Mallrats in Hong Kong

This is the view of Victoria Harbor from our hotel room. The boat in the foreground is the Duk Ling, a restored fishing junk that gives free one hour sails of the harbor to visitors.


The first couple of mornings I was waking up promptly at 5:30 am. I walked to the ferry dock one morning and saw this tug floating- I loved the seemingly monochromatic colors of the scene.


This is Kit. He was the one who worked through the details of our trip with us and is our goto guy . . . and now good friend. He owns a sweet skateshop called Kitshop and whenever we are hanging out he literally gets a phonecall on one of his two cells like every 70 seconds or so. Kit rocks.


In the subway there are huge billboards for our event XGAMES experience with really funny depictions of a skater, BMXer (who is actually a mountain biker) and a blader from 1992 it's radical. According to the course posters, I am an "Icon" in the skateboard community . . . who knew!?


This is the demo team (minus our MC, "CK" who you'll see shortly). Hong Kong at night is really fun - tons of people, lots of shopping and food and neon signs, quite an adventure we're on!


These our are homies who do a trial bikes demo on the other side of a partition from us . . . those bikes are crazy and have no seats . . . more of that later.










This was our meal at a famous seafood restaraunt. In the front are tanks with a crazy variety of sea creatures including mantis fish and lots of things I didn't recognise . . .




Here we see CK enjoying a friend of the lobster that I am holding above smothered in cheese sauce.





Much much more to come . . . stay tuned!! Thanks for the interest!

Super Girl skate Jam at Huntington Beach!

On July 26th and 27th, Huntington Beach was quite the event scene.
The Soul Bowl contest was as thrilling as ever. Don Bostick and the WCS crew were on hand to make sure the right warriors walked away with some well earned skrilla.
There was also some epic flippery and torquery high over the beach by the madmen of moto.
The U.S. open was going down there as well . . .

I was fortunate enough to attend the multi-event in an official capacity as one of the judges for the ASA at the S3 SuperGirl Skate Jam. I have watched some of these skaters progressing for years and it is totally inspiring to see the passion. The girls events are interesting because there seems to be no filter for ability level. There are some real rippers and some beginners and skaters in between, but ultimatley it is the best way to get this cross section of the skateboarding world in one place and that's pretty awesome.
I was ab;le to get on the course and shoot some pics as well as document some of the other happenings of the weekend. Enjoy!



Our main man Jason Hines!


Eliana Sosco- ollie . . . more HERE


Amy Caron owns the nollie heel . . . to fakie


Sophie Poppe nollie on the bank


Vanessa maybe being asked what it takes to rip . . . or maybe not. Either way it's a great contrast between these two - btw, Vanessa rips but I didn't get photos (sorry)





Lauren Perkins frontside slide


Put any skater in place of Leticia Bufoni in this pic and you'd still be thinking this is dope


ASA's judging crew


Brook Durgin with a nice ollie off the platform





Caron, backside disaster




Evellen Bouilliart- I saw her do a front blunt down the opposing rail (straight ballsy). Here is more from the rail technician of the day - backsmith!


Lorena Lima - this is the only shot I got of New Jerseys pride, but she has dumb tight skills kid! Check some more of her HERE


Evellen crossing the pyramid via kickflip

I missed photo opportunities with Rachel Reinhard, but THIS LINK will leave no doubt of her abilities
After our event we were close enough to the Soul Bowl contest to witness the heroic antics. Here are some teasers . . .



Don Bostick and the WCS crew overseeing things


Omar and Sandro showing some mutual admiration


This craziness is a good representation of what starts happening right away . . . and doesn't stop till it's over





Sandro with a sweet Christ air in the corner

We also dropped over to the MOTO freakshow. If you are afraid of heights, you will truly appreciate this!







Pretty much nothing can be said that the pictures don't scream out for themselves.

I hope this little "how I spent my weekend" was enjoyable, I am putting this entry up from the City Plaza Mall in Hong Kong where I am doing skateboarding demos for two weeks with my friends Erik Bailey and Andy Alvrez (yet another to do" checked off my bucket list) . . . bye for now!

Hello . . . Dubai! (part 2 the Lord of the Streets contest)

Redbull Dubai's "Lord Of The Streets" jam was definately good times. The multi-faceted counterculture event featured Skateboarding, BMX, blading, B-Boys and graffiti artists.
It was thrilling to have the opportunity to be part of this event halfway around the globe.
I am fortunate to have great friends in industry, namely Jim at DLX, Chris, Craig and Lucian at High Grade and Joey and Shrewgy at Ace- who hooked me up with a grip of product to get out to Dubai's shredders. Many thanks!
Here is just some of the goings on at LORD OF THE STREETS:



Maysam and Brad use telepathy to discuss ASA and skate domination of the Middle East


Little shredders wait for there turn . . .




to leave the course in style


Scenesters peep the scene near the graffiti wall


The crowd begins to gather


I was the skatejam Mic Controller




an unexpected hurrican in Dubai


snacks served on a bed of freshly shredded Krooked deck


Even Collisson is a local ripper. Here he is demonstrating a proper frontside nosegrind




Colm is one of those lucky kids who's natural good style is matched by his talent . . . Maysam gets the footy as Colm pilots a stylee kickflip over the loading doc


Evan with a boned backside 180 (Mitchell photo)

. . . More to come on the Dubai trip, stay tuned for installment
3!

Hello . . Dubai! (part1 the overview)

I recently returned from an amazing trip half way around the globe to the surreal Middle Eastern oasis of Dubai.
My friend Chris Mitchell is good at conjuring amazing opportunities and hired me on for his most recent one, the Redbull Dubai "Lord of the Streets" contest - thank you sir!
For those of you unfamiliar with Dubai, one of seven United Arab Emirates, Google Dubai or better yet Youtube it . . . the place is insane!
Normally, my trip would have consisted of lots of skateboarding. However, due to a recurring knee injury from early in 2007 (months out of commission! Arghh!), the trip ended up being the event plus lots of site seeing and desert dwelling . . . which was incredible.
Here are a gaggle of pictures documenting much of my trip.
Thanks to Chris for inviting me along and Roy Mrad for being the best host possible . . . I am looking forward to more great times, friends and Lebanese food next time!



Chris Mitchell toasting to continued good fortune





Our tour guide, liaison and wonderful host Roy Mrad




Erik Bailey was our blader pro . . . I am ashamed to admit that he is more up on just about any current skateboard fact than I am - "hey Kirkwood, did you see that crazy trick Mario Blah Blah did in the new Circus Freaks skate video!"




A view of the main strip from Roy's digs.


A shopkeeper sleeps in the afternoon heat


The Dubai mascot is everywhere . . . and he is happy!











A bustling river separating new Dubai from old










A small example of the incredibly creative architecture that dominates the downtown area


The tallest building in the world - the Burg Dubai, surrounded by dwarfed skyscrapers


Post production onset of the "Lawrence of Arabia" remake




The vastness of the Hatta desert - I walked it . . . psych

Check back in for part 2 - the event highlights.
Thanks for dropping by!