Vans Skatepark Orlando Is No More

January 25, 2012 – 5:56 pm PT by Brian

If you feel like this country has enough malls and shopping centers, you’re not alone. We have become a country of people over indulging in the likes of HOT TOPIC and Claire’s and if we don’t be careful, these are the types of stores we may ever know.  Any fan of KEVIN SMITH may be aware of the downfall of American culture through his cult classic Mallrats where a fresh faced JASON LEE brought us along in an adventure through the Mall Of America.   And what an adventure it was.

Now for more reasons to despise malls, the mall which houses the Vans Skatepark in Orlando is set to be leveled to the ground to make way for yet another mall. Last Friday, Steve Van Doren fired up the grill for one final session as Vans team riders Tony Trujillo, Omar Hassan and Daniel Lutheran took part in a free, open skate with over 1200 Floridian skaters who have supported the park throughout the years.

Posted in BMX, Skate | Tags: , , , , , , , —| No Comments »

Pour It Now: Sk8 & Cre8 Art Show

January 25, 2012 – 5:51 pm PT by Me

Pour It Now, a 501c3 non-profit skateboard advocacy group, is partnering with local and international artists, auctioning donated works of art created using skateboards as media to meet their fundraising goal of five thousand dollars.

The art opening and auction will take place at the end of March, artists of all types are encouraged to participate by picking up a skateboard free of charge from a selection at Continuum Skateshop on Spring street and creating a work of art for the auction.

Download the form and fill it out before turning in your artwork at Continuum skateboard shop. All donated art items are due by March 1, 2012. The show date, time and location will be announced on pouritnow.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Posted in Skate | Tags: , , —| No Comments »

Epic DC Rediscover Oz Tour

January 22, 2012 – 2:50 am PT by Brian

Everyone needs a “coming out” to to show off their brand new look to the world. A coming out party was held for Scott Stapp when he shed the long beautiful LOCKS for a smooth shaved head look.  Hulk Hogan and the boys held a public beating when he was introduced as a new member of NWO.  And everyone’s favorite fashion icon had a nice coming out before the premiere of his new FILM.  How fitting for DC to now show the entire skate world what they are capable of with a highly upgraded cast of skaters in Mike Mo and Nyjah Huston.  That team is carrying some major heat.

Everyone knows that Australia is the place to be at the beginning of every year.  Since everything runs backwards there, including the TOILET, people from all over the northern hemisphere escape their cold dreary winters to enjoy the southern hemisphere summers.  Drinking is their passion, and drinking more is their solution to remedy their drinking hangovers.

This Aussie tripe marks the very first trip with DC’s new riders , Nyjah Huston and Mike Mo along with Wes Kremer, Matt Miller, Chris Cole, Mikey Taylor, and Evan Smith in what is called the REDISCOVER OZ tour.  Don’t get Oz mixed up with OZ.

The boys will be in Oz to skate, film for some upcoming projets, and shoot an article for SLAM and TWS. If you’re down under, catch them at the signings listed above or look out for them in the streets.

Posted in Skate | Tags: , , , , , , —| 2 Comments »

Andy Roy Just Wanted To Hug DMX

January 20, 2012 – 9:30 pm PT by Brian

(This was a TMZ exclusive.  Not Lat34 exclusive.  The only thing we are exclusively showing is this VIDEO.)

The other reputable news sites such as TMZ and Perez Hilton may not call him by his name but we will because we recognize legends for who they are.  And if Andy Roy isn’t a legend, then neither is Perez.  If Andy Roy’s head tattoo in the shape of a spider web is not recognizable enough, then neither is Perez’s blac EYE.

While the rap and celebrity gossip community was all up in arms about Andy Roy’s attack on rapper DMX, that’s because they didn’t know the love that the legendary skater was trying to share on that eventful evening at the DGK after party.  Apparently, all Andy wanted to do is hug the “Dogs For Life” rapper and share a moment with a man who walked in the same shoes as he by taking his hands and gently wrapping them around DMX’s supple neck.  That’s all.  Hopefully DMX will see the the video below and take it as an apology, and then accept his apology, and then when they see each other, return the man loving favor by showing some love with a nice firm grip around Andy’s neck.  Then they can star in a reality show together with Flava Flav and the chick from ROCKY 4.

From TMZ: The man who allegedly tried to choke out DMX on stage last week wants to clear his name — telling TMZ, he never tried to attack the rapper … he was simply trying to give him a hug, from one ex-con to another.

You probably don’t recognize the guy — but the alleged attacker is none other than underground skate legend Andy Roy … and Andy claims he meant no harm when he jumped on stage at X’s performance in Long Beach last Thursday, telling us, “I just wanted to give him a Top Ramen hug.”

Posted in Skate | Tags: , , , —| No Comments »

Stacy Peralta’s “Bones Brigade” Trailer

January 20, 2012 – 5:02 am PT by Mike

I love the Sundance Film Festival.  It’s the one film festival of all the prestigious festivals where hooking up with a MORMON is completely possible.  And the one festival where films such as Clerks, Pulp Fiction, and ORGASMO can make a name for itself and is the beginning of superstardom for a few lucky winners.  All of this fun takes place in the picturesque backdrop of Park City, Utah.

But the best thing about the festival is that it’s giving huge recognition to some of our own in the action sports world.  And one of those heavy hitters is Stacy Peralta who once again will be showing with the highly anticipated movie, Bones Brigade.  I shouldn’t have to tell you what this one is about but it has nostalgia written all over it.

Stacy Peralta returns to Sundance this year with Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, a continuation of sorts of his first documentary, Dogtown and Z-Boys, which had its premiere in Park City in 2001. Both films explore the creation and culture of modern skateboarding, along with Peralta’s part in it — this time during the 1980s era, with Bones Brigade members Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain and Rodney Mullen.

Posted in Skate | Tags: , , , , , , —| 1 Comment »

Vans Custom Culture 2012 Teaser Video

January 20, 2012 – 4:07 am PT by Me

Vans encourages high school students to compete in Custom Culture project to raise awareness of diminishing school art budgets while inspiring students to embrace their creativity through art.

On February 1, 2012, Vans Custom Culture registration opens to all U.S.-based high school art programs, accepting the first 1,000 registrant schools into this year’s competition.  Schools will be narrowed initially by an internal Vans team and then in later stages by public voting, through the Vans Custom Culture website.   The top five schools will showcase their designs at the Vans Custom Culture final event held in Los Angeles in May 2012.

Entering its third year in 2012, Vans Custom Culture has inspired tens of thousands of students at more than 700 participating schools over the past two years with last year’s contest culminating in Vans awarding $50,000 toward the art programs at Ward Melville High School (Long Island, NY).  Melville was one of five schools that earned trips to New York City as chosen by more than 180,000 online voters.  Students at Rio Rancho High School (Rio Rancho, NM) won the grand prize in 2010.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in BMX, Other Sports, Skate | Tags: , , —| No Comments »

Danny Way “Waiting For Lightning” Documentary Teaser

January 15, 2012 – 9:51 pm PT by Mike