Another new MLS franchise, this time in St Louis. St Louis City FC will start playing soccer in 2023. For some reason the press pic on the MLS post highlights a local skatepark (which skatepark?) with the flag of St. Louis painted on the side wall. When I think of St Louis I recall those contests and demos under the arch.

I think this web site is called WHATSUP. (WHATSUP???) Follow this link for pictures of a crazy concrete dragon built for skating in an art exhibit they may have something to do with Vans.

A: Because they come from China and wholesale for less than $1 a piece.

Seriously, would it kill them to make the seats a little deeper so that the tool doesn’t become useless if you’ve got really soft bushings or want to tighten things down for a mega ramp session? I get unsolicited emails from Chinese companies all the time, trying to sell me plastic skateboards, cheap decks, trucks, wheels, and even authentic (?) “Bones” bearings, all on the cheap. “Swiss” bearings imported from china, including packaging. Thanks Dwindle.

It’s not unusual to hear about a school program for pressing skateboards, but Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon goes a few steps beyond that.  Skateboard Engineering is a half a year elective that also goes delves into 3D design, using CAD software to design trucks, 3D printers for prototyping, and their on-site foundry and machine shop for actually manufacturing trucks.  I’ve been visiting their open house for a couple years now, and each time I go they’ve added more to the program. The curriculum is evolving as the teacher learns more. He did not have a previous background in skateboarding, but rightly thought it would be something that students would be into.

Jake Phelps, longest running editor of Thrasher Magazine, dead at 56. Cause of death has not been released.

I was in Atlanta for about 30 hours to watch the MLS Cup. The Timbers lost, which was a bummer. My experience was essentially Airport to Marta to Hotel to Stadium to AirbnB to Airport. I didn’t get to see a lot, but I did catch some nice looking, but mostly wet terrain.

What is this thing? Is it an ollie trainer, or is it just a regular ole Maui and Sons skateboard that some eccentric nut decided to make even more dangerous by replacing the trucks with giant springs? I’m not sure what you could actually do with this, besides try to sell it on Ebay. This appears to be the “Thrasher Sharkson” pro model.

Thanks to Matthijs for the tip.

It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was back in 2015 when I originally posted on Folkestone Skate Park, a multi-story skatepark whose contoured bowls would form the ceiling and floors of each story. I said I’d be shocked if it ever progressed beyond a design exercise, and well… I’m shocked, stunned, and amazed! Guy Hollaway Architects posted some construction updates. This thing is real. Wow.

– Thanks to Tallboycan for the tip.

Yesterday we saw preliminary reports that Julie Lynn Kindstrand may have been sexually assaulted as a minor by Neal Hendrix, but the source was abstracted enough that we left it until today to post. These are serious accusations, and we didn’t want to post something half-baked. Since then it has started appearing on ESPN and the Wall Street Journal. Neal Hendrix denies the allegations. Julie Kindstrand has provided a six page document to the Costa Mesa police, as well as the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Although suspended, Neal Hendrix is still listed (at the time of this publication) as an Athlete Representative and Executive Committee member on the USA Skateboarding web site.

Update: Video statement from Julie.

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Get all the distressing details here. Charlie Wilkins is not the idiot in the video shot during the protest. Every Portland skateboarder that has ever met Charlie Wilkins would likely vouch for him. I would. Help spread the word on social media. #notcharliewilkins.

Update: The story was covered on local news KGW.