There are a couple of interesting guys (Nerrrrrrds!) on this site called Crazy Builders. It’s kind of like a show you migtht expect to see on the Discovery Channel. They wanted to build a fan powered skateboard, and they did, except the fan is made from a high powered RC plane engine, and it’s open in the back. I’d hate to have a wipeout and end up on the wrong side of that cage… Anyway, just like the site says, it’s good fun in the name of science. Although the science connection is a little weak here. I like the guy in the video. He had the good sense to dress like a scientist and make his skateboard fan boat in the shape of a bomb. Skateboards, science and wacky hats after the jump.

The ASU Libraries (Part of Arizona State University, don’t ya know…) has an archive of old photographs from the school newspaper that includes this one titled Student demonstrates a new craze – the skateboard. Sweet. I guess there was a time when short boards were the college craze.

I know we’re in the middle of winter here, but when my son saw his new deck with an orange top ply, the first thing he said was that it looked like a pumpkin. Grover said the same thing too, so I made it look like a pumpkin. I hadn’t really done the custom grip tape thing since the 80’s, so it was a nice project. Bonus pic after the jump.

Yeah, we went to the opening day, but it was at the end of a long day after sessioning in the Aumsville/Salem area. Figured it would be a zoo there, and everyone we talked to said it was. We got there about 5:30pm, and it was still packed full of kids. There were a lot of bikes too, but everyone was happy. I did hear some grumbling about the traffic. Miniramp section looks fun. Coping is slick and sticks out a little too far. ALso odd that there is no decks on any of it, but still fun. It seemed like every obstacle had a line of kids waiting to hit it. We heard tales that there were three separate filmers there at the same time, each in a different area of the park. “I can’t wait to come back when there’s nobody here” was a common refrain. And yes, we had a winner from that morning. I was only there for about a half an hour. Nobody was really landing much, and I had to split, but I did get a few snaps. If you’re still hungry, EPM has one shot up so far. UPDATE: EPM has the shots.

Again from the shutter release finger, dare I say Hood River bureau of SnA? (I’m trying to shame you, Estes…) Carl Warren has a few shots of… aww… come on. Who is this guy? (I’m trying to shame you, Carl…) Looks like it’s too late for a gap jump “first.” Three shots after the jump. UPDATE: Added video.

This week’s Shot of the Week came from Dan Hughes Northwest Skater. He’s got three pages related to his old friend Mark Holt. There’s one full page of shots from the old Olympic Skate Park in Olympia, Washington, probably from the last couple of years it was open. It closed in 1982. There’s some great shots in there, some probably better than the one I chose, but I decided on this one despite the obvious out of frame flaw. It’s still rad, and I like the guy in the background. The next page is dedicated to various ramps that Mark had, some without any flat bottom. The last page is assorted skate shots in the street, skateparks and a pool. Check ’em out. (1 – 2 -3)

A car company in Spain called SEAT (?) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of a car called the Ibiza. They are promoting it with a commercial featuring a lot of skateboarding and the now ubiquitous Alphaville song “Forever Young.” They’ve got a very loose interpretation of a skateboarding timeline as the backdrop. is SEAT spanish for Mazda? Check it out after the jump. Thanks to Dean Tyrell for the tip. His friend Jairo Garcia is one of the skaters in the ad.

Curt Stevenson tipped me off that construction on the new 16,000 square foot Venice skatepark has broken ground. It’s a Wormhoudt design, but I don’t know who is building it. according to Yo Venice, the construction is supposed to take an inhumane TEN MONTHS! Really? That seems absurd, but then again, those California construction companies seem to work at a glacial pace. We’re still waiting for Ed Benedict to open here in Portland, and coincidentally, California Skateparks is the contractor on that long overdue opening. We never seem to have that problem when the jobs go to local contractors, I’m just saying… A web site called Venice Skatepark would seem to be the place to go for info, but so far it looks like the site is only aggregating feeds from elsewhere. A skateshop called, wait for it… Venice Skates has more of an inside line, including shots of Christian Hosoi, Pat Ngoho and Jesse Martinez taking a break from a session to revise some of the bowl plans. Considering the long and colorful history of street skating at Venice Beach, I’m surprised there is as much tranny in the design. It’s about half and half. I guess a street…

The last ever issue of Concussion should be hitting the skateshops as you read this. Publisher Davoud Kermaninejad sent the news out to supporters via email last Friday night. He’s been half-seriously threatening to do it for years, but the harsh transitions of our shitty economy finally sealed the deal. Sorry Davoud, couldn’t resist. He’s throwing in the towel as far as print issues go. He decided to go out with a bang rather than see future issues strangled by the ever-shrinking list of advertisers and the production budget that comes with them. You’ve got to respect his style. Concussion may or may not continue to live online, that decision won’t be made until the coping dust has settled. Until then, get your Concussion back issues and schwag direct from the source before Amy Winehouse shows up wearing a Concussion shirt in People, and you have to pay twice the price on eBay. You can read Davoud’s email (with permission, of course) after the jump.

Those of you left still holding your breath can take a giant inhale. Sam from SkateOregon just got off the phone with a real life Portland Parks & Recreation representative who confirmed the fences are coming down, and Ed Benedict is officially open tomorrow, Saturday, February 7th. An formal ceremony may or may not come at a later date. It’s Portland’s first street plaza, so you have to believe there will be some sort of recognition. I wonder if our beleaguered Mayor will attend? Free Cold War 7.75″ Strike deck to the first person to send me photo or video proof of any kickflip variation over the snake river gap! No joke. It has to be new proof, not something poached from when the fences were up. I’ll judge “first” by the order it reaches my inbox. May the best man (probably not old) win! UPDATE: We have a winner. Clip coming soon. – Thanks to Sam for the tip!