What started as a post about overpriced 80’s skateboard dolls (Action Skateboard Teen – $50!) got weird during research when I found a video about girls (who can actually skate) who want you to know that’s it’s OK to wear high heels to the skatepark as long as you bring skate shoes to change into, and don’t be a hater or a perv, or something like that. It’s not really any different than an episode of GVK, albeit not as revolting to look at but twice as revolting to listen to.

Before you get your panties in a bunch, this is just a concept for a removable ollie guard for your shoes, kind of like those old Totes™ brand rubbers my dad made me put on my dress shoes as a kid when it was raining. Unlike a lot of the other concepts in Benjamin Beck’s, it looks like he might have actually made at least one of them. I say “might” because he might be as skilled with Photoshop as he is with whatever 3D modeling package he uses. – Thanks to Boy Ipoh for the tip.

Reader’s Digest is traditionally found next to the davenports belonging to grandparents across North America, – light reading while you enjoy a highball on the lanai. America. This is Moraga Commons Skate Park photographed by Paul Rickman from Oakland, California. Paul is only 18 years old, what’s he doing reading Reader’s Digest – besides winning photo contests? My mother, a woman of a certain age, sent me these pages out of Reader’s Digest and then quickly became sheepish when I pointed out to her that she had turned into her own mother.

There’s a giant cloud of pompousness eminating from Sebring Revolution, starting with the name of a company whose mission is to “revolutionize the way consumers see, study, purchase, and interact with art, products and media.” Sure… I guess it sounds better than “We make cool stuff.” However, they’ve put together some interesting footage and interactive widgets featuring Rodney Mullen. Be thankful that it looks like NIN video and it didn’t go another route with Dave Grohl and a really earnest interview about how revolutionary Rodney is. Why so bitter, Kilwag, are you jealous of Steven Sebring much? Those who can’t do, teach. Those who can’t teach write snarky blogs. – Via Betsy Binckley Gordon on Facebook, who is probably un-friending me right now.

Seen above, the top three places in the first ever Street League Women’s Pro Division… What’s that? Oh, right. I guess those would more likely be some Monster Girls. I guess they don’t sponsor anyone in the women’s circuit, but hey, Nyjah Huston got 2nd. Photo from Monster’s press release regarding 2015 SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship, in Chicago, Illinois.

This is a cartoon by Glenn and Gary McCoy, available from CartoonStock.com. It’s got an ID# (ggm080314) but oddly enough if you search for it it tells you it doesn’t exist. Here come de judge.

Forget about the Olympics, we should start a petition to keep skateboarding out of fashion! All the fashion blogs are gaga about how the skateboards weren’t awkward at all and were very complimentary to the styles. Meanwhile, the skateboarding itself was very awkward, and the poor girl on the right could barely keep her fancy slip from slipping off… These are from the Ashish show for spring/summer 2016 at London Fashion Week. [Source: She Knows]

Andy Shinkage is selling re-issued skateboards turned into household lighting fixtures. They’re wired through the cutouts in the wooden riser pads that allow the board to remain intact without extra holes being drilled. As a wall mount, it’s kind of odd, I think the obvious choice would be to hang it overhead. Another thing you’d need to worry about is what happens if they stop selling LED lights that look like coned out skateboard wheels? 14 year old me would think this was the coolest ever. Adult me thinks it’s interesting. [Source: Technabob ]

Check out this clip of Jan and Dean lip-syncing Sidewalk Surfin’ on American Bandstand. August 22, 1964. Dick Clark talks with audience a little bit about skateboarding (a young man’s game?) and half the “band” actually does sidewalk surf on the stage. There’s even a little bit of dorking around during the lip sync session. See what passes for a “trick” in 1964. All in all, a very interesting clip showing skateboarding and skatesploitation in mid-60’s popular culture.

I just added 20 new adverts to Vintage Skatemag Advert gallery. These are from the January, 1998 issue of Thrasher. Not all of them are entirely interesting, but they’re there for the sake of uniformity. New ads include Antihero, Cadillac Trucks, California Skate Express, California Cheap Skates, Dare Devil Bearings, Freedumb Clothing, FTC, Menace Clothing, Nicotine Wheels, Plan B, Greed Garments, Halo Bearings, Intensity Skates, Recs Shoes, Mad Circle, Beer City, Concert Express, Etnies, Vans, and North Cal Distribution. Oxford comma for life!