Learn to skate with Sportskool, just don’t try to learn how to spell. Instructional books and videos for learning how to skate are nothing new. The only reason I paid attention to this one is because I happened to catch a video shot with Omar Hassan at Pier Park, here in Portland. (There’s another one with Omar skating in West Linn Oregon too.) Sportskool has videos and DVD’s for the whole gamut, including Extreme!™ sports and even fishing, but sadly, no curling that I could see. Some of the videos are available for free via Youtube channel, but others require a subscription fee. Choose your discipline, street, bowls or vert. Who are your instructors? Omar Hassan, Mike Vallely, and Andy McDonald. Did you know Mike V. wrote a book? Would it surprise you to learn that it appears to be about a fight he was in? (FISTFIGHT VOLUME 1: THE CKY3 FIGHT EXPLAINED) It’s important to note, as every Sportskool video will remind you, Sportskool is not liable for any injury or accident “befalling” any viewers of their programs. The large image above is from “How to Skateboard a Small Bowl with Omar Hassan.” Unfortunately, it’s all general skateboarding instruction, and it doesn’t actually teach you how to get ahold of Omar and skate a small bowl with him.

[Source: EPM]

Tito from Team Pain sent in some pictures from the Quicksilver All 80’s All Day Vert Challenge, and because some of you will ask, it had a 9.5 foot radius and a foot and a half of vert. Team Pain built the ramp and donated it to Grover’s back yard after the event. Ha ha, just kidding. They did build the ramp though. Photos and a good Quicksilver video recap after the jump. All kinds 80’s faces coming out of the woodwork.

The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark are trying to raise money for a free public skatepark. One of the things they’ve organized is an entry into the Pepsi Refresh project, a very clever public relations scheme that still ultimately does do a lot of good for the public. Thing is, they don’t just give it away to anyone, they put it to a vote. What I want you to do is visit the project page and vote, it won’t cost you a nickel, and they’ve got a real chance to win. They’re ranked 16th right now. Andy MacDonald hailed from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and he graciously appeared in the projects YouTube video. Those other guys look familiar too… Check it out after the jump., but don’t forget to vote! I think you can vote once a day in December.

(That being said, 30k to finalize a skatepark design? You guys need to find a good design/build firm to comp that design fee. Our readers can recommend a few…

Going over the mouse hole in Pier Park is pretty gnarly. Andy Macdonald made it over in his first try this year, I assume he made it over last year too. Andy took some video with a helmet cam for those of us who will likely never see the view from up there. Once you get to the point where it’s no sweat to make it over frontside or backside, what else is there? How about this frontside boardslide over the top? Steve Grover captured it with his point and shoot. Watch the video after the jump or check out the full size Shot of the Week.

UPDATE: Alternate views now available over on Earth Patrol Media.