Well, this is it, the first issue. An idea that was formed some six months ago has led to countless hours spent driving, shooting, brainstorming, emailing, setting up, breaking down, editing, encouraging, designing, learning, bonding, and skating. I wouldn’t have it any other way at this point in my life. I do and did this for skateboarding. For all the times we’ve been kicked out, the times we’ve been harassed, all of the swelbows, focused decks, blown out shoes, awkward looks, lens hits, and everything else we go through. Everything we go through for that one moment when you ride away..

The LES skatepark recieved what one would call more than a face lift on the 5th of June.Thanks to Open Road NY along with Team Pain, Steve R, The Tony Hawk Foundation there are now all new skateART ledges grac-ing the horribly dirty ground. Also thank Billy Rohan, Jeff Pang, Eric Johnson, and Tim from Team Pain for installing nice pieces in the pouring rain

5boro celebrated 13 years of skateboarding Friday, June 5that the Redbull Space in NYC. Pabst, Iceberg Vodka, and Redbull was flowing like water, classic 5boro footage graced the wall and the DJ kept the party moving. As a joint art show, displayed on the wall was one of every 5boro deck produced throughout the years. There were no shortage of celebrity, Zoo York team riders Aaron Suski, and 5boro owner Steve Rodruigez with Jimmy Mcdonald pictured to the right..

The King Of Spring was an interesting event to say the least. I arrived in Harlem around 10:15 am and began to navigate my way to Thomas Jefferson Park located on 114 and 1st street. I arrived to a large basketball court with various makeshift obstacles strewn about. With the contest set to begin at 11:00 it gave skaters a chance to get acclimated to the terrain.

The contest opened to a small crowd as bands were setting up equipment, free Redbull was being put on ice, and skaters of all ages were sizing up the challenge. Minutes later bodies lined the perimeter of this small venue as Billy Rohan, the host of KOS, announced the first event; 15 and under skate jam.

I was introduced to Vince Busbee Bodega rider and hopeful to win the 15 and under competition shortly before the heat started. He easily stood out from the rest of the youngsters who were hucking themselves down the ten stair and accompanying rail. Sticking a backside boardslide and a backside feeble landed him the first place spot.

The next event was a best trick on the

Supreme ledge, an insanely high ledge with an angle arm on both sides. The older crowd was attacking it with no regard for their bodies or any sense of order. Collisions and snaking made for minimal success.

Brad Miller of Substance Skateboards managed a front noseblunt across the whole shebang, landing him the best trick. There wee also various smiths, nosegrinds, lipslides, and a huge frontside 180 over the box from Luis Tolentino.

As the monitors blasted out hardcore beats and throaty screams the attention moved to the ramp to down ledge. The judges realized that the last event was a bit too crazy and made everyone settle down and take some kind of order, letting only one person go at a time. Robert Lopez-Mont was a stand out with his kickflip crook.

The Final event was a best trick on the ten stair including the rail. The riders pulled out all o the stops and things started to get intense. By this time there were so many people the skaters barely had any room to breath much less skate. Bodies were flying, people were getting snaked, and bolts were being landed on. Dan Miller Substance rider threw down a back overcrook like it was nothing. Jordan Maxham snuck in a buttery nollie tre flip. But it was Nick Merlino who was in the limelight with his huge nollie back heel, switch back lip, and epic switch backside 360. Nick walked away with $300 plus in winnings and a grin on his face, most of us just left with a sunburn and a stomach ache from all of the free Redbull.

The drive may be far for some but a trip to Skate Time 209 is worth every drop of fossil fuel that you may burn. Located in a quiet country setting in Kerhonkson, NY exists a well thought out and built park attached to a 90’s themed roller rink/ arcade.

Featuring fast ramps, numerous flatbars, hips, hubbas, step-ups, a seven-stair handrail, and an impressive mini ramp with hips and a vert wall. It costs $10 American or $15 Canadian to skate and if you’re over 18 you don’t have to wear a plastic hat.

Hungry, or sick of skating? Enjoy the fin cuisine from the concession or the many vending machines present(they even have socks), or you could rot your brain in front of some Pacman. Good vibes, good skating…Thumbs up Skate Time.

With a clean layout, diverse stock, knowledgeable and helpful staff, and an indoor miniramp for those rainy days there is no reason not to spend your hard earned green pieces of paper here.

If you spend enough time here you may even get to skate the mini with Figgy, Jahmal Williams, and meet Steve Berra. So if you haven’t already, take the trip to N11 st.

Recent 3rd place winner at Rooftop Rampage this 14 year old is on the rise. He kills any and all terrain and is constantly striving to push himself.

CHAD SHETLER LOST SKATE TEAM MANAGER- I’m very stoked to have Larry Schmidt on the ...LOST skate team. Larry is one of those kids who can skate everything and skate everything with best style. Larry’s in it for the long hall for the love of skateboarding, with his laid back serious/not serious attitude, you will be seeing a lot more of this talented kid from Jersey.

I woke up around 6 AM, groggy from the night of drinking and the day of hitting the bricks in the pouring rain, always the first one up. As I climb over sleeping bodies to assemble an outfit I remember ‘today is Back To The Banks’. That notion overshadowed the fact that my ankles were so swollen they were the size of my calves and how grime all of my clothes were.

A joint effort by our crew, the guy who made bacon and egg sandwiches, and the metro system made us the last people on the planet to skate the new LES setup. Over it, no one understood how to skate it in an organized way anyways.

Pushing your way to the front of crowds with a 60lb backpack to take photos is hardly what I wanted to be doing; I really need a smaller bag. I have never seen people barging so hard at these obstacles, I suppose when you have a crowd around 2 thousand people supporting and expecting to see something from you fear and doubt has to go out the window.

2009 ResultsColin Provost- Overall WinnerWilly Aikers-Bank to Wall/bump ledgeChris Blake-Rail/stairs

Rich and Kevin of Prime Skate Shop-The first time Timmie came to Prime was the day Fred Gall came out to shop for a signing. We had only been open for a few months and had no idea how big a part of our store he would become. Since that day three years ago, we have watched him progress at rate that’s almost hard to believe and feel that his potential is as infinite as skateboarding itself.

e.It was Bobby’s night on the 6th with the release of his new pro model shoe for es. A bunch of people came out to celebrate at the three floor Etnies showroom located in the SoHo area.

What got you into skating? -

My dad let me ride around on one of his old plastic boards when I was younger, then me and a group of friends started skating a little, and it grew from there.

What did your first setup look like? -

My very first was a Variflex complete from K-Mart.

Where are some places skating has taken you? -

The hospital. California, too. and all over the east coast.

Age: 19Hometown: Runnemede, NJSponsors: Keystone Skate-boards and Switchfoot Skate-shopShout outs: Dan for hookin me up with Keystone decks,Everyone at Switchfoot Skateshop (Go there and shop until you drop..or until your out of money), The Keystone team, The Switchfoot team, PPFL, my family, all of my friends, and everybody I’ve met in skateboarding. Heace

Hobbies outside of skateboarding? -

Sleeping in, hanging out with my girlfriend, seeing how much Taco Bell i can eat until i get sick, and lurking the internet.

Favorite video part? -

Theres sooo many good ones, but probably PJ Ladd in Wonderful Horrible Life

Are you working or in school at the moment? -

I have a paper route. Its good because i work overnight, so i get to skate all during the day, but im really tired most of the time if I dont get enough sleep. As far as school, I graduated high school, and plan on going to college for something once i figure out what that something is. I wanna make bank, bro.

Any words of wisdom to young skaters? - dont ever do a 5-0 tailgrab.

-What got you into skating, how long have you been at it?

I remember my older brother and the other kids in the neighborhood had a kicker they used to alwyas skate in front of my house. I used to just watch them and try to ride this mini nash board I had. Those were my first experiences with skateboarding. Fast forward about eight years and I got my first real board. At the time it was mostly just for transportation, but after my older brother taught me how to ollie I was hooked on learning tricks. Soon after my brother picked up skating again, and we got really into the local scene which was blowing up at the time. That was 11 years ago. Since then I’ve seen so many parks, shops, and skaters come and go, but I’m still skating, and can’t imagine stopping anytime soon.

-What did your first set up look like?

A green World Industries Flame Boy board, blue Gullwing trucks, Lucky’s bearings, and a pair of Spitfires. It seemed like a really sweet ride at the time.

Age: 24Hometown: Reading, PASponsors: Keystone SkateboardsShout outs:Shout outs and thanks go out to; Dan Scott, and all the Keystone crew, my

family, Leah, Rachel at Pocket Aces, all the local Readings skaters past, and present, Topic for the interview, and Anyone that’s helped me out over the past eleven years.

-Sponsors?

Keystone Skateboards is my only official sponsor at the moment, but I do get hooked up from a few other people aswell. Having a sponsor isn’t just about getting free shit, you want to be backed by a company that’s about good people, good product, and most of all good times. Those are the kind of sponsors I want. So if your out there reading this, hit me up!

-What is your favorite place that skating has taken you?

Unlike everyone else, I haven’t been to cali, I haven’t been to barcelona, I haven’t done a midwest tour, But I have skated tons of nooks and crannies all over Pennsylvania, and met tons of awesome people doing it. My skateboarding journey isn’t near over yet and there are alot of places I’d still like to get to. I’d like to think that the best times are still ahead of me.

-Hobbies outside of skating?

Of course I got the hobbies that go with skating like photography and video editing, but I’m also into music. Making it, appreciating it, whatever. At the end of the day when it’s time to just chill out I’m also a huge movie and video game nerd to.

-Favorite video part?

That’s a tough one being as there so many gnarley parts out there nowadays, but I think my all time favorite part is a very nostalgic one. Jeremy Klien and Heath Kirchart in The End. I think that was the first time I was like, damn you really can do whatever you want with skateboarding. The money, the suits, the drinking, the fire, they made skateboarders look like rock stars, and using Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure made it even more epic. I still have the urge to build a giant launch ramp and just skate some ridiculous shit.

-Are you working or in school at the moment?

Working. I’m not stacking dough up though, just enough to pay the bills. The only plus about my job is the leniency. No working weekends, and if any skating pops off during the week, you’d better believe I’m makin it one way or another. No crappy job is gonna stop me from doing what I love.

-Any words of wisdom to young skaters?

Skate, have fun, and support your local scene. Do good things for skateboarding, and skateboarding will do good things for you.

What year did you start skating and why?

I started skating around 1990. My brother Todd bought a vision complete from our local skate shop at the time. I went around a couple times with him, and i said to myself “I need to get one of these.” Was hooked ever since.

What are some trends you remember from the early days?

Man there where some really bad ones. I really thought the 95 era was the worst. Big ass jeans that covered your whole sneaker. very small wheels, and pressure flips. skateboarding was all about having fun then though, and that was what i really liked about it.

How does it feel to have a brother that is a pro skater?

Its definitely a cool thing. Im happy for my brother because he definitely deserves it, and he is just an amazing skateboarder. He hooks me up a lot, and I have met a lot of people. It’s just dope to see my brother in videos, and magazines. Gets me psyched.

Is that something that you ever wanted to pursue?

I have definitely thought about it before, but i was never really to outgoing, and skateboarding was just more about having fun with me. My brother would always hook me up with free stuff anyways, so i always had the equipment to skate, just like if i were sponsored already. I just wanted to do what i wanted to with skateboarding. Didn’t really want the pressure of being pro or whatever. Just wanted to go out and skate, and thats what i like about skateboarding.

Your full length video Surreal was a legit offering. Any plans for a new video?

Yeah surreal was my first attempt at a skate video, and i am happy how it came out. I definitely have more ideas i wanna do though. I acquired some new cameras, and been filming a lot lately. I am going to make another video, and it will be a lot different from surreal. Look out for it in 2010. No name for it yet.

Any shout outs?

My brother todd, give a shout to all my skate homies,Rob,Monte,Scott hope you skate again,My friend Jass, All skateboards, Adrian at rockstar, Bill Tomlin the photo man.

FirstIssue Over..

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