Rune Gets 2nd! Elissa Burnout Action!
by: Brink | Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thanks to Skate Daily, results are in from the 4th annual Bowl-A-Rama at Bondi Beach’s coast side bowl in Australia and Rune Glifberg took second!
Final Results
1st Bucky Lasek
2nd Rune Glifberg
3rd Omar Hassan
Miss Elissa Steamer is featured on Thrasher's latest Burnout, so you might wanna go see what's up...
How Not to Get Sponsored!
by: Brink | Tuesday, February 26, 2008
We'd like to think you are the next big thing, and maybe you are. We love hearing from you and seeing what you can do on a bike or a board. We like to give everyone who sends in sponsor me videos a fair chance too, but seriously folks, make sure its a format we can handle... like something post-Jurassic period. Thanks!
Malto Faces Off!
by: Brink | Monday, February 25, 2008
If you're so inclined, head out to the newsstands and you can see Sean Malto school Mike Mo during a Face Off in the April issue of Skateboarder...
Jimmy Marchand!
by: Brink | Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Skateboard Mag linked to Jimmy Marchand's sponsor me video one day, and I got really stoked. So stoked and inspired in fact, that I found Jimmy on MySpace and asked if I could send him some etnies shoes (He's a fan of the Arto Mids.) He sent then me this footy you see above via email to check out... and yeah, that's a switch backside flip to manny down a bank.
After watching it, I explained to Jimmy I felt he could have done the backside noseblunt a little better. His reply:
"Well to tell ya the truth I had just eaten a special brownie a half hour prior to that noseblunt going down, so it was alright with me."
And I decided at that very moment I wanted to interview him. So over the last few months, via email and at Tampa Am, I did.
RB: Tell us about your condition…
Jimmy: Well I have what is called scoliosis, which is a curve of the spine. I also had blood clots in my legs when I was born so it kind of stopped me from growing.
Were you born with scoliosis? How did it affect you growing up?
Yes I’ve had this condition all my life but it has not brought my morale down in anyway. I actually started walking with a walker when I was young, but by the time I was five the doctor switched me to Canadian-style crutches because I could literally do handstands on my walker! Once I was off of the walker and onto crutches I figured “shit, what the hell else is possible?”
How’d you get into skating?
So when I was about eight or nine the kid next door to me had gotten a skateboard and wouldn't let me try the damn thing. So I went out and got one of my own. An 80's deluxe banana board. My doctors have always told me that its good to keep my self active, but they did not think skating was safe for me.
Well, it’s been about ten years since I’ve been told to stop skating because its dangerous, but I feel its what keeps me alive. When I started skating I had a dog at the time and I wasn’t good at pushing the board yet, so I took the dog for a walk down the bike path and he pulled me so fast on my board that I could have shit myself. So since that day I’ve wanted to go fast and always skate, skate, skate!
Do people hate on you or talk shit? Or maybe even react weird to you over the years?
I’d have to say “fuck ya” to that one! Lots of times I get kids that come up to me an say that I’m cheating an that it isn’t really skating or some shit like that.
Did anyone tell you that you wouldn't be able to skate? Or have more people been cool and positive about it?
No one has ever told me I couldn’t skate but doctors that I grew up seeing have told me to switch to bowling or something more mellow like that.
What’s the most common thing people say to you about your condition or your skating?
Usually when I travel out West, people tend to give me props for skating and ask how I can do the stuff I do. People tend to ask me if I can ollie.
Are you in pain from your scoliosis? like does it hurt to skate even if you don't fall or anything?
From time to time I get sore from having scoliosis, but nothing a hot shower can't fix.
What are your favorite skate videos?
I’d have to go with Shorty’s Fulfill the Dream because of the skating and music selection. Welcome to Hell by Toy Machine and anything 5-Boro puts out because those guys skate with soul!
Who are your favorite skaters?
My favorite skaters would have to be Aquil Brathwaite, Nick Dompierre, Zered Basset, Pete Eldridge, Jereme Rogers, P-Rod, Apples, and everyone at home.
Did you get a lot of email or attention from your skate videos on the web? The one I saw and wrote to you about originally?
I’ve gotten some feedback from my skate video online and managed to get myself some flow packages every now and then.
You got a girlfriend?
No girl, so holla at me, ladies!
What do you wanna be when you grow up?
Well lets’ see, I’m 24 now so when I grow up I’d like to be a more tranquil person. And still be able to roll down the street on that bad Larry!
So what was the first trick you learned?
I’d have to say the first trick I learned was a fakie shove-it.
Because of your scoliosis, how do you have to skate and do things differently than other skaters? Like, can you not pop or jump of flick? What’s the deal?
Well, basically I cant ollie. I kinda do everything by pressure flipping and by popping the board one-footed, and then just hope I land the shit! It’s just really hard to explain my style of skating. I love it and the fact that I can’t even tell you how I pull shit off boggles my mind!
What’s your favorite stuff to skate?
Favorite shit to skate? Hmm… well flatland has always been my thing, but since I’ve progressed, I’d have to say banks, hubba sets, tranny, ledges… anything in the street that looks like ya can fuck with. I stay away from the damn handrails fool! I’d like to keep my nuts for a while.
What’s the newest thing you learned?
One -footed pop shove-it 50 -50. I’ve been getting into a habit of trying shit down stairs lately. But for me it's a lot harder to accomplish than you might think. Since I cant ollie, I have to pressure flip every trick down a set in order to land it. Lots of times it doesn’t work out. But never-the-less, its intense and fun!
Do you fuck up a lot of sets of crutches?
I do fuck up lots of crutches. Sometimes ill be at a spot an the shit will snap first try! I go through a few pairs every few months. And they’re expensive as hell.
Can you beat anyone you know in arm wrestling?
Arm wrestling I'm pretty good at, because I pump using my arms. I get a good work out.
What’s been your worst skating-related injury?
The worst thing I’ve ever done is almost tear my ACL. My knee was swollen like a grapefruit for a few weeks.
How was Tampa Am for you?
Going into Tampa Am was like crossing a 12 lane highway on your skateboard and hoping for the best! At one point I felt so nervous that Jello legs just took over, and the board was everywhere.
How was it skating in practice for you? A few times I thought you were gonna get clobbered, dude.
You must have missed the collision then. I was going for a salad grind on the quarter pipe and I ran into some kid full force!
How bout your runs? I think you didn’t do much in your first but your second you landed a bunch of things...
Haha, well actually I totally blew those two runs, man! The atmosphere was all so new to me I couldn’t relax.
How’d you feel after? People seemed to be going nuts for you.
After my runs I was so relieved to come out of there not too banged up! So right after that I left the course an got the sickest free tattoo.
Here's Jimmy's second run from Tampa Am '08
Get into any trouble while you were down in Tampa?
Well, if by trouble you mean running from white Dodge Duragos with flashing lights at 3:30 AM, then yes! Oh an there was a rumor going around that I had gotten into a fight with the door man at the skate park.
Wait? What happened?
Well at the end of the night everyone’s outside at the club and a fight breaks out and people are punching everybody, so cops show up in durangos. Meanwhile the Flip team manager and I flee with two chicks we met. We hop into a cab at 3:30 am and that’s the last the we remember of that night!
And what about the doorman?
I didn’t really fight the door man. I got into an argument with him because he told me I couldn't bring my board in. So I said, "If your not gonna let me bring my board in then I’m going to go around the fuckin' back." So then he let me in.
What are your plans for ’08?
I hope to enter more contests and get over being so nervous! Also work on getting some more coverage. People seemed to like what they witnessed!
Also, what would you say to anyone else who might have a condition like yours, or a disability, that is thinking about skating or something like that? Perhaps there's a few people out there, or a lot of people, who think they just arent able to do it or scared to try?
I'd have to say that anyone that is handicapped in anyway should always stay positive! And shit if your already in crutches how much worse can it get? Skate 'till you cant walk anymore!
New Creager Interview!
by: Brink | Friday, February 22, 2008
Head on over to Ronnie Creager's team page for an update on what's new with the Creagerman!
New etnies Skate Blog!
by: Brink | Thursday, February 21, 2008
Have you checked out the all new etniesskateboarding.com yet? Its our little blog for the die-hard skateboarder in you. But don't fret, we'll still have tons of skate content here too... but head over there from time to time for a few extra surprises!
Malto in The Now!
by: Brink | Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Mr. Malto throws a few down, just to remind you that his part in The Now is coming in the near future...
New Fury Trucks Site!
by: Brink | Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Have a glimpse at the new Fury site and Rune Glifberg's new team page! Photos, video and more!
On the etnies Euro Front...
by: Brink | Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Check out the Radix Touropa Trailer...
And etnies rider, Albert Nyberg, from Linköping Sweden keeping warm indoors...
Fletcher! Taylor! The Skateboard Mag!
by: Brink | Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Have you seen the April ish of The Skateboard Mag? Eric Fletcher and Mikey Taylor back to back Crops, kiiiiiiiiiid!
Covers, Baby... Covers!
by: Brink | Monday, February 18, 2008
Remember Ryan Sheckler's new TWS cover? How 'bout seeing that thing in action? Thanks to our man Oliver Barton for the sequence.
Willow!
by: Brink | Friday, February 15, 2008
Flip has promoted German "wunderchild," and etnies Euro rider, Willow to the official European Team. Watch for more hardcore ripping and antics from Willow soon.
Media Day!
by: Brink | Thursday, February 14, 2008
So we invited some media out here to etnies and the STI Lab earlier this week and here's what happened according to SPoT and Skateboarder
TWS Sweep!
by: Brink | Wednesday, February 13, 2008
April's TransWorld is etnies-packed! First off, a Ryan Sheckler cover and insanely huge interview, then a Last Words with Elissa Steamer and a taste of things to come with a preview of Kyle Leeper's Pro Spotlight in May!
Sign Up For The Latest etnies News
by: Alex | Tuesday, February 12, 2008
At any given moment there's tons of stuff going on at etnies. Between the rider news, giveaways, artists, new music, new PRODUCTS, it's enough to make your head explode. How's a kid supposed to keep up? Well...newsletters, SMS alerts and site alerts are all about US keeping YOU in the know. Because we like you and it'd be sort of a shame for your head to explode. The thing is, it takes two to tango...so sign up to make sure you know what's up before you miss out. Stay updated!
SLB Classics!
by: Brink | Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sal Barbier had one of the most classic etnies shoes (and skateboarding shoes) of all time, the Sal 23. This little blog is showing it some love. I've been hearing rumors around the etnies hallways that the Sal 23 is being brought back... and updated. Keep your eyes peeled...
I have a new obsession...
by: Brink | Friday, February 8, 2008
So bummed...
by: Brink | Wednesday, February 6, 2008
New SEED Project Collection!
by: Alex | Tuesday, February 5, 2008
etnies SEED is growing. Created in 2007 as an effort to reinforce our commitment to the environment and expand existing green initiatives, the SEED Project is an etnies line of eco-friendly fashions made with recycled, sustainable and organic materials. New for Spring 2008, etnies collaborated with San Diego-based artist Gary Benzel to produce new footwear and apparel styles for men and women. Check out the goods...
Sneak Peeks?!
by: Brink | Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Looks like someone took some photos of the Fall '08 etnies line at the last trade show...
Dill & Sheck Blacklight Ads!
by: Brink | Sunday, February 3, 2008
These ads for the Jason Dill and Ryan Sheckler Blacklight Series Recognition shoes have been running in some of the international magazines... We thought you'd like to see them if you are one of them Americans who only sees the American skate mags.
New etnies Skate Blog!
by: Brink | Friday, February 1, 2008
Have you checked out the all new etniesskateboarding.com yet? Its our little blog for the die-hard skateboarder in you. But don't fret, we'll still have tons of skate content here too... but head over there from time to time for a few extra surprises!
Help Chris Nieratko & Sheck Fight Cancer!
by: Brink | Friday, February 1, 2008
From Chris
Ryan and I are complete opposites:
He's young, I'm old.
He's skinny, I'm fat.
I can't 360 flip lipslide a rail.
BUT I already found a chill girl.
So I'm one step ahead of him in that department.
BUT he has a 2003 land rover...
...and i want it.
And he'll give it to me if I raise the most money for cancer. So help me win Ryan's car! I figure if everyone donates just two dollars each; I'm a shoe in. Sure, two dollars can feed a family in Africa rice for a month or maybe help some crappy death metal band from Iraq get a gig but Africa is such an 80s cause and who listens to death metal anymore?
This is 2008 and materialism is where its at. It's the most worthy cause i can think of. I mean aside from this cancer thing that we're raising money for. So if you don't mind, click here and donate a couple bucks. I really need a new car. I mean, Cancer would appreciate it. No. Wait. That's not right. Cancer will be pissed if you donate money. This is anti-cancer stuff. Don't you want to rebel against cancer? Pretend cancer is your parents. Tell cancer how much you hate it by donating $2 or more now.
Operators are standing by.
Thanks,
Chris Nieratko