I served on the selection committee and read all the proposals for the Glenhaven skatepark in northeast Portland, Oregon. Dreamland Skateparks’ proposal was the clear favorite of the committee, even though there was a street skating faction that didn’t believe that Dreamland could build a good street park. The committee pared the field to three firms who would be interviewed but in the end only Dreamland was properly licensed to do work in the state of Oregon. Grindline’s license had expired and NewLine didn’t have the proper licenses in the first place. Here is the original Dreamland proposal for Glenhaven. This was actually one of three designs originally proposed for Pier Park. During the Pier Park process there was a lot of static from street skaters about the designs being favored by Skaters for Portland Skateparks. This of course pissed off the guys who had spent three years doing public outreach and fundraising and lobbying. The funding was available and we knew Dreamland was going to build the thing, all we needed was a design that would please everyone. I have posted a lengthy rememberance of the project with many of the design drawings I did between February and April…

Yes, I’m struggling again. Here’s some pics of Chris Nukala from April of 2004 on his ramp in his back yard. The point of this is not to mention the crappy photos (my fault) or the fact that Chris hadn’t gone through puberty yet (his parent’s fault) but rather to point out that he recently had to tear down his ramp due to complaints from the neighbors or some city ordinance problems. Typical BS you have to deal with whenever you decide to take matters into your own hands. This was a quirky, but cool set up. Fortunately, Chris lives near Pier Park now. He’s a lot better skater post-puberty. Puberty. Puberty. Puberty. And death metal. Enlargements and a more recent shot of him after the jump.

This should really be part 1 I think. This is probably the first car as skateboard commercial I ever saw back in 2006, but I was unable to record it until now. This Jeep is so bad ass that it causes a ball of rolling jumk to follow until it spontaneously assembles into a robot and proceeds to ride the car like a skateboard. Automobile manufacturers are ever safety conscious, and so is the robot. He takes the time to rip a dome off the top of a nearby building to wear as a helmet. Quite frightening, actually. I wouldn’t want to have to worry about property damage suits everytime I drove my car. Watch the video and learn about the robot’s old schoool roots after the jump.

retailers, don’t limit yourselves to what they want you to sell. sell what’s best for your shops needs. push the limits. don’t conform. Chinese manufacturers fight back… with North American hardwoods, dubious slogans, and innovative shapes. See more of these fantastical, mind-blowing innovative shapes after the jump.

It doesn’t open until June 4. Do not skate. The kids you see were subjected to extreme rendition and are currently being interrogated in a secret facility in Eastern Europe. If people start showing up there I’ll bet the local police will step up their efforts and write a few trespassing citations or haul a few guys in. Oh yeah, click the images to see them bigger.

No, actually. The reason I asked all you guys to become contributors is so I wouldn’t have to make lame posts like this just to keep the site fresh. What, are you all actually skating today instead of sitting in front of a computer? As seen on eBay.

At my other unpaid job I’m always getting unsolicited emails and resumes from people who want to design skateboards. Heck, I even get people who think Skate and Annoy has a legitimate staff with paying positions. Well now is your chance to send that stuff to someone who actually has work, and can pay you for it. Element is looking to fill a design position. You want a job in skateboarding? I’m currently the Creative Director of Element Skateboards and Element needs a “Skateboard Graphic Artist”. The position is pretty awesome but is a lot of work. This is what I’m looking for some one to do: Create skateboard graphics. Create wheel graphics. Create packaging concepts and graphics. Work with freelance artists. Create artwork based on the direction of the creative team. Understand skateboarding and it’s lifestyle. Create seasonal catalogs for hardgoods. Work closely with marketing and creative team. Skateboard graphic experience is preferred. The job is intense but it’s super creative. The biggest thing is that you need to be able to work in a team setting. Enjoy the weekend. Why would I bother with a gratuitous Bam Margera reference? I’m just trying to milk one of our most…

Brands that can’t be stopped. Apparently Debbie Does Dallas, “a well known 1978 porn franchise playing off the sexploitation of the Dallas Cowboys football team cheerleaders” has been remade several times. The title phrase is so catchy even people who have never seen the film know the title. Give me alliteration or give me death. Likewise Shepard Fairey’s iconic use of the word Obey and the Powell Peralta Ripper graphic by V. Courtlandt Johnson are part of the popular consciousness. Not sure what the picture on the right has to do with the movie. but there they were together on the internet with that coopted skateboarding t-shirt design.