I forgot this one when I made the Wheel Packaging post the other day. It’s Banzai Products wheels. The corresponding check boxes are all blank, so it’s impossible to tell which ones these are. It’s curious that Banzai Products repackaged another companies trucks (ACS) and sold them. ACS stands for American Cycle Systems, by the way, and were still seen advertised in the early issues of Thrasher, if my memory serves correctly. Getting back to it, these NOS Banzai wheels sold for $47 on eBay. Banzai also made a wicked aluminum board too. It’s funny how in the U.S., anything Japanese was considered exotic in the 30’s, evil in the 40’s, cheap and crappy in the 50’s and 60’s, and then Radical in the 70’s and 80’s.

Skateboarding is an inherently risky activity. Make no mistake about it. The more you skate, the greater your chances of eventually getting injured. What I can do without is the added risk involved when a facility that you pay to skate in does not sweep frequently enough, especially in the case of a wooden bowl. I know what you’re going to say, plenty of other people skate there without managing to blame their mishaps on dusty conditions. Truth is, I saw three different people eat it that night in the back bowl due to slippery masonite, but none of them were seriously injured. Fact of the matter is, my injury was 100% preventable. Believe me, I eat it all the time there without complaint, but this particular injury was caused by a dusty bowl. Maintenance will likely say “But we clean and sweep the bowl X times a month/week,” to which I reply “Not good enough. You need to increase the frequency.” Rant over. What’s the prognosis? No torn tendons or ligaments thankfully, just a lot of inflammation, fluid and a nasty contusion. Yes, I had knee pads on, thankfully, as I haven’t been wearing them there lately. 187’s with…

Taqwacore is both a fictional book described as “Catcher in the Rye” for young Muslims and a documentary film on the birth of Punk Islam. The trailer, press and web site weren’t as interesting as I had hoped. It’s all a little too slick and calculated, almost as if it’s being done because it’s such an obvious dichotomy, the purporters knew it would generate interest. I’m still interested in seeing the film, although I distrust anything to do with organized religion and gung-ho adoption of popular culture. And speaking of… I’ve also got some year old video of skateboarding inside the Catholic school system. The real story isn’t the skateboard that was designed and given to the Pope, instead it’s Father Peter Pomposello dragging his knuckle on the gym floor at St. Elizabeth’s in Washington Heights, NYC. – Thanks to Tito and Sarib Khalsa for the tips.

The BBC has a slideshow of some images from the Uganda Skateboard Union. People have been donating boards to the cause. The Tony Hawk Foundation has made some sizable material donations. Someone else even went to the trouble of donating a Mountain Dew shirt so the locals could get extreme! At this point in the post I’d like to point out that Uganda Skateboard Union first came to the attention of S&A back in 2007! If you’re in the mood for a good natured giggle, check out their awesome video, Boardmaster, from 2008. – Thanks to Paul Fujita for the tip.

I’m a sucker for vintage skateboards, and also vintage packaging. I love how 70’s era skateboard parts were packaged with hang cards and shrink wrapped, made for hanging from those pegs, like you could go to hardware store and pick up some riser pads, trucks and wheels. I got caught up in the moment last month, so I had to let these two items go.

A couple more music vids with skateboarding. No, it’s not Rob Dydrek launching a rap career. He’s just making a guest appearance in the Mayer Hawthorne video for Maybe So Maybe No. Hey Stones Throw, hook us up. Second up is “Young Forever” by Jay-Z with a guest appearance by Mr Hudson. – Thanks to Brian Baade for the tip.

I thought there was already some downhill company making a titanium axle truck, but then again I’m not keeping track. These guys (What guys? Theeve Trucks) claim to have the first titanium axle trucks: Theeve has created the world’s first 6/4 Titanium axle truck. TiAX Titanium axles are 40% lighter and 2 times stronger than standard steel axles. This gives you a weight saving and less chance of bending axles. Titanium / alloy blend with non-slip 6/4 Aerospace grade Titanium axles, Grade 8 king pins and Bones® Hardcore Bushings™ standard. I don’t know how big a part of the overall weight the axle is, so I’m not sure that it would make much of a difference to all but the techy-est of riders. However, extra strength and Bones Bushings are something I can get behind. Theeve says it’s their take on a classic truck, which is kind of funny because I thought these were ACE’s take on a classic truck when I first saw the profile. Speaking of ACE, does anyone know what’s going on with them? I’m trying to set up an account over there and I haven’t heard back in months. Getting back to Theeve, their web site…

Or so says recent new father Danimal – Congrats! However, I have it on good authority that “Dad” bought this for himself for X-Mas, and not for his firstborn, shown here. This particular bowl appears to have made the rounds with skaters of a certain age this year. I know three people whose “kids” got one. More details on this particular artifact later.