For those keeping track, and I’m guessing that’s about three other people, I’ve resurrected the Broken Kingpins column name in Skate and Annoy. This time around, instead of covering all the roster hopping and product release junk like we used to in our ancient print issues, I’m using it for all the miscellaneous links that don’t merit their own post. Besides, there are about a million other web sites that can tell you who has new shoe models and who got kicked off of what tour. [Photo: Denver Post / Andy Cross]

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]

After finally seeing a snakeboard in action a week ago, I noticed that the movement looked a lot more like old school rollerskating than skateboarding. I thought that if you were into that, you would probably want to have sideways rollerskates so you wouldn’t have to point your toes at 180 degree angles like some circus clown. I chuckled about the idea of someone trying to bring to market a pair of sideways rollerskates, or even more improbable, small skateboards for each foot. Well it turns out it’s already been done. I know this company will be in business forever, but I’ve taken the liberty of preserving some pictures from thier web site just in case the unthinkable happens.

Another in our series of skateboard-like deathtraps you can purchase. Oh wait, it looks more like a snowboard you can use in the off-season. Carry on.

I was reading an article in the Lower Hudson Online about Pioneering Rockland skateboarders still at it in their 40s and I had to chuckle when they got to the part explaining the team’s name. The Wizards came up with their team’s name to reflect the creative inspiration that came with each move, said Jamaal Bey, the team’s leader. The skateboard was the magic wand, and the skateboarder was the wizard who would perform each new trick. Now the 70’s sure were a groovy time. Wizards, dragons and unicorns were all very heavy and hip back then. Nowadays the idea of a private skateboard team with a ridiculous name seems laughable, except for the err, uh, Scrotes. I had to laugh again when the article mentioned the team would sneak into empty pools to practice. Practice what? Sneaking into pools? The act of skating the pool is the end reward, not something you practice in anticipation of something else. One of the Wizards has a truly wacky but passionate side business called Bey Boards that err, focuses on things like skate brakes, weird downhill bikes (that I swear I’ve seen before) Nascar-themed downhill boards, lace savers (that take a truly…

I can’t find much about Simon Woodstock on the web. There are a couple of reviews of his religious tract disguised as a zine, but other than that, just this video clip, Skim the Fat doesn’t have a single listing of him, even if IMDB lists him as appearing in Boob. STF lists 154 skaters in that video, but no Simon Woodstock. It’s like he’s been blacklisted. Simon was in the limelight at a time when I wasn’t following the industry rags, not that I am now, but through the Interweb™ I sometimes find out about things whether I want to or not. I remember reading about some legendary shenanigans and talented skating in the past tense. What I get from this video is a heavy CKY vibe. Just as some people can’t stand Bam, there are lot of Woodstock bashers out there. You’d have to be blind to say he had no talent. Watch him ride both a skimboard and snowboard set up as skateboards while wearing appropriate attire and shredding as effortlessly as if he was riding a short board. Then there’s the clown suit. Funny stuff, but I can imagine it wears thin after a while. So…

Some enginerds have built a low cost version of an existing skateboard/snowmobile hybrid. It’s basically a skateboard with two tank treads replacing the truck assembly. Even though they might have even used drills to power it, it’s still a step above this, but lowering the cost also lowers the perofmance, as the Sno Deck seems to have a top speed of 2 MPH. It’s no Scarpar, that’s for sure. The best part of the video is when the Beastie Boys cut into the super lame OPM Heaven is a halfpipe song. (Q: Sugar Ray wannabes, how lame is that? A: Very!) Then the action kicks into… well, low gear. These guys can barely stand up on damn thing! Also, look for their semi-embarassed “Engineering”battle cry. Catch the vid after the jump.

Less than breaking news I need to clear off of the hard drive. People have been motorizing skateboards since the 70’s. Most of those contraptions resulted in big clunky boards, but someone has moved the motor off the board. This is the Skate Scepter, what the inventor calls a “Motorized Skater Assist.” Basically, it’s a weed eater that pushes you on your board. To be fair, they appear to be well designed. They even have a disk brake! Might be fun to goof around with, but not for the kind of scratch that they cost. You can check the web site for pictures and video. And, because these type of companies tend to go out of business quickly. I’ve archived aome pictures for posterity. [Source: Absolute Gadget]

Some college kids may have invented it first, but Sony holds the patent, and I’m sure Segway might feel otherwise. That’s not stopping more people from making their own versions. The slickest by far seems to be the one wheeled version. Video, links and pics after the jump.

5-Minute Project: Drill-Powered Skateboard is a D.I.Y. project on the Instructables web site. It was a lot cooler before I realized that you were basically dragging the drill on the ground as the fourth wheel. I’m guessing battery powered drills won’t last long under the torque required to move an adult. I can foresee rigs with long extension cords and beer for a racing circuit. [Source: Zedomax.com]