In response to the emails I recieved about my last post. yes I know it has nothing to do with skateboarding. I have skateboarded more than half my life now and along the way you begin to realize that there are other things in this world besides skateboarding. I remember the days that everything had to be about skateboarding if it didn't I was oblivious to it. Ahh.... to be young and narrow minded again. I kinda miss those days a little. So get um while you can.

As I said in my first post my interests don't lie purely in skateboarding. "What The Bleep Do We Know" is a fascinating movie about Quantum Physics mixed with philosophy and a bit of spiritualism. It really makes you think.

Do you want to take a trip down the rabbit hole? Get ready, because that's exactly what you'll do when you view this documentary! With a genre-busting break-through format and layout, the graphics, colors and characters compel viewers to ask themselves Great Questions that will recreate their lives as they know them. With the help of fourteen leading quantum physicists, scientist and spiritual thinkers, this documentary will guide you on a course from the scientific to the spiritual, and from the universal to the deeply personal. Along the way, it asks such questions as: Are we seeing the world as it really is? What are thoughts made of? What is the relationship between our thoughts and our world? Are we biologically addicted to certain emotions? How can I create my day every day? The answer to the last question is a resounding yes: you are an infinite set of possibilities, and you can choose every day which reality you want to create for yourself. This film shows you how!

By Dean Erickson

The key to buying is to know what you want. That sounds obvious, but there are so many things to consider when buying a product that it's easy to get lost in the information superhighway that is the Internet.

So, before you perform an Internet search for "skateboard online shop", or something like that, try searching for "about skateboarding" first. This will bring up websites filled with all the information you need to know. Read up on the history of the sport, the tricks, the boards, the gear. Work out what sort of skateboarding you want to do. Do you want to skateboard at a ramp, or on the street? Do you want to do tricks or just cruise around? Your answers will play a big role in choosing the type of board that will be best for you.

So, once you decide on the type of skateboarding you want to do you'll be able to better match the type of deck (board) that's for you. There are so many skateboard decks to choose from. They come in various shapes and sizes and differing weights and strengths. There are flatter decks or more concave decks. There's a deck for everyone.

Skateboard manufacturing companies are always looking to improve board design, so you'll find decks made of plastic or fiberglass, but the most popular type of deck is a wooden deck.

The brand names abound: Element, Tony Hawk (the Michael Jordan of skateboarding), Girl, Habitat, Santa Cruz, Toy and Enjoi, to name a new. An Internet search will bring up the relevant websites. Browse through and read about board technology, sizes, shapes.

The most popular deck is the standard 7 ply maple deck. The Habitat "Skylite" board is made of 5 ply maple, which makes it lighter, while the Element "Fiberlight" has a strip of fiberglass, which according to the company website, makes it able to better "withstand intense abuse".

The width of the deck is also important. Wider decks (over 8") are more suitable for transition/vert work, while street tricks demand a narrower board. If you want to do both then an 8" deck is a good starting choice. If you just want to cruise around a wider board is more comfortable.

Skateboards have wheels, and wheels come in a variety of colors, sizes and degrees of hardness. Read up on wheel diameter (height of wheel) and durometer (hardness of wheel). In short, remember that wheel size means speed and wheel hardness means stability.

Shopping for skateboarding deals online is so easy if you take your time. Type "skateboard offers" into your favorite search engine and start browsing and comparing prices. Sites like Skateboard.com and Skatewarehouse.com are good places to start.

While you are there think about getting yourself a pair of skate shoes. Speciality shoes will make your riding experience easier and safer. Skate shoes have a large flat bottom which is better able to grip the board. Some have heel airbags and gel pads for added safety. Also, think about getting yourself a helmet and other protective gear. It's not silly, it's smart.


Dean Erickson. Journalist, and web site builder Dean Erickson lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://gear.skateboard-centralpark.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Erickson

WORLD’S LARGEST SPECTATOR SHOWCASE FOR ACTION SPORTS, THE BANK OF THE WEST BEACH GAMES, RETURNS TO SURF CITY USA JULY 24 – 30, 2006

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The immensely popular Bank of the West Beach Games, attracting nearly 500,000 spectators and more than 500 world-class athletes, returns this July 24-30 to the Huntington Beach Pier. Sprawled across 12 oceanfront acres, north and south of Surf City USA’s famed landmark, the “Bank of the West Beach Games featuring the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing Presented by O’Neill” is California’s ideal action sport and lifestyle festival.

Anchored by the world’s largest professional surfing competition, the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing, the Beach Games also features beach volleyball, skateboarding, BMX and FMX competition. All of the action will be accessible live on www.bankofthewestbeachgames.com

This increasingly popular event brings sports enthusiasts together from all walks of life to enjoy a week of excitement. The Beach Games presents the quintessential Southern California experience and our entire team at Bank of the West is delighted to be a part of this exciting event,” said Rick Davis, Bank of the West, Division Executive, Southern California.

The $185,000 Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill continues to set the worldwide standard for competitive surfing, boasting North America’s only six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS)-rated men’s and women’s events, which are critical to the hopes and dreams of Americans desiring to reach the elite World Tour. The Target Women’s Junior Pro (ages 19 and under) and the Men’s Lost Pro Junior provide clear platforms to the WQS while the O’Neill U.S. Open of Longboarding provides the best of two world’s: stylish ‘60s surfing and modern high-performance maneuvers.

The Bank of the West Beach Games also welcomes the second annual Karch Kiraly Invitational, a six-team, four-person beach volleyball competition. Unlike any current volleyball event in existence, the Karch Kiraly Invitational will feature a hybrid of beach rules called “Four Man Throw”. Each game will be played by side-out scoring to 15 points. The participants are allowed to spike as well as "throw" or re-direct the spike over the net, similar to a "slam dunk". Unlike the current pro tour rules or Olympic play, there will be no penalty or "lift" calls for hand sets or passes. Featuring current stars alongside living legends of the game, the early lineup includes Steve Timmons, Jud Buechler, Brian Lewis, Owen McKibben, Steve Salmons, Sinjin Smith, and Steve O’bradovich. Linda Hanley, Jan Gordon, Patty Dodd, Liz Masakayan and Gabrielle Reese are the women participating.

Freestyle Moto-Cross (FMX) fuels the Bank of the West Beach Games for the third consecutive year, electrifying crowds with daredevil double-seat grabs, cliffhangers and gravity-defying backflips. A custom-built course, within a stones throw of the Pacific Ocean, allows spectators to be within a few feet of top FMX stars, which may include Brian Deegan, Jeff Tilton, Mike Mason, Myles Richmond and more.

A slew of BMX superheroes and skateboard stars battle in The Bank of the West Soul Bowl, a unique action sports competition apparatus that combines the core or “soulful” elements and history of pool riding with the freestyle and modern attributes of half-pipe competition. Skaters and bikers drop into the 13 foot deep kidney-shaped “pool” and vie for $50,000 in prize money. Prior competitors include Brian Patch, Tony Magnusson, Cara-Beth Burnside, Mat “Condor” Hoffman, Dennis McCoy and Kevin Robinson.

Thousands of spectators will also enjoy the Bank of the West Beach Games’ interactive festival featuring the TransWorld Rock City, Teen Vogue Fashion Live! and the Beach Games Concert Stage. More than 80 exhibits, athlete autograph signings, dance contests, DJs, live music, guest emcees and prize giveaways are among the myriad activities.

“The Beach Games have become a fixture in the Southern California cultural landscape and a staple in the action sports and surf industries,” says James Leitz of IMG, Executive Producer of the Games. “IMG is proud that together with so many great athletes, our sponsor partners and the City of Huntington Beach, we can continue to bring this lifestyle happening to a broad audience year in and year out.”

The Beach Games will be captured in three original one-hour programs that will air on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) in September 2006. The Games will also be showcased in a one-hour “Best Of...” program that will air on Fox Sports Net also in September.

All events during the 2006 Bank of the West Beach Games are open to the public and free of charge. The early rounds of surfing begin on Friday, July 21 and run through Sunday, July 30. Festival activities, BMX and skate competitions begin on Thursday, July 27 with FMX starting on Friday, July 28. More extensive consumer information is available at www.bankofthewestbeachgames.com

I've seen dogs skate before but Tyson The skateboarding bulldog is the best by far. Someone give this dog a sponsor! Hey Kibbles and Bits now is your chance to move in on the Xtreme consumer market base dude! Seriously though the dog has to be having a blast I know I do when I skate! Check out Tysons website Here.

I was just checking out the expn.com website to check out what's in store for the x games 12. I found some fantastic images of the ramps and course layouts. Check them out here.

Firingsquad.com | Monday
New screenshots have been released showing off more of Tony Hawk's Project 8, the upcoming pro skateboarding game from Neversoft and Activision.

Read More

The Herald | Friday Jul 21

York's skateboarders are running out of options. Despite heated comments from the public, the York City Council last week voted unanimously to pass an ordinance prohibiting skateboarding and the use of similar ...

Read More

Clover Herald | Thursday Jul 20

Despite heated comments from the public, York City Council last week voted unanimously to pass an ordinance prohibiting skateboarding and the use of similar devices from all public streets, sidewalks and parks.

Read More

Aspire BMX teaser

Two new full length videos have been added to my videos section today. Tony Hawks Trick Tips and Black Labels Black Out. Check Um!

Here is a quick clip of some new BMX Ramps that were added shortly before East Coast Terminal was brought to it's knees.

So I came across some video clips on YouTube today of my friend Rocky who is one of the most dedicated locals East Coast Terminal Skatepark had in it's last leg years. Rocky had to deal with a lot of bullshit from people over the years like being acussed of being a drug dealer just to mention one inciedent. I'm glad he is better than that and can shake off the sterotyping racist crap and still have fun skating and skating well!

So I figured in my ongoing effort to pay tribute to East Coast Terminal and the ones who cared about it I would post his clips.

By the way if anyone has footage or photos they would like to contribute please email them to me HERE!

Late night session at the Hanger 94 compound in . Jonathan Spooner takes a run on the mini ramp.

Perhaps one of the most exhilarating things to snowboard on is a half pipe. A half pipe is a combination of gracefully arcs and glorious straight stretches that allow you to perform skateboarding tricks with your snowboard. The only other thing that can compare to a half pipe is a snowboarding bowl.

A half pipe is a ramp that is constructed partially with terrain and partially engineering snow placement. For this reason it may not be feasible for most people to build their own half pipe at home. Of course, where there is a will there is a way and for that reason we will look at the basics of how to build your own half pipe.

The first aspect to consider is the location of your half pipe. You wish to find a location where the terrain will reduce the amount of work that you must do. If you are trying to build a half pipe that is 6 feet high on flat ground you will need at least one full dump truck load of snow for each side of the ramp. If you happen to have 6 feet of snow or more you may be tempted to try to dig out your own ramp. Unfortunately the volume of snow you need to remove is even greater than that needed to build the contours.

The ideal solution is to find a spot where a small hill or bank can form one side or more of your ramp. Being able to use an existing detail of the terrain will greatly reduce the amount of work that you need to do. When looking for terrain features to work with keep in mind the basic details of any half pipe. A half pipe should be about 6 feet high, 8 feet across, have a flat surface about 8 feet long and a landing pad at the top of each ramp about 4 feet wide.

One of the most important details of a half pipe is the transition or curvature of the ramp. Getting the right curve is critical to the ride ability of your ramp. If the curve is too tight then your snowboard may not be able to flex enough to land securely and you will tend to fall or be off balance each time you land. If the curve is too gently then you will find the ramp to be slow and you will have a very hard time getting air. Following the edge of an imaginary circle that has a radius of 8 or 9 feet creates the ideal curve of a ramp. This is a fairly standard radius for any ramp regardless of how high the ramp is.

Another important consideration is the final construction of the ride surface and the maintenance of that surface. There is quite an art to constructing the best surface and many companies offer courses and tools for this purpose. The surface of your ramp is a combination of hard packed snow and ice. You want to have a solid surface that will not shift or break up when being ridden on but not solid ice either.

One way to help create a good surface is to layer snow with water and allow it to freeze. Your actual construction process will vary depending upon the type of snow you are working with and the temperatures. Begin by compacting a layer of about 12" of snow and then, if needed, misting water on top of the compact snow. As you mist the water on the compacted snow add another foot of snow so that it will adhere to the layer that you just created. The thickness that you will require will vary but 2 layers is usually a good start.

Building a snowboarding ramp can be a huge undertaking but is possible to do. With a little hard work, some training and the correct tools, you too will be able to build a reasonable half pipe.

About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snowboardinghelp.com. Please visit his website to discover the world of snowboarding!

By Dwight Maskew

Since its inception in the early 1970's, skateboarding has always set a precendent for creativity and individuality. In the last few years, the momentum has picked up significantly and communities are starting to see the need for providing local individuals with a place to skate. Skaters will always find a place to have a session, it's just a matter of determining whether the city is going to support their activity or continue to object to street skating as many communities still do. Many cities are waking up to the fact that public skateparks are a necessary part of the local community.

How a community funds a public skatepark varies in many ways. Some skateparks receive funding from local organizations in support of recreational ameneties and sometimes funding comes from local support and grass-roots fundraising. Some companies will donate materials for the project as a tax write-off. Ad space is sometimes auctioned off in order to secure additional funding. Most public skateparks are constructed with a combination of grant money and money raised by the community.

Most of the hard work put into getting a community to consider a public skatepark comes from advocates who labor intensively get these projects pushed thru the local governments. Sometimes, these advocates aren't even skateboarders. One advocate, a retired businesswoman and City Councilwoman took up the fight for public skateparks when her grandson noted his frustration with simply trying to find a pace to skate. Cities put so much public effort and tax-dollars into city parks and other recreational facilities, someone just needs to point them in the right direction and get them to realize that public skateparks provide a place for local skaters to have fun and stay out of trouble. This keeps most skaters off the streets and gives them an area where they can perfect their skills and enjoy themselves. The value is inarguable to the community.

Building a public skateparks doesn't necessarily mean the community understands all the aspects of being socially responsible. Part of the understanding comes from learning how to best manage these facilities. Westminster Skatepark in Wesminster, Colorado reversed its 'Helmets Required' rule once city officials realized that staying hands-off actually decreased their liability. Exerting too much control requires the city to enforce their own rules which ends up costing even more money. Enforcing such rules at some public skateparks would be next to impossible. The Denver Skatepark, at over 60,000 square feet is the largest of its kind in the country, does not require pads and has not reported any injuries. This is attributed to most skaters knowing that they are skating at their own risk. Relaxing the rules can be more beneficial to eveyone because the city is balancing what the skaters want and an acceptable amount of risk the city is willing to assume.


Free Skateparks - Learn, review and submit information about free skateparks in your community at this worldwide skatepark directory.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dwight_Maskew

Vert Ramp Skateboard Session @ the now defunct Snoqualmie Pass (Alpental) Skate Ramp.

Almost but no cigar!

Spohn Ranch is a company that specializes in staging and producing special events involving skateborading, bmx bikes and freestyle motocross. Ths event took place at the South Street Sea Port in Manhattan. Contest results: 1st place Jamie Bestwick, 2nd place Dave Mirra & 3rd place Kevin Robinson. There are other extreme / action sports athletes like Bob Burnquist on the deck of the ramp as well. Spohn Ranch 626-330-5803

from DC video - Danny Way has always been a big influence in my skateboarding life even way back in the day when he was begging Tony Magnuson to put his part in the new H-Street video. This little clip will show you why Danny Way is a skateboarding legend!

Mini-ramp session in the town of Kihei on Maui. Skaters include: Chuck Wampler, Chris Cudlipp, Roger Carbudol, Tom Miyao and Aubry Boutin. Shot and edited by Robb Gardner with music by Mongio.

A skateboarding and BMX tribute to East Coast Terminal Skate Park and the ones who loved it! R.I.P Old Friend 1999 - 2006

So I figure my first blog post I should introduce myself and explain my reason for jumping on the "Blog Wagon" and what I hope it will become over time and how I got to this point.

My name is Brandon Cardone, I am the author of "The Beginner's Guide To Building Ramps" and the webmaster for BuildARamp.com.

To make a Long Story short around eight years ago I was commissioned to build one of the largest indoor skateboard parks on the east coast, known as East Coast Terminal. Sadly East Coast Terminal recently closed it's doors to the public, but I'll get to that in an upcoming blog post.

Anyway like I was saying around eight years ago a few of my closest friends and I were commissioned to build this skateboard park. Well shortly after opening it's doors to the public I realized that all that knowledge I had stuck in my head about building ramps could be useful to the masses. So I embarked on a very long journey to write "The Beginner's Guide To Building Ramps."

I quickly realized that the best way to sell my ramp building guide was online. So I decided to go back to college to learn about graphic and web design, which was one of the best choices I have ever made in my life. It gave me the knowledge I needed to market and enhance the look of my ramp building guide and website.

Over the past two years I've seen BuildAramp go from a simple website that sold a ramp building manual to a huge online resource for anyone looking to build a skateboard ramp.

So with that said It's hard to say what this blog will become. I hope people find it useful and entertaining. I of course will do my best to focus on skateboarding and skateboard ramps as they were my first true love in this world and this blog is a wonderful marketing tool if nothing else. However my life is much more than skateboarding and I expect that will be reflected in my future posts. So expect to find information about graphic design, web design, photoshop and illustrator tips, flash animation, 3d design, carpentry, and anything else I feel I need to share with the world.