“FALLBROOK: Skateboard park hit by new delay - North County Times” plus 3 more

FALLBROOK: Skateboard park hit by new delay - North County Times
How to Do a Backside 50-50 Grind on a Skateboard - Associated Content
Love + hard work = skateboard competition - San Jose Mercury News
Graphic Novel Review: Tank Girl: Skidmarks by Alan Martin and Rufus Dayglo - Seattle Post Intelligencer

FALLBROOK: Skateboard park hit by new delay - North County Times

Posted: 05 Sep 2010 06:58 PM PDT

Skateboarders who once hoped for their own park in Fallbrook by this summer now are looking toward Halloween, as plans for the facility have been once again delayed.

The culprit this time appears to be paperwork, explained Michelle Albanna, a member of Fallbrook Skatepark Inc., a nonprofit group that has been working to open a skatepark at the Boys & Girls Club on Ivy Street.

While the group hopes to one day have a permanent skatepark with concrete ramps in Fallbrook, Albanna said in August that a temporary wooden park could be built at the Boys & Girls Club by the end of that month.

Since then, Albanna said the group has learned it still has paperwork to file with the state to be eligible to be a partner with the Boys & Girls Club.

At least three groups have worked for a Fallbrook skatepark in the past 10 years, and this summer two of those groups merged when the Fallbrook Project Skate assumed the name and assets of Fallbrook Skatepark Inc.

After the merger, however, the skatepark group discovered its nonprofit status with the state was not up to date, said Lisa Ware, director of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of North County. Ware said the Boys & Girls Club requires its partners to be registered as nonprofits.

Albanna said the paperwork was filed Aug. 23, and she had been told by a state official that it could take 30 days to process. Putting the park together at the Boys & Girls Club would take another 30 days after that, she said.

Ware, who said delays have been frustratingly frequent with the state this year because of cutbacks during the California budget crisis, was less optimistic.

"With things with the state, who knows how long it will be," she said, estimating the wait could be as long as 90 days.

In the meantime, Albanna said Fallbrook Skatepark Inc. is working toward getting funds and material for the temporary park. Pine Lumber in Fallbrook has agreed to give the group a discount, and donors to help buy material will be recognized at the park. Names of donors who give $25 will be written on skateboard decks, and donors who give $100 or $250 will get their names displayed on banners, she said.

To make a donation, write to ProjectSkateSafe@aol.com. The group also is seeking skateboard decks to recognize donors. For more information, visit ProjectskateSafe.com.

The Boys & Girls club has agreed to rent space for a skatepark for $1 for a 90-day trial period and, if extended, for $1 a year.

Call staff writer Gary Warth at 760-740-5410.

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How to Do a Backside 50-50 Grind on a Skateboard - Associated Content

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:42 PM PDT

Backside 50-50 grinds are one of the most simple grinds around. The trick is preformed just like a 50-50 grind but, instead of facing the ledge or rail, your back is up against it. A lot of people have a hard time

getting a feel for backside grinds because it feels unnatural, and if this is you it helps to do some practice getting used to it prior. One way that helped me was ollieing on curbs with my back facing them riding along side it. Another good way I use involves carpet. Set up a carpet square on level ground and ollie while trying to shift your position behind you. Believe it or not, you'd be amazed by how far you can move with just a few ollies. Remember that this trick, as well as any other, can lead to injure if preformed incorrectly, so always wear all necessary protective gear. Also it is a good idea to have to abilities to land Ollie's pretty fluently.

Step 1: Place your feet on the board the same way you would if you were setting up to do an ollie. Make sure that you have a fairly good speed going because medal and concrete usually don't slide with ease unless you have some.

Step 2: Ride up alongside the ledge almost parallel to it. Ollie placing you and your board above the ledge wile straitening out so both your trucks land evenly. Make sure that you don't slam your trucks down on the ledge because doing so will not only mess the ledge up, but you won't go anywhere either.

Step 3: If the above step was done correctly you should be grinding. Once you are ready to end the grind, just pop the nose of your board off and the tail will follow. This is the easiest step of all.

The great thing about backside 50-50 grinds is that once you get them down, it easy to throw in shove-its or 180 ollies in and out of them. Also, this grind gives you a great feel for the world of other backside grinds because you get more comfortable with the feel of backside. Good luck, and happy grinding!

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Love + hard work = skateboard competition - San Jose Mercury News

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 05:55 AM PDT

Growing up in Pacifica, Sherry Akioka knew how important skateboarding is for the youth of the town.

"Some of my first memories skateboarding were in Pacifica. Remember when Luckys was more of an indoor mall? I use to ride my skateboard as a little kid around the mall chasing after my brother. I've got a chipped tooth and a story to tell about skateboarding in Fairmont that I still tell to this day," she said.

Now living in Oakland, Akioka, 34, is still an active skateboarder. She teaches an after-school skateboard class and her husband, Dayton, and three children are skateboarding enthusiasts.

"I see often how exciting and fun, but most importantly rewarding, skateboarding is for kids," she said.

When she learned in May that University of Surfing, an outfit that had run a skateboard contest for the last four years, was going to cancel this year's July 31 event at the Pacifica Skatepark, she thought the contest participants who were anticipating it were going to be disappointed. Since the big details -- insurance and city permit -- were already in the bag, she focused her attention on coordinating the event and soliciting donations.

"I would say mid-June, I thought maybe it wasn't going to happen. It was a lot to do and consumed tons of my time that I volunteered for free and at that time without any call backs I thought it wasn't going to be worth it. But come the end of June, I wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer

and came back twice as strong by placing more and more calls and just following up on every email and call I sent out. I wanted to focus on what was most important -- kids, skateboarding and, of course, Pacifica. I figured if we all realized how positive an impact this would have on the kids, we could definitely build something from there," she said.

She secured donations from five skate companies and four food companies. A pro skater, Ron Allen, emceed the event. Pacifica's own, the world's youngest rock band, The Thrashers, performed.

"All out of the kindness of their hearts, the support was overwhelming and humbling at the same time. Well, they did ask that we enjoy ourselves and have fun," she said. Nicole Aquisti, city of Pacifca recreation coordinator, assisted.

The event turned out to be a fun and positive event for everyone. The 23 competitors, mostly from Pacifica, but some from the Bay Area and as far away as Vacaville, ranged in age from 4-19. There was a 6 and under group, beginner, intermediate, advanced, girls and masters. Adults joined the masters division.

"There were no attitudes, just love and support for everyone there," Akioka said. "Skaters competing against each other no matter what age were cheering each other on. Everyone was having fun. Our non-profit event turned up to have such a huge profit, priceless even. We were paid back, ten-fold, by the smiles on all the kids' faces and excitement and most importantly the reward of hard work and practice being paid off by cheers and a shiny trophy. All the time I volunteered, all those emails and calls, even the rejection from some companies, were all worth it."

Skateboarding has been a part of Akioka's life for a long time.

"I have been around skateboarding since I was 5 when my aunt used to babysit me at her work, which was a skate/surf shop on Guam. I would sit on the huge Independent Trucks at first and roll around the floor. As I got older skateboarding was what I did with my brother as we explored the neighborhoods around Ptown. I was a bit of a tomboy. I then worked at various skate shops and snowboard shops in San Francisco and South City. I hung around a lot of skateboarders and it also turned out to be a requirement for the people I dated. Yes, my husband skateboards and now he skates with our 4-year-old daughter on his board, who is now learning to skateboard. I have taught all my kids how to kick flip while cooking dinner in our kitchen," she said.

Here are the results from the competition.

Six and under -- Tyler Bonner, first, Liam Cole, second,
Beginner 7-10 -- Rowan Thunder, first, Keoni Akioka, second, Christian and Junior Gomez tied for third.
Intermediate 11-16 -- Devon Udall, first, Tafari Whitter, second, Luke Donovan, third.
Advanced -- Brandon Ayala from NorCal, first, R.J. Baltazar, second, Demarcus from Weirdo, third.
Masters -- Andrew D., first, Angelo Lugo, second, and Derek K, third.

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