In the world of skateboarding, indoor training facilities are more common than ever. But perhaps one of the most prestige and exclusive of these facilities would be owned by none other than Steven Berra and Eric Koston. They call it “The Berrics” which makes me think of something like a skate battle ground or something.

This website is awesome; it has tons of exclusive-legit footage to view from some of the biggest names in skateboarding. They have various different sub sections within their website defining the various segments. Things such as Battle Commander, which features a legendary skateboarder basically throwing an epic mini part in the skatepark. Recruits, which features a new upcoming Am tearing up the park like there’s no tomorrow. United Nations, in which a full on skateboard companies team is invited to session the skatepark together. Department 8, in which some pretty famous celebrities come and skate the park. There’s also quite a bit of other feature segments within the website.

The footage on this website is legit and the website is a definite must to check on a normal basis. My personal favorite would have to be Guy Mariano’s Battle Commander segment, he absolutely annihilates the park. I also enjoyed watching Jason Lee throw down some sweet tricks in the Stereo segment of United Nations. Not one of the featured videos disappoints. Big ups to Steve Berra and Eric Koston for throwing up this amazing website and skatepark. I’m seriously without a doubt looking forward to seeing more episodes to come on The Berrics.

Lakai Limited Footwear has just released their brand spanking new website. Basically, the whole site was redone and has been given an entirely new look. Right off the bat, upon entering the site, you will see four figures on podiums. Mike Carroll, Eric Koston, Marc Johnson, and Rick Howard. They have a cool little shoe election deal going where you can watch a video and decide for yourself whose pro model you like best. This is kind of a cool relation to today’s presidential campaign race going on in our country. Except of course, instead of voting for your presidential pick you are voting on your next shoe.

You will also notice below that there’s a video section. Lakai said the hell with it and basically put up the entire Fully Flared video. Trying to battle the public on taking down clips from Fully Flared every other day just isn’t worth it. If you can’t beat them join them, it’s nice to see a company embrace social media instead of fight it. May I remind you, the video quality is incomparable from the actual DVD and the YouTube versions. Watching it on the big screen on DVD is an entirely different experience that is undefeatable.

Everything on the new Lakai website is super easy to access and there’s a lot of information on there. No problems for me whatsoever and everything runs smoothly. Be prepared to be there awhile trying to check out everything they have to offer. I personally like how on their team bios, each member has the alphabet trailing across to the bottom. And for every letter they add in, a word that either pops off the top of their head or actually relates to them in some way. Pretty interesting and definitely a super original idea.

You would wonder why this would be a decent topic for a core skateboarder to read? Well, let me remind you that we all eventually get injured or just slightly exhausted from skateboarding and need to take a brake. But for us skateboard freaks, that need to be doing something with a board 24 hours a day, a skateboard game isn’t a bad idea when you just can’t jump on a real board.

What’s the next best thing to not being able to skate? Play a skateboarding influenced game right? Well, if you haven’t already played the marvelous EA Skate game then you’re missing out. It’s super fun, the controls are a bit difficult to get used to at first but eventually you get the hang of it.

EA has recently sent out a press release notifying all of us that they are going to release Skate 2 by popular demand. As well as a newer “Skate It” game for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. According to EA, the “Skate it” game will be compatible with a balance board, their version of a controller. Kind of reminds me of those cheesy arcade games with the boards that swing around back and forth. Not sure how they are going to do this or what it will look like but if they send one my way I’ll be sure to try it out and let you all know…. hint, hint!

Now of course we cant forget the Tony Hawk game series that started it all. You can bet your pretty penny they will be one upping there game now as well. Seems Activision and EA are at each others throats in a war like manner when it comes to releasing the newest skateboard game. One thing is for sure, the more realistic the games get the less the impossible trickery gets. No more quadruple kickflip nose manuals to crazy smith grind combos. These games are getting more and more legit.

Recently I was flipping through some channels when a commercial came on for the state of California. Professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez popped out and said a few words. I changed the channel and the movie “Accepted” was on and I swear I saw both Greg Lutzka and Chad Fernandez up in the mix. It really got me thinking on how popular skateboarding really is right now. It’s always had its ups and downs and right now skateboarding is hotter than ever.

Another example are the shows on MTV like “Life of Ryan” or “Rob and Big”, which are both skateboarding influenced. Go into town and walk down any street and go ahead and ask a random person if they know who Tony Hawk is. Chances are they might know exactly who he is, regardless if they have ever even stepped on a board in there life.

Be aware of the popularity of skateboarding and how “cool” mainstream media and specific television shows have made it to be. Be very aware and move on, instead of dwelling on it move on with life and keep skateboarding for the reasons you began. You know you didn’t start skateboarding because it was the “in” thing to do. You can’t do anything to decrease its popularity and hating on it wont get you anywhere either.

Just keep skateboarding and having fun like you’ve always done because that’s really what counts. You the skateboarder; who skated when it wasn’t the “cool” thing to do, when there where no shows or commercials idolizing it as the “hip” look, when you would skate not knowing a future career could ever even exist from skateboarding. Skateboarding is yours and will truly always be yours. Remember that and cherish it because when the drought comes along again everyone will have moved on and you will be there, still shredding the streets as usual. Because you love it. Because you live it. Because you are it. Skateboarding.

DVS shoe company just released there newest DVD entitled “Dudes, Dudes, Dudes“. First off, I would like to say that if you plan on viewing this video directly from there website you will be there for quite a while! Maybe there are a few bugs to work out or something but I tried it on various computers and it took forever to load. Not to mention it would play and pause throughout the video.

The video is also viewable on YouTube, Google Video, and all the typical obvious video uploading websites out there. DVS knows that the DVD age is near it’s end and basically came to the conclusion that if you can’t beat them, join them. They threw the entire video up online for free for your viewing pleasure. It’s without a doubt worth your time as well.

Torey Pudwill ends the video with his best part ever. My personal favorite section of this flick is the U.S. montage with basically all the riders that didn’t get full parts in the video. There were so many gnarly tricks in the mix of this montage. Daewon, as usual, will leave your jaw dropped. Kenny Hoyle will leave you wanting more. And Jeron Wilson will surprise you!

The video I guess was a little on the short-side but it’s still good. Plus, they’d released their full length film “SKATE MORE” not too long ago, so another full length video wasn’t really expected. For a free promo video it’s rad, I honestly wouldn’t mind having it in a hard copy version to watch it in the old DVD player of mine. Big ups to T-Puds holding down the last part.

On July 11th – 13th, one of the gnarliest skateboard contests, if not thee gnarliest one ever, will go down in Orange County. The Maloof Money Cup offers the largest sum of money ever thrown into a skate contest, $500,000 in cash prizes is up for grabs. And the entire street course will be constructed only to be destroyed when the contest is over. How gnarly is that? Seriously, it almost feels like a total waste of money to destroy the park after the contest, but I guess when you’re a Maloof brother money ain’t a thing.

You see, Joe Maloof is the mastermind behind putting on this contest; he and his brothers are also the owners of the Sacramento Kings, The Palms Hotel & Casino, Wells Fargo, and pretty much every popular beer company except Budweiser. I think its actually pretty rad that he’s doing this for the skateboard community.

The skatepark design will be solely street influenced by actual street skateboarders. Rob Dyrdek is in charge of designing the street course alongside help from others such as Andrew Reynolds. A vert ramp is also being constructed with the help of design by none other than Jake Brown himself.

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In case you haven’t heard yet, Eric Koston is ‘Limey’ in the latest Bud Light commercial. Limey is the character that Koston plays. They call it ‘Behind the Lime’ and I think it’s quite hilarious. There are so many people hating on it though, calling Koston a sellout. For many, it’s quite a shocker that Koston would actually do something like this. Personally, I think it’s rad and fun to watch. I’m positive Koston got a hefty sum of money for doing this and I am super stoked for him because of that.

Anytime you can make a gripload of money while doing the thing you love most, it’s great. Plus, I could only imagine what else the guys over at bud light hooked him up with. We only have one life to live and making a living off of skateboarding is super hard to come by. So everyone stop hating on Koston , it’s what he does on a skateboard that’s most important and we all know he rips. So kick back, watch the Bud Light Limey commercial, and be prepared to laugh.

Right off the bat from the way he pedals you can tell it’s him, not to mention Ty Evans was involved with this whole production. Yes, he’s the guy behind Lakia’s Fully Flared video. So there’s a lot of skateboarding influence and personnel that were involved in this commercial. And realize that the entire industry has been shook by cooperate sponsorship. This isn’t the first time a major company has jumped in to endorse a skateboarder. Some of the biggest names in the biz are involved with mega corporations. Andrew Reynolds with Boost Mobile, Paul Rodriguez with Mountain Dew, and Tony Hawk with Jeep?

If you ask me this has all been going on for a while. Props to them for living comfortably, and for taking opportunities that we ourselves would jump at the chance if we had them. Just as long as they keep pushing and pedaling for life, it’s all good.

Vincent Alvarez has been inducted as the newest Chocolate Am and this is the first new Am added to their team in as long as I can remember. He has a premiere video part set to be released to the public in June and I am positive it’s going to be good. To be on the same team with the likes of Marc Johnson, Kenny Anderson, Chris Roberts, Chico Brenes, Gino Iannuci, and various others must feel amazing. Not to mention, getting welcomed and accepted by the entire crew.

Vincent placed 3rd at this year’s Phoenix Am contest. His switch stance skateboarding will make you think he naturally skates that way. He also recently got hooked up with Lakai footwear which adds another top notch sponsor to his already built list of legit backers. He came in a little late though with Lakai’s stunner of a flick, Fully Flared, already out. But be sure that whatever future projects they have in the works, you will see some Vincent Alvarez footage thrown in for sure.

If you have some spare time on your hands, head on over to the Chocolate skateboards website and check out the video of the Chocolate team inducting Vincent. They basically invite him over with him not knowing what’s planned. He has no idea the whole team is there waiting to congratulate him on his team acceptance. It’s pretty cool video and well worth the watch. Check it out for yourself.

Skateboarding is the greatest thing in the world. For many of us, it’s all we know. It’s what our entire lives revolve around day and night. And for many others, it’s a hobby and something you like to do in your spare time. Either way we can all agree that skateboarding is fun. And that is why I am writing this post, to remind you to keep the fun in skateboarding.

I know the world of skateboarding has gone to ridiculous death-defying heights but with all honesty, it’s not always about doing the gnarliest trick or one upping the other guy. To tell you the truth, stressing yourself to hop onto that 20 stair rail doesn’t sound like much fun at all. Seriously, don’t forget why you started skateboarding in the first place. Go out and cruise the streets and just have fun. Carve that pool or skate the little flatbar at the local park. Just do what you feel is fun and stop worrying about what everyone else thinks.

We all have our preferences when it comes to skateboarding obstacles. Most importantly, just make sure to always keep it fun and cherish it while you can. Your skateboard will never forget you if you don’t forget it. It will always be there for you when times are harsh. So pick up that board go outside and push like your life depends on it. Feel the breeze brush against your face as you glide through the pavement. Absorb the energy and good vibes that come from riding your board. Pop those ollies and grind those curbs. This is what skateboarding is truly about. It’s about getting away and having fun. Pushing the limits may be part of that fun for some but the greatest enjoyment comes from skateboarding, period!

Nowadays, many of the skate spots are totally blown out, especially here in California. I won’t even get into full detail of how unskateable or blown out the spots are here. Basically, you roll up to a “known” spot only to find excess security and recent skate proofing that’s been done. If not, then you’re due for a ledge that has had its fair share of grinds and is chunkier than ground meat.

This leads me to the topic of creating a skate spot. Yes, it means having to actually put effort into making something. But in the end you will feel really good about yourself and depending on where you created it, you may have very well constructed a new spot you will never get kicked out of. You could pretty much make your own little ghetto skatepark if you wanted to. Pole jams, quarter pipes, manual pads, and even ledges are all new obstacles that you can create.

Many spots created by skateboarders have gone on to become famous spots in videos too. Pole jams can easily be created by simply digging a hole and sticking a metal pole inside of it. Cementing it would go along way and ensure its longevity as well. Or how about those barricades you see out on the freeway or abandoned in old cement yards? Those could be used to shape quarter pipes or other obstacles. And if you can get a hold of some old grey cement bricks and shape them up into a ledge then the possibilities are endless.

You can buy the wet cement at your local Home Depot or hardware store. I mean, you could go with building your obstacles out of wood but they are so much easier to steal that way and on top of that the weather gets to them within the first couple of hits. So try it out, get inventive and put your mind to work. The possibilities are endless.