Where was the Golfboard when Schwing! magazine was in it’s heyday? Did Schwing! ever have a heyday? The GolfBoard’s primary innovation over any other electric skateboard seems to be the optional addition of a handle for holding a golf bag, which would make it more of a scooter, and the uncanny way in which the marketing manages to avoid the word “skateboard” while repeatedly mentioning surfing and snowboarding. They did appear to accidentally use the word in the title of their first youtube video. That must have been before the focus groups and marketing research raised a flag. Another possible innovation, they’ve gotten some insurance companies on board to help facilitate leases and rentals through golf courses. The’ve even got professional surfer Laird Hamilton on board. Demographically, the golfing public at large used to be diametrically opposed to skateboarders. Suddenly, the old Nike SB commercial with the golfers getting kicked off the course is moot. There are two main selling points the GolfBoard: Less wear and tear on the golf course as opposed to traditional golf carts, and a new “fun” way to experience the course that also has some health benefits through increased activity, again compared to riding in…

How to skateboard, Japanese grocery store checkout style. Learn how to do a “running push,” nose slide and “elevator drop,” which is actually dropping in. Again, thanks to… Danimal? Possibly Colin? My attachments folder says 2009, even though the cover illustration says 1976.

It has always been my dream to bring you the latest in 2007 cellphone skateboarding technology. Remember flip phones? This unauthorized Gator wrap. comes from Skinit. I think this came from Danimal, but I have no idea. Once again, going through an attachments folder for an email program I no longer have. A portion of the proceeds made from each sale will go to people with no social conscious.

An excellent execution photographing Bart Simpson in the real world, skating a very real wall. As seen on the cover of the Portland Mercury a couple weeks ago. Embiggened after the jump.

Ryan Moran sent in pictures of a sanctioned DIY spot in a rural area of North County, San Diego area of California. The community forked over some land behind the ball fields, but it’s up to the skaters to raise the money. They must be doing pretty good because they just had their first pour.

These two boards (Burka and Prayer) were created by Juan James and auctioned off to benefit Skateistan. Sure, these are a few years old, but it’s still a good reason to check out Skateistan again.

I know nothing about Lux Trucks, except they seem to have materialized out of thin air from Epic Distribution. We’ve seen a lot of interesting, gimmicky packaging for bearings over the years, usually in the form of a toy, but this is the first time all that extra plastic might actually be useful. Luxe Bearings come with a free iPhone 5s case, which is pretty cool idea, even if the case itself is uninspired. It’s interesting what it says about the market share of (or public mind share) of smart phones: Suck it, Android and Windows Mobile!

The July, 1965 issue of Popular Mechanics features a five page spread on skateboarding. I had sort of assumed that in 1965, skateboarding was still an “all-American” sport, looked at by the general public as an amusing or cute attempt to imitate surfing. It was surprising to learn that a “prominent psychologist” said that “the skateboard is a symbol of defiance, young people showing their elders that they have scorn for all the things they have been taught about the preciousness of life and safety of limb.” Fortunately the tone of the piece is purely informational, almost instructional in some ways. Vita Pak gets a name check too. Popular Mechanics was (haven’t seen it lately) very DIY oriented, packed with projects and tips for hacking ordinary items for improved functionality. Make has nothing on this.

It’s been floating around eBay for a while, disappearing for a year or so and then reappearing with the same pictures if I’m not mistaken. It’s always at a price that would seem reasonable if it were in fact something that anybody knew anything about and was collectable. However, nobody seems to want to fork over $100 for something that seems to have absolutely no historical reference. It’s nature suggests that it might be a hand made one-off item, but then again, that strange metal plate doesn’t seem like it would be stock for anything I can recognize. Google it, and you’ll get pages of the auction description re-listed. On the Rat Rods Bikes forum someone linked to a patent from 1999, but I would have guessed this is older than that. I can’t even find anything on the Welin roller skate truck online. Is this skateboard-related? Maybe only marginally, but at least it’s not this. I’ve got an email into the National Roller Skating Museum to see if they know anything. As a side note, did you know Sure Grip International is still around? UPDATE: In 2021 we learned this thing is called the Sit-Skate.

Just added to the Zines Gallery. Swank Zine NSA Issue from 1986.