Iowa isn’t really on the map yet, as far as skateparks go, but Spohn Ranch aims to change that. Photos from the new Oskaloosa, Iowa skatepark after the jump.

I’m surprised it has taken this long for Tech Deck to release longboard style fingerboards. Actually, I could have sworn they had a limited release of some already. This time they are upping the ante by introducing more longboard-centric models like pintails and drop boards. They even go out of the way to show the flex. Finglonger not required. Video after the jump.

– Thanks to Greg Baller for the tip.

I have mixed feelings about Rodney Mullen. While I admire his skills, creativity, influence, and longevity immensely, I can’t reconcile that with his stance that you can’t make a high quality competitively priced skateboard in the USA, or hell, North America for that matter. What is TED? An organization that seems to exist only to get interesting people to talk about interesting ideas.

What do skateboarding and innovation have in common? More than you might think. A successful entrepreneur and innovator, Rodney Mullen is widely considered the most influential street skater in history, inventing most of the tricks used today. By the time he was 23, Mullen had already set new milestones for skateboarding winning 35 out of 36 freestyle competitions. He studied engineering at the University of Florida before co-founding World Industries, the largest skate company of the 90’s, which was acquired for more than $20m. He continues to skate, innovate, and design some 30 years after he won his first world championship at the age of 11. Mullen spends his spare time thinking about open source communities, hacking the urban terrain, and transforming the mundane into something new. He’ll be featured in the upcoming documentary, “The Bones Brigade: An Autobiography.”

I haven’t watched this yet, let me know how it goes.

– Thanks to Sarib for the tip.

From the Phineas and Ferb Facebook page. I swear I’ve seen every episode. They play one every other hour on assorted Disney Channels. Never seen this episode though. A platypus on a rocket powered skateboard.

– Thanks to Colin for the tip.

Another MapleXO and Grove collaboration (see iPhone case), this time just the back piece. 100% post consumer waste provided by Paul Schmitt. Looks sharp, but not actually sharp.

I made it through 46 seconds. I don’t think this is a joke. I mean, it’s a joke alright, but not intentionally. Enjoy “i’m a Skater” by Mac Jar & Monikape.

– Thanks to Matthijs for the tip.

UPDATE: Comments closed do to too much repetition. Way to offer a different opinion through, uh, mindless repetition. Don’t hate, REPLICATE.

Like Extremities before it, this is a cool idea, but it may make you a little sick if you watch it. Peter Brings the Shadow to Life, after the jump.

– Thanks to Concretins Nik for the tip.

Spohn Ranch is giving a facelift to a lowlyconcrete slab in Ft. Duchesne, Utah to make a plaza style skatepark for the Ute Indian Tribe. The tribe has 617 people, each human being gets 10.53 square feet of skate able terrain at the end of the deal. You do the math, or look at the pictures on Flickr.