The Zoo York Institute is proud to announce that from July 24th-26th, the 2009 Zoo York AM Getting Paid (AGP) contest will be held at ‘Le Taz’ Skatepark in Montreal, Canada.

Presented by Monster Energy, Underworld Skateshop and SBC Skateboard Magazine, with additional support from New Era, Dakine, Transworld SKATEboarding, Exposé Magazine, 33mag, and Dose.ca, AGP is widely recognized as one of today’s most prestigious international skateboarding competitions for amateurs only with a hefty prize purse of $10,000 USD.

Established in 2004 by the Zoo Crew, AM Getting Paid is extremely important as it provides tomorrow’s pros with much needed support, experience and exposure within the global skateboarding community. AGP always brings out the world’s top ams to battle it out for the overall title and a healthy paycheck.

In celebration of AGP’s 5th Anniversary, this year’s contest will feature an exciting new jam format and move to the brand new 35,000 square foot ‘Le Taz’ Skatepark centrally located in downtown Montreal. Scheduled to open this spring, ‘Le Taz’ features a state-of-the-art indoor street course, lounges for competitors, media and VIPs, and it has plenty of room to accommodate the hordes of spectators and fans expected to attend.

So mark your calendar, because in four short months the 2009 Zoo York AM Getting Paid contest is on! Additional event updates coming soon.

To find out more, please visit: www.zooyork.com | www.amgettingpaid.com | www.underworld-shop.com | www.taz.ca

Some of you may remember the comic that ran in Transworld for awhile called Wrench Pilot. Well I had a dream last night that I walked out my door and I was in a wrench pilot comic doing tweaked airs, crail taps, tail taps, hand plants and laid back smith grinds, just like in some of the Wrench Pilot Issues. It was such an awesome dream!

Wrench Pilot was drawn by Mel Bend and published by Transworld Skateboarding Magazine from 1989 through 1991. It was originally concepted as a piece for Thrasher Comics, but was rejected for reasons unknown. Transworld published 23 episodes of Wrench Pilot, before Bend stopped drawing it.

I found the artist Mel Bends website where you can browse all of Mel Bends artwork along with browsing all the Wrench Pilot comic issues at BendPress.com. You can even purchase some of his original artwork! Definitely worth checking out.

9th Annual Transworld Skateboarding Awards featuring Christian Hosoi, Tony Hawk, Chad Muska, Jason Lee, Sk8mafia, Peter Smolik, Sal Barbier and more crazy lunatics at the Avalon. So much fun!!!! Lets’ do it again.