In this installment of drive by camera phone shots, what looks like the beginnings of a miniramp being constructed in a driveway. Turns out it was for a Nike photo shoot on nearby Sauvie Island. Not a miniramp, but some sort of run up to quarter pipe with a gap. As it was a few blocks from my house and in the front yard on busy street, I had to pull over and ask what was up. The guy building seemed a little weirded out by my enthusiasm. Sure is a lot going on skateboarding wise here in and around Portland. I was just thinking about that while reading Neil’s ebay watch. Two things that came to mind when he mentioned a Mark Partain – He lives in Hood River, and Julien Stranger – He was at MC’s bowl on Saturday. Now that I think about it, Chad Vogt has a model on Portland’s M&M Skateboards too.

It may not be environmentally friendly, but it sure looks fun. Thanks to Brian Baade’s nameless friend Brian Forwood for the photo.

Mount Tabor hill in Portland is a popular downhill spot. It’s closed to auto traffic and pretty mellow on conventional once you’ve taken your first run. It’s open to foot traffic as well, but on Wednesdays it’s supposed to be specifically open for high speed travel, be it bikes or skateboards. It’s also the sight of the annual Adult Soapbox Derby, an event that doesn’t use the actual purpose-built soapbox derby track adjacent to the main downhill course. There’s a bit of a debate about off leash dogs. Portland is simultaneously progressive and very uptight at the same time. There have been some “outlaw” races on the hill, but this Saturday is supposedly the first sanctioned and permitted downhill race on Mt Tabor. The Portland Downhill Challenge will feature giant slalom and old school downhill. By “old school downhill” we’re talking late 70’s style with your feet placed almost side by side. Sounds like fun. That’s on Sunday, and the day before the promoters are sponsoring the second annual Portland Skate Scavenger Hunt.

You’re looking at massive portable and reconfigurable concrete bowl made by Spohn Ranch. In much the same way that you’ve seen Tony Hawk’s metal framed vert ramp carted along in pieces to assorted demos and Boom Boom Huck Jams, except it’s concrete, and more complex. It’s a pretty amazing from a technical standpoint, something that heavy than can be set up, then torn down and transported on regular roadways, to be set up again in a different configuration. The current incarnation is still in beta. As it is now, the waterfall and intermediary walls are poured in place on each stop, but plans are to get those fabricated and surfaced for reuse as well. The rough sketch for the bowl (shallow 7′ 6″ , deep 12′) was conceived by Chris Miller before being worked over in CAD to engineer it. The individual sections are laser cut, with 3/16″ of steel between every other section. It’s supposed to be precise enough to not feel the seem on rollover. A CNC cut floor template helps everything fit together. The coping is modular as well. The goal over the next 5 years or so is to build a giant library of sections to…

ESPN has let out a few photos of the skate structure for X Games 17. They chose the now more commonplace method of pouring a concrete over a wooden substructure. This kind of facility is temporary and seemingly very wasteful, although the concrete and wood can be “recycled” into new concrete and new ramps. However, I’m pretty skeptical that they are going to store all that wood somewhere until the next time they use it. Landfill seems more likely. On the other hand, the Dew Tour is going a different route via a familiar name in precast concrete. Don’t confuse this with ordinary prefab, these massive pieces are cut with the aid of lasers and designed to be interchangeable and self aligning. The plan is to eventually build up a large library of interchangeable parts. If you’re confused about the strange look of these, then join the club. We’re supposed to get more information shortly, so stay tuned. SPeaking of the Dew Tour, I heard a rumor that PDX local Dave Tobin was being flown back to judge!

20 years of skate films crammed into three nights this weekend (July 22nd-24) at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland. Guest speakers and a pretty cool lineup after the jump. Presnted by Vans, so it might be coming to your (major metropolitan) neighborhood soon.

Everyone who follows the skateboarding industry in the slightest knew who Fausto Vitello was, and what his contributions were, but Eric Swenson was arguably equally as important. He took his own life outside of a police station. The San Francisco Examiner reports his friends and family believe he ended his life as a result of his struggle with a debilitating motorcycle injury. The photo above is Eric Swenson, Craig Stecyk, & Fausto Vitello, at the Independent foundry in San Francisco, CA, 1983. It was taken by Mofo and lifted from Thrasher – Thanks to anonymous tipster at Skate-Planet.com.

It’s another installment of Lloyd Kahn, the 74 76 year old skateboarder, this time in video.

Yessir, guilty of being delicious. BBQ benefit for the Brooklyn Street Skate Spot in Portland, Oregon on saturday the 16th. Sponosors include Unheard Skate Supply, Merde Skateboards, Rip City Skates, and Cold War Skateboards. What’s going on with Brooklyn Street? When are they going to break ground on the second half? Enquiring minds want to know.