"The Giant Hand" skates to X-Games 15!

Among skateboarding, bmx, and moto-x; fingerboarding, a mini version of a skateboard where tricks are performed using fingers instead of feet, is providing full entertainment at this year's X Games 15. X Games Fingerboards, manufactured by Mattel, are based on the real X Games brand skateboard models. They feature a vast array of legit, quality graphics.

Story and photos sent by Mary Friberg of mmlpr.

WHAT: X-Games Fingerboarding and The Giant Hand

The X Games Fingerboards Booth at X Fest will feature:
• Pro Fingerboarders Eddy Vargas, Joe Climan and Colton Cleveland showing tricks on a pro skate park
• Announcements by veteran X Games Emcees Bonton Flores & Dave Duncan
• Demo course & tagging station for kids
• Giveaways of more than 10,000 fingerboards - just text for a chance to win.

WHEN: The booth will be open Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday, August 1 from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday, August 2 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.

THE HAND’S SKATE TIMES:
The Hand will be skating the Skateboarding Street Course on:
• Saturday, August 1 from 1:50 pm to 1:53 pm
The Hand will be skating the interactive courses on:
• Friday, July 30 from 1:00-1:15 pm
• Saturday, August 1 from 3:00-3:15 pm
• Sunday, August 2 from 1:00-1:15 pm

WHERE: X Fest at the Home Depot Center, 18400 Avalon Blvd. in Carson, CA
... or visit www.xgamesfingersports.com

ABOUT the PRO FINGERBOARDERS:
Joe Climan
Joe Climan is a 16 year old phenomenal fingerboarder based out of Brentwood, CA. He began fingerboarding over 11 years ago after sustaining a back injury while skateboarding and hasn’t stopped since. Joe has been part of numerous Fingerboard “meet-ups” and hosted many demonstrations as well.

Edgar “Eddy” Vargas
Eddy Vargas has been fingerboarding for 11 years and he is one of the best fingerboarders in Southern California. Vargas has won several prominent fingerboarding contests on the West Coast such as RISE Best Trick 2008/2009. He has also helped judge events like the East Coast Homewood/NoComply Huck Jam.

Colton Cleveland
Colton Cleveland is 12 years old and this is his first time coming to X Games. He has been fingerboarding for 2 years and recently competed and won the X Games Fingerboards contest at Skate Lab!

X-Games TV schedule and Super Park Sneak Peak

TV Schedule: Eastern Times (ESPN or ABC)

Thursday- July 30th
9 pm- 11 pm (ESPN)
Moto X Best Whip
Skateboard Big Air Final
Moto X Step Up Final

Friday- July 31st
8 pm- 11 pm (ESPN)
BMX Freestyle Street
Big Air Rail Jam Final
BMX Freestyle Big Air Final
Super X Adaptive Final
Moto X Best Trick Final

Saturday- August 1st
3 pm- 6 pm (ABC)
Moto X Freestyle Elimination
BMX Freestyle Park Final
Skateboard Street Men's Final
Moto X Super Moto Men's Final

7:30 pm- 11 pm (ESPN)
BMX Freestyle Vert Final
Moto X Super X Men's & Women's Finals
Skateboard Vert Final
Moto X Freestyle Final

Sunday, August 2nd
3 pm- 6 pm (ABC)
Rally Car Racing Elimination
Skateboard Park Men's Final
Rally Car Racing Final

Maloof Money Cup Weekend, 2009

Last weekend was the second annual Maloof Money Cup in Orange County, CA. The CA Ramp Works and CA Skateparks' crews lived up to their reputations by creating amazing courses for both the vert and street pros! This was the first year in which the mini-mega ramp actually flowed into the vert ramp via an archway, and had a return ramp for the skaters to get back to the top. The street course replicated famous street spots, with marble benches and ledges, brick banks, gnar handrails. Though my favorite piece was just a simple piece of metal screwed to the wall... thrown in by Joe Ciaglia (owner of CA Skateparks). CA Skateparks designed and built the street course.

Every skater was killing the course. Dave Duncan (the announcer) kept saying, "This is a super final", for like every heat that went out. My favorite was when someone left him speechless, and all he got out was, "that was gnarly gnar". The roof gap to bank was just that, and more than one skater including: Appleyard, Sheckler, Huston, Sandoval, and Busenitz all threw something down on it; Peter Ramondetta skidded out of a huge gap to blunt side down a handrail; Torry Pudwill was popping huge nollies over the handrail. The skaters truly came out of every heat packed full of energy, going for everything they thought of.

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In the end, Chris Cole took home $100,000 in street. Tommy Sandoval was second and Nyjah Huston 3rd. Alex Perelson, after landing the 900, took home $75,000. PLG came in 2nd and Bob Burnquist came in third. Leticia Bufoni took away $25,000 for the girls.

To top it all off, Snoop Dog made an appearance, telling the skaters, "get your roll on". I know the white folks secretly be thuggin out in their vehicles to rap lyrics, but when it comes to standing in public, they are as stiff as a board. Snoop could barely get us to "put our hands in the air", yo.

Throughout the weekend, Dug and I had to get "our roll on", so we stoppoed by the Hurley facility, Ocean Beach Park, and Volcom Park. All fun:) Pictures below.

Click street course for a breakdown of course:

Click Vert Ramp for it

Skateboarders: Entertainers of Not?_ Red Bull Demo at Art Insitute

For all the future builders of skateparks out there, here is a behind the scene look at what it takes to set up a demo-course. Even the small events come with hard work.

What was important to the CA Ramp Works Team (Dug, Rueben, and Travis) on this day, was that the Red Bull skate demo was to start around 2pm at the Art Institute in Costa Mesa, CA. What this translates into is hauling a skate course by trailer from Mesa, Arizona, the previous day and making one stop in LA at their sister warehouse for an additional piece- a gigantic quarter-pipe. Despite the awkwardness, Reuben and Dug man handled the ramp up onto the trailor. Next stop- La Quinta Inn and Suites.

6am- wake up call. Assembly begins. The course was up before noon. Red Bull's Event Manager, though pleased with the course, showed some concern over her main rider Jeremy Rogers. I guess he was "on his way".




















Dug and I decided to "test-skate" the course, as it is hard to just look at a skateable piece. The crowd thinks Dug is the show and starts taking pictures. He ollies over me, as I sit on the edge of the fun box (speaking of- I need to find that photographer).

3pm- the first Red Bull rider shows up. Though instead of skating he lingers around, timid to skate on an injured ankle, and unmotivated without his teammate.

4pm- Jeremy finally shows. No sign of skateboard. He asks for food and drink, and proceeds to walk around the course. His teammate has found a few lines without him. Complaints and excuses begin to spill from his mouth as if he had this planned even before he showed... something about the course being sketchy and a waste of his time, besides that he had a rap career he was trying pursue, and the Art Institute event seemed to offer no aide to his current or future career. Interestingly enough, he didn't seem to mind talking to the camera crew there:)

5pm- demo is over, and we head to the VIP bar. After we return, the course has turned into seating for the coming fashion show.
9pm- people start to clear out. The ramps start to come down.
11pm- stop at Hooters for some grub.

Next day- we return the quarter pipe and drive home.

Needless to say, Jeremy Rogers was not the only one who seemed to be inconvenienced that day. As much as I'd like to say that fame has gotten to his head, making him self-seemingly above skating something that is absent of national coverage (hate to tell ya Jeremy- you may have been on his show, but you aren't Sheckler- and I don't think anyone in that audience would have known who you were anyway). On the otherhand, it would also be easy to say that how Jeremy reacted was really just the true skater at heart- unconsciously saying to himself- can't I just skate without an audience anymore? But, the reality is, when he signed that contract, he signed up for the entertainment industry. So, on that note, I'm sure we've all had a case of the pre-madonnas, and even the once humble, unnoticed skateboarder isn't immune to it anymore.
To hear more about the art event click here, or go to dirtcityzine.blogspot.com.

ASR's MINI MEGA RAMP Coverage

Among other colossal things that are happening in the industry right now, is CA Ramp Works's Mini Mega Ramp. Stealing the limelight at this year's ASR trade show, riders like Bob Burnquist, Adam and Dylan Taylor, Christian Hosoi, Lincoln Ueda, demoed the 30' foot roll-in to 25' foot gap!

Click here for complete coverage of this year's ASR Mini- Mega Event.

WORLD'S LARGEST SKATEBOARD- New Record!!

When your working with Rob Dyrdek, can you expect anything less than BIG?


Above Left: Dug Ketterman gets shelter under the World's Largest Skateboard- 36'10" and 8'6" wide.
Above Right: Board Graphic by Dyrdek
Photos complimentary- californiaskateparks.com
Rob Dyrdek teamed up with Joe Ciaglia, and the CA Skateparks crew to accomplish a new record for the World's Largest Skateboard. The skateboard scales in at 36'10" and 8'6" wide, which surpasses Foundation's -Guinness Book of World Record- "World's Biggest Skateboard", which measured in at 10'long 4'wide 3'tall.

Dug Ketterman, graphic designer for CA Skateparks says, "It is exact to scale, and even carves like a real board." For complete coverage visit californiaskateparks.com.

CA Skateparks is an industry leader for skatepark design and construction, and have been sought out for its avant-garde approach and reliable fieldwork, by such pros as Danny Way and Ryan Sheckler.
To see where you can roll up to some of their skateparks, check out californiaskateparks.com and sitedesigngroup.com.

Left: Fantasy Factory: Rob Dyrdek's custom sk8park
Middle: Mega Ramp Indoors Far Right: LG Action Sports Motor Cross Tour
Photos_California Skateparks/ CA Ramp Works


Soon you will be able to visit CArampworks.com for up to date coverage of riders and spectator events concerning the Mini/Mega Ramps.

Skatetoberfest Stree Contest at Stone Edge Skatepark.

$25 entry fee. Registration starts at 10am and the contest starts at 12 Noon.
Enjoy a free cookout from 1-3pm.
First place receives $300 cash and a Nixon watch. There will also be a Best Trick contest for $500 down the "Big Rail". You won't want to miss this!
This is the start of a new annual event at Stone Edge Skate park. For more info call 386.761.1123

The Neighborhood Tour- Stop #1 Charlie Brown Ramp- FREE!

First Event will be on October 12th. So start asking around so you can find the Charlie Brown Ramp.
This is going to be an awesome chance to show off skills, win prizes, and bbq .
Visit DKRamps.com for details (click the title to transfer)

There is also a photo contest.

FREE ENTRY! Volcom presents...

THIS ONLY HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR!!

Skate Jam Friday May 23rd

Spring Fling Rain-Check at Kona Skatepark

Final event of the 2008 Florida Bowlriders Cup Series at Kona Skatepark!

Day 1, April 26th
coverage thanks to konaskatepark.com

This is the first year for the Women's division. Here's a little warm-up session for the ladies.

The Kona Bowl Womens division winners 3rd Jen Stranko, 1st Cressy Rice, 2nd Marlee Miller.

"Al Brunelle's bag of tricks is virtually bottomless."

You can't have results without judges.

Kona Bowl Am winners 3rd Cason Kirk, 2nd Jordan Price, and 1st Al Brunelle

Series winners :
Grom - Steven Pineiro
Womens - Marlee Miller
Open Am - Timmy Knuth

Day Two, April 27th
This is The Dirt's coverage
The Dirt City locals rolled into Kona Sunday to catch the 2nd day of the 2-day event. Too bad there was an un-loaded camera on my arm for the Masters part of the day.

Masters winners: 2nd Jason Parkes, 1st Paul O'Hara, and 3rd Steve Workman. Thanks to Kona Skatepark for the photo.

Points series winner for 2008, Buck Smith! Couldn't skate at Kona due to an injury. What injury? I was told not to ask. So I didn't...

Here are some pool-side shots of the Pro Division for your enjoyment. Maybe they can give you an idea as to just how talented these skaters really are. Most of these faces and names were new to me. The skills portrayed on that cement were impressive and inspirational beyond anything I had imagined...and the photographers and fans alike were eating it up almost faster than they could dish it out.

Jimmy the Greek. Heard he's some sort of legend. With a style like that, I'd believe it.

Steve Reeves really gave some sort of show.

Who is this?! Morgan Burgess makes it head-high, making me glad I wasn't a judge.


That Florida sun is sure to do a number on you, especially if you're skating. Looks like Tim Johnson may be getting a taste of it. Don't let this photo fool you though. He was determined to shred, and boy did he ever!

Will Powers showin' a little love for this Kona spot.

Morgan Burgess, ladies and gentlemen.


Witty commentary from Martin Ramos! Thanks Martin! This was the 2nd year for the Florida Bowlriders Cup Series. The events that have taken place have left people wanting more. The possibilities are endless, so I can only imagine what he'll have in store for us in 2009.

Benji Galloway, 2007 Bowlriders Series Winner, giving us a taste of how a pro skates.

Can't you just feel the love? Skateboarding really is one of the most unifying things this world has to offer. Benji and Steve say it all in this one.

Stacie Roberts, a Dirt City local, walks away with 2nd place for the Women's division of 2008. This was actually the first women's division for the Bowlriders series. Can't wait to see what's in store for these ladies next year!

Stone Edge employees Erik Brubaker and Alex Vontevenar enjoying a little Jacksonville skate-isfaction.

NOW FOR THE RESULTS!

Pro winners: 3rd Kevin Kowalski, 2nd Jimmy the Greek, and 1st Benji Galloway. Someone had the right idea with the water bottle!

For the second year in a row, Benji Galloway wins the Pro Points series. Way to go Benji! He must be loving this!


Can't forget the victory booze to be poured obnoxiously on the winner.

Can't forget the victory run on the booze. Benji sure does know how to have a good time.

Congratulations Benji Galloway!

And there you have it, the last day of the Florida Bowlriders Cup series for 2008 at Kona Skatepark. It was such a treat to see history being made at a place where history has been kept alive. Everyone loves a good bowl session. There's nothing better than watching people do what they love...except maybe Pabst tallboys and a crowd of exhausted, yet satisfied skaters. If ya missed it, ya missed out.