. Props to Ryan though 'cause if I coulda lived it like he lives it I swear to God I woulda. Oh I swear. BTW, we posted the trailer from You Tube below -- MTV may get it shut off so if it doesn't work, go ahead and see it on their site.

Square One Commercial Featuring Dennis Enarson

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:43:48 EST

In preparation for the Vans Invitational (part of the AST Dew Tour) this weekend where he'll be competing in BMX Park Dennis Enarson has released some footage as a commercial for his sponsor Square One. This'll definitely be something you wanna watch if you've been keeping an eye out for him since his 3rd place finish at this years Panasonic Open, now if you're keeping an eye out for him for other reasons you might wanna do something else.

US Snowboarding Names 2008 Team. USA! USA! USA!

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:42:21 EST

Remember when you used to play dodgeball in Elementary School and you would line up with the rest of the players to get chosen by the team captains? Well US Snowboarding just played the role of team captain in releasing its 2008 roster. Peter Foley will assume the position of head coach (aka the guy that yells at you telling you where to go therefore making the game of handball un-fun) while the halfpipe lineup will include heavy hitters like Scotty Lago, Tommy Czeschin, and Louie Vito on the men's side and Gretchen Bleiler (pictured), Molly Aguirre, and Hannah Teter on the women's side. First up for the team, the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup Event in Cardrona, New Zealand from August 31st to September 1st. For full details including full rosters for the Halfpipe, SBX, and Alpine teams check the US Snowboarding website link. For full details on my various dodgeball experiences check my tear stained diary.

Round 2 At Sooruz Lacanau Pro Finished

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:41:45 EST

For all you surfing fans, the pros from Europe wanna say hello in a big way over at the Sooruz Lacanau Pro in France. Round 2 saw the surfers take full advantage of the clear conditions with 48 heats going off for the day. Notables who made their mark include TJ Barron (who scored higher than 14), current ASP European Tour leader Eneko Acero, and 16 year-old Charlie Martin. In terms of upsets Darren O'Rafferty, who had previously made it to the quarterfinals at Newquay, was sent home early. Get the full details of the busy day of action here.

BMX's 'King Of New York' Contest

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:41:06 EST

Following in the footsteps of Abel Ferrara's film "King Of New York", BMX's "King Of New YorK" contest is returning to the Bronx on September 1st looking to crown the best of the city's "underground riders". The contest will be split up into Amateur and Pro classes with open entry for both, though the prizes will differ. So if you've been spending most of your time sessioning in your backyard or at neighborhood spots its about time to take your talents public and sign up for the event. It could be your chance to be the next Clay Aiken...alright bad comparison...how about the next Justin Guarini....ahhh forget the comparisons just check the link for more event details . Also see clips from the 2006 KONY contest check the youtube footage.

Sheckler, Pastrana, Nyquist Have Fathead

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:39:41 EST

If you watch any traditional sports you have probably seen a cheesy ad for Fathead, the company that makes huge posters of athletes for kids and fans. Usually it's of a football player or basketball player in action -- something that can be slapped on to your wall and stand out (and we mean stand out -- we're talking seven feet high, here!). Anyway, Fathead is getting into action (aka X-Treme) sports in a big way, with Fatheads now available for Ryan Sheckler, Travis Pastrana (2 models), Dave Mirra, Ryan Nyquist and Chad Reed (with surf and snow to come). It's actually about time that the company embraced some of the bigger names in the industry. Sheckler seems an obvious choice but there are tons more out there of interest. "Fatheads are very popular in the sports world so it is an honor to be among the first few Action Sports athletes to have one. I'm really looking forward to being a part of the team," Sheckler said in a generic statement to accompany the announcment. It's not completely obviohard to tell, but the photo of him doesn't look that recent. Check out a press release and then visit the site to see them for yourself. You can even see how they look in their room (we want to know how they will look in the Lat34 offices). We've pasted the Sheckler one below. Unfortunately, it's only like four feet square. What we'd give for a seven-foot high image of Sheckles... Oh, and by the way each one will set you back about $90 and "Action Sports Fatheads are printed in limited quantities, so order today for guaranteed delivery."

It's Official: 'Cincinnati' Canceled; Some People Care

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:38:55 EST

So it's official: HBO has canceled "John From Cincinnati." Surprisingly, there is at least one TV Critic who cares. And on the heels of that story we had yesterday about the www.petitiononline.com website, lo and behold here's another: Save John From Cincinnati -- now with more than 520 signatures and growing. The show didn't reach one million viewers in its final episode so with numbers like that, that petition would need to be pretty darned successful to make an impact. The series featured pro surfer Keala Kennelly in a featured role (in fact, a shot of her surfing -- an all too rare scene -- closed out the show). To read Lat34's Review of "John From Cincinnati" from 3 pros check this link. They liked it well enough, but that was only three episodes...

superFishal Introduces Custom Deck Designs

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:38:32 EST

From Individual Sole: Each season superFishal (Artist Jeremy Fish's Company) will introduce a new series of three collaborative board graphics. The boards are screen printed in limited quantities. The idea is to take two artists along with their different styles and mash them up together. Part of the upcoming Fall collection from superFishal.

The 2008 Women's Pipeline Pro in Doubt?

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:36:55 EST

The Women's Pipeline Pro has been around for only three years and has been trying to develop into a major competition for the WQS but its 2008 edition is in doubt now that the City and County of Honolulu has denied an application to use Ehukai Beach Park and Pipeline for the contest next March. "From the beginning of the fall surf season in Hawaii I'm always trying to surf the spots that resemble Pipe in hopes of being ready when the Pipe contest starts," Alana Blanchard, two-time Pipeline Champion, said about the decision. "I was hoping that the Pipeline Pro would become at least a 4 star WQS event for next year so that more of the touring pros would come to it, which they would." There are very few women's surf events in Hawaii and even fewer allow many local pros to compete (the Pipeline contest was open to all women). Event organizer Betty Depolito is hoping to get a new event set up at Sunset Beach in April of 2008 and have Pipeline return in 2009. Read more about it here.

Shaun White Has Been Abducted By Target

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:36:12 EST

Okay, maybe abducted isn't the right word. Maybe I have been seeing too many ads for that new movie "The Invasion" but look at this official photo from Target for Shaun White. Do. Not. Show. Emotion. Actually, Shaun, Kevin Robinson and Mat Hoffman and some other dudes were in Minneapolis for a Target demo on Monday and Shaun looked fairly normal. So maybe he's still Shaun. But that photo... Click here to hear Shaun talking about the joys of Target and check out some photos from Flickr.

Rush HD To Air Singapore Metro BMX Jam

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:35:39 EST

The Metro BMX Jam went down just a few months ago in Singapore featuring riders like Allan Cooke, Dave Mirra, and overall winner Morgan Wade fighting it out on a unique course for $20,000. Old news right? Well think again my friend because Rush HD is airing the contest IN HIGH DEFINITION starting today. The airdates will be staggered according to the stages of the contest with the August 14th show being a pre-game like set up for the contest, then the prelims being aired on September 7th, and the finals premiering September 14th. What this means is beyond being able to see the actual pores from which the athlete's sweat comes from, you'll actually be able to get the full scope of what a real BMX contest looks like. That's not to say that you can't actually decide to hold a top-notch BMX contest in your backyard just so you get the full scope of what a real BMX contest looks like, because you can if you try hard enough.

Headlines: Vans, Kite Surfing, Surfing Surfing and RV vs. Skateboarding Girl (RV Wins)

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:35:02 EST

We haven't done headlines in awhile -- not because there haven't been any, but mainly because we've been trying to do it all ourselves. Sigh. Sometimes we get busy. * Vans is feeling generous to Portland now that the Vans Invitational stop of the AST Dew Tour is here... * Also in Oregon, Kite Surfers are complaining about the mysterious "river nose" ailment on the Columbia River. But then again, we're talking about Kite Surfers so who really cares? * Skateboarding dogs are so over. Now surfing dogs, that's more like it... * Surfing in Iceland. Con: Yeah, it's cold. Pro: Don't need to bring a cooler for the beer. * Leave it to surfers to think a statue honoring surfing is lame. But to be honest, it is. * We've all heard of skateboarders getting hit by cars, but for a girl to get pinned under a RV tire?. That's a new one to us.

Free Screening in LA: 'Pray For Me: The Jason Jessee Film'

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:34:08 EST

The Lat34 X-Dance Film Festival Hollywood screening series is back after a month hiatus with the documentary "Pray For Me: The Jason Jessee Film" coming next Tuesday, August 21, to Cinespace in Hollywood. The film follows the wild ride that is the life of Jason Jessee -- former skate pro, chopper builder, even waiter -- Jessee has seen many highs and lows in his crazy life. Directors David Rogerson and Steve Nemsick won the Best Aspiring Director award at the 2007 Lat34 X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival for the film and Rogerson will be in attendance for a Q&A. We have our own Q&A with the directors here. You can also check out a 2006 interview with Jessee himself here. The doors will open at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at 8 p.m. Here's the address: CINESPACE 6356 Hollywood Blvd (@ Ivar) Hollywood, CA 323.817.FILM For more info check out the X-Dance website.

We Love Petitions: Cops vs. Skateboarders in Arkansas -- the Latest

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:32:53 EST

There hasn't been much news coming out from that Go Skateboarding Day incident in which a police officer was caught on tape using what appeared to be excessive force on skateboarders. While he was cleared of any wrongdoing the skaters were actually facing trial for their part. Some intrepid netizen is unwilling to let the police officer (one Joey Williams) off without a fight and set up an online petition that has a goal that the "Hot Springs Police Department re-investigate the actions of Officer Joey Williams, and to hold him to a fair and fully accountable investigative trial." Jason C. Waite set up the petition and if that name sounds familiar, it's because he was previously featured in a protest held in favor of the skaters. (You can read about that protest here). As he's spread word about the petition online, Waite has gotten plenty of opposition in message boards but he's gotten more than 330 signatures online -- though not all off the signatures are actually supporting the petition ("Officer Williams - GOOD JOB!" among the tamer entries). But a majority of the signatures appear to support the petition. Click here to check out the petition for yourself. As a side note, the website www.petitiononline.com is set up as a place where people can set up any online they'd petition they'd like. It's worth a look to get a good laugh or two. Some of the gems: A petition to "Remake Final Fantasy 7" (13000+ signatures); a petition to have Julian McMahon be the next 007 (500 signatures); and a petition to keep Chipotle open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (1000+ signatures) that adds, "Also, a lounge with beanbags would be nice." I've got a few ideas for petitions myself, now that you bring it up....

X Games Highlights from LevisBMX

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:32:21 EST

LevisBMX.com wanted to celebrate some good showings from its athletes at X Games 13 so they put together some cool video featuring bronze medalist Anthony Napolitan in action in BMX Big Air and Jamie Bestwick's huge gold-medal winning run in BMX Vert. Only problem -- no Morgan Wade. Sniff. Still -- check it out below.

Kiwi Mitch Brown Takes Men's Halfpipe; Torah Bright Takes Women's at New Zealand Open

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:31:51 EST

It took awhile but the 2007 New Zealand Open was able to finish up on Sunday (NZ Time) after poor conditions caused the cancellation of the the Slopestyle finals and postponed action from Saturday. Local Mitch Brown came through with a surprise win with American Scotty Lago coming in second. Japan's Ryo Aono came up third. Slopestyle champ (based on the semi results) Mason Aguirre couldn't break into the top 10, ending up at No. 14. For the women, Torah Bright and Kelly Clark fought for the top spot with Bright coming away on top with a score of 88.00 to Clark's 87.25. Swiss boarder Manuela Laura Pesko ended up a distant third with a 77.00. Men's winner Brown saw his sister Kendall Brown end up in 7th. When the finals began weather was mild, but then for the second run conditions began to echo yesterday's near blizzard-like weather. Riders voted and a third run was held with mixed conditions. You can read more about the final here, including Quarterpipe Jam results, won by Kelly Clark. Coming up next for many of the same athletes is the Australian Open, taking place August 21 through August 26 at the Perisher Blue Ski Resort in New South Wales in Australia. Check out the official site. The NZO was the first event of the Burton Global Open Series for 2008, which will have six total events this season. The top woman and male athlete for the tour will win $100,000 -- Torah Bright won for the women last year and he win today sets her up with a good start this season. Get more on Burton Global Open Series.

Stephen Murray Update: The Latest From Denver

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:30:50 EST

After a little while with no word from Stephen's family, brother Martin has posted an update of Stephen's condition on BMXTalk.com: Sorry it has taken so long to do an update on Stephen. I know a lot of people have concerned about the lack of updates, but his condtion has been changing so much that i wanted to make sure he was more stable before we could let people know how his condition, as the updates quickly become out of date. So, the biggest bonus of all is that he is really mentally strong and in good spirits. He is positive about everything and like he told me yesterday 'its the only way to be". This could be the biggest healer of all. Two weeks ago, he could only manage 4 minutes off the ventilator (life support machine). On thursday, he managed two 2 hours 'weans' off the ventilator so he is improving at a good rate on that front. The hospital are optimistic of getting stephen completely off the ventilator, its just going to take some time, maybe 4 - 8 weeks. Getting off this and being able to breathe on his own will make a lot of difference to his rehab ability. A few times a day they are able to adust his ventilator, allowing him to talk and communicate. This tires him out though so is there are only limited periods (1-2 hours) in the day when he can do this, although again as he becomes stronger this window will grow, as it has done from 20 minutes to 2 hours over the last 2 weeks. He has very patchy sensation across various parts of his body, some parts of his arms, stomach and feet. He says this feels like a numb sensation and i'm sure this can only be a good sign. As for movement, he can shrug his shoulders consistently. Sometimes, he is able to very slightly move his knees inwards about an inch, although this takes about 30 secs from the time he thinks about moving his knees, to the movemet actually happening. Some days he is able to do this, some days he isn't but it can only be a positive sign. His spirits are lifted by not only the great rehab team who work with him everyday, but by the friends and family who have been visiting. Stephens wife Melissa brought his little boy Mason out to see him and he just loves having him around. Some of Stephens other friends, Dale Holmes, TJ, Fuzzy, Scurto and Nasty have been out visiting which again has been a nice lift for him. As those of you who know him will know, everything always happens to Stephen. Yesterday, he had to be taken to the dentist to have a tooth pulled out which had been giving him agony for the past few days, so he was a little groggy for the remainder of the day. As you can imagine, this wasn't a simple journey to the dentist with his condition but it went pretty smoothly in the end. He is likely to be in Denver for at least another 3 months, although as his condition is constantly changing it's impossible to put a date on this. Thanks again for all the support, it realy is a huge comfort to Stephen. Thanks Martin Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Rune Glifberg Pulls off the Oregon Doublefecta

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:28:37 EST

While Creager was repping the west coast in NYC, Rune Glifberg was representing the EU in Oregon for the Oregon Trifeca, winning two of the the three events over the weekend, with the third event being rained out... Well, so it seems. After the ladies and the masters got in their runs and rain chased the pros, the party moved to a garage for an makeshift final -- who knows if they will count for the World Cup of Skateboarding standings, but it was the only event Glifberg didn't win. We like his winning the Doublefecta so we're keeping it that way. Here are the top results: Lincoln City, OR (8/10/07) Results: Pro 1. Rune Glifberg 2. Benji Galloway 3. Mark 'Red' Scott Masters 1. Glen Charnoski 2. Buck Smith 3. Pat Ngoho Pier Park, Portland, OR (8/11/07) Results: Pro 1. Rune Glifberg 2. Sergie Ventura 3. Benji Galloway Masters 1. Glen Charnoski 2. Steve Alba 3. Buck Smith. Women 1. Julie Kindstrom 2. Jessica Starkweather 3. Holly Lyons. Battleground, WA (8/12/07) Results: Pro (Is it real? We'll find out.) 1. Benji Galloway 2. Josh "Screech" Sandoval 3. Morgan Burgess Masters 1. Buck Smith. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of complete results for the masters and the ladies... Skate and Annoy has the best coverage and some sick pix, while the official site is currently untouched.

Creager Reigns Supreme at NYC Manny Mania

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:28:06 EST

Ronnie Creager is the man -- he showed why he's one of the true legends in the game by taking an amazing final at the Red Bull Manny Mania event in New York City. Going up against Creager in the finals were Brandon Biebel and Red Bull Manny Mania Venice winner Joey Brezinski. Brezinski was hampered by leg cramps and couldn't keep up with Creager's bag of tricks, while Biebel came close, but still ended up in second. Check out a couple of photos below and then see some more and read the full details here.

Baker Holding Demo in Temecula on August 25

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:27:21 EST

Sure, Temecula is a long haul from just around everywhere in California, but I guss it's close enough to San Diego. But that said, it's going to be the place to be in a couple of weeks when the Baker Skateboards team shows up at Active Temecula for a demo. That's right, Andrew Reynolds, Braydon Szafranski, Terry Kennedy, Leo Romero, Kevin �Spanky� Long, Jim Greco, Erik Ellington, Bryan Herman and Jeff Lenoce will be on the scene. Judging from past Baker Demos, this should be pretty crazy. Make it if you can. Need more info? Here's something, but not much...

So Much For Surf Drama: 'John From Cincinnati' Ends Run, Nobody Notices

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:26:32 EST

Ah, such a wasted opportunity. When "John From Cincinnati" premiered just a few scant weeks ago (10 or so) it seemed to be a good chance to explore a family of three generations of surfers. Instead, it became some odd tale of some sort of alien that came into this disfunctional family and turned it upside down. To give the filmmakers credit, it was never supposed to be a show about surfing -- rather about a family that surfs (not enough, if you ask most fans). Critics didn't fall in love with executive producer David Milch's latest profanity-laced project (right on the heels of his canceled "Deadwood") and neither did viewers. Instead, more people spent time trying to figure out how many actors from "Deadwood" showed up in the show (seven was the count, by the way). While HBO didn't come right out and cancel the show, it didn't renew it during its run, which means it is as good as dead. So as the show came to end yesterday, what exactly happen. Answer -- who the hell knows? This critic tried to decode it with little success. I watched it as well. Don't expect me to explain it.

Bourgeois, Silve Get Wins at Boardmasters Contest

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:25:52 EST

Ben Bourgeois took the Rip Curl Boardmaster contest in Newquay, England, Sunday, defeating Brazillian Heitor Alves in the final. For Bourgeois, the win takes him to No. 2 in the WQS ratings, 24 behind points leader Tiago Pires. "I haven't won a contest in so long, so just being up there and getting that feeling is so awesome. I'm stoked," Bourgeois after being presented the trophy. On Saturday Jacqueline Silva took the Davidoff Cool Water Wave, the women's event running alongside the Boardmasters. She defeated French surfer Pauline Ado, who advanced to the finals after defeating Megan Abubo in the semi-finals. The win vaults Silva to the top of the WQS ratings race, more than 1400 points ahead of Jessi Miley-Dyer, who made it to the quarter-finals of the event. Silva ranks 10th on the ASP Women's World Tour and her next competition begins August 20th in Brazil, her home country. "The break we�ve had on Tour during the past few months has been good, because I�ve had some spare time to spend with my family and friends," Silva said. "When I get the chance to do that, I feel good and relaxed, so I think this helped me a lot." Click here for more about the men's contest or you can click here for the women's contest.

Busy Day At The Rip Curl Boardmasters

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:25:08 EST

With an event name like "Rip Curl Boardmasters" there best be some good surfing going down, at least enough to fulfill the masters part of the title. Apparently there was some "mastering" as pros like Adriano De Souza and Matt Wilkinsin dealt with the small waves but still put up nice heats. Even Jake Paterson temporarily came out of his ASP retirement to have a go at Newquay. For a full rundown of Round 3 at the Rip Curl Boardmasters hit up the recap.

Rogers, Busenitz Added To Manny Mania Finale

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:24:23 EST

As if skaters like Ronny Creager and Joey Brezinski weren't enough, Red Bull has added 2005 Transworld Rookie Of The Year Jereme Rogers, and Dennis Busenitz to its lineup for the Manny Mania final event this coming Sunday. The event will take place under the Manhattan Bridge and if you didn't know by now it'll feature only tricks of the technical kind, mostly manuals (as seen in the event name itself) and grinds. For event details check out the preview. Trust it'll be a dope event if previous stops were any indication

Fuel TV's Serving Up A Lot This Week

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:23:46 EST

Wow Jake Brown's really making the rounds. After his death-defying stunt...I mean fall...at the X Games he's hit up Larry King (see below), MTV (see below again), and many other media outlets. Well this time around it's time for him to stop by the studios of Fuel TV for the station's daily series "Daily Habit". I'm guessing he'll be talking about geo-social politics, building smart investment portfolios, and yeah his fall. I'm just guessing though. The show will also feature Danny Way playing an accoustic set. For air times for "Daily Habit" as well as other new programs airing this coming week, including "Rockstar Rail Jam" and "Hobgood Challenge" check the Fuel TV update here.

From The Maker Of Etnies Shoes, 'The 11th Hour'

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:22:53 EST

From the Etnies Blog: As one of the most celebrated names in the action sports industry and founder and CEO of Sole Technology, parent company of etnies, etnies girl, eS, Emerica, Altamont and ThirtyTwo, Pierre Andre Senizergues� passion for the environment has remained true to his roots and shown in the company�s success. Read the blog for the rest of the story...

MTV Catches Up With Jake Brown

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:22:14 EST

Yes, we've got more Jake Brown for you. For better or for worse he became the face of X Games 13 when he survived an amazing five-story fall with *only* a broken arm, fractured wrist, bruised liver, fractured vertebrae, and lung contusion, as evidenced by his Larry King interview posted earlier today. For more head over to the blog...

Action Sports And The Olympics

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:21:44 EST

As the Beijing Olympics is now officially less than a year away some action sports athletes like Mat Hoffman are thinking about the reality of their sport being featured in the banner sports event of the world. That's because the IOC (the governing body of the Olympics) has decided that Freestyle BMX and likely Skateboarding will be included in the 2012 Olympic Games, to be held in London. For more check the Quick Hits Blog...

Tony Chickenhawk: Skateboarding Rooster

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:19:57 EST

In what seems like an attempt by PETA to further convince us that animals are just like humans, and thus meat is murder, a skateboarding rooster has been discovered in a town near Seattle. Hanna Dahlquist's pet chicken "Tony Chickenhawk" (the name quite possibly a play on the name of the world's most famous skateboarder...quite possibly) supposedly can ride a skateboard, which adds to his arsenal of human tricks. Get the rest at the site...

Chris Cole Repeats as X Games Skate Street Champ

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:46:28 EST

One of the craziest Skate Street finals in X Games history went down today with a ton of broken boards and even a few lost shoes. But at the end of the day, Chris Cole stood at the top of the podium for the second straight year, as a formidable group of opponents including Ryan Sheckler, Paul Rodriguez Jr. and Greg Lutzka tried to dethrone him. Cole had no problem securing the win, taking the first zone by more than 5 points. He fell behind Lutzka in the second zone and the third zone was close, though Cole took it thanks to tricks like the Nollie heel back 180. Cole scored a 96.75 in the final zone, an almost unbeatable score, with Lutzka coming very close with a 96.00. Cole said he didn't know where he was ranking because he couldn't watch the action himself.

Marisa Dal Santo Takes Women's Street Skate

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:46:09 EST

X Games Vet Marisa Dal Santo took home her first gold medal (after a bronze in '05) today, dominating the field and passing No. 2 Elissa Steamer by almost 6 points. The domination was thanks to her amazing performance in the third session. Amy Cron was third. Full Results: 1. Marisa Dal Santo / LaGrange, IL / 86.08 2. Elissa Steamer / San Francisco, CA / 80.33 3. Amy Caron / Huntington Beach, CA / 80.16 4. Lacey Baker / Covina, CA / 71.41 5. Evelien Bouilliart / Aaler-Oost, Belgium / 65.75 6. Vanessa Torres / Silver Lake, CA / 62.66 7. Lauren Perkins / Huntington Beach, CA / 60.08 8. Leticia Bufoni / Sao Paulo, Brazil / 58.16

Kyle Loza a Surprise Winner in Moto X Best Trick

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:45:41 EST

If you were watching the X Games at home, I bet you didn't know there were any riders taking part in the Moto X Best Trick contest other than Scott Murray. There were vignettes about the good 'ole boy from the backwoods of Michican who decided to take on the double backflip after seeing Travis Pastrana do it last year. He even had to convince the X Games to invite him to the competition by sending in a video of him pulling the trick on a resin mat (vs. dirt). In person, it wasn't as bad (the hype) but before he even got to run Kyle Loza threw a crazy new trick called "The Volt" which was basically a body variel -- but with a twist. The crowd went crazy and so did the judges, giving him a 94.20 and setting him up as the one to beat. Rider after rider took a run, but no one could come close and then it was Scott Murray's turn. After a big lead off, he seemed to get a slow start and was off and on his ramp, almost being able to complete it but couldn't pull it out. He had a pretty good slam, but jumped to his feet to show he wasn't too badly injured. Alternate Adam Jones (replacing the injured Nate Adams) by throwing down a Shaolin backflip. Todd Potter was in third.

Burnquist Wins as Brown Falls in Big Air Skate

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:45:19 EST

Bob Burnquist took the gold in Big Air Skate last night after Jake Brown suffered a stunning fall and slam on his final run, right before Burnquist. Brown lost control after landing a 720 over the gap off the megaramp (the first time that has been done in competition), with his board just getting away from him. He fell about 50 feet to the bottom of the ramp with such a strong impact that his shoes flew off. The crowd went quiet as the medical crew rushed to his aid for about 10 minutes, after which he got up and was led off the ramp. The crowd cheered at his recovery, but he was certainly far from okay, and was taken behind the scenes, examined and then prepped for a trip to a hospital. While he was being looked at, Burnquist took his final run and took a slim win, which led to a big reception from the crowd, but anger from others, who though Brown deserved the win, despite the fall. Taking third was Pierre Luc Gagnon, who missed the comp last year. Read more here about the final results beyond the top three and Check out a photo gallery from Big Air (and after). Brown was hardly the only skater to have a fall -- his was just the most spectacular. Rob Lorifice and Buster Halterman barely had a clean ride between them trying for trick after trick unsuccessfully. Burnquist also had a scary moment but was able to slide down the ramp versus landing at the bottom like Brown did. We saw Brown after the match waiting to go to the hospital (photo below)-- he was a bit banged up, but otherwise was okay.

Zenetti Wheels' Skate Team

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:45:01 EST

If they weren't certified ballers already skaters like Terry Kennedy and Paul Rodriguez will be now, that's because Zenetti tires (makers of those expensive rims you see all up in those music videos) has hooked up with Brooklyn Projects to form a skate team. And as you can see they're not just picking skaters at random, no, they're going for the cream of the crop with top pros like Jereme Rogers, Stevie Williams and Braydon Szafranski, along with those mentioned above. Check the Zenetti site to see what rims each skater is bringing to the table as well as a peak at their own rides. Crazy right?

"Jackass: The Game"

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:44:46 EST

Do you have dreams of putting leeches on your eyeball just like the Jackass guys? How about trying a urine snowcone? Well with "Jackass: The Game" for PS2 and PSP you can do just that, minus all the disgusting-ness. Underground Online just got a preview of the game and they report back with details and screen shots. Head over to their review for all the digital corruption

2007 US Open Of Surfing Model Search

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:44:03 EST

As with most things, the US Open of Surfing this past weekend was not just about the US Open of Surfing. There were other more sinister things at hand...like a Model Search. Well maybe "sinister" wasn't the right word in this case since the Model Search was full of beautiful young women as opposed to old rich scheming white men. The best part of all this: Transworld Surf got it all on camera (154 images to be exact). You can thank them later, but first things first here's the gallery.

Puma Releases Urban Mobility Bike

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:43:45 EST

From the "Step Your Bike Game Up" department comes the newest creation from Puma Mobility (Puma's sophisticated urban brand): a new sleek 8-speed bike. The bike, pictured here features lots of features useful for the urban citizen-on-the-go including a luggage/bag rack, a nifty semi-folding function, and a built in wire lock that causes the bike to self-destruct a la Mission: Impossible if cut by any would-be thieves.

ESPN Releases Schedule For X Games 14

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:43:27 EST

They usually say every end is a new beginning, but in the case of the X Games it seems every beginning is a new beginning. That's because on the eve of X Games 13 in Los Angeles, ESPN has released the early schedule for X Games 14, also to be held in Los Angeles. In anticipation of the '08 Olympics in Beijing where some of the athletes will be heading ESPN has planned for X Games 14 to run from July 31st to August 3rd, 2008. For full details check the press release...hopefully while you're already watching the X Games that's going on now.

Etnies Focuses On The Ladies

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:43:06 EST

As X Games 13 gets going in Los Angeles, shoe company Etnies sends their girl team correspondent to check in with the rest of the girls to see...like y'know...how they're doin'. From the Etnies Blog: It is that time of the year again, folks. Where we all come together for another summer X Games in Los Angeles. Elissa Steamer, Evelien Bouilliart, Lauren Perkins and flow rider Holly Lyons will all be returning for another year of summer X madness. A new addition the crew is flow team rider and Dirty NJ representative, Lorena Lima, who was picked as the first alternate in the contest... For the rest of the story check the blog entry, and then watch the X Games to see how the girls do.

Action Sports World Tour Announces U.S. Dates and Cities For 2007

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:42:48 EST

If you aren't getting enough of all the action sports being supplied by X Games 13 then you'll be happy to know that ASA Entertainment has announced the 2007 dates and stops for their Action Sports Tour 2007. The tour will run from September to November and feature top athletes from multiple action sports disciplines including Skateboarding, Moto x, BMX, and yes even inline skating. The action will kick off in Phoenix, AZ on September 1st and quickly head to other stops throughout the West. For full details head over to the ASA press release.

Appleyard Leads Street Skate Selection; Brown Leads Big Air Skate

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:42:27 EST

The first finals are underway, but here are the results for the first two selections (read: prelims). Jake Brown edged Bob Burnquist to take the top spot in the Big Air Selection -- Read more here. Meanwhile, in Skate Street, Mark Appleyard led the pack in Skate Street. read more here (in our X Games Blog) about my thoughts and observations or just jump to the results. More coming, of course!

Handicapping the Skate Contest

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:40:24 EST

Jonny Burns (we have a pic of him, so we're gonna use it) is laying odds on who will win the major skate contests on his blog South of the North. Among the notable picks: Bob Burnquist to take Vert (he places Shaun White in fifth), Sheckler or Rogers to take Street and Burnquist again or Skate Big Air. We're big fans of Burns - he is a former Exec. Producer of Lat34 and is a pretty smart guy when it comes to skateboarding. So we tend to listen to what he says. The White pick is based on the ramp construction and after seeing him tear it up in practice today, it doesn't seem like he'll have too many problems, but sometimes being on the big stage can throw people off. After all, the only time Sheckler has been able to win was his first year when he was a true phenom. Sheckler should have a good time on the course -- not sure if Rogers will even be in the mix given how he's been so far this season. There's more practice later today so we should be able to tell who's doing well on the course. UPDATE: Burns will be doing some live blogging on his site for X -- check it out. We'll try and get a peek into it, too...

Heath Brinkley Moves to etnies

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:05:46 EST

Heath Brinkley has moved from DC Shoes to etnies as its new Skateboard Team Manager. Brinkley was at DC for three years and prior to that started Logic video magazine and filmed a ton of video parts.

Chad Kagy Breaks Collarbone, Out of X Games; Legend Hoffman to Compete?

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:29:26 EST

BMX Vert star Chad Kagy, who won the gold medal in BMX Vert last year at X Games and just finished first last weekend at the Soul Bowl contest, broke his collarbone Tuesday in BMX Big Air practice and will miss the X Games, according to friend and fellow rider Kevin Robinson. "Yesterday he sustained an injury and broke his collarbone in two places and suffered a concussion so he's out," Robinson told Lat34 today. "He;ll be out for the next six weeks or so." Kagy's absence will be felt most in the Vert contest, where Jamie Bestwick and Simon Tabron now face little competition. In Big Air, the other event which Kagy was taking part in, Robinson remains the favorite after his win in the inaugural showing last year. He brought up a couple of ideas about who, other than Kagy, will be the man to beat. "Everyone who is up on that ramp deserves to be there," Robinson said. "They all can throw down... Morgan Wade can get the job done and Mat Hoffman, too. I think Mat's going to end up riding the event. Who knows what Mat will pull." The BMX Big Air finals are scheduled to take place Friday night at 5 p.m. PT. BMX Vert finals take place Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

X Games Updates - Music, Webcasts, Charity and More

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:29:42 EST

You can expect to hear a lot about X Games this week, so here are a few of the latest updates: * Some musical acts have been announced for X Games at The Home Depot Center from Aug. 2-5. Bands will include local faves The Shys, The Donnas and Death by Stereo. For full lineup info, check out this release. * For the first time ever, ESPN is planning a global simulcast of the opening of an X Games. Starting on Thursday (August 2) at 9 p.m. ET, the first five minutes of the games will air live simultaneously on ESPN in the U.S. and 18 ESPN International networks around the globe. The possible reach? How about 267 million viewers in 145 countries? Dang. Read more. * Can't make it to the X Games? Here's the TV Schedule so you can watch it from home. * Don't have a TV? Think they're an instrument of Satan? Well, you can also check out X Games coverage online, via iTunes, on satellite and mobile, too. Here are all the details. * Finally, there's also a great charity auction and benefit going on this week. Here's some information. * And as we've been telling you, there are lots of profiles coming out now that X Games are close. The latest is of Bob Burnquist by the LA Times about how he has a pretty good advantage in the Big Air Competition because he happens to have a Megaramp in his yard. Oh, and because Danny Way is out... Yeah, good reasons.

Glifberg and Saari Win in Rotterdam

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:08:33 EST

The 2007 Vans World Championship of Skateboarding in Rotterdam went down last weekend and there were some familiar faces that made it to the podium. Arto Saari was the Skate Street winner, while Rune Glifberg took another championship in Vert.

Francisco Zurita Wins Trick of the Week For Right Guard Open

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:29:59 EST

BMX Vert rider Francisco Zurita has won the PlayStation� Trick of the Week Award from the Right Guard Open for performing the first triple tailwhip on a vert ramp in competition. He takes home $5K for the honor and is eligible for the season-ending Trick of the Year and that $10K that comes with it. "This truly surprises me and it is a blessing," said Zurita. Zurita beat out Bob Burnquist (frontside 540), Ryan Sheckler (Backside 360 Ollie), Ryan Nyquist (720 Stepdown) and Corey Bohan (No Hand One Foot to Tailwhip) for the prize.

Red Bull Knows How to Throw a Good Party

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:30:18 EST

Leave it to Red Bull to kick off the X Games with a great party. On Tuesday night, hundreds of people packed the Mayan Theater in downtown LA to celebrate the coming of X Games with a night of "Lucha VaVoom" to entertain... What is "Lucha VaVoom" you ask? Well, it's Mexican wrestling with a little bit of twist -- ladies, strippers, midgets and whatever else you can think of. On hand to watch the action was a true who's who of action sports, including both Red Bull and non-Red Bull athletes. Studly Shaun White, reality show star Rob Dyrdek, BMXers Kevin Robinson and Anthony Napolitan, surfers Bruce Irons and Keala Kennelly, announcer Jamie Little, skier Kristi Leskinen, Steve Astephen from Wasserman Media and BMX Park king Daniel Dhers were just a sample of those on hand, with White showing up early to hang out on the dance floor while the place was still filling up. Most athletes got to hang out in a special VIP area next to the wrestling ring that was set up in the middle of the theater. This was great for watching the action, especially as one wrestler was thrown out of the ring, crashing into the crowd and literally knocking a number of those VIPS on their asses. The result was some really pissed off people and security had to come in to keep things calm. I guess even fake wrestling can hurt... It was definitely the highlight of the night. Tomorrow (Okay, I guess technically today) things really get underway with press day, practice and more. We'll be there.

Megaramp Blog

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:30:35 EST

The Megaramp being built inside the Staples Center for X Games 13 has its own blog -- you can see photos of the build and read about the prgress right here. A more comprehensive site is promised soon, but it's still worth a look... Skate Big Air kicks off the X Games on Thursday at 5 p.m. PT while BMX Big Air takes place on Friday at 5 p.m. PT. After that, the big ramp will come down...

Hassan Sails at Soul Bowl in HB

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:30:54 EST

The Soul Bowl finals for the pros took place on Sunday at the US Open of Surfing and Beach Festival. Quiksilver skater Omar Hassan took the top spot, followed by Benji Galloway in second and Bruno Passos in third. We have some photos from the event -- you can check out a gallery here. 1. Omar Hassan 2. Benji Galloway 3. Bruno Passos 4. Brian Patch 5. Sergei Ventura 6. Adam Taylor 7. Matt Moffet Here are the top finishers in the other Soul Bowl events held at the Beach Festival last week Legends Bowl Jam Final Results 1. Tony Mag 2. Steve Caballero 3. Steve Steadham Womens Jams Final Results 1. Mimi, Knoop 2. Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins 3. Julie, Kindstrand Chad Kagy took the top spot in the BMX Soul Bowl Jam.

Sierra Fellers Goes Pro; Gets Thrasher Cover

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:31:11 EST

Sierra Fellers has been a fixture on the AM scene since 2004, when he broke out in a big way by winning the Tampa AM. He's been a pretty steady fixture at various competitions, usually placing pretty high (including a best trick win at the 2007 Phoenix AM). Now he's gone pro in a big way, with Foundation making the announcement and then Sierra being shown off as the September cover boy of Thrasher. Sounds good to us. Check out the announcement below. Check out the "expectations" -- "Don't quite for Plan B like everyone else" -- nice! You can get more info (including word on the new DVD release for Foundation "Cataclysmic Abyss" - featuring Fellers and more of the team) on the Foundation website.

Brian Foster Wins

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:31:28 EST

BMX Dirt is dead at X Games, but don't let that kid you -- still plenty of action to be had. The latest comp was last weekend -- "Brawlin' at the Belmar" put on by FBM Bikes in Binghampton, NY. Brian Foster took first, followed by Ryan Guettler. You can check more, including photos, on the FBM website.

NY Times Profiles Shaun White's Journey

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:31:43 EST

Expect to read more and more about Shaun White than you ever wanted to or expected as the X Games near. We're guilty of it, too, though Tony Hawk at least came out before the Dew Tour's last stop in Cleveland. Oh well, you don't want to ignore the New York Times< when it decides to take on any subject, so here's what they had to say about White... or actually, what White had to say about White: On Last Year's X Games: "At X Games I was just disappointed at my skating. It was terrible." On this year: "I feel like this year I feel strong... I�ve taken it a bit more serious. I�ll skate for a couple hours, and I�ll come home and ride a bike. I never did that before." On public perception of Snow vs. Skate: "The only thing that bums me out is when people confuse skateboarding and snowboarding... If you see skate guys on the snow, it�s the funniest thing ever because they�re out of their element." Yeah, that sounds like the funniest thing ever, all right.

Tony Hawk Secret Skatepark Tour 3 Premiere This Thursday

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:31:57 EST

Timed perfectly around the X Games is the premiere of Tony Hawk's Secret Skateboard Park Tour 3 video, which will be held in downtown L.A. on Thursday, August 2nd. It will be shown at the trendy Hotel Figueroa -- right down the street from the Staples Center. The event takes place from 8-11 p.m. with the movie starting at 9 -- but if you really want to see it, you should get there early. That place is tiny. On hand will be the Birdman himself. If you miss the video it will be in shops and online in August. Video features parts by Hawk, Bam Magera, Andrew Reynolds, Ryan Sheckler, David Loy, Riley Hawk, Mike Vallely and more... Flier is below, along with a couple of stills from the video... More on the MySpace Page for the video

CJ Hobgood Wins US Open of Surfing

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:32:13 EST

American CJ Hobgood has captured the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach in a final against France's Jeremy Flores. Though it was a six-star WQS contest, the finals looked like a WCT final with two surfers from the Foster's Tour making up the final. The win was Hobgood's third this season on the WQS. Conditions were less than desirable and the final score of 12.60 to 11.17 reflected the few worthwhile waves captured by the competitors. Flores only scored five waves, with scores of 6.5 and 5.5 making up his total, while Hobgood only had four waves (7.6 and 6.0). To make the finals, Hobgood had to get past Hawaiian Dustin Cuizon, though conditions were better and the battle closer (15.00 to 14.33). Flores had no trouble with Jean Da Silva in his match, taking it 17.34 to 12.93 thanks to two big scored on his final two waves, 8.17 and 9.17. Two other finals also took place on Sunday in Huntington Beach, including the LOST Pro Junior, won by Hawaiian Tonino Benson, and the US Open of Surfing Longbboard Championship, taken by Colin McPhillips. Both of those finals were four-man finals. As reported yesterday, the women's US Open title was taken by Stephanie Gilmore. Up next for the men's WQS -- the Yumeya Billabong Pro Tahara in Japan, which starts its holding period on July 31. The six-star event will feature many of the same competitors as the US Open. The women have a five-star event starting August 6th in England, the Rip Curl Boardmaster Women. The next event on the Foster's ASP World Tour is at Trestles in Southern California, on Sept. 9.

US Open to Crown Champ Today

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:32:28 EST

The US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach will be crowning a champion later today. Action ended today two heats into the round of 16, with Brazillian Jean Da Silva and France's Jeremy Flores already advancing to the Quarterfinals. Among the competitors still to go are Gabe Kling and CJ Hobgood (US), Yuri Sodrew (Brazil) and Spain's Aritz Aranburu, who is currently ranked #15 on the WQS rankings. The Men's finals are scheduled to take place at 2:15 p.m. (PT) and can be seen via webcast at the US Open of Surfing website. Also taking place tomorrow are the Men's Junior Pro finals (1:15 p.m. PT) and the US Open of Longboarding finals (1:45 p.m. PT). For the most up-to-date times check out the website

Helments: Tony Hawk Likes 'Em. Skaters Don't.

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:32:48 EST

The Denver Post has published a series of stores about the argument whether helmets should be required to be worn by skateboarders. The main story talks about the overall issue while a related story tells the story of one Denver-area skateboarder who was killed nine years ago in a skateboarding accident (you take a guess as to whether or not he was wearing a helmet). So what better way to solve this problem once and for than to get a point/counterpoint. On the "Nay" side, local skater Jake McGhee. On the "Pro" side, some guy named Tony Hawk. Let the battle of the words begin! ROUND ONE McGhee: "If you're wearing a helmet, you might as well be singing for the Spice Girls." Hawk: "Older guys know the value of brain function... I'm not worried about fashion over function." Winner: Hawk. If Jake used The Pussycat Dolls as an example, he might have gotten me. The Spice Girls are so '90s. Besides, brain function seems to be a good thing to have. ROUND TWO McGhee: "After a while it's like walking. You don't have to think about it every day, you just do it." Hawk: "You never know who is going to drop in or lose control around you." Winner: McGhee. Walking is pretty easy, isn't it? Sounds safe to us. ROUND THREE McGhee: "I'm not going to wear a big, clanky piece of plastic on my head." Hawk: "I've had serious head injuries with and without a helmet on, and I know that it has saved my life more than once." Winner: Hawk. Yeah, helmets are pretty ugly. But death isn't too pleasant, either. So there you have it -- Hawk has a better argument and therefore you should wear a helmet... Oh, wait a second. "I believe there comes a time when you know your skill level and you know the risks involved, therefore making it your choice," Hawk says. Oh. That was a waste of time.

Stephanie Gilmore Wins Women's US Open of Surfing

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:33:07 EST

Stephanie Gilmore has won the US Open of Surfing over Karina Petroni. Gilmore, who is currently ranked equal #1 in the world on the Women's WCT, finds herself now ranked #3 in the WQS. The 30 minute final took place in Huntington Beach in front of a huge crowd of spectators filling the beach and stands. There were decent conditions, with a few good waves for the women to choose from, but Gilmore took the lead early and help priority for the last key minutes of the match as Petroni sought a wave to pull an 8.47 -- the score needed to overtake Gilmore. The final score was 14.64 to 11.50. Defending champ Sofia Mulanovich, who was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame yesterday, was eliminated in the round of 12 (by Petroni and Sally Fitzgibbons). Petroni later defeated Fitzgibbons in the semifinals, while Gilmore advanced thanks to a win against Courtney Conlogue. Before the match, Petroni was ranked #31 in the WQS ranking and moves up to #11. It's her best finish this season on the tour. For more about Petroni, this week's "Girl On" for Lat34, check out our interview and photo gallery.

Video Highlights from US Open of Surfing

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:33:24 EST

We have some video of what's been happening at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. We have some clips from Thursday's action and Friday's action...

Mulanovich, Irons Among Surfing Hall of Fame Inductees

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:33:40 EST

Former ASP Women's World Champ Sofia Mulanovich was one of four people inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach Friday (July 27). Bruce Irons, Martin Potter and Al Merrick were the other three honorees who got the royal treatment. Former pro and hall of fame member Corky Carroll and veteran commentator David Stanfield were the masters of ceremony for the event, which featured a look back at the career of each honoree, along with special appearances from the likes of former world champ Lisa Anderson (to speak about Mulanovich) and Volcom CEO Richard Woolcott (for Bruce Irons). While Potter and Merrick are legends in their own right, the audience's biggest reactions came for Sofia Mulanovich and Bruce Irons. It was hard for Irons to escape the shadow of his brother, Andy, who was not on hand, but his parents, Phil and Danielle, were on hand to support him. The day was special for Mulanovich and Irons as both of them also advanced in the US Open of Surfing. Mulanovich won the contest last year. Check out some photos from the event in our gallery and also check out a recap of the day's surf action.

Stephen Murray Update: Some Improverments

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:34:35 EST

Here's the latest update from Stephen Murray's family as posted on BMXTalk.com Good news not so good news Tuesday morning arrived and saw Stephen on the FES bikes. These are the bikes where electrodes are attached to the muscles on his legs which stimulate the muscles to power the legs to pedal the bike.His physio said that that in the 17 years she had been at Craig he was the first patient to use the FES bikes and be on a ventilator. Not only that he pedaled 5 miles in 30mins which was more than some patients could do after 2 weeks! This was certainly a confidence boost and cheered us all up. He was then booked in for more sessions on Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday came but the effort of Tuesday had tired Stephen out and he gave the FES bikes a miss although he still carried on with his normal physio and occupational therapy.Thursday was the diaphragm xray to determine whether his diaphragm was strong enough to power his lungs. Unfortunately this was not as positive as we had hoped for. At the moment he only has 50% power in the left hand side of his diaphragm and none in his right.The doctors have changed the ventilator weaning program to accommodate this. However on the brighter side, the nurse turned back the cuff on his trach (which allows air to travel up from the lungs) for 7.5 mins and allowed Stephen to actually speak normally. They will gradually increase this over the next weeks and this will be a great boost to him. Just so you know who is where. Jeff and Melissa are still in Denver,Cynthia and Stephen's Grandad traveled back to England on Tuesday evening. I will travel out again early August. Paul is currently at the X games and will return to Denver afterwards. On the subject of Paul, the whole family would like to thank him publicly for his strength towards Stephen and the rest of us during this very trying period. He is truly a friend and we are in his debt.Thanks. Next update will be next week unless something extraordinary happens which in Stephen's case is more than possible. He remains strong and so do we. Thanks Martin Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Travis Pastrana Wins X Fighters in Spain

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:34:55 EST

Travis Pastrana continues his retirement tour from FMX by winning another Red Bull X Fighters contest. This time, he took the honors in Madrid, Spain, over Swiss star Mat Rebeaud, who was actually competing with a broken hand. Joining the broken bone brigade was third-place finisher Nate Adams, who broke his finger after crashing during one landing. Dany Torres ended up in fourth. "I saw all the guys doing Cliffhanger Backflips in training and then Mat Rebeaud put on such a good run with a broken hand," said Pastrana. "It�s unbelievable to be on top of all these great guys!" The event acted as the final X Fighters stop of three, with the first two taking place in Mexico City and Dublin. Because of their finishes there, Pastrana, Rebeaud and Torres ended up with the overall top three slots for the tour. Results Red Bull X-Fighters Madrid 2007: 1. Travis Pastrana (USA) 2. Mat Rebeaud (SUI) 3. Nate Adams (USA) 4. Dany Torres (ESP) 5. Eigo Sato (JPN) 6. Libor Podmol (CZE) 6. Matt Schubring (AUS) 6. Ronnie Renner (USA) 6. Busty Wolter (GER) 6. Andr� Villa (NOR) Results Top 3 Red Bull X-Fighters Tour 2007: 1. Travis Pastrana (USA) 2. Mat Rebeaud (SUI) 3. Dany Torres (ESP)

Scott Dickey Leaving TransWorld

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:35:19 EST

TransWorld President Scott Dickey will be leaving the company at the end of September Lat34 has learned. Dickey came to TransWorld 15 months ago from K2 to join Tom Busse when TransWorld was owned by Time Warner. TransWorld was recently purchased by The Bonnier Group. No replacement has been named. Dickey is well-respected well-liked throughout the action sports industry. Staffers are very sad he is leaving as he has been a steady force during his tenure at TransWorld. - Lat34.com

'Young Guns 3' Premiere Draws Crowds in Huntington Beach

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:35:58 EST

While there were skaters up in Hollywood for the Volcom screening of "Let's Live" (see below), there were surfers and some skaters down in Huntington Beach for the world premiere of Quiksilver's new flick "Young Guns 3". Held at the company's HB offices, there were more than 3,000 people on hand, thanks to the event being free and since it was help during the US Open of Surfing. Expect some more photos coming from Quiksilver, but we were there and have a recao and a photo gallery here of some of the people who were there...

Premiere of Volcom's 'Let's Live' in Hollywood

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:36:44 EST

Hey - we were in Hollywood for the "Let's Live" premiere from Volcom Stone -- a great film dedicated to the memory of Shane Cross and featuring a lot of footage of the late skater, who was killed in a motorcycle earlier this year. On hand were Dustin Dollin and Jake Duncombe, who introduced the film. The premiere took place at the Vine Theater and the place was packed. We have a recao and photo gallery here. Here are a couple of photos...

Dew Tour Launches

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:37:09 EST

The 2007 AST Dew Tour has officially shifted into high gear with the �Dew Tour Mash-Up Maker� online game. Last month, the 2007 AST Dew Tour officially kicked off with the Panasonic Open in Baltimore, MD and is moving forward with four additional cities � in fact the Right Guard Open in Baltimore takes place this weekend! In support of the upcoming events, a Dew Tour Mash-Up game and contest has been created. The game is a �Dew Tour Mash-Up Maker.� Users can create their own Dew Tour video using action packed clips, music and sound effects. By creating a video, users are then entered into a contest for a chance to win a Yamaha Motorcycle and have their trailer played nationally on NBC television!

Mike Mason On Fuel TV's

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:22:20 EST

Airing Sunday, July 29, at 8:00pm Eastern Time (5:00pm Pacific Time), and re-airing another seven times during the week, FMX Pro Mike Mason stars in FUEL TV�s signature 30-minute series �Firsthand.� Mason takes us to his home in Carson City, Nevada, where we check out his day-to-day life and get to ride with him and the local talent. Then the X Games medalist heads to Berlin, Germany to compete in the IFMX contest series. For air times and full details check the site...

X Games Benefit Presented By The V Foundation And Staples Center Foundation

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:22:41 EST

Hosted by ESPN�s and E! Entertainment Television�s Sal Masekela, the X Games benefit will provide music by the world famous KROQ, celebrities, X Games 13 competitors in BMX, Moto X, Skateboard, Surfing and Rally Car Racing. Most notably the following featured athletes will include V Foundation X Games spokespeople Mat Hoffman (BMX), Kenny Bartram (Moto X) and Tricia Byrnes (Snowboard). In addition, 2006 Olympic Snowboard Silver Medalist, Gretchen Bleiler and last year�s X Games BMX Big Gold Medalist, Kevin Robinson, will also be in attendance. �The V Foundation has a special place within the ESPN family, and we are proud to support this first time benefit,� said Rick Alessandri, Managing Director, X Games Franchise. �We are excited to open this year�s X Games with such a good cause and the participation and support of the action sports community has been tremendous.� For full details check the site...

Doo Dah Surf Day Brings Costumed Surfers to Sunset

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:31:08 EST

There were more clowns in the water than a typical Saturday at Sunset, a popular spot for beginner surfers where Sunset Blvd. ends at Pacific Coast Highway. There were clowns, a couple of Vikings, Santa Claus, Madame Butterfly, Silver Surfer and a superhero or two, the evil nurse from Kill Bill, the Grand Poobah and about 80 other surfers in costume, who paddled out at Sunset to benefit the Malibu chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. The costumery and buffoonery were all a part of the Fifth Annual Doo Dah Surf Day! The inspiration for the event is explained on the official website at www.doodahsurf.com: �Back in the Spring of 2002, after a day of frustration at local breaks known for aggro-vibes and hostility, four local Surfers decided the best way to get surfing back to it's pure and fun origins was to go the extreme of laughing at ourselves. Three short months later in June of 2002, over 30 surfers showed up in costumes ranging from nuns, to business men, to bumblebees. Ever since Doo Dah Surf 2002, each ensuing year has seen attendance double as well as increased recognition from media to documentaries. All proving that the surf community is ready for a day of fun and celebration.� For the full story on Doo Dah Surf Day! check the site...

Close Encounters With Mr. White: Man Fights Shark

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:30:22 EST

On Sunday, July 23, the Tommy Zahn Memorial Paddleboard Race turned into a battle for life and death as two competitors fought off an aggressive 12-foot shark with their bare hands, and one paddle. The Tommy Zahn Paddleboard race is dedicated to one of the all-time great Los Angeles County watermen. Zahn was awarded the LA County Medal of Valor in 1984, and he is a legend among LA County lifeguards, surfers and watermen. In 1994, the Tommy Zahn Paddleboard Race was started in his honor by Rabbi Nachum Shifren � the surfing Rabbi � and in 1997 it became a part of the Malibu Boardrider�s Club Call to the Wall surfing competition. This year, there were 45 paddlers in six classes, including Men�s and Women�s Standup. The race left the Zuma Beach lifeguard tower at 9:00 AM on Sunday, the 23rd of July for a 10-mile downwind race that is considered middle distance by experienced paddlers. For the complete story click on the link...

Heavy Hitters Line Up For The Red Bull Manny Mania Final Showdown In NYC

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:29:44 EST

Three months of manual throw-downs from coast to coast will culminate on August 12th at the biggest playground of them all � New York, where pros get one last crack at the Red Bull Manny Mania prize. Skateboarding tech masters such as Venice stop winner Joey Brezinski and veteran Ronnie Creager will compete for a $30,000 purse and bragging rights for who is the best at two-wheel trickery. Taking place underneath the Manhattan Bridge at Coleman Park, Manny Mania will be thumping with New York�s energy and a custom-built manny feature that includes a giant hip and a multi-layered pad. The jam format of the contest allows skaters to session like they would with their friends � no pressure, just fun. This isn�t just another Sunday in the park though � on August 12th skaters have the chance to walk away with a giant payout and a jewel-encrusted pimp cup. The contest will be free to the public, starting at 3pm EST. and will be webcast live at http://mannymania.411vm.com Manny Mania NYC FlyerThe contest series kicked off in May in Venice Beach, CA where palm trees and ocean breezes provided the backdrop for the Brezinski, Chico Brenes and Daniel Castillo to take the top three and earn an automatic invite to the battle in the Big Apple. For more details head over to the site...

The Crusty Demons Are Set To Unleash Hell On The UK

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:29:02 EST

The Crusty Demons have spent the last 12 years building a worldwide audience with their outrageous motorized antics, making them the most popular action sports DVD series of all time. In 2003 the Crusty Demons live shows were created and were an instant hit. Almost $100 million in ticket sales have been generated in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and India in that time, making it one of the most successful touring acts ever to visit those countries. The Crusty Demons Unleash Hell Tour will make its long awaited inaugural tour to Europe with 10 shows planned for the UK in January 2008. The Crusty Demons live show is a 3 hour, fully choreographed entertainment spectacular featuring the world�s greatest freestyle motocross riders performing the most death-defying stunts on the planet including the insane backflip combination tricks performed by all the Crusty riders. For more info check the site...

Quiksilver Premieres Young Guns 3 in Huntington Beach Thursday

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:31:24 EST

Much of the surfing world is in Huntington Beach for the US Open of Surfing so what better time or place to premiere the latest Quiksilver flick "Young Guns 3" featuring Quiksilver surfers Dane Reynolds, Clay Marzo, Jeremy Flores, Julian Wilson, Ry Craike and Garrett Parkes, along with some guy named Kelly Slater, who will act as master and mentor to the other surfers. The film follows the Young Guns crew traveling the world, finding the best waves and having a blast. The double DVD will be in stores next month. Now fans can catch the world premiere tomorrow night in Huntington Beach for free (first come, first served) alongside some of the surfing elite (Slater and many of the other featured surfers should be there). After the premiere, musical guest Radio 4 will rock the house. For details check the site...

Nyquist at Motocross Championships

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:38:36 EST

Fresh off his second win in a row in BMX Dirt, Ryan Nyquist is going to make an appearance at 26th Annual Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships showing off Thor Gear. Nyquist will hold his demo on Monday, July 30, at the home of country music singer Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. You have to love the release wording, saying "Nyquist recently topped the podium in BMX Dirt at the 2007 AST Dew Tour, an event quite similar to freestyle motocross."

Jereme Rogers Joins Plan B

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:26:26 EST

Plan B made it official Wednesday, naming Jereme Rogers as the newest member of its skate team. He joins Danny Way, Ryan Sheckler, P-Rod and more... It wasn't so long ago that Jereme was homeless, so to speak, after he was booted from the Girl team. Now, here's hoping he can focus and get back to form with a new place to call home.

Win Free Stuff From Us

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:39:24 EST

As you may know, sometimes we like to give stuff away at Lat34. We've got a couple of cool giveaways going on now through the end of August. One is the new TransWorld SKATEBOARDING DVD "Let's Do This!" -- this thing hasn't even hit stores yet and we got 10 of them to give away! Of course, it should come out in a week or two, but still -- free beats paying any day of the week, doesn't it. We're also giving aways a skate package from Boarders skate shop, which will include a deck, wheels and a shirt. To enter check the site for details

New Yorkers: Check out Zoo York's Upstate Tour This Weekend

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:31:47 EST

If you live in New York, you might be interested in Zoo York's Upstate Tour this weekend -- hitting Albany and Rochester. You will get a chance to see Zoo Yorkers Donny Barley, Kevin Taylor, Forrest Kirby, Anthony Shetler, Brandon Westgate, Ron Deily, and Matt Miller. Here's the full sked: July 28 � Albany, NY Signing: TSX Skateshop @ 2:00pm July 29 � Rochester, NY Signing: Holler Skateshop @ 2:30pm Signing: Krudco Skateshop @ 4:00pm Demo: X-Dreams Skatepark @ 5:00pm Thanks to the good folk (that's not a typo -- it's one dude) at the South of the North Blog for the heads up. For more Zoo York, go to the official site.

Ron Jon Surf Shop To Offer Sneak Preview Of Billabong's

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:32:20 EST

Residents of Cocoa Beach, Florida and nearby counties are gonna be some of the first to check out Billabong's new surf film "Trilogy" as Ron Jon Surf Shop has decided to host a sneak preview of the film at their Cocoa Beach shop on August 11th. The screening will be held at the store's outside parking lot so fans are advised to bring beach chairs, blankets, and any device (except alcohol) that'll make them comfortable outdoors. For precise store information check Ron Jon's website. To find out more about the film "Trilogy" which features surfers like Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson and Andy Irons check the film's official website.

lrg fit bike 1LRG And Fit Bikes Collaborate On Bike Design

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:33:03 EST

From Individual Sole: Fit Bikes are one of the leaders of BMX bikes and they have just recently collaborated with LRG to come out with 19 bikes, which will sell for over $1,000 each. They are all OG styling from the 80s-90s with camo patterns mixed with Fit Bikes and LRG logos. Check out this link for more pics.

Adidas Skateboarding Reveals Its '08 Spring/Summer Line

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:34:33 EST

The people at Guillotine have wayyyyy early images of Adidas Skateboard's Spring/Summer '08 line. The preview includes variations on classic Adidas' sneakers such as the Gazelle, the Campus, and the Superstar, all of course designed with the skaterboarder in mind. While there's a sneak peak below you can catch the full line over at Guillotine.

Stephen Murray Update: Steadily Improving

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:36:22 EST

In Denver Stephen seems to be taking the small steps needed to improve his condition. Here's the latest update from his family as posted on BMXTalk.com: So much has happened since Stephen arrived its hard to imagine we have only been here in Denver for less than 1 week. Stephen's clincial team are amazing. His Primary Doctor has everything under control and is taking care of all the underlying problems Stephen has had in the last 4 weeks to enable Stephen to move forward and really start his rehab. Stephen has seen an ENT consultant for his trach, gastroenterologist for his stomach problems, Respiratory consultant for his lungs, dieticians, speech and languate therapists besides his regular nurses, phyiso, occupational therapist. Everyone is so caring. On Friday he had a 3rd tracheostomy as there was a problem with air leaking from the previous 2. This one is successful and has made his breathing so much more comfortable. In fact they started weaning him gently of the respirator on Saturday. They disconnected it for 2 mins and Stephen breathed on his own. Yesterday (Sunday) he breathed 4.5 mins on his own. This is an enormous feat and we are very encouraged and hope that each day he increases this more until finally he will be able to do without. Of course this takes time but we are hopeful that if everything goes to plan he will be off his vent in 4-5 weeks. Fingers crossed. Also Stephen's blood count has been quite low and so today (Monday) they are giving him a blood transfusion which will stop him from being so lethargic and will bring the colour back into his cheeks and renew his energy. Amongst all of this he passed his swallow test today and had vegetable soup, ravioli, roast potato, melon and strawberries and 2 cups of tea and of course vanilla and chocolate icecream! This has been a huge boost for him now that he can eat nornally again and they are hoping that if he continues to improve he may be able to actually speak again by the end the week. I'm not sure whether it was eating which was the highlight of today or the fact that he had physio and used an automatic exercise bike for 6 mins. His eyes lit up as he watched his legs move with the pedals. The physio then took him to see the FES bikes. These are similar to exercise bikes except electrodes are attached to your legs which stimulate the muscles to move your legs themselves and pedal the bike. The physio there said that normally patients who used these bikes were not on a ventillator but if Stephen passed a stimulator test then she would start him off. Guess what. Test passed and Tuesday 10:00am he will start using these amazing machines. You have no idea how much this has motivated him he has never stopped smiling all afternoon. We hope to continue with the updates about twice a week giving you a report on his progress. Stephen has asked that we send his thanks for all your well wishes, he is amazed by the support that you all have shown and looks forward to your emails each day. Thanks The Family Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

AmsterDamn Am Skate Contest Results

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:39:26 EST

If you were looking to find the next Tony Hawk you might have been trekking across the Atlantic this past weekend, to the real city of sin: Amsterdam. That's where you would have caught Volcom's 2007 AmsterDamn Am skate competition, where young up-and-comers gathered to show their stuff and hopefully get more limelight. The contest consisted of a street event as well as a best trick competition, the results of which are shown below. For full coverage of the event check out the wrap up from the Skate Park Of Tampa crew and a photo gallery from the event. Main Event Results: 12th � 100 Euros � Leander Geelhoed 11th � 100 Euros � Dustin Blauvelt 10th � 100 Euros � Sierra Fellers 9th � 200 Euros � Riley Hawk 8th � 300 Euros � Donovan Piscopo 7th � 400 Euros � Anthony Shultz 6th � 500 Euros � Justin Figueroa 5th � 1000 Euros � Shuriken Shannon 4th � 1250 Euros � David Loy 3rd � 1500 Euros � Alex Mizurov 2nd � 2500 Euros � Danny Cerezini 1st � 5000 Euros � John Dickson

Burton Announces Global Open Series Dates, Adds Canadian Open

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:42:49 EST

The Burton Global Open Series just got more...global. Not only did Burton announce the 2007/2008 dates for the series, it also added a new event: the inaugural Burton Canadian Open held at the Canadian Olympic Park in Calgary. Thus the series that boasts one of the biggest payout in snowboarding ($100,000) will now have a calendar that looks like this for the '07/'08 season: Burton New Zealand Open�August 7-11, 2007�Snow Park, New Zealand Garnier Fructis Australian Open�August 21-25, 2007�Falls Creek, Australia Burton Canadian Open�December 3-9, 2007�Canadian Olympic Park Burton European Open�January 11-18, 2008�Laax, Switzerland Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open�Feb 25-Mar 2, 2008�ALTS Bandai, Japan Burton US Open�March 17-23, 2008�Stratton Mountain, USA

NY Times Covers Murray

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:44:59 EST

In our Right Guard Open recap we mentioned how the New York Times had a story about Stephen Murray and how his accident has exposed some of the issues with insurance in the action sports industry. It's certainly not the first story about the issue, nor will it be the last, but it did have an interesting quote from Skate Vert vet Pierre-Luc Gagnon, who didn't hold back on his thoughts. �NBC is trying to do good things to raise money to help him out, but it shouldn�t even be an issue at this point, because he should have been insured by the event,� he said. �How are we putting our lives on the line at every stop like this and they can�t even have insurance for us in case something terrible like this happens? It�s garbage.� The article is definitely worth a read here. One bit that we didn't have in our original coverage (and which isn't noted in the article) is that Daniel Dhers followed Ryan Nyquist in donating his $15K in winnings to the Stephen Murray Recovery Fund (aka the Stephen Murray Family Fund). With X Games coming up, the concern about insurance will not go away, though, as previously reported, X Games does offer supplemental insurance. The organization Pro Riders (ProRiders.tv), which is mentioned in the article, is trying to redouble its efforts to develop a "union" for riders from the main action sports. Even in Baltimore, before Murray's accident, Pro Riders was trying to make an impact (a photo from Baltimore is below). Last weekend, there were many more riders visibly supporting Pro Riders with stickers and patcheS. It will be interesting to see if this tragic event is the catalyst for an organization like Pro Riders to finally succeed. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Video: Kevin Robinson Preps for Big Air

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:45:34 EST

Seems today is K-Rob day on Lat34 -- after the vert vet scored fourth at the Dew Tour this weekend, you know he's looking forward to the X Games where he is considered a very strong contender in the Big Air competition. After all, won the debut of the event last year. To prep (in addition to some fun at the pre-ESPYs party) Robinson and friends, including Chad Kagy, went to Bob Burnquist's house in SoCal to get some practice runs on his Mega Ramp. Red Bull, one of K-Rob's sponsors, took some video and we just happen to have gotten our hands on it -- check it out below!

Phillip Soven Wins Wakeboarding Title in Portland

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:46:00 EST

At 18, Phillip Soven is showing that he's no longer the future of wakeboarding, but the now. Soven took the overall MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour title by winning the competion last weekend in Portland over Rusty Malinoski. Last year's tour winner, Danny Harf, ended up equal 3rd with Adam Errington. On the woman's side, Shelby Kantar got her first overall title by upsetting favorite Amber Wing in the finals. Wing was second in the overall standings as well, followed by Emily Copeland Durham. Read more about his win here.

K-Rob, Sheckler, Pastrana Ads For X-Games

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:47:14 EST

Speaking of X Games, with the big event only nine days away you will be seeing more about it on this site and everywhere else but have you seen those ads? The "Original Works of Sport" ads combine animation with athletes like Ryan Sheckler, Travis Pastrana, and Ricky Carmichael in action. The Kevin Robinson one (below) is pretty funny, and I guess to marketing people this is a branding campaign worth discussing at great length. If you are interested in what they think, check out the story, but you can also check out the website for the "Original Works of Sport" campaign to see some interviews, etc. about the clips. It's worth visiting the site to see the creepy Ryan Sheckler marionette in flash (pic at right)... So heres the commercial featuring Kevin...

Relive the X Games Top Moments With New DVD

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:47:42 EST

A new DVD comes out today from ESPN featuring the best of the X Games, appropriately called "The Best Of X Games." Depending on where you look. the DVD is chock full of either 113 or 172 minutes of X Games highlights, but expect some amazing footage from all of the big events, including BMX, Skate and FMX, an long lost events like Mountain Biking and Inline Skating... Specifically you'll see Tony Hawk landing the 900 and Travis Pastrana doing the double backflip, plus many other memorable moments. There should be a ton to choose from... Buy it on Amazon or Walmart (don't laugh -- it at least has the right cover art!). Amazon is cheaper, though.

Dew Cup Race - Current Standings

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:48:39 EST

Now that two stops have been completed in the 2007 AST Dew Tour it's a good time to look at the Dew Cup standing as athletes march on for a chance to win $75K. Just how important are these two stops? Well, for the first two years of the Dew Tour, 11 of the 12 leaders after two stops went on to win the Dew Cup. The only one who didn't was Kevin Robinson, who led the BMX Vert standings after two stops in 2005 -- but only because Jamie Bestwick, the eventual winner, was not around for the first stop. Last year Travis Pastrana and Nate Adams were tied after two stops in the Dew Cup points race and Adams held on to win after Pastrana dropped out midway through the season. That said, unless injury or other factors keeps one of the current leaders from competing, there's a pretty good chance the current lineup will be the same that takes to the podium in Orlando when the big checks are handed out. The leaders are Shaun White (Skate Vert), Ryan Sheckler (Skate Park), Jamie Bestwick (BMX Vert), Daniel Dhers (BMX Park), Ryan Nyquist (BMX Dirt) and Nate Adams (FMX). If you're keeping score, four of those guys won the Cup last year (White and Nyquist the exception). You can see the full leaderboard Right here.

Cleveland's View of the Dew Tour

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:49:18 EST

The AST Dew Tour suffered through a difficult Sunday yesterday, losing one set of finals (FMX) due to the wind and having another (BMX Vert) delayed for hours. So what did Clevelanders think about the Dew Tour? Well, they weren't too happy about the cancellations, but so it goes. "It sucked," said Nick Banks, 12, of Wellington. "We wanted to see everything, but it was still cool that they were doing tricks for us." Banks referred to the runs that FMX competitors did instead of running the finals. Though the conditions were bad, they could still do basic tricks... The location on the North Coast Harbor was mentioned in the article, but no mention that the Gravity Games successfully held events there in the past. Attendance was noted as 50,656 over four days -- less than the 76,000 who attended the 2004 Gravity Games. Whether or not Cleveland will have the Dew Tour next year is still up in the air. Denver had the Right Guard Open in 2005 and 2006. Read the article here.... And if you want more recaps on the Right Guard Open, check out our full recap, full of photos and more....

Simon Tabron Wins Mystery BMX Vert Finals at Dew Tour

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:50:17 EST

So the saying goes, what if they held a BMX Vert competition and no one watched? Well, apparently, Jamie Bestwick would lose a Dew Tour competition for the first time in a year. The Dew Tour website has results of a BMX Vert final posted, but no announcement yet about when it happened or what actually went down to result in the odd results that are posted. Not that Simon Tabron isn't great -- but Jamie Bestwick 7th? Behind Francisco Zurita, even? The loss, of course, means that Bestwick can't sweep the season, but in 2005 and 2006 he did lose one tour stop (actually, he missed one in 2005 and lost one in 2006 to, you got it, Simon Tabron). Last we heard from the scene -- around 7 p.m. local time -- the place was empty and riders were leaving, etc. But since the the FMX Prelims were held on Saturday night around midnight, anything's possible. Full results are below. No scores tallied for John Parker or Jimmy Walker, leading one to believe they might have missed the finals, as some riders were reported to have left. We'll see if we can some photos from the Dew Tour on this one. We have some photos from eariler in the days as riders tried to start the competition before entering an indefinite rain delay. You can see that photo gallery HERE. Full results... BMX Vert Finals - 7/22/2007 Rank Name Score 1st Tabron, Simon 91.67 2nd McCann, Steven 90.83 3rd Kagy, Chad 90.67 4th Robinson, Kevin 89.33 5th Eggleston, Jay 88.00 6th Zurita, Francisco 88.00 7th Bestwick, Jamie 87.00 8th McCoy, Dennis 83.33

Wind May Cause Cancellation of BMX Vert at Dew Tour

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:51:07 EST

It looks like the wind that played havoc with the FMX Finals today (and indeed led to their canceleation) may do the same with BMX Vert. The contest tried to start but the high winds first lef to scaling back the competition to a make-shift best trick comp, then to their postponement altogether. As of a few minutes ago, an indefinite wind delay was called for the event and most of the athletes had left the compund (as well as fans). More as it's announced.

FMX Finals Canceled at Dew Tour; Adams Wins Based on Prelims

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:51:38 EST

Some breaking news from the scene at Cleveland -- today's FMX finals at the Dew Tour has been canceled because of weather conditions -- the wind coming in off of Lake Erie. FMX had been plagued with problems and the prelims were moved from Thursday until this morning. The prelims will determine the winner of this stop. Those results are below, with Nate Adams placing first, Takayuki Higashino placing second and Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg returning to form in third. NBC will still televise FMX during its TV broadcast today, though it will feature only demos and prerecorded content, Lat34 has been told. More as it's announced. Prelim/Finals results: FMX Prelims - 7/22/2007 Rank Name Score 1st Adams, Nate 92.67 2nd Higashino, Takayuki 91.67 3rd Stenberg, Jeremy 90.50 4th Mason, Mike 90.00 5th Jones, Adam 89.67 6th Bamburg, Beau 88.83 7th Lusk, Jeremy 89.33 8th Faisst, Ronnie 87.33 9th Potter, Todd 86.00 10th Richmond, Myles 84.33

Skate Vert - Full Results and Awesome Photos

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:52:51 EST

We told you all about Shaun White's amazing comeback in Skate Vert yesterday -- now you can see some photos from the event. Some great stuff. See the gallery here. Also, here are the full results, so you can see where everyone else ended up in the standings. Plus there are a few photos after the results to whet your appetite for the gallery. Skate Vert Finals - 7/21/2007 Rank Name Score 1st White, Shaun 90.25 2nd Lasek, Bucky 89.00 3rd Burnquist, Bob 87.00 4th Glifberg, Rune 81.75 5th Macdonald, Andy 80.75 6th Ringstrom, Mathias 80.75 7th Ueda, Lincoln 80.25 8th Lorifice, Rob 79.00 9th Gagnon, Pierre-Luc 72.00 10th Mayer, Danny 61.75

BMX Park Results/Photos

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:54:35 EST

We promised you more, and now you have it -- we already told you that Daniel Dhers won, followed by Ryan Nyquist and Garrett Reynolds, but the full results are below -- the top six riders faced off in a final ride and their scores were averaged, so that's why Morgan Wade can be in #6 with a lower score than Allan Cooke and others. A couple of names that were big in Baltimore, Mike Spinner and Dennis Enarson, didn't make much of an impact in Cleveland. Spinner was apparently sick and under the weather and didn't have the energy he needed to power through. Check out a sample of the photos after the results -- but you will want to see the see the gallery here. BMX Park Finals - 7/21/2007 Rank Name Score 1st Dhers, Daniel 93.92 2nd Nyquist, Ryan 93.25 3rd Reynolds, Garrett 90.75 4th Harrington, Josh 90.75 5th Mirra, Dave 90.25 6th Wade, Morgan 87.58 7th Cooke, Allan 90.00 8th McCann, Steven 89.50 9th Kiraly, Kevin 87.67 10th Enarson, Dennis 86.83 11th Spinner, Mike 86.33 12th Canina, Diogo 83.17

Shaun White Has Amazing Comeback Win in Cleveland

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:56:40 EST

So if it wasn't clear before, the skateboarding world knows that Shaun White has truly arrived. After falling on his first two runs and injuring his wrist, White came through in his third and final run with a trick-filled bonanza, blasting past Bucky Lasek, who had a comfortable lead after two runs. Lasek had one final chance to catch White on the final run of the day, but fell on his first trick attempt after dropping in. While White has won multiple tour stops in the AST Tour, this victory will likely rank as one of his sweetest, as he was completely stunned that he was able to pull out the win. "I just dug as deep as I could. I landed that run and I'm just in awe right now," White said after his win. Most riders fell at least once, if not multiple times during their three run sets and White's injury seemed to indicate he would not repeat as skate vert champ after winning in Baltimore. Lasek finished the contest in second, followed by Bob Burnquist. The obvious question is now: Can Shaun White sweep the Dew Tour? "That would be amazing for me. I'm off to a good start so I don;t want to jinx it," he said. "What a cool way to start off this whole tour for me." We've got some great photos -- See the gallery here. The Top Five 1. Shaun White - 90.25 2. Bucky Lasek - 89.00 3. Bob Burnquist - 87.00 4. Rune Glifberg - 81.75 5. Andy Macdonald - 80.75 More, including photos, coming soon. Below, a couple of photos from the skate vert prelims...

Taj Burrow Wins Billabong Pro

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:57:00 EST

Taj Burrow has edged Kelly Slater to take the Billabong Pro in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. The win makrs Burrow's second win on the Foster's ASP World Tour (following a win at Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro) and he's now ranked #2 for the tour following Mick Fanning, who he beat in the semifinals. With his strong finish, however, Fanning continues to build up his lead to taking his first Foster's ASP World Tour title. You can read a full recap of the final day of action right here. Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Final Results: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 6.17 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Semifinal Results: Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.17 Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.83 def. Dean Morisson (AUS) 13.76 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Quarterfinal Results: Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.33 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.93 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 12.34 Heat 3: Dean Morisson (AUS) 12.66 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 11.50 Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.23 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.33 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 4 Results: Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.66 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 7.00 Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.00 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.17 Heat 3: Daniel Wills (AUS) 15.83 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.10 Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.66 def. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 4.84 Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.66 def. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 6.13 Heat 6: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.50 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 5.17 Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.17 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.23 Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.53 Foster�s ASP World Tour Ratings after the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay: 1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 4860 points 2. Taj Burrow (AUS) 4286 points 3. Andy Irons (HAW) 3921 points 4. Kelly Slater (USA) 3840 points 5. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3804 points 6. Damien Hobgood (USA) 3599 points 7. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3057 points 8. Daniel Wills (AUS) 2942 points 9. Dean Morrison (AUS) 2838 points 10. Travis Logie (ZAF) 2810 points

Ryan Nyquist Wins BMX Dirt Title; Donates Winnings to Murray

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:58:22 EST

Ryan Nyquist showed Friday night why he is considered one of the nicest guys in the sport of BMX. After winning his second AST Dew Tour stop in a row in Cleveland, he announced he was donating his winnings to Stephen Murray and his family. Murray, of course, was injured last month during the BMX Dirt finals at Baltimore's Panasonic Open, the first Dew Tour stop. After winning that contest, Nyquist was visibly shaken by Murray's accident and the full extent of his injuries weren't known. Murray was paralyzed and after several operations in Baltimore was recently transported to Denver for further treatment. Check back soon for more details including photos and the full results.

Lasek, White Top Skate Vert Prelims in Cleveland

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:00:02 EST

Bucky Lasek showed that he is fast returning to form after skating in Baltimore with an injured knee (and still placing fourth) by finishing first in the Skate Vert Prelims in Cleveland's Right Guard Open -- his 91.50 was miles ahead of second-place finisher Shaun White's 83.75, but White won't need to worry -- busted tricks in his second run hurt him, and he's still going to be tough in the finals. Danny Mayer was a surprise #3... Missing the finals again was Sandro Dias, who has really fallen off the radar following his season finish of No. 2 last year. Here are the full result for the Skate Vert prelims -- top 10 advance to the finals. Skate Vert Prelims - 7/20/2007 Rank Name Score 1st Lasek, Bucky 91.50 2nd White, Shaun 83.75 3rd Mayer, Danny 83.25 4th Macdonald, Andy 82.75 5th Burnquist, Bob 81.50 6th Glifberg, Rune 80.50 7th Gagnon, Pierre-Luc 79.50 8th Ringstrom, Mathias 78.00 9th Lorifice, Rob 77.75 10th Ueda, Lincoln 76.75 11th Brown, Jake 76.75 12th Furlong, Anthony 76.50 13th Taylor, Adam 74.25 14th Dias, Sandro 71.00 15th Dufour, Max 69.75 16th Halterman, Buster 64.75 17th Hendrix, Neal 64.00 18th Postec, Jean 63.50 19th Gentry, Chris 59.25 20th Perelson, Alex 54.25

Sheckler Wins Skate Park Title in Cleveland

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:01:18 EST

We'll be bringing you plenty of more details about this coming up, including photos, but Ryan Sheckler has won the Right Guard Open's Skate Park finals in Cleveland, OH. The Skate Park premlims first had to be completed today due to being washed out by rain. It was good for Carlos De Andrade, who took the opportunity to find a place in the finals after jumping up to 3rd place in the qualifiers. Ryan Sheckler declined to take his second run since he was already locked into the finals in 6th place with his first qualifying run. After the first two heats, Ryan Sheckler placed first with a 91.50, followed by Austin Seaholm with an 89.00. Greg Lutka battled back after a tough first run to score an 83.75, but it was not enough to make the top six, which went on to the jam to close out the finals. The jam was wild with Sheckler coming alive as he normally does.-- after the Jam 1 scores, Sheckler had a commanding lead -- scoring a 94.75 in the jam. That gave him a six point lead over second place Carlos De Andrade. Rest of the finalists -- UNOFFICIAL SCORES! 7. Greg Lutzka - 83.75 8. Jereme Rogers 79.50 9. Rodney Jones 79.00 10. Dayne Brummet - 77.50 11. Jason Barr - 74.25 12. Chris Cudliff - 71.50 Qualifiers (finished 7/20) 1. Greg Lutzka 2. Rodolfo Ramos 3. Carlos De Andrade 4. Austin Seaholm 5. Chris Cudliff 6. Ryan Sheckler (only one run) 7. Dayne Brummet 8. Mike Peterson 9. Kurtis Colamonico 10. Rodney Jones 11. Jereme Rogers 12. Jason Barr Missing the finals (again) was Paul Rodriguez.

Marks, Guettler Lead BMX Dirt Prelims

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:02:33 EST

After being delayed from the previous day due to rain, the BMX Dirt prelims took place this morning in Cleveland for the Right Guard Open. Some bg changes on the leaderboard after some brand new names made the cut -- well, not so brand-new, but just some returning faces. One thing to note -- last year's Dew Cup winner in dirt Anthony Napolitan was back to form, coming in 4th, after missing the finals last month after injuring himself in prelims. Also good to see Joey Marks at the top of the board, followed by Ryan Guettler. Here's the results of the prelims -- with the finals coming tonight... Top 12 advance. BMX Dirt Prelims - 7/20/2007 Rank Name Score 1st Marks, Joey 92.17 2nd Guettler, Ryan 90.67 3rd Nyquist, Ryan 90.00 4th Napolitan, Anthony 89.83 5th Canina, Diogo 88.67 6th White, Cameron 88.50 7th Parslow, Luke 87.83 8th Bohan, Corey 87.83 9th Cooke, Allan 87.50 10th Ellis, TJ 87.50 11th Foster, James 87.33 12th Nastazio, Cory 87.33 13th Enarson, Dennis 87.33 14th Dillewaard, Dave 87.00 15th Wade, Morgan 86.67 16th McCann, Steven 86.17 17th Young, Gary 86.17 18th Gerber, Chris 86.00 20th Darden, Rob 85.00 21st Clark, Michael 84.50 22nd Laguna, Ricardo 84.00 23rd Searls, Dane 82.33 24th Foster, Brian 81.17 25th Mackay, Colin 80.50 26th Cleveland, Michael 80.00 28th Wirch, Scott 73.33 29th Doyle, Chris 73.33 30th Hult, Josh 70.17

Soggy Start to AST Dew Tour Causes Delays, Headaches

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:04:14 EST

Okay, in Baltimore, it was rain -- in Cleveland, rain played hell with the first day of action at the Right Guard Open (stop #2 of the AST Dew Tour). First, the FMX prelims were moved (to Friday), then the rain let up enough for the BMX Vert prelims and, soon after, the Skate Park prelims to start. The BMX Vert prelims were able to be completed (unlike the weird situation in Baltimore where the prelims were moved around because of wind) but Skate Park was called off as rain came with a couple of skaters left to complete their second heat (including someone named Ryan Sheckler). So "officially" results are not available for Skate Park. And then because of the rain BMX Dirt and Skate Vert prelims were moved to Friday. According to the weather gods, tomorrow should be partly cloudy with about 20% chance of rain, but Saturday and Sunday should be clear and sunny with 0 percent chance of rain. Even though the Skate Park prelims didn't officially finish, we have TONS of photos from the event, covering a bunch of skaters including Sheckler, Jereme Rogers, Greg Lutzka, Paul Rodriguez, Fabrizio Santos, Carlos De Andrade, Kyle Berard, Kurtis Colamonico, Nilton Neves and Baltimore surprise Mathieu Therres, just to name a few. It's so big, we have TWO galleries, one HERE and one HERE. And we have some photos below, too... Like I said. TONS. All photos cr. Michael Nakonachny | � 2007 Lat34.com...

Jamie Bestwick, Chad Kagy Lead BMX Vert Prelims

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:03:56 EST

As for the BMX Vert prelims, here you go -- Jamie Bestwick finished comfortably in first, followed by crowded field, with only one change in the riders making the finals in the Cleveland competition vs. Baltimore's Panasonic Open last month (the first stop of the AST Dew Tour). Kevin Robinson stayed on his bike, making the cut at number seven in the prelims, while Zack Warden, who thrilled the audience last month by landing a new trick at the Panasonic Open, missed the cur in number 12. Also missing the cut, Koji Kraft in number 11 and Austin Coleman in 20th. Riders will have a long time to wait for the finals, which will close out this year's Right Guard Open on Sunday, July 22, at 5 p.m. ET -- the finals will not be televised and unless a webcast is announced, the only way to enjoy Jamie Bestwick's probable victory will be through photos, video clips and the written word. Here are full results from the BMX Vert Prelims...

Guess What - J-Bay is Off

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:03:38 EST

Contest organizers have decided Firday will not be the final day of the Billabong Pro Jeffrey's Bay -- understandable with inconsistent swells. At least this time the call was made around 7 a.m. local time, instead of 12 noon -- so Mick Fanning's march to the title will have to wait one more day.... Tomrorow night, as we tune into USA's coverage of the AST Dew Tour on midnight we will have one browser open to (hopefully) watch the end of the contest. Otherwise, there's always Sunday...

USSA Breaks Ground On Innovative Sports Complex

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:03:18 EST

If you're really serious about your snowboarding and/or skiing you might wanna start making plans to move to Utah. That's because the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has broken ground on an innovative new $22.5 million sports complex in Park City. Check the blog for more....

Quiksilver To Premiere

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:02:58 EST

Got nothing to do July 26th? Why not spend some time at the beach getting some free food, and kickin' it with top notch surf pros and fellow surf enthusiasts? Quiksilver is giving you the chance to do just that as it premieres its newest film, "Young Guns 3" which features up-and-coming surfers... Check the blog for more details

Danny Way Missing the X Games

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:42:08 EST

As was expected, Danny Way is not going to compete at the Big Air event at X Games 13 next month, meaning for the first time, someone other than him will walk away with the gold in the contest. At the DC King of LA Skate event earlier this month, Way said he was preparing to have surgery on his ACL. And while he has actually participated in the Big Air event without an ACL in the past (in 2006) and with a broken ankle in 2005, he seemed unlikely to do so this year. With Way out, Bob Burnquist, who has a megaramp in his yard, becomes the heavy favorite in the event.

Still No Action at J-Bay

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:38:29 EST

Contest organizers once again waited until noon local time before calling off the day's action at the Billabong Pro in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. There are three days left in the waiting period and organizers are confident they will be able to fit in the action in the next day or two. Here are the Round 4 match-ups for the Billabong Pro Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA) Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS) Heat 3: Daniel Wills (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF) Heat 4: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS) Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS) Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS) Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

Oakley Preps Wake Film

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:36:55 EST

akley is preparing the release of their latest film, the wakeboarding flick "Push Process" -- it will feature Oakley athletes Keith Lyman, Aaron Rathy, Andrew Adkison, Amber Wing, George Daniels, Danny Hampson, Dallas Friday and Jack Blodget -- all of whom contributed to the film more than as just participants. The movie will premier on November 10 at Oakley Headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California. Visit the official site for more about the movie.

Blake "Bilko" Williams Update

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:11:02 EST

Aussie FMX rider Blake "Bilko" Williams broke his foot during the FMX finals in Baltimore's first AST Dew Tour stop and he is going to miss this weekend's action in Cleveland and next month's X-Games as a result, as well as probably the next couple of Dew Tours (if not the rest of the season). Here's a snippet of his latest update of how things are going for him. Well, I'm finally back home now. It's been quite an adventure with highs and lows, but mainly lows. My first week in hospital was a nightmare, after having my foot and ankle put back into place while I was awake I laid in bed for another week waiting for surgery. But because I wasn't critical I kept getting pushed back by people who needed doctors more than me. Eventually my foot became too swollen to operate on and they told me I would have to leave the hospital as they cant keep me there for that long waiting for the swelling to go. At this point my manager who had stayed with me had to return to California, so my dad flew over to rescue me... haha. ... So we arrived in California and had an appointment to see Dr Deiman. he works with Dr Alexander, and they are the doctors for riders such as Deegan, Nate, Chad Reed, Grant Langston, Kevin Whindham, the list goes on! It was good to know i was seeing a Doctor with a lot of dirtbike experience. He told me my foot was a 9 out of 10 stuffed but fixable. I had a slight blood infection so he admitted me to Hospital straight away for IV antibiotics, and scheduled the surgery for 2 days later. I had the surgery and all went to plan. I was in hospital for another week. I had 3 pins in my foot, the type that stick out the skin so they can be removed without surgery, like a nail thats not hammered in all the way, a screw in my ankle and a fair few clean ups on my knee. I still have a torn ACL though that needs to be fixed but other than that I'm all on the mend. I then returned home and since have had some quality time on the couch. I will be returning to America in 2 weeks to do some commentating at the X Games so that should be fun, followed by a further 4 weeks on crutches and hopefully knee surgery then. ... It's a disappointing end to what could have been but its the risk we take in the sport and thats all there is to it... And while I'd actually really love to post them here, but maybe some of you are eating breakfast, there are some gnarly photos of his foot and leg after the operation. You can check them out, as well as the full update, here.

Red Bull X-Fighters Visit Poland

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:10:31 EST

The next Red Bull X-Fighters contest may not hit Madrid until July 27, but that doesn't mean the riders are taking the time off. Sure, some of them are hitting other comps, but some are also doing a side tour. One such tour happened earlier this month as several riders hit seaside cities in Poland, making crowds in towns such as Miedzyzdroje, Pobierowo, Koloborzeg, Sopot and Gdansk very happy... The team of riders making the tour included Chris Birch, Nick Franklin, Jimmy Verburgh, Mathieu Rebeaud and Ronnie Renner and we have a nice photo gallery of some of the demos that were done. There will be a live webcast of the next X-Fighters contest on the official site... You can check out some photos below, but the full gallery is here.

Oakley to Release New Limited-Edition Super-Cool Must-Have.... Wait, What Are We Talking About?

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:09:58 EST

So ignoring the fact that Oakley's being bought by some huge corporation (not that it wasn't pretty darn big before), the company is going to have some limited-edition sunglasses coming out that will feature custom designs from well-known artists, musicians and designers from around the world. The "Square O" collection will be featured, and each release will be available in limited quantities and only available at exclusive retailers... Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last... Anyway, one of the first artists featured will be Art Chantry, who is best known for his grunge-inspired poster and album art that captured the Seattle grunge scene. He worked with bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden, and the special edition glasses will feature a collage borrowed from his catalog of more than 300 posters and album covers...They are called HIJINX Art Chantry Edition sunglasses. Now this is interesting and all (here's a story about it), but it was even more interesting when these sunglasses were announced the first time, a couple of months ago...

Skatopia v. Skatopia

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:09:12 EST

New blog South of the North poses the question whether Ohio's established Skatopia is aware of, or even cares about a clothing company named Skatopia that is getting some high fives from Hypebeast. It looks like the website is based in Taiwan so even if they have the same name, good luck trying to do anything about it. After all, I think they sell Parnosonic and Sorny TV sets there, right?

Billabong Pro JBay Round 3 Finished

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:03:16 EST

Day 7 was cut short and action was limited to just two heats, but at least Round 3 saw its end at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay. As the rest of the field sat and watched Adriano de Souza beat Bruce Irons to advance to Round 4 and Bede Durbidge ousted Rodrigo Dornelles to do the same.

J-Bay is On -- May Finish Today

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:08:12 EST

The Billabong Pro Jeffrey's Bay is set to start any minute. It's 12 noon in South Africa, and at least the remaining round three heats should be completed, as well as some round four heats. It's doubtfull the whole event will finish as a big swell is expected tomorrow and the event will want to finish on a high note... More as it happens, but you can also watch along live on the official site

Stephen Murray Update: Trying the Move Again

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:37:18 EST

Stephen's move to Denver appears to be back on. Here's the latest update from his family as posted on BMXTalk.com: The last couple of days Stephen has remained stable and is looking forward to Rehab in Denver. We've been told that he will fly tomorrow (Tuesday). As you can imagine,there has been a lot going on in the background and we apologize for not giving you every detail as we appreciate there are literally thousands of people around the World who are concerned about Stephen and his well being. For everybody out there who are sending your well wishes, please just keep your fingers crossed. The trip to Denver is worrying but essential and we have done everything possible to make sure it goes smoothly this time. Once again, thank you for all your support, it means more than you can ever imagine. Additionally, The Washington Post has a very well-written, in-depth story on Stephen and what he's gone through, with the most access and behind-the-scenes information that has been revealed thusfar. Many of Stephen's close family and some close friends are interviewed, and it fully covers the accident and its aftermath. There is no real news that hasn't been previously reported, but for a package of information up to this point, this is very well done and worth a read. It's also worth a mention that it features one of the only published photos of Stephen after he seperated from his bike, but before he landed -- giving readers a look at what an awful position he was in... Read the article here. There is another article from the Baltimore Sun from a few days ago that explains a little more about the intricities of how insurance and these big competitions work, but the family didn't provide any quotes to that one. Still, some interesting information. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Paris Hilton Surfs With Bra Boy, Flashes Paparazzi

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:36:54 EST

Here at Lat34.com we pride ourselves on bringing you the latest information on surfing celebrities... Well, we actually don't care that much but when surfers like Kelly Slater keep hanging with women like Cameron Diaz what are we supposed to do -- ignore it? As the Brits might say, not bloody likely. Anyway, as it is, there's this woman named Paris Hilton you may have heard of (she's a faux actress/singer or something) and while she's been caught surfing before (read here about a little journey to Hawaii), it appears that she's actually getting serious about the sport. Why's that? Well, she's working with Australian big wave surfer Koby Abberton, one of the infamous Bra Boys, to help give her some pointers. Abberton was in Malibu last weekend to work on Paris' form (and before you get any ideas, there's nothing romantic here -- Abberton's girlfriend Tahyna Tozzi was also there) and the result was a paparazzi's dream. Not just pictures of Paris in a bathing suit (one-piece, not a bikini) or pictures of Paris on a surfboard - but pictures of Paris' top slipping down to expose herself to her friends (and the watchful eyes of the paparazzi). We're not going to post those photos here -- you can check Egotastic for that -- but we do have a small gallery of some of the other photos of her in "action." - Check it Out Worth noting (again) that the Bra Boys documentary has been a huge hit and Russell Crowe (who narrates the doc) is developing a Hollywood version of it -- maybe Hilton is looking to get a part in the yet-to-be-cast film? Here's a taste of Paris.

AST Dew Tour Sets Up Auction For Stephen Murray

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:36:16 EST

Since Stephen Murray's terrible accident at the first stop of the AST Dew Tour, there have been a number of benefits and auctions started, all with the goal of helping raise fund for the rider's medical bills. However, the Dew Tour itself was notably absent from those announcements -- at least until now. The AST Dew Tour has announced an impressive set of auctions, some already started, and some coming up, that will run through August 10th. All the auctions will be held on CharityFolks.com, a leading online marketplace for nonprofit fundraising, and can be accessed at the URL www.charityfolks.com/astdropsin. All of the auctions will raise funds for the Stephen Murray Recovery Fund. The recovery fund is a larger fund that has been organized and all funds from the more-publicized Stephen Murray Family Fund go directly into it. Already up for bid: * "Dirt-N-Vert" � Authentic GuitarMania Guitar Signed by the 2007 Right Guard Open Champions - Minimum Bid: $3,000 * Autographed Ryan Sheckler Deck (that he will use at the Right Guard Open in Cleveland) - Minimum Bid: $200 * Dave Mirra Autographed BMX Bike - Minimum Bid: $200 * Adam Jones Autographed Freestyle Motocross Gear - Minimum Bid: $150 * Paul Rodriguez Autographed Skateboard - Minimum Bid: $160 * Chad Kagy Autographed BMX Competition Helmet & Shirt - Minimum Bid: $85 * Autographed Anthony Napolitan BMX Helmet - Minimum Bid: $75 Items still to come: * Camp Woodward scholarships * Travis Pastrana signature series dirt bike * Shaun White autographed skate deck * X Games 13 VIP Trip Package * Dew Tour Finale VIP Trip Package and more to come... Read more about the auction here or check out the auction directly here... Also, here's a photo of the cool guitar that is up for auction (pictured in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame).

More Stephen Murray Auctions and Benefits

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:35:15 EST

While Stephen Murray continues to recover from his injuries, there are still ways to support him and his family. The BMX community in the UK has set up a series of auctions to help raise money, ranging from autographed magazines to full bikes. Just keep in mind not all of these auctions will ship to the US (so check). A recently-completed auction from Albe's and DK raised $1,000. Also, here are a couple of upcoming events that will help raise money for the Stephen Murray Family Fund. One of them happens tomorrow in Huntington Beach, but the other one is on August 4th, smack dab during the X Games on August 4th. It's to honor S&M Bicycles' 20th Anniversary.

Swag for the ESPY's Nominees and Presenters

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:34:19 EST

Did you catch the ESPY's yesterday? Sure you did -- if you didn't, we have the winners and recap, photos from the show, pre-event party recap and pre-event party photos.. But anyway, check out what you would have gotten in the gift bag if you were a nominee or presenter at the show. * ALEK Essentials - ALEK Scrub, C-Silk Eye Therapy, Firming Face Serum and Spa Robe * An annual world deluxe subscription to Ancestry.com * BBP super ergonomic hybrid messenger backpack * Breville_juice_fountain_plusJuice Fountain Plus JE95XL from Breville USA * Alias, Grey's Anatomy and Lost DVD box sets * Free burritos for a year from Chipotle Mexican Grill * Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Pass * Dr. Assil Eye Institute gift certificare for LASIK * ESPN Golf Schools Three Club Tour gift certificate * iGourmet.com gift certificate * Invicta Anatomic Watch * A gift certificate for 4 to attend show taping and green room access, a Jimmy Kimmel Live hoodie and hat * Two-night stay at the Mondrian Hotel South Beach * Two-night stay at the Palms Casino Resort * Rosetta Stone 3-month online language subscription * Transformers_optimus_prime_voice_chSonic Impact Video 55 portable iPod player * Sports Club/LA bi-coastal membership * TeamBabyEntertainment.com gift certificate And this is only a selection -- if you want to see the whole list, click here...Not sure if anyone will actually use half this crap, but so be it...

Jennifer Smith Crowned 2007 ASP Women�s World Longboard Champion

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:33:36 EST

American Jennifer Smith was named the 2007 ASP Women's World Longboard Champion yestrday following her victory in the Roxy ASP WWLC in France. Smith edged French surfer Justine Dupont in the finals, 11.00 to 9.00. More about the event here....

Set Your Tivo: AST Dew Tour TV Schedule For Next Weekend

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:33:05 EST

Here's the Dew Tour TV Sked for you if you're not lucky enough to be in Cleveland this weekend!* AST Dew Tour Stop #2 - Right Guard Open (Cleveland, OH) July 19-22 Thursday 7/19/07 - Open Qualifiers/practice/prelims - NO TV Friday 7/20/07 - BMX Dirt Finals (USA 12-1 a.m. PT/ET) Saturday 7/21/07 - Skate Vert Finals + Skate Park finals highlights (Live on NBC 4-6 p.m. ET/1-3 p.m. PT) BMX Park Finals (USA 12-1 a.m. PT/ET) Sunday 7/22/07 - FMX Finals (NBC 4-6 p.m. ET/1-3 p.m. PT) * Sked is subject to change. Last month, FMX ended up streaming online and BMX Vert was on TV. At this time, though, no BMX Vert planned for TV, though there may be highlights on Sunday. The exact TV subjects for AST Dew Tour stops 3-5 is to be released, but they always have Friday/Saturday night on USA at midnight, then Sat/Sun live on NBC from about 4-6 ET (or 3-6 p.m. ET) Here are the dates for you so you can mark those down: AST Dew Tour Stop #3 - Vans Invitational (Portland, OR) August 16-19 AST Dew Tour Stop #4 - Toyota Challenge (Salt Lake City, UT) September 20-23 AST Dew Tour Stop #5 - PlayStation Pro (Orlando, FL) October 18-21 We have a lot of Dew tour coverage onLat34 so we'll keep you updated.

Billabong Pro: Round Three Almost Done at J-Bay

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:31:21 EST

The Billabong Pro at J-Bay got some action in today before the comp was called after only five heats of action due to small swells. But those five heats did include Kelly Slater and Bobby Martinez advancing... Still to go - Bede Durbidge v. Brazillian Rodrigo Dornelle and Bruce Irons against Adriano de Souza (also from Brazil). Here are the full results from Round 3 so far (including today)... Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.83 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 10.90 Heat 2: Taylor Knox (USA) 12.07 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.83 Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.50 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.00 Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.83 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 6.00 Heat 5: Danny Wills (AUS) 14.67 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 8.34 Heat 6: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.33 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 10.90 Heat 7: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 9.33 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 6.66 Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.34 def. Shaun Payne (ZAF) 9.27 Heat 9: Andy Irons (USA) 12.84 vs. Warwick Wright (ZAF) 10.33 Heat 10: Frederick Patacchia (HAW) 11.50 def. Chris Ward (USA) 10.17 Heat 11: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.84 def. Michael Lowe (AUS) 12.67 Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) 15.34 def. Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 11.84 Heat 13: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.00; Luke Munro (AUS) 12.33 Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.50 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 9.33 Want more info? You can check out the official Billabong Pro site We also have a a photo gallery for the earlier rounds.

Simpsons Vans Sell Like Hotcakes -- On EBay

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:30:49 EST

If you weren't one of the few hundred people who lived within driving distance of the dozen or so stores that started selling super-limited Simpsons-themed Vans shoes (you can read more about that here), don't worry -- you can still pick up a pair. On Ebay. So far we see 68 pairs for sale (as of press time) on the wonderful Internets auction site, with one pair -- Chukka Boot LX (size 12) -- selling already for $400. Ouch! Of course, the shoes were $100 plus tax out the door. Oh well -- good luck and good bidding. Check out the auction here...

Latest Stephen Murray Benefit Draws More Pros

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:29:46 EST

The local BMX community in SoCal has continued to band together to support injured rider Stephen Murray -- with the latest fund raiser happening Saturday at the house of brothers Rick and Mike Lakin. Many of the same pros who have come out to support Murray in two previous benefits held at The Compound in Perris, CA, showed up again, including Cory Nastazio, Corey Bohan, Dave Dillewaard, Corey Walters and TJ Ellis. We were there, and we have a recap here as well as a photo gallery here.... Following are a couple of photos, as well...

Stephen Murray Update

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:18:44 EST

Though his condition continues to improve doctors are keeping Stephen in Baltimore for a little longer. Here's what his family wrote on BMXTalk.com: This is a difficult E Mail to write but we want you know the facts. First of all, let us say that Stephen's condition is continuing to improve. Thursday morning started early with a sensation examination by the neurosurgeon. This was a high point as Stephen showed more signs of sensation in his upper arms, and at various places from his buttocks to his toes. Then came the transfer to Denver. Check the website for more details

# Torstein Horgmo Takes Overall Rider Award At The Abominable Snowjam

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 03:17:56 EST

When Volvo is sponsoring the top overall prize for an event you know the swag has gotta be good. Torstein Horgmo can tell you just that as his Volvo Overall Rider Award at the 2007 Burton Abominable Snowjam came with a new 2008 Volvo C30 attached. Oh yeah runner-ups have nothing to complain about too as Hana Beaman and Scotty Lago were each presented with 2007 Harley-Davidson XL 1200N Nightster motorcycles for bagging the event's Most Inspired Ride Award. All this after 3 days of events.

Day 3 At The Billabong Pro JBay Complete

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:02:40 EST

The Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay keeps chugging along with the top pros doing what they always do, dominating. Day 3 saw pros like Mick Fanning and Andy Irons breeze past their wildcard competition as half of the round 3 match ups were completed. Next up: Kelly Slater and Dean Morrison. Oh yeah and what's this we hear about a shark in the water? Check the site for more details....

Scott Byerly and Dylan Slater On Fuel TV's "The Daily Habit"

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:36:30 EST

If you don't know what your doing this weekend Fuel TV's got some suggestions for you, and they all happen to involve watching Fuel TV. If your not a subscriber to digital cable or satellite then you're probably outta luck kid. Wakeboarder Scott Byerly (Friday, July 13th) and Pro Surfer Dylan Slater (Monday, July 16th) will be featured on the "The Daily Habit", while Skateboarder Kristian Svitak will stars in the original series "Firsthand" on Sunday, July 15th. To get the complete rundown of who and what else will be appearing on these programs as well as the different air times check the site for details

X-Dance Hopes You'll "Pray For Me"

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:35:39 EST

A documentary about legendary former skateboard pro, custom-chopper builder, and full-time lowrider Jason Jessee doesn't only involve hard work and production deadlines, it also involves death threats, drug transportation, customs, the FBI, loaded weapons, international travel, and debt. But all the filmmaker's blood, sweat and tears don't go to waste as X-Dance is going to screen "Pray For Me: The Jason Jessee Film" as part of its free Hollywood Screening Series on August 21st at Cinespace Hollywood. So mark the date on your calendar, especially if you got a hot date and you want to impress her with something out of the ordinary. Read more at the site...

Dogtown And Surfrider Host "The Green House Effect"

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:37:09 EST

The boys (and girls) over at Dogtown aren't resting on their laurels. Instead they're keeping busy with 5 new deck designs, a boutique style clothing line named "Dogtown Select", and the planning for an event called the "Green House Effect". Check the site for more details...

Billabong Pro is Going Off in J-Bay

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:10:41 EST

The Billabong Pro contest in Jeffrey's Bay started off yesterday and will go through at least all of round one today, with all the obvious names (Slater, Irons, Fanning, Hobgood) advancing. The only name of note to not advance was Taj Burrow, who lost in his head to CJ Hobgood. Burrow will have to wait until round two to see if he can bounce back from his bad luck at the Rip Curl Pro in Chile. Here are the results so far for round one... Round 1 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Results: Heat 1: Luke Stedman (AUS) over Shaun Cansdell (AUS) and Tom Whitaker (AUS) Heat 2: Daniel Wills (AUS) over Mark Occhilupo (AUS) and Raoni Monteiro (BRA) Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) over Phillip Macdonald (AUS) and Troy Brooks (AUS) Heat 4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) over Fredrick Pattachia (HAW) and Gabe Kling (USA) Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) over Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Trent Munro (AUS) Heat 6: CJ Hobgood (USA) over Taj Burrow (AUS), Neco Padaratz (BRA) Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) over Ben Dunn (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS) Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) over Jeremy Flores (FRA), Shaun Payne (ZAF) Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) over Michael Campbell (AUS), Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA) over Chris Ward (USA), Warwick Wright (ZAF) Want more info? Check out the official site and webcast.

Tons of Results From the Abominable Snow Jam: Beaman, Kass, Bleiler Among Winners

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:09:36 EST

Burton's Abominable Snow Jam is going off at Mt. Hood, Oregon, and there are plenty of familiar names at the top of the podium. In Tuesday's halfpipe competition, Danny Kass took the top honors, followed by Kevin Pearce and Scotty Lago. In the women's competition, Gretchen Bleiler was first, followed by Kelly Clark and Clair Bidez (who also won best trick). Wednesday's quarterpipe finals had a few surprises, with Torstein Horgmo and Kevin Pearce taking the top two spots. Less of a surprise was Hana Beaman (pictured) taking first for the women, followed by Yuki Furihata and Kelly Clark. All the action wraps up today with the slopestyle finals. Stay tuned for more info and photos! Halfpipe Final Results - 07/11/07 Men: 1. Danny Kass 2. Kevin Pearce 3. Scotty Lago Best Trick - Keir Dillon (alley-oop McTwist) Women: 1. Gretchen Bleiler 2. Kelly Clark 3. Claire Bidez Best Trick - Claire Bidez (frontside 900) Quarterpipe Final Results - 07/10/07 Men: 1. Torstein Horgmo 2. Kevin Pearce 3. Mason Aguirre 4. Jake Blauvelt 5. Dustin Craven Highest Air - Fumiyuki Murakami (2008 Polaris 600 RMK Snowmobile) Best Trick - Scotty Lago: Alley-oop 720 Truck Driver (Rolex Watch) Women: 1. Hana Beaman ($5,000) 2. Yuki Furihata 3. Kelly Clark 4. Mag Pugh 5. Leslie Glenn Highest Air - Kelly Clark (2008 Polaris 600 RMK Snowmobile) Best Trick - Yuki Furihata: McTwist (Rolex Watch) If you need more you can visit the official site.

Stephen Murray Update: Leaving Baltimore

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:08:45 EST

Some good news -- Stephen Murray is going to be moved from his current location in Baltimore to Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Here's the latest update from his family on BMXTalk.com: What an unbelievable day this has been. For once every single thing that we aimed for we achieved. Nothing is impossible! The day started early with the arrival a clinical ascessor from Craig Hospital Denver, Colorado. Her job was to determine whether Stephen would be suitable for their Rehab facility. During the 3 hour meeting, Stephen was accepted and a bed was available for tomorrow, Thursday, the last admission day for this week. The family were informed of how his Rehab programme would proceed. The next step was to organise the air ambulance without wasting a minute as the cut off time was 4pm.With half an hour to spare we got the thumbs up. Telling Stephen he would be leaving Baltimore was the high point of the day and the expression on Stephen's face was priceless. After Stephen's journey was finalised, the rest of the family started organising their travel plans and accomodation for Denver. Vans and Rockstar Drinks , once again, came up trumps and kindly took the job out of our hands. Many thanks go out to Jerry Badders and Steve Mataus for ensuring that we will all be arriving tomorrow, just a few hours after Stephen himself. Stephen continues to progress, gaining more movement in his right shoulder. He's a tough cookie, says his wife, Melissa. The pneamonia is diminishing and his condition remains stable. Two firsts for Stephen today were that he had his first breath of fresh air since the accident and he swallowed for the first time. When Melissa offered him Lemon or Chocolate ice cream, his definate response was "Both!" Close friends Adam Aloise and Joey Marks(who travelled 10 hours), came to see Stephen before tomorrow's departure. Tomorrow we leave Baltimore behind and looked forward to Denver. The most important thing about the time spent in Baltimore was the total dedication, love and expertese of the staff at University of Maryland Hospital, especially the team of the Shock Trauma Unit. The family cannot thank them enough. Words cannot exppres our gratitude to each and every one of them. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family. - Lat34.com

Hanging in Hollywood With the Sports Elite - The ESPYs Extreme Party

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:51:38 EST

So Lat34 was up in Hollywood last night for a big pre-party for the ESPY's, which happen tonight (but air on Sunday). The party had an "Extreme" theme, based around a 30-foot mini ramp in the parking lot that crossed over to a halfpipe. There were about a dozen X Games athletes there (including Chad Kagy, Kevin Robinson, Morgan Wade, and more) doing a demo for a couple of hours as the guests arrrived. And guests there were -- We have a full recap here along with a photo gallery. There were so many people it was hard to keep up, incluidng a bunch of pro NFL ballers. We kept our eyes open for the action sports guys and we saw a few -- Ryan Sheckler, Rob Dyrdek and Travis Pastrana, to name a few. I think Torah Bright was there -- need to see if we can dig up a photo of her. But there were a ton of people. You should read my recap because I don't really hold back any punches there -- the paparazzi were hilarious. The whole scene was crazy. But it was fun in the end. Though I am starving -- you go to these things and even though there is free food and drink everywhere, who can eat? Kudos to ESPN for putting on a great party at a great location. I think the X Games parties are going to be sick. One more time, here are the links to the recap and photo gallery. Plus a few photos below to get you started. More on Lat34.com

Stephen Murray Update: Special Visitors and More

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:50:39 EST

Here's the latest update from Stephen Murray's family on BMXTalk.com: Sorry for the wait for this latest update, the trip to Denver and the fact that so much has happened in the last 48 hours that it's hard to comprehend. OK, the last couple of days have certainly been a rollercoaster. First of all, Sunday, Stephen was exhausted due to lack of sleep, however, his pneumonia has almost passed and his temperature is near normal and his lungs are improving. So, Melissa has been awesome and supported him whilst Cynthia and I have travelled 5600 miles, 4 plane journeys in 26 hours to Craig Hospital in Denver Colorado and back. This was an experience but that's another story. The most positive thing that came out of this trip is that Craig is definately the place that Stephen should have his Rehab.Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Craig hospital, is flying a nurse to Baltimore to see if Stephen is ready to fly to Denver, this could happen as soon as Thursday or next Monday, depending on when we can organise the Air ambulance. Stephen is definately focussed on getting out of ICU and geting into Rehab and we will update you as and when. Yesterday, Stephen's Dad, Jeff, and his Grandad, Bob arrived from the UK, this put the biggest smile on his face you can imagine. This is a huge support for the rest of the family. Today has been extremely busy and somewhat tiring but very productive for Stephen. He recieved 4 distinguished visitors.The first was Wade Martin, President of the Dew Tour, who flew in from Chicago, specifically to see Stephen for the day. This was amazing and the family would like to thank him for the time and everything he and the Dew Tour have done for Stehen and continue to do since the accident. The next two were Dr John McDonald( a true inspiration)(Google him) and Patrick Rummerfield( Google him aswell)(unbeilievable). Dr McDonald will be his outpatient rehab Dr, after Stephen has finished at Craig. However, the biggest smile on Stephen's face appeared when Brian Foster (BMX legend and one of Stephen's hero's) came to visit. Stephen says he is now over ICU and his main focus is getting well enough to take the Air Ambulance journey to Denver ASAP. We have had so many headaches with Stephen's health insurance, so next time anybody has anything to say about the NHS, thank your lucky stars you live in the UK. Many of you may not have met Melissa, Mason or Seth but Melissa would like you to know how much your messages of support mean to the family. Keep them coming. We also have a couple of photos of Stephen here that some of you may have seen on the myspace website of The Compound -- they were taken at The Compound by owner Shane Guillen on June 18th, only a few days before Stephen left to Baltimore for the Dew Tour. You can see them below. Shane sent them over with the following message: The organization "ProRiders.tv" needs to be taken much more seriously. This kind of stuff can not continue. Extreme athletes need to think a little bit more about their future and the future of BMX/extreme sports, and come a little, no, a lot, closer together. What we do is more dangerous than NASCAR, NFL, Hockey, Sky Diving, etc. The only sport that compares to us BMXers/FMXers is "Bull Riding." And we are the bulls??? And how much do "they make"?? The Compound has already held two benefit jams for Stephen and is teaming up with friend Rick Lakin to do a dirt jump contest in Woodcrest, CA, on July 14th, with all money again going to Stephen Murray Family Fund. Check out a flier below, but here are the details: When: July 14, 2007 Where: 15510 Rancho Sonado Dr., Riverside, CA 92504 Read more on Lat34.com

Vans Preps A Simpsons Line Of Shoes

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:08:23 EST

Right in line for the release of what should be the greatest film of all time based on the greatest TV show of all time (well at least in this humble writer's opinion) Vans has released a line of shoes inspired by the upcoming "The Simpsons Movie" (release date July 27th) designed by 12 artists.

New Website Serves As Beach Guide For Surfing Brits

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:06:57 EST

In the internet's never-ending crusade to inform and assist comes the recently launched SurfingGenie.com, a website intended to provide up-to-date information to British surfers on their motherland's beaches. Check the page for details

Hotdogs And Hessians

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:04:36 EST

Don�t miss this skate jam @ Active Temecula-Friday July 20th. The Ambiguous crew will be there to help celebrate Braydon�s introduction to the Active 2007 Pro Team, and so should you! Free food and drinks, skate jam madness, give-a-ways, and a ton of other stuff that can�t even mention.

Protest in Arkansas For and Against Skateboarders

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:22:25 EST

Protesters came out in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Sunday to show their support for both sides involved in the Go Skateboarding Day arrests that have made national headlines. On one side, protesters held up up skateboard decks and signs as they walked the streets. On the other, supporters of the police officers involved wore shirts that had the following slogan emblazoned on it: C.O.P.S - Citizens Opposing Punks on Skateboards. A spokesman for the protesters spoke of the international impact that this story now has, thanks to the power of the Internet. Meanwhile, one of the "C.O.P.S." brigade said it was simple -- a police officer shouldn't be put in any trouble for cracking down on kids who were breaking the law. See the video for yourself here - but you may want to have IE -- I couldn't make it work with Firefox. Meanwhile, the EBay auction for the Cops vs. Skateboarders video is over and there were no bids -- the minimum bid was $1,000. We'll see if it's relisted.

Billy Marks Video - Balls Not Skates

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:21:18 EST

Saw some good video on the Skatepark of Tampa site of Billy Marks doing some crazy stuff with ping pong balls. I guess he has plenty of free time to keep practicing these tricks. Pretty funny stuff. The video has gotten a zillion views (okay, about 850,000)...

Many, Many More DC King of LA Skate Photos

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:20:42 EST

So a couple of days ago we posted a bunch of photos from the final event at the DC King of LA skate competition at LA City College -- but yesterday we got some more! So just in case you didn't see it in the story, here you go -- Action shots from DC including shots of the top four skaters in action plus an additional gallery from the finals. And of course, there's the original gallery, along with the original recap. More photos than you can shake a stick at. And get this -- for free I am posting a couple below as well... You're welcome.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Live Earth in Five Minutes

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:42:05 EST

At least that's about how much time it took me to read this recap of NBC's three-hour recap of the Live Earth concerts from around the world. Why should you care? Well, because it's the world, man! I caught a few songs here and there on Sirius radio -- ranging from Roger Waters to The Beastie Boys to The Pussycat Dolls (not one of my favorite moments, I admit) to a bunch of people from Brazil I have no idea who they are.. We also have a photo gallery here of some of the artists you may have seen or missed... Jack Johnson, The Police, AFI, The Beastie Boys and a couple of more... Some photos below. Note to the MSN folks -- when I try to watch any recap clips, I get a great "Zune" ad -- but nothing beyond that. I tried about three or four videos and am done. Ah well, at least I heard some of it... Here's the official site for you.

Stephen Murray Benefit Race Raises More than $3K

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:41:32 EST

A UK benefit race in Milton Keynes has raised more than $3,000 for the Stephen Murray Family fund. Here's an update from one of the users who was there on BMXTalk.com: ok so only 87 riders turnt out, but those riders and their friends and family were very generous. Once running costs were subtracted like toilet hire we made �1625.00 for Stephen or approx $3120.00. Sorry we thought it was more when we counted it on site we didn't mean to misslead anyone, counting all that cash in the back of a van isn't an ideal situation. Thanks to every one who helped out at the event today, especialy Conrad who was the ripe old age of 40 today, Happy Birthday Mate I beleive some of the top raffle prizes will be donated to the next fund rasing event, lets hope this happens again and again and again and eventualy they go on the auction site. Thanks to those who made the effort to come at such short notice, it isn't just about the money, The fact that people Stephen has never met are prepaired to do this for him will give a huge boost. STAY STRONG We gave you an update yesterday about the second benefit jam at The Compound. We also got a photo from Pete Demos of Haro Bikes who was there -- it's below. Great group shot. Check out the recap and photos from the jam.

Volcom Vid of Quiksilver Bowlriders

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:41:04 EST

Last month Rune Glifberg took home the top spot in the Quiksilver Bowlriders comp in Sweden. Volcom's got a sweet bit of video highlights from the event which we have helpfully posted for you below. Included are shots of Lance Leichster, Martin Jurasek, Ipod, Alain Goikoetxea, Ivan Rivado, Dennis Busenitz and more...

Khodr Wins WQS Mr. Price Pro

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:40:19 EST

Brazillian surfing champ Jihad Khodr took the Inaugural Mr. Price Pro in Durban, South Africa Sunday, defeating ASP Foster's Wortld Tour surfer Jeremy Flores, who is ranked #12. Khodr entered the contest ranked #25 on the WQS and domincated Flores in the finals, scoring a combined 16.33 to Flores 12.14. Check out a recap of the final day of action.

Second Stephen Murray Benefit Jam a Hit

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:39:44 EST

A bunch of pros including Corey Bohan, Dave Dillewaard, Ryan "Biz" Jordan, Luke Parslow stopped by The Compound in Perris for the second Stephen Murray Benefit Jam... Also on hand, Corey Nastazio, Murray's former housemate, along with a ton of fans and well-wishers. We were there for this event and check out the recap then see photos from the jam and see some of the thoughts and prayers those on hand had for Stephen... All money made at The Compound from both events will go directly to the Stephen Murray Family Fund. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Alvarez Wins DC King of Skate Title

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:39:16 EST

Vince Alvarez has won the overall King of LA Skate title from DC Skate. Alvarez won the final stop of four at LA College on Saturday, and took the title in a tiebreaker. Lat34 was there and we have photos and a full recap. Check out who was there...

Kona Celebrates 30 Years

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:38:49 EST

Kona Skatepark, the longest-operating skatepark in the country, had its 30th Anniversary on Saturday, and on hand to help celebrate were Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, Mike McGill, Benji Galloway and a bunch of others. Not much info on what happened quite yet, but here's a short recap. Would've been a great event to see...

Redman-Carr Grabs WQS Win at Mr. Price Pro

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:38:24 EST

The Women's WCT is in the midst of a long break, from April's Rip Curl Pro to next month's Billabong Girls (in Brazil on August 20th), but there's still some women's surfing going on in the WQS. Two of the top-ranked women surfers in the world, Melanie Redman-Carr (ranked equal #8) and Rebecca Woods (ranked equal #4) met up on the finals of the Mr. Price Pro in South Africa Saturday, with Redman-Carr taking the match 14.50 to 13.50. The win gives Redman-Carr the top spot in the WQS rankings for the season. The men's final will take place Sunday. Check out the recap of the women's match and the official site of the Mr. Price Pro for other info.

Stephen Murray Update: Some Good News

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:37:52 EST

Here's the latest update, including what seems to be some pretty positive news, from Stephen Murray's family on BMXTalk.com: First of all, Stephen and his family would like to send thanks out to everyone around the World who have sent messages and well wishes, it is a source of inspiration for all of them. They would like to send out special thanks to the medical team at the Dew Tour and the Paramedics in the Ambulance who gave Stephen mouth to mouth and CPR. It is hard to put into words their gratitude.They cannot thank them enough. Today has been a better day. The pneumonia is now in remission and his temperature has dropped for the first time to under 100 and is now at 99.7. He still remains on the ventilator but they are slowly weening him off and we remain optimistic. Today, Stephen has been in the wheelchair twice for 2 hours each time, which is tough because it's very uncomfortable and hard to get used to because it makes him dizzy. This morning a DVD with well wishes from riders who attended Red Bull Elevation in Whistler, Canada arrived and Stephen was stoked to see it although he was disappointed that there was no footage of the actual contest. He has asked to see footage of the crash from Baltimore. The fact that he wants to see it and know what happened is a sign of how mentally strong he is. Tomorrow Cynthia and I are flying to Denver to see Craig Rehab Centre, which is predominately for Athletes like Stephen. The average age there is 33 and they are known for aggressive Rehab therapy. Also we are looking at Shepherd in Atlanta Georgia later in the week. Where he has his Rehab is vital to his recovery and so we feel we should visit each facility before making a decision. Melissa will be at Stephen's bedside whilst we travel. Jeff and Stephen's Grandad arrive on Monday a couple of hours before we return. Thank you once again for all your love and support. Keep it coming. A couple of personal notes -- We have gotten emails from users asking about the video of Stephen's crash, mainly because we have a a video on YouTube of a crash Stephen was in last year at the Dew Tour in Orlando (here) -- people find it and think that it's "the" crash. When they find out it isn't, they ask where it is. We have seen the video but did not shoot it or own it -- so please don't ask us to post it. If it is released by the family and permission given to use it, we would make the decision at that point as to whether or not to show it. Also, I saw another web site write in a story about a rider almost "pulling a Stephen Murray" when he had to bail during a run at an event. Then I saw that same phrase on another site. Classless and no respect. My advice -- you see a site say that, let them know what you think and never read them again. I would expect you to do the same to us. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family.

Daewon Song Parties For His Fuel TV Premiere

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:37:20 EST

Speaking of Daewon Song (see the note below), he had some friends over to his place in Chino to watch the premiere of his episode of "First Hand" on Fuel TV. DVS put together a highlight video of them hanging out to promote the future viewings of the show, which wraps up this weekend (airs Sat. at 6 p.m. ET and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET). Check it out below.

Boyz 'N The Hood Skate Tour Coming to Oregon

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:36:43 EST

This should be fun -- a three-stop skate tour featuring Daewon Song, Jeron Wilson, Steve Berra, Mikey Taylor and Torey Pudwill are going to be in Portland and Mt. Hood, OR later this month for the DVS Boyz 'N The Hood tour. Check out the times below, but demos will be help on 19th (Portland), 20th, and 21st (Mt. Hood). And get this, for a special guest, snowboarder Marc Frank Montoya will be throwing down with the group. He holds his own...

Volcom's "Let's Live" - New Teaser + Premiere Dates

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:36:11 EST

Check out the latest teaser for the new Volcom DVD "Let's Live," dedicated to the memory of Shane Cross -- coming out early August on DVD, but being premiered across the globe over the next month. It features action from down under through Shane Cross, Dustin Dollin, Jake Duncombe, Lewis Marnell, Chima Ferguson, Chris Wood, Joe Pease and Shane Azar throwing down with Mark Appleyard, Rune Glifberg, Darrell Stanton, Nick Trapasso and other Volcom mates.

Stephen Murray Update: Pneumonia Recovery

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:15:06 EST

Here's the latest update on Stephen's condition from his family on BMXTalk, with Paul Roberts taking over for Martin Murray for the moment.... Alright, Martin flew back to the UK last night and has asked me to take over the updates until he returns. Some good news yesterday, the hospital changed Stephen's medication and the nightmares and hallucinations he was having have since gone away. His temperature fluctuated yesterday peaking at 103 but is now back down to just below 101. The hospital have explained that this is to be expected and we're hoping that it will return to a more normal level. We appreciate that a lot of you are worried about the pneumonia but this is almost par for the course and the fact that the hospital caught it early and are treating it with anti-biotics can only be a good thing. Although Stephen's visitors are restricted to family, we decided to make an exception when Travis Pastrana dropped in 10 minutes after Martin left for England.(unlucky Muzz) This was a huge boost for Stephen and definatlty put a smile on his face. Today has been a quiet, settled day of rest, which is greatly needed since he is still in critical condition. Melissa has been by his side all day while Cynthia and I have been in meetings for 7 hours with various organisations relating to rehab. Please keep your E mails coming as they are a great source of support to Stephen and his family alike. The amount of concern and support from everyone has been nothing short of phenomenal and is very much appreciated. Believe. Meanwhile, there are two events happening this weekend that will help raise money for the Stephen Murray Family Fund, including the second Benefit Jam at The Compound in Perris, CA on Saturday and a benefit race in the UK on Sunday at the Milton Keynes Pineham track (more info on that). Meanwhile, be sure to check out the EBay auction of a new Autographed DK 6 Pack Bike -- Check it out here. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page and visit www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com to donate to help Stephen and his family. - Lat34.com

Burton New Zealand Open Announces Riders

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:10:13 EST

Burton's Abominable Snow Jam kicks off on July 10th, but they're also already looking forward to the New Zealand Open in August, from the 7th to 11th. Mason Aguirre and Kelly Clark are the defending champs, and there are a bunch of newcomers looking to get by them, including local riders Juliane Bray, Mitch Brown and Kendall Brown, all of whom represented New Zealand at last year�s Winter Olympics. Get a little more info about the New Zealand Open and the Burton ASJ.

J-Bay is Coming

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:09:39 EST

The ASP is getting all ready for its next event in J-Bay, South Africa. It's the Billabong Pro, and the holding period starts July 11. We've got a preview here. Conditions should be ripe for the contest -- Surfline is predicting some sweet conditions. Should be interesting as current ASP leader Mick Fanning won there last year (and in 2002), and current world #3 Andy Irons has a win there as well. If Kelly Slater comes, he should make it a tough contest....

Cop vs. Skateboarders Video For Sale on EBay

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:59:28 EST

Drew Irwin, the skateboarder who filmed a cop using what appeared to be excessive force against a group of skateboarders on Go Skateboarding Day in Hot Springs, Arkansas, just dropped us a not to let us know he is selling his video on EBay. Irwin was among a group of six skateboarders who were arrested on a variety of charges by officer Joey Williams, who was caught on video holding some of the skateboarders in a headlock and twisting their arms around behind their backs. The video he shot was posted on YouTube and instantly took off, becoming one of the top-viewed videos on the site with nearly 1.5 million views in only a couple of weeks. The story drew national attention as Williams was placed on administrative leave and investigated for the possible use of excessive force. He was cleared by a review panel earlier this week. Irwin and the other skateboarders will have their first trial date on July 20th. Currently the EBay auction has 0 bids with a starting bid of $1,000. We're assuming that the money will help pay for Irwin's defense. Check out the auction yourself. This is how the tape is described: Go skateboarding day : cops vs skaters Uncut complete video of incident in Hot Springs AR between Police and several youths. This is the complete uncut un-censored video of the complete day leading up to during the incident and after the arrest of the youths. The buyer will be purchasing all rights to use, sell or distribute the contents of the video. The buyer will have the only copy of the complete tape. No other copies have been made or given to anyone else. For more about this story, check out our last update on Lat34.com.

Team USA Takes the X Games Surf Crown

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:35:45 EST

The men's team for the USA has won the X Games surf crown over the World team. A solid effort from the whol USA team, lef by Rob Machado and Chris Ward, led the team to a very close win over the World team, which had Mick Cambell, Jay Quinn and Julian Wilson stepping up. The final score was a close 81.75 to 81.00, with the US dominating two periods but being annihilated in the third when the win was in sight. Here are the results for the contest... Team USA Rider - Period 1, Period 2, Period 3 Shane Beschen - 8.0, 9.0, 1.5 Rob Machado - 8.0, 8.5, 6.25 Clay Marzo - 7.5, 7.5, 7.0 Peter Mendia (Bench) - 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 Baron Knowlton (Bench) - 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 Chris Ward - 8.5, 10.0, 0.0 TOTALS - 32, 35, 14.75 Team World Mick Cambell - 7.5, 5.5, 9.75 David Rutherford - 4.5, 0.0, 1.0 Mar Ohno (Bench) - 0.0, 0.0, 1.5 Jay Quinn - 0.0, 6.5, 9.5 Rizal Tanjung (Bench) - 5.5, 7.5, 1.5 Julian Wilson - 9.5, 5.0, 8.75 TOTALS - 27, 24.5, 29.5 The win means Team USA took both the men's and women's competition. Click here to check out the women's results. We'll have photos and more soon!

Russia Grabs the 2014 Winter Olympics

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:35:14 EST

I guess things like this do need to be planned out a bit in advance, but honestly I have a lot of other things on my mind that are more important than the 2014 Olympics, which are now a scant seven years away. But I guess the city of Sochi in Russia will need the time to prep. Located on the Black Sea, the city edged out Pyeongchang, South Korea (Salzburg, Austria was previously eliminated). Start placing your bets on what phenom snowboarder will be the star of those games for the US. Shaun White may still be active then, but I wouldn't bet he would be an Olympian. But what do I know. So here are your official sites for the next four Olympic Games: - 2008 Summer: Beijing - 2010 Winter: Vancouver - 2012 Summer: London - 2012 Summer: Sochi Read more about the announcement or visit Sochi's campaign site. Oh, and where the hell's Sochi?

Stephen Murray Benefit Jam Recap + More Updates

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 07:55:10 EST

It was a busy Fourth of July. First, the first of two Stephen Murray Benefit Jams has gone down at The Compound in Perris, CA -- it's Stephen's hometown training grounds and a bunch of fellow pros including Corey Bohan showed up to give their support to Stephen. Lat34 was there and we have a full recap along with a photo gallery which shows who was there, along with their personal message of support to Stephen. We're looking forward to Saturday's event as well... Meanwhile, the auction we mentioned a few days ago of a new Autographed DK 6 Pack Bike is underway on Ebay -- Check it out here. So far, bids are up to $310, but expect that number to rise, rise, rise as we near the auction close on July 14. There will be some more auctions coming up soon as well -- these in the UK done with the support of the Murray family. Here's some info on that from BMXTalk:. Stephen Murray Stay Strong UK Ebay Auction In an effort to pool the efforts of the UK BMX Family together, we have set up an Ebay Shop as a central point to sell donated items to raise funds for Stephen Murray and his Family in his time of need. All proceeds will be donated to the Stephen Murray Family Fund. We'll get you more info as items start getting added there... Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen on our Stephen Murray update page.

Bartels Leads Women's Team USA to X Games Surfing Win

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:29:27 EST

Team USA has won the first ever Women's X Games surfing competition, with Melanie Bartels leading the USA team while Stephanie Gilmore and Chelsea Hedges both had strong performances for the World team. Overall, the USA won by a score of 55 to 52, taking two of the three scoring periods. Here are the scores: Team USA Rider - Period 1, Period 2, Period 3 Rochelle Ballard - 7.0, 2.0, 3.0 Melanie Bartels - 8.5, 4.0, 6.0 Keala Kennelly - 5.0, 3.0, 5.0 Courtney Conologue - 5.0, 3.0, 3.5 Carissa Moore (Bench) - no score Megan Abubo (Bench) - no score Team World Stephanie Gilmore - 7.5, 3.5, 4.0 Sofia Mulanovich - 3.5, 2.0, 3.5 Chelsea Hedges - 6.0, 3.5, 5.5 Claire Bevilacqua - 1.5, 6.5, 3.5 Paige Hareb (Bench) - no score Lee Ann Curren (Bench) - 3.0, 0.0, 0.0 FINAL Period 1, Period 2, Period 3, Total Team USA: 25.5, 12, 17.5 - 55 Team World: 20, 15.5, 16.5 - 52 The men's competition kicks off tomrorrow at 8 a.m. Thursday on EXPN.

Stephen Murray Update - Pneumonia

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:20:47 EST

Some updates posted by the Murray family on BMXTalk about Stephen's condition: Unfortunately Stephen has developed pneumonia as a side effect of his injury. The hospital assures us that this is commonly associated with spinal chord injuries so we're confident that with antibiotics they can get this under control. As a result of this he has really high temperatures and sleeps for most of the day. He's also suffering from bad nightmares as a side effect of one of the sleeping aids they are giving him so they are changing this. Poor kid has all this to deal with alongside his broken neck. This has knocked his breathing ability back quite a bit so we are no further forward with getting him off the ventilator and he is still in intensive care. He'll eventually come through this though and hopefully we can start thinking of the best rehab facility for him to go to. We have a meeting with the Christopher Reeve foundation on thursday who have kindly offered their support and guidance. Updates to follow Murrays Also, some news that a fund previously set up in memory of the the late UK BMX rider Rob Indri, who knew Stephen, has been donated to the Murray fund. The Stephen Murray Benefit Hame is taking place at Da Compound in Lake Perris tomorrow -- the compound will be open from 10-10, with fireworks about 9 p.m. There is a second day on Saturday... More about Da Compound.. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen in our Stephen Murray update page..

Arkansas Cop Cleared of Wrong-Doing in Go Skateboarding Day Arrests

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:20:09 EST

A review board has cleared a Hot Springs police officer of any wrong-doing in the series of arrests that took place on Thursday, June 21 -- Go Skateboarding Day. Video posted on YouTube appeared to show Joey Williams using execssve force on several skateboarders, including minors, and the web community responded by flooding the Hot Springs Police Department with calls and emails. Williams was placed on administrative duty while an investigation was started. Now the Hot Springs Police Department Internal Affairs Board has found the use was within policy and recommended "no changes to this policy." "This was a minimal force issue," Police Chief Bobby Southard told The Sentinel-Record. "He didn't resort to anything above hand control techniques and handcuffing." Yeah, tell that to anyone who watched the video. A poll on AOL News shows 58% of those who saw the video felt the officer was too rough... Six skateboarders - two adults and four juveniles - we arrested and are awaiting upcoming court dates on a variety of charges. Click here to read the story and vote on the poll. Oh, and in case you haven't seen the video or need to see it again, here it is...

More From DC's King of LA

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:19:28 EST

We've got some some more photos from Sunday's King of LA skate competition in Santa Monica. If you saw our gallery yesterday, you saw a lot of the competitors, but this gallery also gives you Danny Way, along with some shots of the top three finishers and the overall course. Check it out! And if you didn't read it yesterday, check out the recap of the event.

Celebrities Love to Surf

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:18:50 EST

It's summer - the time when that unqiue creature called the Hollywood celebrity takes to the seas to surf... In our quest to make sure you have the latest on the habits of these beings, we scour the Internet for photos and video of evidence... Case in point number one... Paris Hilton, fresh out of jail and in Hawaii to relax from her life-altering experience appears to discover the surfboard in this video. Only the first few seconds show her even attempt anything that could be called even close to surfing. After that, it just gets easier to jump around in the water. Watch the video. Case in point number two... Bennifer, the hybrid creature of Ben Affleck and any woman named Jennifer (at this time, Jennifer Garner), took to the seas in Hawaii last week. Unlike Paris Hilton, they seemed to have grasped the concept of how to surf. Check out the photos. That is our update for now. But rest assured, whenever a celebrity attempts to surf, we will be there to point it out and probably laugh our asses off. Here's another gallery we have of surfing celebs.

ESPY Awards Part Two

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:17:27 EST

Last weekend we posted a link to the ESPY nominees and, oddly enough, in the hundreds of categories that were listed, two appeared to have been omitted. Nothing that special, just Best Male and Female Action Sports Athletes. D'oh! Here are those nominees: Best Male Action Sport Athlete: Ricky Carmichael Kelly Slater Travis Pastrana Danny Way Andreas Wiig Best Female Action Sport Athlete: Jamie Anderson Layne Beachley Torah Bright Sarah Burke Elissa Steamer And, if you want to pick the winner, you can by going to www.espys.tv and voting! You have until July 8 to pad the boxes. We recommend voting for Danny Way and Jamie Anderson (pictured, left). Or Sarah Burke. Actually, all of the women pretty much rock.

Stephen Murray Update: + Auction News

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:16:52 EST

A new update from Stephen's family, as well as an update on a new auction being started to help raise money for his bills... First, a word from his family as posted on BMXTalk... Stephens had a bit of an up and down time over past few days. There are lots of complications associated with such an injury and these are the main concerns at the moment, as opposed to just thinking about letting the bones in his neck heal. Things like fevers, high temperature, breathing complications (his lungs still aren't working efficiently for him to breathe on his own so he's still on the life support machine/respirator), O2 and CO2 levels in his blood, avoiding pneumonia etc. etc. Yesterday his breathing showed some signs of improvement and he was able to breathe on his own with the respirator machine still working, but mainly as back up. Today, the machine has been turned back up as he took a bit of a backwards step, but we have come to terms with the fact that there isn't always going to be positive news. Its definitely a rollercoaster! He slept most of today but did manage a huge smile when i read him out a message from Andy Ruffell! Thanks for all the support, it really is overwhelming. Murrays Meanwhile, it looks like an auction is about to get underway Tuesday to help raise money for Stephen and his family. Albe's BMX mail order has worked with DK and Props to get all the riders of the Props Rock -n- Roll BMX Tour to sign a complete DK 6 Pack bike. It will be auctioned on EBay starting later today. A laundry list of riders signed the bike, including legend Mat Hoffman, Morgan Wade, Corey Martinez, Zack Warden, Scotty Cranmer, Brian Kachinsky, Aaron Ross, Neil Harrington and more... Hoffman is also including a a signed copy of the "Aggroman, Headfirst, Ride On" DVD and there will be some extra stuff included for the winner. Click on the graphic below for more about the auction. We'll also let you know when the auction is up. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen in our Stephen Murray update page..

Red Bull Elevation Photos

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:16:06 EST

We promised some pics and here they are, albeit a little later than we would have normally liked! Oh well -- enjoy them! Some good shots. See the full gallery or read the recap.. And hey, whaddya know, here's a gallery from Red Bull's Elevation 2006. Here are a couple of photos to whet your appetite.

Carissa Moore -- Best Female Surfer Ever?

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:15:24 EST

It might be a little early to dub a 14-year-old as the best female surfer ever, but there aren't very many 14-year-olds who have done so much in so little time. Carissa Moore has kept piling on the awards and wins, taking two last weekend for a total of 11 national surfing titles to her credit, setting a new record for the most national surfing titles held by one person, male or female. After the wins, Moore is guaranteed a spot this fall to travel to Mexico with 15 other National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) surfers, all boys, to compete in the NSSA's "Sweet 16" contest. She's also taking part in the X Games surf contest this week. Read more about this amazing surfer.

X Games Makes More Invitations, Including White, Mirra

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:14:47 EST

Many more athletes have received invitations to the X Games, which are only a month away. Included in the latest wave: Shaun White (Skate Vert), Dave Mirra (BMX Park), Holly Lyons (Skate Vert) and a bunch more. There will be a few more invites, but most of the competitions are looking pretty solid. Get some more info or just jump to the full list of invited athletes..

White's Not Now -- Slater Up Next

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:13:55 EST

We told you a little while ago about a new thing ESPN is going called "Who's Now?" which is pitting the top athletes from today against one another with a panel and fans choosing who is the "champ" -- it will be taking place through the month of July. One of the first matches was Shaun White v.s Dwayne Wade on Monday. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though White's ubiquitous AMEX commercials made an impact, as White did not advance against the Miami Heat basketball player. Kelly Slater is next up on July 9 -- it's a little tougher match for him. Slater is going up agains LeBron James. Slater has a tough lineup in the ESPYs as well, where he has two nominations. Click here to vote or here to vote for Slater in the ESPYs (or someone else).

Zack Warden Wins AST Dew Tour Trick of the Week

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:13:14 EST

Zack Warden may not have reached the winner's podium at the first stop of the AST Dew Tour in Baltimore but he did get honored for landing a new trick during the BMX Vert Finals. Fans have selected his whip-to-whip back as the PlayStation� Trick of the Week, which earns Warden $5K and a chance at the tour-=end PlayStation� Trick of the Year. Warden edged a tough list of competitors, including skateboarder Alex Perelson (Tailgrab 720), FMX rider Blake Williams (Kiss of Death Backflip) and Ryan Sheckler (huge Air to Manuel). Read more then check out a couple of photos below from the big event...

Ryan Nyquist Wins Red Bull Elevation

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:16:13 EST

Ryan Nyquist has followed up his win in BMX Dirt at the first stop of the AST Dew Tour by taking the top spot at Red Bull Elevation, one of the craziest BMX Dirt contests out there. Nyquist barely took the top spot over Aussie Corey Bohan, who was the defending champ. Brian Foster was third. James Foster took the best trick prize. While there was a huge 31 rider field that was whittled down to 12 in the prelims. Several major names missed the contest for various reasons, including Cameron White, Ryan Guettler, Dew Tour finalist Dennis Enarson, Steve McCann, TJ Lavin, Anthony Napolitan, Alejandro Caro, Heath Pinter and Kym Grosser, but the field was still crammed with some of the best. Photos coming soon! Here are the final results: 1. Ryan Nyquist - 92.1 2. Corey Bohan - 92.0 3. Brian Foster - 87.4 4. James Foster - 87.2 5. Chris Doyle - 86.9 6. TJ Ellis - 86.6 7. Allan Cooke - 86.0 8. Dane Searls - 85.7 9. Gary Young - 85.7 10. Dave Dillewaard - 83.6 11. Mike Clark - 83.1 12. Adam Baker - 81.6 Check out more about the finals here plus some more from FatBMX.com.

America Likes Cooking Rat More Than Surfing Penguin

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:15:28 EST

Okay, check this out... Disney/Pixar's "Ratatouille" (which I had to look up how to spell) will earn almost as much in three days as "Surf's Up" has earned in four weeks. So here are the numbers: "Ratatouille" from Monday to Friday: $47.2 million. "Surf's Up" since June 8: $53.7 million. And that six million separating the two will probably be $0 by the time you read this. Not that it really means anything. But it's just interesting. I really don't like penguins, though "Surf's Up" wasn't the worst movie of the summer (hello, "Pirates of the Carrebean 3?"). And not that this little fact means anything either: "Ratatouille" has the lowest opening -gross of any Pixar film in the last nine years, falling well behind last year's "Cars" ($60.1M), 2004's "The Incredibles" ($70.5M), and 2003's "Finding Nemo" ($70.3M). We return you to your regular browsing experience.

Salabanzi Wins Street at Copenhagen Pro

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:14:31 EST

Bastien Salabanzi took the Street finals at the 2007 Copenhagen Pro Sunday. Wagner Ramos came in second, followed by Kerry Getz. Getz took first in the best trick contest with a Kickflip frontside nosegrind across and down the hubba. Klaus Bohms was second with a backside 180 flip nose grind on the hubba and third was Willian Seco (Switch front blunt shuv it out). Here are the final results for Street -- here are the links for Vert and Bowl if you missed the results for those... 1 Bastien Salabanzi 2 Wagner Ramos 3 Kerry Getz 4 Daniel Viera 5 Eero Antilla 6 Jani Laitiala 7 Chris Pfanner 8 Willian Seco 9 Klaus Bohms 10 Ricardo Oliveira Assis 11 Steve Forstner 12 Roberto Aleman More about the event..

Mendes Wins King of LA - Santa Monica

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:13:41 EST

Chris Mendes has won the third event in DC Shoes' King of LA skate... We've got a full recap here.. A couple of the DC skate team skaters were there (Ryan Gallant and Devine Calloway, pictured below) - but most of the talent was from the LA-area. Check out a photo gallery, too.. - Lat34.com

Fuel to Produce Swerve Festival in September

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:11:57 EST

Fuel is launching a new festival dedicated to the West Coast creative culture -- including art, film, music and, of course, action sports. It will take place Sept. 28-30 in Hollywood and other spots in Los Angeles. Named the "Swerve Festival," it will include film screenings of independent feature and short films, music videos, live music performances and original art installations. We'll hear more soon, but read more now...

Schedule Set for Snowboard Grand Prix

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:11:11 EST

It's July 1 -- time to make reservations for snowboarding season. The dates for the 2008 Chevrolet US Snowboard Grand Prix are set. Here you go: 2008 CHEVROLET U.S. SNOWBOARD GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE Dec. 14-15, 2007, Breckenridge Resort, Colo. * Friday, Dec. 14 � Halfpipe Qualifiers * Saturday, Dec. 15 � Halfpipe Finals and Night Downtown Paul Mitchell Progression Session Freestyle Event Feb. 9-10, 2008, Tamarack Resort, Idaho * Friday, Feb. 8 � Halfpipe Qualifiers * Saturday, Feb. 9 � Halfpipe Finals * Sunday, Feb. 10 � Snowboardcross Qualifiers and Finals March 15-16, 2008, Killington Resort, Vt. * Saturday, Feb. 15 � Halfpipe Qualifiers and Night Finals with concert * Sunday, Feb. 16 � Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle Qualifiers and Finals Read more about the sked...

Update: Murray Gets Some Wheelchair Time

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:10:08 EST

Here is the latest update on Stephen Murray's condition from his family on BMXTalk.com: Stephens tracheostomy operation went well and has made him more comfortable. He now has the respirator breathing for him via a tube into his thoat and a feed tube into his stomach rather than everything going into his mouth. This has meant he is able to communicate better and we can understand most of what he is trying to say. Although no sounds comes out when he speaks, we are optimistic that with time and speach therapy, his voice should slowly but hopefully improve. The doctors and surgeons have said that being so fit and healthy has been a major help to him in both sustaining the shock of the injury and in his ability to recover. Yesterday he was put into a wheelchair by the side of his bed for 2 hours whcih gave him a huge lift. His next goal is to gradually wean himself off the respirator and to hopefully breath for himself in the future. Whether this is possible we aren't sure but should he overcome this it would be a great aid in his recovery. This is more of a mid-term goal than an immediate one. We hope that with some improvement to his breathing he will be moved out of intensive care and down the corridor to a slightly lesser dependant unit within the next week. That will be another big step. His spirits are strong and he is so determined to overcome this, it gives us all hope. We want everyone to know that we really appreciate everyones support. Some of the things people have said, have done, and are doing is overwhelming. Unfortunately we haven't had the time to reply to everyone at the moment, but Stephen has said that he will reply to each and every person that has contacted him over the last week to show their support. He is in the University of Maryland Shock and Trauma Unit Hospital, widely regarded as one of the best Spinal Chord injury hospitals in the world. Can you believe he injured himself 300 yards from here! Updates to follow (hopefully tomorrow) Murrays There are also some benefit auctions being set up (nothing set yet) which should help raise some more money for him. He is expected to be in the Baltimore hospital for months. Keep up with all the updates re: Stephen in our Stephen Murray update page..

Latest Updates on Cops vs. Skateboarders in Arkansas

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:09:20 EST

There are some new developments in the "Cop vs. Skateboarders" case that is getting national attention following the posting of video on YouTube.on Monday. The video was taken on Thursday, June 21, as a group of skateboarders were placed under arrest by a policeman who was shown apparently choking and using excessive force on the skaters, which included a 13-year-old girl. New surveillance camera video has surfaced that gives a new view into the incident. Taken from two cameras at a local merchant, the officer is seen chasing after a specific skateboarder once the single-file line of 10 skateboarders passes by him. There is no sound in the video and it does not have sound, but it is the first new video of the incident to surface since the You Tube video began circulating on Monday. The video is the #1 most-viewed YouTube video in the last four days, with 1.2 million views. Two additional videos have since been released. ABC News has an interview with 21-year-old skateboarder Matt McCormack, who shot the video, in which he discusses the incident and treatment he and the other skaters received from Police Officer Joy Williams, who has since been placed on administrative leave while his conduct is investigated. "He could have just grabbed us by the arm and stopped us and then that would've been it," McCormack said. But even so, McCormack, who was also arrested, is careful about calling the incident "brutality." "The posts might be a bit excessive," McCormack admitted, saying instead he would call it "excessive force" instead. McCormack does have more video than has been posted, but has been advised by counsel (not, as ABC News reports, "council") not to do so at this time. He has a July 10 court date. More as this story develops... Here's the video if you haven't seen it yet. Lat34.com

Kiwi Surfer Almost Deleted X Games Invite

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:33:43 EST

Kiwi surfer Paige Hareb is joining the World team in the upcoming X Games surfing compeition which starts next week in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. But she almost didn't get the word she was invited -- that's because she almost deleted the email from Layne Beachley asking her to join the team. "It came up in my email inbox and it said `Layne Beachley - X-Games' and I thought it was just promoting it. I was just about to delete it," she said. But the 17-year-old didn't delete it and now she's reaping the benefits, including a new sponsorship from Billabong. She was chosen as one of two wildcards by Beachley for the inaugural inclusion of women's surfing in the X Games, which has also adopted a new "USA vs the World" format. Read more about Hareb and see a preview video of the X Games surf comp below. And be sure to check out the live webcast on EXPN.com from July 3-5.

Speaking of Bam Margera...

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:31:44 EST

While we don't have an official reason Bam Margera isn't pimping the Jackass game (see below), we do have a short update about the Bam-Man. He seems to be pretty much improved from his torn liver (he had two weeks he was supposed to keep from lifting anything heavy -- that's basically up). There are a few photos of Bam on the town on his official site., including one of him with Posion & Ratt (yeah, I guess they're still round and round) and him hanging with Cameron Diaz (is there anyplace she isn't?). Let's see, there's also a short clip (placed here for your ease) of him doing some editing... Meanwhile, in non-official-site-related-news, Bam is working on a CD/DVD set named "Bam Margera Presnts: Viva La Bands, Vol. 2" that comes out Sept. 4 and will feature a wide range of bands like Placebo, The Bloodhound Gang, Clutch, The Sounds, Gwar, Kill Hannah and more... plus the DVD will have about 30 minutes of Bam footage. Cool. See Bam's official site and then read more about the cd/DVD release.

First Look: Jackass The Game

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:30:55 EST

Gamespy has a detailed review of Jackass the Game, featuring most of the Jackass crew -- with the notable exception of Bam Margera, who is not participating for reasons unknown (cough*money?*cough). Gamespy actually seems to like the game, which is more or less a set of smaller "minigames" strung together as a "lost season of Jackass." Among the 35 stunts/minigames -- "New York Pogo" (jumping around NYC rooftops with a pogo stick), "San Fran Trash Can" (Steve-O gets rolled down a steep hill in San Fran while in a trash can) and "Whac a Wee-Man" which is pretty self-explanatory. The game will be coming out this fall. Check out the story for more about the game.

Surfline Catches Slater's Politcal Board -- Oh, and By the Way, He's Not Retired

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:30:20 EST

Kudos for TMZ noting that Kelly Slater's surfboard he used yesterday in a losing effort at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Arica, Chile, had a political bent to it. On the board are iPod-advertisement-style images from the Abu Ghraib prison images that became the stuff of legend. Yeah, except Surfline knew about it the day before and got Slater to explain it. "It's my favorite images of the war...no, not really. It's just a poster a friend of mine made to bring some awareness to what's happening in Iraq and a funny play on iPods. Pop culture meets political awareness." Slater told Surfline. See the image below.... Check out Surfline and TMZ if you want... Meanwhile, Slater has officially said he's not retired. And he's not officially out of J-Bay (or in, yet). �I have no idea why or who wrote this, where do they come up with this stuff?� Slater told Australia�s Surfing Life. �I surfed a good heat and lost and had to leave immediately to catch a flight.�

Daniel Dhers / Kevin Robinson Red Bull Shoot

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:28:52 EST

Daniel Dhers won the BMX Park title last week at the Dew Tour opener, the Panasonic Open, and while we have a ton of photos from that, we also have a cool Red Bull photo gallery from last month featuring Dhers and Kevin Robinson in a photo shoot at Camp Woodward. Some nice photos here -- check 'em out!

Who's Going to Win the Foster's ASP Tour?

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:28:17 EST

Now that the Rip Curl Pro Search event in Arica is done, with Andy Irons the winner, we're almost halfway through the season. No better time than now to do some baselss prediction. However, to read the prediction, check out my blog on Lat34 People. There's a poll there for you to say what you think (or you can add a comment to say how wrong I am). In case you missed out on the recap of the Rip Curl Pro Search, click here. Then visit the ASP World Tour site to keep on everything...

Daewon Song Gets "Firsthand" Treatment on Fuel

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:27:27 EST

Daewon Song, the 2006 Thrasher Skater of the Year, is going to be featured on the Fuel show "Firsthand" It'll follow him through the ups (winning the SOTY award) and the lows (his father passing away). Check out more details here....

ew Tour FMX Finals Webcast-- Recap and Thoughts

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:26:51 EST

Here's a few random thoughts after watching the FMX finals on Motocross.com... - The whole finals webast clocks in at 91:27. I must admit I skipped ahead a little. No offense to Potter, Buyten, Fulmer, etc. I knew who the top three were and when they were going. I wanted to check them out. So you can make it through in considerably less time if you skip around. - It wasn't a bad field, but we missed seeing Twitch. Would have been nice if he made it to the finals but I guess it's just too soon. Surprised also that Beau Bamberg didn't make the cut, but there's always Cleveland. - It was actually a pretty interesting competition, with Nate Adams coming through on his second (and winning) run with some great tricks like a no-handed backflip with a one-handed lander, lazy boy back flip, superman backflip, cliffhanger backflip and a cordova backflip. Unfortunately the camera (and Floyd) missed the cliffhanger -- so we'll take Bartram's word for it. - Mason and Williams couldn't keep up with their second runs -- Mason stopped his run after a blown trick ruined any chance of his surpassing Black Williams (Bilko) and Adams and didn't make a mistake like Bilko and try one more trick for the fans -- something that knocked Bilko out for probably two months. - There wasn't a very good angle on Bilko's crash so it's hard to see how he broke his foot/etc. But it looked like it could have been a lot worse, so at least that is something fans can be thankful for! - Kenny Bartram did an okay job of co-commentating, as most of his fellow athletes did in the other broadcasts. Robbie Floyd and Bartram didn't address why Bartram was opting out on competing (that I heard). Would've been nice to just say he's retiring from FMX, etc. or whatever. Heck -- he won the Dew Tour in '05. - My favorite part was actually near the end, right around the second run of Bilko (Blake Williams), there was an extended period of confusion, with Robbie Floyd repeating various transitions (then asking should he do it again, etc.), some dead air (with crowd shots) and some background discussion (ostensibly) between Floyd and Bartram about what should be on air, etc. Might be expected during a live webcast, but this thing was done Sunday -- plenty of time to QC it. - One last thing -- the first five minutes had a couple of funny moments as they introduced the riders -- the camera didn't know who was who, so it was on Mike Mason when Nate Adams was being introduced (after Mason pointed over for a few seconds, the cameraman got it) and then had trouble finding Adam Jones. I guess it's because they lined up wrong or something. Still, funny. But that onsite public announcer Brad Jay -- I was at all five tour stops last year and I don't remember the whole "Mileeeeeeeeeeeeeeees RICHMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONDDDDDDDD!" "WILEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY FULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLMERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR" intro... I saw it in other events, too, but here it was just too much... Anyway, that's what I thought. Permalink

Stephen Murray Update + New Website For Donations

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:25:42 EST

A couple of updates from the friends and family of Stephen Murray. First off, his brother's latest update from BMXTalk.com. Yesterday was quite a big day for everyone. The general surgeon arrived to discuss his tracheostomy operation which should hopefully be a temporary measure rather than a permanent fixture (amazing). This procesure takes the respirator out of his mouth and into his throat relieving pressure off his voicebox. They will also take out the feed tube from his mouth and insert this into his stomach. This leaves his mouth free and should be a lot more comfortable for him. It should also enable him to mouth words over the coming weeks, something which has been really frustrating for him. They hope to do this today. Today, they also plan to operate to put a filter into his vena cava vein to prevent the build up of blood clots along with an MRI to check on the status of his neck. Quote of the day came from the director of the neurotrauma team. "he's not going to end up like christopher reeve" This, as you can imagine, was a massive boost for everyone. There are plenty of rumours still flying round that he'll be riding by xmas, he's gonna be able to walk etc. etc. The only thing to listen to is this blog/update. He has sustained a life altering injury and we have come to terms with the fact that he may never walk again. The most we could ever hope for at this moment is for some use of his upper body and the ability to breath on his own in the future. He did also manage to tell my mam "happy birthday" for today! Last night his friends from england, scott edgworth and marco delisola flew in which put a smile on his face. The comments on ths site (and others) and emails we have received are so comforting to us, and they will be even more comforting to stephen over the coming weeks when we are able to read them out to him. Thanks again. Updates to follow Also, there is an "official" website now set up to make donations through: http://www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com/. The news continues to be good for Murray. Keep up with all the updates on our Stephen Murray Update page -- we will always keep it updated with the latest info on his condition and on how you can help Stephen with donations or just by sending a note of hello.

Suport Bender's MS Battle - Buy A Shirt

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:25:01 EST

AZ skateboarder Lee Bender has been diagnosed with MS, and the AZPX family is gearing up to help him out by putting out a shirt featuring the graphics they hope to put out a deck down the line. If you feel like doing him a solid, check out the link and buy a shirt -- he gets $10 of every sale... Check out AZPX.com to buy it....

Andy Irons Wins Rip Curl Pro Chile

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:24:11 EST

Andy Irons has just defeated Damien Hobgood in the finals of the Rip Curl Pro Search contest in Arica, Chile. Irons dominated the final winning 16.84 (9.17, 7.67) to 8.67 (5.67, 3.00). The semis were more interesting, as Irons took our Mick Fanning (who will finish 3rd) 16.33 to 15.33 and the Hobgood brothers took on one another, with Damien taking the win 13.13 over CJ (12.00). "It's my favorite trophy," Irons said after winning the contest. "One for the living room, one for the mantle." Irons won the event last year when it was held in Mexico. When told he's back in the hunt for the world title, Irons said he didn't go anywhere, but that it was "Game One" now. Read more about Irons' Win Check out the Rip Curl Pro Search site for anything else right now!

Robbie Maddison on Track For X Games

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:23:21 EST

Another Aussie FMX rider, Robbie Maddison, is recovering from a broken leg he suffered lat last month at the Reb Bull X-Fighters contest in Ireland. It looks as though Maddison is on track to make it back on his bike in time for the X Games in early August, which is good news. Again, found on Crusty.com..

FMX Injury Update: Blake Williams to Miss X Games, Dew Tour Stops

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:22:39 EST

Aussie FMX rider Blake "Bilko" Williams finished second in last weekend's FMX Finals of the first AST Dew Tour stop, the Panasonic Open. However, he was injured on his second run and the injuries aren't too bad, but they will take some time to heal. Here's an update from the man himself: Well guys the first round of the dew tour did and didnt really go to plan... I wasnt feeling 100% yet on the different ramps and new bikes so i decided to ride not to wild and secure a good finish. i ended up second with out a cliffy flip or 360 combo's so that was a good sign of my level of riding but unfortunately in my second run i sailed on a trick and had a few jumps left so i thought i'd pull a ruler flip for the crowd, hadn't had any trouble with one all week, same ramp i had been doing them off and all. I hit the ramp and pulled harder to flip, standard for a ruler flip, but i came off the ramp un even, i went to push my legs out and didnt feel right so i stayed with the bike. realising i was spinning way to fast i still kept my legs off and my weight on my levers to try and slow the bike down but it didnt work enough. i over rotated by a fair bit and landed on my legs. i broke 2 bones in my ankle and dislocated it, broke the top section of all my toes and my fib. So here i sit, still in Baltimore hospital waiting for surgery to fix the mess. Ill be off the bike for 2 months which means missing X, anyway, these things happen... Keep it safe, Brrrrrrrraaaaaaapppppppp Bilko Unfortunately Bilko won't be able to come back to X Games to try and better the bronze medal he received last year, as well as probably the next three Dew Tour stops. So Nate Adams can breathe a little easier for the time being. Found on the Crust Demons Site Crusty.com. -- best domain name ever. Lat34.com

Kelly Slater Retiring?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:14:46 EST

Australia's The Age is reporting that Kelly Slater may retire from surfing after his latest disappointing finish in the Rip Curl Pro Search contest in Arica, Chile. However, Slater's management tells Lat34.com that he has made no decision on his future. Slater entered this year's Foster's ASP World Tour trying to secure his record ninth world title but finishes of third, fifth and ninth have dropped him to #6 in the world -- a ranking that will slide even more after his ninth place finish in the Rip Curl Pro. Current world #1 Mick Fanning is still alive in the event and may be close to clinching the title, much like Slater did last year after nine events (including one no-show). There will be only 10 events this season in the Foster's ASP World Tour. Before the start of the Rip Curl Pro Search in Chile there was speculation that Slater was ready to hang his hat, but he was willing to hit Chile thanks to the amazing conditions that were forecast (and which have come through). However, after Dean Morrison eliminated Slater in the fourth round today, he was on the first plane out of Chile, further fueling speculation that he has surfed in his last professional tournament. Even webcast announcers for the competition stated as much after his defeat. If he does retire, Slater will leave behind an unprecedented legacy as arguably the greatest surfer of all time. He has already retired once, in 1998, when he had six world titles including five in a row. He then returned in 2003 and showed he could still dominate, winning two more. More news as this story develops...

Skater Abuse on Go Skateboarding Day

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:15:15 EST

We haven't been talking much about the results of Go Skateboarding Day across the country -- we should get some updates from different places soon. Unfortunately, though, it seems like the cops in many cities didn't get the memo that this was something that Congress supported!!! Here's some disturbing email from one incident in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where several skateboarders were arrested and, it looks, basically abused by one cop in particular. Choking, kneeling on their back, etc. Pretty stupid. An email petition is out asking people to send in emails/phone calls/etc. with complaints about the treatment the skateboarders received from, in particular, the officer featured (who apprantely is named Joey Williams -- no confirmation on this). Here's the contact info: Hot Springs Arkansas Police Department Phone: (501) 321-6789 Fax: (501) 321-6708 Chief of Police, Bobby Southard Email: bsouthard@cityhs.net 641 Malvern Avenue Hot Springs Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901 Oh yeah, and here's the video so you can see it for yourself...

Stephen Murray Benefit + Latest News

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:15:55 EST

There will be a benefit jam for Stephen Murray taking place July 4 and again on July 7 at Da Compound in Perris, CA. All proceeds (and they mean all) will go to Stephen and his family. See the flyer below or go to www.dacompound.com for more info.. Also, an update from BMXTalk.com from Stephen's brother, Martin, and family: Firstly, he has suffered a very serious spinal injury. He has crushed his 3,4 and 5th cervical vertebrae and consequently suffered some damage to his spinal chord. He had a 7 hour operation on saturday to stabilise the chord and relieve some pressure. The front of his vertebrae were shattered and has been replaced. Following a day of rest (sunday), he today goes in for a further 7 hour surgery to repair the back of his 3,4 and 5 vertebrae. This should allow some of the swelling to go down. To let you know how things change, on saturday we were told he had no movement below his neck. Following saturdays surgery, we were all surprised when he shrugged his shoulders and now has some sensation on his upper left side of the body. This was really encouraging. He is on a ventilator and therefore isn't able to talk but communication is possible. He is aware of his condition and is coping better than all of us. Don't forget how strong he is! On friday we are expecting the ventilator to come out of his mouth and inserted in his neck which should make communication better, and him more comfortable. He is in surgery now so the next update maybe tomorrow. Thanks again for all your support, its unbelievable and a great comfort to us all. Martin, Cynthia, Jeff, Melissa, Seth and Mason In addition to the fund we mentioned yesterday, there is an email that you can send your thoughts directly to Stephen: Getwellstephen@gmail.com You can check out this page for updates about Stephen and his condition.

Daniel Dhers Takes BMX Park at Dew Tour

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:16:40 EST

The AST Dew Tour came to a close Sunday afternoon with a familiar site -- Daniel Dhers taking the podium as the BMX Park champ. In an all-new jam format Dhers took first place (93.17) over phenom Mike Spinner (92.67) who burst onto the scene last year in the Dew Tour's Free Flow Tour in Portland, then Orlando's PlayStation Pro. Ryan Nyquist, BMX Dirt winner, ended up in fifth, while Dave Mirra, number two in the prelims, failed to crack the top eight. Dennis Enarson finished third followed by Gary Young in fourth. Stay tuned for more coming soon! Here are the top eight... 1st - Dhers, Daniel 2nd - Spinner, Mike 3rd - Enarson, Dennis 4th - Young, Gary 5th - Nyquist, Ryan 6th - Cooke, Allan 7th - Darden, Rob 8th - Laird, Mike - Lat34

Nate Adams Wins at Panasonic Open

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:16:58 EST

Nate Adams put any doubters in their place, at least for now, with a fairly convincing win on Sunday at the Panasonic Open in Baltimore. Adams scored a 95.67 to take the title, followed by Blake Williams (93.83) and Mike Mason (92.17). Stay tuned for more about this coming soon, but here are the full results: 1st - Adams, Nate (95.67) 2nd - Williams, Blake (93.83) 3rd - Mason, Mike (92.17) 4th - Jones, Adam (91.50) 5th - Lusk, Jeremy (91.33) 6th - Faisst, Ronnie (89.33) 7th - Fullmer, Wiley (88.83) 8th - Potter, Todd (88.67) 9th - Richmond, Myles (87.00) 10th - Buyten, Matt (86.17) - Lat34

Dew Tour Injury: Stephen Murray Update

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:18:10 EST

One of the lowlights of this year's Dew Tour is a devestating crash suffered by Stephen Murray in the BMX Dirt finals last night. After attempting a double flip at the end of his first run and missing it, he went for it again on the second run. He fell off the bike at the highest possible point and slammed to the ground on his neck. He was taken to the hospital after being attended to on site. Few details have been released, but the AST Dew Tour did release the following statement: BMX Dirt competitor Stephen Murray of England was injured Friday night while attempting a double backflip. Murray, 27, was immediately attended to by tour medical staff and was taken by ambulance to University Hospital. He underwent surgery Saturday and is in critical but stable condition. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Stephen Murray and his family." said Wade Martin, president and general manager of the AST Dew Tour. Judging from the response of those who witnessed the crash, it will be difficult to imagine Murray coming back any time soon. As soon as there is more word on his condition we'll bring it to you. Click Here to see a photo gallery sequence of Stephen Murray completing a perfect 360 backflip in last year's PlayStation Pro. - Lat34.com

Jamie Bestwick Wins BMX Vert... Again

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:18:28 EST

Okay, no surprise here I suppose. Jamie Bestwick has won BMX Vert again. Amazingly enough, the Panasonic Open is the only Dew Tour event he had not won...He has won all other events, making this his sixth straight Dew Tour stop win and 11 out of 13. Ryan Sheckler said earlier today that he wanted to win all five stops this season -- this man is more likely to do it. Full results and photo gallery coming soon...

Twitch's Short Return; Mason Leads FMX Prelims

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:19:01 EST

After a major crash in last year's Panasonic Open knocked Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg out of action, many people were hoping he would come back at full strength. Unfortunately, Twitch was still a little rusty and couldn't get out of the prelims to make the finals in Baltimore. Mike Mason led all riders followed by Blake Williams and Metal Mulisha rider Todd Potter. Last year's reigning champ Nate Adams was No. 5. Twtich came in 12th overall, with other well-known riders like Jim McNeil and Beau Bamburg also missing the cut. The FMX portion of the Dew Tour has been plagued by problems from the start, due to weather issues. On Friday, riders refused to take part in the prelims due to the poor weather conditions, forcing them to be moved to Saturday AM. The finals will be broadcast live on NBC Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET. The Finalists: 1. Mike Mason 2. Blake Williams 3. Todd Potter 4. Adam Jones 5. Nate Adams 6. Matt Buyten 7. Jeremy Lusk 8. Ronnie Faisst 9. Wiley Fullmer 10. Myles Richmond - Lat34.com

Celebrating Go Skateboard Day with Element

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:19:20 EST

Go Skateboarding Day was crazy this year in Orange Country, thanks to a couple of great events put on by Element Skateboards. First there was a skate jam at the Active Costa Mesa store, featuring an outside course where some of the Element pros took a turn, including Chad Muska. We have tons of great photos from the whole day here, but check our one of Muska's tricks below. I also have a full recap, but here are a few highlights... Nyjah Huston was there, too, and I chatted with Adeyemi, his dad, about Nyjah skipping the open of the Dew Tour -- he said Nyjah might show up for one of the other stops but it all depended on what other events and things came up. Hopefully we'll have more with Nyjah soon. There were other pros there, too, including Levi Brown, Tony Tave and Chad Tm Tim, among a couple of others I may have missed. The screening of "This is My Element" came a little later in the day at Newport Beach, and that was a great show -- Nyjah and his dad sat in front of us during the first show and then Jake Duncombe sat next to us in the second. It was cool to see the pros react to some of the sick tricks being done by the Element team in the video. Lastly, the after party at Rudy's in Newport was crazy, with Muska taking over the turntable. The crowd was hopping and many of the same guys made it over from the screening. Again, I have a full recap here... - Lat34.com

Sheckler Wins Skate Park, BMX Dirt Delayed at Panasonic Open

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:19:40 EST

Ryan Sheckler has won the opening tour date of the 2007 AST Dew Tour -- he continues his domination of the event. This win makes it seven out of 11 times he has finished first, and his third consecutive Panasonic Open win. Meanwhile, the BMX Dirt finals have been delayed until at least 8:30 p.m. ET, perhaps longer, thanks to the weather. Keep checking back for full skate park results coming soon... Lat34.com

Dew Tour Updates: Nyquist Wins BMX Dirt; Murray Injured; White Soars; Lutzka Close

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:20:32 EST

Ryan Nyquist has taken the top spot at the BMX Dirt contest... Stephen Murray was injured and taken away by an ambulance, which put a little bit of a downer on things. But this on top of Napolitan's (slight) injury and poor conditions... Read more here about the Dirt finals Meanwhile, Shaun White finished at the top of the Skate Vert Prelims. Biggest surprise there? Sandro Dias missing the cut. Bucky's a little injured so White has a clear path to the podium on Saturday... Here's the breakdown of who will be skating later today: 1. Shaun White 2. Buster Halterman 3. Bob Burnquist 4. Mathias Ringstrom 5. Andy Macdonald 6. Pierre-Luc Gagnon 7. Alex Perelson 8. Bucky Lasek 9. Jean Postec 10. Jake Brown 11. Danny Mayer 12. Rune Glifberg Lastly, we already told you about Sheckler winning -- coming in second was Greg Lutzka. Get more details about skate street here and don't miss this photo gallery of the finals...

Shaun White Wins Skate Vert in Baltimore

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:21:09 EST

With only a few minutes left in the Skate Vert competition, it appears Shaun White has locked a win with a huge opening 94.25 score. That score is the highest ever received in the history of the Dew Tour Skate Vert competition. A couple of runs remain, but White is superman today... More info coming after the finals are, well, final. UPDATE: Yep, he won. Read more on Lat34.com

Scotty Who? Cranmer Misses Park Finals; Dhers Leads

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:21:51 EST

All I have to say is "Damn." So much for Scotty Cranmer being the next big thing. Cranmer, who was in the mix for the Dew Cup all last year up until the final stop, missed a trip to the finals in the first event, placing 19th out of 35. Only the top 12 make the finals. Last year's Dew Cup winner, Daniel Dhers, showed he is still very much at the top of his game by leading the field, while grandmaster Dave Mirra was a close second. Injuries hampered Mirra much of last year. Other notable names in the finals include Mike Spinner, who blasted onto the scene last year, and BMX Dirt winner Ryan Nyquist, who also was in the hunt for the Dew Cup last year. Along with Cranmer, the list of well-known riders who missed the cut include Morgan Wade, Ryan guettler, Chad Kagy, Dave Dillewaard and Dennis McCoy. To show how close it was, 30 riders had a score of 80.00 or better, and three riders scored an 85.50, only .17 behind the cut-off of 85.67 (which three riders scored). The BMX Park finals happen tomorrow and at this point, Dhers and Mirra appear to be the favorites. The Final 12: 1. Daniel Dhers 2. Dave Mirra 3. Allan Cooke 4. Steve McCann 5. Dennis Enarson 6. Mike Spinner 7. Gary Young 8. Ryan Nyquist 9. Rob Darden 10. Mike Laird 11. Craig Mast 12. Zack Warden - Lat34.com

David Price Wins Manny Mania - Sacramento, CA

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:12:56 EST

The results are in for the latest Red Bull Manny Mania stop, which took place this weekend in Sacramento, CA at the B Street Skatepark. Final Results - Top Five 1. David Price 2. Adrian Williams 3. George Comelli 4. Matt Miller 5. Apollo Cutts - Lat34.com

Soven Wins PWT Stop in Twin Cities

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:12:50 EST

Phillip Soven has taken the third stop of the Pro Wakeboard Tour this weekend at the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Soven edged Rusty Malinoski, who finished second. Andrew Adkison and Chad Sharpe finished equal third. The win is Soven's second on the PWT this season, following last month's victory at the first stop in Acworth, GA. Malinoski was the winner of the second stop in Fort Worth, TX in the beginning of June. The Pro Wakeboard Tour continues on July 7-8 in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

New Scotty Cranmer Video from Felt

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:12:38 EST

Felt just keeps on releasing clips from Scotty Cranmer's day-and-a-half session at the Jurupa, CA skatepark from earlier this year. It would be one thing if it wasn't good... But this stuff is sick. Check out the latest below. - Lat34

Injured Margera Misses Journey Stop; Shaun White Drops In

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:12:32 EST

Shaun White was rockin' in Tenn. this weekend at the Journeys Backyard BBQ stop in Nashville, along with FMXer Brian Deegan (did you miss our interview? Read it here) and some of the rest of the Metal Mulisha crew. However, missing for the second straight year was Bam Margera, this time thanks to a torn liver... From Bamargera.com: While skateboarding Louisville's enormous fullpipe, Bam sustained a concussion and torn liver. After 3 days in the hospital, he was released and is back home making a great recovery progress. Just no lifting anything over 10lbs for 2 weeks. Ouch - no specific day mentioned for the injury, but the entry was dated Saturday.... For more about the Journey stop, click here (quote of the day: "I would probably enjoy it more if I was still 20," - a 34-year-old mom at the event. Newsflash -- every 34-year-old would enjoy being 20 again, period. To visit Bam's flash-tastic site, click me! Or check out a photo gallery of Bam and the rest of the "Jackass" crew in action from the "Jackass 2" movie. Here are a couple of photos for you -- Bam in his hospital bed and two of White from the 2006 Journeys Backyard BBQ stop in Nashville (photos from '07 coming soon).

EA SKATE vs. Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:12:25 EST

As many of you know, later this year two significant skateboard games are coming out -- EA's SKATE (its first entry into the arena) and Activision's latest Tony Hawk title, "Tony Hawk's Proving Ground." CB Games is one of the first to do a comparison -- even if it is just based on the trailers and a couple of screenshots... Check it Out...

Red Bull Empire of Dirt Canceled

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:12:10 EST

Posted on the Empire of Dirt site: EVENT CANCELED DUE TO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO COURSE BY HEAVY RAIN Newton Abbot, 15th June, 3pm - Kye Forte and organizers of Red Bull Empire of Dirt, are incredibly disappointed to announce that the event has had to completely canceled for 2007. Unusually heavy rain throughout Thursday night, and most of Friday, has damaged the course so extensively, that the hard working course crew will be unable to complete repairs in time. Naturally, everyone involved, including Kye, Red Bull, the course shapers, event crew, and of course the world class riders, who have traveled from far and wide, are very disappointed. However, spirits are high, as planning for Red Bull Empire 2008 has already begun! The event sounded very cool, but so it goes. I guess that's what happens when you try to set up an event in the UK, where rain is a way of life. Lest we forget Red Bull's problems in Ireland with the X-Fighters being rained out...

Meet Zack Payton

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:11:14 EST

Lat34 People Exec. Prod. Adam Nelson got together with 15-year-old skateboarder Zack Payton to do a shoot and an interview. Here are a couple of pics, but you can check out the See Adam's Blog for more and check out the photo gallery....

Lopez Among PlayStation Am Jam Winners

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:11:06 EST

The 2007 PlayStation Am Jam Tour wrapped up yesterday at Camp Woodward in PA. The event took the winners of 11 events held from April through May and had them compete for a grand prize of $5,000 plus a summer at Camp Woodward (east or west) in 2008 (approx. value $5,400). There were four winners: Skateboard Vert: Chris O'Riley Skateboard Street: Louie Lopez BMX: Kyle Kelsey Inline: Cody Porche Congrats to the winners. Here's a pic of an intense-looking Louie Lopez at the TransWorld SKATEboarding Awards on June 9... He's definitely showing up on the radar...

Is Shaun White #12 in the World - Among All Athletes?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:10:58 EST

ESPN is doing some thing where it is going to come up with a list of the top 32 athletes among all sports and then it will face them off NCAA bracket-style... Right now it's an unofficial list -- it's up for discussion and users are being asked their opinion (and opinions they have -- 2,400+ so far) -- but the ESPN guys rank The Flying Tomato Animal as #12. That means he's behind people like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Maria Sharapova, but ahead of an esteemed list of Danica Patrick (are you kidding me?), Michael Phelps (who?) and Michelle Wie (ummm). As a snowboarder, he might be pretty good, but I have trouble ranking him as one of the top 12 skateboarders, much less one of the top 12 athletes in all of action sports. Ah well -- these lists are all pretty lame, anyway. At least until we do one. Then it will be up there with the word of God. Read more..

Cameron Diaz Goes Surfing. In a Bikini

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:10:50 EST

Okay, not much else to say here. If you are into pictures of Cameron Diaz in a bikini walking around with a surfboard, click this link. There aren't any pics of her actually surfing, so you won't have to endure that.

Cool Girl Skateboards Giveaway

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:10:42 EST

We're giving away two decks from Cool Girl Skateboards -- It's an 8" x 32" Kat Girl deck. You can see the photo. You can enter and get all contest details right here... And as a FYI - Dudes can enter, but unless you're trying to win it for your sister, girlfriend or daughter... well, that's just wrong otherwise. Contest is open until June 30. Enter as often as you want -- only one will count, though.

Kenny Bartram Talks About Life After FMX

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:09:56 EST

Scott Bair of the North County Times has a terrific interview with Kenny Bartram, the FMX master who is moving away from the sport and into Rally Car racing. While Bartram, the 2005 Dew Tour champ, will not be competing on the tour this year (he missed a few dates last year after an injury) he will be providing color commentary on all five stops. Among some of the other nuggets -- Bartram will star in a reality show about bull riding airing this summer on CMT (Country Music Television). As readers of this space know, FMX has also lost Travis Pastrana to the joys of Rally Car racing, though Pastrana's been kicking butt while Bartram is still building his career. However, we do have some cool video of Bartram driving around in his rally car right here: Lat34.com

Etnies Game of SKATE at Hot Dogs & Hessians...

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:09:47 EST

Adam from Lat34 People was down in OC last weekend to see the eS Game of Skate as part of the Hot Dogs and Hessians tour put on by Active. Be sure to check Check it out... Here are a couple of photos...

Puddle of Mudd Headlnes Dew AST at Cleveland

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:09:35 EST

Puddle of Mudd is still together -- apparently. I say apparently because the band was just announced as the lead act at the AST Dew Tour's second stop at Cleveland, OH -- the Right Guard Open. The show will be Friday, July 20 -- and Mudd's new album, "Famous" comes out a convenient four days later. It's the band's first album in four years. To show how good a fit the band is, here's a video of theirs that features a group of skateboarders breaking and entering and vandalizing stuff before one them - a girl -- is taken away by her parents. Years later, she's tracked down by one of her childhood friends... and love ensues... Sniff. ROCK 'N ROLL FOREVER!

Should Skateboarding Be in the Olympics?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:09:27 EST

There have been a ton of stories lately about the International Olympic Committee considering adding Skateboarding to the Olympics in the future -- we've pointed out some of those stories as they've come up and most have been about the positive aspects -- but now here's the backlash. One guy over at AOL's Fanhouse blogs opened one big can of worms yesterday when he posted his opinion that skateboarding should not be part of the Olympics. Here's just a sample of his thoughts: "Skateboarding is best left to kids at the park. The worst thing about the Winter Olympics in recent years has been the addition of sports like snowboarding, just as the worst thing about ESPN is the X-Games." Hilarious. I always love to read an informed, well-thought out argument. Thankfully, most of the comments to the post are more articulate -- even some that agree with him (most don't). One of the comments deals with a petition asking the IOC not to include skateboarding because of some of the following reasons: "We feel dedicated viewers of the Olympic games will not be interested in skateboarding. Skateboarding should not be viewed or utilized as a sport or game or used as a marketing tool for the personal gain of organizations Skateboarding competition as presented to the public eye today is primarily invitational-only television productions for the purpose of attracting high paying corporate sponsors. These programs are very unpopular, poorly attended, and most skateboarders do not watch them because they do not represent what skateboarding is really about. Hmm. Interesting -- I hear some of that, but what about that "marketing tool for the personal gain of organizations part" -- seems there's plenty of that already going on and I would say more skateboarders are fine with it than aren't (at least if they're the ones being sponsored). The online petition has gotten more than 750 signatures, but it's a little difficult to tell how true that number is. Many of them are "Anonymous" and while Eric Koston may have signed it, it's doubtful Finnish hockey star Teemu Selanne did (unless there's another Teemu S. From Finland out there). One thing's for sure -- there's still a lot of ground to cover before this will be decided one way or another. Read the blog yourself or check out the petition.

Shaun White - Chairman of the Board or Diva? Or Both?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:09:19 EST

Has Shaun White reached 'Diva' status? Ever since winning the gold medal at the Winter Olympics, he's been as selective with snowboard competitions as Tiger Woods is with golf tournaments. And in-between appearances on Leno and making AMEX commercials (see his latest one), Shaun's on his third publicist in the past year. Maybe that's why it's been virtually impossible to track down the flying tomato err... Animal for an exclusive Lat34 interview. Ah well. Some good news for White -- he won an award on Spike TV's new made-for-TV awards show the "TV Guys Choice awards." Hmm... He won in "Chairman of the Board" category over Rob Dyrdek... Some of the other winners: Hottest Girl on the Planet: Adriana Lima (over Beyonce) Luckiest Bastard: Cash Warren (Jessica Alba's beau) Biggest Ass Kicker: Gerard Butler (of "300" - over Jack Bauer himself, Kiefer Sutherland) Hottest Jessica: Jessica Alba (over Biel) There are about 50 caetgories -- if you want, watch the show on Wednesday, June 13 at 10 p.m. on Spike TV, or you can see the results right now here...

SD Surfing Community Says Goodbye to Kauanui

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:09:12 EST

The San Diego surf community has been mourning the loss of pro surfer Emery Kauanui Jr since he passed away on Memorial Day -- the victim of a terrible beating. Four men have been charged in the attack but this last weekend was one for people to remember how he lived, not how he died. On Saturday afternoon more than 300 surfers paddled out to a wave break off Windansea Beach to say goodbye to Kauanui. They circled a boat from which his mother, Cynthia, scattered his ashes into the sea. The break, which had been Kauanui's favorite, was renamed "Emery's Left." Kauanui, 24, had his skull fractured in a fight on May 24 in the suburd of La Jolla. It all apparently started when he might have spilled a drink on someone in a bar -- he was later tracked down outside his mother's home and beaten. Seth Cravens, a friend and former classmate of Kauanui's younger brother, was identified by Kauanui as one of his attackers prior to his passing away. The four men charged with murder are Cravens, 21; Eric House, 20; Orlando Osuna, 22; and Matthew Yanke, 20. Only Yanke is free on bail ($1 million) while others have yet to post bond ranging from $1.2 million - $2 million. The attack has been dominating the San Diego press with tales of the "crew" the four men were part of, and the violence they might have been responsible for before being charged. Add to that Kauanui's own checkered past (previous arrests included battery and drunken driving) and there is no lack of material as the trial gets underway. However, the paddle out on Saturday focused on the positive light Kauanui brought to many, and the celebration was memorable. Asked how Kauanui might have reacted to the event, one his friends, Derek Zemen, 22, said: �He'd be stoked.� Read more about the memorial here...

Headlines: Snowboarding is Not the Future, Women and the Dew Tour, Red Bull and Car Surfing

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:09:04 EST

There's a lot of news out there that I just can't talk about but I want you to see... So this is my sacrifice to you.... These are my headlines of note... * Q: Is snowboarding still the future of the ski industry? A: I don�t feel that one could say that snowboarding is still the future of the ski industry, but snowboarding still remains a viable discipline in the overall snow sports industry. * Tony Hawk kicks butt in "Fast Cars & Superstars." * The Dew Tour may not allow women to compete, but they learn how to ride thanks to the Girls Riders Organization clinics at the first two stops. * Red Bull has signed a deal with Freestyle Games to make some new games for the brand in the future... * Can anyone show me when a fun day of car surfing doesn't end with death or a terrible life-threating injury?.

X Games Overhauls Surfing For X Games 13; Adds Women -- July Comp Set

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:08:56 EST

Okay, don't get me started on the surfing comp for the X Games taking place a whole month before the actual X Games -- I gave up that battle a long time ago. But at least the surf event is undergoing some changes which should make it a bit more interesting this year. First off, women's surfing finally gets its due, with Megan Abubo, Layne Beachley, Rochelle Ballard, Sofia Mulanovich, Stephanie Gilmore and Lisa Anderson already announced. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the "East v. West" contest has been replaced by a �USA vs. the World� format. All the action will take place in Puerto Escondido from July 3-6. So far for the men, Rob Machado, Jamie O�Brien, Julian Wilson and Mick Campbell have been named -- a full list of the teams will be out soon. Get the full lowdown here...

Does America Dig Surf's Up?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:08:48 EST

Last year, a movie about dancing penguins opened up with $41.5 million at the box office in its opening weekend, on its way to nearly $200 million total. So what would America think of some surfing penguins? Not too much so far, it seems. The movie opened up this weekend in fourth place with about $18 million, that's less than half of "Happy Feet's" opening weekend. The movie trailed :"Ocean's Thirteen" ($37.1M), "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" ($21.3M) and "Knocked Up" ($20M) in the box office. While a soft opening doesn't necessarily spell disaster for an animated film, which can have a long, steady performance at the box office over the family-friendly summer, But it isn't good, either. More info...

Get Ready For International Surfing Day

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:08:36 EST

On June 21, surfers around the world will hit the waves as they might normally do, but the day will be different. June 21 is International Surfing Day -- an "unofficial, official surfers' holiday" created by Surfing magazine. Now in its third year, the event aims to promote the sport but also raise awareness about the quality of the oceans and beaches. Tied in with the event, the Surfrider Foundation is holding more than 75 cleanup events worldwide from the US to Australia, Brazil to the UK... Find out more here.

On The Scene At the TWS Awards

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:07:30 EST

Lat34 was on hand for the 9th Annual SKATEboarding Awards last night at the Avalon in Hollywood. For the straight scoop on who won (Jerry Hsu, bitches!), Read more here about it . We also have a ton of photos, with more likely to come, here. Here are a few highlights about the show that aren't in the story... The red carpet pretty much opened up for everyone starting around 7 p.m. and among the first there was Christian Hossoi and his family -- not a bad way to start the day. Ray Barbee followed soon after. We got pics of all of them. Then it started to get crazy. While the crowd lined up outside the Avalon, the inside started to fill up. Stopping by the press room were a steady stream of big names, including Hossoi, Tony Hawk, Kevin Staab, Chad Muska and Steve Berra. I talked to a few of them. I'll get some quotes up later today. The Spider Club upstairs was crazy jammed before the show started around 9:20 p.m. Once the show started, we were told we couldn't shoot inside, so we don't. But among the highlights -- Girl's surprising win over Enjoi, which seemed poised to win everything; Mark Appleyard's no-show and how it was handled (Berra: "He's not here, so let's have another winner."); Hsu's Hsuge night. There were people everywhere. Maybe a tiny bit less crowded than some of the concerts I have caught there (when it was known as the Palace), mainly because some chairs were set up, but it was still pretty jammed and a good 100-200 people probably never got in that were waiting outside. Security was rough outside but inside it was pretty sweet. The awards part of the show ended at 10 p.m. and then the movie premiere of "Let's Do It!" started. Some sick stuff, but I went into the lobby with Adam Nelson (our great photog/producer) to see who might show. First we saw Best Vert winner Bob Burnquist. Soon after, Hsu made an appearance -- leaving a little early with his girlfriend to grab a smoke and hang with the Enjoi guys out front. At that time, there was still a crowd and the idiot security guys wouldn't let you back in - no matter what. As the video wrapped, we saw a steady stream of people. I saw Jereme Rogers. Wondered what he thought of Girl's win now that he's off. Wonder if the win should include him 'cause he left after the votes were tallied? Guess no one's thinking about that, least of all the pimp himself. Couple of random thoughts -- lots of short skirts and texting women. The guys stayed off their phones (for the most part) but women were texting left and right -- usually standing by themselves off to the side. Maybe the beau is off hanging... A good 30 minutes after the show ended there were still plenty of people hanging inside, but the crowd outside had thinned. The party was rockin' upstairs at the Spider Club but many of the big winners had left. We finally left and got to see some of the action outside. Lots of wandering people, and the regular crowd in Hollywood (this being Hollywood and Vine) was going to places like The Frolic Room down the street. Down the Blvd, a concert at Henry Ford (the location of last year's TWS awards) was getting out -- The Kaiser Chiefs. Yep, just another night in LA. I drove to Tommys, got a combo and went home to work on this -- finding myself behind a limo with a license plate that said "Holywud" -- Maybe they meant Hollywood, but I like to think that meant Holy Wood. Nice. A few random photos -- the best of the bunch are in the gallery...

Stereo Shows Off

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:06:55 EST

Lat34 was in West LA last night to see a special preview screening of Stereo's new film "A Journey Through Sound," which will be released later this year. The screening took place at Nine Star, and featured demos by some Stereo skaters (including co-founder Chris Pastras) and Nine Star skaters. Jason Lee was also there, and he even took some time to talk with us (Read more about all of that here). Don't forget, he and Pastras will be cohosting the TWS Awards this Thursday -- we'll see him there again. Anyway, check out some photos below -- Check out a full gallery here. - Lat34.com

US Open of Surfing Dates Set

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:06:47 EST

Details are being set for this year's Honda US Open of Surfing and Beach Festival -- aka the Beach Games -- which will return to the Huntington Beach Pier from July 20-29th, 2007. The surfing comp will run from Friday, July 20 and run through Sunday, July 29. Some of the other stuff going on, including BMX and skate bowl competitions and FMX demos, run the 26th and 27th. Want more info about it? There's some here until the official site is up. - Lat34.com

Latest Manny Mania Results

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:06:34 EST

Here are a couple of results for you from Red Bull Manny Mania @ Austin and Tampa. From Austin -- Skate Park of Austin 1. JD Clark 2. Grant Jensen 3. Brent Joines 4. Chris Gulet 5. Johnathon Sturgeon From Tampa - Skatepark of Tampa 1. Jason Durbin 2. Robbie Kirkland 3. Cesar Fernandez 4. Anthony Verdi 5. Aaron Collier Check out our event calendar for more Manny Mania dates. - Lat34.com

Jeep Owners: Do You Like Shaun White, Tony Hawk and The B-52s?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:06:26 EST

So full disclosure -- We like Jeep. Jeep has been a friend of Lat34 from almost the start. But we would probably mention this even if it was for a Yugo -- but let's face it, Yugo sucks. Anyway, Jeep is having a loyalty event for its owners from July 26-28 at the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County, VA. There will be demos by Tony Hawk, Shaun White, plus other events for owners including off-road driving and other activities. Among the musical guest scheduled so far: The B-52s and Tim McGraw. If you own a Jeep, it'll cost you $295 per vehicle and you can register at CampJeep.com and read more about the event. If you want to go, be sure to buy a Jeep soon. - Lat34.com

Headlines: More Pastrana, Rip Curl, AST Dew Tour, Oakley and Dumb Drivers

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:06:18 EST

Headlines aplenty for Wednesday. Check 'em out. * Travis Pastrana is the man, alright. At 22, it's time for a biography on his life to be made. You can see it in theaters in 2008.. * BMXer Steve McCann was on site in Cleveland to help kick of the AST Drops In charity initiative for the Dew Tour on Monday. Check it out here. * Rip Curl Canada announces "The Rip Curl Stew" on June 16th & 17th. * We just talked about Jason Lee showing up at the Stereo event on Sunday, plus he's at the TWS awards tomorrow. And he was also named of LA's People for 2007. Everything's coming up Hickey. * Oakley likes Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG charity so much it has a new set of sunglasses to support it. * Ummm... How do you hit a skateboarder with your pickup and not realize it? - Lat34.com

Sharks Have Incredible Keen Sense of Smell

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:06:09 EST

Turns out the entire body of a shark serves as one giant nose. Remember that the next time you dine before surfing. The meatier the snack, the more tempting you may be for that shark. Personally, I'm sticking to fruits and bread before putting on the wetsuit. More... - Lat34.com

Public Still Denied Access to California Beaches

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:05:59 EST

We mentioned yesterday that California beaches are getting pretty dirty. After reading this story maybe that's just some disinformation. Despite a law passed in 1976 ensuring public access to beach-goers, the bourgeois and celebrity class of Malibu and other affluent neighborhoods are pulling all the stops to keep the beaches in their neighborhoods private, pulling such stunts as posting bogus "no parking" and "private beach" signs to scare people off. Just for that, I think I'm tempted to leave a flaming bag of poo on the doorstep of a Malibu resident the next time I surf there. I'll look for the "private beach" signs just to make sure I have the right house. - Lat34.com

CHSSC Gets National Attention

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:05:46 EST

You know we've been covering the California High School Skateboard Club with some regularity -- it's a local thing for us and we think it's a good idea. Seems like the New York Times thinks it's a good idea too -- check out this story here. The CHSSC looks like it will be going national in 2007, at least that's what founder Jeff Stern told us in the last event. Be on the look out for coverage of the last event of the season coming this weekend. Check out more of our coverage of the CHSSC. - Lat34.com

Red Bull Illume West Coast Premiere

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:05:38 EST

Want to catch some of the top photos in action sports? You can find them at the unveiling of the Red Bull Illume Exhibit starting tonight in Huntington Beach, CA. Through June 17th the event will be featuring amazing images from skateboarding, surfing, BMX and FMX on the Huntington Beach Pier -- outdoors and free to the public. More about the Illume exhibit. Next stop: Portland, OR, from August 2 -12. - Lat34.com

Scorsese to Direct Latest AMEX Spot With Shaun White, Andre Agassi and More

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:05:23 EST

By now you have no doubt seen that AMEX commercial with Shaun White, if not on TV, here when we posted it or elsewhere. Well, the next American Express spot to feature White will be a little more than just him globe-trotting for the perfect ride -- it's actually going to be directed by Oscar winner Martin Scorsese ("The Departed") who will also show up in the spot, along with singer Sheryl Crow, talk show host Ellen Generes and tennis great Andre Agassi. The goal? To have those featured share those ideas on how to make a positive impact on the world. The clip started playing yesterday. We'll try and get it up as soon as we find it! Read more here. - Lat34.com

Happy Birthday to Lat34

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:05:14 EST

It was a scant year ago that Lat34 launched at around 9:41 p.m. ET (but who's counting). It was a crazy few weeks leading up to the fateful night, but it's been even crazier since (if that can be believed). Since then, we've published about 1,000 stories, 2,000+ videos, 600 hundred or so photo galleries with about 12,000 total photos (that comes to about 20 each for you non-math majors)... Thanks to the wonders of the Internets, we can tell you which are the most popular so you can relive all of those moments once again. We're going to publish that list Satruday so we have a "full" year under our belts and none of this 264 days, 4 hours and some-odd minutes crap. We celebrated in the Lat34 offices today with some cupcakes (you see the pic). They weren't any good. Maybe next year we'll spring for a whole cake.

Fuel to Air Globe/Thrasher's Money For Blood

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:05:06 EST

If you haven't checked out Globe/Thrasher's vid "Money For Blood" you will get a chance to see it on Fuel in June -- starting tonight at 8:00 pm ET (5:00 pm PT). It's a great recap of the The Double Stack Cash Attack and other events that took place earlier this year in March down under -- culminating with Adam Dyet landing a perfect switch bs heel... Catch it on Fuel or, if you want, you can actually see it on Globe's website. Also coming up on Fuel, BMX pro Ruben Alcantara on "The Daily Habit" and a replay of the Rip Curl Pro from Bells Beach ASP contest More info on all this... - Lat34.com

Canadians, Eh, Watch TV

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:04:51 EST

If you live in Canada (and I know a few of you might), apparently you get to watch the new reality show "Fast Cars & Superstars" tonight, featuring Tony Hawk, William Shatner, Laird Hamilton, Jewel and a few other random people. We've talked about it before, but it's almost here. You in the US will have to wait until next Thursday to see it. And if you live outside of America, then you probably don't care about it anyway. More about the show. - Lat34.com

71-Year-Old Climbs Mt. Everest

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:04:42 EST

Next time you get tired on that long walk from the couch to the fridge, you'd do well to think about Katsusuke Yanagisawa -- a 71-year-old retired teacher and veteran mountaineer who just became the oldest man to climb Mt. Everest. He reached the 29,035-foot peak on May 22, and in doing so beat the previous record set last year by another Japanaese man who was 70. That man broke a record from 2003 set by another Japanese 70-year-old. Crazy. "Everest was much more difficult than I expected. It was difficult to breath, hard to walk. Even coming down the mountain was more difficult than I had thought it would be," Yanagisawa said. "Everest is a really hard mountain." Yeah, just figuring that out now? Still -- big props to the old man. See a couple of photos below or read more if you'd like. - Lat34.com

More Holiday ASR

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:03:46 EST

You may have already read my recap of the Holiday ASR show. Our Lat34 People producer Adam Nelson was with me and you can check out his blog from the event as well... - Lat34.com

Full List of X Games 13 Invited Athletes Announced

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:03:36 EST

I mentioned about the first round of invited athletes for BMX yesterday and now the whole list is out - Check it out here. If you don't want to read it, here are a couple of highlights: - Travis Pastrana is not listed in any Moto category, despite being a defending gold medal winner (which are automatically invited). So it seems his retirement will hold for now. Pastrana is invited for Rally Car Racing, though. - Invited Street skaters include Ryan Sheckler, Andrew Reynolds, Nick Dompierre and Greg Lutzka - No Shaun White on the Skate Vert invites. Anyone not invited still has plenty of chances as there will be more invites being sent out. - Lat34.com

Scopin' The Goods At ASR Holiday

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:03:14 EST

I took a little trip down to OC Thursday to check out ASR Holiday, which was being held at the Orange County Fairgrounds. First thought -- interesting place to hold it. Didn't see any cows or prize-winning pigs, but it certainly had the feel of a fairgrounds. Ah well, when the OC Fair starts in July I can always make a trip back down. Now, I'm not a buyer -- so my thoughts are purely those of a layperson. But there seemed to be plenty of NEW stuff getting ready for the season. Only Roxy and Volcom were hard to check out, since they were sort of closed off to the general crowd (and I wasn't that interested to see what behind the velvet rope). Everyone was there, from Hurley to O'Neill to Rip Curl to Billabong to, of course, Quiksilver. Kudos to Billabong for having a model on site to show off their wares (check out our photo of Filly -- that was her name). (click to the site to see the photos) Filly models for Billabong... In addition to the big players, there were plenty of smaller companies showing off everything from shoes to sunglasses to websites to computer accessories. You can check out our photo gallery for a good recap, but a couple of notables included ActionSportsNetwork.us (seems like a news website, but it really is a marketplace for action sports enthusiasts -- interesting stuff) -- that booth won my vote for most hotties -- and a company selling USB drives shaped like snowboards and surfboards (deals with Burton and Channel Islands). You'll see owner Jake Skiles in our gallery. He said there was good interest for his product. (click to the site to see the photos) Dorothy and Jamie of ActionSportsNetwork.us (click to the site to see the photos) Sarah mans the Skin booth... As far as clothes, Kashi Kicks had some crazy shoes on display, and Shaun Neff had a wide variety of sick stuff. On site I caught up with Sunny Garcia. He's still on parole following his stint in jail and told me he has two parole officers and has to tell them wherever he goes (oh, and he can only leave the house between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.). He has to put up with this through Sept. when he can finally get out of town and go back to Hawaii to surf. Also talked to pro skateboarder Holly Lyons, who has a new company named Sk8Grl Clothing -- we'll have a lot more with her later but check out the site if interested. (click to the site to see the photos) Sunny Garcia - it's good to be free (mostly) (click to the site to see the photos) Holly Lyons All in all, not a bad day. Looking forward to ASR in Septermber. Be sure to check out the gallery. - Lat34.com

Pastrana Wins X-Fighters Dublin

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:03:07 EST

Travis Pastrana's certainly still got it -- the not-quite-retired FMX legend showed up at the X-Fighters event in Dublin and was declared the winner based on his strong performance in Friday's qualifiers -- the finals ended up being canceled due to weather. Here are the results -- Click here to read more, see video and photos... RESULTS - Red Bull X-Fighters Slane Castle: 1. Travis Pastrana (USA, Suzuki) 2. Matt Rebeaud (SUI, KTM) 3. Dany Torres (ESP, KTM) 4. Jeremy Lusk (USA, Yamaha) 5. Eigo Sato (JPN, Yamaha) 6. Romain Izzo (FRA, Yamaha) 7. Charles Pag�s (FRA, Suzuki) 8. Ronnie Renner (USA, KTM) 9. Busty Wolter (GER, Suzuki) 10. Alvaro Dal Farra (ITA, KTM) - Lat34.com

World Stunt Awards Photos

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:03:00 EST

Happy Memorial Day. Today, I choose to memorialize the fact that Red Bull held the World Stunt Awards last week in Hollywood. You can read more about the show here but I thought these pictures were cool. (click to the site to see the photos) Robbie Maddison flips and flies over the red carpet -- nice. Image � Stefan Aufschnaiter/Red Bull Photofiles (click to the site to see the photos) Shaun White and well-established hottie Elisha Cuthbert present the 'Best Specialty Stunt' award. White is stoked. Image � wireimage.com / Red Bull Photofiles (click to the site to see the photos) Winner of Best Fire - Simon Rhee for "Letters from Iwo Jima." Damn. Maybe now I'll see the movie. Image � Daniel Grund /Red Bull Photofiles Oh yeah, support the troops. - Lat34.com

Travis Pastrana - Don't Expect the Double Backflip

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:02:52 EST

Don't expect Travis Pastrana to break out the double backflip at the X-Fighters contest at Dublin tomorrow. "No, that was a one-off. I proved that it's possible, now it's up to the others to give it a go." he said on an interview on the German website NewSpirits... And in case you are expecting him to hit the X-Games and Dew Tour... Well, don't be so sure. His goal is simple: "I'd like to know what it feels like to be World Rally Champion." If you're interested, you can read the interview and you can catch the webcast right here starting at 1 p.m. ET tomorrow. Click here to launch the webcast player... Also, ya gotta love this graphic at the top of the NewSpirits website pimping the interview. (see it below). I'm sure "David" appreciates it. - Lat34.com

Journeys Backyard BBQ Photos - Salt Lake City

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:02:44 EST

Check out this gallery of photos from the Journeys Backyard BBQ event from last weekend at Sandy UT, featuring, among others, skateboarders Ronnie Creager, Kyle Leeper and Elissa Steamer, BMX legend Jamie Bestwick with Mike "Rooftop" Escamilla and a Metal Mulisha Demo. See the full gallery! There are a few more dates coming up over the coming weeks -- including this weekend's Ann Arbor/Detroit stop. Check out our events calendar for more details or the Journeys BBQ site. - From Lat34.com

Fuel to Air Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:02:35 EST

Did you miss the 2007 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards when they were webcast last month? You can now catch them airing on Fuel next week (or various other dates). The show is definitely worth catching -- and probably will look a lot better on my HDTV set vs. the 320x240 window on my laptop. 2007 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards Air Dates: Monday 5/28/2007 10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT Monday 5/28/2007 1:00 am ET / 10:00 pm PT Monday 5/28/2007 4:00 am ET / 1:00 am PT Saturday 6/2/2007 12:00 pm ET / 9:00 am PT Saturday 6/2/2007 3:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm PT Thursday 7/12/2007 10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT Thursday 7/12/2007 1:00 am ET / 10:00 pm PT Thursday 7/12/2007 4:00 am ET / 1:00 am PT Read more about the awards. - From Lat34.com

Headlines: Shaun White, Moto, Snow and Snakes on a PLANE!

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:02:28 EST

It's a holiday weekend. Don't worry. We never sleep. * A Virgina teen is using Motocross races to raise money for a friends operation. * The U.S. Snowboarding Freestyle Team has a new member -- 14-year-old Broc Waring. * Snakes on a Plane: Fact or Fiction? Ummm... I guess fact. * I guess not everyone loves Shaun White (or even knows who he is). - From Lat34.com

Mark Your Calendars - Winter X Dates Set

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:02:19 EST

You have some time to plan: The next Winter X Games will be held January 24-27, 2008 at Buttermilk Ski Resort in Aspen, CO. It will be the 12 annual event. There will practice and qualifying events on January 22-23. See you there! - from Lat34.com

Underhill Auction Ends

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:01:36 EST

The charity auction for former pro skateboarder Ray Underhill has wrapped up on EBay and it raised about $45K to help cover his medical bills. The auction definitely featured some of the most unique items you will ever find in skateboarding lore, and the top ten items are an interesting combination of skateboarding legend, mixed in with just some good packages. Here are the top ten (actually, 11, since #11 was so unique): 1. PHOTO CLASS W/ GRANT BRITTAIN AND TONY HAWK - $2,800 (arguably one of the most unique things for auction -- I mean, how many times do you get a private photo shoot with the Birdman and Grant Brittain?) 2. CONSOLIDATED ABORTED "CORPORATE" DECKS - $1,552.00 (three one-a-kind decks -- pretty good deal) 3. ORIGINAL MARK GONZALES KROOKED ARTWORK - $1,425.00 (again - one-of-a-kind!) 4. SHAUN WHITE'S PERSONAL SNOWBOARD - $1,190.00 (Unless I'm mistaken, it's the only snowboard item. White signed it, too) 5. WES HUMPSTON HAND PAINTED DECK - $1,136.00 6. MIKE VALLELY'S OWN ANIMAL MAN SKATEBOARD - $1,100.00 7. TONY HAWK'S PERSONAL COMPLETE SKATEBOARD - $1,025.00 (From May '07) 8. MORRISSEY 4 TICKETS BOX SEATS HOLLYWOOD - $898.88 (Probably worth less, but nice package) 9. JOHN MAYER 4 Tickets BOX SEATS HOLLYWOOD - $840.00 (Does anybody like this guy?) 10. BONES BRIGADE TEAM SIGNED DECK VINTAGE - $802.22 (Amazing) 11. RODNEY MULLEN'S 02 SKATER OF YEAR TROPHY - $800.00 If you're interested in how all the items did, visit the Ebay page... or click here if you've been living under a rock and don't know anything about this auction. - Lat34.com

Lick Them Lips: Saliva Named AST Dew Tour Theme Song

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:01:24 EST

The AST Dew Tour has named Saliva's "Ladies and Gentleman" as its theme song for the 2007 tour and the band will kick off the tour in Baltimore next month with a live concert on June 22. Pretty appropriate song, IMHO. Check out the video below! - Lat34.com

Shaun White's New Birdhouse Promo

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:01:09 EST

Check out Shaun White's new promo for Birdhouse Skateboards. From the guys themselves: "Shaun White is the latest edition to the Birdhouse Skateboards' pro team. We are very proud to have him on and here is a video clip introducing Shaun and his first signature pro model Birdhouse Black 6 board. Black 6, the latest in superior skateboard deck construction." - Lat34.com

Red Bull Elevation Returns to Whistler

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:00:42 EST

The high-flying Red Bull Elevation competition is returning to Whistler, BC for its third edition. There are 35 invited riders for the BMX dirt event, including 2006 champ Corey Bohan, 2005 champ Ryan Nyquist, Luke Parslow and Anthony Napolitan. Read all about the 2006 event here and read more about this year's event. - Lat34.com

More Red Bull Manny Mania

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:00:33 EST

Okay, we said they were coming -- now you can check out some more details about last weekend's Manny Mania comp in Venice. We got photos, too! Here you go. - Lat34.com

AST Dew Tour Gets Charitable

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:00:25 EST

The AST Dew Tour already announced a chairtable event with Bucky Lasek that took place in Baltimore -- now they went out and gave a few more details for the program named "AST Drops In." In addition to the actual events that the tour will put on in each host city, there will be online auctions going on featuring collectables like Ryan Sheckler�s autographed skateboard, Mike Mason's goggles and more. More info.. - Lat34.com

Burton's For Right or Wrong

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:00:10 EST

The latest Burton snowboarding flick "For Right or Wrong" is coming to Australia, with two free screenings at Melbourne (5/31) and Sydney (6/13) scheduled. Tickets are free through any Burton dealer. And if you don't live in one of those cities, you pretty much are not out of luck -- you can download the entire movie for free from Burton.com Check it Out. - Lat34.com

Damien Hobgood Defeats Mick Fanning to Win Billabong Pro Tahiti

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:58:54 EST

American Damien Hobgood came from behind today in stunning fashion to defeat current ASP World Tour #1 Mick Fanning in the finals of the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Hobgood secured the win in the last 30 seconds of the match to come away with a combined 16.60 to Fanning's 16.20. Hobgood opened up the scoring with an 8.00 double tube but Fanning soon came back with a strong 9.33 after getting a deep barrel of his own. Check back soon for more about the match plus photos! Billabong Pro Tahiti Final Results: Final: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.60 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.20 Billabong Pro Tahiti Semifinal Results: SF 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) 18.17 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.67 SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.87 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 15.33 Billabong Pro Tahiti Quarterfinal Results: QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.53 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 12.00 QF 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.17 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.23 QF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.73 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 14.33 QF 4: Kai Otton (AUS) 18.73 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 17.64 - Lat34.com

Ray Underhill Charity Auction Underway

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:58:33 EST

A charity auction has kicked off for skateboarder Ray Underhill, formerly of the Bones Brigade. Underhill has been receiving treatment for a brain tumor and an auction has been set up to help raise funds to pay off his medical bills. The auction contains more than 140 one-of-a-kind items ranging from the completely unique (a photo shoot with Tony Hawk and Grant Brittain) to the rare (autographed decks from Hawk, Lasek, Burnquist, Peralta and many, many more) to just some cool stuff (Rodney Mullen's 2002 TWS Skater of the Year trophy). Get the lowdown here... - Lat34.com

Full Results and Photos From Pro-Tec Pool Party

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:58:16 EST

We promised it after the event and now we've got up all the photos from last weekend's Pro-Tec Pool Party (and there are a bunch). We also have our blog from our man on the scene, Adam Nelson. Check it all out: * Full results * The blog... * Photo Gallery - Highlights * Photo Gallery - More Photos - Lat34

Recap - Chasing the Lotus Screening in Hollywood

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:57:47 EST

It was a fun night at Cinespace in Hollywood for the screening of "Chasing the Lotus," part of the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival and Lat34 free monthly screening series of top action sports films. The audience was filled with a mix of surfing fans, friends and family of the director, Greg Schell (at left with Brian Wimmer), and people who work in the action sports business. "Chasing the Lotus" follows the story of underground surf filmmakers Greg Weaver and Spyder Wills whose footage dates back to the beginning of modern surfing in the '60s. Narrated by Jeff Bridges and featuring some legendary names in surfing including Rob Machado, Sunny Garcia, Mark Occhilupo, Wingnut, Bob Hurley, Stacy Peralta and many more, �Chasing the Lotus� traces the evolution of surf culture over four decades and five continents, utilizing a fusion of rare super8 film, photo stills and interviews Those on hand to watch the film included: The film's director Greg Schell; Brian Wimmer and Eric Barrett who run the X-Dance Festival; Martin Trejo of Mandalay Entertainment; Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, the woman who the original Gidget character is based on and her husband Marvin Zuckerman; Peter Duke and Kathy Anderson from Playground Media Group; Steven Garcia and Jeremy J. Ford, who are shooting the new action sports film �Mischievous Souls;� Lisa Griffin and Gillian Edelson from Elektro Film; Michael Lythcott and Ben Bryan from VAS Entertainment; Gillian Edelson from Elektro Film and Ben Brian from VAS Entertainment; Tony Rogondino from ADD Marketing; Mick Kelleher from the X Games; Tony Rhodes from �Chasing the Lotus� and Billy Savage, director of �Klunkerz.� The June X-Dance/Lat34 free screening will be "Disposable Hero: The Brian Deegan Story" on Tuesday, June 19 at Cinespace. Freestyle motocross icon Brian Deegan has been through the wringer � and the winner�s circle � time and again, experiencing everything from X Games fame to a busted spleen, all in the course of a season. You will hear from the Metal Mulisha leader, himself, in "Disposable Hero." Spread the word on this free screening. Brian Deegan and Jason Bergh will be in attendance for a Q&A. Directed by Dave Dawes and produced by Brian Deegan, Sal Masekela, Jason Bergh and Berkela Films, "Disposable Hero: The Brian Deegan Story" won the Best Biography award at the 2007 Lat34 X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival. Photo Gallery Oh yeah, we've got photos from the screening -- Check out the gallery right here!.

Shark Week's Hall Killed

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:57:30 EST

Jimmy Hall, an adventure addict who was going to appear in Discovery's upcoming "Shark Week," was killed last week in a BASE jumping accident in a remote island in Canada, it's now being reported. He was filming an attempt for the longest BASE jumping record -- a fall of 4,000 feet -- and was killed when he slammed into the side of a cliff. Because of the remote location, a snowmobile was needed to recover his body and to reach the nearest village. The owner of Oahu's Hawaii Shark Encounters, Hall gained noteriety in Dec. 2005 after filming himself during a shark-feeding session. He captured images around a Great White shark (pic. below) without any protection and immediately became known for his fearlessness. Since then, he has appeared in numerous documentaries. - Lat34.com

Billabong Pro Extension Granted

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:55:42 EST

Big news here - for the first time in profesional surfing history, an extension to an ASP International event waiting period has been granted. There were only two-foot waves hitting the shors of Tahiti today, the final day of the waiting period, and it looks as though Wednesday is when they may hit the water. Extensions are unusually mainly due to the scheduling issues around the ASP Foster's Men's Tour, but since the Fiji event was canceled this year, there is a larger gap than usual between this event and June's Rip Curl Pro Search event in Chile. You can find out the latest from the Billabong Pro in our story below, but keep in mind Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow and Bede Durbidge are out, while Andy Irons and Mick Fanning move ahead... - Lat34.com

Santa Cruz Wins Red Bull High School Surfing Cup

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:55:19 EST

We've been talking about the skateboard club for high schools in California. How could we forget about surfing? It's much more established, and a lot more schools are participating. The most recent event took place from May 8-10, where Santa Cruz High battled Soquel High for the win. In the end, Santa Cruz came out ahead. Read more about it here! - Lat34.com

Upsets Riddle Billabong Pro

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:54:59 EST

Let's see, Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow, Bede Durbidge, Bruce Irons -- those are just some of the guys who got knocked out of the Billabong Pro in the fourth round yesterday. Look for the whole thing to wrap up today, with Andy Irons and Mick Fanning currently in the driver's seat... Check out a huge photo gallery from the last couple of days of action then read about the upsets. - Lat34.com