A few days ago I went skateboarding at DOS (Department of Skateboarding for the PDX uninitiated) with a friend. This is a friend that I have known for nearly 10 years now. I friend that I met on the other side of the country, and that I have remained very close with throughout many of lifes changes: jobs, states, fatness, thinness, relationships, deaths. Everything. We used to skateboard together at work a long time ago, and we still skateboard together today. During this session at DOS with my friend I saw a familiar face. I say familiar because it’s a face that I knew, but not one that I had seen recently. Not at all. This time, it was another friend from my days in the mountains of Colorado. I hadn’t seen him in many years. He was here on business and he did what skateboarders who travel for business do. They go to the local skatepark and ride their skateboards.

Got a tip from a reader about Skatemontana.com, which he says the natives (Montanians? Montanites?) are proud of. With good reason too, it’s sharp looking and has some top notch photography. Nice logo. Do you think they eat meat out there? Skate Montana? I believe I will. Thanks to Jer for the tip. See you out there this summer. Now go see why Montana is the new Oregon (except for Portland!)

I’ve looked at the website (www.halfpipehoneyz.com) but I still can’t figure out what it is or why. It appears to be a site for slutty models who can be booked for events. But it also has skatepark reviews. The latest one gives the Cocoa Beach, Florida park 4 out of 5 stars, and it’s obvioulsy written by a skater. WTF? They even have merchandise (including yoga pants, seen after the jump) and stickers. Anyone have the lowdown on this?

That’s right. We jump from Newcastle England straight to locals only contests in Albany Oregon. We don’t care. We’re crazy! Top: Albany local Rex Pearson. Photo and story by Danimal. Check it out.

Now this is what we need. More contribtors like Matt Sefton. Originally intended as one of our scene reports It was just too long and too well done. So I made it a feature. Long time readers already know we have a U.K. connection in ex-pat House of Neil, so we’re glad to continue the tradition. Read the Newcastle feature.

In the 80’s Oak St Beach was a hot spot for street skaters, and the closest Midwest flesh parade there was to Miami’s South Beach today. I don’t know if you’re still allowed to skate there because it rained while I was in Chicago. What you get instead is this tourist approximation of Oak Street Beach in the form of a crappy theme sports bar at Chicago’s Midway Airport. Awesome hubba ledge shot after the jump.