Skate Photography Interview With Bart Jones

Name, Age, Status, Employer, Hometown? Bartholomew Wilhelm Jones, 28, Single, The Skateboard mag son!, Geneva, Illinois.

Lets start at the very beginning. I want to know what it took to spawn you. Tell me about your parents. What kind of people were they, what did they do, how were you conceived?

Whoa!! That's deep. I don't know. My dad I think was originally from Plainfield, Illinois a little like cornfield town that's all big now. He went to a private Catholic school or something, but he's not like religious or anything, he keeps it real. And my mom is originally from Germany an actually lived in Israel for a minute when she was a child too, but then I think times were rough over there, so her family got hooked up with a boat ride to the states an started living in St. Louis, I think maybe.. Moving on, Dad went to college in St. Louis met my mom, badda boom batta bing, got married an made me.. I question if they were on some sort of drugs at the time, because I'm pretty jacked. My mom has had a lot of odd jobs through the years from school teacher, to running an antique store, to working in real estate and my dad used to run a chain of record stores called Apple Tree Records, which was an awesome time, because until I was about 16, my dad could hook up any music for skateboarding tips plus free tickets to just about anything, I wish he still had that going' but due to the likes of Best Buy, an Circuit city, an places like that; Apple Tree went under. I went around with my family to all the stores to close them down which sucked, but I came up on a lot of goods. Now my dad skateboarding tips a Play It Again sports, so pretty much my mom an dad go around to auctions an garage sales an stock up on used sports equipment, so we use to have a lot of music laying around the house, but now it's sport's equipment.

Lets move on to your childhood. Any traumatic evens that still haunt you today?

I don't think anything from my childhood still haunts me in anyway, but yea sure.. I've had a bunch of those.. I almost blew our families new puppies head off with a Draino bomb, my baby sitter tried to have sex with me once, I don't know, but yea I was definitely a messed up kid, still pretty much am.

What was your very first encounter with skateboarding? When did you know that this was going to be a long term relationship?

First encounter I probably don't remember, but I know I was super hyped on it when I seen these dudes skating flatground and ollieing over these road barriers at this downtown festival we have where I lived called "Swedish Days". All the dudes had like two different colored Airwalk shoes on with duct tape, painter hats, all flaired out , I remember just thinking "These dudes are bad ass, that's how I want to be!" Around the same time I was always psyched if I could catch "Skate TV" on Nickelodeon. Obviously totally clueless about skateboarding, but nonetheless, super hyped. I didn't actually start skating until a few years after that, when a skate shop opened by my house called Rich's, which is funny to think of, because the place was such a ' circus, but I would just skate around the shop an to me that was the most bad ass thing ever at the time.

Funny thing is, one of those dudes that I saw skating a long time ago at the festival is now my good homey Steve Davenport, he still skates, still rips!! But Yea, I really never knew it was going to be a long term relationship.. I guess I just really never got into anything else. When it comes to anything else relatively athletic I'm full on goonbat panzy steez. I remember when some of the kids in high school were getting into other things like Golf, Cars, ETC... I didn't really understand. I just remember thinking " you don't wanna go skating?!" I went through a little phase when I was going to art school, where I wasn't really into skating, I didn't know what was really going on, didn't see the magazine's and new videos; at that time I was more interested in becoming a "fine artist" but I'm kind over that I guess.

Being from Illinois, what are your thoughts on Barack Obama?

Being totally fried, I don't really pay much attention to that kind of stuff, but I'm for sure down for Obama. I remember when he was running for senator or whatever in Illinois, an there were all these billboards with him, an I said to my dad "look at this dude looking all pimp "'and he told me "that's the man that's expected to be the first black president". Then in my photo journalism class I was assigned to go shoot photos of Barack's victory speech. An like any other sucker, I was just eating it up; Obama just speaks with such like.. I don't even know! Power, I guess, an then just looking around at all the people being so happy, it was just good vibes all around. An now it's like the same thing again, but the whole country. I'm for sure pumped that at one time I lived in the same city as Obama. It's a pretty exciting time, but what do I know..?

Check out http://www.typicalculture.com for more information on skateboarding by skaters. Bart Jones is all hart and a real skateboarder for life!

Skateboarding - A Lifestyle, Not Just a Hobby

Skateboarding looks like a hard skill to master to many. But this is far from skateboarding tips truth. Skateboarding is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. If you know any skateboarder, you know the level of commitment required to acquire the skills. You can usually tell if someone is an avid boarder just by looking at the way the dress, walk and talk. There is a certain aura around people that skate that really doesn't exist in anyone else. With that being said, we all know just how important it is to set yourself apart from the pack. Every one that skates wants to show off their unique sense of style and flavour. So what is the perfect way to do this? By investing and riding on unique skateboard designs and decks.

Sure you can pick up a deck at the local shop, but do you really want to be seen riding the skateboarding tips board as all the kids on your block? If you want to be taken seriously you need to get a skateboard deck that sets you apart from everyone else and portrays your individuality. Generic boards do not garner the respect that you are after on the streets, it is as simple as that. The internet is a great place to start searching for some skateboard designs that represent everything that you stand for. On top of this you can be sure you will be the only one on the block riding it.

Think about the first thing you notice when you see someone else skateboarding. You look at their deck don't you? You can tell a lot about a person by checking out their board. Are you going to really classify someone riding on a Bugs Bunny board as a truly credible rider? Probably not. But what if you see someone fly by and pull of a 360 heel flip of the railing at the local mall? Take a look at their skateboard and it surely will be a creative and unique skateboard design. Serious boarders have serious boards. The best of the best even have handmade, customized boards that represent more than their ability. Their skateboard designs represent their personality.

So now you are thinking, "How can I go about finding a unique skateboard deck?" Well the internet is a great place to start as you can be positive that you will find a plethora of options when it comes to your style and tastes. Whether you are looking for a simple and bold design or a totally off the wall colourful board, you are sure to find what you are looking for. And the best part of it all is that you can be sure no one else you ride with will have the same board. This is the perfect way to represent your unique personality through your board.

The internet is essentially the world's biggest skate shop. You can browse a number of stores, designs and compare prices all the while without the hassle of having to deal with an inexperienced pushy salesperson. And the best part is that you don't even have to leave your house. Take a quick twenty minute break from boarding, pick out a great skateboard deck and get right back out on the street. All you have to do is wait for your board to arrive at your house, unwrap it and then watch as people glare with envy at your all new deck.

Invest in a creative design and you are sure to command respect from all the boarders at the local park. It doesn't matter if you are surrounded by pro boarders or kids that are just beginning, your board will get you noticed and ensure that you get noticed for all the right reasons. No one wants to be the guy riding down the street on the Mickey Mouse board they got for Christmas when they were twelve. Your skill and style has changed since then and you should make sure that your board reflects that.

So stop getting attention for all the wrong reasons at your local skate park and get your hands on some skateboard designs that represent who you really are. Unique skateboard designs are a must have for anyone that treats skateboarding as a lifestyle and not just a hobby. Beginners, novices and professionals alike all need to portray their personal sense of style and your skateboard is the perfect way to do it. So stop riding on that generic, plastic board and pick out a skateboard design that reflects skateboarding as a lifestyle and not just a passive hobby.

This is all just a glimpse of the Gurilla Skateboarding Revolution.

Top Wii Games That You Should Own

Having the top Wii games is a must for anyone who wants to skateboarding tips the best games. There are a ton of great Wii games that you should play. However, I will only list the top games that you should own. So, here is the Wii skateboarding tips List.

Wii Games List

1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This is one of the best games for the Wii. If you have played any of the other Smash Bros. games, you will really have fun with this one. Make sure you play with other people, though. If you don't have anyone to play with, don't worry. You can play other people online.

2. Super Mario Galaxy. This is probably the best Mario game ever. The graphics are cool. If you love playing Mario Bros., you will love this game. This game is recommended by just about everyone who has played it on the Wii.

3. The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess. In this version of Zelda, Link is all grown up. He isn't too cartoonish. Which makes it a lot better to me. If you have enjoyed playing other versions of Zelda, you will definitely like this one.

4. Mario Strikers Charged Football. This is a great game. It's another Mario game. So, if you like Mario or if you just want to play a great game, I recommend you play this one.

This is the Wii games list. This is only a few of the top games. There are a lot of games that fall under the top games. I only listed the ones that the majority of Wii players recommend everyone play. If you want to get the full list of Wii games that you should play, check out the link below.

To download these games and thousands of other top rated Wii games, click on the link below:

Download Wii Games Now

Anatomy of a Skateboard

Upon skateboarding tips first or quick glance, a skateboarding tips looks pretty simple and innocuous. In layman's terms, a skateboard deck is just a piece of wood with some wheels attached to its bottom. However, as with just about anything in life, upon closer inspection, you'll quickly discover that there's much more to a skateboard than meets the eye. Skateboards are, in fact, at the same time, complicated and delicate - which allows skateboarders the freedom to move about in any environment with precision, speed, toughness, and, when required, the ability to defy gravity and grind down rails. At the same time, expert riders and enthusiasts are also capable of performing incredible leaps, jumps and other mind-boggling tricks.

That's pretty impressive for something which, at its core, is just a piece of wood with wheels affixed to its underside. So, what makes a skateboard a skateboard? What goes into its construction and development which allows professional and high-level skateboarders the ability to propel, jump, turn, twist and do all those other super-cool things? And while a skateboard would be pretty much useless without someone activating and using it, the design of the actual deck, from its trucks to its grip tape and everything in between, also has something to do with it too.

With that being said, there are certain elements and aspects which are nothing but absolutely critical to a skateboard. Without these components, a skateboard would literally be - as has been mentioned previously - just a piece of wood with wheels stuck to it. However, certain modifications and additions transform that ordinary wheeled piece of wood into a rolling, flying, grinding machine that has caught on in popularity like wildfire. So, when trying to distinguish a world-class skateboard from a simple piece of wood with wheels, try to keep an eye out for some of these vital pieces:

Deck

This is the piece of wood that's more than a piece of wood. Skateboard decks usually are rectangular or oval in shape, and feature raised back-ends (sometimes called kick tails) and sloped front ends. And while yes, sometimes skateboard decks are made of wood, they can also be made from other materials such as plastic, fiberglass and even kevlar.

Grip Tape

Applied to the top surface of the skateboard deck like a sticker, grip tape is what keeps a skateboarder's feet from slipping and sliding all over the place while they're using the board. Grip tape has a tough, grinding feel to it, much like sandpaper does. While commonly seen in black, grip tape does indeed come in many different colors and styles.

Trucks

Skateboard trucks are attached directly to the underside of the skateboard deck. Somewhat shaped like a capital letter T, the wheels of the skateboard are connected to either end of the truck. There are two trucks per skateboard, and each truck holds two wheels, thus giving the skateboard four wheels in total. When thinking of a skateboard truck, try to picture the axles of an automobile.

Wheels

Without wheels, it would be very tricky, and very well near impossible, to actually move about on your skateboard deck. While skateboard wheels are commonly made from polyurethane, the actual size and diameter of the wheels can vary as well. There is no standard guidelines as to how big skateboard wheels can be, however, wheel sizes does depend on how you intend on using your skateboard.

Wheel Bearings

Without wheel bearings, the wheels which are attached to the board wouldn't turn much, if at all. Bearings for a skateboard usually are manufactured in the standard 608 bearing size and are usually made from steel. However, that being said, other compounds, like silicon nitrade, can also be found in skateboard wheel bearings.

Duke McCallister has one philosophy when it comes to Blind skateboards: and that's to go skate or go home! A skateboarding fan, Duke wants to share his experiences and passion for skateboards with expert boarders and those new to skateboarding. In addition to writing about skateboards, he also visits GoSkateorGoHome.com for all his boarding needs.

Whether talking about skateboard decks, trucks, Baker skateboards, grip tape or anything else about skateboarding, Duke is more than happy to talk about it, write about it and share stories about it!

And remember, if you want to check out a fantastic online destination for all your skateboarding needs, just roll on over to one of Duke's favorite sites at GoSkateorGoHome.com!

How to Do the Ollie North

Do skateboarding tips need help trying to learn how to do an Ollie North? I'm going to teach you how to. The Ollie North is not a real difficult trick to learn, but it can be a little tricky. You can do the Ollie North two different ways. The first way you can do the Ollie North is ollie and kick your front foot out over the nose of the board all in one motion.

The next way you can do it is by doing an ollie, and waiting for the board to level out then after the board is level kick your front foot out over the front of your board. It doesn't matter which way you do it, both ways are still considered doing the Ollie North. Ok, I'm going to explain both ways a little more.

The first way you want to ollie on your board. And when you slide your foot forward to level out your board just slide you foot all the way off the nose of the board and then bring it back onto the board to land. The next way is where you want to ollie, and at the peak of your ollie when your board is level kick your front foot out over the nose of the board and then bring it back to land on the board.

The Ollie North can take a lot of practice to get, but its well skateboarding tips the effort to learn it because it is a great trick to know.

If you need any more help just come stop by http://www.meteora-skateboards.com and i'll do my best to help with what ever you need.

Dustin Smith-http://www.meteora-skateboards.com

Parts of a Skateboard

Learning about the different parts of a skateboard is almost as important as learning how to ride. When you know about each part, you'll be able to take better care of skateboarding tips board, and make better decisions regarding purchasing parts. Besides a deck and wheels, skateboards consist of: bearings, trucks, hardware, and grip tape.

The deck is the actual part that you would stand on. skateboarding tips made of compressed wood (some more expensive models can be made of maple, etc). The width is about 8 inches or so, with the length being between 30 and 35 inches. Size will vary depending on your preference and the type of skating you do (street or vert). There are hundreds, if not thousands of different graphical designs you can choose to adorn your deck. Top deck companies include: Element, Powell, Toy Machine, Birdhouse, and Alien Workshop. Try choosing a design that will show off your personality and style.

The skateboard truck attaches to the bottom of the skateboard deck. Bushings, kingpins, baseplates, hangers and axles make up the trucks. You can buy these in tons of different colors, and you have a choice of titanium or aluminum. Look for skateboard trucks from Phantom Trucks, Thunder Trucks, Tensor Trucks, or other well known brands.

Skateboard wheels are plastic urethane and can be hard or soft. Softer wheels are preferred by vert skaters, and hard wheels are favored by street style skaters. Wheels can come in small or large sizes, depending on the type of performance you are after. Smaller wheels are best for extreme "tricking", and the larger wheels are good for beginners needing more stability while riding. Beginning riders might also consider using wheels that a bit wider than normal, to create even more stability.

Grip tape is placed on the top of the deck to provide traction (or grip). You can buy grip tape in several different colors to match your deck and/or trucks. Try not to buy the cheapest grip tape, a few dollars more will provide you with tape that sticks to your deck without peeling up.

Skateboard hardware is simply the nuts and bolts used to secure the skateboard trucks to the deck. As with all other parts that make up a skateboard, you can choose nearly any color you want to match the rest of the parts.

Knowing all the parts that make up a skateboard will allow you to know exactly what to purchase if you need to make repairs, or keep up with general maintenance. Another benefit of skateboard parts knowledge is the fact that you could probably build your own board! Even someone who just started skateboarding can benefit from building their own board. What better way to ensure that you're riding on quality material?

Display your skateboards and keep them off the floor with Jimmy Racks original steel skateboard racks - holds 3 skateboards and can be installed on your wall in under 4 minutes!

Long Board Tricks - Hanging 10

On a longer board, you will have better balance. Therefore, you have greater ability to change positions while riding a wave. Long boarders can really show off on a wave by doing pirouettes, 180-degree turns, or by hanging 10. Hanging 10 is a phrase that means dangling your 10 toes off the front of your board, something that is possible only on a long board. Another phrase you might hear that refers to this maneuver is having your "toes on the nose," which literally means that you have 10 toes on the nose of your board. In either case, hanging 10 or having your toes on the nose is one of the most fun tricks you can do on a long board. It is one of the coolest maneuvers in the sport and one that simply cannot be performed on a short board in the same way.

Whatever trick you intend to perform on your long board, take the first few seconds on the wave to situate yourself on the board. Know where the front of your board is as well as what direction you are going. It might also help to determine how much longer you can ride the wave. You should also determine your "happy place" on the board. That is where you feel most comfortable while standing and riding on your board. Once you figure out where that is, remember it or mark it with a permanent marker. That will be your eternal reference point as your center of balance on the board.

Before you try to hang 10, you should practice moving forward and back on your board, using your permanent marker as your reference point. The best and quickest method of moving forward and backward on your board is to crisscross one foot in front of the other in a sideways fashion. Imagine you are walking on a tightrope sideways and you are walking in front of your marker and then in back of it. This movement is called cross stepping and is a crucial movement to master, should you like to perform other maneuvers on the long board.

When you feel you've mastered the cross step, you should be ready to hang 10. You have to be going fast enough on the wave to let you apply your body weight to the front of the board without falling off the wave. So, you need to accelerate by evenly distributing weight around your happy place. As you begin to gain momentum, you can then move forward on your board. Moving forward on your board has to happen steadily but quickly. You don't want to move up too fast or the board will topple over nose first. Too slow and the weight in the front of your board will slow you down and the wave will continue on without you. It is perfectly acceptable to cross step forward and back until you finally skateboarding tips it all the way up the front of your board, but waves don't last forever, so be sure to get there as quickly as you can.

When you've made it to the front of your board, all you have to do is get your toes over the tip of your board. Use your arms to keep your balance and enjoy. You can't hang 10 for long, though, so crisscross back to your original position before you lose too much speed.

Robb Bailey works for South Coast Surf Shops, San Diego's premiere surfboard distributor and surf apparel dealer for more than 30 years. He has been inducted as a lifetime honorary skateboarding tips of his college surf club, the Cal Poly Surfer's Association, and has traveled the world surfing for the past 11 years. Find out more about Robb at SouthCoast.com

Why Route 44 is the Skateshop to the Pros

Route 44 has been keeping the skate scene alive and well in San Diego for the past 10 years. No matter who you are or what your name is, when you enter the shop your going to get treated the same. The best part about this shop is how diverse it is, no matter if you skate street, pools, like hip-hop or grindcore. In my opinion Matt Owen has started a whole other skate scene in San Diego. Just start counting all the kids you see that rep Route 44 t-shirts and stickers. It' hard to go anywhere in the San Diego metropolitan area with out spotting a kid representing Route 44. Route 44 was able to accomplish something that large chain stores like Active were not been able to accomplish. And that is Route 44 was able to build a loyal following of skaters that will not buy product from any other skate shops. Most important of all this shop is not owned by some rich dude trying to make money off a fad or exploit families. If you are ever in the San Diego stop by and say hi. In this interview we are going to speak with the owner of route 44 Matt Owen.

Why the name " Route 44" and where was the first location of the shop ?

The first location was 5355 Napa street in lower Linda Vista. The name was from the bus route up and down Linda Vista road.

What made you want to start a skate shop ?

At the time there was not a shop in town that offered skateboards of all shapes and styles. At the time skateboarding tips boards weren't as easy to find but we got what we could to offer some variety. A lot of older guys would come in and ask for wider boards and we were the skateboarding tips shop in town that could meet their requirements.

What did you do before starting a skate shop ?

I washed dishes changed tires skated played music and worked for the city school district.

Why did Route 44 have to move from Morena street to India street?

Becuse San Diego needed one more Starbucks/ Jamba Juice, with condos on top of them. This is called re-development I think. The first location was torn down.

What happened to the shop on India street ?

After about 3 years on India street the upstairs neighbors had a fire. A total loss, except Mikeys boards were saved. The 2nd location was torn down.

Route 44 also carries records, how did that get started and how does it work?

We've sold records from day one. ( most of my own to help the cause) Now we buy, sell and trade records. There's a lot vinyl now then there was in 1999 when we opened. Another prediction gone wrong, vinyl being obsolete.

The Route 44 team is indestructible and consist of so many skaters, what are your thoughts on the team ?

I think of the team as a family, Working for the cause to keep as many people skating as possible.

Is there a possibility of having a second Route 44 ?

If the economy gets better. We will consider a second shop.

Lately it seems like Route has had a huge following with all these hesh groms, Do you think the shop has an influence on them or do they influence the shop?

Hesh Groms? I think that these kids are into a great part of skateboarding that never left, but definitely wasn't as accepted as it is again. We happen to be lucky to carry stuff from Terror, Dropout, Patines Americanos, Jivaro, Scum, etc. These kids help to keep these companies gong. We just want to offer a place where you can feel comfortable no matter what style of skateboarding and music you are into.

What is in store for the future ?

We are working a shop video.

When it comes to sponsorship would you rather see someone ripping at the skatepark or send in a sponsor me video ?

It depends, both are cool I'm not the best judge, so after an extensive screening process we'll get back to you.

Any thanks or shout outs to people that have supported the shop?

Too many, but I thank everyone that does, or has, or that will.

Check out http://www.typicalculture.com for the inside scoop on the culture of skateboarding.

Take a Spin on K2 Snowboards

What do you usually do to enjoy yourself? Are you one of these guys whose idea of perfect relaxation is watching television all day long? Or probably you skateboarding tips one of the adrenalin lovers that usually skateboarding tips for adrenalin activities? If this adrenalin stuff sounds familiar to you, then most likely the spare-time activities you prefer are thrilling.

Maybe you go sky diving? Or do you prefer bungee jumping, mountain climbing, or snow boarding? Or do you prefer them all? Mo matter which of these thrilling sports you are into it is a sure thing you are an extreme guy.

From the first minute that I was acquainted with snowboarding, I know that I will to able to give it up ever. I admit this sport is difficult to practice in the summer. Snowy mountains are hard to be found during the hot months.

May be the most important thing, when you decide to start practicing a hobby or a sport, is make sure you will buy the best equipment. I know from experience that K2 snowboards are the best choice. When I go snowboarding, I always take my K2 snowboard. Only with my K2 snowboard, I enjoy racing down the slope.

Do you know anything about K2 snowboards? Well, there are two possible answers here. If you are not fond of skateboarding, may be your answer will be No. on the other hand, if you are an enthusiastic skateboarder, of course your answer will be Yes.

K2 snowboards are the best among the snowboards. K2 snowboards refer to skateboarders as Mongoose bike to dirt bike nuts. For all of you who are mislead that the price is important but not the quality, I have to say that they are very wrong. You have to try a K2 snowboard at least one to realize that I was right. I recommend you to try both a K2 snowboard and another snowboard before claiming that the cheap snowboards are good.

I remember one time at college when a friend of mine took me snowboarding at Mt Hood, one place in Oregon. Then I saw that there were K2snowboards. Judging by the snowboards it was easy for me to know who the veterans were and who were the tyro snowboarders.

Unfortunately, I had to realize that I was one of the freshmen. I was carrying one of the cheap and of poor quality, Wal-Mart snowboards. I broke this snowboard before the evening had come. However, I learned my lesson. I will never buy again any cheap stuff, no matter talking about snowboards or whatever. I guess everybody have noticed the difference between the good-quality high-priced items and these of poor quality and low-priced. We often deny this difference but the contrast is amazing. The same goes for K2 snowboards.

If you have already decided to take a K2 snowboard, I am able to suggest you an online shop. There a large variety of K2 snowboards is available. Enthusiastic snowboarders know that have to take a K2 snowboard. Beginners have to know that they must start with the best quality K2 snowboards. On the World-Wide-Web, you can look through all models of K2 snowboards and compare them in order the K2 snowboard that best suits you.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning shoes. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting K2 Snowboards

Five Different Skateboard Companies

There are many different skateboard manufacturers out there on the market today, and each one creates high-quality, well-crafted skateboard decks that exceed the expectations of both novice riders and of skateboarding professionals. This article is going to introduce you to some of the more popular and well-known skateboard makers who are in business today.

PLAN B SKATEBOARDS

Located in Vista, California, Plan B Skateboards started out in the early 1990's as a professional skateboarding team, which quickly grew into one of the world's leading skateboarding companies. As a team, skateboarding tips were considered groundbreaking, as they developed new techniques for actual skateboarding and for the way they filmed skateboarding videos. Today, they still remain one of the more legendary teams in the skateboarding community, and they are now also developing and retailing high-end skateboard decks which are also extremely affordable - thus allowing just about anyone the opportunity to take up skateboarding for themselves.

BAKER SKATEBOARDS

Andrew Reynolds is one of the world's leading skateboarders, and in 2000, he founded Baker Skateboards. Much like other skateboarding companies, Baker Skateboards also feature a team of professional and world-class skateboarders. In addition to manufacturing skateboard decks, Baker Skateboards also produce skateboard wheels as well. When it comes to design, Baker Skateboard decks stand out from the competition, as their deck designs are bright, bold and big. Simply put, when you're riding on a Baker Skateboard, everyone will instantly know about it when they first see you roll up on the scene.

ALMOST SKATEBOARDS

Launched in 2003 out of El Segundo in California, Almost Skateboards (which is one of the cooler skateboarding names) is known for their innovation when it comes to deck development, creation and manufacturing. While traditional skateboard decks are made from wood, Almost Skateboards uses an interesting resin epoxy when building their boards. Because of this unique approach, Almost Skateboard decks are ultra-light, thus allowing for the possibility of greater speeds when in motion and of higher elevation when performing tricks. And, like pretty much other skateboarding companies, Almost Skateboards also feature a professional team.

BLIND SKATEBOARDS

Founded way back in 1989 by Mark Gonzales, Blind Skateboards is still going strong and still providing top-end skateboard decks. Recently, Blind Skateboards have also branched out into wheel development, accessories and even clothing featuring Blind Skateboards' logo, the Grim Reaper. And while Blind Skateboards does feature a professional riding team, they are somewhat unique in that they also sponsor an amateur team featuring young up and coming skateboarders. When it comes to the actual design of their decks, Blind Skateboard decks are usually quite elaborate and detailed in the artwork featured on their skateboards.

BIRDHOUSE SKATEBOARDS

Tony Hawk is considered to be the Godfather of skateboarding, and his company, Birdhouse Skateboards, aims to carry on the legacy that he built for himself as a rider. Formed in 1992, Birdhouse Skateboards, in addition to making decks, also manufactures wheels, clothing, apparel, accessories and skating videos as well. What gives Birdhouse Skateboards a competitive advantage is its high visibility in the super-popular line of Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games. Birdhouse Skateboards also feature two separate skateboarding teams, both professional and amateur.

Duke McCallister has one philosophy when it comes to Birdhouse Skateboards: and that's to go skate or go home! A skateboarding fan, Duke wants to share his experiences and passion for skateboards with expert boarders and those new to skateboarding. In addition to writing about skateboards, he also visits GoSkateorGoHome.com for all his boarding needs.

Whether talking about skateboard decks, trucks, Almost Skateboards, grip tape or anything else about skateboarding, Duke is more than happy to talk about it, write about it and share stories about it!

And remember, if you want to check out a fantastic online skateboarding tips for all your skateboarding needs, just roll on over to one of Duke's favorite sites at GoSkateorGoHome.com!

Break A Bone - Find the Funny!

"So how did you break your wrist?"

"Wrestling a bear."

"Misjudging a back flip."

"Losing on Fear Factor."

"Outrunning skateboarding tips paparazzi."

"Skateboarding on a half pipe."

Who am I kidding? Im a mom with three kids - all sprinting toward adulthood.

"So how did you break your arm?"

"Missing the second step"

"Slipping in the bathtub"

"Walking to the mailbox."

"Over reaching on the step ladder."

"Shoveling the sidewalk."

How did I get this old!?!

My son broke his leg, when he was six years old, and he doesnt remember it hurting. I broke my wrist and took a terrifying trip down the road of anxiety, panic, depression and pity in a matter if seconds.
I dont remember my son, Steven, screaming at the doctor, "Dont you have anything stronger?"
I hold my cast in my good arm like a newborn baby. If anyone approaches me, I instinctively retreat.
Steven used to hit his full leg cast with sticks as he swung on the swing set. His only return to the doctor was to get a dropped Lego retrieved.

Ive never even given a second thought to playing on the teeter totter.

I credit myself with a determination to "find the funny" even as friends and family give me that "Oh, she must be losing bone mass" smile.

I stood in the icy vacant fenced parking lot at 7:30 on a frigid Sunday morning surrounded by my four mixed breed dogs, and thought to myself, "I broke my arm. Im O.K. At least it wasnt a shark attack." "Or maybe it wasn't a shark attack!"

Sally Edwards is a professional key note speaker, corporate humorist and standup comedienne who began her career studying improvisation at Chicagos Second City. Sally has been featured on Showtimes Comedy Club Network, A&E and NBC TVs Friday Night.

Sally is now a frequent guest on WGN Radio with Steve Cochran.

Ripstik Issues

If you thought that skateboarding tips was cool but you do not live anywhere near to snow or can not afford the price that snowboarding costs then why not consider taking up caster boarding instead. Caster boarding as you will soon discover is like nothing you have ever ridden before when it comes to either snowboarding or skateboarding. With these particular boards you do not need to give yourself a push in order to get going, skateboarding tips what you need to do is stand on the 2 platforms that make this board up and then twist. However in this article will be taking a closer look at some Ripstik issues which can arise once the board has been purchased and is being used.

Using a caster board such as the Ripstik means that you can provide yourself with acceleration without having to push even when you are going up hill. It is the twisting motion that you use when riding this particular board that helps to provide the momentum you need to get the board moving and keeping it moving. However although these boards are becoming much more common as more and more people learn about them and how versatile they are there are still some questions that a person will need answering before they decide to invest in one of these for themselves.

A lot of people will be wondering just what they will need to do if the wheels on their Ripstik Caster Board wear out. Firstly it is best if you think that your wheels are wearing out that you look at if there is anything that is either touching or rubbing against them such as the wheel guard as models made before March 2007 had this particular issue with them. Plus it is important to note that because of the motion that is used in order to get the board moving is such that it can make the wheels wear out much more quickly than normal compared to a skateboard. Plus a person only just learning to ride one of these boards and has no previous experience of using a skateboard then they may find that theirs wear out much more quickly than those who have ridden a skateboard before.

But when it comes to such Ripstik issues relating to the wheels on your board there are plenty of places where a person can actually purchase new ones for them. Today you should be able to purchase replacement wheels either from your local retailer where you purchased the board from in the first place or you can purchase them online instead.

To find out more about the Ripstik caster board visit http://www.ripstikreview.com

Top Surfing Destinations in Ireland

The rolling and cascading waves make the Irish coastline a perfect place for surfers to take on the swells. And even our weather can be viewed as a positive, providing another battle that surfers have to challenge!

The water temperature in Ireland makes it even more of a test for the surfer. During the summer months of July and August our ocean temperatures do not usually rise above 60 (F) degrees on average and in winter the water is obviously even cooler! The period from September to May is widely regarded as the best time to surf in Ireland, and you can enjoy the uncrowded breaking waves against a stunning backdrop of majestic scenery!

1. Bundoran is widely regarded as Ireland's surfing mecca - it lies in the rugged coastline of the north west of Ireland. The town has an extensive beachfront, and affords the surfer plenty of surf schools, and annual festivals, and locations so aptly named that you could be surfing at Bondi Beach, Port Elizabeth (J Beach) or in California!! Turfnsurf Lodge is one such named place!

In the past Bundoran has hosted the European Surfing Championships as well as the Quicksilver World Masters of 2001.

Bundoran and Donegal Bay have plenty of brilliant surf breaks for the more tasteful surfer, along with many beach breaks that would suit the beginner. The area around Tullan Strand is particularly good. Other beaches in the area worth sussing out include Mullaghmore, Streedagh and Rossnowlagh.

2. Easkey, County Sligo is located in the North West of Ireland and is an ideal spot for surfing! The two waves, skateboarding tips are called Easkey Left and Easkey Right are legendary breaking waves, breaking up into perfect paddling channels.

It's one of the premier surfing spots in Ireland. Surrounded by stunning cliff faces and isolated beaches that are fully exposed to the might of the North Atlantic, it gives a very challenging yet continuous wave for the surfer! In 2003, Easkey hosted the World Surf Kayaking Championships and there's a dedicated Surf Club located here.

3. Achill, County Mayo: Keel Strand on Achill Island(3km long) is one of the most popular surfing points in Ireland. The area offers medium size waves all year round. The best winds to look out for are the ones of a northeasterly nature, and the best swell being westerly - you'll find in the Achill area that there is a beach facing almost every direction on the island. Fisheries Cove is also well worth checking out.

4. Lahinch, County Clare: The North Clare town of Lahinch not only is a mecca for golfers and holidaymakers, but it's also perfect for surfing! The beach break is just marvellous for a beginner, and the area around Crab Island is for the more experienced surfer. The area offers many various breaks and you have great access to the nearby reefs. You are nearly always guaranteed waves at Lahinch, with any type of swell.

The Lahinch Surf Shop can give you plenty of information on surfing in the area, whether you are a pro or a beginner! The Surf Shop website affords you the view of skateboarding tips own surf web cam and surfing report! When you're finished surfing, why not head to the nearby pubs and sample a glorious pint of the black stuff, or if you have time have a round of golf at the renowned golf course? The glorious Cliffs of Moher at the nearby village of Liscannor are also well worth a visit!

5. County Waterford: Tramore is widely regarded as one of the best surfing locations in Ireland, with great opportunities for the beginner. The area around Tramore beach is a beach break wave that creates much slower forming waves, which are perfect for the budding surfer! It also offers a wonderful 3-mile south facing line of beach for the more fashioned surfer, with the added challenge of continuously changing beach break waves. Bunmahon, which is located on the Dungarvan and Copper Coast Drive, offers some challenging waves too.

Have we tempted you to dip into the waters and surf those challenging waves?

Mairead writes for GoIreland.com - Ireland's leading travel and accommodation website.

Check out GoIreland.com for everything you need to know before you visit Ireland. GoIreland.com has low prices for quality approved hotel, B&B, guesthouse and self catering accommodation all over the country.

View GoIreland.com's Ireland hotels page now to find the perfect hotel for your stay in Ireland.

Body Surfing - Five Strange Facts About Its History in Australia

Strange as it now seems, Australian beaches were empty of body surfers until the dawn of the twentieth century. Since swimsuits had not yet been invented, five major steps were taken to ensure that the behaviour of people bathing in the ocean or swimming in rivers would not offend early colonial standards of public decency.

1, In 1833, the government of New South Wales introduced an Act that prohibited skateboarding tips ocean bathing in daylight hours. Sydneysiders had always been resistant to attempts by officialdom to limit their freedoms and, in the heat of summer, they were not to be kept from the cool ocean waves. The authorities struck back with a new Act, passed in 1838, banning daylight swimming within sight of any public place.

2. Beach Inspectors enforced the new laws, which carried a fine of one pound Sterling - more than the weekly wage of an ordinary working man. Glorying in the title of Inspector of Public Nuisances, few of these unpopular functionaries were noted for a sense of humour.

3. By 1841, public baths had been set up in Melbourne's Yarra River. The first swimming championship was held in Sydney's Domain Baths in 1846. Dress codes that were ridiculously modest by modern standards remained in force. Bathing dresses were usually made from a heavy woolen serge and could contain up to ten metres of fabric.

4. Among the first body surfers to publicly defy the laws against daylight bathing were two Manly Beach locals, Freddie Williams and Tommy Tanna. The first official challenge came in 1902, when the owner of the local newspaper became fed up with a law that had led to many deaths because people swam at night. William Gocher made three well-advertised daytime swims in a bid to force police to arrest him, but none of the magistrates would convict him. By 1903, the law had to be changed but the bans on Sunday bathing, on men and women swimming together, and the strict dress regulations remained in force until the 1930s.

5. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia, formed in 1882, and the Royal Life Saving Society, formed in 1894, were the precursors of Australia's famed surf lifesavers. Early rescue methods were based on those used in England and not until 1902 was the first club of regular lifesavers formed, by Major John Bond of the Medical Staff Corps, Victoria Barracks, at Sydney's Bronte Beach. The team was formally constituted in March 1907. At Bondi Beach, a club had been constituted in February 1906 and one of its members introduced the reel, which revolutionized life saving methods. Its first use was to rescue a boy who would become world-famous as the aviator Charles Kingsford Smith.

(c) Dorothy Gauvin

Discover a treasure trove of little-known characters and events from Australia's skateboarding tips past in an action-packed novel by Dorothy Gauvin at http://www.gauvin.com.au/aussienovel.html

Dorothy Gauvin is the author of Conlan's Luck, An Epic Story of the Shearers' War. This little-known uprising of the 1890s has been called a 'Secret Civil War.' Scholarly texts have been published about this seminal and colourful period of Australian history, but Conlan's Luck seems to be the only novel yet published on the subject. See more about the novel at http://www.gauvin.com.au/aussienovel.html

Learn How to Surf in Texas

It's almost time for a vacation, wouldn't skateboarding tips say? Summer is coming up on us fast in South skateboarding tips and people are already getting in the water. In fact, right now our ocean water is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and soon it'll be around 80. If you're already in Texas, you can easily drive to one of the coastal beach towns and have a great time at the beach. Among others, Corpus Christi, Galveston, and South Padre have tons of things for you to do and some great beaches to play on.

One of the most fun things you can do this summer is learn to surf, and South Texas is the perfect place to do so. We have 8-12 foot waves in South Padre, as well as some "learning waves" in every beach town along the gulf coast. This makes it easy for new surfers to learn how to get on their feet and then progressively move to larger and more powerful waves.

Surfing will also get you in shape and help you lose unwanted fat. If you've ever wondered why surfers tend to have lean muscular bodies, it's because surfing is very physical but it's so fun that you forget about how hard you're working. On top of that, surfing is addictive, so once you find out that you really can do it and that you're totally in love with it, you'll just keep doing it. If it's difficult for you to paddle, you'll decide to get stronger. If you think you can surf better if you lose 5 pounds, you'll lose them. Surfing is a really good motivator and it teaches you a lot about life as you build a relationship with the water.

If you're interested in learning how to surf so you can ride waves during your summer vacation, here are two recommendations:

1. Start reading about where to surf in Texas and how to surf.

2. Get an Indo Board and start improving your balance.

Where to Surf in Texas

If you haven't been to a beach in South Texas lately, you probably need to find out where the surf is located. You can't find surf just anywhere. Certain water, land, and wind conditions are necessary to create rideable waves.

Learn How to Surf

Of course, you have to learn how to surf if you don't already know how. The good news is that the majority of the basics of learning how to surf can be learned just by reading. Of course, it takes a lot of time to put into action what you'll learn by reading, so be prepared to spend a bit of time being new to the sport. Surfing isn't something most people excel at on their first day in the water with a board, but it is something they have a blast doing the very first time. You're going to have fun from the moment you arrive at the beach, and getting "good" at surfing will come with practice.

Prepare

An Indo Board is a product that helps you improve your surfing and skating balance. The Indo Board comes with two things: A wooden board for you to stand on and a cylinder for you to lay the board across. You balance yourself on the board, in the air, as it rests on the rolling cylinder. It's quite a challenge but you can do it, and it's a lot of fun as well. Many Indo Boarders go on to perform advanced tricks.

Get Started

Get started by finding out where to find Texas surf.

Women In Texas Eye Extreme Sports As New Option

The world of extreme sports, traditionally a man's world, is slowly opening up to women. In Texas, and the cities of Houston, Dallas and Austin, women are becoming increasingly interested in three of the six X-Game categories: speed climbing, wakeboarding and in-line skating. A group of women was also invited to demonstrate their talent in freestyle motocross and both vertical (or "vert") and street skateboarding. Although the women showed they were capable of creating excitement in the audience with their feats, the money available to female competitors is still an issue in championship events.

At a recent Xbox World Championship of Skateboarding, for example, the top three male street skaters took home a total of $34,000, while the top three females took home $3,600.

While young women have participated in alternative and extreme sports from the very beginning, they have not been given the same recognition as their male colleagues, although many are doing their part to break through.

The category "alternative sports" may have been around for decades but only recently has it been called "extreme." Publicity around the word "extreme" extends into the world of marketing, with the "extreme flavor" of a brand of chips or a drink being given "extreme taste." For the industry, an extreme sport is defined as a skateboarding tips sport that focuses on extreme and varying conditions, and challenges both the mental and physical abilities of its participants."

While most extreme athletes average in their early 20s, some involved are much younger, even in their early teens.

It's not necessarily the money that drives young women to compete. Another motivation is to break the stereotypes about men being the only ones out to get a rush of adrenaline. Despite having a love of extreme sports, young women competing in extreme sports seem to have accepted the fact that the money is not (yet) there for them. Sponsors now may skateboarding tips entry fees, travel expenses and equipment, but the big money is still reserved for male competitors who often get paid by sponsors.

Part of the problem, observers say, is that extreme sports are driven by big business, the point being that if the industry doesn't expect a large enough audience - - consumers ready and willing to buy the products -- they don't think its worth supporting the athletes. Others say the world of extreme sports has its share of sexism, with judging seemingly based on how women look rather than on their athletic ability.

Some women say they feel uncomfortable about the way skate magazines and images on the skate decks portray women. Advertising can also be an issue for some; clothing companies are known to hire models to wear the clothes in ads rather than the female athletes - - something observers say would not occur with men's sporting apparel. That can create a problem when it comes to young girls choosing female athletes as role models: if they pick up a magazine, the only females they see are models skimpily dressed or in fashion photography, not competing.

Other women have taken the initiative, one being the founder of Chickabiddy, a surfing and snowboarding clothing company geared to women. Along with a line of women's clothing, Chickabiddy sells a rash guard, a top worn during surfing to help prevent chaffing, and made especially for women's bodies. Chickabiddy sponsors eight girls in both snowboarding and surfing, and also has a website for the "female action sports enthusiast."

There are other people with the aims of Chickadiddy founders on the web, making the Internet one place where women interested in extreme sports can start changing their world. One place is Mxgirls.com, which focuses on the world of women in motocross, its founder having created the site due to a lack of Internet exposure.

Women are slowly breaking into the world of extreme sports, a world where men have long dominated. The more of an audience they build, the more likely it will be that interest continues to build. If you're a young woman looking to "push the limits" maybe you should check to make sure you're ready in every part of your life, including health insurance. Take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you.

For more information, visit us at our website, http://www.precedent.com We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans and an unparalleled real-time application and acceptance experience.

Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com

Skateboarding Laws

Skateboarding has been considered a counterculture sport since its inception. In part because of this fact, numerous local laws exist to prohibit or control skateboarding.

The first laws to ban skateboards were passed skateboarding tips at the beginning of the sport itself. The first known ordinances began in 1965, when a New York Times Story covered the banning of skateboards in one town by quoting a local official: "These devices are most dangerous... because of their speed on inclines and the difficulty in controlling them."

In part, these local restrictions are due to the "extreme" nature of skateboarding, or how dangerous it is perceived to be. In fact, studies have determined that skateboarding is actually less dangerous than more accepted sports, like basketball. It is clear that skateboards can be dangerous, depending on skateboarding tips is using them. Like bicycles, skates, and other devices, you must know how to use one, and wear the proper safety equipment, in order to lessen the likelihood of a crash, which could injure the rider as well as bystanders.

The laws vary from town to town; most skateboarders are familiar with signs around businesses grouping skateboards in the same category as skates, bicycles, and other devices. In other cases, skateboarders are targeted where bicyclists and other pedestrians are not; for example, many local ordinances prohibit skateboarding in bike lanes or on sidewalks. Some laws require helmets and pads; others prohibit skateboarding after dark.

Although most skateboarders see it as a serious sport, others not involved in this counterculture activity see boarders as loiterers. Skateboarding is often prohibited in local parks and other facilities due to fear over injuries and lawsuits. These too-familiar signs are grounded in well-meaning, but are often seen as discriminatory or misguided by skateboarders.

The first skate parks were introduced in the 1970s, specially designed with bowls, pipes, and other obstacles to challenge riders. However, as this sport became increasingly identified with "antisocial" youths, these skate parks often became embroiled in local controversy. By the end of the 1970s, many skateparks had closed due to fear of lawsuits stemming from injuries. The sport again returned underground. Today, skate parks are regaining their popularity, helped by large skateboard companies and pro skateboarders who are legitimizing the sport in the eyes of the public.

The mid-1990's helped somewhat to loosen these laws. Televised "extreme sports" competitions led skateboarding to gain an air of legitimacy. Despite its increase in popularity, skateboarding was still outright banned or regulated in many local communities.

Besides the counterculture element and possibility of injury, skateboarders are disliked by property owners and local officials for several other reasons. Skate wax, applied to boards to make them easier to slide or grind over a surface, leaves behind a residue on wood, metal, or concrete surfaces. The act of sliding or grinding itself can also damage the structure. The noise created when the skateboard hits steps, railings, and other obstructions can be quite loud and bothersome to those in the immediate area.

Some skateboarders also spray graffiti to mark their skateboarding territory; this is typically associated with a skateboarding subculture that involves heavy metal bands and a supposed link with Satanism and cults. As a result, skateboarders are often looked down upon by those who do not understand their culture.

Display your skateboards and keep them off the floor with Jimmy Racks original steel skateboard racks

Surfing San Diego - Learn to Surf in Southern California

Surfing is and extremely fun and healthy activity that just about anybody can enjoy. However, if you're a beginner, the learning to skateboarding tips can present a challenge. This is especially true if you don't learn at the right spots. Fortunately, San Diego County has plenty of beaches suited for beginners, as well as rental shops, surf lessons-camps, and even warm water in late summer-early fall. San Diego also has a lot of other recreational activities.

When learning to surf it's extremely important to choose the right location. The learning curve can be steep enough, so gentle waves are mandatory for the learning process. They are also just plain safer, you want to leave the harder breaking waves to the more advanced surfers. This is important because even after your lessons since you want to spend a lot of time in the water practicing. Some beginner surf spots that come to mind are La Jolla Shores, Tourmaline, and San Onofre. It is highly recommended that you take a lesson from a professional instructor. Not only will the instructor show you proper technique, but will also show you proper etiquette and will have the right surfboard (and wetsuit if needed) for you to learn on. Professional instructors also know what beach to go to, as well as the right time to go.

Better than just lessons are the all surf camps on the coast of San Diego County. These usually range from one full day to a full week of instruction. Surf camps are best for a learning Blitz before your start to head out on your own. They will definitely shorten the learning curve for you.

Some Popular Surf Camps

• Pacific Surf School - Mission Beach
• Surf Diva Surf School - La Jolla
• SoCal Surf School - Oceanside
• SoCal Surf Lessons - Carlsbad
• San Diego Surfing Academy - South Carlsbad
• Leucadia Surf School - Leucadia
• Eli Howard Surf School - San Elijo State Beach
• Summer Soul Surf Camp - San Onofre

The water is not warm year round but it is fairly warm in late summer and early fall, and almost always warmer than the rest of California. If a wetsuit is needed it can be rented at one of the many surf shops or a surfing instructor will provide one as part of a lesson.

Aside from surfing, San Diego County offers many other activities. That's what makes it ideal for families on vacation. For the kids skateboarding tips Legoland, SeaWorld, and the enormous San Diego Zoo. For the adults the endless night life and restaurants. For everybody there is the fishing,swimming, this list could go on. Needless to say you can find plenty to do when your not learning to surf.

Southern California is probably the most ideal location in the US to learn surfing. Easily accessible, beginner beaches, and a huge selection of surf lessons and camps. Add to this the natural beauty and variety of activities, why not pick San Diego as you the place you finally learn surfing. As many have already discovered, surfing is much more than just a sport - it's a way of life. One you can begin somewhere on a beach in San Diego County.

Chris lives and surfs in California. Read more about learning to surf and San Diego surfing

The Growth of Skateboarding

Skateboarding is an incredibly popular activity that children and adults from all walks of life participate in. It's funny, actually, when you think about it skateboarding tips because skateboarders have often had a polarizing effect on society. The impetus for skateboarding was born in California approximately fifty years ago - as die hard wave surfers were looking for an alternative when the waves weren't cooperating.

Now, considering California is the home of sand and surf, it makes sense that people would skateboarding tips drawn to the water. But, people trying to surf on the sidewalk; on hard concrete? Now that makes no sense whatsoever. Thus began its migration into counterculture.

Now, fast-forward a few years, and where is skateboarding now? Not only is it more popular than ever before, but skateboarders also enjoy an almost unreal stature in the world. Whereas before, people may look down upon boarders as fringe members of society, today, the people who perform these unreal and incredible tricks are a hybrid combination of athletes, businesspeople, role models and icons. Someone like Tony Hawk, who is generally considered to be the greatest skateboarder of all time, has transcended across multiple social platforms to become a celebrity - and perhaps more importantly, a brand.

The great thing about skateboarding is that, even if it originated on the beaches of the west coast of the United States of America, today it knows no borders and has no bounds. Children, adults, men and women all over the world are skateboarding for a variety of reasons.

Duke McCallister has one philosophy when it comes to skateboards: and that's to go skate or go home! A skateboarding fan, Duke wants to share his experiences and passion for skateboards with expert boarders and those new to skateboarding. In addition to writing about skateboards, he also visits GoSkateorGoHome.com for all his boarding needs.

Whether talking about skateboard decks, trucks, longboards, grip tape or anything else about skateboarding, Duke is more than happy to talk about it, write about it and share stories about it! And remember, if you want to check out a fantastic online destination for all your skateboarding needs, just roll on over to one of Duke's favorite sites at GoSkateorGoHome.com!

Skateboarding Tips - How to Nollie

Another one of my favorite skateboarding tricks, the nollie can give you a nice variation base for a lot of other tricks. You can switch up most street tricks by doing them "Nollie" first. Kick flips, heel flips and even varial tricks like a 360 flip can be done with a Nollie twist.

What's a Nollie? Well its just like a ollie but reversed...off the nose of your board instead of the tail. Myself, I've always found this to be the easiest skateboarding trick....even more then the simple ollie!...so have no fear. With a little practice and these few simple tips to follow you will master this trick in no time at all.

So if you want to start pulling off 360 nollie flips down a set of seven stairs, this would be a good place to start.

Pop And Slide So, with this trick it's really easy to get a great "pop" off your nose for awesome height and skateboarding tips when doing a nollie. Begin with your back foot almost 1/2 the way up your board. Have your skateboarding tips foot pointed at an angle and right on the front of the nose.

Lift Off! Now that you have your feet in the right position use the ball of your front foot to pop the nose off the ground. Try to completely lift your front foot off the nose of the board. So in essence you should look and feel like you're doing a one foot ollie. If we were to pause this in mid air your front foot would be totally off the board and kicking forward in the air.

Now Lean Back... All thats left to do is to slide the back foot up to the tail or end of your board and lean back...alot!...this is one of the few tricks where you wont easily mess up by leaning back. In fact it will really help.

So to wrap the Nollie...get some speed, place your feet correctly, pop the nose and lift/kick your front foot off into the air, lean back and slide your foot, land and roll away clean.

Best of luck learning this awesome skate trick.

Happy Skateboarding.

Geoff Wheeler has been involved in skateboarding for the past 20 years and writes about skate shoes including Ipath skate shoes

Black Label Skateboard - What Makes it So Popular?

What makes Black Label so popular is their unique, eye-catching designs. This is what people first notice about their boards. But what really draws them in is the quality, durability and nice price. These are some of the toughest boards on the market, and they spare no expense on quality while offering you skateboarding tips low price. Each skateboard has its own unique design, so you might find yourself spending some time choosing the one that's right for you. However, the time it takes to pick one will pay off in the end.

One of the recurring images you'll find on Black Label boards are elephants. The elephant is a symbol; when people think of elephants they think of durability and toughness. What it means is that the boards are made to last, no matter how hard you ride them. You'll often see elephants, along with people and other images on their decks. The backgrounds are designed in great detail, and this is one of the things that sets them apart from other boards. Another hot design is the Las Vegas "Sin City" series. Vegas is a symbol as well; it's a place where people take risks and live on the wild side. True skaters know that this is what happens when you step onto your board.

But, it's not all about elephants and dice on Black Label boards. You'll find a variety of cool designs like flames, New York images, candy, popular pro-skaters, Cadillacs and skulls. They pretty much offer any kind of design your heart desires. Once you've got your deck picked out, it's time to accessorize. They offer a whole line of accessories that are designed to fit their boards perfectly. Picking your board is only half the fun; buying all your accessories completes your unique skateboard. And the best thing is that you can get absolutely everything you need straight from Black Label.

You have to remember - Your board is your own, and nobody else's. That's why so many skaters who buy Black Label prefer to outfit their boards themselves. You can suit your board to your own tastes, and get everything your way. Black Label boards give you the freedom to customize your board. We all know that skaters are an individual breed who prefer to do their own thing. This is why most skaters who go for Black Label boards wouldn't dare ride anything else. This is another reason why is so popular.

Finally, no matter how you trash it up, you know your Black Label board is going to stick with you through thick and thin. These boards are durable, so don't skate softly on it. They use the highest quality materials they can for their boards, and that is why they are meant to last. You can skate hard on them and never worry about them giving out after a couple of years. There's a buzz about Black Label, and it's more than justified. They offer unique skateboarding tips durability and high quality boards.

Black Label skateboards are known as one of the most popular skateboards brands in the world. It has a large group of customers in skateboards market. It provides good quality skateboards to both entry level and pro-grade players.

Skateboarding Tips - How to Nollie

Another one of my favorite skateboarding tricks, the nollie can give you a nice variation base for a lot of other tricks. You can switch up most street tricks by doing them "Nollie" first. Kick flips, heel flips and even varial tricks like a 360 flip can be done with a Nollie twist.

What's a Nollie? Well its just like a ollie but reversed...off the nose of your board instead of the tail. Myself, I've always found this to be the easiest skateboarding trick....even more then the simple ollie!...so have no fear. With a little practice and these few simple tips to follow you will master this trick in no time at all.

So if you want to start pulling off 360 nollie flips down a set of seven stairs, this would be a good place to start.

Pop And Slide So, with this trick it's really easy to get a great "pop" off your nose for awesome height and style when doing a nollie. Begin with your back foot almost 1/2 the way up your board. Have your front foot pointed at an angle and right on the front of the nose.

Lift Off! Now that you have your feet in the right position use the ball of your front foot to pop the nose off the ground. Try to completely lift your front foot off the nose of the board. So in essence you should look and feel like you're doing a one foot ollie. If we were to pause this in mid air your front foot would be totally off the board and kicking forward in the air.

Now Lean Back... All thats left to do is to slide the back foot up to the tail or end of your board and lean back...alot!...this is one of the few tricks where you wont easily mess up by leaning back. In fact it will really help.

So to wrap the Nollie...get some speed, place your feet correctly, pop the nose and lift/kick your front foot off into the air, lean back and slide your foot, land and roll away clean.

Best of skateboarding tips learning this awesome skate trick.

Happy Skateboarding.

Geoff Wheeler has been involved in skateboarding for the past 20 years and writes about skate shoes including Ipath skate shoes

Skateboarding Video Games

There is plenty skateboarding tips excitement to be found with various skateboarding video games. Many of the professionals lend themselves to these games. You can perform the moves and tricks of your favorite skateboarders in them. This is a fun source of entertainment that the entire family can enjoy. It is also fun when it is too late or the weather is too bad for you to engage in the real thing.

One of the earliest skateboarding games came out in 1987. It was called Skate or Die and was used on the Atari as well as the early Nintendo. The game was very popular due to the number of people that could play at once, up to eight individuals. The downside is that only five events were featured which players could easily master shortly after purchasing this particular video game.

Tony Hawk is one of the most well known of all professional skateboarders. Therefore you shouldn't be surprised to find him in many of these video games. In fact, there are fifteen Tony Hawk skateboarding games to choose from. You want to carefully explore them to find the one with the moves and tricks that interest you the most. The fact that they are made from many home gaming consoles is a plus too. You can get them for Xbox, GameCube, Playstation, and GameBoy.

Evolution Skateboarding was introduced in 2002. Developed for both the GameCube and the Playstation 2, it quickly became a top seller. There are plenty of popular professional skateboarders in this video game. They include Danny Way and Rick McCrank to name a few of them. This particular video game offers plenty of thrilling adventures for players to take part in. You have to master certain elements of the game though before you can move on to explore others.

One skateboarding video game that didn't do very well in 2002 was the Simpsons Skateboarding. While many people love the show and the fact that Bart rides a skateboard this particular game just wasn't well made. Common complaints include that the graphics are terrible and that it was hard to use the controllers to make the various moves in the game.

Disney took advantage of the thrill of skateboarding video games too. In 2003 they introduced a video game for younger players called Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure. It features several of your favorite Disney characters including Woody from skateboarding tips Story, Tarzan, and Simba from the Lion King. In 2003 they released another called Disney Sports Skateboarding. More of their primary characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy are featured in that one.

The prices for skateboarding video games will vary. The new releases are going to cost you more than those that have been on the market for a while. You can find plenty of used ones too. They can be purchased at video game stores and online auction sites. This is a great way to add some of these terrific video games to your collection. The fact that many of them have amazing sounds and graphics really bring the skateboarding process to life for you.

If you haven't explored the various skateboarding video games out there, you are really missing out. They offer hours of fun and most of them have many different levels. You can start out with the easy ones and then continue to make it more difficult in order to challenge yourself. This way you don't get bored with the game either. Don't worry about having to go through those lower levels again and again though. With a memory card you can easily start these games where you want to.

Skateboards are one of the most popular sport equipments among young groups. There are two kinds of skateboards can be chosen when you come to buy one. One is complete skateboards which are good options for beginners. Another one is customized skateboards which are senior level skaters' favourites. You can find both kinds of skateboards in SkateboardsPro.com

Fun Facts About Skateboarding

How much do you really know about skateboarding? Test out your knowledge by reading these fun facts. If you know them all, you can dedicate more of your time to learning new tricks! If you didn't know many of them you can feel better now that you have brushed up on your knowledge of this sport.

More than 18 million people own a skateboard in the United States. 85% of these individuals are less than 18 years of age. 74% of them are males. Yvonne Dowlen still competes though and he is 81 years old! There are children as young as three years old that can do the basics on one as well.

Tony Hawk has a deal skateboarding tips Kohl's to sell shoes due to having his own line of footwear. Hawk agreed to do so only if they were affordable - never over $40 so that everyone can afford them. He is also responsible for the creative designs on this signature line of shoes.

One of the crazy ways in which professional skaters have helped to raise money for skate parks is by taking part in golf fund raising tournaments. While their fans don't see it as enough action, these events definitely skateboarding tips plenty of income for the cause.

The culture of skateboarding emerged in California. It was mainly designed as the ground equivalent of surfing in the water. The first skateboards actually had handles on them that allowed a person to move them.

Approximately 800,000 people are seen by medical professionals annually due to skateboarding injuries. Less than 40% of individuals that do this sport where the proper safety equipment for it.

There are some famous movies out there that depict skateboarding. One is called Gleaming the Cube with Christian Slater. This film debuted in 1989 and is still one of the best with this type of action portrayed in it.

The Tony Hawk video games are among the most popular in the world. There are many versions of them to check out. He has spent hours being video taped so that movements are very realistic to what he is know to do in real life.

With the cost of gas continually increasing, more people are using skateboards for transportation than before. It is no longer just for fun! Many students use them on campus to be able to quickly get around.

It is illegal to own a skateboard in Norway. The ban was implemented in 1989 due to the number of people being injured while riding them. Skateboarding has only started to get a following in Portugal with the highest number of owners of boards being reported in 2008.

The military began using skateboards for some indoor maneuvers in 1997.

Skateboarding is actually good for your health. It can help a person to improve in the areas of balance, flexibility, and coordination. It also helps to tone up muscles and to strengthen the heart.

Concentration and hand/eye coordination improves when a person skateboards. It can help a person to be able to focus their attention for a longer span of time on other activities in their life as well.

One of the biggest failures in marketing for Levi brand of jeans was when they tried to appeal to the style of skateboarders.

There are new facts about skateboarding all the time so take some time for it. When it is too cold outside to skateboard, don't let it get you down. Go online and find some new facts to get you by until you can ride your board once again! You can impress your friends too with the information you learned about skateboarding in the mean time.

Recently, longboard skateboard as a new kind of skateboards become more and more popular in skateboarding world. As a result, there are increasingly manufacturers become produce longboards. Loaded is one of the big brands which provided longboards. You can find loaded longboards in SkateboardsPro.com.au

Skateboarding Tricks - The Ollie

Doing skateboard tricks is so cool and gives you such an adrenalin rush. If you are new to skateboarding tricks you will want to learn the 'Ollie' first skateboarding tips it is used by most riders and is the basis for many other tricks.

You will find a lot of information on the internet about skateboarding tricks including the Ollie but most of the sites won't give you the tips that will make it easier to do.

Here are some tips on how you can perform the 'Ollie' just like the pro's.

To perform the Ollie stand on your board and have your back foot on the tail of the board. Your front foot will be around about the middle of the board and you will need to have your knees bent slightly.

When you first start out learning this trick just take it slow and don't go too fast on your board. There is nothing worse than trying to do a trick for the first time and going too fast and stacking it on the concrete.

A big tip to make the Ollie easier is to skateboarding tips down low, the lower that you are bent down the more air you will get. You will perform much better if your hands are reasonably low and not too far off the ground.

When you are ready then slam your back foot on the tail of the board so that you will jump high into the air. You really need to hit the board as hard as you can with that back foot so that your board will follow when you jump into the air.

It is important to keep your balance so try to remain centered on the board for balance and keep your knees in the bent position to absorb the landing.

With anything the more you practice the better you will get so if you don't succeed straight away don't give up just keep on practicing. Practice and remember these skateboard Ollie tips and you will be the envy of your friends in no time.

Corey Polomka loves skateboarding and is a legend at skateboard tricks. Visit his site at Coreys Cool Club! to grab a free report called "How To Land Flawless 360 Flips".

Body Surfing - Five Strange Facts About Its History in Australia

Strange as it now seems, Australian beaches were empty of body surfers until the dawn of the twentieth century. Since swimsuits had not yet been invented, five major steps were taken to ensure that the behaviour of people bathing skateboarding tips the ocean or swimming in rivers would not offend early colonial standards of public decency.

1, In 1833, the government of New South Wales introduced an Act that prohibited all ocean bathing in daylight hours. Sydneysiders had always been resistant to attempts by officialdom to limit their freedoms and, in the heat of summer, they were not to be kept from the cool ocean waves. The authorities struck back with a new Act, passed in 1838, banning daylight swimming within sight of any public place.

2. Beach Inspectors enforced the new laws, which carried a fine of one pound Sterling - more than the weekly wage of an ordinary working man. Glorying in the title of Inspector of Public Nuisances, few of these unpopular functionaries were noted for a sense of humour.

3. By 1841, public baths had been set up in Melbourne's Yarra River. The skateboarding tips swimming championship was held in Sydney's Domain Baths in 1846. Dress codes that were ridiculously modest by modern standards remained in force. Bathing dresses were usually made from a heavy woolen serge and could contain up to ten metres of fabric.

4. Among the first body surfers to publicly defy the laws against daylight bathing were two Manly Beach locals, Freddie Williams and Tommy Tanna. The first official challenge came in 1902, when the owner of the local newspaper became fed up with a law that had led to many deaths because people swam at night. William Gocher made three well-advertised daytime swims in a bid to force police to arrest him, but none of the magistrates would convict him. By 1903, the law had to be changed but the bans on Sunday bathing, on men and women swimming together, and the strict dress regulations remained in force until the 1930s.

5. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia, formed in 1882, and the Royal Life Saving Society, formed in 1894, were the precursors of Australia's famed surf lifesavers. Early rescue methods were based on those used in England and not until 1902 was the first club of regular lifesavers formed, by Major John Bond of the Medical Staff Corps, Victoria Barracks, at Sydney's Bronte Beach. The team was formally constituted in March 1907. At Bondi Beach, a club had been constituted in February 1906 and one of its members introduced the reel, which revolutionized life saving methods. Its first use was to rescue a boy who would become world-famous as the aviator Charles Kingsford Smith.

(c) Dorothy Gauvin

Discover a treasure trove of little-known characters and events from Australia's colourful past in an action-packed novel by Dorothy Gauvin at http://www.gauvin.com.au/aussienovel.html

Dorothy Gauvin is the author of Conlan's Luck, An Epic Story of the Shearers' War. This little-known uprising of the 1890s has been called a 'Secret Civil War.' Scholarly texts have been published about this seminal and colourful period of Australian history, but Conlan's Luck seems to be the only novel yet published on the subject. See more about the novel at http://www.gauvin.com.au/aussienovel.html

Parrots Make a Great Show

If skateboarding tips want an exotic bird that can perform, such as talking, riding a bike, skateboarding, roller skating, doing tricks on a trapeze or trampoline, etc. you will need to make skateboarding tips right choice in breed. Exotic bird have personalities and instincts specific to their kind.

Of the various species of Parrots, the African Grey is one mostwell-known for its speaking qualities. It has earned two nicknames; "The perfect mix of brains and beauty" and "The Cadillac of Parrots." This parrot originated from central Africa. The African Grey, although an intelligent and talkative bird, does not come in a variety of attractive colors. And, as its name implies, is mostly grey with some hint of color. The African Grey can attain a large vocabulary and is said to be able to communicate with its owner.

The Amazon breed is also known for its talking abilities. This parrot originated from South America and is known to be a loving, social and loyal pet. Amazons come in a variety of colors with a mostly pre-dominant green attribute and some may be pre-dominantlyyellow. These birds can become proficient singers, are not shy and often perform for strangers. These characteristics make the Amazon a performer at bird shows.

The Macaw is one bird you often find at parrot shows because of its striking colorscombined with its ability to do tricks. This bird is found throughout the tropical South America including Ecuador, eastern Peru, Bolivia, norther Paraguay and Brazil. Thesebirds are characterized with a very outgoing and interactive temperament. They are often referred to as the "clowns." Whenone pictures a parrot,it is the Macaw that comes tomind.

Exotic birds need an exotic environment tobe healthy. That is, they need agood owner and a suitable parrot cage. Therefore, be certain you aremeeting theinstinctive needs ofyour new parrot.

My name is Cameron S Wilson and I offer select parrot cages online to meet the environment qualities you will want for your new pet parrot. Please visit me at http://www.buyparrotcagesonline.com

How to Build a Skateboard Ramp

If skateboarding tips ready to start "ramping" up your skateboarding skills, then it's time to build your very own ramp. Sure, you could just go to the skatepark, but what if there isn't one close by? Besides, how cool would skateboarding tips skateboard ramp look in your back yard? You'll likely need to have a little bit of skill with tools, and a couple of friends to complete this weekend project.

The type of ramp you build will depend upon how much money you have for materials, and how much time you have to spend working on this project. We'll list the basic steps and some material suggestions to get you started.

Materials and equipment may vary depending on the type of plan you follow, but you will likely need:

• Open space for jumping.
• Blueprint/Plans for the ramp.
• 4-6 2X4's.
• A couple sheets of plywood.
• Hammer and Nails (or preferably wood screws)
• Level.
• Pencil.
• Some friends to help out.

Decide if you want a ramp to place in a permanent location (like your yard) or if you want something smaller and more portable that you can put away when you're done skateboarding. This will determine a round about size for your ramp.

Figure out what you want to build. Search online for plans that you can purchase or download for free. Free plans are usually just as good as paid ones. You should probably gather a few tools at this point as well (hammer and nails at least).

If you don't want to buy or download a plan, follow these steps to build a simple mini ramp:

1. Lay a 3/4" piece of plywood on a flat surface. Sketch a straight line upwards on the right hand side of the wood. This line should be about 25 to 30 inches tall.
2. Draw another straight line out to the left, but more towards the center of the plywood. This should be about 2 or 3 feet (this will be your deck).
3. Draw a line on the bottom of the skateboard ramp that's about 5 feet or so. This will be the bottom of your mini-ramp.
4. Connect the top of the deck to the end of the bottom using a curved line (this is the ramp). Try to use a half-circle drawing tool or drafting compass if possible so the curve is perfect.
5. Cut along the lines using a saw. If you have access to a skilsaw, use it to make sure that the curves are smooth.
6. Repeat step 5 on the other piece of plywood for the other side of the ramp.
7. Connect both sides with 2x4's. Make sure you have enough spacing between the 2x4's to allow proper support.
8. Use a single sheet of 3/8" plywood for the mini-ramp section. You will have to bend it to make it fit over the curve.
9. Finish by finishing any rough edges with sandpaper.

This may be a very simple plan for building your own skateboarding ramp, but it's perfect if you are a first time builder with limited time, skills and money. To keep your new ramp in top shape, store it in your house or garage when not in use.

Display your skateboards and keep them off the floor with Jimmy Racks original steel skateboard racks - holds 3 skateboards and can be installed on your wall in under 4 minutes!

Skateboarding - How to Heel Flip

OK, so skateboarding tips have ollies and kick flips down solid it's now time to progress on to something a bit more challenging. The Heel flip. Here's skateboarding tips you do one: Pop your tail, kick your foot out, catch it and ride away...yeah right. Unfortunately this is how most Heel flip tips out there go. Not here. Here I'm going to break it down and give you in depth tips on how to pull this trick off correctly and with style. Ready?...here we go.

Moment of Zen before you try any new skateboarding trick I have always found its a great idea to visualize it clearly in your mind how the trick will look. Do this before you do the heel flip and even during it. Maybe imagine a heel flip from one of your favorite skate videos or one of your favorite pros pulling it off. This visualization really really works. So much like a kick flip uses the toe and kicks off at a slightly less then 180 degree angle, the heel flip is the same but you use your heel and you are kicking in the opposite direction. Do not kick straight out to the side and do not kick right out in front...make it in between the two. Get rolling with a little speed and give your board a good pop. When kicking your front foot out make sure to twist your foot and ankle to the side a bit...similar to how you slide your foot up the board somewhat sideways for an ollie the same is done for a heel flip. Only you kick out at an angle and completely off the board.

Airwalk it! Most people are paying so much attention to what their front foot is doing during this tricks they pretty much don't think about the back. Well here's another tried and true secret I've found when doing these. Kick your back foot out the opposite direction to the front foot. So essentially you are doing almost a scissor kick in the air or an "airwalk" visualize your legs doing this as you begin to kick. Don't just jump straight up and kick...that wont do it. You need to kick your back leg somewhat in the opposite direction.You don't have to over do it or kick out big time like with the front foot...just a little movement with the back foot will do it.This method has always worked for me and keeps my heel flips looking big, clean and stylish.

Ride away clean Catch your board in the air and land solid. OK the ending sounds too simple but, if you follow the above tips it is that simple.

In conclusion be sure to think about how awesome the trick will look in your mind and really see yourself pulling it off. Slide your front foot off the board at an angle while popping off the ground and kick your back foot in the opposite direction slightly.

I hope this helps you and happy skating!

Geoff Wheeler has been involved in skateboarding for the past 20 years and writes about skate shoes including Ipath skate shoes and Globe shoes.