bender.

Ole' John Willis from Griffin, Ga...

2012-02-16T19:24:00.001-08:00

...is down with Bender, for sure. I met John a couple years ago through Stormy. He liked to film and I needed to film a few things. Pretty awkward, kinda odd set up. I told him I was kinda crazy in the head when I filmed and that I don't do things twice. He seemed cool with that and he is now filming with Matt Creasy for the new Ruin video. These two are so fucking picky, the thing may never come out.

......John's up at Ruin alot working. He seems to be stoked on too many things in life and that shit bothers me. So if you are bored (obviously), go up there. Ask him a million dumb questions about Nike shoes and which shirts match. Inquire and request to see 20 different board shapes, concaves and graphics. Ask what an 88b hardness for wheels are. Give him a sponsor-me-tape. See if he knows where any good spots are downtown. Return the bender bolts you just bought and trade "up" for Shake Junt. Have him grip your board. Ring you up. Tell him "Damn, I left Mom's credit card in my wallet in the car. Lemme call her real quick." "Shit man, she didn't answer. I'ma bounce. Peace!" He needs to be bummed out. His cheery/positive attitude makes me avoid his calls. He needs some bitter in his heart....Thanks John!!! Stoked on the vid!

Bender demo?

2012-02-16T19:02:00.002-08:00

...not alot of people showed up to watch some team they never heard of ride skateboards in 90+ degree heat when the sun fell. Alot of people risked heat stroke and drove the miles south of the city to ride skateboards with a bunch of friends in that heat. This was at the end of last summer. Some of the bolts had just been made. I was wiped out from work and all night packaging sessions, but this was the first time I had the chance to give some to the dudes. Big highlight this night was Scott Wagoner doing his first boardslide on a handrail. He had called it out all week and we could tell he was trying to avoid the inevitable. After a few hours, we heckled him into trying. Few tries later he brought the house down. Energy makes this shit work. No age limits. Thanks for coming out and to Chase at Hazard, for filming it and hookin this edit up. I'll get you back one day...

Ben Hayes has this problem...

2012-02-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

...that he hates everything he does. "Aw man, that sucked." "Nah, please don't put that on there." "I gotta go re-do that trick." "That's lame.", etc....I've never met someone who does such gnarly stuff and write it off like "I don't even know why I did that". I mean shit. You took the time to learn it and then put your nuts over the bar a few tries to land it. Be stoked! The majority of people could never do this. Rough ground. Over knee high round bar. Limited run up. 8' plus in length. This is rad.....

"Hey Mom?!

2012-02-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

...could you move the car? I wanna skate...."

About 1990-1991, I was 12 or 13. Mike Vallely Barnyard double kick. Mom made me wear knee pads for safety. I bout the Lance Mountain shirt from the "sale" bin at Skateboard Specialists in Macon GA. It was originally black but wore it so much that it turned gray. Got the on sale Airwalks. I lived in the garage or on the worn out ramp out back. I woke up at 6am for some ramp sesh's before school and skated the garage til about 9pm after school. No girls. No friends. No life. Addicted from the start....

been youtubin lately...

2012-02-09T17:32:00.000-08:00

This show was a life saver for me as a kid. I remember fighting with dad for the TV time. (Some sorta football stuff was on at the same time) If I got mom involved, I could sometimes watch the show. Vids were non existent in Jones County, year 1990. This show was cheesy, but all I had except the bootlegged, worn out copy of Shackle Me Not and Public Domain...

Midwest stoke!

2012-02-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

....A good and longtime friend of the Atlanta scene moved back to Cincinnati some years ago. Gary Collins has always been the loudmouth, shit talking, ringleader of the midwest with a heart of gold and mass love for his friends. My first time meeting him I was 17 and these ledges Chris Head took us too weren't sliding so I asked if anyone had wax. Gary's immediate comeback was "Quit being a faggot and go faster." Pretty stunned. Pretty dead on. No bullshit. These days Gary's got a kid, bought a skateshop and has started Instrument Skateboards. We're all fans. Wished the shops were. Another under the radar sick company you can't find around here.....I miss the Midwest.

Ramps everywhere.....

2012-01-26T16:01:00.000-08:00

I dunno what's in the air lately, but everyone is getting ramps in the backyards. Nothing like gettin some shit together. Gettin to work. And building something you're stoked on....
...Woody Trend put one up last month. Hear that Fred Reeves, Old Man Rob, The Cauffman's and other radders are down in East Atlanta on this thing.....
...Once it stops raining for more than a day in a row, I'm planning to get some rides in. I doubt if GA will ever have the Backyard Scene that the Carolinas and Texas have, but some are better than none....Good job Woody.....

Fifteen....

2012-01-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

...This band was all over the Atlanta scene when I first moved up for art school about 1998. From the Seaboard dudes and Raffles Crew to the northern suburbs and even the Midwest connections all blasted these guys albums constantly. You couldn't help but love them instantly or have them grow on you and eventually knew every word to every song. Super political and one of the freest thinking bands I've ever listened to. Listening to lyrics that made you think about what was going on or hearing things you've never heard. Have always wished I had seen these guy's shows and was stoked to hear stories from dudes who had. This was fillmed 12/30/2011??!! Fuck. Please come round these parts. Me and my friends need a good night out....

WU...

2012-01-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

...looks like the F.B.I's been investigating.....I'm sure there's a verse on one of their albums about that. Keep it in the shadows boys and good luck.......story here.

Fav new company....

2012-01-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

...that I've seen in years is Pontus Alv's Polar. Check his blog/website thing. Super good. Wish they had it at shops in the states.

Ohhhh Boy!!!

2012-01-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

....one of Atlanta's finest acquisitions is Mr. Daniel P. Lunkett. Started showing up around spots and burning 'em down. Not even trying this dude is better than everyone. I've known him for atleast 5 years and can't recall anything being difficult for him. A founding father of the D.T.E crew. Super rad. Super stoked.
...Skate Mental says it's time for him to have a name on his board. We say, it's about time those guys started paying attention. The best of the best. If you've never seen it in person, you're probably better off. Depressing, motivating, face melting and amazing, watching this dude ride a skateboard. So stoked for you bud!!! Let's get that Bender Coozie art going. Boards are coming out in beginning of February. Don't be a cheapskate. Give your new favorite pro a couple bucks and buy his shit at full cost. Yeah Danny!!!!

......morico photos.

Mi amigo....

2012-01-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

...been a fan of Brian Downey since the first time I met him. Super abstract. Amazing skater. Rad ideas and 100% unique. I heard he makes his own belts from scratch. Falcon Bowse indeed. If you're ever in Asheville, NC. Look him up. One of the best.

I been busy...

2011-12-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

...Got the good folks over at Dave's Ramp to come out and help me do this thing. 4'x16'. sheet metal. 9' flat. 6'8" tranny cuts. Dave knocked it out in about 40 hours. Super hyped!!
..had the kid out there poppin chalk lines with us. The boys were trying to down that 18er in less than an hour.
Me, Dave Quinlan and Adam Kowzun dug 28 f'in foundation holes and filled them in one day. The build started 2 days later.
Bender dudes showed up big. Volunteering work both days last weekend before heading to their night jobs from 6pm til early in the a.m. Woke up a few hours later and drove back to the suburbs to help. That's fuckin dedication. Scott Wagoner, Santi, David Morico and John Willis all threw some paint and lifted some heavy shit for us.
...Wait where's that one board ya'll just had at?

Pretty hyped on this...

2011-11-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

...longtime Atlanta local Chris Thiessen has been working over at TWS for a couple years now. Doing some web editing, contest filming, etc...He hooked us up on the TWS news section today! Super stoked man!!! Thanks so much for the kind words and love of the South. Hope to see ya soon!!

Deck Specks!!

2011-11-16T12:48:00.001-08:00

...Found this in a local tattoo rag called Ink Atlanta (?). I dunno, it's usually at Ruin and free. Looked through it last night found our ole amigos in there and wanted to post it ip as a re-hype for these dudes and their gig. I hear they're working their asses off and even got G.Bix stoked and workin hard up there. Super stoked on this kinda stuff. D.I.Y...gotta love that shit. Here's their commercial one more time. Scott Wagoner filmed it. They build over at Dave's Ramp warehouse. I mean, it's just rad stuff. Strat's got 'em. Everyone should support this stuff!!!

Bender stoke...

2011-11-12T20:08:00.000-08:00

....There's alot of rad stuff in the Thrasher mag this month. From Grant's interview to the Zero dudes. From Dan Plunkett's page to the Jason Dill thing.

...But the one thing I like the most is the Ian Mackaye interview. The last thing he says is "I literally still dream about skating, 'cause it was freedom. I'm so glad I was rolling down hills at four in the morning instead of standing in line at some fucking keg party. Or worrying about getting into college. I was free. I was free as a motherfucker."

...Yeah man, me too.

Dan Plunkett!!!

2011-11-10T18:34:00.001-08:00

...Whoa! Scanners. How do they work? I'm lucky I got this onto a computer screen somehow and was scared I'd mess it up if I tried to "crop" it. Not the point.

...Dan rips. You know. New Thrasher mag, he gave Bender a lil free publicity. No one caught it but me, probably. But thanks so much holmes!!!! Best shit ever!!!

...He informed me, after I thanked him, that Stockton did it first.....such a humble fellow. So D.T.E, ya know?

Jay Buck Jam!

2011-11-10T18:01:00.000-08:00

...We did the Jay Buck Jam last weekend at the 4th Ward park in Atlanta. Stormy brought tons of hotdogs, chips and waters. We had the Falcons game on the boom box. DJ Fari played some tunes and way more people than we thought showed up. I gotta say we have tried to do this memorial sesh somewhere every year. We missed a couple. We all agree the first ones that happened in Piedmont Park were the best, but it's always cool to see just how many people show up. From lil kids who think it's a contest, street mission kids stopping in between spots, old dudes we only see this time of year, the dudes up in the mags, the o.g. Atlanta crew "REEB", and people showing up through word of mouth that we got some free beer and food. Fuck, I saw this dude there all incognito lurkin around and I haven't caught up with him in years. All around it's a rad thing. And the Seaboard dudes thanks everyone for showin up. If you knew Jay Buck or not, it was super tragic and so sudden it shocked all of us who knew him 11 years ago. We miss that dude daily and it's nice to see people roll through to skate and kick it with us old fuckers....Thanks!!!

Good stuff....

2011-10-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

...Parks, Bowls, and Ramps are the hot shit right now. People go to the gap or rail. Jump. Get in car and continue on with their web vid. Skating's always changing. Street skating for the most part is dead. Wagoner always seems to capture some rad shit with rad dudes. I doubt if there was much forethought going into these sessions. There's some bender dudes in here. There's some Deck Specs dudes in here. Street skating through Atlanta, Ga....ever thought of it? Fuck it. Your am-xtreme contest is this weekend. Back to the park....

Atleast it'll be a good parking spot..

2011-10-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

..for the lil 5 points party....

Woody Trend's doing another one of his events.

With all the knee pads, standing around, carves, kickturns, shit talking, "back in my days, we.." and "lil shit head kids...", this should be one hell of an event. As well as a slamming after party.

Pool sesh. Loud mouths. Beer swillin. Skating through the streets afterwards. Sounds sick. I'll be getting married in Vegas. Rip it up fags!

Dan Plunkett!!!

2011-10-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

....comin down a mountain. hardflip. Damn it must be nice, player......

morico foto...

Santi!!!

2011-10-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

...Santi probably has no idea what a jolly mambo is. He gets bummed at times that his frontside inverts over-rotates to fakie. Everyone else on the planet thinks it's the raddest shit since sliced bread!

...Santos. Jolly Mambo from shallow to deep. Neil Blender would be proud....

..morico photo

David Clark!!!

2011-10-13T17:39:00.000-07:00

1st dude on. 1st dudes "ad". I asked Morico for some fotos of the dudes. Only one David flick. But with that dude, one's all you need. He's the epitome of the quote on the bottom. "it's not what you do, but how you do it". It's just a rock bounce. But it's the kinda style that makes you go, "huh, i wanna go bounce of some rocks too!"

Back in 1991, pressure flips were the trick of the year. Skaters tried 'em everywhere. Shit flippin and bouncing off the ground. I did one over the 3-way hip in Marietta when I skated around Atlanta for the first time. Funny I live 10 minutes from that spot, 20 years later. As you could tell in the style of the foto, the qoute I used for David hasn't always been the norm.

Ad idea. Babb. Gary Hart made it awesomer looking.

for more info... bender-hardware@hotmail.com

If you are....

2011-10-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

...over 30 years old or just like old skate video tunes, do yourself a favor immediately! I've listened to it 3 times today and will start my 4th as I finish this and go pack bolts for Hazard County Skatepark....(support your local...)

Alex J's Bender Commercial!!

2011-10-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Tall, lanky, smooth and mega ups. Alex floats around that small town of Columbus on the daily. Dude rips heavy and is super motivated. We love him. Bender dude por vida! Thanks for the vid holmes........watch out for them sharks next time bro!!! That Muscogee County clink is a shithole, huh?

Bender Dudes!!! That Damn Stormy Pruett!

2011-10-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

...It's just raw fuckin desire, motivation and power when Stormy skates. He'll sit there and joke and laugh all day, but when something clicks and he wants to do something a completely different person arises. I've been hanging with this dude for the last 14 years of my life and through listening and watching him do the skateboard...I've learned, among thousands of other things, that you can sit there for an hour and a half and watch someone get as close as they can only to bail or slam. But it's always in the eyes. You look at someone who's really going for it and watch their eyes. You'll know before they pop if they have it or not. He tuned me into that. And since then I've noticed that no one. No one has ever had gnarlier eyes while skating than Stormy. The epitome of a "Lifer". He lives and breathes skateboarding and has for over 25 years....My brother. My friend. The Drizzle....Stormy Pruett!

I made this....

2011-10-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

...this is what i guess, i'm calling a "press release"? Some shops and people wanted more info about who was on and how we were going to "present" the company. I drew this up, freelance 3 different times, trying to get everyone's name on here in this space. not fun. left off a few. sorry dudes. We'll get ya on the next one....anyways. 1st ad/press release.......damn, if we only had some money to run it in the mags....

...Email bender-hardware@hotmail.com for some more info or to make orders!

New thank yous to Get Rad! Skateshop in Gainesville, GA and Stratosphere Skateboards for giving a shit...

Been awhile since I've been out of town...

2011-09-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

...but at the end of the month, Me, Jed Davis, Chris Head and a couple others are going on a skate camp trip up to Asheville N.C. And to some state parks to ride some shit Head found while camping around. Spots in the woods far away from civilization and some po dunk towns guaranteed to make yer home town look metropolis. This place is our first stop.....hell I may set up shop and not leave. This shit looks awesome!!

Alex went to Florida....

2011-09-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

...and did a boat load of freestyle flippers. came up in 3rd. Good thing it wasn't a beauty contest.

...lanky ass nollie heel.

Reggie was there but got taken out in the first round. Just the way we like 'em. Either do super good. Or fuck it up right off the rip. Bender dudes....

Someone sent me this....

2011-09-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

...and it's so rad! kinda makes me miss Jones County, GA. Just the commentary, the middle of nowhere road, the dude saying "have a seat" after homeboy gets wrecked...i dunno. But this had me rolling!!!

New drama!!!!

2011-09-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

...the twins have this bizarre article on the Vice website. We've known them for over 10 years. Skated together quite often and is awesome, weird and confusing reading Nieratko's interview. I love it. Personally it was entertaining and blah, blah, blah. The comments are worth looking at if nothing else. Insane! Dudes names are thrown in and dissed like "Why the fuck is he relevant?" But, now there's a whole "thing" about somebody's Tumblr that makes fun of all the dudes in the city. I was kinda pissed hearing about how shitty it was and dissing, heavily, people who are close to me. Then looking at it tonight, I actually found myself chuckling at it. I don't agree with it, but it's kinda witty. Shit, to be honest. Who gives a damn. Move on and live. Although, many stories are sure to come. These things have a way of becoming sensationalized and blown out of proportion. But shit. Really? Who cares. I love this city.....

Mass Thanks!

2011-09-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

...to everyone who's bought, ridden, asked or even thought about Bender Hardware. Ruin Skateshop, Hazard County Skatepark and Cuckoo's Nest in Columbus were the first ones to pick them up. I've been painting bolts, making the boxes, packing the boxes, mailing them, delivering them, thinking of ad ideas and new shirts, trying to skate, look for a job and hanging with my family. Been a little busy. Been real fun so far though. I hope to see you dudes out there somewhere. I appreciate it........'yes it's gay for me to run a photo of myself'

More Andy Howell....

2011-08-31T06:03:00.000-07:00

"...you have the right to an attorney...

2011-08-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

...you also have a right to do anything you want in this world because it's a free world and that's it. see ya later"

....If you've been around long enough, you already know. If you're new and ignorant to Atlanta's skate scene history. Then this is a dude you need to find information on. Switch tricks, art, "Big Deals" raver pants, Strat friend, Transworld interviews shot in Atlanta, did art production for New Deal out of Atlanta, etc..... If you ever run in to dudes from Atlanta, over 30 at a bar and start talking about their childhood idols.....He's gonna be one of the top 5 annoying old dudes stories that go "...I saw him downtown one night, when I was like 15 and he was rippin! Like he went up to that thing at....and just did it! Then skated off! Was so sick!"

...I'll spare my Andy Howell stories.........unless you catch me drunk.

Bender homie made the cut....

2011-08-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

...last dude in here. Our amigo from Hazard Park, Chase bombing that big fuckin hill out in Conyers. If he won this from this hill, it'd be the second contest won by locals bombing this very hill. (Timmy won the Santa Cruz E-Man contest) I haven't been but heard it's pretty heavy. And that's coming from Conyers loc gone big, D. Clark......so rad shit. rip it up country bumpkins!!!

Dan done done it....

2011-08-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

Deck Specks commercial

2011-08-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

....super sick! support the local scene....

today's my birthday....

2011-08-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

...and i appreciate all the love from my friends, family and even the atlantahatesus website. But there's a feeling i can't put into words when i get a text from Mr. Oyola wishing me happy birthday. I've been watching this part religiously lately before heading out to skate street spots and parking lots by myself. This embodies my skateboarding past and I hope I can always hold onto these lil clips filmed back in the mid 90's. Meeting Ricky was one of the raddest times i can remember in skateboarding. Skating, drinking, talking and hanging with him that week in Cabbagetown will be my fondest memory of skating. Running with the trends is tiresome. Street skating is dead. It's the only thing I know.

MY DIRTY BIRDS!

2011-08-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

.....too too too damn hyped for the season to start!!!!!

oohhh mama!

2011-08-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

....that damn #20 is for sure my next purchase!! firin up! startin up friday night August 12 against the Dolphins. Pre-season game 1!!

rippers.

2011-08-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

why is skateboarding so cheesy?!

2011-08-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

...been lovin these dudes approach to skating for a couple years. lil hipster, but damn sick. it's a shame that no one in our city will ever give these guys a chance, shop-wise or skate-wise, because they don't advertise in the big mags and just scrape by with no "big" name pros......these guys are in it. support things you feel are rad. not just "i'll buy what he has cause it's easy and i'll look cool" skateboarding is so damn cheesy sometimes.

possibly cheating....

2011-08-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

....but still pretty damn sick!

updates!

2011-07-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

...life's been ruling lately. 70 hour work weeks. no family time. no skate time. always look forward to these kind of months when our deadlines at work rule my sanity, patience and lively hood. i've been sucking at alot of things the last few weeks. i'm now trying to get around to mending the Bender neglect. here's some shit that may or may not be interesting. in no particular order.

......went to El Myr's anniversary party on saturday before heading over to see the Archers of Loaf show at the EARL. Archers was obviously amazing, but a surprising thing i saw was a band i've heard alot about. never been able to see them until saturday. gnar shit. drummer was the best. heavy bass lines. reminded me of old Black Flag. and damn if there doesn't need to be more of that attitude around. if you ever hear about a HAWKS show. gotta go.

......Alex Johnson said he wanted to be down and so it was dude shreds! BS Flip Guitar Center set? fo sho!

....that damn david Clark should be up in New York for the next few months living in the Quiksilver apt. filming for their vid. heard he shot some stuff in the Bender tee that may be an ad or something. also heard i'm gonna waste some money and make a D.Clark Bender coozie. in process.

......Dan's been rippin. paddin up too in the big ass bowl at the foundation park. credible sources say it's been ridiculous to see his progress. did he really say no to Drehobl and Lucky Bolts? i dunno, but i hope so.

.....Ben Hayes texts me to go skate, but i never respond. too depressing for me to admit "i can't cause...."

.....Reggie damn near died in Macon Ga a few weeks ago. turns out when he falls the concrete flexes. as most "normal humans" it's the opposite. (last few tricks in clip)

....bender dude Scott Wagoner made a Bender Commercial and i'm such a douche i didnt even post it on here!!!! blowin it. love this style of skating. miss being out with those dudes. empty atlanta streets. skatepark.

.....Cole frazier headin back to college up in Gainesville, Ga. leaving a gap in the Ruin shop but furthering his epic-ness of following his heart and not the crowd. good on ya!

....Santi's been out on some boats with Big Bob Boyd doing some deep sea fishing along with the crew of El Myr lately. seen a photo of his fish. damn!

.....somebody you know has a mega f'in part comin out soon with a 20,000 dollar Slayer song. we're stoked on him. but we can't afford for him to look at our bolts. this should secure a pretty epic situation in Tampa and later this year. although an argument broke out on the rigging of a major skate title between said dude and some other dude everyone loves. politics, bro. ruins the fun of it.

.....Shawn beeks made some super racist shirts. he'll be in atlanta next week. i believe Ruin carries most of his stuff, although this not only crosses lines of offensive, it pisses on them and then lights them on fire. i'll take two please!

.....someone messed up and took me for a professional skateboarder. i'm sorry for the disappointment. but i do have a board with my name on it.

....Burner's been M.I.A but believe he's been livin life to the fullest. workin, skatin and chillin....

Ole Dan Plunkett....

2011-07-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

...quit that Nike flow crap and went and got himself a good gig over at Huf Quality Footwear......but we already knew that. hot damn that late shove! Sheffey and Andy Howell should be proud!

David Clark!..is a........

2011-07-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

..dude who enjoys New York's fine pizza and has a mean ass kickflip.

The Cube.

2011-07-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

...my favorite all time company. been a fan since i was a child. Alan and Karma. legends for my small town style. cruising my road, building slider bars and wedge ramps. street cones, dad's coolers, lawn chairs, etc....i threw it out in the driveway every day after school. had a wiped out 4' in the backyard. warped plywood and all. duct tape and street signs covered the holes until i could save half to re-ply it. when i first started seeing ads for Consolidated, you could write in, send a dollar for some stickers and even order the Daredevil wheels through the mail. saved the lunch money for a couple weeks to get them. i used to get handwritten letters from Birdo and Moish thanking me for supporting their gig. found some of their vids and also found a new religion. "this is what i am and how i feel too!", i remember. these guys started out with money from their back pocket and have survived for a long, long time. staying true to who they are, the love of skating and unshakeable beliefs. the absolute best. Consolidated Skateboards.

hang up or revert.....

2011-07-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

...we're getting to the point in skateboarding that it's ridiculous. sure a million dollars to win a contest is rad. it's amazing. but you're gonna have to come to some terms with yourself and your love. you aren't going to be that dude. you aren't some contest monkey born and raised on skating. you found this when you were about 13 and gave it your all.
...of course, you should have been compensated for your time, dedication and support of this thing called skateboarding. but you were not. life caught up. college loans had to be re-paid, that rent is ALWAYS due and Ramen Noodles for dinner ended up sucking, somewhere along the road. we are here. they build big bowls for us to skate, yet most have never dropped in on vert, much less able to rip 7' concrete walls. a backyard mini was super rare and amazing to find, but that middle class family down the road could only afford a 4'er.
...there are millions of us out there struggling to find refuge in slashing some pool coping and falling into the traps of trends in skateboarding today. yet we always go home longing for something more. surely we aren't jumping down rails and 10 stairs as in days of yester year. what is it that we are looking for. this post is for the dudes that worshipped Hensley, Natas, and Dressen. and wished we could skate tranny like Gonzales or J.Lee in the Blind "Video Days". our days are gone. gone. you're probably better off at the bar talking shit to the new kids.......
...however. if you could consider the fact that "street" skating still isn't as marketable as "they" want it to be. you can go look for curbs, curb cuts, hips, bumps, and manual pads tomorrow and ride them alone. and wait for that security guard to kick yer old ass out. and drive off laughing. and pulling into the next shopping plaza. and know that you reverted and didn't hang up your dream. you are here rolling and feeling it. you are skateboarding. padless and alone. most likely the same way you started 20 years ago.
...here's to you!
...here's to us!
...these are the days, they always have been!

Cuckoo's Nest! Columbus, Ga!

2011-06-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

...i've been stoked on a lil shop in Columbus, Ga since the opened. they aren't the punker shop or the hipper hop shop. nor the street or bowl. or even "old school" shop. they're just there. 2 dudes Scott and Raddo doing the same shit the been doing since they started skating. being themselves, riding skateboards on obstacles in front of them and enjoying life. it's nice to feel like it's 1993 again and skateboarding is a secluded sub-culture in a sea of normal humans. it's nice to talk to people with a brain. it's nice to be around lifers. these dudes are. i love 'em.

Gnarly Shit....

2011-06-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

....there's some shit in Russia that's cheaper than heroin, except when you become addicted to it rots yer damn flesh off! insane shit!!!

Bender Dudes.....Shawn Beeks!

2011-06-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

...There's too many thoughts that i think could be interesting for Shawn, but i don't have a novel's amount of space. If you have ever met and spent time with Shawn, then you already know what an amazing dude he is. So, i'm gonna assume you already know Beeks. And if you don't, you should've been around more. ..How's it go? Two knee cap explosions from skating, a sudden near death diabetes attack, a disdain for normal life and a need to move to PA for extended schooling? It's left me without my skate bud. He was down anytime, anywhere. The worst is that with life and injuries, my old boy can hardly skate at all.

...I've gotten pissed and bummed at Shawn twice in the 20 years we've been friends. Once when he canned Raped Inc. Skateboards and the second was him moving. I had no one to steal tricks from! Dude shreds! This was a random/easy go for sure. Shawn never really wanted the spotlight of filming or shooting photos. He was one of the few rippers that cared more for life aspirations than stressing on skateboarding.

...I asked him to send me a photo of him skating. He says he doesnt skate a whole lot and I understand why. Was stoked to see a "Beeks skate" email. Opened it up and saw that homeboy's been ripping whatever's in his path....on the way to the shitter.

Classic Beeks.

not a bender dude.....

2011-06-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

...but my favorite skater. not in one of his epic parts, but just skating a ramp. i love this dude!!! absolute rad shit!

work sucks.

2011-06-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

...chapter 7.

Then I started coming home unhappy.
"What's the matter, Hank?"
I had to get drunk every night.
"It's the manager, Freddy. He has started whistling this song. He's whistling it when I come in in the morning and he never stops, and he's whistling it when I go home at night. It's been going on for two weeks!"
"What's the name of the song?"
"AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. I never did like that song."
"Well get another job."
"I will."
"But keep working there until you find another job. We've got to prove to them that...."
"All right. All right!"

...something about the simplicity and vague description of the conversation that just reaches home to me.

Dan and David....

2011-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

....bs noseblunt.

....gap to front lip.

....awhile back these two did a Thunder Commercial. I'm never a big fan of skaters thinking they're actors, but this shit was pretty damn funny. David imitating Graham is priceless!

Ha!....

2011-05-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

...this shit is retarded!!!

bender dudes...Ben Hayes!

2011-05-25T17:20:00.001-07:00

....he can ride a skateboard backwards and crooked down handrails that are beside walls, but that's not the point of this...the point is how, I used to grip Ben's boards back when he was a wee boy coming in to Ruin and annoying the shit out of me with a barrage of skateboard questions that I didn't care about. Or more annoying was looking at his blank stare's and giving me the "uuhhh, I dunno. I don't have any money" when I asked if he wanted to check something out. That went on for years. Years!! He wouldn't speak. Drove me nuts. Then I remember the crazy dreads he grew. I was just "What the fuck?" when i saw those things stroll into the store. I didn't see him for a few years and randomly ran into him skating. I instantly remembered him and was struck on how good he was. A couple years after that I skate with him and I'm blown the fuck away by his gig. No real sponsors to speak of. works 30 hours a week. Skates all day and night. And lives life pretty sick. We got him on Ruin obviously, it was a given. He bought his first boards from there. And he's filming for the Ruin vid. I'm hearing stuff he's doing that is just face melting. He rips. He does it for the right reasons. And he loves it. Go ahead and get acquainted with his style. He'll be around town for awhile.

Bender dudes...Reggie Kelly

2011-05-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

...I looked for photos of Reggie. Couldn't find many in the Google search. I stole this one because most of them were of some big football player. Which is weird because I started to think that since Reggie is built like a football player, maybe he's doing the old double life...
... It's true I don't know a whole lot about young Reggie here. I met him less than a year ago. Talked to him a few times on the phone. Skated with him a few times. But not much more. These are things I know about him. He either just did or is going to soon graduate highschool. He's either 15, 16, or 17. He may have a full beard. He looks like he drinks muscle milk. He seems to ride the fuck out of a skateboard. I heard he always has his Ipod in, even when his skating with friends. (weird) He either has a warped, dry sense of humor or actually doesn't know the answer to some of the questions he asks. He can take a beating when skating, I think. Rides either 7 ply or 8 ply boards. We either are friends or he's just acting like it. And I think I've been pretty hyped on this dude since the first time I saw him skating at the Columbus park....but I can't be sure.

I'm not....

2011-05-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

..trying to hype it up with Dan. This is what it's like going skating with this dude. Things you thought were really gnarly and craze, is just another day for this guy.....it's almost depressing. but not really. it's actually really awesome!

Bender dudes....Cole Frazier!

2011-05-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

...never seen a person in my life skate similar to Cole. Double jointed knees. Mega pop. Lots of times while skating I just watch and wonder "How the fuck did he just do that, like that?!" Fully got his own unique style going. 100% original. Grew up in North Georgia. The middle of nowhere. I dunno how he got this good. Dude laughs alot. Reads alot. Works alot. Skates alot. Totally DTE...I've known him for years. Always been hyped. This dude's a destroyer!

Santi.......dead last!

2011-05-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

..Damn Am crap happened last weekend. Plunkett did pretty good I heard. Tried to watch some of the footy, but i dunno....children flipping and spinning onto handrails robot style? ehh. Cool these things happen, I'd rather watch the Pro-Tec Pool Party. (which is this Sat!)...back to the subject.
...That one really awesome skater Ishod won. A whole mess of other randoms filled in some blanks, but our boy Santi did it. Last! Most would be bummed. Our group has always cheered for last. Think. You were the worst of the worst. You went and tried and did so terrible that people who call themselves judges looked past your name from 2nd place all the way to the 98th place. and when they thought they were done....Oh wait. Look. There's one more name on the list. He gets last place.
....While people practice, train and focus on these structured contests hoping it will further their skate "career". It's always nice to see the true street ripper come in with no idea of the set up. Take the runs. Walk out feeling stoked to just be a part of the scene and discuss the street spots they're going to tomorrow.
...Someone had to get last. I'm proud it was my friend and one of my favorite skaters....Santi!

Bender Dudes...Dan!

2011-05-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

..it's never gonna be as good as this, fellas. you can try and practice and play the lotto, but we all wanna skate like ole' Danny boy. if he wants it. he takes it. life. skateboarding. genius. "Yo player? Can I have a dollar?"

Bender Dudes...David!

2011-05-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

The best of the best from the south. Born and raised in conyers, ga. I've been proud to call this dude my friend and am always excited for his future. If the people (sponsors) that be, don't see that David is an inspiration and a one of a kind person and skateboarder, then let it be known right now. That when I watch this dude skate. It makes me wanna be a better, smoother and spot seeking skateboarder. Thank you David for being part of my life. I owe you a few beers or something.

The Business...

2011-05-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry to the two people who view this blog. This pretty much sums up me and gary's life right now. I'm trying to get a ramp in my backyard for securing skate sesh's and Gary is trying to crunch for Ride Or Die Dist. On top of doing and providing for families. It's been fun. I'll tell ya! shirts are coming this week. Bolt people are being bitches. We'll get it together. Thanks for the homies who have been down since the get down. Stormy Pruett is in here. What?! Yes, he still skates. At times it's not what you do, but how you do it. And he runs the whole scha-bang on rad shit.....so back to sleep, family, work, skate, numbers, money and life......gracias for hanging in there amigos...

got 'em...

2011-03-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

....box art. this is gonna be the actual match box (not match book) the bolts come in. sample bolts came in too! and moving forward......

why did we pick...

2011-03-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

..this guy as our first tee shirt design. a poor drunk who wrote books about his incredible life's stories. an inspiration to either clean your act up or embrace the ridiculous-ness of your psychosis...living in the slums and acting like retards while growing up and trying to figure out how to not wear a suit to work, is something we can all agree on. freedom doesn't make you a grip of money at the end of the week, but it's a hell of alot better than "kissing corporate's ass for the year end bonus"....so cheers my friends, express yourself and keep it shreddy!

Settles Bridge remix

2011-03-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

I posted this montage recently but without music. I edited it to this song, and thought it was too much so it went without added sound. But I still like the song, it's the theme from the Nintendo game Contra. David Clark used to run through this game easily and I thought it would be good tunes for a montage. Now off to the bar! Happy St Pattys Day! -Scott

inspiration to go ride the skateboard tomorrow...

2011-03-15T18:48:00.000-07:00

some of us have to work...

..if you aren't understanding this, then you may be on the wrong website.

Bender Dudes......Chris Burns

2011-03-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

...if Richard Angelides and this dude had a baby, it would probably be Burner. no bullshit goin on with this dude. doesn't care about much besides skating, homies and getting that rent paid. one of the younger dudes who does it cause he loves it. no gymnast landings, sponsor hunting fiend, or wannabe trendster. he'll shred, laugh, buy some beer and will shoot empty beer cans with a BB Gun that are hanging from a tree until the sun comes up with you....and that's the first day you meet him. they don't make 'em like this anymore.
nollie bigspin lip, spinning in front of you......think about it...
spot hunter. 5-0 180 in some dirty sketchy downtown garage...
switch fuckin blast!!! not many people rolled away from this gap when it was around. tall and far. heel bruises were the daily special. Burner. cleared it by a mile..
sickest fakie ollie. straight float. 4 years ago this guy could barely drop in....

...him and his friends made a video of them skating in atlanta a few years ago. they DIY'd everything and only a few dozen copies were made. everyone i've talked to who has seen it says it is by far the best vid to come out of Atlanta in years. Hi-8. no generators. filmed each other. stenciled discs and late night street skating in Atlanta......i'm trying to get that on the internet somehow.

Santi....

2011-03-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

...got an art show at the end of the month in Venice, CA! what?! i dunno, but it's sick. he's going out there to skate and do whatever it is that art dudes do at those things....they don't hang the way we do out east though homie. so don't go freakin them out. those dudes are a lil more sensitive and white washed than our crew is...

Damn it!! missed the "skate rock" show...

2011-03-11T11:41:00.000-08:00

...it's as if i'm always a day late and a dollar short.

..found out about this event, which happened in December, through someone's Facebook page and now have questionable (more) thoughts about that person. apparently a company called Kickboard Kouture, major MAJOR supporters of skateboarding, put on a "Skate Rock" show at Woodward Park (R.I.P). they combined all of their market studies, research and skateboarding backgrounds and decided what they had was golden. a "let's do this" moment if you will....
...straight up in your face aggression, attitude and style from The Coeds!!!
....throw in the smooth beats and lyrical flow of Dipshit Dolittle....performing with a LIVE band...ssooo sick!
...and the ripping styles of that rollerblader kid and this early grabbing doofus. and what you have just witnessed was a skateboarding game changer. a swagger-ific example of reppin yer spot, hollerin at cha's and you know how we do's up in the northern suburbs of a city that so many people refer to as new, vibrant, fresh, artistic and is making a mark on the american culture front.

...i can't stand the fact that any skatepark closes, but if your park is hosting this bullshit and you still wonder why you can't get respect and for the big dudes to roll through....you should hit up Kickboard Kouture. they got a skate brand to sell ya!

slackers.....

2011-03-11T02:29:00.000-08:00

...i've been asking these dudes for a flyer of their video premiere night for a month now. nothing. then they sent me to this tumblr thing and now i see why there are no flyers....burnouts....these dudes are doing a vid. Austin Sneed films. his friends rip. Ben Hayes is for sure gonna burn that mother down. support the local kids!

J Mascis...

2011-03-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

...should be one of the best shows of the year. so good, that i'm even trying to get it together and go. if you live anywhere near East Atlanta, you should have no reason to not be there. this is his new stuff at the bottom somewhere. viva la dinosaur jr!!

bender dudes....Scott Mckenzie!

2011-03-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

...one of the truest, smooth and realest styles I've ever seen. friends for years. without him i'd be a worse off man. he moved to N.J. for awhile. came back married, a kid and a real job. life happens more often than skating. see him on the weekends though. it's like like time froze 10 years ago. love this dude.
....he does these rad "robots" on a basic computer graphic program. this one is my fav. "Jets To Brazil" song. so sick. he's got tons of these. itwonthurt.blogspot.com

....made a homie vid of his friends skating around.

Bender dudes........Santi!

2011-03-08T17:33:00.001-08:00

....everyone's favorite skater. if he's not yours, you haven't been paying attention.

....the first time i remember seeing him he was a small boy doing a boneless down the Big 4. couple years later him and his buds brought in a sponsor me vid to Ruin. i loved his stuff. chaotic, no structure, fast, reckless and no "popular" tricks. stoked. 100% unique. that was about 6 years ago.

...he's had knee problems with us, been broke with us, became a U.S. citizen with us, graduated school with an art degree with us, held many jobs with us, limped with us, lived with us, raised Farkus (his maniacal dog), rode bikes with us, skated with us, chilled with us and lost his mind for a bit with us. he's been down with us and we'll all have his back por vida. Thanks for the motivation Santi!

...this art piece is hanging front and center above Table 1 at El Myr...his first commissioned art piece since graduating a couple months ago...Santi amazes constantly.