Birdhouse Skateboards -

A day late, and a dollar short.

I’m all for performance enhancing drugs in sports. We the consumers, want to be entertained. We want to see the records broken, the crazy plays and progression at all costs.

Why do I bring this up? It’s a catchy lead in and the only creative way I could think to mention that it appears that the skateparks of today are on some form of concrete steroids. The Lake Cunningham Skatepark in San Jose is beyond big. The fact that is shares property with Raging Waters more than suggests that it kind of exists as a theme park all it’s own. You know the park where you get the 3 day pass to check it all out? Kind of like that.

The place basically has everything you could need and then some.

It’s a locals paradise and they played host to our circus Sunday in fine form. We had us a demo with all the trimmings. You had the skaters, the families, the kids on their own, the pre-requisite politicians and no shortage of press on hand to cover it all.

There were the million or so autographs that just seemed to happen.. and as long as day was.. it was still kind of special. See, on top of all that, We also had guests.

It’s kind of common these days to have another guy from some other team come out for a stop or two on a tour. It’s sometimes special – but usually just another dude. I will say for sure.. those guys usually aren’t bringing together two super legends at the same time, but it happened here. Steve Caballero.

It was pretty awesome that he was down to come out for a little fun in the sun with our passing through crew. Tony and Steve have been friends since the day.

Bones Brigade.. I needn’t say more, and won’t (other than Jeff Hedges was there too, with a cast of local flavor that also included Steve’s daughter in the jam)

Anyways.. a summation. The session was a good one. Packed with the new hits and plenty of classics.. just like a mix tape for that special somebody.

Right when I thought the time had come, the ender run, and we’ve got to hit the road again.. it turned out I was wrong.

See there’s a silly big wallride there to be had, and Tony had been eyeing it more than I thought.

Wallride Wars, (Jaws vs. the Hawk) round whatever we are on now.. was on.

Interestingly, they both took it to it at different times. Tony making it as high as he wanted a good 5 or 7 times before calling it a day, and Jaws rolling though shorty after to up the ante. Nobody has ever dropped in on this monolith. Nobody. Tony’s been up there on a previous visit. and gave it a resounding ”hell no..” Some locals have tried, and all have failed.

But scrawny little Jaws, see he’s just silly enough to fall for it. Buy into the challenge.. Being known as the little guy who goes big, he may as well. This was about as big a drop as any he’s kickflip meloned or even straight shotted. It’s different, yes, but a biggin’ none the less.

After a couple of tranny checks.. he pulled his wiry frame up to take a peek. As expected, he got the glance and set down his board down. Equally as quick, he sat down and cried. He didn’t do it.

Advantage: Hawk

- the end.

(for the record, no he didn’t cry and did give it a go, but that’s not as funny. Take a minute to check out the shot from @donkeysquad on insta, or Tony’s re-post. Best comment/pic combo in a bit..)

On 07.17.12 , In TOUR 2012 , by @dupedupe

Promo video time!

Ride Channel just uploaded our newest Left Coast tour video. Check it out and come out and see us!

On 07.15.12 , In TOUR 2012, Video , by bh

and so it starts…

The first day is always a little frantic. Day 1 for us was no exception. There was no flying anywhere to get things slightly settled. This was get it going.. and well.. GO. It’s a bit nuts. What with the people coming in from all points, 2 or 3 delayed and canceled flights to deal with, 4 of our vans and a convoy of about 5 sponsor vehicles or so, all with their own masses needing to be meld into one unit in a short amount of time.. it’s a like a carney math problem in the making.

Between the meetings, the many calls morning of and a little luck.. it does all come together. With everyone in place, all the banners are hung by the proverbial chimney with care.. the people are packed in and it’s time to start the show.

The Santa Clarita Skatepark is big. Really big. Despite the available space to fill in the gaps on the exterior of the park, the crowd has made the group decision to all make their way to the bridge bowl – front and center – 5 to 6 bodies thick to see what Staab, Jaws, David and of course Tony have in store for the coping there. Tony has hardly hidden the fact that just a few weeks ago, he took a rib breaking shot, and with little practice before this demo.. none of us (including him) know how this is going to play out. He makes it all seem seamless, and smooth as silk despite a few little tubules here and there. No Biggie, and all good.

While the chaos is centralized, the park is pretty much opened up for the rest of the guys to freely stack up of clips, or get a few runs under their belt. This seems welcomed, as again, the first day is sometimes an adjustment.

The session goes on for over an hour, on a grey slab of concrete.. with temperatures akin to the surface of the sun. It’s Hot, as expected and the heat ain’t going away. There’s plenty of water, and enough guys skating to catch some breaks in runs.. but just in case.. the great Barry Zaritsky is also on hand ready to mash a bag of ice in the face of anybody looking the slightest bit sun stricken, requested or not.

After the last run is done.. we head back to the Quiksilver RV for some relief from the heat, plenty of physio (via Barry) and a little rest before hitting the road all over again.

One would hope that during this time, the crowd might subside a little. But with loads of sponsor tents (Activision, TechDeck, Nixon, olloclip, truth and of course the yoyo factory tricksters) to keep the kids occupied, it seems like they all decided to stay.

Add to this the outside chance of catching Tony coming off the bus for that coveted autograph..and we’ve got some work to do to make our way out.

When it’s time to roll, the man, as ever is gracious, and gets to those that he can.. but the road is looming. It’s waiting for us.. and it’s time to motor.

5 hours, some spicy chicken and a few funny conversations are to be had on the way to San Jose..

Everyone made it here, and we all lived through the night, only a minor scare easily solved with some Benadryl.

Looking forward we’ll see what’s in store out there today. Another big park, and hopefully big crowd awaits.

Time, and funny enough.. this Blog will tell tomorrow.

On 07.15.12 , In News, TOUR 2012 , by @dupedupe

San Jose, Today

Today at 2pm we’ll be doing a demo at the Lake Cunningham Skate Park in San Jose then following it up with a signing at Circle A Skate Shop at 108 Paseo De San Antonio San Jose, CA 95113 from 4-5pm.

See you there!

On 07.15.12 , In News, TOUR 2012 , by bh

The Beginning..

I’m not a writer. It’s really not my thing. Never has been, and most likely.. won’t ever be.

My overall butchery of sentence structure is only rivaled by only that of my blatant misuse of punctuation. I type the way that I talk, which I know full well, leaves something to be desired. Sometimes I read emails in my own words and wonder why the pauses? Why the run on sentence? Or better yet, why I even bothered in the first place? When I was young, I took on a weird fascination with vocabulary. How exactly that came about, I can’t quite place all these years later, but I only mention this as a bit of an early disclaimer.. To say I’m a little wordy is a little more than an understatement.

So how, do you ask, did a admittedly bad writer, with questionable confidence end up with a gig writing about this trip?

Well, um.. It’s been noted that an account of the day to day comings and goings.. the hi-jinx and shenanigans.. the impending boredom of driving.. the covering of some serious miles with a cast of hilarious characters and the random situations that arise all the while would really tie the room together – and since nobody else rolling is going to step up on it – looks like building a little blog cabin is just going to have to be added to my seemingly never ending list of to-do’s.

My actual role over the next two plus weeks is that of Tour Manager, (A.K.A. General jack of all trades) and how we got here with me typing in the first place.

The position and the opportunity, on the surface seem amazing. The chance to break free for a few weeks and be out there in the parks. Hanging out in airports. Living it up in the lobbies of the fancier than most hotels.. and even dabbling into the occasional fine eateries that this country has to offer..

Kicking it in the van with the guys.. with the team.. with some of your hero’s perhaps. Simply stated: Living.The. Dream.

The dream, it turns out.. is really more of a reality check.

It’s a lot of work. There is no shortage of stress. There are plenty of marks you have to hit. A schedule has to be kept. The cats.. regardless of the situation.. must be herded. I’m not complaining. I love this. It’s something I believe I’m fairly good at, and really do enjoy the time more than I can accurately portray in these damn typed words.

I’ll miss my wife. I’ll miss my kids. My dog.. she’ll get through it. They know how it goes. This is just part of what I do. It’s been this way as long as they’ve all known me. The trade off in exchange of other opportunities, far outweighs the time away. It’s like the blink of an eye really, and although I’m sure they enjoy the quiet.. I’ll still miss ‘em none the less.

So, yeah.. enough of the intro into me. It’s all drivel anyway, but I think since what your reading comes from a first hand point of view.. best you have a bit of a feel of where I’m coming from. All that said (and plenty it is..) Let’s touch base on this tour thing.

I’m going to make a broad assumption that if you are reading this, you are either a fan of brand and/or of the man. The same assumption would lead me to think you’ve most likely never hit the road on a skateboard tour either. Just like any family road trip, the only certainty with these jaunts, lies in the unknown.

Despite the fact you’ve spent the months planning, the countless hours thinking it all through – the playbook is never quite set in stone. Looking at it today, a mere 24 hours before we head out.. all I could offer to you (the 12 of you reading this) is a cryptic, and blurred idea of what’s to come.

I can say for sure, I’m expecting no shortage of craze and chaos, no limit on the laughs and really not much more until the moments happen. Each and every one of these tours really does play out like a chess game, or a real life choose your own adventure book. Choose wisely and it all works out.. make a few bad moves.. you know the rest.

This one.. this “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD presents the Birdhouse Left Coast Tour 2012″ at least for me, will be a little different.

I’m making the effort to try to keep up with this writing thing. Keeping you up to date. Keeping the memories, even for myself maybe, just a little longer.

Welcome to the ride, and a little glimpse of the goodness..

Oh yeah, and for those of you who I’ve already bored to death.. I’m keeping you in mind too.

Come back just for the pictures. You don’t have to read those.

See you in cyberland.. or, uh, Santa Clarita.. if that happens to be in your plans.

- @dupedupe

On 07.13.12 , In TOUR 2012, Tours , by @dupedupe

Memory Screened

Skateboarder Magazine interviewed Tony about his 5 favorite graphics for the August/September 2012 issue. Check the video here to see what he has to say.

http://www.skateboardermag.com/features/memory-screened-tony-hawk/

On 07.13.12 , In News , by bh

Tomorrow at Santa Clarita Skatepark!

We’ll see you there.

On 07.13.12 , In News, TOUR 2012 , by bh

ERGO East Coast Weenie Roast

Shawn Hale and David Loy went on an early summer tour of the East Coast with Ergo Clothing and here’s part 1 of the recap.

ERGO East Coast Weenie Roast, episode 1 from ERGO on Vimeo.

On 07.11.12 , In News , by bh

Tour Dates and Times

Saturday, July 14 • Santa Clarita, CA • Santa Clarita Skatepark • 4:00 PM
Sunday, July 15 • San Jose, CA • Lake Cunningham Skatepark • 2:00 PM
Monday, July 16 • Sacramento, CA • Sacramento State Fair Grandstands • 7:00 PM
Wednesday, July 18 • Truckee, Lake Tahoe, NV • Woodward Tahoe • 4:00 PM
Saturday, July 21 • Grants Pass, OR • Grants Pass Skatepark • 2:00 PM
Tuesday, July 24 • Spokane, WA • Hillyard Skatepark • 4:00 PM
Thursday, July 26 • Seattle, WA • Jefferson Skatepark • 4:00 PM
Saturday, July 28 • Vancouver, BC • Hastings Skatepark • 2:00 PM

On 07.10.12 , In TOUR 2012 , by bh

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A day late, and a dollar short.

Promo video time!

and so it starts…

San Jose, Today

The Beginning..

Memory Screened

Tomorrow at Santa Clarita Skatepark!

ERGO East Coast Weenie Roast

Tour Dates and Times

Shane Kassin

SKATE D.C.

Getting ready for tour!

Team

Product

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