Sounds like the title from one of MCs cartoons, but it’s actually a piece by street artist Slinkachu, and I mean “street artist” literally. Slinkachu makes tiny art installations in the streets and photographs them. I’d like to think he (or she?) leaves them there, but the web site FAQ is mum on the subject. Local Amenities For Children is a 2008 piece while the one below, Epic Fail was sublimated on a skateboard in 2009. No, it not all skateboard related, which is good, because the best pieces are unrelated. Each installation is photographed from multiple focal lengths, sometimes taking on a different meaning depending on how much the real world encroaches on the constructed version. – Thanks to Tim Laidlaw for the tip. [Source: Yahoo News]

Vince from Spohn Ranch sent in some pics of the new skatepark in the Dalles in progress.

Interesting alternative construction methods over at Habitat. Cork ply decks have a real cork sheet laminated to the top of the deck eliminating the need for grip tape. The cork is harvested from live trees in a sustainable manner and adhered with water based glues. These collectors decks are both fun to skate and easy on your shoes. Besides cork ply, they’ve also got a hemp composite and a bamboo top ply… Although the web site mentions these technologies for the 2009 lineup, so no idea if this is still current. – Thanks to Boy for the tip.

Here’s some pretty cool POV footage of some downhill action courtesy of Madrid rider Zak Maytum, who starts out at the back and ends up passing everyone at least once. This reminds me of the old Omnimax footage of the rollercoaster ride and corvettes driving down a windy road. Iggy and the Stooges on the soundrtack too. Geez, I must have downhill on the brain, this is two Maryhill posts in a week. UPDATE: Duh. I forgot the video, but it’s there now. [Source:Skateonline]

I don’t usually post a lot of random product announcements unless it tickles my fancy. This one I’m featuring purely because I still love the midwest, even though I don’t really want to live there. If you’re a long time reader you’ll also know I’ve got an affinity for all things Surf Ohio/Cow Skates. Assault Skateboards just released a board for Ohioan Mark Heintzman that is more or less a re-issue of his old ketchup bottle graphic for G&S. Assorted Mark Heintzman video and photo paraphernalia after the jump. – Thanks to Jeff Haynes for the tip.

Limited time offer expires at midnight tonight. 20% off with discount code SKATEANDANNOY. Get your fashion on at Maple XO.

Portland skateboarders foiled a possibly deadly assault on a woman, knocking out the ice pick wielding assailant with a skateboard and holding him until police arrived. Good job citizens. Were these skaters the PDX equivalent of the Red Angels of Dragnet City? (Noprize anyone?) Nope, they were skating a recently built concrete ramp outside of River City Bicycles, where the owner of the shop had the ramps built specifically “for learning tricks on.” While he doesn’t specify whether it was built for skateboards or bicycles, he credits the “quarter pipe” with saving the woman’s life. OK, we can give him that. There’s room for bikes and skaters to get along in Portland (BIke lane! Bike Lane!) especially if you keep building spots for us… As long as you look up the definition of quarter pipe. Is it just me, or does that look like banks and not tranny? – Thanks to Shawn F and Sam for the tip. [Source: BikePortland]

This is a detail from this week’s Shot of the Week, a Gabe Trejo photo of Frank Shaw riding the face of one of the three full pipes at the Myrtle Creek, Oregon skatepark. Check out the full frame shot of the week.

The guys over at Skatehouse Media and Wheelbase Mag have really upped their game when it comes to capturing downhill race coverage. Who would have thought throwing a helicopter into the mix (when not dropping into a mega ramp) would be useful, but for downhill it really is nice. While I was waiting for the video from Maryhill (still above top) to make the final cut, the crew went to another event in Colorado called the Buffalo Bill Downhill. Unfortunately, the helicopter crashed! But fortunately nobody was seriously injured and the whole thing was caught on video and in stills. The two photos in the bottom are credited to Marcus Bandy at Wheelbase. The one on the right is from a preview of the race, while the one on the left is an amazing shot of the helicopter as it is hitting the ground.. After the jump, catch video coverage of the crash and Maryhill footage with absolutely no (helicopter) crashes.