Ben Warren sent this pic of a ramp he built FOR FREE from donated and discarded materials:

The ramp is built out of wood that is anywhere from 15 years old to pretty new but it was all free! Thanks to the Dew Tour, Mesh Skatepark in Longwood Florida and some local donations! Im stoaked and i want to spread the word that if you just take some time and initiative, anybody can build something to skate with no cash!! Hell Yes!!!

So thanks to Ben, and hopefully this will stoke some of you out there to do a little scrounging and build something. Which reminds me of another successful scrounge (and I mean that in the best possible way…) from Florida, Tim Kulas. Ben’s ramp is in Casselberry, Florida. He sent me a link (www.hereforkicks.com) but it appears to be dead. Don’t forget about Enlarge-o- rama.

From Control Manufacturing in Canada:

St-Nicolas, Qc January 18th 2010 –In an attempt to come to the aid of the people who are suffering in Haiti in the aftermath of a violent earthquake that brought death and destruction to the country last week we have decided to release a special edition skateboard. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these boards will go to the people of Haiti via the Canadian Red Cross – Quebec division, c/o Fabienne Laisné, 6, Place du Commerce, Verdun (Quebec) H3E 1P4. This board will go on sale across Canada within the next 2 weeks. This board is made out of 100% hardrock Canadian maple at the Control Manufacture in St-Nicolas Qc Canada. The project however is from our sales team. We will use all the contacts we have built over the last 15 years to reach out to all shops, brands and skaters accross Europe, Canada, USA and South America that currently buy boards from us.

Not a penny will be kept of the proceeds, everything we make is going to Haiti.

When I saw the desperation in Haiti I didn’t know what to do to help… finally I decided to help the only way I knew how: selling skateboards” said Dan Saindon, Sales Manager at Control MFG.

“We are very excited to be part of this project and we will do all we can to make this a success” added Fabienne Laisné from the Red Cross.

Control MFG is a leader in the skateboarding manufacturing business. We are specialized in high end skateboards and have been in operation since 1995. We will post a complete list of shops carrying the boards in the next few weeks.

The Canadian Red Cross Society is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the situation of the most vulnerable in Canada and throughout the world.

We also encorage you to make a direct donation to the Red Cross. Here is the toll free number: (800) 363-7305

Here’s the final installment of Sadlands video from reader KC aka Kieth Cote aka Bill aka… You get the point. “Aaaah TOTally rad….” These guys make it look so easy. This video ends up in the Badlands. Highlights include weird puppets, van surfing, french kissing and a scum pond obstacle at the Egg bowl. Oh yeah, watch for the handplant to unintentional disaster/finger smash. Enjoy! Good stuff KC. Too bad you guys didn’t have any fun…

Oh Burt Sampson, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. From your trademark infringing good looks to your Ninja Turtle / He Man physique. How I envy your many troll companions. Don’t have a cat, man. Aye Cucaracha.

– Thanks to Andy Wylie for the pics.

Starting in Portland on January 22nd, 8pm at DOS. Skate for an hour free beforehand. More cities and dates after the jump.

So this isn’t the first time the Stepe brothers have appeared in a Shot of the Week. This shot was circa 1985 at the Stepe brothers ramp in East Peoria, Il. It was used in an article titled “The Skateboarding Stepe Brothers.” That’s Chopper holding the skateboard as extension and Barry on the backside. Who are the Stepe Brothers? Founding members of the hardcore scene in Illinois. Said Barry:

The ramp was the old Stepe Brother Ramp in East Peoria, actually. Brad (AKA Dr Brad here on S&A) used to rip it up all the time. We even had a punk concert on the flatbed once with the Not (From Boston) and the cops showed up about three times. We were slam dancing around the ramp. Then the PA started smoking and caught fire – that was it for punk rock on our Ramp. Our dog, Spanky, used to Fakie along with us on the ramp all the time. He had no problem making it up to the platform either.

Check out the Shot of The Week and a cool bonus shot from the cover of the Illinois State University newspaper, circa 86.

Ooops! I guess I mean from now on. Besides, even though I’m not a huge fan of this graphic, it’s Neil who is really vocal about it. Funny thing is that I was already watching the auction, but I hadn’t bothered to read the description.

But seriously folks, I’m not endorsing this auction. Please don’t use my name or House of Neil’s name in your auctions anymore.

Check out this awesome Sadlands video courtesy of reader Keith Cote. Almost 10 minutes of skating with Lester Kasai, Rich Salazar, Dave Church, JonJon Bryan, Albert Sarabia, Lenny Moss and Dave Ullery, as filmed by Terence Yoshizowa. I know that top frame is out of frame, but some of those airs were too bio to be contained by the fish eye. Make sure you watch all the way through or you’ll miss a very nice move at the very end. These guys make this spot look so fun, almost like a… what’s the word I’m looking for? Oh yeah, playground.