So far my alma mater is famous for two things, the birthplace of the fictional self-aware computer Hal 9000, and the place where internet browsers were invented. And now the University of Illinois is pushing the Corn board, a composite material made from the husks and stalks of corn plants. Think of it as a replacement for particle board. Something you could build houses and miniramps out of, and well, skateboards. Technically, longboards, and just the core. It seems like you could stuff just about anything in the core of longboards, even Bonite! I’ll be impressed when they can make a shortboard out of that stands up to Canadian Maple. Actually, I’m impressed by the recycling bit. It would be great to cut down on wood consumption, although I thought particle board was already made from discarded bits of wood used to make other things. Unless anyone is specifically cutting down trees to make particle board, it’s not really going to save anything. Is it really “green” to take something that would otherwise decompose and turn it into something that won’t? The Daily Illini (The “student” newspaper run by a privately owned media company) has an article with some of the development story and an excellent misrepresentation of Christian Hosoi as a “professional longboarder.” Hosoi has signed on to the company for a forthcoming signature model. I think I would have pooped in my Life’s a Beach Elroy Jetson shorts had Christian Hosoi signed to a skateboard company from the same town as the school I was failing because I was skateboarding too much.

– Thanks to OCD Kyle for the tip.

MC has reached the 900 mark on Hopeless Old Men On Skateboards. Go buy one of his books.

Check out this video sponsored by Converse Skateboarding Mexico (Owned By Nike USA… Get over it!) It’s about skateboarding in Mexico, but it’s not a straight up documentary, more of a loose collection of on camera interviews and archival footage, mixed with modern footage. It’s not jut a trip down memory lane, however. There is a lot footage of those old guys (still) skating today. There’s a nice segue from that segment that ends with a 40 year old rail slider revealing a 22 year old kicking off a street segment. On top of that, friends of the site Art and Steve Godoy and John Aguilar are featured in this video which is titled simply Skater. Nice shirt John! Embedding is disabled, so you have to watch it here.

Tony Hawk was on the cover of the complimentary August 2010 Continental Airlines magazine. There was also a one page interview with him about his role as a businessman. Check it out after the turn.

Thanks Gillian.

Red Cement Skateboards is hosting the 10th (!) annual skateboard contest at the Albany, Oregon skatepark on Saturday.

I was appropriating a funny face from an old Ford ad and realized it was drawn by Crockett Johnson who drew Harold and the Purple Crayon

Here’s a beautiful turd of a skateboard that Valterra put out in 1987. It’s an Alf board, and it’s kick ass. Alf is in full Hawaiian shorts and neon Ray Bans mode. This model was auctioned on eBay a while ago, I don’t know what it went for but I remember being tempted. Another craptacular thing about this board is the fact that the graphics are on top and the bottom is completely bare. This one has GT wheels on it, which is really confusing to men because I thought GT was a 70’s era brand, so these wheels should have loose bearings. I suppose it’s possible someone could have put old wheels on a new board if the axle size didn’t change. Can you believe ALF was actually still on the air in 1990? I wonder why Valterra never put out a Back to the Future deck.

– Thanks to Buck C for the tip.

Collecting skateboards is played out, and soon enough everyone will be collecting skateboard related album covers as well. That’s why I’m saving for my retirement by cornering the auction on skateboarding sheet music, or I would be if I had remembered to bid on this auction some time ago. It’s the sheet music for “Skateboard” a piano solo by Wesley Schaum, which originally sold for 75 cents. This looks mid to late 70’s to me.

Marginal Way benefit auction 6-10 at Electric Coffin, 1020 S 1st Ave, Seattle Wa.

Like the flier says, Electric Coffin is hosting a benefit art show for Marginal Way. Mob Grip tape has provided sheets of grip tape for artists to paint on and will be sold for no more than $50 buck the night of the event. Plus there will be a raffle including prizes from all the sponsors, Sno con, Foundry, Electric Coffin, Mob Grip, Creature, Independent, Band Vibes, and Spacecraft.

Come out and Party and buy some killer art! Got some great artist lined up for the show!

Also refreshments will be on hand for the event.

In case you don’t know Electric Coffin has moved, still in pioneer square (ish) but now on first down by the stadiums. 1020 1st ave S. So come see the new space (not in a basement).