I was trying to get my skate on the other day but still dragged the camera out for a rare appearance. It seems the only thing I do less than skating lately is take photos, so here are a few warm up shots.

A short time after he made his first comment, I got a private email offering condolences that Daddy Yo had found SnA. I was perplexed because it was still early in his career here and on the surface his comment wasn’t drastically more annoying than most. I remember thinking “How bad can he be?” I mean, he has friends. Well, now I know. It took me forever to find a picture of this guy while searching “Daddy Yo” and “skateboard” in Google Images. It’s a big surprise that SnA has most of the recent listings for unrelated images, which makes me wonder how Google Images compiles their data. He did turn up in person over at the Extreme Carving forum executing a flyout grab on his alterna-board complete with bindings while exclaiming “I made this board to jump.” If anyone has a decent photo of him, we can make him Annoying Kid of the Month. Remember, it’s perfectly legal to take his picture at a public skatepark. So I’m sure he’ll weigh in on this post, maybe threatening a lawsuit or involving the police in some capacity. Maybe he’s just playing an elaborate internet hoax. In any case… PLEASE DO…

You’d be amazed what some companies will send you if you just ask them. For example, the recently released Tony Hawk Gummies, a teen multiple vitamin and mineral supplement. Whether he’s busy shredding the halfpipe, working on his latest video game, touring the country with his Boom Boom HuckJam or making one of his numerous television appearances, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk is first and foremost an athlete. And athletes know the importance of good nutrition. However, most of Tony’s fans are boys ages 8 to 16 – not the most nutritionally conscious group around. So, Tony has joined forces with NBTY, Inc., a leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements and children’s vitamins, and created the Tony Hawk HuckJam brand of vitamins. These chewy “gummy” vitamins, shaped like miniature skateboard decks, skateboard wheels and Tony’s signature hawk skull, provide a good source of 11 vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, which bolsters the immune system*, and Vitamin B-12, a major factor in energy metabolism*.

While Bamboo skateboards might face a little bit of an uphill battle for your average gnar dog to accept, alternative wheel compounds might have an easier row to hoe. It’s a probable that most skaters don’t care what wheels are made out of as long as they work, whereas many skaters probably wouldn’t step on a bamboo board except to goof on it. Sector Nine has a line of wheels out called Biothane, which is made with some percentage of soy-based urethane. They don’t go into the specifics of the compound, but they do share a few statistics: The manufacturing process results in 36% smaller carbon footprint than traditional methods. In addition, their manufacturing process consumes 61% less non-renewable energy sources. Maybe they bake them in the sun. They seem to be in the same price range as the rest of their lineup. Sector Nine’s web site doesn’t appear to have anything on the wheels at the moment, but you can see the advert that ran in Transworld Business after the jump.

Dan Hughes left a link in the comments as I was getting to make this post, but that’s not going to stop me. I didn’t realize from our earlier shots that there were actually three full pipes at the Myrtle Creek, Oregon park. I thought the other one was just a small entry door. Turns out its a full pipe entrance to the a less-tranny section. I say “less-tranny” section because I wouldn’t exactly call it a “street” section. Head on over to Northwest Skater for the shots

This week’s Shot of the Week is from Carl Warren who sent in more pictures of the Hood River construction. By the time I got around to posting them, Estes had sent in some more that leapfrogged the progress. I liked the long exposure of the finishing at night, so this is a good excuse to post it even though it’s not “news” anymore. I was so far behind that I had to backdate the previous SOTW. There are a couple more shots from Carl after the jump, otherwise, check out this week’s Shot of the Week.

Send in your pics or links to Xteme X-mas ornaments, but do me a favor and check last years to make sure it’s not a repeat. New this year, Bart Simpson on a skateboard. Enlarge-o-rama

It’s just starting to sink in how ridiculous the abundance of skatepark terrain is getting in Oregon. If you live here you get a little desensitized to it, but seriously, it’s amazing. Hood River is GOING OFF! Thanks to Mike Estes for the pics. You remember him right? He might think about coming back if we’re all nice to him. Considering some of the recent comment flame wars, it seems unlikely. Hey everyone, the best way to foil a comment crackpot is to not respond to the guilty party in the first place. Oops, I’m off topic on my own post. I must be some sort of communist, punk, whiny liberal, pad wearing, radical dog hating baby. Enjoy the pics of Hood River. Your body (of concrete) is a wonderland.

Billy Runaway from Addikt Skateboards sent in a few snaps of the newly created Myrtle Creek, Oregon skatepark built by Grindline. An 8,500 square foot park is pretty darn good for a town with a population of 3,419 in the 2000 census.

Gotta love the midwest. It’s in the middle, you know? I’m not even sure what this is supposed to be, perhaps a practice mega ramp? Or maybe it’s the next big thing in ramp transition technology that will deliver the goods where the elliptical transition fad failed. For a starting bid of a mere $799.99, you can probably own this awesome creation. Don’t believe how awesome it is? Check out the pics and auction description after the jump.