If you make it to The Block in Orange, CA, you might be lucky enough to snag some bbq from Steve Van Doren. At each park there will be tons of free stuff, shoe raffles, a live DJ and a $200 Vans Gift Card High Ollie Contest starting at 2pm (12pm registration). You don&apos;t want to miss this.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/goskate09_block.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/goskate09_orlando.jpg">

Animals in the Dark came out in February to wide acclaim. Jonathan Zwickel at the Seattle Times wrote "you hear the diesel engine growl of his voice, the century of blues and folk tradition behind his banjo-driven stomps, the everyday relevance of his lyrics, and you succumb." Straddling the punk world where he cut his teeth and the Americana folk scene that has embraced him, Will Whitmore&apos;s honesty and sincerity cuts a wide swath of appeal, a refreshing voice in a world filled with lip synchers and computer-augmented skills.<br /><br />Will took a few weeks off after ...

Rooted in the Orange County community of Huntington Beach, founding band members Jared Watson and guitarist/ vocalist Dustin Bushnell met in 1996 while in high school, embarking on a friendship based on music, as well as their shared passion for surfing, skating and the endless party of the laid-back SoCal lifestyle. <br /><br />Early on, they spent many late nights jamming in Bushnell&apos;s soundproof garage with a four-track recorder, writing unique acoustic hip-hop songs that featured reggae inflections. Inspired by the rock and reggae sounds of Bob Marley, Sublime, 311 and The Beastie Boys, the band&apos;s ...

Stop 6:<br />Modern Skatepark - Royal Oak, MI<br />Tuesday, May 26th, 3pm - 6pm<br />Presented by Modern Skate<br /><br />Stop 7:<br />Louisville Skatepark - Louisville, KY<br />Wednesday, May 27th, 3pm - 6pm<br />Presented by Home Skateshop<br /><br />Stop 8:<br />Florence Skatepark - Florence, KY<br />Thursday, May 28th, 2pm - 5pm<br />Presented by Cosmic

Stop 4:<br />Roselle Skatepark - Chicago, IL<br />Saturday, May 23rd, 3pm - 6pm<br />Presented by Yeah Boardshop<br /><br />Stop 5:<br />Lakewood Skatepark - Lakewood, OH<br />Sunday, May 24th, 3pm - 6pm<br />Presented by Westside Skates

If you make it to The Block in Orange, CA, you might be lucky enough to snag some bbq from Steve Van Doren. At each park there will be tons of free stuff, shoe raffles, a live DJ and a $200 Vans Gift Card High Ollie Contest starting at 2pm (12pm registration). You don&apos;t want to miss this.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/goskate09_block.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/goskate09_orlando.jpg">

Stop 1:<br /> Richard Walton Skatepark - Oakdale, MN<br /> Wednesday, May 20th, 3pm -6pm<br /> Presented by Cal Surf<br /> <br /> Stop 2:<br /> Cream City Skatepark - Butler, WI<br /> Thursday, May 21st, 3pm - 6pm<br /> Presented by Phase II <br /> <br /> Stop 3:<br /> Wilson Skatepark - Chicago, IL<br /> Friday, May 22nd, 2 pm - 5 pm<br /> Presented by Uprise<br />

The FRESH 23 fashion show is put on by the Denver-area Wheat Ridge High School art department with student artists completing original sneaker art and staging a full-fledged evening of fashion and entertainment.<br /><br />Here&apos;s where you come in. We need you vote for the most popular style. And when you do, you&apos;re not only going to help one lucky student win the opportunity to have their shoe design on 40,000 cases of Jones Soda available nationwide, you&apos;ll also be entered to win great prizes from Vans.

Another electrifying performance by Chris Miller sealed his fifth Pro-tec Pool Party win in as many years, while the crowd for the Masters Division final was equally awed by Christian Hosoi&apos;s contest debut after several years sitting out as a judge for the event. Dane Nicky Guerrero placed third.<br /><br />With several of the veterans including three-time winner Cara-Beth Burnside sitting out the Ladies comp, the youngsters proved that the ladies bowl skating is progressing like never before. Sixteen year-old Julie Kindstrand won her first title with teens Lyn-z Adams Hawkins and Megan Brown taking second and ...

It took a while. I mean it took a while for someone to actually put their money where their mouth is, in terms of accepting my wager. I called Bucky as the winner and 20 dollars of someone else&apos;s said otherwise. For Bucky to take it down this year was no easy task. Being in there with 3 time champ Rune Glifberg, and 2007 Champ Omar Hassan makes it nearly impossible, but this year Bucky also had to fight off a group of young dogs in the form of Josh Borden, Josh rodriguez, and Michael Brookman, an even ...

Here is the stark and overwhelming reality. Potentially no one can ever beat Chris Miller in the Pool Party Masters Division. When rumors of his possible withdrawl from the contest this year surfaced, some of the other top Masters might have thought that this would be their year. Of course the rumor mill was churning out pure fiction and Miller came out with his A game as he always does. And the way in which he does it is purely mindblowing. As the final heat was getting underway, all 10 riders were making a heavy argument for the top spot ...

The Ladies:<br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/vans_ppp09_awards/?action=view&current=_DSC0949r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/vans_ppp09_awards/_DSC0949r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>The Masters:<br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/vans_ppp09_awards/?action=view&current=_DSC0983r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/vans_ppp09_awards/_DSC0983r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>The Pros:<br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/vans_ppp09_awards/?action=view&current=_DSC1007r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src ...

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_pro_finals/?action=view&current=_DSC0897r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_pro_finals/_DSC0897r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>Burnquist back tail.<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_pro_finals/?action=view&current=_DSC0904r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_pro_finals/_DSC0904r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>Josh Rodriguez.<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_pro_finals/?action=view&current=_DSC0915r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img ...

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_masters_finals/?action=view&current=_DSC0875r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_masters_finals/_DSC0875r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br><br>Nicky Guerrero Keeping it going.<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_masters_finals/?action=view&current=_DSC0873r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_masters_finals/_DSC0873r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>Miller back lip over the hip<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp09_masters_finals/?action=view&current=_DSC0880r ...

1. Bucky Lasek $25,000<br>2. Omar Hassan $15,000<br>3. Rune Glifberg $7,500<br>4. Pedro Barros $3,000<br>5. Bob Burnquist $2,000<br>6. Sergie Ventura $1,500<br>7. Joshua Borden $1,000<br>8. Joshua Rodriquez $700<br>9. Michael Brookman $500<br>10. Nolan Monroe $300

1. Chris Miller<br>2. Christian Hosoi<br>3.Nicky Guerrero<br>4. Steve Caballero<br>5. Steve Alba<br>6.Pat Ngoho<br>7. Tony Mag<br>8. Eric Nash<br>9. Lester Kasai<br>10. Josh Nelson

1 Julie Kindstrand<br>2 Lyn-z Adams Hawkins<br>3 Megan Brown<br>4 Priscilla Lee<br>5 Allysha Bergado<br>6 Alex Harper<br>7 Elise Dabby<br>8 Lea Taylor<br>9 Elizabeth Armanto<br>10 Erin Wolfkiel<br>11 Jennifer Stranko

Going off in about 8 minutes:1. Chris Miller<br>1. Steve Caballero<br>1. Nicky Guerrero<br>2. ChristianHosoi<br>2. Steve Alba<br>2. Tony Mag<br>3. Eric Nash<br>3. Pat Ngoho<br>4. Josh Nelson<br><br>This one is going to get hot in a hurry...

Finally someone brought me a wager. My money is on Bucky Lasek, and he&apos;s looking like the guy to make me rich. Rodeo 5&apos;s, boneless corner transits, 540&apos;s and about a hundred other insane acts. Also in heat 1, the ever stylish Sergie Ventura bringing on the air attack. Young guns Nolan Munroe and Alex Perelson came in looking to take out any and all comers. Alex launched a couple of hip transfers well over my 6&apos;4" head, while Nolan threw down with just about every kickflip and varial air move that ...

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/?action=view&current=_DSC0530r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/_DSC0530r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>Salba!!!<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/?action=view&current=_DSC0522r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/_DSC0522r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>Lester Kasai cranking up.<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/?action=view&current=_DSC0531r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43 ...

Heat 1 of the Masters division featured some of the heaviest names in skateboarding period, not from this era or that time, we&apos;re talking ALL-TIME. Salba and Ngoho represent some of the deepest history we have, and both of these dinosaurs skated solidly. Ben Schroeder is pure danger and skates like it. Ben pulled out his signature destruction and unleashed it. Mike Barnes is a Combi local and he did exactly what he does year in and year out, rip. Nicky Guerrero held up the Danish end with perfect sadplants and his vert mastery. Jake Piasecki and Mark ...

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/?action=view&current=_DSC0485r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/_DSC0485r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Lea taylor<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/?action=view&current=_DSC0514r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/_DSC0514r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Priscilla Lee<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/?action=view&current=_DSC0493r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/_DSC0493r ...

In the first heat of the Ladies&apos; finals Julie Kindstrand led the charge right out of the gate, first in, and obviously the fore-runner in this heat. Her local knowledge of this pool always puts her in the running for a top spot. Lea Taylor and Erin Wolfkiel followed Julie closely, but perhaps the true stand-out in the first heat was young Priscilla Lee. Priscilla may not throw a lot of tricks around, the standard airs apply, but her runs consisting of several walls of switch grinds and fakies to Smith in the shallows made her a true stand-out ...

Get hot!!!<br>Ladies Division:<br>Julie Kindstrand<br>Alylysha Bergado<br>Lea taylor<br>Erin Wolfkiel<br>Priscilla Lee<br>Elizabeth Armanto<br>Cara-Beth Burnside<br>Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins<br>Elise Dabby<br>Megan Brown<br>Alex Harper<br>Jennifer Stranko<br><br>Masters Division:<br>Nicky Guerrero<br>Pat Ngoho<br>Ben Schroeder<br>Steve Alba<br>Mark Partain<br>Mike Barnes<br>Jake Piasecki<br>Geoff Fletcher<br>Steve Caballero<br>Lester Kasai<br>Tony Magnusson<br>Josh Nelson<br>Mike Smith<br>Michael Mulhall<br>Dave Reul<br>Brian Pennington<br><br>Pro Division:<br>Bucky ...

A Porsche show? Nobody cares. Scantily clad women that reek of cocoa butter and vodka? You might car a little bit about that. But today is about something entirely different. If you care about anything other than skateboarding today, something is wrong with you. Unless maybe you don&apos;t skate. People can rant at length about how much skateboarding contests suck. They do, from a pure skateboarding perspective, and anybody who has entered enough of them will most likely agree. Once upon a time, contests were the measuring stick, the way of defining who was hot and who was ...

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp051509/?action=view&current=_DSC0477r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp051509/_DSC0477r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>Oh... Hello Tim Johnson.<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp051509/?action=view&current=_DSC0387r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/ppp051509/_DSC0387r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>All Danish, no cheese. Nicky Guerrero, sad.<br><br>Right now, just off of The City Drive, mini cranes are rolling to and fro ...

Tonight&apos;s qualifiers proved 2 things. 1. The Pro young guns and seasoned Masters are hungry and ready to take on the heaviest veterans at this year&apos;s pool party. The following images will give you a very basic idea:<br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/pre%20protec%2009/?action=view&current=_DSC0225r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/blkprjkt43/pre%20protec%2009/_DSC0225r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br>Sky Siljeg blasting his way in with a tabled method and a broken wing to boot.<br><br ...

Here are your upstarts, young guns and old dogs who tore the guts out of the combi tonight and earned their "golden tickets".<br>PRO DIVISION<br>1. Pedro Barros<br>2.Michael Brookman<br>3.Brian Patch<br>4. Joshua Rodriguez<br>5. Sky Siljeg<br>6. Nathan Beck<br>7. Rob Lorifice<br>8. Darin Jenkins<br>9. Evandro Menezes<br>10. Matt Boyster<br>Your "on the bubble pros" are:<br>11. Bennett Harada<br>12. Alex Perelson<br><br>MASTERS DIVISION:<br>1.Mark Partain<br>2. Mike McGill<br>3.Michael Mulhall<br>4.Mike ...

<img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/ptpp09_practice/1.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/ptpp09_practice/2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/ptpp09_practice/3.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/ptpp09_practice/4.jpg"><br /><img src="http://www.vans.com/vans/events/images/ptpp09_practice/5.jpg"><br />

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The Shapes of the Thing to Come- --<br>1 square. 1 round. The two tied together by a perverse and cruel "saddle / hip" combo. We&apos;re talking about that vast amount of negative space in the concrete cavity known as the Combi Pool. On a really good day, the pool is only a little bit slippery. Most days though, it feels like what you might experience if you were a rollerblading kook trying to take your 8 wheel lameness onto an ice rink. Of course, you, loyal reader, would never conceive of doing such a stupid thing. But what ...

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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3508175834_ec587b8a5d_o.jpg"> <br /><br />Upcoming Shows<br />May 15 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre - with Boogaloo Assassins & The Lions<br /> May 16 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern - with The Upbeat & The Lions<br /> May 17 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress<br /> May 27 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst<br /> May 28 - Ashland, OR - Stillwater<br /> May 29 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge<br /> May 30 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe<br /> May 31 - Victoria, BC - Element Nightclub<br /> June 1 - Vancouver, BC - The Plaza<br /> June 4 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent ...

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