The news about the new skatepark design meeting in Tampa got me thinking about the Bro Bowl. Ages ago I posted about a Bro Bowl documentary that was in progress, so I decided to see if anything ever came from it. They finished it, and it’s available for viewing in it’s entirety. The opening sequence starts off a bit rough, but once you get past that, it’s pretty good. Notably missing, however, if an interview with the guy who designed and built the place, Joel Jackson. The Tampa Bay Times interviewed him in conjunction with the Bro Bowl being nominated for the National Register of Historic Places as one of only two 70’s era public skateparks still in existence in the USA. The par was originally surrounded by housing projects, but the whole area is slated for redevelopment. It’s not quite the same situation as Southbank, the redevelopment is in advance of a State of Florida Department of Transportation edict to widen the road adjacent to the skatepark. The city has advised locals to accept a the funding of a replacement park as the best possible outcome, over any temporary reprieve that activism may be able to achieve. The history…

The Formula is a video produced by OC Ramps and starring Dave Bachinsky, who is definitely a mini-ramp champ. Some crazy variations, with a revert everywhere you turn. The only thing Dave missed was airing off the extension onto the adjacent structure. I kept waiting for it but it never came. Shot over 6 months, it features 4 locations, despite the fact that description only claims three. The Berrics was also involved in this project. I hope they appreciate the huge, nay – massive bump in web traffic they will be receiving from that web link. I like to help out the little guys. – Thanks to Matthijs for the tip.

On this edition of counterfeit skateboards we have a pretty good rip off of a Tony Hawk claw board. In fact, it’s decent enough to fool the casual viewer. When you look at it up close you realize it’s a bit off. The main drawing is inexplicably off center and the tree branches are not as full as the others, even so they don’t extend to the bottom of the deck. Also missing, the Powell Peralta logo under the claw. The shape is pretty similar, actually, but the tail dome and nose guard are stock, and are definitely suspicious. A reader scored this for $5 at a yard sale. I’ve paid more for worse! – Thanks to Fungandus for the pics

Public meeting to unveil and discuss the proposed design for a new skatepark in Tampa, Florida, to be built by Florida’s own Team Pain. The meeting will be held October 8th, at SPOT.

It’s October, and Halloween approaches! Here’s Eddie Munster on a skateboard, in model form. I haven’t been able to find any information about this set. The seller claims it was built and professionally assembled and painted by an “award winning make up artist and painter.” There’s no information about the manufacturer or date, or whether it was actually a mass produced item or a custom one-off. Ironically, the biggest hit for “Eddie Munster on skateboard” turns up this t-shirt post on S&A. It’s been on eBay for a while. Priced at about $600, it’ll probably be there for a while longer, mystery award winning makeup artist be damned! Slightly alternate view after the jump.

…just lettin’ it all hang out. She’s a brick, house. Installation by Alex Chinneck. Too bad it’s fenced in. Maybe someone will get a session in before it get’s torn down in about a year. [Sources: This is colossal, Design Boom] – Thanks to Boy for the tip.

Levis wants in on skateboarding. They’ve got a skateboarding collection, a collaboration with Thrasher, and a half baked campaign called Make Your Mark or possibly What’s your approach that features Natas Kaupas. I’ve got nothing against Levi’s. It’s a privately owned company that still makes (a small percentage) some clothing in the USA. Their sweatshop labor controversy is well behind them. They’ve used the Clash in commercials, why not Natas? OK, I do have a beef. If you’re going to post an “interview” with Natas, at least make sure it has a little substance. If you check out the accompanying video, it makes even less sense. I hear him talking, but it’s all chopped up, and in the end it’s like he’s not saying anything.

It’s a weird, weird world we live in, where Mercedes Benz thinks it advantageous to make “a beautifully filmed video pitting man against machine these unlikely four-wheeled allies tango at high-speed on the majestic Franschhoek Pass in the Western Cape.” Are they targeting the desire of older rich males to be associated with speed, youth and danger? It was filmed for Mercedes Benz South Africa, which might explain why there’s no “Do not try this” warning at the bottom of the screen for dumb Americans. There is a “filmed under controlled conditions” message at the end. The rider is Decio Lourenco, and you can read more on Mercedes Benz Life. Because apparently owning a Mercedes Benz is a lifestyle, and not a sport. – Thanks to Matthijs for the tip.