I’m way more productive when I’m injured.  My rolled ankle isn’t going to take long, but here’s a review of the latest Transworld video.For some reason there are a lot of Transworld video haters out there. Personally I’ve always thought their videos featured top notch filming, editing and skating. And Now could easily be one of the best Transworld videos to date. The line up is sick and the intro starts it off pretty well.Having the pleasure of seeing Gravette skate some bowls in Denver on the Independent tour made me gain even more respect for the dude. He skates hard. Really hard. Somehow he even makes handrails look fun. Not sure about the “Freedom Rock” song for his part though and as much as he rips his part doesn’t do that much to get me off my couch. He’s one of those skaters I think I’d rather watch in person. That huge front 50 with his arms at his side is pretty darn ridiculous.I had never heard of Matt Miller before this video. He definitely has the surprise part of the video for me. The first three tricks alone are incredible. How do you do tech tricks that perfect? The 360 flip over the handicap bar is retarded. I still don’t know what the last trick is, but I totally dig this part.Richie Jackson. Oh god. The first couple times I watched this part I wanted to go outside and wax everything I could and just powerslide it. But after a couple more viewings I just can’t handle the dudes wardrobe. Sorry, I can’t relate to looking like a gypsy. I like the skating a lot, but the gear is just too much for me. Call me a fashion Nazi if you want, but seriously, style has a lot to do with your garb and this is just too much. Skip.The friends section intro is hilarious. Some jock soccer dude gets served. It’s funny. TNT skates faster than anyone. I swear I never gave a shit about that dude until I saw him skate in Denver and he blew me away. The whole montage is pretty good. Lots of variety, good filming, editing and the music works well for a montage. Andrew Allen is one of my faves. Chima goes huge. Slash is good at Smiths. Some dude on a Creature board goes huge in a bowl. Chad Bartie should get rid of the mullet. Silas is skater of the year. I want to see more of Chris Pfanner.I expected much more of Kenny Hoyle, but it’s weird, every viewing of his part gets better. Perhaps it’s because his style is so damn amazing. He has by far my favorite line of the entire video. The heelflip up the stair, push, nollie cab down the gap. It’s so damn perfect. Even the push. I can’t explain it, but I can seriously just watch that and want to go skate. Part of my love for this dudes part might be due to how much he reminds me of how Riley skates. The last hardflip is so rad.Nick Trapasso’s intro, while edited amazing, bums me out. Seriously dude, try a trick right into a dude busting you? Lame. Gotta give it up to the John Lennon song though, it goes perfect with his part and the kickflip into the puddle is rad. Dude has some serious moves and a rad style. For whatever reason though his part doesn’t do much for me. If you were to say it’s your favorite part I wouldn’t think less of you. I think it’s just a weird judgment thing and for whatever reason the dude doesn’t get me amped to skate. The story behind his ender 5-0 is pretty rad.Sean Malto gets props from Rick Howard in his part. That’s just how good his part is. His skating is the future. Everything and everywhere, fast, bolts, clean, no gypsy gear, no flare, Why does he have so many blank decks though? Come on Girl, send the dude his own board for crying out loud. This part easily has my favorite song in the video too. It’s a Bob Dylan cover and it rules. The switch flip switch front crooks in a run is retarded. The back to back noseblunts down rails in a run is retarded. The hardflip ender is filmed horribly, but luckily I’ve been there, seen those stairs, and their huge. Best part of the video by far and he pretty much has a smile thoughout the whole part. Rad.The credits I’m not so sure about. It’s pretty rad and all until the end when they show everyone enders again. Same angles and all. Ends the video on a totally cheesey note. Although it’s pretty funny that Kenny Hoyle totally disses Richie Jackson on the high 5.People that think the Lakai video is edited better than this video are whack. There is plenty of setup footage and HD artsy shots, but it normally actually has to do with the trick that follows so it makes since to me.  Plus there isn’t a complete over abuse of slow motion.   I could do without the complete Freedom Rock soundtrack, but all in all it’s a pretty great video.

THE MIGHTY JESUS LIZARD IS GOING TO TOUR IN 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well deserved.  Next year – Busenitz!

This park has it all.  Riley and I headed there on his last day of skating in Colorado before moving to Sioux Falls.  It was November 17 and it was almost 70 degrees.  Sick!  These photos were all taken right after we got there before it got crowded.CLICK ANY PHOTO TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE PHOTO!!!This little mini bowl is sick.  It’s perfect for beginners and even fun for people like Riley.  The tranny is really mellow.This little manual pad is the bomb!  And yes it’s as low as it looks in the photo.Pier 7 replica.  Although it’s taller and narrower then the original it’s still sick.Riley modeling the bank to ledge with a back tail.  It’s a bit weirder to hit then I would have thought, but still really good.Riley fell in love with that rail.  It’s a long 5 stair.  Riley says the rail is perfect.  I’ll take his word for it.At the top of the park is a fun little volcano thing.  I found it hard to get speed for, but it’s a good way to make something skateable in the middle of the park that takes up little space.No one skated this all day.  The rail looks pretty low.There is a little 3 foot quarterpipe that just plain rules.No one really skated this hip all day either.  It’s pretty steep and the crash up factor with people skating the three foot quarterpipe is pretty high.  Riley ollied the bench into it though.Practice your Zero lines here kiddies.This park has so many options to skate it’s ridiculous.  On the very left there is a flat bar too.Panorama attempt number 1 of the bowl.Attempt number 2.  No idea why the colors are different on every picture when I just stood there and took all three within seconds.  Oh well.  The bowl is fun, a bit gnarly, but fun.  The steep bank wall is gnarls.More bowl.A horrible photo of a sick idea.  A Colorado flag quarterpipe.  Every team that comes though CO is going to try and get a photo on that.Trick number 1 out of 20 for Riley on his new favorite rail.Driving directions:I-25 to Lincoln Ave (Exit 193)Go East on LincolnRight on Twenty Mile RoadThe skatepark is up on the right after Plaza DrGoogle Map it.Report any problems at the skatepark by calling Parker Parks & Recreation at 303-841-0353.

This video has been out for almost a year now and I’ve been wanting to review it for awhile.  I have a love/hate relationship with Fully Flared.  I love most of the skaters, most of the filming and how epic the video is.  But I hate most of the music, the over-editing and complete abuse of slow motion as well as how long the video is.  I hate how boring they made MJ and Mariano’s parts.  The very first time I watched the video I fell asleep during Mariano’s part.  What?!?!  I was pissed.  Granted I was pretty tired, but still, I fell asleep during my first viewing of Mariano’s part.  Ridiculous.  The music says something about sleep and it’s boring music and well, I fell asleep.The intro is pretty amazing.  Once, twice, maybe even a third time.  But seriously, could the opening shot of Koston be any slower?  It’s almost as if he’s not moving at all.  By the time he even pops his tail for the kickflip I skip it to Mike Mo’s part.  Then there is the horrible over edits of random crap at the start of that part so I skip that too.  Don’t get me wrong, I think Mike Mo is amazing, but his part doesn’t live up to the hype for me and the over editing and crappy music is too much for me.  Next up is Pappalardo.  Maybe best part in the video?  The music is awesome, the editing works, the skating is amazing, and it’s not boring California gaps or rail footage.   This part gets me hyped.  I don’t even know how many parts I skip after that.  It’s not that the skating isn’t amazing, but I don’t have one hour to sit around watching a video before I go skate.  Sometimes I watch Cairo’s part, sometimes I don’t.  It’s a sick part though.  I have not watched Jeff Lenoce’s part since the first viewing.  Skip.  Alex Olson’s part is amazing.  I hate when my remote doesn’t work and I can’t fast forward the way-too-long intro though.  Dude skates fast and has style for miles.  I didn’t like the song at first, but now I’m into it.  Rick Howard’s part is pure awesomeness.  Dude is old and rips.  Carroll is still one of the best, although his second song really sucks.  Can you tell I don’t like new school gangsta rap crap?  Beibel is pretty sick, but I never watch that part.  Skip.  Koston.  Wow.  Koston is the best.  The frontside halfcab flip manual 180 down the three stair to switch manual.  Wow.  So many amazing tricks and Public Enemy!  Public Enemy and Koston go together so so good.  This is normally the last part I watch and I’m hyped to go skate.  I love Mariano, but the editing and two boring songs kill it for me.  I’ll watch the part, but not if it’s before I go skate.  Even though I’ve skipped half the video there is still more.  Three songs of MJ.  Seriously?  The third song has slow motion for EVERY SINGLE TRICK.  It’s the stupidist thing in history.  This part should have been two songs.  I’m find with him having last part, MJ is the man and his skating is so creative and inspiring, but I almost never watch his part because it’s too long.Basically I don’t think this video is all that.Rating:

I was too sick to go.  Ugh.  Looked fun.

Danny Way’s stuff is beyond incredible.  And I’m normally a snowboard jump hater.  360 flip manual seriously?  Putting Wenning right after Way is a bit odd and boring.  Oh well.  For the most part this promo is sick.  Sheckler has some big stuff, but it’s not enough to shut me up.  There is a better quality clip on the Plan B site.

Geto Boys – Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta

Today’s song of the day.  So sick.  I remember when they premiered this on Mtv and people freaked out.