I had always intended to include video footage with our series of DIY articles on screenprinting skateboards (see bottom pics). Now that I’ve seen the Sistine Chapel of screenprinting videos I can’t see the point of making what will obviously be, an inferior copy of a master’s work. From Aesthetic Apparatus comes this video of the silkscreen process. Although these guys are making posters, it’s essentially the same process used for screen printing skateboards, or screen printing heat transfers. How does this video manage to be educational, annoying, and hilarious at the same time? Watch and find out. [Source: The News]

Wheelie. Wheelie. Wheelie.

My friend did a manual, and then a nose manual on a ledge which is longer than a football field. The actual distance was 315.21 feet and I found that using Google Earth, I even included a screen shot at the end of the clip for you non-believers.

Wheelie. Wheelie. Wheelie.

Update: I never said this was the longest, but people keep sending in longer manuals, so I’ve added them after the jump. However, this first video is still (more?) interesting for three reasons:

1. Unlike the others, it’s an ollie to manual.
2. There’s a Google Earth picture of this huge manual pad.
3. The other guys are appear to be rolling downhill.

Earth Patrol Media has finished posting their Sleestock 2007 pictures. Above area a few of my favorites. Top is a kid named andy with an Andrecht on the hip. So Rad. On the bottom is this year’s answer to last year’s parking lot cooler session. Next, check out Tim Eberly’s Bangles inspired stance in the middle bottom. He does this weird thing sometimes when he drops in, at the last second he turns his back foot parallel to the board. He’s shifty! Lastly, it’s the man with the plan, the Stak’s own Bobcat. Noticeably absent from the gallery? Me! Come on man, I learned how to carve over the stairs with my hand on the bottom step. EPM caught it on film and I was quite pleased with myself. Maybe I looked like Hitler again. Fortunately there is plenty of other viewage available. Check out EPM’s Sleetsock 2007 coverage.

Team Shralp passed along a report on the Vancouver meeting last week. Sorry I’m a little slow in passing along the info. Sounds like there was a decent turnout – a mix of ages and a few skateboarders for a change. Some neighbors thought the skatepark was getting special treatment – dog park people were pissed cause they pay for their trash removal, restrooms, and fencing but the skatepark is going to have those things provided by the city, months ahead of any other feature in the park. What can we say skateboarders have a better lobby.

There was some loose discussion of rules, kind of like Battle Ground’s rules: bikes and skateboards all the time, pegs yes, and be polite to each other and people and things around the park.

The current plan is to open mid-August and they are going to sneak it – no big event just open the gates and let it happen, just word of mouth.

Thanks Jason. skatepark rendering from Grindline

OK, first this month I want to clarify some things. Namely, what Baywatch is and what it is not. It is a column where I list skateboard related auctions that caught my eye the previous month on eBay. It is completely random: I cover what I find interesting, unusual or funny. It is not a price guide and was never meant to be one. I guess because I list the final auction price people sometimes use it in that way, but that is not the prime purpose. If a definitive price guide is what you are looking for, then you are looking in the wrong place. If not, then check out the June 2007 eBay Watch.

The Curve Extreme Sport is just a design concept now, but if it ever gets produced it will be another in a long series of over-engineered and likely very expensive skateboards. The biggest feature is that the traditional trucks have been replaced with a system that places one elongated footbal-shaped wheel on the front and the back. The effect is half Z-Roller truck, half flowboard. I know this is just a guy (Gary Chang) exercising the left half of his brain a little, so there’s no need to tear this thing apart. That won’t stop me from pointing out a few obvious flaws and showing you some more pics after the jump. [Source: Yanko Design]

Rich said they are even further along today. Can’t wait. More shots after the jump.

Skate Montana sent in this announcement for the Great Montana Skate Race being held on August 11th in Dillon, home of the figure eight skatepark we mentioned about a year ago. I’m not sure if it qualifies as park slalom or bordercross, but I’ll bet it’s a blast. Old Grover is always trying to start impromptu races around the outside of Oregon’s parks. I’ll bet he’s jonesing for GVK coverage of this event. Dillion links and vid after the jump.

The shows I watch must fall out of the targeted demographic because I’ve had people tell me about this commercial but I can’t seem to catch it on the air. Instead I have to resort to pulling it off the web. Misubishi, the company that brought you the Japanese Zero, now wants to help you go on a kamikaze pool mission by driving you there and blasting your MP3’s once you get to the secret spot. Thanks to John Aguilar and Paige for the tip off.

ABC News has a small gallery of pictures from the practice session for the Skateboard Downhill World Championship held on July 11, 2007. Don’t start to whining “That’s not skateboarding, that’s extreme kooks! Wah wah wah!” Yes, it is skateboarding, and before Thrasher Magazine used to make fun of street luge and professional downhill racing, they used to have recurring spotlights where they talked about it in very revered tones. The guy on left has good fashion sense. The guy on the right looks like he’s got the racing suit but without knee pads. Full face helmet? Sure. Downhill in the rain? Count me out. There are some good shots in the gallery if you hold your breath through a couple of unfortunate buttboarding and skeleton pictures. It looks like there are too many disciplines in downhill these days. I would say that’s not skateboarding but my two year old son would disagree. Getty Images photos from ABC News. After you are done looking at the pretty pictures, check out this ABC Wild World of Sports clip featuring the World Championship of Skateboarding from 1976 after the jump.