There’s a spot in Panama called the Albrook ditch. It looks pretty harsh. The locals are working on a DIY addition to make it work. Clearly, it works already. There’s before and after video of the ditch being skated, but they are making improvements. I wonder if these guys argue about whether or not it makes sense to goof on scooters. I doubt it. Fresh air everyone. Get some in Panama. Insert Van Halen joke here. Skateboarding Panama provides video coverage. – Thanks to Mirlo for the tip.

Here’s a short documentary on the Kings Highway DIY project in Saint Louis, made by Gabe Kehoe. – Thanks to Bob Mechtly for the tip.

Some people don’t have time to bicker about scooters. They’ve got places to go and future sessions to build. Joey O’Mahoney writes in from New Orleans: Near the intersection of Paris and Pleasure. Located on a decommissioned slab of HUMANITY ST. between the freeway(I-610) and the train tracks. between PARIS and ST. more BERNARD. more work every week. joeyomahoney@gmail.com if you want to come help work or find it or whatever! Check out the Shot of the Week. Bonus shots after the jump.

Matt’s bowl is sick and he’s building more terrain in the yard. It was a great party last year. More video here and here. Details on the flyer after the turn.

More pictures from a backyard pour in the woods of Maine, thanks to Thomas Dupere.

I posted this one on East Coast time, just for our readers from Maine. Thomas Dupere sent in a couple pictures of a basement bowl and the beginnings of some DIY crete in the woods. I think they planning to pour this weekend.

The late 70’s gave birth to the plexiglass skateboard. They were fashion over function, more heavy but cool looking. I always wanted one. Somebody over at Pleasant Home made their own. There are no instructions, but I imagine it’s simple enough. Cut it out of thick plexiglass and heat up the tail with a torch and bend it over a pipe. My plexiglass working knowledge is limited to something I saw on TV once, or imagined I did, so take it with a grain of salt. I do know you need a extra fine tooth saw blade to cut it. I’m not sure how that works with a jigsaw though. The old plexiglass board I remember appeared to be molded rather than cut from a solid sheet. Maybe they weren’t technically plexiglass. I wonder if this board is too flexible. Come on Pleasant Home, let’s have a tutorial. That kicktail needs help.

Well that’s what I get for sitting on my hands. I had planned a little photo feature of the D.I.Y. project known as Wasteland, courtesy of Steve Aycock, but before I got around to it, the property owners demolished the spot. The Charleston City Paper has an article on how it all went down. Check out Steve’s (AKA SCphotog) Wasteland flickr stream for a wide range of shots including construction in progress. Don’t forget to check out the full frame shot of Corey Dowds as Shot of the Week.

I think we’ve mentioned a few rocket powered skateboards before, and now we’re giving you the tools to do it yourself. OK, not giving you the tools, you need to buy the book. Aside from skateboards, author Dan Pollino is involved in amateur rocketry with engines on a much powerful scale. He’ll teach you how to make those rockets too, which is good because quite frankly, the engines on the skateboard don’t look nearly as impressive on video as they do in the stills. But then again, who want’s to stand on top of a notoriously unstable explosive? Might as well make it somewhat, uh, safe. – Thanks to Eric Shea for the tip.

Some folks are looking forward to the Superbowl, while others in the New York/New Jersey area aren’t phased by a Jets loss, they are more interested in an Orange Bowl. Private indoor spot sent in by Eric G. I like the weird and angular volcano thing in the center. Did anyone realize that enlarge-o-rama is working again?