Avenues Out Of Adversity: Darren Harper Interview

Over the years, I’ve read countless interviews with skateboarders who seem to be riding the sponsor wave until it crashes. They speak candidly on the fact that they wake up day to day and skate if they feel like it. Darren Harper is not one of those skateboarders. Darren not only skates, but is a father who involves himself in charities, records and performs different kinds of music, and stays involved in his local skateboarding scene. When speaking with Darren, you understand that his family, friends and community are the things that are important to him. Coming from the ghetto of Washington DC, Darren shows us that there are multiple avenues out of adversity and every lane is worth dipping into as long as you maintain a knowledge of what you come from and where you’re going.

Alife x Stevie Williams Sneaker Preview

Professional Skateboarder Stevie Williams has teamed up with New York heavyweights Alife on a signature make-up of his favourite model, the Everybody High America. The sneakers are finished in the colours of Stevie’s hometown baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies. Look for these to release in the coming weeks at colette and select Alife accounts.

Elephant Direct Trailer [Video]

Here is a trailer to the new skate video called Elephant Direct brought to you by WeSC, Adidas Skateboarding, and Color Magazine.

This video premiered in Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Boston, New York, and San Francisco. It premiered this past Wednesday at weekly Power Hour Battle Of The Barrics night in Ottawa.  During this preimiere we were able to talk with one of the editors from Color Magazine; check their site to see more detailed features on this movie and the skaters in it here.

Flatground Case Study [Video]

This is a short film made by Kirk, starring Chad Tim Tim. On Aug 5th, this video installation was showcased at the Love & Guts art show in Costa Mesa, California. It’s a cool video. In the format of slow-motion abstract art.

Nike SB Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 Commercial [Video]

Paul Rodriguez has officially unveiled the latest incarnation to his signature sneaker franchize, the Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4.  The video is narrarated by hip-hop star Nas.

Rockit Boutique Shop Decks Now Available

Rockit Boutique now has shop decks available.  Made of 100% Canadian hardrock maple, these are currently available for $49.95 CAD with grip tape.  Available in sizes 7.75” and 8”.  Limited quantity so act fast.

Rockit Boutique
210 Princess Street.
Kingston, ON
Canada
K7L 1B3
(1-613)-542-4145

9Five Eyewear “Future So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades” [Video]

Sorry, I had to do it and put a spin on the Timbuk3 80’s classic “The Future’s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)”, LOL.  Anywhoo, The Goodie Bag would like to re-introduce everyone to 9Five Eyewear.  San Diego, CA based 9Five is inspired by the very sport that is perfect for a typical sunny southern California day, skateboarding.  Also the crew will tell you that 1995 was just a damn good year in skateboarding, sneakers, and music, period.  

What separates 9Five from the norm, is they offer kick-ass designs at awesome pricepoints.  With already 2 seasons in, the guys have solidified their branding presence even in these current tough economic times.  The consumers will support and remember brands that are conscious and sympathetic to their wallets, and 9Five exemplifies all of this.

The new season offers top shelf hand-made acetate with CR-39 lenses, and pro skater models and colourways in the Fall.  Models like the “Majors” in smoke colourway are must haves!

9Five will be at Agenda (August 4 – 5) Huntington Beach, CA in the Berrics Agenda Booth #R2 downstairs, and at Las Vegas MAGIC (August 17 – 19) Booth SL8-22921.

Although it is from last season, peep out one of the most creative lookbooks I have seen, ever.

Battle At The Barrics – Round 2 [Video]

Skate culture and nightlife aren’t always hand in hand but Ottawa has found a way to bring the two together.  Lifestyle brand BadHabits has teamed up with local Ottawa skate shop Top Of The World and nightclub Babylon with Raised By Wolves sponsoring to throw a weekly cheap drinks hip-hop skate competition every Wednesday called “Battle At The Barrics”.  The event has become so popular and known throughout Ottawa that it is now sponsored by skate powerhouse brand DC.  Stay up to date with the event by the “Battle Of The Barrics” Facebook group.

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Babylon Nightclub
317 Bank Street.
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K2P 1X9
(1-613)-594-0003

Paul Rodriguez & Don Pendleton Green Label Art Collaboration

From Transworld:
“We were invited up to Los Angeles recently to film some behind the scenes for a Green Label Art commercial starring Paul Rodriguez and Don Pendleton. We even got a few words from them after the shoot. The GLA Shop Series program for Mountain Dew is a national contest that kicks off in June. Paul and Don’s custom can celebrates the launch of the program and will be available exclusively in participating shops. This contest will allow shops to work together with a local artist to design a custom can featuring their shop and then people can vote for their favorite design at greenlabelart.com starting June 25.
There will be seven finalists announced at the Salt Lake City Dew Tour, and the final winner will be announced during the last summer Dew Tour stop in Vegas. The can will be distributed nationally in 2011, which is huge exposure for the skate shop.
The mural featured in the commercial with the design inspiration from their can, and will hang in Paul’s warehouse in L.A.”This seems like a really cool project and it is cool to see a clash of someone considered mainstream, Paul, and someone considered core, Don. Don made the point that he made sure the project was to be done right and that only real shops were in the line up before he would do the project. I like how he said that, considering the fact that I write for Alli Sports (the people who run the Dew Tour) and like him, I make sure I write about the skateboarding that I feel is important. Another thing I like about this project is that it seems to be a step closer to better relationships between the skateboarding community and the corporates and I hope to see more mutually benefical projects in the future.

For more skateboarding, check out Ohio Skate University.
Also, check out my latest post over at Alli’s Expression Session.

Quiksilver East Coast Tour Meet-And-Greet At Rockit Boutique

This Saturday, Quiksilver’s team riders Reese Forbes, Kyle Leeper, Riley Hawk, Jordan Hoffart, Torey Goodall, Danny Garcia, Omar Hassan, Justin Brock, Pat O’Rourke, and Corey Wilson will be making a stop in Kingston as a part of their East Coast Tour at Rockit Boutique for a meet-and-greet and autograph signing.  The meet-and-greet starts at 1:00 P.M. so be sure to get there early as a lot of people are expected to turn out.

Rockit Boutique
210 Princess Street.
Kingston, ON
Canada
K7L 1B3
(1-613)-542-4145