A trip to Target is a 50/50 chance that’s I’ll be able to squeak out a quick post. This time I found this helpful display instruction accidentally left on by an employee who stocked the shelves. Maybe the next version the Kryptonics produces will have an addendum that says “Don’t forget to remove this notice.” This is the very important, critical piece of skateboarding history that would be lost if I were not out there tirelessly documenting it. Betsy, where’s my Nobel Peace prize? Part of me actually wanted to take the paper notice home with me, but how embarrassing would it have been trying to explain that to store management after I got stopped by security, walking out the door?

Another shot of vintage skateboard equipment from one of my favorite sources, old department store catalogs. These offerings from JC Penney were available in 1977. There’s a generic board, a Free Former brand, and two that I can’t quite make out with the name Class in it, possibly ODO Class or DDO class. (Update: Pro Class. Thanks Daymond! Pics added.) At the top the page is the venerable Roller Derby brand roller skates, a company that also made skateboards at the same time.

Costco has skateboards, and not just some schleppy pile on the shelves, they’ve got a nice display of Jaseboards, a brand from Hawaii that only appears to be available the website or at Costco for the time being. And because it’s winter time, they’re also carrying those snow runner wheel replacements. (See Railz) For the summertime they’ve got LED light up wheels from Puka, a brand that I can’t seem to find an online presence for. – Thanks to Stephen B for the photos.

I was hanging out at Target a couple weeks ago, because I am a red blooded American consumer. I always migrate to the toys eventually, which is right next to the crappy sports equipment selection. I noticed this Tony Hawk branded “80’s retro Skateboard” and after examining it brought it to the scanner to find out how much they were schilling it for. It turns out a “Gender Neutral Br” costs $59.99.

Lot’s of cats and other animals around here lately, especially cats. This one spotted at Forever 21. – Thanks to Stephanie “I swear I don’t shop at Forever 21” Murdock for the tip.

The S&A secret agent form Amsterdam found these mannequins at a http://www.desigual.com store in Amsterdam. I say “secret” agent because he comes from a country with a comparatively liberal attitude towards sex and drugs, and yet he feels it’s best to remain closeted about being an adult skateboarder. Sorry Matthijs, you’ve been outted. It’s not a choice, you were born that way. Come to Portland and live your lifestyle out in the open. Congratulations on your excellent taste in grip tape.

Porky Pig gets r-r-radical with some X-Mas skateboarding action in this 2006 Looney Tunes special titled Bah Humduck!. It’s another adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with Daffy as the greedy owner of a department store.

The Park-Pro, not to be confused with Ken Park and one of the most unlikely re-issues. I thought I had a YouTube video with Ken Park giving a parking lot demo in the 80’s, but I can’t find it. Oh well. At least you can still get a quality skateboard product from Kmart. I’m actually digging that die cut grip tape. Maybe I should try to bring that back.

So I was hanging out at the mall, bringing my kid to see some really lame Shriners clowns who were out stumping for the upcoming circus. Of course you can’t go to the mall without surveying the goods and services available. There were two major department stores with skateboards as display props. I borrowed a point and shoot camera on the spot and did a little investigating.