…to vote for his entry in this Vans logo contest. If he wins, he promises to donate his $5000 prize to a children’s orphanage in Ghanna, Africa. Hang on, aren’t all orphanages for children? I can’t verify that he actually sent me the email, so maybe I’m the victim of an Internet hoax… In any case, here’s the link, click in the little box next to Steve’s name to vote for him.

This D.I.Y. spot in SE Portland only lasted a couple of weeks. The spot had been home to a wooden bench made by skaters for at least a year before this bank went up. The neighborhood reaction was positive, but obviously someone in the City of Portland wasn’t impressed. The builders opted for the “it’s better to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission” tactic, but it didn’t work out, obviously. I applaud the effort, but in this case the location was too ostentatious. Choose your renegade spots wisely kids. In a situation like this (a well used public park, already frequented by skaters) it would be advisable to get it sanctioned first. Write up a nice proposal. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but use a spell checker. Talk about the benefits and address negative concerns. Spin it as a community project. Get a petition signed by neighbors and park users, than take all this to the Parks department. The fact that you aren’t asking for money might help your chances. Stress the small overall size of the obstacle and minimal impact on the surroundings. Good luck! Thanks to… I’m not telling. That kid in the green shirt is…

Long distance skateboard treks for causes and world records are popular these days. I remember someone in the 80’s tackled the cross-USA skate in Thrasher. There have been guys in Australia, The UK, and another guy who spread his out over different countries. In a handful of days Serge Berig will begin skating from Annapolis, Maryland to San Francisco, California in a partnership with the American Breast Cancer Foundation to promote awareness of breast cancer, and as an aside, environmentally friendly transportation modes. Details at the official blog or catch the flyer after the jump.

We love to help out our less fortunate neighbors in such skateboard repressive states as, uh, California? From the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC): As many of you know, IASC has been working tirelessly for many years to change the laws affecting California’s public skateparks.  We were previously able to extend the bill which protects public skateparks, but in doing so, had to make some concessions in the bill. Recently IASC has been working to remove the outdated clause under which skateparks must require elbow and knee pads to be worn while skating in public skateparks. That’s right, according to state law, you must wear elbow and knee pads at public skateparks. I know thi law isn’t enforced everywhere, but it still needs to go. Apparently the repeal has passed the State Assembly 76-0, which is stellar news, but it still has to pass through the senate. If you live in California and want to find out how how to help the effort, visit the IASC site for details. However, If you want some super stylish kneepads, check out these licensed Speed Racer knee pads with clear caps that double as Speed’s visor. Pretty cool actually, especially in combination…

Word is that the lease is up on the tenant that currently resides in the building that houses Milwaukee’s famed Turf Skatepark. I erroneously reported that the concrete had been demoed, but I guess the truth lies closer to some missing coping and a lot of landfill. I here to report on the rumor that there people in Wisconsin working on trying to get a third lease on life for the Turf Skatepark. If there’s no truth to that rumor, then I’m here to start it, in hopes that someone who still lives in the area will get stoked. The Turf still lives in more than memories and photos, a crew of BMXers has the old miniramp from the Turf. At the risk of becoming very unpopular, I was watching some video of that park and it made me think that perhaps the fond memories have more to do with nostalgia than the quality of the terrain, especially compared to the modern crop of skateparks. Still, I’d be all for digging it up and slapping some new coping on. I hope it happens. Photos – Clockwise: Old exterior shot from Thrasher Magazine, as found on the Facebook page for Pete…

We’ve added two new non profits to our public service ad rotation, as seen on the lower right column of the site. First up, the Benton County Skateboard Alliance should be familiar to our readers. They have a 10 year plan to raise funds and advocate for the expansion and creation of free public concrete skateboarding and supporting facilities within Benton County, Oregon. Also new to the official spot is Complete Skate, a school-based program that keeps kids connected to school through skateboarding.

Cutbird Skateboard Company is inviting you to attend One Last Push. It is a skate jam and contest to benefit Helena’s skatepark expansion! if you can make it to Helena, MT on May 16, 2009 that would be great! If not, tell your friends, print and hang up the attachment. What ever you can do to help make Montana a better place to skate. Live music, BBQ, contest, giveaways, 100% of the money raised goes to the skatepark. Flyer after the jump. More Montana Skatepark resources: Helena Skatepark Montana Skateparks

Burnside nontest and fundraiser for expansion of the Burnside project, going on Saturday the 18th. We must be on the official kook list because nobody asked us to donate or promote this event. Oh well. Little known fact: Mark Conahan was the one who secured the noise permit for the event yesterday afternoon. DJ Red and and lots of skating, loud music, general shenanigans. Full flyer after the jump.

Taking influence from a skipping stone, this design focuses on a rhythm of circular plazas that are linked through paving and skate-boarding features. The design offers features for riders of every skill-level and style. The paving pattern consists of a large saw-cut concrete pattern within a circular paver banding that helps de? ne space and add visual appeal. The first meeting for the Happy Valley, Oregon skatepark saw three different Newline concepts presented, and this is the design that was the overwhelming favorite. The plan now is to refine it to “to serve as many different levels of skateboarders as possible.” The argument about street plazas vs. tranny and out of state (and Country) contractors is moot here, so please don’t waste anyone’s time by flogging that dead horse. The Clackamas County planners would do well to talk to Portland about the Ed Benedict project. I have heard that when it came time to actually build the park, there were numerous delays and attempts to get more money out of the project than was set forth by the agreements in the contract.

Time for more input on the Happy Valley skatepark in Clackamas County, Oregon. We must have missed a meeting or two, because from the looks of the tiny renderings, they appear to have chosen a designer already… Street plaza city, Newline? The meeting is Wednesday, April 29, 2009, from 5-7 p.m. at Sunnyside Elementary school on 13401 SE 132nd Avenue in Clackamas, OR. No word on whether the infamous Happy Valley back biter (seen above, lower right) will be allowed in the park. This is as good an excuse as any to post some more photos form the Happy Valley pool you love to hate.