retailers, don’t limit yourselves to what they want you to sell. sell what’s best for your shops needs. push the limits. don’t conform. Chinese manufacturers fight back… with North American hardwoods, dubious slogans, and innovative shapes. See more of these fantastical, mind-blowing innovative shapes after the jump.

No, actually. The reason I asked all you guys to become contributors is so I wouldn’t have to make lame posts like this just to keep the site fresh. What, are you all actually skating today instead of sitting in front of a computer? As seen on eBay.

At my other unpaid job I’m always getting unsolicited emails and resumes from people who want to design skateboards. Heck, I even get people who think Skate and Annoy has a legitimate staff with paying positions. Well now is your chance to send that stuff to someone who actually has work, and can pay you for it. Element is looking to fill a design position. You want a job in skateboarding? I’m currently the Creative Director of Element Skateboards and Element needs a “Skateboard Graphic Artist”. The position is pretty awesome but is a lot of work. This is what I’m looking for some one to do: Create skateboard graphics. Create wheel graphics. Create packaging concepts and graphics. Work with freelance artists. Create artwork based on the direction of the creative team. Understand skateboarding and it’s lifestyle. Create seasonal catalogs for hardgoods. Work closely with marketing and creative team. Skateboard graphic experience is preferred. The job is intense but it’s super creative. The biggest thing is that you need to be able to work in a team setting. Enjoy the weekend. Why would I bother with a gratuitous Bam Margera reference? I’m just trying to milk one of our most…

Brands that can’t be stopped. Apparently Debbie Does Dallas, “a well known 1978 porn franchise playing off the sexploitation of the Dallas Cowboys football team cheerleaders” has been remade several times. The title phrase is so catchy even people who have never seen the film know the title. Give me alliteration or give me death. Likewise Shepard Fairey’s iconic use of the word Obey and the Powell Peralta Ripper graphic by V. Courtlandt Johnson are part of the popular consciousness. Not sure what the picture on the right has to do with the movie. but there they were together on the internet with that coopted skateboarding t-shirt design.

Some college kids may have invented it first, but Sony holds the patent, and I’m sure Segway might feel otherwise. That’s not stopping more people from making their own versions. The slickest by far seems to be the one wheeled version. Video, links and pics after the jump.

It’s always a bummer when your rock and roll heroes start to look like your grandmother. That’s none other than J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr fame posing with one of the limited edition Dinosaur Jr skateboards from Alien Workshop at SPOT. The artwork is from their first release as Dinosaur before they had to change their name. It turns out there are also Dinosaur JR wheels. And I thought Naked Raygun skateboards were a niche market. I saw Dinosaur (JR) in a small club in Champaign Illinois circa ’87 or so. Loudest damn show I’ve ever been too. Unfortunately, also one of the most boring. I think I left in the middle. Those darn kids and their rambunctious rock and roll! I think they are back together again with a mostly original lineup. You can see enlargements of the product after the jump. You’re skating all over me. [Source: JMascis.com]

There are lot’s of large skateboards, but only one title holder. Tod Swank has his work cut out for him running all that is Tumyeto without having to worry about people trying to take away his record for the world’s biggest skateboard. First there was that cheater (Update: Not a cheater) in Australia, Now there are a bunch of eggheads at Bay College who are building a 31 foot large skateboard as part of a project in a Computer Aided Design class. A student named Tim Timler (Seriously?) is the project lead. Tim, you suck. Tod didn’t need no stinking computers. The college president who is admittedly not a “balance person” is going to be one of the riders in the documentation attempt. Fantastic! [Source: Daily Press, Escanaba, MI]

There’s something wrong with the Skaters for Public Skateparks site this afternoon. Looks like it has been hijacked by Nosferatu and his evil minions.

Unfortunately, she’s carrying a Razor scooter for her son. Maybe that’s why it didn’t work out with Kid Rock. [Source: In Case You Didn’t Know]

An earlier post showed some laser-created relief on skateboards. Here is a Flickr set of similar work. I think they have one of these rigs out at Nike. I have seen experiments with decorating various items: shoes, cellular phones, laptop computers. I wonder if there have been any attempts to use it to enhance performance. What would be the optimum pattern and amout of material you could cut away and still maintain rigidity and strength? Thanks for the heads up Craig.