Holiday Gear Guide: Skate
Dec 07 2006 / Los Angeles, CA
Tony Hawk's Project 8
Possibly the hottest gift of the holiday season! Tony Hawk's Project 8 is causing people who could care less about video games to have a double-take moment and say "Is that a really video game?!" Yeah, it's that real. The technology of this version of the games puts the others to shame. Control your favorite skaters such as; Bam Magera, Bob Burnquist, Paul Rodriguez, Ryan Sheckler, Tony Hawk (duh) and more. So step into the future already and pick up this game.
For Playstation, PS2, PS3, Xbox, and XB360; Prices range from $35.99- $54.00
For more information go to THP8.com>
Sheckler’s shoe 
Ryan Sheckler won tons of cash on the Dew Tour this summer, but everyone knows the real money is in selling signature shoes. You can cross your own teenage skate star off your shopping list and help young Sheckler redecorate his pad in style before MTV starts filming for his new reality series. The shoes might not help aspiring groms with collecting big bucks for themselves, but it can’t hurt to try. Now available in custom colorways in case you want to go wild.
Sheckler Pro Model by Etnies, $69.95
Much ado about nothing 
Since 1997, Zero Skateboards has released four industry-rattling videos, produced one Thrasher Magazine Skater of the Year in 2005 (Chris Cole, who also won this year’s Reader’s Choice award from Transworld), claimed the King of the Road team title for three years running, and made team riders Jamie Thomas, Tommy Sandoval, and Elissa Steamer into unlikely celebrities. Find out what all the fuss is about with the Zero Anthology, which collects special editions of Thrill of it All, Misled Youth, Dying to Live, New Blood, and new footage featuring Sandoval and the rest of the crew.
Zero Anthology DVD Box Set, $59.99
Everything old is new again
Old School is back in session, and no skater’s dorm room, office, or workshop is complete without a nod to skateboarding roots. Thankfully, Bahne Skateboards has rolled out a second printing of all five posters Jim Evans designed in the 1970s for the Cadillac Wheels ads in Skateboarder magazine. Bahne lists the set at $160, tax and shipping included, but the old eBay Elite guys riding 80s dead stock in your local pool know where they can be had for $125. A limited edition set signed by Frank Nasworthy, Bill Bahne, and Bob Bahne is also available if you really want to get that 70s show going again.
Cadillac Wheels Poster Set, $160
Click here for more information>
Toddler shred threads
By this time next year, the cute little twerp in your life isn’t going to want anything but Thomas the Tank Engine, so be sure to mount your cool campaign while you still have a chance: Little Ruler is your one-stop shop for the young ripper’s first skate shoes from Etnies, Vans, DC Shoe Co., DVS, and éS, as well as onesies, hoodies, and tiny T’s from the likes of Independent, Santa Cruz, Alva, and Toy Machine. You can’t go wrong with the classic Thrasher Magazine “Skate and Destroy” shirt.
Skate and Destroy One-Piece, $19.99
Click here for more information>
Counting the days
Speaking of Thrasher, make a resolution to pick up the mag’s 2007 Wall Calendar for somebody on your list before the New Year rolls over. The folks over at calendars.com also have nice ones from Skateboarder Magazine and Vans to help you keep track of how fast life is moving.
Thrasher 2007 Wall Calendar, $13.99
Click here for more information>
High art blows
What do the world’s best action sports stars do with their downtime? They create high-priced high art for you to buy for your favorite fanatic. We suggest a limited edition hand-painted Megga America Communion Priest figurine by Mark Gonzales, which comes in a cool box full of stickers and other cool stuff. The DPMHI gallery in London recently displayed 1,000 of the bubble-blowing holy men; yours can preside over the holidays from the mantel.
Megga America Communion Priest by Mark Gonzales, 120 GBP (about $154)
Click here for more information>
Sippin’ on soy eggnog
If someone on your gift list won’t be partaking of the holiday turkey or communion wafers, chances are they won’t appreciate leather shoes under the tree either. Geoff Rowley is similarly picky, and just happens to be one of the greatest skaters of all time, which is why Vans honors his wishes with the best vegan kicks an animal-loving skater could ask for. The new Geoff Rowley Squares are his seventh signature shoe: You can get them in any color you want, but we’re highlighting the red ones for all you vegan elves toiling for shopping mall Santas this season.
Geoff Rowley Squares by Vans, $65
Make a statement 
American voters have spoken with regard to George W.’s misadventures in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanomo Bay. Now the political agitator and skateboard speed fiend on your gift list can make their own statement advocating world peace and reckless downhill riding all at once with one stylish hat from Sector 9. We actually know a guy in D.C. who skates to work on Capitol Hill every morning on a Bomb Hills Not Countries longboard. Stick it to the man any way you can.
Bomb Hills Not Countries hat by Sector 9, $19.95
Click here for more information>
Nature versus nurture
How do youngsters like 11 year-old Nyjah Huston step in and hold their own against seasoned pros twice their age? Innate talent and raw natural ability, to be sure, but it’s also the nature of progress: thanks to exhaustive video documentation, newcomers can study up in the privacy of their own home, then take their inspiration to the streets. Support your local skateboarder this holiday season by building out a DVD library to die for (see below). Start with a free download of Elementality: Volume II – your young skate star can watch it on the iPod somebody else will be giving him.
Elementality: Volume II, free download from iTunes, MySpace, or YouTube
Click here for more information>
Skate DVD Roundup
With the rise of concrete skateparks and the fall of indoor wooden ramps, mini-ramp skating may be a dying art. Daewon Song and Chris Haslam stage a brilliant last stand in Cheese & Crackers.
Cheese & Crackers DVD by Almost, $12.99
Click here for more information>
Ed Templeton’s Toy Machine Bloodsucking Skateboard Company sinks in for its sick 6th flick Suffer the Joy, just in time for the holidays. Drink deep.
Suffer the Joy DVD by Toy Machine, $24.99
Click here for more information>
Shaun White was blasting AC/DC’s “Back in Black” every time he hit the ramp during his brief media maelstrom at X Games 12 and the first stops of the Dew Tour, but this movie from Black Label is the opposite of all that gloss. For fast, dirty, aggressive skateboarding without the pinstripes and gold medals, the Label team is truly Back in Black.
Back in Black DVD by Black Label, $24.99
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The Malloy Brothers capture a day in the life of Elwood skaters Kenny Anderson and Brian Lotti as they meander their way across Los Angeles to skate their favorite city spots with the likes of Eric Dressen, Matt Hensley, Ray Barbee, P-Rod, and Lance Mountain on their way to 1st & Hope. Mesmerizing and very, very good.
1st & Hope DVD by Elwood, $18.99
Click here for more information>
Oakley has its eyes out for the top pros in just about every sport, and it's no accident the company has assembled a skate team featuring the likes of Ryan Sheckler, Bob Burnquist, Greg Lutzka, Rune Glifberg, Fabrizio Santos, and Chris Senn for excellent big budget features like Our Life.
Our Life DVD by Oakley, $25
Click here for more information>
