Hi-Fi New York

I just bought an iPhone recently and, having skipped the whole video iPod thing, it’s serving as my introduction to the world of video PodCasts.

Needless to say, I’ve been downloading skate PodCasts like a fool, and I recently stumbled across this Black Label tribute to Jason Adams. I think I watched it when they first posted it on their website, but this time when I really watched it closely, it pretty much blew my mind.

You just can’t say enough about how hard, fast and aggressively this guy skates. He’s from the John Cardiel school of being able to make any simple trick look mind-blowingly cool, just based on how much speed they have and how hard they stomp the landings.

I’ve watched it at least 10 times in the past two days. Great choice of music too. Makes you want to run around and punch things.

Or just go skate … whatever works for you.

An absolute classic from the YouTube vaults. Above is the first heat of Jim’s Ramp Jam, a must-see 1996 mini-ramp contest that features the likes of John Cardiel, Gershon Mosley, Chet Childress, Dan Drehobl, Mark Gonzales and many more. The highlight for me is the footy of Crooks and Cancer Dan as young’uns. Also be sure to check out the second heat (featuring Tim Brauch, Chris Senn, Max Schaaf, Chris Pastras and more) and then, natch, the finals. Good eats.

Apparently, the new Nike SB “What the Dunk” Dunks go on sale at Supreme in New York this Saturday. Please don’t piss off the neighbors, though; unless it’s some drunk bankers stumbling out of Puck Fair. Then please piss on them. Dunke.

I know I’m a few weeks behind, but I recently saw a post on Skate Daily that linked to a news story on skateboarding getting bumped as an exhibition sport at the 2012 Olympics in London.

I’m sure a huge portion of the skate community is behind this news, as everyone’s favorite anti-sport was granted another four-year reprieve and can stay true to its underground roots. I get that argument.

But I think it’s outdated.

Skateboarding’s become too commodified to stay out of the spotlight for much longer. Anytime you see this much money being generated by a “hobby,” “pasttime,” “activity” or what have you, then it will grab the attention of those who govern large-scale sporting events, such as the Olympics.

So my solution? Well, since street skating is way too advanced for the average “viewer” (sorry to use that term) to understand, and half-pipe skating is … uh, half-pipe skating, I’d hope organizers would consider bowlriding as an option. Think about: it takes place in a controlled environment, it’s more creative than half-pipe skating, you can work in some street-type moves into your line (mannies on the platform, etc.), and - perhaps most importantly - it would keep that guy in the photo above from capturing the first-ever Olympic gold medal in skateboarding.

Not that I have anything against the red-headed action sports wunderkind. I don’t. Truly. He seems like a nice guy. I’d just much rather have Dan Drehobl, Chet Childress, Rick McCrank or someone like that find their way into the history books.

I mean, the idea of Luda-Crooks standing on an Olympic platform with a medal in one hand a beer-can in the other? I think we could all get behind that.

I know I’m a few weeks behind, but I recently saw a post on Skate Daily that linked to a news story on skateboarding getting bumped as an exhibition sport at the 2012 Olympics in London.

I’m sure a huge portion of the skate community is behind this news, as everyone’s favorite anti-sport was granted another four-year reprieve and can stay true to its underground roots. I get that argument.

But I think it’s outdated.

Skateboarding’s become too commodified to stay out of the spotlight for much longer. Anytime you see this much money being generated by a “hobby,” “pasttime,” “activity” or what have you, then it will grab the attention of those who govern large-scale sporting events, such as the Olympics.

So my solution? Well, since street skating is way too advanced for the average “viewer” (sorry to use that term) to understand, and half-pipe skating is … uh, half-pipe skating, I’d hope organizers would consider bowlriding as an option. Think about: it takes place in a controlled environment, it’s more creative than half-pipe skating, you can work in some street-type moves into your line (mannies on the platform, etc.), and - perhaps most importantly - it would keep that guy in the photo above from capturing the first-ever Olympic gold medal in skateboarding.

Not that I have anything against the red-headed action sports wunderkind. I don’t. Truly. He seems like a nice guy. I’d just much rather have Dan Drehobl, Chet Childress, Rick McCrank or someone like that find their way into the history books.

I mean, the idea of Luda-Crooks standing on an Olympic platform with a medal in one hand a beer-can in the other? I think we could all get behind that.

Peep the trailer for Nike SB’s new flick, “Nothing But the Truth.”

In trying to think of the most appropriate way to launch a skateboard blog, it’s probably best to pay homage to your heroes, no?

So with that in mind, here’s a photo I snapped of Gonz in the East Village a few years back. I saw him from down the street with Bobby Worrest. They were doing slappies on a curb and just clowning around. I didn’t want to interrupt, but couldn’t help it. I ran over to get the photo and was grinning like a fool the whole time. And trust me when I say I’m past the age of product tosses and getting autographs at demos.

Anyway, so here’s to celebrating one of the game’s true originals, and a guy who always seems to do it his way.

And so it goes … welcome to Champeen.