Remember Santa Cruz’s ill-fated foam core decks? After they sat on the shelf for months, our local shop basically sold them for the cost of Naked Decks to get rid of them. Let’s go back to the future. Somehow I ended up on the CCS email list. I don’t know how or why. I’ve never bought anything from them. I save all the catalogs becasue I like the pretty pictures of all the skateboard graphics. They even got me on email. The newest email is all about Hi-Tech Decks. Since I’m still waiting for that scan of the Wheelieboard I need to amuse myself with current wacky skateboard technology instead of retro chic. Besides, I’m gunning for a Gizmodo.com comments invite. They have a skateboard category for crying out loud.

Hey kids! You remember the Oregon Trifecta right? Well here’s the final installment of coverage if anyone still cares. Three days of this can kill a man, but we do it all for the kids, right? That’s Glen Charnoski up above.Coverage continues here.

V-DAY features rare and never released footage of Santa Cruz Veterans Tom Knox, Eric Dressen, Jason Jessee and Keith Meek from then and now with guest interviews and footage from Geoff Rowley, Jim Gagne, Donny Barley, Alan Losi, Brain Lotti and more. Include a bonus Soundtrack CD featuring Cacti Widders (Tom Knox on drums), The Highway Murderers owned by Jason Jessee, The Adolescents, The Rabies, Excel and others to make this a must for every skate movie Collectors Library. Hey, what about other notable veterans such as, oh I don’t know, Natas, Jeff Kendall, Roskopp, Salba, Olson, etc..? I guess they don’t have new models out, but the first three are still working for or with NHS in some capacity, if our sources are correct. Press release makes it seem like the video is done, but the trailer says it’s coming out this fall. Hey NHS! How about floating us a review copy? The rent’s not gonna pay itself.

plus more skaters on the red bull ramp 2 days before summer x games. crazy access. crazy photos. plus there are some photos in the site of ryan sheckler partying with lil jon at the oakley party. the photos are free so enjoy. just mention the site. thanks and enjoy. And that’s not an excerpt. It’s the entire email. Crazy Access! Crazy photos! Ryan Sheckler partying! Nuff said. If you are into it, there are some pictures of a practice session on a big vert ramp complete with another Steve Steadham sighting. And lots of pictures of drunk people at promotional parties. Oh yeah, I’d like to mention a web site named Everythingtoeveryone.com

Our eBay watch column for July 2006 is up. We’re going out on a limb here to allow commenting on individual eBay Watch columns since it’s actually one of our most popular features. It seems the House of Neil isn’t 100% accurate 100% of the time, and he took a bit of a beating in some of the popular collecting forums. This is an attempt to make it better, so please be cool. Check out eBay Watch: July 2006

MC has an update on Pier Park progress. Check out those beautiful tiles! We hear that the opening date is being pushed back to November. More pics on his site. Antigravity Press

Officially dead, and never to be resurrected. Pictures on the way, but I need to finish the Newberg Trifecta and wait for MC to get a roll of film developed.

Although I have many job titles — CEO, Executive Producer, Senior Consultant, Foundation Chairman, Bad Actor — the one I am most proud of is ‘Professional Skateboarder.’ NPR has a series called This I Believe which is basically a soap box for people to get on the air and foam at the mouth. Soetimes they have regular joes, but sometimes like on July 24th 2006, they have famous people like Tony Hawk.

Firefighters suspect arson in the August 16th fire that destroyed the vert ramp at Mount Trashmore – Virginia Beach. Looks like the Street Vs. Tranny battle has gotten out of hand. This long time landmark in skating has been rebuilt before. Hopefully it will rise from the ashes and the guilty party will hang from the deck. These things are usually the result of disgruntled park users who get kicked out, be they BMX riders who aren’t allowed or just troublemakers. Cold War bigwig Steve Grover is just weeks away from a vacation in Virginia Beach. Could this be his wife’s way of making sure he spends time with the family? Did someone forget to keep the damn racoons out my truck? Good news is that at least the big vert ramp came away unscathed and the park will remain open, forcing kids to learn how to drop in. Get the scoop from News Channel 3. More links and pictures after the jump.

Well folks, here it is. Coverage of the West Linn leg of World Cup Skateboardings Oregon Trifecta. Thanks again to Mike Estes for help with the names, and the Parks District of West Linn for forcing the uptight neighbors to listen to speed metal from their balconies and letting the rippers rip. The misguided isolationists at Aumsville should take a lesson from the City of West Linn. . That’s Joe Marrara up above. Coverage continues here.