…in Echo, Oregon. Thanks to Sam from Skate Oregon for this report: Eastern Oregon continues blowing up with the little town of Echo (population 700) opening a nice little “Community Skatepark” this afternoon. Grindline made them a great 4000 square foot (?) concrete shape not dissimilar to Portland’s Gabriel Park: shallow top to hip hip deeper bowl. It is open to skateboards, inline skates, and bikes. While not yet on the official city web page, they do have a Facebook page for the skatepark. And of course, Sam has some shots up at the granddaddy skatepark sites, SkateOregon. Now I have to go look up Echo, Oregon on Google Maps.

Here’s the official trailer for the forthcoming video game Shaun White Skateboarding. There are some folks that think it’s going to be revolutionary, but I’m more of the mindset that developers are running out of evolutionary steps to make skateboarding video games different. Fortunately, they aren’t running out of ways to make exciting commercials. One interesting thing, it’s his first skateboarding game and he doesn’t even make an appearance in the trailer. – Thanks to Eric Cherry for the tip.

Chuck Treece and McRad will be playing a record release party in Hollywood on june 10th at Space 15Twenty. Flyer after the jump. New record? What label? Bigger flyer after the jump.

Former Blockhead skater and artist Ron Cameron is having a solo art show titled Dismantled Hope that runs from June 9th-16th at the Encinitas, California library. The opening is Friday, June 11th from 6-9pm.

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.

This week’s Shot of the Week is an excuse to link to Michael Goetz’ gallery of skate photos from his ongoing residence in South Africa. He’s been there for about five months. Aside from visiting family, he’s working on planning the first bowl in Cape Town. Check out his South Africa gallery, or head on down to the Shot of the Week.

Before you get too excited, although it is technically “real,” it’s just maglev technology, you know, electromagnets that you can buy off the shelf, provided you go to the right store. This hoverboard only works on the platform that houses the electromagnets, and while it can carry some weight, it’s not near powerful enough to hold a human. A clever and fun demonstration of a simple idea, really. The creator Nils Guadagnin says there are also lasers involved to help balance, but I’m not sure how or why they are needed. Video after the jump. – Thanks to Concretin Nik for the tip.

I found this on the Chase Jarvis blog after getting distracted while researching DIY steadicams. I thought to myself, “That sure looks like the Kent, Washington skatepark,” and I was right. This was a commercial shoot, but for what? At first I thought Chase Jarvis was the annoying dude in the video, but I think it’s the name of a firm. These guys have their web marketing down pat. I believe I saw them highlighted on the Apple site in relation to iPhone photography. Watch Cameras at Risk after the jump.

As found on the Fellows page of the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, whose mission is to “bring together visual artists, writers and musicians from around the world who demonstrate exceptional talent and an enduring commitment to their disciplines.” There is no accompanying information about the location. The foundation’s headquarters is in New York, but the residency is located in Italy. It almost looks like you can see some wheel marks on those transitions. Too bad they are sitting on grass. Stupid art… – Thanks to Skate D for the tip.

Kids have beds. Kids need sheets. Kids love Spiderman. Kids love skateboarding. Kids love cheap imported home goods from manufacturers that aren’t concerned with copyright infringement or having an art director with a fully formed idea. Seeing this picture with all the clashing pop culture characters makes me fear for my kid’s psyche.