West49 Blog

EPICLY ARTO’D PART 3

csabine — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:35:02 +0000

No time wasted in Viceland, they’ve slammed us with Part 3 of Arto Saari’s Epicly Later’d. It’s really inspirational to anyone chasing their dream, and pretty much just going for it from day one fueled by their love for skateboarding. The lesson learned is that skateboarding will take you places if it’s meant to be. Watch this stuff, and live it out!

DIGITAL CANADA

csabine — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:32:24 +0000

A month away from Canada Day, we thought it would be proper to get us thinking all things Canadian. Our friends at Digital Skateboarding have edited a montage together of many Canucks that have been featured in their 10+ videos. Remember how tight Gailea was when he first dropped footage off there? Hastie’s rail assaults are still talked about across the country, let alone the rest of the RDS crew that were mainstays in Digital videos back in the day. Props to Bill and Dennis for pushing out the goods for so many years, and showing Canada that love, especially a younger Haslam that looked like he hopped off the set of the Hangover.

TRANSWORLD AM ISSUE

csabine — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:24:23 +0000

Every now and then we have a magazine that we’re all hearing about, this month it’s the TWS “Am Issue” featuring Element’s Nick Garcia who took the bar up a tick at the Nevada Ditch. Remember this spot where Geoff Rowley made us think twice in his Extremely Sorry part? Anyhow, Nick has been on a warpath lately and he joins other favorites like Spencer Hamilton and Felipe G in this loaded issue that makes you wonder how much talent is out there when the AM rosters are so tough to climb these days. Maybe this is Nicks year for a board?

STREET LEAGUE RESULTS

csabine — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:18:26 +0000

Kansas City gave a royal welcome to hometown “prince” Sean Malto and the rest of the Street League Skateboarding athletes this past weekend and what a show that was. P-Rod checked into the 9′s club with a switch flip back tail shuv on the hubba which was beyond tech, and to match that the Euro entry from Bastien Salabanzi lit the Sprint Center up like a bonfire with is bigflip front boards just to name one trick he brought out to line his wallet. At the end, Element’s Nyjah Huston took the familiar first place on the podium and cashed the cheque for his solid effort. Rounding out the podium, Chaz Ortiz skated his usual way, strong and well rounded just showing us that he can contend for the big cheque once again. What was perhaps most entertaining, was T-Puds press conference following the contest, where he got all Grizzly on the mic, certainly worth checking out when you have a minute. There will be a re-airing of the broadcast for all of you that missed out. Join them soon for the 2nd stop!

DC CANADA W4L TOUR VIDEO

csabine — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:55:14 +0000

When Danny premiered his film up here last month DC Canada brought up Kalis, Miller, Kremer as well to skate with Trep, Papa, Dickson and the boys in Vancouver. This montage video they made of their fun at the parks is actually really sick. I’d say that it does justice for the occasion where in light of Danny’s career, he deserves to be on the same marquee board as Mission Impossible, because most of what he’s done in his career would fall under that category. Big kudo’s to the DC Camp for pulling off this short tour video for us to enjoy and even greater for supporting a living legend like Danny. Load this!

STREET LEAGUE KC

csabine — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:52:44 +0000

This long weekend, it all starts again. Most of the top skaters around are going to show us what they’ve been working on at their private TF’s all winter on a freshly poured course in Kansas City, MO at the Sprint Center. Rob Dyrdek will be front and centre as usual taking it all in, most likely repping some AWS gear now that he owns it, and you can expect some new faces to be lining up as well like Ishod, Asta and Bastien. I know that Element Pro Mark Appleyard has been training hard for it, based on the latest tours he’s done and that’s always exciting. As much as one would think, these guys are after the dollars, you have to notice how much fun they have when they skate this contest, and that’s what it’s all about. We all know that once something feels like work, that’s what it is. Airing on ESPN2, this will be the first of 4 stops this year in the US, and one little break the guys will have will be our very own Take the Cake contest happening at the end of the summer at Paramount Canada’s Wonderland, again another fun contest to come check out!

The Used – Autograph Sessions

csabine — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:15:03 +0000

THE USED, from Orem, Utah USA, will be doing two in store autograph sessions in Alberta during their western Canadian tour in June at WEST 49 locations! Bert, Quinn, Jeph and Dan will be at the West 49 store in West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, AB on June 05th and in Chinook Mall, Calgary, AB on June 06th. Both autograph sessions will run from 5pm till 6pm MST at the West 49 locations.

“We bring the best in the latest skateboard fashion, accessories and equipment. Now we get to bring the best in music into our stores! We are very excited to be working with THE USED and hosting their autograph sessions in our 2 main Alberta stores. As a long time fan of the band and their music, this opportunity is priceless to us and we are happy to welcome the band to our stores” comments Cindy Mielke – Director of Marketing at West 49.

The Used are also looking forward to returning to the great white north, “We are so excited to be returning to Canada. Its been way to long. We have missed are Canadians fans! Love, The Used”

VULNERABLE came out March 2012, charting #21 Top 200 Current Albums, #4 Independent Charts, #3 Hard Music Chart, #7 Alternative Chart and #12 Digital Album Chart. Turning personal adversity into art is the Used’s trademark, and the band’s fifth full-length, Vulnerable, was a record that simply had to be made. It marks a particular triumph for singer Bert McCracken, who is now reenergized after suffering a broken hand and elbow last year, falling from a stage in Orange County, Calif., and then spending four months getting surgery and recuperating. The experience partially birthed the title and concept of Vulnerable.

“Me feeling that vulnerability kind of sparked this creative fire inside of me,” says Bert McCracken. “This record’s really about becoming more than just who you are, and allowing yourself that vulnerability to be a more powerful person. It’s a lot more positive than a lot of records we’ve written in the past. I think everyone could use some positivity nowadays.”

Purchase Vulnerable here: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/vulnerable-deluxe-version/id500404933

TOUR DATES:

06.03 Winnipeg, MB @ Garrick
06.05 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite
06.06 Calgary, AB @ Macewan Ballroom
06.09 Vancouver, BC @ Vogue
07.14 Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean-Drapeau – WARPED TOUR
07.15 Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre – WAPRED TOUR

THE USED are:

Bert McCracken – Vocals
Quinn Allman – Guitar
Jeph Howard – Bass
Dan Whitesides – Drums

DC SHOES: REDISCOVER OPPORTUNITY – MATT MILLER

csabine — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:09:07 +0000

When Street League announced there were five US spots open for the 2012 pro lineup, Matt Miller knew he had an opportunity and went all in. See how Miller submitted his video to “The Selection ” qualifier and became one of the new pros selected for Street League 2012.

Featuring: Matt Miller, Mike Mo Capaldi, Mikey Taylor, Nyjah Huston and Chris Cole.

Matt Miller Rediscover opportunity video.. Enjoy !

Dog Boarding!

csabine — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:56:18 +0000

Call this a one off viral video that you’ll see posted here, but this is worth watching. This ingenuity must be recognized! If you love dogs and skateboarding, you’ll be glad you YouTube this moment in history.

INFLUENTIAL SKATERS

csabine — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:52:25 +0000

Transworld has compiled their list of their 30 most influential skaters of all time. It is a in many ways a walk down memory lane, where if you’ve never had that walk it’s a good time to catch up on the past. Tom Penny is right in the mix, as one of the most elusive, stylish and iconic skaters to push the importance of good style in skateboarding. He gets our nod as one that can’t be forgotten, and won’t be, as he keeps on his board no matter where in the World he might be. Check out the whole list, and see where you’ve drawn your influence from. Can you guess who is number 1? If you guessed Tony Hawk, you get a special prize.