Jedi Grind Tricks: April 2012
By Scooter Newell

First things first, fools. A long time ago, when I was in the second grade, I decided to play a prank on my class on April 1. Then I did another the following year. The year after that, the news of my annual pranks spread. It then went national and ultimately, global. Yes, I started April Fool’s Day.

Things have been jumping down at the Skatepark last month, and with a heavy upcoming calendar there seems to be no signs of a lull. The Cocoa Beach Skatepark recently hosted a Pro demo from World Industries Skateboards. The weather was perfect, and the kids were excited as the “Wagon of Flames” pulled into the parking lot. The guys had arrived!

Rewind 60 days. I get a call from Cody, who works at World Industries in California. I’ve never talked to Cody before, but we have a great relationship with them in general. I just thought I’d have some fun and told him: “Look man, we’re busy right now and I don’t have time for a ‘sales call’ unless you’re calling to tell me that the Timmy Knuth board is coming out soon.”

I thought this would be funny because Timmy, one of our former skate camp kids, was rumored to turn pro sometime later this year or early 2013. Anyway, I had the hint of a laugh in my voice and Cody laughed as well when he said, “Well, actually I’m calling you because Timmy requested that we make a stop in Cocoa Beach during our spring demo tour. Timmy really loves that Park and wants the team to get some pictures and footage there.” All I could say was, “I guess I do have time for this call!”

So we flux capacitate ourselves forward 60 days again and the doors on the wagon open up and Timmy, along with Matt Mendenhall, Derek Fukahara, Anthony Shetler, and Charlie Thomas, stepped out of the vehicle. Whoa! There’s Bart Jones and all his camera equipment as well. They even had another dude in there shooting video. Was this a clown car?

Anyway, we blasted some tunes through the PA and gave some warm introductions on the mic to the team and gave them props for skating so amazingly right out of the car. Mendenhall hacked the street course with large f/s flips to flat over the bank, and some gap kickflip variations that had our local tech-hounds frothing. Derek skates amazingly weird — never predictably and with tons of switch-stance tech tricks. Shetler attacked the rails and ledges like it was “the Finals,” with tricks like a 360 flip to 50-50 on the hubba. Charlie Thomas, who runs the team (and yet is Pro for another brand owned by his buddy) was ripping as well, destroying the flowbowl and street, as was our friend Timmy Knuth.

Timmy skated the Park the same as always. Everywhere and everything. The team hung out with the kids and skated for nearly three hours and even set up some lighting equipment for pics and footage. Afterwards, the team took over behind the Skatepark counter and signed posters for everyone in line. They took pics, high-fived, and even exchanged Instagram handles. They even signed a whole stack of posters to give away after they left. A great crew and a great time from one of the most legendary skateboard companies in modern skateboard history. A big thanks to World Industries!

Shout outs to everyone who attended the late-night Skate Jam. Contest winners for the night — “Game of Skate” winner Elijah Allred, and Luke French had a nice kickflip up the gap at the buzzer to take top honors in the “Best Trick” event. Liam Mollica threw down a nice run in the flow course, including a gap-50-50 and f/s 5050 around the pocket to take the top spot. Honorable mentions to the oldest “kid” of the night, Robert Rios (age withheld). And the youngest kid of the night: Dom, aka “Big D,” at 5-years-old. Thanks to everyone who kicked in some stuff for prizes: Sunseed, Volcom, World, Emerica, GSZ, Barrier Island Pet Supply, Jordan Photography, and all the parents who hung out!

News Rants

We will be at the Easter Surf Fest April 6-8, hosting the Skate Contest on the half-pipe. Stop by, say hello, and bring your skateboard.

Friday, April 13 (Ch-Ch-Ch… Ha-Ha-Ha!), Steve Workman and Rich Payne Board Release Party at CB Skatepark. Join us for a session at 9 p.m.

“Like” the Cocoa Beach Skatepark on Facebook — and “Love” it in real life.

By Scooter Newell

I think Rocky Raccoon has finally climbed out of his dumpster, seen the shadow of a sanitation truck, and decided to bail on the hibernation. Winter is over!

That was the longest week of winter we’ve have had in years… But that’s okay! In Skateboardland there’s not a lot of room for winter — not even a Florida winter. The visiting U.S. and Canadian tourists laugh at me because I’m usually bundled up in a sweatshirt and beanie with the heater set on 78 in the shop.

But with spring on the rise, that means skateboard season is on the rise! (I think I say that every season.)

The weekends have been lovely and the kids have been ripping. We’ve been making some improvements at the Park with extra attention placed on our movable metal obstacles. Big shouts to Jesse for welding us back in to action.

The President’s Day Street Jam went well with about 20 local skaters having competed in a jam format while the judges documented every maneuver that could be classified as a “money trick.” Skaters were broken up into age groups, skated four at a time, and were paid $1 for each good trick. Each skater walked away with a couple of dollars; some walked away with a few more. We also gave out prizes to everyone who entered. The prizes ranged from decks to free passes at the Park. Big thanks to the sponsors for the President’s Day Jam: Sunseed Co-Op, A1A Signs, Volcom, Grind For Life, Vitamin Water, Evasion Clothing, Slater Surfboards, CBS, and GSZ.

Upcoming Contest and Demo Info

March 18: PRO DEMO at Cocoa Beach Skatepark, 4 p.m. CBS will host the World Industries Pro Street Team for a demonstration/session and autograph signing. The pro team will be traveling from California and will ultimately wind up skating in the Tampa Pro the following week. ** Catch the team TWICE!! They will also be at Graffiti Skate Zone (1450 Pt. Malabar Rd. in Palm Bay) on Monday, after school, March 19. **

Also coming up at Graffiti Skate Zone: “For the Love of Skateboarding,” which will be a two-park stop in one day. The Palm Bay city park at McGriff Park will host the first portion with the main event to be held at Graffiti Skate Zone afterwards. There will be lots of prizes and goodies for the kids as well as food and sales in the skate shop. GSZ has some great events going on. If you’re able to make it out there, it’s sure to be a great time. Check out “Graffiti Skate Zone” on Facebook for the contest info.

March 30: Spring Break Jam at Cocoa Beach Skatepark. Game of Skate, Best Trick, and “5 Walls of Funk” in the Flow Course. Check Cocoa Beach Skatepark’s Facebook page for details. The CBS staff will also be joining forces with the Easter Surf Festival to produce a skateboard contest on the beach April 6-8. Future 6, an apparel brand based out of Orlando, has put up some money for the Pro and Masters Divisions. The event will take place at the Cocoa Beach Pier and the contest will be held on a halfpipe on the beach. The GoatRamp crew will be putting together a 32-ft. wide ramp that will range from 6-8 ft. in height. Check out the “Future6″ page on Facebook for more details.

Other News

Shouts to the GSZ and CBS teams, featuring Sam Rooks and Jonathan Morefield. They skated in the Three Amigos contest at Stone Edge Skate Park and wound up in 7th place out of 20 teams! Congrats to both! Looks like they get to stay on the team a little longer — but may need to start taking out the trash at the Skatepark!

The Grind For Life contest series continues this March 31 with a contest at Ramp 48 in South Florida. For contest info, check out www.grindforlife.org or the “Grind For Life” Facebook page. Be sure to check out this event if you can make it!

Jedi Grind Tricks: November 2011

By Scooter Newell

The 6th Annual Slater Brothers Invitational is officially in the books. Benefiting the World Skin Cancer Foundation, the event brought everyone together to raise awareness and funds to battle this widespread disease. And there is no better way to bring everyone together than a week’s worth of surf, skate, golf, music, food, and fun.

Things started on Monday with a golf scramble. The Cocoa Beach Country Club was decorated with sponsor tents, banners, and signs at each hole. Golfers enjoyed the four-man tournament with great weather and plenty of food and drinks for everyone. Some wore costumes in celebration of the upcoming Halloween celebration, and the day ended with a party at the pavilion with more food, drinks, and live music. When Thursday rolled around, everyone met up at Rusty’s at the Port for the official kick-off party. The whole place was packed with the usual suspects as well as competitors from out of town. Everyone enjoyed dinner on Rusty’s gorgeous new waterfront deck and some great prizes were raffled off to lucky winners.

There was actually some surf on Friday, and the contest was soon underway. Tents were set up on the beach to provide the public with free skin cancer screenings and a few cases were discovered over the weekend. It’s likely these cases can be treated since they were found early enough. And that was what this fundraiser was all about: awareness, education, and detection of potential skin cancer.

By the time the ramp was completed and ready to skate, the rain began — just enough drizzle to keep us from skating. We found ourselves 30 or 45 minutes in to the drying process numerous times only to get rained on again and again. When the surf contest wound down for the day, we made our way to dinner, ultimately winding up at Coconuts for the Donavon Frankenreiter show.

Saturday came and so did the rain. The surf contest went ahead in semi-decent conditions, but by the time the longboarders took to the water and sometime around the eighth heat, the sun came out and the ramp started to dry. By 2 p.m. we were skating, as skaters registered for the all-ages contest and made donations to WSCF in exchange for a quick shred on the ramp, which was sponsored by Ron Jon’s. The kids were stoked when Adam Taylor took to the ramp and pulled multiple maneuvers in every run. He was joined by sister Lea, Alex Sorgente, Mike Rogers, Nick Murphy, Ashton Dohany, and Brandon. We held open practice for the contest until sunset and headed back up to Coconuts for some dinner.

On Sunday we were greeted with clear skies with some excessive wind, which was than rain, so the contest was on. The 9 and Under division was dominated by kids from out of town who well deserved the top honors, and local 9-year-old Elijah Allred came in Fourth place.

If you know anything about local up-and-coming skaters under the age of 12, then surely you know about Chris and Nick Noel. Chris won the Monster Madness Mini Ramp Contest at Graffiti Skate Zone in Palm Bay and earned a free entry to the Slater Mini Ramp Contest. A well-used golden ticket earned him another First place with his younger brother, Nick, only a few points behind in Second. Again, our locals were representing with Blake Knapp taking Third place in the 10-12 division. We ran a 13-15 and a Legends division with skaters like Bob Umbel, Dan Brown, PJ Byrtus, Sam Barker, Lonny Reiter, and Mike Rogers taking part. Also joining the 40 and Up crew was Robert Rios. Robert started skating only a year and a half ago, and he had mad support and cheers from all the veterans on the deck.

We thought it would be appropriate to let the groms shine this year with a youth-powered skate demonstration — the Slater Brothers “Gromvitational,” if you will. We orchestrated a team event sponsored by three great local restaurants. Three skaters under the age of 10, wearing t-shirts from Rusty’s, Taco City, and Coconuts, were pulled aside in advance by the CB Skatepark staff and their names were drawn at random for teams. Zane Blades, Grace Marhoefer, and Zeke Morton repped it out for Coconuts, Elijah and Dominick Allred and last-minute substitution O’Neal were on the Taco City team, and Gabriel Rios, Dominick Piscatelli, and Scott rode for Rusty’s. The kids skated with their teams for four minutes each and had the entire crowd stoked. It’s all about fun and promoting the next generation, but in the end the judges awarded the Taco City team the top honors! Look for the trophy soon at the restaurant.

The final part of the skate ramp event was the SurfSkateScramble division, a small invitational win which competitors surfed and skated for points on the same day. The ages ranged from 6 to legends in their mid-40s for this boardrider battle. In the end, Bob Umbel took the top honors as the SurfSkateScramble’s overall winner.

Big thanks to Sean Slater for making the surf part of the Scramble become a reality at such a prestigious venue. Props to Justin Quintall and David Awbrey for winning the pro longboard and shortboard contests respectively, and a huge thanks to everyone at the World Skin Cancer Foundation. And it all wouldn’t have happened without Julie Stine and April and Sean Slater; thanks for putting on a top-notch event. There were also about one hundred other people who helped out with the success of the Slater Brother’s 6th Annual event, and a lot who helped us out in last-minute, crucial moments with demanding tasks. For that, thank you so much! I would tell you myself, but I still have no voice.

See you next year!

Jedi Grind Tricks: October 2011
By Scooter Newell

It started with a letter from the kids to local businesses.

“We are skaters from the Cocoa Beach Skatepark!! And we love to rip!! We will be helping Junior Achievement raise money for our local school programs. On September 24, 2011, come help us “shred the gnar” at the 2nd Annual Skate to Educate Contest!!! Thank you for all of your support and shredding!!!”

On September 24, the Cocoa Beach Skate Park teamed up with Junior Achievement to host the 2nd annual “Sk8 to Educate” Skateboard Competition. The contest is a youth-oriented family event to raise money for JA business programs in Brevard County Schools.

It was a lovely day and the kids were there to skate! Skaters from all over the county and few from places like Orlando and St. Augustine and Key West were all signed up to compete. Participants ranged in age from 4 to 21.  The crowd enjoyed pizza, wings, sodas, and shaved ice as the skaters took to the course.

The skating level ranged from Beginner to Sponsored, but the entertainment was non-stop. Reade Lawson took the top honors for the Beginners, with Zeke Morton and Logan Greene winding up in 2nd and 3rd places respectively. The beginners are always fun to watch, and it was exciting to get a front row seat to watch the future of skateboarding! The 9-and-Under Division was dominated by Shawn Arthur Jr., a St. Augustine native, and locals Gunnar Rosenquist and Grace Marhoefer finished on the podium in 2nd and 3rd. Blake Knapp tore up the deep end, landed flip tricks in the street zone, and wound up in 1st place for the 10-12. Longtime rival and buddy Mike McAllister pulled off 2nd place with Mike Post finishing in 3rd. Chris Kozma won the 13-16 division with “miller flips” and solid runs, barley beating Stone Denning, who landed some nice, stylish airs in the deep end. Chris Roque, from Graffiti in Palm Bay, landed in 3rd. Cody Jones and Dein Coates battled it out for the 17-and-Up, with Cody taking 1st place. The Sponsored Division was a battle for the Graffiti Team. In the end, Kyle Chambers pulled the victory over Dakota Hunt with amazing technical tricks and creativity. Kyle is by far the most underrated skater in Brevard and deserved 1st place.

The contest went well, and the kids and parents had a fun time. Without kids we have no future. And without programs that guide our youth and promote growth and learning, our kids have no future. The Cocoa Beach Skatepark staff is honored to be associated with Junior Achievement, as well as with the great individuals and businesses listed below, without whom this event could not have taken place. See you next year!!

Special thanks to: Craig Technologies; Florida Power and Light; Elks of Cocoa Beach; netDirective; Kindred; Zies ,Widerman, Malek; the Law Offices of Tony Hernandez; Entech Creative Paycor; John Galt; Keystone Benefit Group; Aerospace Business Capture Group; Existing Structures; Barry University; Wells Fargo; HRMC; Raymond James; AFLAC and Tracy Reeves; Spherion; Sorensen Moving and Storage; Juice-N-Java Café; Papa Vito’s; Starkey Group; Evidence Clothing; Oasis Shaved Ice, and Florida Biplanes.

2011 Junior Achievement Skate to Educate Results:

Beginners: Reade Lawson (1st); Zeke Morton (2nd); Logan Greene (3rd); Michael Neal (4th); Dominick Piscitelli (5th); Chris Neal (6th); Bailey Hodge (7th)

9 & Under: Shawn Arthur, Jr. (1st); Gunnar Rosenquist (2nd); Grace Marhoefer (3rd); Dominic Allred (4th); Zane Blades (5th); Elijah Allred (6th)

10-12: Blake Knapp (1st); Mikey McAllister (2nd); Mike Post (3rd); Nalin Dynek (4th)

13-16: Chris Kozma (1st); Stone Deming (2nd); Chris Roque (3rd); Mark Robinson (4th)

17 & Up: Cody Jones (1st); Dein Coates (2nd)

Sponsored: Kyle Chambers, Graffiti Skate Zone (1st); Dakota Hunt, Graffiti Skate Zone (2nd)

Junior Achievement Volunteer Award: Gunnar Rosenquist

Upcoming Events:

10/28-10/30: Slater Brothers’ Invitational Mini-ramp contest at Coconuts on the Beach; $25 donation to the World Skin Cancer Foundation. Register at the Slater Brothers’ office, across from Heidi’s, or online at www.slaterbrothersinvitational.com. You can also register at the Cocoa Beach Skatepark. Projected dimensions: 32′ wide, 5′ tall, with an 8′ section. See the ramp at www.goatramp.com

Jedi Grind Tricks: September 2011
By Scooter Newell

The Cocoa Beach Skate Park recently teamed up with The National Kidney Foundation of Florida to host the 1st Annual NKF SK8 JAM. The fundraiser jam was formatted as an all-ages skateboard contest with participants ranging in age from age 6 to 50. Skaters competed in 9 & under, 10-12, 13-15, and 16 & up divisions. There were even special divisions for 40 and up! The competition also offered a  “four-man team jam” in the street course, but the highlight of the event was the Surf-n-Turf Division — an inaugural, invitational crossover surf/skate challenge wherein 16 shredders competed to determine an overall Boardrider Champion.

The invite list was about as diverse as it gets. There were skateboard legends like Bob Umbel, Lonny Reiter, and PJ Byrtus mixed in with local OG surfers like Philip Salick, Eric Super, and Tim Hawk. Plus, there were up-and-coming teen shredders like Dylan Durkin and Lea Taylor skating with twentysomethings Matt Hannan and David Morefield. This comp wouldn’t be complete without a couple of washed-up, crusty ol’ boardriders-turned-writers; Bloody Bill and yours truly pitted against unrelenting groms like Blake Knapp, Noah Dovin, Elijah Allred, and Cole Dudley. A melting pot of talent for sure, which made for a fun exhibition, all in the name of raising money to save lives!

The day boasted an all-star cast of town characters — both skating and in the crowd. Parents were there to root on their young rippers, and about a hundred of Rich and Phil Salick’s “nephews” were all in support of the first NKF Skate Jam. It started on Saturday, where about 30 competitors got to show their skills before the 3 p.m. rain began falling. Rich Salick, always positive about any and every situation, said to us all, “This rain gives us the chance to make a small event into a two-day event!”

The rain actually worked in favor of the contest. The second day was beautiful, and reps from Oakley, Nixon, Evasion, and Quiksilver showed up to check out the double duty Surf-n-Turf. The staff from Taco City was in the stands, and our friends from Barrier Island Pet Supply, the Beachside Resident, Beach Chiropractic, Sunseed, and Rusty’s were also there checking out the action. The second day started off with the Legends Division, comprised of guys ages 40-50, and they all showed that you don’t need to be 14 and made out of rubber to shred the park. Dan Brown pulled off nice inverts and stylish, inverted layback airs. Bob Umbel is one of the smoothest around, throwing down smith grinds and rocknrolls. Lonny Reiter was the essence of speed, power, and style. With some f/s 5050s and high cradle carves, he flowed through the park. PJ Byrtus came out swinging with sweepers, gray slides, and an array of grinds. Many others withdrew because of the rain and travel plans.

The Team Streetstyle event was a four-skater team jam. Each team of four would skate the street course for six minutes (that’s a long time in skateland) throwing down as much juice as they could. Sixteen skaters from four different teams — Evasion, Graffiti, Cocoa Beach, and Orlando — all came together and hucked amazing tricks to a stoked-out crowd. In reality, each of the four teams were all good friends with one another. This meant that the competition side was not a huge deal, but in the end the overall props of First Place went to the Orlando Crew.

The Day finished off with the Surf-n-Turf Division. The contest was formatted in two heats of eight with a controlled jam instead of runs. Each skater had three runs during the jam time. Dan Brown took over the MC job and got things started. Dylan Durkin commanded the skate park with amazing style and powerful liptricks and lofty airs. All within 6/10ths of a point were Lonny Reiter, Bob Umbel, and Lea Taylor. A contest highlight was Noah Dovin’s “SkyRiding,” which saw him starting his first run like one of the Air Force’s Thunderbirds. He had modified his board with a smoke bomb or something, and left a trail of smoke behind as he blazed around the park. The event came hometown full circle when Philip Salick showed up with a fresh all-white “Cocoa Beach” outfit and jet black “Joe Dirt” wig. He went full-bore and got an all-white CB tourist sweat suit costume complete with the KS10 hat — perhaps a reminder that there were two sides to this contest and an indication that Philip would be a huge threat in the water later on.

By the time you read this, we may have already crowned the Surf-n-Turf Champ, and will be working on next year’s contest. Either way, we’re glad to have finally made this surf/skate crossover event a reality. Big thanks to everyone for contributing to the success of this fundraiser: National Kidney Foundation of FL, Nixon, Vitamin Water, Oakley, Carver Skateboards, Ocean Avenue, Graffiti Skate Zone, Evasion, Grind for Life, A1A Signs, Rusty’s, Oasis Shave Ice, Barrier Island Pet Supply, Cocoa Beach Surf N’ Skate, and Coconuts among them. And for helping with the contest: Bruce Walker, PJ Bytrus, Greg Shaw, Dan Hatcher, David Morefield, Matt Hannan, Mike Wittman, Bob Umbel, Dan Brown, and Jodi Rooks.

Next event at the Cocoa Beach Skate Park:

9/24: Skate to Educate, a Junior Achievement Fundraiser benefiting Brevard County School of Business Programs

Jedi Grind Tricks: August 2011
Scooter Newell

All I have to say is: “Hell yeah, Adam Taylor!”

If you’re one of the 76 million readers of my column, you’ll most likely know that I’m not too darn big on the X Games. Sure, I agree that it’s entertainment broadcasting used to sell advertising. I mean, we all now know when to tune in to “Shark Week” thanks to the banner positioning on the vert ramp, right?

I just can’t stand all the commercialism of it, ’cause most likely only a fraction of the millions in revenues raised by “X” goes to the riders. Anyway, I do have mad respect for those selected to skate in X because, let’s face it, those guys are the best of the best… like our friend Adam Taylor.

Adam came off of a tough year after enduring a serious fall resulting in a head injury, but this wasn’t the least bit evident in his performance at X. He swiped a silver medal in Big Air with a perfect, lean 360 into a 20′ backside 540 on the monster-sized mega ramp, a discipline he constantly trains for. To understand the intensity of the maneuver, you have to see it.

I’ve never myself seen the Big Air ramp, but imagine taking the elevator up to the eighth story of Stonewood (or Xanadu) .. No, let’s use the “Glass Bank” instead. Go to the eighth floor of the Glass Bank, break through the window, and look out and down on a super-steep runway not much wider than a sidewalk with no guard rails. Then propel yourself downward on your skateboard (with a special technical set-up) as gravity starts to tell you: “You’re all mine, now.” You haul so much booty that pirates are driving over from one of those famous Cocoa Isles pirate parties exclaiming, “Arr, that be tonsa booty ya be haulin’.” When you reach a top speed of a gajillion mph, you blast off a launch ramp like ones designed for daredevils to jump 25 school buses, enabling you to clear a 70-foot gap into a landing ramp built with ancient alien/Egyptian precision so that you gain even more speed — “Arrr, even more booty” — and you launch again into the stratosphere-sized quarter pipe, which sends you two stories into the air from the top of the ramp like one of the space shuttles we once employed at KSC, all while you rotate another 540 degrees before landing.

And that’s probly even a weak description. I just know that one of our kids from the neighborhood is out there doing it and earning medals. Big props to Adam Taylor. You can connect with Adam via Facebook, just search “Adam Taylor Pro Skater.” Hit him up and show your support for the home team!

Adam’s achievements constantly make me smile. Twelve years ago I met him as a 10-year-old kid — “Little Adam.” In fact, he was one of six kids in the very first skateboard camp on our Space Coast, and had a desire to skate and progress. Luckily for him, he has two great parents who I’ve seen work extra hard over the years and give their all to ensure that their three children have the tools to do well at their respective crafts. It paid off. Adam winning silver and a respectable showing in vert lets us know that he’s hungry and on the comeback.

News Rants:

The Cocoa Beach Skatepark is teaming up with the National Kidney Foundation of Florida to host an all-ages skateboarding fundraiser contest on August 27. The contest will be in the bowl with divisons for kids, teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, old guys, and girls, and will a feature a “Surf and Turf Boardrider Invitational,” in which 16 beachside locals will battle it out for surf and skate points for an overall champ. The NKF Surf Contest is one week after the Skateboard event, over Labor Day Weekend. Check out ww.nkfsurf.com

School is back in, so drive safe and watch out for kids riding their skateboards to school. Cocoa Beach Skatepark is teaming up with the National Kidney Foundation of Florida to host an all-ages

Skate the park free with A’s on your report card. One session for each A. grading period only. (Not mid-terms!) We’ll even let you ride with an A in PE, or other electives. CBHS, Roosevelt, Cape View, Our Saviour’s, and Freedom 7 School report cards are honored; attendance at any school in Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral puts you in consideration. Stay in school!

Greg Shaw won First Place and $1100 at the “Shoe City Invitational” contest put on by the Adaptive Action Sports organization at X Games!

Keith Baldassare is working at Taco City now.

Thanks to Jonathan Morefield, R.J. Byrd and Eddie Izzi for holding it down at the skateboard camp this summer.

Rest in Peace, Lisa Artz.

Jedi Grind Tricks: July 2011
By Scooter Newell
sk8scooter@gmail.com

There’s been a lot going on around town in the skateboard world.

On June 21, skateboarders all over the planet celebrated our own holiday, “Go Skateboarding Day.” The majority of skateboarders on my Twitface profile’s small list of “friends” (Actual friends? Virtual friends? Accquaintances? People I skated with once?) were blasting posts like: “Errrrr! Why do I need someone to tell me when to skate?”; “Every day is go sk8 day”; “Happy Go Skate Day!”

Now I’m here to tell you that I object to any commercialization of skateboarding, unless the financial gain benefits the skateboarder or a skateboarder-owned business. I would even object to this very column if it were printed in certain publications undeserving of skateboarding or its raw truth. However, I thought to myself, “What the heck, it’s kinda cool.” Of course we should have a day of recognition — a day on the calendar that represents who we are as skaters — so the first day of summer was chosen. For the most part, it becomes a day of giving back. Most parks are free to skate and lots of larger city skaters will meet somewhere and just barge down the streets, with skaters sometimes numbering in the hundreds.

Local businesses and skateboarders celebrated GSD right here in Cocoa Beach at the skate park. David Morefield and Chad Tepper hosted about 15 different types of contests rocking the mic and keeping it flowing from 8 to 11pm. There were prizes for High Jump, Limbo, Game of Skate, Best Tricks on the “step-up” “jersey barricade” and even a best “old school” trick in the bowl. Grind for Life donated a slew of products from various brands, tons of stickers, and Mike Rogers joined in the fun both on the board and on the mic. Parents and kids from ages 6 to 46 all participated in the session and barbecue. Some skaters won new wheels, skate tools, $10 bills, and gift cards to local restaurants like Coconuts and Rusty’s. When the clock struck 12 we had to shut it down since it was by then the June 22, and another “Go Skateboarding Day” has been chalked up as a good time. …Even though everyday is “Go Skateboarding Day.”

Also around the skate park, the skateboard camps have been lucky enough to dodge the rain. Skate camp is probably my favorite time of year. It keeps me in tune with the next generation before they even know they’re the next generation, and it gets me up and skating for three or four hours before noon. Seeing the raw fun the kids have when skateboarding is the best way to stay true to the roots of it all. These kids are not yet too heavily influenced by this or that brand, they just like to ride skateboards. Sure, they like to call out the name of their favorite pro while managing to pull off their ultra-cool beginner move, but you know what? It’s awesome.

News Rants:

Cocoa Beach Skate Camp Dates: July 11-15; July 25-29; August 1-5. Limited Space. Call 868-3238

CB Skate Park’s Six -Year Anniversary Jam on July 8. Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight. (The shuttle is launching, so we will open at 6 p.m.) Join us for a free session, contests, and BBQ.

Speaking of anniversaries… This July 18 my wife, Christa, and I will be celebrating our two-year anniversary. Thanks for putting up with all my shenanigans! I love you!

The Cocoa Beach Skate Park will be hosting a fundraiser skateboarding contest for the National Kidney Foundation on August 27, 2011. The NKF Skateboard event will serve as a kick off to the 26 Annual NKF Surf Festival, which takes place the following weekend at the Pier. NKF volunteer meeting dates can be found on the NKF Surf Facebook page and at www.nkfsurf.com

The Grind for Life Vintage Shop (1st St. N. and A1A) has a solid selection of your favorite vintage items, from band t-shirts to purses, bags, and more. Check them out for great deals on skateboards as well!

Big shouts to the local skate camp instructors: Eddie Izzi, Jake Bolls, Jonathan Morefield, Sam Rooks, and Mac McDaniel.

June is a popular month in the skateboarding world. Most schools are out by now, and summer skate camps are starting up at the local parks. Long days and nights of street skating and late night ramp or bowl sessions are some of the staple activities.

On the commercial side of things, companies are sending teams on the road to put on demonstrations at specific retail locations to help boost popularity and sales. All businesses do it in some way or another. Then there’s the ever-popular Summer X Games… which I would ask everyone to boycott if I were to fly off the cuff. Otherwise, I would say, well… only watch when Adam Taylor is on, then boycott them. Now I’m not really going to ask millions of readers to boycott watching the event, but I would like to let you in on a little bit of news about the decisions made by the non-skateboarders who run “the big X.” Perhaps then you’ll want to boycott the games on your own principles.

The problem? They’ve decided to cut the Women’s Vert out of their skateboarding competitions all together. I laugh at the reasoning behind it because, well, there is no reasoning behind it. For instance, X implies that under intensive studies, they look for “solid infrastructure, a growing participant base, ample access to courses, low barriers of entry into the sport and rising youth talent pools,” and they find none of these that would enable X to want to keep women’s vert in their lineup. Somehow, for the Men’s Vert, there happens to be “access to courses, a solid infrastructure, and low barriers of entry in to the sport, and rising youth talent pools.” It must be easier for a male skater to access a skate park or vert ramp than a female skater since the males made the cut to programming. What the heck does this mean? “No Rising youth talent pools”? Are they blind?

There are more solid women skaters right now than there have ever been. Girls are a threat at contests and there are more female skate-specific brands and organizations than there have ever been. Over the last 13 summers of teaching skateboard camp, usually about two girls signed up per until 2010. There were two the first week, four the next week and five the next, totaling seven young female skaters. I’m sure this is happening all over the planet right now. Millions of young skateboarding girls are having fun and progressing and more each day are starting to ride.

X may be dropping the ball big time with this one, but this is not the first time a loss of commercial interest happened to competitive vert skating. It happened to the guys, too. At the end of the ’80s and beginning of the ’90s there was a halt a practically overnight on the commercial and financial focus on vert skating altogether. Skaters like Danny Way, Sergie Ventura, Christian Hosoi and Tony Hawk all saw their product royalty checks go from tens of thousands monthly to less than hundreds. Things really were looking down for vert skaters until the popularity of the mainstream television audience buzz created by the X-Games.

Perhaps this is the women vert skaters’ rock bottom moment. Perhaps to be on top, it must dive even further. Even currently, Vans (Vanity Fair Corp.) has decided to drop Cara-Beth Burnside from their sponsorship roster. Does that mean that Vans has no interest in propelling iconic skaters, especially a female who has schooled for decades? That can’t be… This is another example of non-skate companies dictating what happens and who the central figures are.

It’s sad when a lifestyle that claims to be so core and original becomes controlled by a world of ad sales only to be shoved down further than the underground from which it came only because sales are down. Skateboarding deserves better than that. I think that every female and male skater should write, call, or email the X Games and let them know that they’re making a mistake by eliminating Women’s Vert. We need this. The “sport” of skateboarding needs this. Let the skaters speak for the skaters!

News Rants:

Summer Camp at the CB Skate Park begins June 13. Email Sk8scooter@gmail.com for more info.

CJ Dixon skated the AM Street Event at Maloof in NYC.

Go Skateboarding Day is June 21. Come out to the CB Skate Park for an evening cookout and free session. Best Trick/Game of Skate and some raffle-type freebies.

The Grind for Life series final event happened at New Smyrna Beach Skate Park. Check out www.grindforlife.org for results and video. MR also hit up the Maloof Event to represent and raise money to help people with cancer!

Greg Shaw is already missing Florida and hopes to be back later this year.

Happy (late) Birthday to Matt Hannan.

Jedi Grind Tricks: May 2010

By Scooter Newell

In the back of my mind I was hoping that President Obama would swing in to the Cocoa Beach Skate Park while visiting the area last month. It never happened. We were all bummed when we heard the launch was scrubbed, and I was sure that the President would just fly back to Washington, eliminating the chances of that chopper landing out there in the soccer field. There’s been so much going on lately that I really don’t have the space to write about a presidential visit even if it did happen.

The Cocoa Beach Skatepark became the stage once again for a Grind for Life Skate Contest on April 23. Skaters from all over Florida and beyond came out to support the cause and raise money for people with cancer. Mike Rogers founded the non-profit GFL to help cancer patients who have to travel to obtain treatment. Covering everything from minor gas and hotel expenses to major hospital bills, Grind for Life has been there for scores of people. Mike himself is a two-time cancer survivor and his story can be found at GrindforLife.org

The contest was held on a perfectly clear Saturday, with people coming from as far as Kentucky to shred for the cause. With Brian Marsland on the mic, the judges started to score the runs. Each skater had two runs of 50 seconds through the flow course.

Some great skating went down here. Elijah, Dominic, Gabriel, Miles, Lance, Justin, and Zane all ripped it up in the 9 and Under Division, and Noah walked away with Third Place. Lance Alber has a million creative boneless and beanplant variations and is super fun to watch. His son Dylan ripped it up in the 10-12 age group.

Skateboarding is all about the underdog, the outcast and the one who has to endure pain before understanding the pleasures of skateboarding. Robert Rios came out of nowhere about a year ago and started skating at 41 years old. For a few months, the kids — and his own kids — were skating circles around him. Now of course the kids can always skate circles around us, but today Robert is keeping up just fine. Lately, he’s been throwing down a few grind variations and rock-n-rolls and carving the whole bowl in nice clean lines. Plus, he’s been skating with guys like Lonny Reiter, Dan Brown, and Mike Rogers once or twice a week — and that will get you in tune with the bowl real quick. Hats off to you, Robert, for your first skateboarding trophy!

The GFL tent also had raffles and games to win skate gear and kids were winning all day. Big shout to Mike Rogers and Jill for a quality event! Check out the last stop of this contest series in New Smyrna Beach this May.

If the shuttle does indeed launch between May 2 and June 1, maybe the President will come back to the area and cruise on over to the skate park. In fact, I’m an optimist. He will be back. Mr. President, we can accommodate your family with helmets, pads, and lessons. We could also sign you up for skate camp, but you’re also welcome to just hang out with us on Go Skateboarding Day. If you’d like to set up a private tour of the Cocoa Beach Skate Park, we can arrange that, too. Just hit us up of Facebook.

News Rants:

The kids will be out of school this month and skating all over the sidewalks and bike paths, so please drive safe and watch for skateboarders!

Satellite Beach local Josh Hudson recently made his way to the new Titusville Skate Park and said it’s definitely worth checking out. We hear you just have to watch out for bikes.

Keith Baldassare won the Ghetto Contest in Zephyrhills recently, taking home some loot.

CJ Dixon went to NYC recently for some video/photo projects.

Adam Taylor recently got Third Place in MegaRamp at Asian X Games.

Graffiti Skate Camp in Palm Bay starts June 20. Call 725-2588. Cost is $99/week and includes lunch and instruction Monday through Friday.

Cocoa Beach Skate Camp starts June 13. Register at the Skate Park. CBSP will accommodate families with special needs. Please message us on Facebook, or call 868-3238

“The Park” in Melbourne is rumored to be having an Art Camp as well as Skate Camp this year.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom, Mom-in-law, and Grandma! … And to all the moms out there!

The weather is great, and there are lots of happy posts on the Twitface sites about how lucky we are to live in beachside Brevard. This luck extends to all of us in the skateboard world as well. Brevard has blossomed into a skate park-rich county. It doesn’t seem to stop growing, and there’s plenty of action with something for everyone. There are skate parks in Sebastian, Satellite Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay (two there), Rockledge (another two), Merritt Island, and Cocoa Beach. If you’re lucky, you can skate Keith Baldassare’s private backyard concrete park. Plus, there’s a Titusville park currently under construction, and a petition for another park in Melbourne has been going around. Then add up the many backyard ramps and street spots (not that there are a lot of them, but they exist). If the Space Program disappears, we may want to consider “The Skate Coast” as our new buzz phrase.

We’re seeing way more parks than there were during the 1970’s skate park boom. Will they all eventually disappear with parks of the past like IHB and Pave Wave? Will “free” parks create more problems than positivity? Will private parks start to work together more with their neighboring parks? As a park operator, these are some questions that pop up from time to time. Then, on the other side of things: Will you not skate a park because of a helmet rule? Do you only skate street or backyard pools and feel that skate parks are not “pure” skateboarding? Or do you look the opposite direction when it comes to industry pros and company hype? There are so many ways to exist as a skater.

Well, first off, the parks are most likely here to stay. Each year, more kids are reaching the age of learning to skate — and more often it’s with their parents, who also skate. Skateboarding is accepted now as part of American culture and it’s in our faces all the time, from a popular, substandard food commercial to a tooth-rotting, heart-stomping energy drink advertisement, which is too bad. I always laugh when I see ads geared toward “athletic activities” that are powered by a “Royale with Cheese.”

I’d like to call on all locals who skate the “free” parks. Without management and staffing, it can become a free-for-all, sometimes. Please police your parks and respect them! Do not allow strangers to come in and vandalize or take away a good vibe. It’s disheartening to hear that there was a fight or problem because of this or that. Take care of each other and respect what little there is to skate at these places. Hopefully private parks can work more with other private parks and contracted city parks. It’s time to regroup and lead our scene with pride. I will commit to reaching out more as well. I’m also guilty of getting caught up in the day-to-day activities with the Park. I want to make a new 1/3rd-of-the-way-through New Year’s resolution: to be more in touch with all skate parks listed above.

As far as the helmet thing goes, I understand all sides. I was given a skateboard at three-years-old and never even had a helmet until I was 14. (In fact, Bloody Bill stole that very helmet over 15 years ago… I think he still has it.) Anyway, they’re most likely one of the single most needed pieces of equipment, while also being the most frowned-upon by most industry magazines when it comes to pictures of a kid “smith-grinding” on a 19-stair handrail. But as stated before, I get it. There’s something about the raw danger of skateboarding that’s appealing to us. And if you avoid parks altogether, that’s also a respectful way to skate as well. Skateboarding didn’t come along because someone built a skate park. And I think that a world without exposure to the business side — or “pro” side — of skateboarding would be a mentally balanced journey. Oftentimes these companies use the likeness and images of these skaters and shortchange them when it comes to compensation and benefits. Then there are the “over-the-top” pros who flash everything about their moneymaking lifestyle, boasting a resume of toys and travel. It’s kind of a turnoff, and to say the least, unprofessional.

The truth, reality, and fact of the matter is that the direction of skateboarding relies on the kids and in the heart and spirit of those kids who skate. It’s the kids who skate to and from school, or from here to there, who make skateboarding alive. It relies on the kids who make up their own names of tricks while skating with friends in their driveways as the smell of dinner begins to interrupt the session. It depends on the ones old enough to drive to the next town with their crew and skate the next contest or just hit up a new park or spot. It would also fall apart without the parents of skaters, who drive the kids to contests, parks, and skate shops and keep the kids supplied with quality gear. The future of skateboarding is in your hands; not in how many times Sean White has been in a bloody Target commercial.

News Rants:

April 23: Grind for Life Contest held at the Cocoa Beach Skatepark. Check www.grindforlife.org for details.

Keith Baldassare won the New Smyrna stop of the Bowlrider’s Cup, and Clive Dixon has the most Gatorade out of any of us thanks to a recent sponsorship.

Dakota Hunt won Sponsored Division in the two-park series held by Graffiti on March 26. For full results, check out www.graffitiskatezone.com or just Facebook ‘em. There’s also another new change to the street course.

Matt Call recently got photo coverage in FTK East Coast Skate Magazine.

Sebastian Skate Park just built new onsite offices.

Email skate-related News to: Sk8scooter@gmail.com

Jedi Grind Tricks: March 2010
By Scooter Newell

I’d like to send a shout-out to all my topics that never make the cut, some of which managed to become almost a 1,000 words on my technicolor screen before I SELECT ALL and DELETE that garbage. Or was it garbage? Sometimes I think the “grind tricks” are too small a format to properly address certain issues within skateboarding — like skate career politics, non-environmental friendly manufacturing of products, or any other skate dirt.

Contests and demos are nice and a sort of no-brainer. They’re fun to write about, and that’s why we’re here. However, sometimes coming up with new topics an be more difficult. Some call it “writers block” (or is it “rider’s block”?). Lucky for me, I’m not a writer — or a very good one anyway. But I am a Jedi, so usually when I get rider’s block and can’t think of a topic I do what the Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School Fine Arts Department does: I use the Force.

The poster drew me in. Darth Vader in a chorus line kick stepping with evil Stormtroopers? I’m there. I’m sure to get a few slaps in the facebook when this is printed, but… did we even have a drama/fine arts department when I went to CBHS? If so, I’m sure they worked hard. But in this day and age things are different.

The voice on the PA said, “Welcome to our final production of ‘Star Wars: The Musical!’” and the crowd cheered and we were off to revisit the world created by George Lucas over 30 years ago. The rebels were under attack, and I have to give props to the crew that played the rebels that lost. They remained motionless for the second half of the scene as well as the next. On Tatooine, we were reminded of Lucas’ original vision of Luke as a farmer. His parents, dressed straight out of “Deliverance,” were pushing the comedic limit, letting us know that we were going to have fun with this production. The story moved almost scene-for-scene with R2 getting lost, Sand People attacking Luke and C-3PO, the Ben Kenobi rescue, and on to the Mos Eisley Cantina. At one point (poking fun at George once again), Kenobi says above the knocked-out Skywalker, “It’s hopeless, he needs mouth-to-mouth,” and the whiny Luke instantly scrambles to consciousness.

The production value was top-notch, with great backdrops painted with detail, cued lights, and orchestral sound effects sounding strong and on time. Quality and comedy came together when Leia’s holographic message was depicted by painting the actress in blue light for the famous delivery, which transitioned into the first musical number. Leia and several “Leia-ettes” took the stage to sing the message “I need a Jedi” set to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero.” When we meet Han Solo for the first time, he belts out “Dead or Alive” to the tune of Bon Jovi’s mega hit. Again, there were funny lyric changes (“I’ve got a Wookie on myyyyy siiiiide/I’m wanted/Dead or alive…”) and shortly after, someone asks if the Millennium Falcon is a fast ship and it’s off to another musical number set to “Greased Lightning.” Han had us cracking up and their entire creature cantina cast was perfect.

In the second act, Princess Leia and Tarkin sing a duet about the destruction of Alderan set to “A Whole New World” (“A Blown Up World”) with excellent stage direction and timing in evidence as the inflatable planet over the actors’ heads was popped by a pool cue with a pin attached. My favorite number though, was “Putting on the Ritz,” as performed by Han, Luke, Chewy, and Leia. Great singing was followed by an arrangement of Stormtroopers who began a hypnotic dance to end the song. This was the dance that did it for me — all spin moves with cane choreography performed in unison and in those classic helmets.

The “Stormtrooper Dance” has caused me to smile numerous times over the last few days. These students and their instructors kept us wanting more and they kept on dishing it out. The classic battle scene, set to “The Final Countdown,” had the place back in an upbeat mood before closing with an outstanding version of “Don’t Stop Believing,” cued by the line: “Hey, at least we made it through this whole show without any ‘Glee’ references…” Afterwards, the entire cast joined together on stage, dancing and singing. There were actors rushing up into the crowd clapping and bringing us all right into the moment. As they took their bows and we all stood up clapping, I began to realize that my face hurt. I’d been laughing out loud for so long that I had smile soreness in the cheeks.

Bravo, students and faculty! Great performance! And thanks for giving us another way to look at a movie that shaped and inspired sci-fi filmmaking, cinematic special effects, and of course this skateboard journalism mega-column.

So just what do all these dancing Stormtroopers have to do with skateboarding? Well, the Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School Performing Arts Center is located right next to the skate park. And that’s good enough for me.

May the Force Be With You.

News Rants:

Congrats to Dan Brown on getting married recently!

The Grind for Life Vintage Store is now open in Cocoa Beach.

Timmy Knuth’s “It’s Your World” video part is out and insane. Check out the World Industries web page.

Graffiti is hosting a two-park event later this month at the PBFP and GSZ! Check out Facebook for details.

Check your local park for skate camp details and dates. Cocoa Beach Skate Park Spring Camp is held March 28-April 1 from 9 to Noon with free skating all day after.

Productions of “Grease” and “Cinderella” are coming up from the CBHS Fine Arts Department. Check the school for details.

Jedi Grind Tricks: February 2010
By Scooter Newell

Nothing says “freedom” like the spirit of a skateboarder.

I feel it most while just pushing down the road — carving; a quick Ollie over a manhole; locking into a manual on the double yellow line of a smooth road; ollie the gutter on to the sidewalk craving the hypnotic “ca-click ca-click ca-click.”

Refined through technology yet primitive by design, the skateboard is the ultimate form of recreation and transportation. Part of the beauty of skateboarding is that you can skate on your way to go skating and you can skate on the way back from having done it. One has to sit and think a long while before any similar activity comes to mind. It’s rare that you see a baseball player playing baseball on the way to the baseball game. Okay, perhaps fishermen do some trolling on the way to a fishing spot, but are there any others? And with very little preparation, one transforms from pedestrian to skateboarder with the drop of a hat (well, skateboard). We dress the same whether we’re skateboarding or not. No uniforms, no numbers, no positions. We skate what the moment dictates, sometimes pushing the limits or sometimes just pushing around. At times we skate with friends, and other times we skate alone. Sometimes we prefer to skate away from crowded areas.

Skating away from crowded areas keeps you hidden, underground, off the radar, an outcast, a loner, Dottie, a rebel. I recently met a skater who just moved here from California. I mean just moved here. He drove up to the park, his car full of his belongings, and was itching to skate. He was living out of his car and occasionally getting hotel rooms for a more refreshing night’s sleep. He saved up money long enough to hit the road for three or four months and wound up in our little beachside community. This happens every day — people moving to one of our lovely beachside towns from elsewhere to start over — but the story of a lone skateboarder moving without a plan somehow appealed to me. We chatted for a while and I mentioned that more people needed to do what he was doing.

I thought of one summer in the late 1990s when myself and a few other lifelong skateboarders drove out West, blind to our destination as long as it was in snowboard country, and camping along the way like modern-day versions of Billy and Wyatt from Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider.” We settled in Salt Lake City where we had one goal: To snowboard as many days as possible that season. A few years prior, I’d visited PJ in Colorado after he graduated college and that’s what sealed it for me. Being able to skate and snowboard seemed like heaven. We wanted to be Floridians who could snowboard. We found jobs and lived in a campground for a month before finding a place to live.

Anyway, I was stoked for what this guy was representing — the whole get-up-and-go lifestyle. “A rolling stone gathers no moss”… And I mused that there were rolling stones no mas. In my day to day I get so caught up in work, gas, Sunseed, home, dog, bills, and work, that I almost dismissed the rolling stone as all but extinct. Until this guy walks in smiling, strung out from the road, and ready to skate. This guy had inspired me to believe in the spirit of American Freedom channeled though the Skateboarder.

Yes, I needed to do something drastic. I went home that night and told my wife that I was moving to Alaska by myself and that was that. I needed to do something spontaneous with my life like this loner, this Dottie, this rebel! Just kidding… Instead, I suggested to my wife that we walk the dog together and go check out the Dub Massive at the Sandbar. And while we were chilling, listening to the music, I thought about how cool my wife is and how I’d never even consider going to Alaska without her. Our server, Sierra, brought us our last drink, when out of the blue appears the guy who’d just moved here. “Yo, Jake!” I said in my best imitation of Kramer-style abruptness. He gave me a smiling “What’s up” back, high-fived a few people, and cruised on by. Solo. Freedom can be found around the corner in many guises.  I usually see it through the eyes of a skateboarder, but it’s there for all of us.

Get it.

Get it while you can.

News Rants:

Keith Baldassare and Frank Schaffroth recently competed in the AMtec Pool party in SoCal

CB Skate Park is holding a contest in the street pit. Prizes and surprizes as usual. On Monday, President’s Day. Age divisions, timed runs.

Check out Laybackgrind.com if you want to connect with skaters online. It’s local out of Melbourne Beach. Click on there!

Graffiti Skate Zone rider Clint Beswick just got back from King of the Ams in Georgia taking Second Place. Jonathan Morefield from Cocoa Beach also competed and placed fourth.

Congrats to Elijah for getting on the cover of The Beachside Resident last month!

Who won the Goofy vs. Regular Contest? Check out Graffitiskatezone.com to find out!

Jedi Grind Tricks: January 2010
By Scooter Newell

I’m still not sure that I have an actual resolution for this year. If I did, it would be to become the person my dog thinks I am. She always seems to be happy and smiling. Perhaps I can project that outward and make the world smile “… and maybe they’d be happy for a while.” Perhaps we can all help to generate some smiles this year I hate those darn things They drive me nuts. Although O-l<]: is kinda cool and ]: makes me Hopefully we can all smile a little more this year and for years to come. Or at least go ]: a little more:)

Here are some quotes and resolutions from some boardriders to get the 2011 started. Merry New Year, and skate safe!

“I’m looking forward to 2011 because the new year will certainly bring opportunities for further advancement in skateboarding — new ideas, new maneuvers, new skateparks, new music, and new youth entering the sport will continue to propel skateboarding in a positive way. While respecting the history and accomplishments of the pioneers of this sport makes sense, it’s really the forward-thinking, youthful attitude that has always driven skateboarding to new heights. It’s the exact same attitude the early veterans had in their day. 2011 is about to take off… and even DEVO has a brand new album, just out. Their devolution actually continues to move forward, not backward. Honor the past, but look to the future.” — Bruce Walker

“My new year resolution is to skate more like Peter Hewitt.” — Keith Baldassare

“Boards before babes!” — Toby Taylor

“I’m only as ‘core’ as I want to be.” — Josh Hudson

“Even when things are at their worst, we breathe and realize that life is still pretty awesome. Any day above ground is a good day.” — Chuck Dinkins

“I want to land a kickflip on my surfboard.” — P.J. Byrtus

“Pick yourself up and try again!” — Cory Falls

“To learn a new trick a day.” — Jonathan Morefield

“Hopefully get more sponsors and skate Tampa Am this year.” — Shane Carter

“Not just a New Year’s resolution but a goal in general: to become the man I need to become.” — David Spike Diaz.

“Live strong and never give up.” – Mike Rogers

“Sonsorship should not be a goal, it just happens. Have fun.” — Rich Payne

“Get better at skateboarding!” — Ish Cepeda

“Always lend a helping hand to someone in need. It may one day be you that needs the helping hand you once gave.” — Clay King

“Ignore the negative things people say about your skating style, tricks, clothes, gear… Just do want you want to do and do it good. That’s what makes your skating unique and will set you above the typical ‘follower’ skater like most of them.” — Adam Taylor

News Rants:

The Graffiti team recently competed at the Bangers for Bucks Finals at Surf Expo. Graffiti will open early on January for Martin Luther King Day

Bruce Walker is rumored to have a new model out from Sector-9 sometime soon.

Matt Call won a TV at The Park’s contest in Melbourne.

Local Skater Ryan Hodges won a shopping spree at his home shop courtesy of the Maloof Money Cup.

Adam Taylor is doing better and going to get back on top!

CB Skate park opens early on January for Martin Luther King Holiday. BBQ around 5 p.m. $3 to skate from Noon to 9 p.m.

JEDI GRIND TRICKS

By Scooter Newell

It’s the end of the year as we know it, and I feel fine. … But I do feel a rant coming on.

What is there to write about this December that will be worth reading? I’d like to start off with a nice little plug to support local beachside businesses. I could go on about how lame it is to order your skateboard gear from some website, and I’m sure you could go on about how you found your deck for $43 instead of $49 on the web. I get it. I know that it’s great to save money, and most of us are trying to save however we can. But it is funny to listen to people gripe and complain about the economy and when or if it will get better.

If you shop online, I don’t want to hear any tongue wagging about the poor economy. You are making it worse. You are ruining this nation. It’s okay to let some of those nameless, faceless, and couldn’t-care-less websites go out of business. What I’m saying is that if we want to change things economically, then Americans need to start caring about where they spend their hard-earned dollars. I feel that this lame economy needs to be remedied on the local level if it’s going to bounce back on a national level. If everyone shops online and neglects local businesses nationwide, then we’ll wind up with nothing but a ghost town of closed businesses and lost dreams.

Human beings suck. Let me give you an example of such suckiness. How many of you are religious about changing the engine oil in your automobile, and keeping your cars’ wheels balanced and aligned? Most of you? Now how many people do you know out there who actually consider where their food comes from? Are we conscious of the consumption of genetically-modified foods? How about the brain chemistry-altering effects of high fructose corn syrup, and don’t even get me started on neurotoxins in diet soda. Hey, I guess as long as the car runs well and I can drive to hospital (The hospital? What is that? A large building filled with patients, but that’s not important right now…). See what I mean? We don’t even take care of ourselves. So if we can’t take care of ourselves, we definitely won’t take care of a national economy.

I hate to break it to all the humans bummed out about this or that election, but economic destiny is in the hands of those who work and spend their money, and it also depends on where that money is actually spent. If every skater in Brevard County started boycotting online skateboard shops, we might actually see a change all across the beaches. If every skateboard purchased by Brevard residents was purchased at a local skate shop, skate park, or even a legit, surfer-owned surf shop, we could locally begin to bring ourselves out of this recession.

Think of all the local business owners who’d be able to survive and keep offering great products and good service. They would, in turn, go out to eat again after work instead of eating beans at home. I don’t have to spell out how the trickle-down effect works by supporting local businesses; I just know that it does work.

Apply the same formula to anything in our lovely beach communities. Support a local restaurant or bar instead of the “corpo” ones that moved into our towns to set up shop and suck us dry. Try the little sub shops and coffee shops that are owned and operated by people who live in your town. How about trying the little hardware stores or lumber stores when you need to do a quick fix? I will be honest, it may cost a bit more to shop at the little guy’s, but it’s an investment in your community, and the rewards that come from that investment are limitless. You’re also helping to ensure that our kids can enjoy life in a town that takes care of itself.

But what the heck do I know? I’m just a skateboarder.

News Rants:

The Skateboard Art Show at the Turkey Jam was a great success. It will be larger than the CB art show next year… maybe.

Big Props to Doubles Champs Matt Call and Frank Schaffroth for winning the Nixon packages at the Turkey Jam.

Timmy K and Clive Dixon are off to the Tampa AM

East Coast living legend Dan Brown just moved to Cape Canaveral. Welcome!

Sean and April Slater are now a happily married couple!

See you next year!

It was a great way to wake into the first morning of the 5th Annual Slater Brothers Invitational. I left my skateboard in the truck for the morning and took to the water to surf my heat. Mullzy said, “It was drawn out of a hat!”

It was an honor to surf a heat with Bruce Walker, one of the original pros of surf and skate. The waves were knee- to waist-high and nearly glassy — super fun conditions for the longboard event where Shawn Bowman won our heat! Sean Slater fired up some music from the old computer and Hunter was on the mic all weekend long keeping it fresh and fun. Before anyone got there, Skippy was putting finishing touches on the stage hanging banners. Around noon, the half-pipe called the “Goat Ramp” was being unloaded and assembled, ensuring that we’d have the chance to enjoy both surf and skate for the weekend.

Emma and Robin from Ron Jon’s were heading up the t-shirt and raffle tent and hooking up the competitors with tons of goodies from multiple sponsors. April and Julie were directing traffic all weekend long for the World Skin Cancer Foundation, dealing with vendors, officials, humans, and animals alike. Mason, Jenny, Merrik, and Aiden were there checking the heat sheets, and Rhett Fischer was recovering from the kick-off party at Rusty’s the night before. Jimmy and Javier from Oakley were in the house all weekend; Javier was still trying to get his voice back after announcing all last weekend at the AAU. John Ross and Carey B. were rolling tape and live broadcasting all weekend with Terry. They were hooking it up for the webcast, and for those of you with TVs, the event will be on Fuel as well. Oh, and some fruitcake in an energy drink-branded boat screwed up the set waves during one of the longboard heats by driving like a moron through the surf zone. The boat had three green stripes. He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was a tool.

Is there really too much crazy drinking at the beach these days? I had to see for myself since for the most part I spend my “beach time” at one of our many secluded and secret surf breaks away from the popular zones. I figured at a crowded event between Coconuts and the Beach Shack that I’d be in prime position to witness this madness. All I noticed were responsible drinkers, drinking beer with family and friends. I must have been in dreamland, because people were chilling with their dogs on the beach. No poo, no pee, just people and canines getting along on this lovely planet. I have since petitioned the travel association to add Cocoa Beach to the Top 3 Family -Friendly destinations in the U.S. Hey, why not?

The Goat Ramp was up and running all day on Saturday where Dan Brown inverts, Wil Cox Texas Plants and MR Frontside RocknRolls were all happening for the greater part of the day. Matt Call was doing how he does and blasting big airs and elevating the session. Dylan Taylor was putting down clean lines with some nice airs and long tailslides. Keith Baldassare was skating hard and hosted a BBQ in his backyard after. Spike was in true form with lots of switch and “spike-tricks,” and Lea Taylor surfed and skated all weekend. Esteban Velez showed up and repped it out, and CBS Park dwellers Bobbye, Luke, Blake, Mikey, Liam, Cole, Elijah, RJ, Peyton, Jarrod, and Grace were all squeezing into the crowded sessions all weekend. Mike Rogers hosted a fun time on the ramp where kids could skate for a donation with a parent-signed release. I took a couple runs and decided that it was a bit crowded and maybe better to watch those rippers until Bruce Walker said, “I’m going to skate the street in front of Coconuts” and I had to join him. We sessioned the flat ground and the curb for at least an hour before I had to run back to the Nixon tent where we were hanging out. Bruce threw down an arsenal of freestyle tricks and was definitely the only one to hang ten on a surfboard and a skateboard all weekend.

On Sunday, I was going to donate a CB Skateboard to the Skin Cancer Foundation, but I wanted to get the Slater Brothers autographs on it so the winner would be that much more stoked. I had the Skippy and Sean part covered, but was missing their brother. Where could he be? Kelly snuck on to the beach with hardly anyone noticing until he was on the announcers stand. It was sick: a full-on covert sneak attack covered by towel, twin fin in hand. Like the millions of other autographs he signed that weekend, he gladly signed the deck for the raffle with a smile. Tons of people were stoked on the Kelly sightings Saturday and Sunday, myself included. Cole Abernathy said it right: “How often do you actually know the best at anything — and the best ever? So naturally we tend to be even bigger fans.” None may have been more stoked than the few chosen groms who had the opportunity to paddle out with the best of the best during the Expression Session — guys like Kelly, Todd Holland, Sean Slater, David Speir, and Sean O’Hare. Seeing that crew together surfing with our next generation of rippers brings my mind back to the time when we were all kids in the 1980s at Roosevelt and CBHS surfing and skating with the OGs.

I have to give a big thanks to Julie, April, Sean, Skippy, and Kelly for putting on an ultra-fun contest weekend! As I drove home, I started to think about my friend Eric and his wife Jessica. They are the proud parents of Radi Grayson Super, who was born October 1. Welcome to the world, Radi! The dolphins are out there and waiting to surf with you! Okay, enough surf already; this is supposed to be a skateboard page…

News:

Black Friday Hometown Skate Jam November 26 at the Cocoa Beach Skate Park.

Congrats to Jonathan Morefield for snaggin’ First Place at Kona Halloween Jam.

Jedi Grind Tricks: October 2010
• Scooter Newell •

The Cocoa Beach Skate Park and Space Coast Junior Achievement came together and held a fundraiser contest on September 18, 2010. Over $2,000 in proceeds went to the Space Coast JA business programs in our local schools. The contestants were using the entire park as the terrain format, forcing competitors to show transition skills in the bowls as well as street skills on the ledges and rails. The contest yielded some amazing skating and mind-blowing runs from such skaters as Clive Dixon and Lea Taylor, but in the end it was all about raising money for Brevard JA programs. Ah, yes… skateboarding working hand-in-hand with local businesses to promote and support education.

I could write a book on how the “run for run” skating went down, but some of the most memorable standouts were in the Girls Division: Megan G. with a fakie shuvit to disaster in the flow course and clean ollies up the step-up; Rosemary S. did some nice backside airs on the hip and dropped in on the clam shell; Grace H. had the top speed record for the day with intense lines all over, and Haley M. navigated the pockets and corners like she was born in a skate park. Lea Taylor was on the mic calling the tricks as a guest MC while the girls ripped it up.

Peyton D. started skateboarding in May of this year and took control of the Beginner Class with nice lip-tricks on the 2-foot quarter pipe and good carves and launches from the bowl. Miles D. displayed good style in the flow course with some high airs out of the bowl, and Dominic A. had nice indy grab airs and skated awesome during both runs. The 9-and-Under Class was dominated by Mathew D. with huge grinds in both the deep and flow course. Gunnar R. was ripping the flow course and did a creative transfer from the mini ramp to the bank ramp, and Elijah A. had clean grinds and melon launches all day long. Look out for these kids!

Elsewhere, Mikey M. destroyed it with a great first run. He has one of the nicest backside transfers over the hip you will ever see. Blake K. was floating huge ollies across the lip of the 7-foot wall like butter. Cole D. landed a miller flip in his run. Luke M. skated fast and clean with a unique handplant trick in the clamshell, and Andrew C. skated with the largest grin of the day.

Let me tell you about Sam Rooks. Handrails, ledges, flow, deep end… he hit it all and landed it all. It was a perfect first run, and Sam finished off with a monster ollie into the waterfall of the deep end of the 10′ bowl. Jonathan Morefield had the CB Park on lockdown and took 2nd Place, while Mark Robinson from Palm Bay pulled in the 3rd Place spot.

The Sponsored Division was one of the gnarliest ever. Clive Dixon took it with f/s 50-50 in the deep end, b/s Smith grinds clean and long, f/s feebs on the 7′ wall, a feeble fakie up the round rail, and huge gap to 50-50 on the big ledge along with an insane flow run. Steve Pinero from Jax took 2nd. Blake Kovarik 360 flipped to f/s 50-50 on the a-ledge, and did some nice nosebones over the hip. Derek Corby skated clean and had one of the nicest smith grinds of the day. Lea Taylor rules; she had the guys all runnin’ skerd when she screamed through that cradle at top speed nearly upside down! Frank S. had some gnar deep end attacks with a hurricane and invert and also did a proper layback grind in the clamshell. Spike always has you wondering What was that? Texas plant to s/s back Smith? Boardslide fingerflips? Who does that? Spike does.

Big thanks to all of the sponsors, the JA representatives, the Student Contest Committee, Keith Baldassare for MCing most of the day, Lea Taylor, Dan Hatcher, Dean Rosenquist, Carol Craig, Kyle Chambers, Joe Grant, Matt Hannan, David Morefield, CB Skate Park, and Craig Technologies for really getting behind this event.

See you next year! (September 17, 2011. Mark it now.)

News Rants:

Satellite Beach Skate Park will be hosting a contest on October 10. Call 321-773-6458 for details. $10 entry.

On Saturday October 30, Graffiti Skate Zone will be hosting its 9th Annual Monster Mini-Ramp/Street Contest and Costume Contest. Check out Graffiti Skate Zone on Facebook or at www.graffitiskatezone.com. Call 725-2588 for info on registration.

Steve Workman and Rich Payne “Brew Models” are out now from Demon Seed. The Brevard-based “Brewery” held a release party at Eastwood Skate Park in Rockledge last month. Boards are available at Cocoa Beach Skate Park, Eastwood Skate Park, and through www.demonseedskateboards.com

JEDI GRIND TRICKS
By Scooter Newell

I decided to “Get my Gump on” and Skayeet clear acrows tayown just for the soul session of it. And I wanted to celebrate the time of my life when my skateboard was my only transportation.

I started off at my mother and father-in-law’s house out by the golf course where I was cat sitting. It was late, about 12:10 in the morning. I set up a board with nice soft wheels on a Chuck Dinkins Soul Trip deck. It had the luxury feel of a longboard with the maneuverability of the modern shortboard. (And I want you to know that no one sat on any cats during the documenting of this adventure.)

I headed east through the neighborhood pushing toward Minutemen Causeway. I was instantly impressed with the quality and smoothness of the bike path. Heading east, I passed Cocoa Beach High and Roosevelt… and how could I not think of the CBS park tucked away in the back. I continued on toward our lovely town with the sound and rhythm of the sidewalk panels keeping time with my wheels. As I approached Aucila Road passing the old Slater house, memories of a 10-ft. quarterpipe with vert made me smile. How many people had sessioned at Sean, Kelly, and Steven’s House back in 1984, I wondered.

I made my way north on Woodland, which has always been known for its skateable smoothness. Nice asphalt… As I crossed 1st Street North, I passed by the old Walker Factory, where Florida legends like Mark Lake, Lonny Reiter, Jim McCall, Tony Graham, Chuck Dinkins, and of course, Bruce Walker all worked making skateboards or working in the warehouse. I looked down at the asphalt which had been re-done many times since 1987 and wondered if it even knew how many sessions went down on this lame and ordinary section of road. All of the employees would skate out front with all kinds of visiting legends like Yo-Yo Shultz, Reggie Barnes, Bill Briethaupt, Tate Clair… the list goes on. Crazy sessions on what is now a random strip of asphalt. Nice asphalt…

By the time I got to the Galleria, I had only been skating for about 20 minutes. Not bad, I thought — “You are in great shape!” Well, actually it was 22 minutes… I proceeded north on the southbound side of A1A (Beachfront Avenue!) when all of a sudden I threw up a peace sign and waved to Mike Rogers who rolled past in the Grind for Life car. By the time I was directly across from the dog park (which my dog loves, by the way) I decided that I may be too old to be pushing from the golf course to the dog park with no break. I may wake up tomorrow with sore legs and have to do the centipede to get around. So I started walking for a few. I kept meaning to stop at one of the local dives and get a beer, but I somehow felt that may not go too well with skateboarding. Before I even got to I Dream of Jeannie Lane I was back on my board.

I continued on with a no-monkey-business attitude, and by the time I got to the Sand Bar it was 1:04 a.m. Last call fo’ alcohol! (One  bourbon, one scotch, and one beer…) Like I said, if I’m not gonna drink beer and skate, why would I hit the hard stuff? So I got a Coke and kept on rolling. I got to the pier and I wanted to get my people watch on, but suddenly the asphalt changed again. Brand spankin’ new (a couple of months old, anyway) asphalt makes you just push faster. For the next 12 blocks up in to the northern tip of Cocoa Beach was pure smoothness. I thought about how the temperature is slowly changing and that fall is on the way. Nice skate weather.

Nice asphalt…

NEWS RANTS

School is back in session, so please drive carefully!

Big salute to all of those who died, gave their lives or lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.

Cocoa Beach Skate Park will be hosting a fundraiser/competition for Space Coast Junior Achievement on September 18 at 10 a.m. Multiple divisions, beginner division, prizes, raffles, and food and drink vendors. Call 868-3238. Follow on Facebook.

Satellite Beach Skate Park is hosting a contest on October 10. Entry is $10. Call 773-6458 for details.

GSZ in Palm Bay will host its 10th Annual Monster Mini Ramp Contest at the end of October. Check www.graffitiskatezone.com or their Facebook page for more info. Call 725-2588.

Sam Rooks got First Place in the Back-To-School Contest in Tampa 13-15 division. Clint Beswick got Third Place in Tampa in the Sponsored division. Jonathan Morefield got Fourth Place in the Tampa contest in the 13-15 age division.

CJ Dixon just got Third Place at the Hometown Heroes Contest at X Games. He also snagged an extra $100 landing a nollie nose bluntslide at the Crossroads Trade Show and is now on Insight clothing.

Dylan Taylor is featured on a new run of Ron Jon’s billboards. You can see the digi-one on 528 heading east, a little before U.S. 1. There are others throughout Florida.

Lea Taylor got First Place at the Chilly Bowl contest in San Francisco.

Griffin A. and Michael K. are not related, but are now both 6-years- old and they skate better than you.

Happy late birthday to Liam Mollica.

Follow Mike Rogers in Philly this September 18 at the Freestyle World Championships; check him out on Facebook. And check out new gear and boards at www.grindforlife.org

Any sk8 rel8ed News? Email: Sk8scooter@gmail.com

Jedi Grind Tricks: August 2010
By Scooter Newell

While in college I refused to schedule my life around television shows and decided to use my television only as a monitor for my VHS player.

I’m holding to my promise of being largely TV-free. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve logged plenty of hours as a kid watching “Family Ties,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “The Young Ones,” “The Smurfs,” “Moonlighting,” “The Honeymooners,” “Lassie,” and even “The Beav.” The list goes on and on. And even these days I do enjoy a good “OHHH” from Tony Soprano when something just ain’t gonna fly or a goofy, rat-faced hasty “Newman!” when Jerry discovers that he’s been had yet again by his mailman enemy. But looking back, I realize I’d only watched those shows after went into syndication. Yes, I encourage you to boycott the primetime schedule. Who knows, by the time I’m 50 I may sit back and watch a collection of X Games shows and and manage to get into the series. X Games shows?

I’m glad I’m not watching these TV these days, because I’d most likely be spreading a stream of hate tweets all through the web while watching the X Games. Okay, so I did see a little of them while eating at Javos Tacos in Cocoa Beach, but it was only BMX, so I didn’t really pay much attention.

Could my friends be right? Are the X Games judges even paying attention? So far, the local skate community seems to have a problem with the outcome on some of the latest results from X Games 16. Was Ryan Shekler awarded extra points due to his larger- than-life image in the skateboarding world? Did Nijah get ripped off due to his past complications with “industry” contracts? Are the judges influenced by anything other than the actual skating going down? Costumes perhaps? Makeup? It is a TV show, right? Like I said, I’ll never know until I get the boxed set well after the show has been taken off the air.

Now I do have respect for the entire cast of X Games competitors. They are all legit professionals with amazing talents. Adam Taylor from Cocoa Beach is one of them. But sometimes I just find myself wondering about the production-end of the competition. From what I’ve read online, the judging even went south for Adam. Adam was throwing down tricks during the rail jam that are, as any skater knows, more technical and with a higher level of difficulty than some of the other tricks scored, yet still he got scored lower than he should have. I’ve yet to speak to Adam about the event, but I do know that in the past he’s always had a positive outlook even in the event of a clear judging error.

It happens at all levels of skate competitions: someone gets a score higher than they should have or lower than deserved. Too bad there’s no real scoring system designed to be as finite as far as determining point-value parameters. Maybe each trick landed should be considered a touchdown — “Six points for that ‘smith grind’!” But wait a minute, what about the frontside nosegrind? I mean, isn’t that harder than a smith grind? Should it be more than 6 points?

I guess I’ll need to watch the entire season after syndication until I can make that call.

Jedi Grind Tricks: July ‘10
• Scooter Newell •

Happy would be the word that best describes the summer months of the skateboard world. This month and last month there was just so much going on in local skateboarding that I’m not even sure where to begin. But in neighborhood news: Eastwood, Cocoa Beach, and Graffiti all had a FREE skate day in recognition of “Go Skateboarding Day” this past June 21. Florida legend and streetstyle pioneer Chuck Dinkins made an appearance at the CB Skate Camp. Dew Tour all-star Timmy Knuth got 2nd at the Damn Am, and flew home to make an appearance at the Graffiti Skate Camp. Adam Taylor got 5th place at the Boston Dew Tour Vert Contest. But one thing that always gets my attention is when a large company decides to get involved and give back to local grassroots skateboarding.

One thing that made for a nice summer kick-off was that on June 26, Oakley decided to give back to the local skate scene by sponsoring a contest at the Cocoa Beach Skate Park. The temperatures were in the upper 90s and the sun was in full effect without a cloud in the sky. In fact, it was a perfect setting for an event presented by a premiere sunglass company. Local Oakley representatives Rich Rudolph and Javier Rovira decided that a grassroots event with a huge prize budget would stoke out the local kids who live, eat, and breathe skateboarding. Any skate park operator will explain that it’s expensive to run a park in a quality manner, and even more to have the budget for events and prizes.

Year after year these events get better and better! And this was the second time Oakley got involved. Skaters from all over the Space Coast came out to compete in “From the Cradle to the Rail,” a contest that broke the traditional format that most competitions are modeled after. Usually these events are divided into various disciplines such as “vert,” “street” or “bowl.” This contest was a bowl, flow course and street contest combined, forcing the skaters to showcase variety in their talents. The skaters had two runs through the park with a timed limit of 75 seconds per run. Then a voice came through the PA system: “Welcome to Cocoa Beach Skate Park. Turn on your recording devices; this will be worth putting on YouTube!”

Anniversary parties have a certain feel to them, and even though the CB Park 5-year wasn’t due till July, it seemed like a celebration. The skate park was lined with parents and skaters and families and good vibes all around. There were even some park lurkers who don’t really skate at all, yet showed up to hang out and watch. Our good friend Ryan form Playbrevard.com was in the park taking pics for their website, which features all types of events around the area. The sponsored division was filled with lots of top-notch skateboarding from rippers such as Lea Taylor, Clint Beswick, Frank Schaffroth, Dylan Durkin, Matt Call, and more. But the highlight of the day was the 10-and-under division. Watching these skaters is like looking into a crystal ball and seeing the future of skateboarding. Mikey McAllister took the top honors putting together some solid runs. Randy Porter skated with the biggest smile of the day winding up in 2nd place. And Gunnar Rosenquist skated the entire park, throwing down some new moves he’d been perfecting over the two days prior to the contest. For sure the biggest applause went to Kerissa Porter, the youngest girl in the competition.

I feel like my mind seems somewhat “mindless” after a hot day in the sun, and it’s hard to remember it all, but other notable shredders who stood out were Dakota Hunt, Blake Kovarik, and Deein Coats, representing South Brevard with the GSZ crew. Luke Mollica, Mark Robinson, Sam Rooks, and Cole Dudley were ripping the park along with Ryan Hodges and Andrew Harned. Jonathan Morefield skated hard even though he had the flu. And Alex Henry skated awesome in his first competition.

Love for skateboarding is what one senses when one watches Matt Call, who had the biggest ollie gap of the day to 5050 on the big ledge with a nice display of bowl skills to top it off. Lea Taylor carved the cradle at top speed completely upside down. In fact, she has the best cradle carves out of all the locals! Dylan Durkin put down the fishin’ pole and showed that he still has the Cocoa Beach Park on lockdown. Frank Schaffroth executed legit layback grinds, airs, and hurricanes in the deep end with mad style.

You can look at it a bunch of ways, but skateboarding is not always about competitions, and I don’t like to write about them that much. It’s not about who’s best or who beat whom at a contest. Skateboarding is about life enjoyment and a personal satisfaction heavily rooted in “having fun.” And any time a large company like Oakley wants to jump in, get involved, and donate a ton of sunglasses, gear, and prizes for the local kids, well, that just makes skateboarding that much more FUN! Thanks goes out to Oakley and the elite staff of the CB Park for coming together to put on a great event for the kids.

Oakley “From the Cradle to the Rail” Results

10 & Under
1. Mikey McAllister; 2. Randy Porter; 3. Gunnar Rosenquist; 4. Nicholas Gilman; 5. Gavin Gilman; 6. Kerissa Porter

11-13

1. Mark Robinson; 2. Andrew Harned; 3. Cole Dudley; 4. Ryan Hodges; 5. Luke Mollica; 6. Alex Henry

14 & Up

1. Dakota Hunt; 2. Blake Kovarik; 3. Alex Sckunna; 4. Cody Ash; 5. Deein Coats; 6. Jonathan Morefield; 7. Michael Colletti

Sponsored/Advanced

1. Matt Call; 2. Dylan Durkin; 3. Lea Taylor; 4. Frank Schaffroth; 5. Shylo Tolliver; 6. Jaime Ceruti; 7. Sam Rooks

Best Trick

Street: Blake Kovarik — Nollie Bigger Healflip

Bowl: Frank Schaffroth — Eggplant; Hurricane

Bowl: Dylan Durkin — Backside Boneless; Beanplant Fakie

CJ Dixon

Summer is here!

I remember the last summer before the turn of the century. A new skate park had opened in Merritt Island and I was tasked with creating a summer skateboard camp. I never went to a skate camp as a young skater. In fact, back then there were no skateboard camps offered, or at least none in Brevard County.

Like most young Cocoa Beach groms, I went to the City Recreation Center’s version of summer camp. We’d start in the morning playing basketball, volleyball or some other game that required far too much coordination than I had. I also remember lining up for our snacks, drinks, and lunches. The arts and crafts side of the camp was enjoyable because “Arts & Crafts” meant being in the air conditioning. If you were really lucky, you’d get to go to the City pool for the afternoon. That’s where the slide was. That’s where the diving board was. You could slide and fly through the air and make a perfect splash landing into the water. Nowadays, I wonder why anyone would even want water in their swimming pool. After all, you can’t skate in a pool full of water! Back then, I was about 8- or 9-years-old, and it was a great way to spend the long summer days.

Anyway, when given the chance to start a skate camp in 1999, I never knew what I was getting myself into. In fact, I didn’t even know what I was doing. It had been nearly 20 years since I went to a day camp, and now I’m supposed to run one? I went at it like I was helping one (more like 10) of my cousin’s kids skateboard — watch their stance, posture, arms, and the whole nine yards, and just try and coach them into skating a bit better.

Did I just use the word “coach”? There are no “coaches” in skateboarding, and there are no “coaches” at skate camp! Actually, that’s not true — we are coaches, just not in the traditional sense. We explain the use of pressure, gravity, foot positioning, balance, and strength to beginners so they can understand what their board will try to do if they’re not aware or in control.

Anyway, I always use the philosophy of “learning how others learn will make me a better teacher.” So I started to notice that some kids learned how to achieve a certain goal or learn a certain trick in a completely different way than others. While one beginner’s strength was turning, another’s was speed management. I quickly realized I couldn’t explain that “2+2=4″ in only one specific manner. In skateboarding, I may have to explain to one kid that “2+3–1=4,” and he gets it, while other kids find it easier to understand that “4″ is what you get once you subtract “8″ from “12.”

Either way, the goal is to get these young shredders to “4″ however they can get there. It usually results in numerous smiles, because the summer skate camp seems to have a great success rate no matter what the skater’s level. Over the last 12 summers I’ve had the pleasure of directing summer skateboard camps. However, it wasn’t until my fourth year of being involved in them that I realized I’d been missing some great aspects of the camp.

I was working for Graffiti Skate Zone in Palm Bay from 2002-2004 when I was awakened by a whole new and fun approach to camp I’d not yet explored. Dan Hatcher ran the camps with great energy and structure. He educated kids on companies, their products, their riders, and skateboarding in general. Then he’d hold trivia questions sessions every hour for prizes, rewarding those who remembered the info. The team kids would then break into groups and work with the beginners. This went on all day. All I really did was make sure that the kids in my camp skated as much as possible and learned as many fundamental maneuvers as they could to promote longevity in their skating. Dan was going further. He was also ensuring that the skaters knew where their product was coming from and who would actually benefit from the purchase. I was just trying to build great skaters; he was building a great, educated skate scene… while also building great skaters.

Since those days, I’ve directed camps for small city programs in California and Oregon to a well-budgeted camp at a Woodward Skate Park in Texas. Naturally, I stole many great ideas from the Graffiti Skate Camps and have implemented them into every camp since.

Skate safe this summer, and if you come to our summer skate camp in Cocoa Beach, make sure you’re ready to have fun. And please, crowd around the counter when it’s time for pizza, because standing in line at lunchtime really stinks. You can do that at school!

Skate Camps and News Rants:

Graffiti Skate Zone Summer Camps, Palm Bay: June 14-18; June 21-25; July 5-9; July 12-16. $79/week. Call 725-2588 for details.

Cocoa Beach Skate Camps: June 14-18; June 28-July 2; July 12-16. $79/week. Call 868-3238.

Eastwood Skate Park Camps, Rockledge: June 7-11; July 5-9. Call 633-0888.

Cocoa Beach Skate Park and Graffiti Skate Zone will celebrate “Go Skateboarding Day” on June 21. Both parks will be free of charge for the day with random contests, raffles, and prizes. Check out your local skate park and see what’s going on.

Happy late B-Day to Matt Hannan!

Adam Taylor just got a silver medal at the Chinese X-Games Mega Ramp Contest.

Check out www.grindforlife.org for info on the new GFL Colab/Benefit shoe made by DC Shoes.

CJ Dixon is on the road heading to the Damn Am in Minnesota.

Timmy Knuth is heading to NYC for the Maloof Money Cup.

Mike Rogers will also be in NYC for Maloof raising money to fight cancer.

Jedi Grind Tricks: May ’10
• Scooter Newell •
sk8scooter@gmail.com
~
I’ve been spending a lot of time at my local skate park lately — pulling some shifts behind the counter, cleaning the shop, working on skateboards, changing bearings, informing new guests about our park, and hanging out with the skaters who’ve been there since it opened.

If you know me, you know that I love the “skate park vibe.” This is a place where we can hang out, practice our beloved craft, and just be skateboarders. Over the years my skateboarding journeys and adventures have taken me coast-to-coast and spot-to-spot, and I’ve skated tons of parks along the way… maybe even hundreds of thousands of tons, since most of the parks are made out of concrete.

All these great skate destinations differ in size, construction, popularity, and management. One thing that always seems to remain though, is the local “young skateboard kid” or “kids.” Yes, I’m talking about the skaters who are so young that they don’t care which pro got kicked off what team for what reason. They don’t care about downloading the newest clip off the Berrics website. Their minds are not yet infected with skateboard marketing or brand recognition. In fact, they’re at the best age of their life to enjoy skateboarding — the “Look Mom!” phase.

This issue’s installment is dedicated to the mothers of all kids who skate — young and old. As we grow as skaters we tend to cycle through some phases — from going to the skate park with your mom and dad to getting dropped off at the skate park by mom and dad; from riding our bikes to the skate park to riding with friends who can drive to the skate park; from driving ourselves to the parks to eventually driving yourself and your kids so you can all skate. It’s happening more and more these days. Dad will be out there shredding it up with his 4- or 16-year-old son or daughter. I’ve skated with moms who can ride the bowl as good as their own offspring.

But it’s that first phase we tend to forget as we become older skaters with our own unique personalities and contributions to the skating community. It’s the phase where Mom (and/or Dad; we know it’s a combined effort!) actually hangs out at the skate park with you. Watching, smiling, wiping sweat, holding your Gatorade, taking pictures, waiting for you to do “one more run,” being your biggest fan, and carrying your board and all your sweaty gear to the car when you’re finished.

This beginning part is where most of our skateboard journeys are very similar. Chances are, we all had a parent or parents who supported our passion for skateboarding when we were young, and it really makes no difference if it was your mom or dad, or both. However, this May I’d like to give some props to all the moms of the world who support their young shredders — I know you wouldn’t have it any other way! I also want to say thanks to my Mom, Jackie, for getting me involved in skateboarding over 35 years ago. (And thanks for carrying my board and pads to and from the car, too!)

Happy Mother’s Day!

News Rants:

Grind for Life founder Mike Rogers just got back from NYC for an annual checkup. He is 7 years cancer free! His Doctor says: “Looking good, Mike! Keep up the good work and keep skateboarding.” MR will be at the ProTech Pool Party May 21-22, proving that there is life after cancer at this prestigious invite-only event. Follow Mike’s travels by logging on to www.grindforlife.org

The crew at Graffiti Skate Zone never sleeps. They’ve been spotted at such recent community events as The Brevard Youth Expo passing out freebies and hosting games. GSZ also put on a demo for the Ben Rocks 3 Fundraiser on the portable mini ramp. Get involved and check out www.graffitiskatezone.com.

On May 22 the Cocoa Beach Skate Park and Evasion Clothing will hold a super-chill BBQ and Best Trick Contest for cash. Hit up “Cocoa Beach Skate Park” on Facebook for daily updates and info.

By the time you read this, Adam Taylor’s new Pro Model Helmet will be out by Triple8.

Skateboard News? Send it in — sk8scooter@gmail.com

With the advent of our modern day super computers and personal digital assistants, anyone can be their own realty show star.

You log online to one of the mytwitface pages and inform the “viewers” of your show with the latest “news” like the shameless self promoters we are, skateboarders included.

However, when it comes down to it, the real coverage still comes from our industry magazines. One of our own beachside residents, Timmy Knuth, is currently featured in the new Transworld Skateboard Magazine’s “Check Out” section — a page that features up and coming AMs. As a kid, I would always read the “Check Out” section to see who the top AMs were, and they usually were the ones who would one day turn pro and be able to skateboard for a living. This is not some website where you can upload yourself and have reality show superstar status; this is a printed, internationally distributed rite of passage for great skateboarders. Congratulations Timmy Knuth!

Anyway, as I was about to write an article on “Soul Skateboarding”, I logged on to mytwitface to most likely tell my “viewers” that: “I’m trying to write my column, and I’m at a loss, maybe I need some coffee… LOL ,” but instead my computer made a beeping noise alerting a chat from Timmy…

7:28amTimmy: whats uppp

7:28amScooter: whats up dog!

7:28amTimmy: chillin bout to pass out you?

7:28amScooter: im racking my brain tryin to think of a topic to write about for jedi grind tricks article any ideas?

7:29amTimmy: not at this moment haha, ill be in fl on the 12 lets shred. ill be in town for 3 weeks

7:31amScooter: word 3 weeks… if you had to tell the skaters here back home where they need to skate out there where would it be? if they want to take a road trip, you know?

7:34amTimmy: dude long beach is such a sick skate scene now

7:34amScooter: Snoop grew up there… u ever shrizzed with that hizzead?

7:36amTimmy: cherry park, the city paved a concrete slab for skaters and skaters themselves built ledges, there are 7 perfect ledges and its the place to be… always a bbq, pros, good vibes and such a fun sesh. always good vibes and a good time.

7:37amScooter: sounds pretty sick… no Snizzoop?

7:38amTimmy: nah havent seen him around, i live in the sketchy part of town, i see a bunch of look-alikes haha

7:40amScooter: ha! its rainin like a beast here right now…

7:40amTimmy: why does snoop have an umbrella?… fo drizzle

7:41amScooter: that was probly the most well placed snoop/drizzle/umbrella joke iv heard/read

7:42amTimmy: haha yeah. lbc suckaaa. where i live is so sketch. its so tight. everywhere else i go feels to rich/to California. i went to hunnington beach today to film a trick – worst place ever.

7:44amScooter: the HB? my friend K-Mac lives there… what was the trick?

7:45amTimmy: it was a nose grind on some bump to bar

7:46amScooter: nice, is there a video coming out soon with a TK part?

7:46amTimmy: im actually filming to hopefully have a “mag min” on theskatebaordmag.com website

7:47amScooter: nice, that would be some great coverage

7:48amTimmy: yeah be so sick… have you seen the new Transworld?

7:48amScooter: no, i only read FTK. Ha.

7:49amTimmy: yeah i got a “check out” in the new Transworld… pretty hyped on that

7:49amScooter: no way!, thanks for telling me. im gonna go out and buy it today

7:49amTimmy: haha. i havent even seen it yet

7:50amScooter: oh, is it not in newsstands yet?

7:50amTimmy: yeah it is. i havent been anywhere to buy it. haha

7:57amScooter: looks like i got an idea for my article, its due today. you got any shouts to the space coast?

7:58amTimmy: dude, all the homies, dan, you, parents, everyone at gsz

7:59amScooter: werd, have fun in cal, see you back in FL soon!

News Rants:

Mikey McAllister turned 10 recently.

Josh Hudson has been seen at the Satellite Park lately.

The crew at Graffiti Skate Zone hosted Palm Bay’s 50 year celebration with two skate contests at two parks in one day! Check for pics and results: www.graffitiskatezone.com

MR is back from Clash at Claremont contest in California. Check results www.grindforlife.org

Sk8 rel8d news? Send it to Sk8scooter@gmail.com

I mean it. I can seriously laugh at so many aspects of my life. From my looks and my goofy skate style to so many other things I do. Like when I stay up until the wee hours when I know I have a long day ahead of me the next morning. Or when I start a load of laundry only to forget about it until a day or two later and end up having to rewash the load again because of that brain burning odor. For some reason I never learn.

Anyway, on to something serious: The Olympics. I may need some help with this one because I don’t have a television. I mean no cable, no rabbit ears, not even the cumbersome modern, black box equivalent of rabbit ears. So I’m stuck with a DVD player and an occasional romp to the end of the world and back with Jack Bauer on HULU. I had the luxury of not seeing any of the openers or even the “cool snowboard entry to the arena,” but seeing snowboarding in the center ring at the Olympics leads me to foresee a very upsetting future for skateboarding.

It’s already been pitched years ago and the big money dudes who don’t skate at the top of our small food chain are the ones who are trying to pitch it. And you know, it will most likely happen. I can see it now: skateboarding in the Summer Olympics. In fact, “the Flying Tomato” can be the crossover media star who propels the vert discipline. We all know him and love him, and wouldn’t we just love to see him and Bucky maybe bring the Birdman out of retirement to make the Dream Team? Well, wouldn’t we? And we know that Brazil, Australia, Germany, GB, and tons of other countries would all have ultra-talented skaters on their teams.

Of course the formula is there for the “athletes.” And that is what will set it all in motion — all these great nations sending their best to compete. Even though it seems like a no-brainer, it just wouldn’t be right for skateboarding to become an Olympic sport. …Unless of course the Olympics were pulling less ratings than “The Chevy Chase Show” and they needed to make a dollar. And we all know that the majority of the TV audience share watched “American Idol” instead of whatever Olympic event was on at the same time. Well I know this, ’cause I saw it on Facebook, so it must be accurate. And it most likely is.

Let’s face it, the Olympics aren’t what they used to be, ratings wise. I’m sure the events are still as competitive and the athletes are just as talented as ever. It’s just, well… that whole Facebook-”American Idol” thing I read. So when it does happen, it will happen for ratings, not to promote skateboarding. Yeah, there may be an increase in local skate business for a short time, just like the X Games-era boost. But at what cost? Of course it will most likely go hand-in-hand with some corporate athletic shoe company that devised a small (on their scale) skateboarding division to try and win the back market share that was reduced worldwide when authentic skateboard footwear brands became the craze for kids in schools everywhere within the last 10 years.

It really boils down to using an image of an Olympic skateboard athlete to boost the revenues of corporations that don’t care about our parks, shops, and skaters. We don’t need the Olympic format to better the world of competitive skateboarding. Besides, it’s so insulting to watch the televised world-class athlete competition (the Olympics, if you’re just tuning in) and think that they got to be where they are because of a well-balanced diet of Big Macs.

News Rants

Annual “For the Love of Skateboarding”/Palm Bay 50-Year Anniversary Skate Contest to be held at two locations: Graffiti Skate Zone and the PBFB. Check www.graffitiskatezone.com for details, or call the Park.

Mike Rogers pulled off a nice event at Eastwood to raise money for Cancer. Check out www.grindforlife.org for results.

Words of Wisdom: “There are two types of skaters, those who skate and have fun, and those who don’t.” — Klover

Start Shreddin’ the News… You know, send all H8 mail and Sk8 news/events/info to: sk8scooter@gmail.com

JEDI GRIND TRICKS
By Scooter Newell

If there’s any one thing that’s important to skateboarding it’s the local skate scene. Not the skateboard companies. Not the shoe companies. Not the X-games. Not the videos. Not even the newest magazine ads or articles (except, of course, this one).

What we’re talking about here are the individuals who make up your skate scene. The skaters — from the rippers and the old guys, to the girls and beginners — the park operators, the core shop owners, the photographers and videographers, and the biggest factor in the scene: the parents. Yes, the parents.

I decided to roll through Brevard County and stop into a few skate shops to check out the different local scenes. Even though I only put about 30 miles on the X-wing (which is what I’ve always called my car; and now I write a column called… hmmm, strange…), I noticed a vast difference in these four scenes. Some stores are selling a lot of one type of board while down the road a different brand is the more dominant seller. It was the same with shoes. Some skate brands fly off the shelves in one area and a totally different but comparable brand is the hot item at another. It’s obvious that these different shops, while mostly supporting the same companies but pushing different ones, are contributing to a real, organic skate scene. If every skate shop pushed the same exact product then they may as well go “corpo” and call themselves “Sk8-Mart.”

All four shops had skaters hanging out inside. Some were just lurking, some were working, and some were shopping or upgrading some part of their boards. Each shop had some kind of activity going on — someone trying on shoes, grip-taping a skateboard, or prepping to enter the park and skate. O.K. So what? you might say. Different parks and shops have different people and scenes. So what’s the big deal? The big deal is that without you, these scenes can actually die. Now of course you can just skate, and skate your way well away from people and never reach out to the skate community for the rest of your life. But that’s something you’ll be bummed out about down the road. It is your time and your scene. Get involved!

If you own a shop or park, then ask skaters what they want when it comes to products, events, contests, video premieres, etc. Parents can get involved at contests running registration or tabulating scores; just ask the shops or parks how you can help out. I would say start a skate park carpool — but many of you already have that one down. Photog’ and video dudes: start a skate film and video festival at your local park. The park guys are busy, so you’ll need to do most of the promoting and logistics yourself. Work for it!

You don’t have to own a shop or a park to be a major part of your skate scene. Ask the shop people if you can volunteer at their events, contests, sidewalk sales, etc. Take pictures of your local shop crew skating or just hanging out after sessions. Get them printed and bring them to the shop. Support local contests, even if you don’t compete. Make a video with some friends and drop off DVD copies at local skate shops. Start a local magazine — print it at home or bust out some nickels and go to the corner store and make copies. Interview your friends. Start an online blog or web page. Make stickers. Research some skateboard history on the ol’ google machine. Document the times you have while skateboarding. Write a book about it.  Teach someone how to skate. Most importantly, get out there and take part in your skate scene in some way, shape or form.

For some reason, this guy who was a friend of my parents made a skateboard and gave it to me when I was a 3-year-old pre-grom. He died in a lobster diving accident shortly after. His name was Warner. I never got to thank him or tell him how much that skateboard has changed my life. I always looked at skateboarding as the “sport of kick-downs” because of that gesture.

During my four-shop cruise I was stopped by a skater named Robert Bowling. He wanted to thank me for giving him an old, beat-up board when he was starting out and didn’t have a sufficient one to ride. That was over 8 years ago, and he said he just wanted to thank me. Of course I was stoked to know that he was thankful for the board and happy that he gave me a shout after all these years. And I probably should have told him this in person: You’re welcome, Robert. Just give an old board to someone else who needs it when you have an extra one. And help our very important local skate scene grow. Just like Warner did.

News Rants

* Grind for Life contest at Eastwood Skate Park on February 27

* Congrats Sam Rooks for getting hooked up with 1031 Skateboards.

*Local skate band Arkaydia just finished some shows on the sunset strip in L.A.

* Bruce Walker Premiered his film “The Payoff” at Surf Expo

Words of Wisdom: “Think and therefore you shall be thinking” –- Que Es.

Shred the Word…

Send all Sk8 Mail and H8 mail to sk8scooter@gmail.com

I guess these ancients believed that Janus, who had two faces, could see backward and forward at the same time, and on December 31st they imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new one. So traditions began — giving gifts of branches, fruit, nuts, coins, etc. … Eventually, a couple of thousand years later, that led to people giving skateboards and skateboard accessories as gifts to one another.

So here we are in the year 2010. Honestly, as a kid, I thought I would be ripping on a floating skateboard by now, but no “hoverboards” have been invented yet. These days, most airplanes and cars navigate themselves, robots work assembly lines, cell phones handle all my Facebookin’ and computer functions, and my computer allows me to send in my article without having to buy stamps or, even worse, make a trip to the office and have a possible run-in with the editor.

It is comforting to know that the very primitive essence found in skateboarding has continued to be the common standard throughout the years. Sure, every other six months or so some weird guy from some start-up company introduces the next big skateboarding fad — wheel lights or motorized units with a speed control triggers. I’m not even going to get started on those “snake-board” things… Now I am kind of diggin’ the electric, motorized skateboard — that is pretty cool. However, they weigh as much as the sun and would only be useful for getting from Point A to Point B with as little exercise as possible.

Thankfully, most skateboards are made for actual skateboarding, not gimmicky activities. Over the years there have been revolutionary breakthroughs in wood constructions and molds for shapes and concaves and strength, and the use of better materials for truck construction has enabled better grind surface and superior turning capabilities. In addition, urethane wheels have been mastered and re-mastered, and modern technology has no doubt given us better bearings. All of these advances have ensured a better skateboarding experience, but it still remains virtually the same as it ever was — a plank deck with two trucks and four wheels.

Luckily, nothing has attempted to, or ever will, replace the physical strength, balance, brain activity and downright human interaction required to ride a skateboard. So this year, skate to the beach to check the waves; skate your favorite spot; skate to the corner store; skate with your dog on a leash (they love it); ride a long board or ride a short board; make your own board; give a kid your old one; skate with your son or your daughter; skate with old friends; learn a new trick…or don’t learn a new trick; take lots of pictures…

2010 is the year of no hoverboards for skaters in general. But if I had to pretend to be Janus for a few minutes, I would look at 2009 as the end of my first 35 years riding a skateboard, and 2010 as the beginning of my next 35 years riding one.

So far, 2010 is looking good! 

Here are some random thoughts, inspirational quotes, and New Year’s resolutions from beachside skaters for 2010.

“I just skated the super fun “Banzai Skatepark” near Pipeline on Oahu’s north shore. This public park is small, compact, and very well designed for carving and flow. Surfers fit in well here. There’s a good crop of young rippers as well. Reminds me of Cocoa Beach Skatepark. Looking forward to 2010 so I can skate some of the newer Florida skateparks I haven’t been to yet.”  – Bruce Walker Skater, Boardriding Industry Pioneer

“Shred or be shredded.” — Mike Wittman Skater, Graphic Designer

“Every skater has their unique style, but all skaters share the lifestyle.” — Chastity Turner Skater, College Student 

“Live Strong, Stay Strong, and Never Give Up.” — Mike Rogers Pro Skater, Grind for Life Founder

“My goal for 2010 is to wash my Pro-Tec knee pads. It’s been 5 years, and they’re really starting to stink.” — PJ Byrtus Veteran Skater

“Dude, I just died on that ledge!” — Michael Wolfe GSZ Skate Team

“Big transitions with a couple of feet of vert.” — Wade Ulrich Veteran Skater

“The man who says he can’t do something and the man who says he can do something are both usually right.” — David Morefield Skater, Video Producer

“Don’t listen to the negative things people tell you when you’re doing something different.” 
– Adam Taylor, Pro Skater

“Hey, West Coast — joke’s on you! Florida skaters rule!” — Gage Boan Skater, Student CBHS

“Skate or die… every try! If you wanna rip…come to Gus Hipp!” — Christopher Chambers Skater, Eastwood Skate Park Owner

“2010: skate harder, finish a video part, and travel as much as possible.” — Timmy Knuth Pro/Am Skater OG GSZ Crew

“Skate fast and shred hard.” – Sam Rooks Skater, Student CBHS

Email any skateboard related news, events, contests, and hate mail to Scooter at sk8scooter@gmail.com

Shred the Word

I had already picked it out. It was dialed in with rails, nose guard, and skid plate on the tail. This was a life-changing moment for me because this would be my very first wide board and it had a kicktail. It was a real “industry” skateboard, about 10 inches wide by 30 inches long with factory custom grip tape. It was actually a semi-sub industry board that was manufactured from a roller skate company I think, but at age 11 it was perfect. I had two skateboards up until this point and got my first when I was 3 years old. Both were handmade.

Who cares, right? Well, the board — it was the “Zoner” model — holds so much meaning for me simply because of where it was purchased. My mom took me to a place called Sloan Skates in Cocoa Beach. It wasn’t a regular store. This place was not even a shop or a leased section of a building. It was an old red school bus converted into a skate shop. It even had a radio playing inside, thanks to an extension cord into plugged in to the tourist shop that used to exist where Walgreens is now located. The guy that ran it was a one-man show named Tony. Skateboards were hanging from the roof as you climbed in the bus and plastered all over the inside were photographs of skaters ripping at parks like Kona and others around Florida. Sloan Skates was the epitome of the small budget, do-it-yourself mobile skate shop. I learned how to ollie on that board.

Hmm… Still kinda makes you think, “who cares?” right? O.K. What I’m getting at this December is the importance of purchasing from local shops. Getting my first “real” skateboard at a grungy little one-man shop subconsciously instilled a belief as to how I spend my money on skateboard equipment — by supporting shops that care and will go to any length to ensure that skateboarding continues to help kids by providing customers with quality products. When I look back, I have to give my mom some props for throwin’ down 80 bucks at a school bus shop in the parking lot of a supermarket. She always believed in supporting the local stores for all facets of our household spending, and I suppose I’m the same way with my skateboard products.

Over the years I’ve had the displeasure of seeing kids come to skate parks and shops with a board they purchased from a Wally World or Gooniez or somewhere in a corporate mall store with bearings missing from the wheel assembly; trucks installed improperly or backwards; poor turning components in the truck assembly, and other great silliness in the name of not caring about skateboarding or the customer. These are serious safety concerns when riding a board. It stinks to know that an improperly assembled board could lead to control problems, possibly resulting in injury or worse. Then you have one frustrated beginner who no longer embraces skateboarding. That’s no good.

So please don’t be afraid to swing in to a real skate shop this holiday season if you’re shopping for a beginner skateboard. Our lovely beachside home has a lot of great skate shops, as well as surf shops supporting the local scene. And some of these small skate shops are the largest supporters of local skateboard contests, as well as pro demos and other events. They are keeping skateboarding alive in the real world.

Please let the skaters behind the counter know that you’re shopping for a first-time board as a holiday gift. The employees may have holes in their shoes from skating all day, but they know their skate product, so hit away with questions or ask them to just give you the lowdown. I guarantee that any of these real shops can get you set up on any budget, from beginner gear all the way up to the pro-name skateboards. All boards purchased in skate shops are of superior quality to the poor and upsetting alternatives you find in other mainstream stores.

Here are some tips for knowing whether you’re in a shop that deserves your holiday business:

The owner is a regular employee of the shop, working the register, helping customers, and one who actually skates or supports skateboarding.

The employees who work there are NOT wearing a uniform, especially a blue apron.

The skate shop is at an actual skate park.

The employees can describe each and every product and its function, company origin, and that product’s latest team video.

This info may be nothing new to you, but I am ready to risk it and get this printed in all 500,000 copies just to reach that one parent or grandparent out there who has never been skateboard shopping before. Our little grungy skate shops are here to help you. We were all beginners at one time and know what’s right for your skateboard gift.

So it doesn’t matter if you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Festivus, make that holiday skateboard purchase from one of these little shops. They’re there because they love skateboarding and they want your beginner grom — grandson, granddaughter, son, daughter, niece, nephew, cousin or friend — to love it too.

Happy Holidays,

Scooter

So, believe it or not, I got an email about five hours after last month’s Resident went live online regarding my October article. It was from Katie at the Dew Tour who was kind enough to hook me up with media credentials so I could be one of a million vulturesque paparazzi trying to feed their families on the freshest road-kill of the century: “Action Sports.” Anyway I was excited that Katie went out of her way to get me a media pass because both Timmy Knuth and Adam Taylor were competing in the competition.

Due to my other job, I was only able to make the skate park finals on Saturday to watch Timmy skate. When I got to the O’rena and was walking in to get my “super-duper important guy” credentials, I bumped into Bucky Lasek, who was getting all cellular with someone (or maybe he was faking a conversation to avoid me; have you ever pretended to talk to someone on your phone to avoid looking totally alone or to avoid talking to someone you can’t stand in person?), so I gave Bucky a fist bump and kept on walking. Upon receiving my badge –which is a nice laminated pass with a neck lanyard to ensure that you look way more important than the average action sports enthusiast — I made my way to the skate course.

The Dew Tour folks went all-out in producing a huge set-up. This contest arrangement was indeed one of the most amazing set-ups I have ever seen. The park looked way too nice to just hang out in the “Media Zone,” plus, I wanted to talk to Timmy Knuth before the contest.

The park was built on a platform that was elevated about, oh let’s say, waist high and set back about 3 feet. Parallel to the course is the media platform. Off to the right of the media entrance was an opening into a small area between the two platforms. Maybe someone was supposed to be posted there on the left side, but there was no one, and there were no signs saying “Stay Out of Here.” I hung out for about five more minutes, scoping out my path from where I was standing all the way to where I would set up my perch on the course.

Then I realized that it might not be cool to “sneak” all the way on to the course. But then I remembered that I was here to write a story. I owed it to Katie and the entire Dew Tour to get myself as close to the action as possible. So I told the guy next to me that I needed to get out there for a better view and he looked at me like I was a bit loopy.

My route was perfect. I waited for Paul Rodriguez to land a nollie into the bank and I hopped up onto the park, ensuring that I didn’t drop any foreign objects or change onto the course (I’ve always been a stickler for safety). I made my way up the step-up gap and over to an area free of any banners or signage. I was cautious of the production crew so as to not get in the way of “money shots” bearing the logos of the many corporate sponsors.

Timmy, a local from Melbourne who pretty much grew up skating at Graffiti in Palm Bay, told me the course was super fun, and we talked for a few minutes about the event. With all the hype, television crews and a couple of thousand people lurking around, Timmy still found it appropriate to show me some weird new flip-trick he was working on. “Check it out…,” he said, popping his board up and flipping it into yet another creative Knuth-style trick. He came dangerously close to landing it, but you could tell he wasn’t really trying either and simply goofing around. He continued to roll around in practice pulling “switch backside nose-blunts” on the flat rail among a ton of other tricks. He looked relaxed and was skating consistently.

By now the Dew Tour folks had been onto me for quite some time. In fact when I initially “snuck in,” I was shadowed then approached and told that I wasn’t supposed to be out there on the course. I immediately explained that I was Timmy’s Team manager and I was writing a story with Katie’s permission and needed to get close. I know how to handle these marketing intern-looking types by using words like “team manager” and providing a consenting name from within their own organization, all while exuding the utmost confidence. Then I froze as she radioed back to base for confirmation. I knew I was busted and that Katie was gonna have me tossed out of the O’rena.

Then, through the squawky talkie transmissions, a voice of approval confirmed that I could in fact remain on the course until the contest began. Fair enough, I thought, and as things started up I told Timmy to rip it up and have some fun as I made my way off the course.

Knuth ripped! His run was o.k., though not his best. He did land some key tricks and then began destroying the course in the six-man jam, executing tricks like a kickflip-to-backboard slide; some kickflip krooked grinds; kickflip frontside board slides; huge trey flips over the gap, and that switchback noseblunt. When it was all said and done, Timmy got 9th in Orlando and 11th overall for his rookie year on the Dew Tour.

Thanks a bunch, Katie! See you next year!

(Naturally, I snuck back on to the course to congratulate Timmy prior to driving back to the beachside).

JEDI GRIND TRICKS
By Scooter Newell

I recently decided that Hawaii was a fine destination for a skateboarding adventure.

Well, actually, that Hawaii was a fine destination for a surf trip/honeymoon with my lovely wife. However cool that is, I did the unthinkable: I brought my first love along on the trip. I knew I could pull it off. I knew that if I was calm and cool, I could bring my board and turn it into a skate trip.

Of course, I (we) live in an area that is drenched in skateboard history, pioneers, and culture. And I know that there are other lands with other skateboarding histories and they all have something to say. But this time I was eager to dig up early Hawaiian skateboard history, and I knew the sport would somehow speak to me while visiting the islands.

Growing up as a beachside resident, I skateboarded about 15 hours a day and didn’t surf too much unless it was clean, glassy, and warm outside — which means “May-August warm” outside, not “everyday warm” outside. And on those days we would raid Bruce Walker’s garage, outfit ourselves with appropriately-sized Ocean Avenue boards and surf 15th Street. We had so much fun before the turn of the century. So my surf skills are kind of not there, but they are there enough to know that there’s a reason I don’t write a surfing column. I’m not sure what that meant, but I’ve always considered myself a beginner surfer.

Even though I was a first time visitor to the Aloha State, I knew exactly where I needed to go to get in touch with the island’s collective skateboarding conscious. I decided to check in with the Mother of skateboarding: surfing.

After a short 13-hour flight, we landed, and were instantly outfitted with two Quiet Flight 9’6″s by our buddy Eric, and ran to the beach to get our first Hawaiian surf session. So here I am paddling about what seems like three miles (actually, only a few hundred yards) off Waikiki Beach at a spot called “Pops,” talking to the Mother of skateboarding (surfing), and realized that we she had so much to share.

For instance, while skateboarding, you can carve around, gain speed, and perform gravity-defying maneuvers, much the same as in surfing. You can skate with raw power and aggression — and you can surf with raw power and aggression. If you fall off your skateboard, you slam onto hard concrete. If you fall while surfing in Oahu, you splash through crystal clear warm water…before slamming into a coral head 14 inches under the surface that’s harder and sharper than concrete. So: very similar.

If skateboarding is the younger sibling of surfing, and if surfing was born in Hawaii, then skateboarding has to have roots there. Maybe it was even born here as well! As my wife and I paddled out each day, I noticed the locals of all ages — and there were probably just as many girls as there were guys. The girls were ripping and the locals had mad style. Now of course I know that longboard surfing is one of skateboarding’s earliest influences, but I was witnessing it firsthand as the Hawaiian surfers commanded the head-high rollers at Waikiki. I was definitely onto something — the trail of where skateboarding’s origins. I continued to surf Pops for the next five days with my wife, and all the while I couldn’t help but think that if the ancient islanders invented surfing, then they had to have dabbled in an early form of skateboarding.

We ended up on the north shore for the last few days of our trip at the famous Beschen Compound. Our good friend Eric and his wife Jessica let us stay in the studio next to theirs. I guess the Beschens were the ones that actually let us stay there, so big thanks to the whole Beschen family! Anyway, their compound is actually a skater’s dream in a surf heaven. They had a 20-foot wide mini halfpipe with skatelite and metal coping. It was perfect. The patio was also complete with a concrete wave about 2-feet tall and 40-feet wide. It was amazing to wake up and see the powerful breaks at Rocky Point just across the street from a private skate park hotel. I skated the ramp and the wave with some of the local kids, and they were all ripping; they all had smiles when they skated the ramp and most skated without shoes. I thought to myself: these kids are the next generation north shore surfers, skating the ramp with us. There was a definite feeling that skateboarding is like breathing and walking to these young locals.

Coda Beschen

I’d like to call it ultra-appropriate that a journey to Oahu to search for the origin of the skateboard brought me to a hidden, private skateboard wonderland. It was darn funny. I’m not sure if I found any sort of an answer as to the origin of skateboarding, and by choosing not to inquire or ask the locals any questions about early Hawaiian skate history, I may never know. But I kind of like it that way. I guess I’ll just have to go back someday and pick up where I left off: having a great time — the time of my life — surfing and skateboarding with my wife. (…Well, not the skateboarding. I’m on my own there).

NEWS RANTS

Mini Ramp Contest! The Monster Mini Ramp Jam is going to be at Graffiti Skate Zone in Palm Bay on October 31. Come out to Brevard’s Original Skate Park and enjoy this 8th annual event for all ages. More info at: www.graffitiskatezone.com

Adam Taylor got 9th Place at the SLC DewTour. Adam also finished 3rd in the MEGA-Ramp contest in Brazil. Watch for Adam this month at the Orlando Dew Tour Finals.

Timmy Knuth, a rookie also on the Dew Tour, took 16th in SLC in the pro division. He will also be in O-town for the finals in October.

CJ Dixon finished 6th Place in the Free Flow finals in Salt Lake, one of the biggest AM events nationwide.

Congrats to Dylan Durkin for his recent coverage in FTKmag, and props to Adam Taylor for getting the Trick Tips in the same publication.

Email any skate-related news to sk8scooter@gmail.com, and Shred the Word!

Right now, there are hundreds of skaters all across Brevard County who are fully bummin’ right now. Yes, it’s that time of year again, and the kids are back in school!

There’s about to be a whole new set of book covers (do kids still use books?) and folders adorned with new skate art, logos, dream parks, and ramps from skaters minds and lives. Skaters will be doodling their brains out, trying their hardest to make it look like they’re paying attention and counting the minutes and seconds until the bell rings. These people are being deprived of what they love all day long until 2, 3 or 4 in the afternoon…or whenever school lets out.

I am here today to let you all know that it’s going to be okay! It just might sting a little.

Imagine a world where “Back to School” means “Back to Skateboarding.” A world where there are less crowded skate parks and spots. A world where everyone is cool with each other and there’s never any drama or fighting over spots, tricks, snakes or who’s girlfriend said what on the MyFace page. This world does exist, my fellow skaters. You only need to pay a certain amount of dues to find it.

All you need to do is finish school and graduate, and you’ll see what I mean. Right now, as you’re sitting in class, dreaming of hitting a spot with your friends or heading to the local park to shred with the crew, it is actually happening. There are tons of skaters who are heading to the parks right now, and all of them are smiling, because they know that when they get there, you will be in school. Yes, that is correct. The “Old Guys” — from recent high school graduates all the way up to skaters in their ’50s and ’60s — are all smiling when school starts.

We can carve around the park in a slow and warming-up kind of manner for an hour straight without all of you young shredders blazing all over the place. We can finally skate the ramps where you all play S.K.A.T.E. in the flat bottom. We can finally do what we wished we could do all of those years sitting in class drawing on our folders. It’s great! And you can do it, too. But only after you take as much information from school to make yourself as smart as you can before you graduate. Stay in school and this world is yours.

And no, home school is not the answer. You’ll see what I mean when you’re an old guy and a group of home-schoolers show up at noon to clog up your Tuesday afternoon session.

Oh, jeeez.

NEWS RANTS

Adam Taylor: 5th Place in Portland Dew Tour, beating out big dog champs like Bucky Lasek.

Timmy Knuth stepping into 8th place in Portland, beating out names like Greg Lutzka.

Both Knuth and Adam Bomb will be skating in the SLC pro stop September 17-20.

Congrats to Cocoa Beach resident CJ Dixon on winning the AM Qualifier in Miami. CJ will skate in the AM finals in SLC, UT September 17-20.

The Graffiti team is still on a rampage… Clint Beswick and Corey Falls win their divisions at the OSC Back to School Jam.

Kyle Chambers wins $200 at the Old School Compound Best Trick Contest with “a kickflip frontside 5-0 down the handrail.”

Blake Kovarik is 16 and officially driving.

Clint Beswick got 1st in 12 and Under at Tampa’s Back to School Jam, Dakota Hunt got 2nd. Corey Falls from Palm Bay got 2nd in the 16 and Up Division.

X-Games donated a slew of fingerboards to the series at Graffiti and Cocoa Beach Skate Parks. Check the video at: www.graffitiskatezone.com

Bruce Walker, Mike Whitman, and Josh Hudson were spotted shredding the Team Pain Skate Art at Expo.

Mike Rogers set up the Grind for Life tent at Expo and the Moat show recently. Check out www.grindforlife.org for upcoming events

Sam Rooks and Mikey McCallister have been shredding the CB park lately.

Durke Schmidt has been pulling Skate or Die Mondays with his old-school Melbourne crew hitting up the local parks.

Shred the Word.

I decided to do things the way we did it back in the ’80s. I decided to search for the topic of this month’s installment by grabbing my board, walking out my front door, and pushing down the street in no particular direction. Let the board decide.

I wound up heading north, deep into “the ‘Nav,” which is slang for Cape Canaveral. I found myself on a semi-new asphalt road that felt like it had been resurfaced within the last 18 to 24 months. It felt nice as I carved down some of the very streets where I first learned to skate.

It reminded me of when I was a kid. I was able to leave my mom’s house on my board, and once I did, it seemed that all my troubles disappeared. Okay, I admit I had very few real troubles, but I’m talking about “teenage troubles,” like having to serve detention for my classroom antics, receiving substandard grades, not being noticed by girls in my school, and having to mow the lawn.

Skateboarding was my first love. My board didn’t care what kind of car I drove, how I dressed, or who my friends were. So of course I would turn to it for attention and satisfaction. Nothing mattered except me, my board and the streets. This method of losing myself in the act of skateboarding to achieve something has worked in the past, and this time was no different — at least I hope not.

I stopped into a watering hole for a drink and to catch up on some TV since I don’t have one at home. Breaking News: I-95 re-opens. Is that really news? I felt sad for all the poor saps in their motor cars not being able to get to where they were
going. Is there nothing else worth reporting? I quickly remembered why I choose to not have cable or even the modern equivalent of rabbit ears. I finished my drink and skated on down the road.

I continued to cruise through the ‘Nav and wound up at another drinking establishment. I ordered a PBR, because I’d never had one before; not that it’s too exotic or hard to find, I just never drink beer. It wasn’t any good. So I did what most beer drinkers do: I went to the bathroom.

“Keep using my bathroom like an animal, and that’s the kind of service you’re gonna get.”

What a brilliant sign! And well positioned above the urinal. This bartender knows how to keep a clean bathroom without having to clean it. 

This may sound invented, but as I sat back down to stare at the TV, the X Ggames and Dew Tour highlights came on the screen. I couldn’t help but think about Timmy Knuth and Adam Taylor, two Brevard skaters who are earning their way into the spotlight and ranks in competitive skating. In fact, both rippers just competed in the Dew Tour in Boston.

Ah. I’d finally found something worth watching. Or had I? I mean, how many times are the networks going to air the clips of Jake Brown’s 2007 slam to the flat bottom on the mega ramp? Or Danny Way’s shin-smacking, front flip-to-body slam? I guess until someone else slams harder or dies… I’m sure that would bring much higher ratings than someone actually landing a trick. Of course the skateboarding was bookended by commercial advertisements for beer and deodorant and highly toxic egg McSandwiches. I had to laugh at the corpo-american approach to television programming. Then after the highlights were finished, it was back to football, auto racing, and Lance Armstrong. All of these are languages I don’t understand, and within an instant, I decided that I had to skate on.

As I headed for home, I realized I was right. A good skate can help me figure out anything. I started to think about how skateboarding has gotten so popular over the last 10 to 15 years, thanks to video games, movies and televised competitions. It’s quickly slipping away from the ones who love it and actually skate. We’re handing skateboarding over to network executives and corporations like Wal-Mart. And for what? So we can watch it on FuelTV or ESPN? Oh, please. Wouldn’t you rather go skate than watch it on TV?

I challenge all skaters to cancel their cable and turn off their TVs. Stop lining the pockets of businesses that don’t support skateboarding directly. This means purchasing your gear from local skate shops and skate parks — even if it means you have to pay a small amount more for your favorite board, shoes, or clothing. Interact with the people in the shops and parks. Get involved in the local scene and make a difference. Help a beginner learn how to skate. Skate to the store. Skate to work. Skate for fun. Because as it stands now: Everything Sucks About Skateboarding Except Skateboarding.

Shred the Word.