This past Wednesday at 4:30 pm a contest was held at our local concrete park, Rippin Riverside. “What?” “A contest in the middle of the week? In the middle of the afternoon?” Yes. Also like you, we assumed it wasn’t going to be anything spectacular, but when we found out they were going to every local shop they could asking for shop donations, charging 25 bucks a kid, only had to pay $500.00 for the skatepark rental, and 50 kids were signed up in the contest, things seemed a little fishy. I showed up at the park to judge and there was one little judging booth, a very small pile of cheap-o skate stuff for the winners, and little kids everywhere. The contest is a little different than others, both bowl and street skaters are not separated, all age divisions skate at the same time, and judging was a little biased making judging harder for street skaters. After getting denied MC privileges because the older fellow running the contest seemed to have “everything under control” and my iPod was taken off the stereo for “something better”(crappy FM radio music) I began to think this contest is after-all pretty kooky. In the end there was a “joust” where two skaters went at the same time, and the judges had to try and watch both of them, which would have been easy, but a bowl kid and a street kid would always get paired up. The two types of skating are very different, so we did our best judging. USS’ very own Jonny Scianneaux and Jake Welch took 1st and 2nd Place! At least a couple kids who deserved it got the little amount of product there was to offer. Go here. to see the results for every skater. ‘Till next year, and hopefully not a day sooner..

Congratulations to “Little Jonny” Scienneaux for the first place in SPoT’s 13-15 age division! I have had a few haters come in and try to tell me he cheated because Jonny is 16 years old, and lied about his age. The kid is in eighth grade fellas, let it go.. Also huge props to our other newest rider “PopTart” aka Jake Welch for getting first place in the Grind For Life contest held a couple weeks back. Keep it up you little jits!

This Wednesday… starts 3pm…$25 to enter

more info…concreterodeo.com

I’ve been in the skate biz a long time and there’s always been shake-ups from time to time.   You know, where a rider jumps from company A to company B; or a “once-upon-a- time” cool company gets bought out by a Huge corporatation.  Anyway, since Baker 3 (which has got to be 4 year-old footage now), Reynold’s and crew kept you wanting more.  It’s finally arrived as (Ellington, Greco, Antwan, Dollin…many more) are at it again with their new company Deathwish Skateboards.  What happened to Baker you ask?  Well, that’s a long story and I don’t want to start rumors… only time will tell… but I think they’ll keep that going for a while.  For now, in with the new!  They don’t dissapoint, with crazy antics through-out and all new footage.  I won’t bore you with details, but I will say Antwan’s footage was smooth and Sammy Bacca and Lizard King are bad-ass additions to the team.  The free teaser is online, but USS will be carrying the full-length video by next week.  It’s almost 2 hours of footage that you can watch on your TV set (not your tiny computer screen).   At only $11.99 they won’t last long!!!

USS is giving away 2 completes to kids in that live in the Central Florida area who need them the most.  What’s the catch you ask?  You can’t win it for yourself!  You need to tell us about a friend you skate with who really loves to skate, but never seems to have a good set-up.  You know, the wheels barely roll, the tails always worn down…  Remember we are looking for kids who’s parents, or care-takers don’t have the funds to buy them a new set-up.  The 2 most qualified stories will win their friend a new USS complete hooked up with new components.  Winners will be chosen on June 1st, and deadline to enter is May 25th.  All persons will be kept confidential, unless parties names wish to be mentioned.  Just e-mail giveaways@universitysurfandskate.com and check your e-mail on June 1st.   

Just took a trip out to Colorado to visit Ex-USS employee/filmmaker Derek Percoski. He let us stay with him, took us around to all the local Denver parks and street spots, showed us a good time, and even schooled us in some indoor skydiving. Here’s a little montage of Derek Percoski, Chad Robertson, Rodney Macinnes, and Ryan Oconnor shredding some of the most amazing skateparks ever built. Click HERE. UPDATED! now with STREET FOOTY!

I don’t feel very qualified to comment a whole lot on Johnny, because he just came on board.  Because I live on the coast I haven’t ever skated with him but a lot of other USS employees have.  I do know that through the past year or so, he has been turning heads (mainly @Oviedo) at just age 14 .  Just this past week he received 5th at the prestigious Bowl Cup Series, which is no easy task.  It attracts a few of the best transition/park skaters in the US every year.  Anyway, Congrats! and welcome to USS!  

USS has been building more unique custom skateboards for your cruising pleasure.  Most of you weren’t even a twinkle in your father’s eye when these came out back in the late 70’s & 80’s, but if you watch Dogtown “the movie” you will catch a few glimpses of these older pool carvers/ street cruisers.  The idea here and back then, was to be different and not ride or wear what every skater/surfer has conformed to.  After all, skating and surfing started from kids who were different… and wanted to be different.  They didn’t need to gain the popular vote or fit in with the jocks and preps…  I’m not saying shock the hell out of everyone, but grab your own style!