SAN DIEGO, CA — Today, Skatepark Systems, the single resource for award-winning skatepark development, announced the launch of Skateparkology, a complimentary informational webinar series for community recreation planners who are looking to build a new skatepark or expand an existing park. The first webinar, which will provide a comprehensive overview of the skatepark development process, will be held on Wednesday, December 16 at 11 a.m. PST/ 2 p.m. EST.

Over the past six years, Skatepark Systems has developed a comprehensive set of educational presentations, which now serve as the basis for the webinar series, detailing the strategic and nuanced components of planning, designing, building and managing a skatepark. Previous seminars have been successfully hosted for several parks and recreation associations, the U.S. Air Force and chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The webinars will be held once per month over the course of one year.

“Creating a quality skatepark can be a challenging process even for those with experience. Skateparkology helps break down this process and provides community planners with expert insight to make their jobs easier,” said Beau Brown, director of skatepark development for Skatepark Systems. “We work to provide our clients with the best design-build resources and information available to take their park from conception to completion.”

In addition to discussing best practices and overcoming key challenges, the in-depth sessions will include:

–  Information supporting the need for skateparks

–  What a skatepark system is and why it matters

–  Essential planning and design insights

–  Project budgeting – city funding vs. user fees

–  Criteria to determine construction type

–  ASTM skatepark standards and how to apply them

–  Common skatepark problems and solutions

–  Successful skatepark projects case studies

As one of the inaugural webinar speakers and Skatepark Systems’ co-founder, Gregg Witt has 20 years’ experience in public skatepark development and the skateboarding industry. The presentation will also be led by Greg Miller, landscape architect from Morrow Reardon Wilkinson Miller Ltd.; American Society of Landscape Architects trustee, New Mexico chapter; and senior architect for the award-winning Albuquerque-Alamosa Skateboard Park Environment.

Skatepark Systems and its Skateparkology presentations are recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association and ASLA and qualify for many states’ continuing education credit programs.

Skatepark Systems is the single resource for award-winning skatepark development. Based in San Diego and overseeing projects worldwide, Skatepark Systems delivers skatepark solutions that meet community needs, are progressive in form and function, provide the best long-term value available and, most importantly, are fun. From intimate skatepark projects to large master planned systems, the company has completed over 750 designs and developments to date. Key services include consulting, public collaboration, design and build services and construction management. For more information, please call 619-795-7790 or visit http://www.skateparksystems.com.

[ Sun Herald ]

The decision was a blow to local skateboarders, who have been without a park since August 2008, when the previous skatepark was closed to make room for Vista’s new downtown Civic Center.

A Vista teen skateboards behind a shopping center at Bobier and North Santa Fe drives in Vista. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff photographer)

“The old skatepark was very popular and very used —- now there’s no place for kids to go,” skateboard enthusiast John Blank told council members.

“Skateboarding is not a crime,” he added. “It’s an accepted alternative to team sports. We need to find the money, find the place and find the understanding to make this happen.”

However, neighbors of the proposed stormwater basin cheered the council’s decision. The previous skatepark was hidden by trees and plagued by vandalism, fights and after-hours use, and residents said those problems would have persisted in the new location.

“This site is going to be hidden, too,” said Alta Vista Drive resident Bruce Shift, who argued against the project. “I agree skaters need a place to go, but it needs to be in one of our public parks.”

Shift said he had gathered about 100 signatures over the weekend from area residents and business owners opposed to a skatepark in or near the proposed detention basin.

The basin is designed to shift the boundaries of the city’s 100-year flood plain and make the downtown corridor more appealing to investors. Combining the projects would have allowed the city to use redevelopment funds to build the skatepark, city staff said.

Now that the idea has been rejected, there’s no money in the general fund to build the park elsewhere, city officials said.

City Manager Rita Geldert said $500,000 that had previously been put aside for the project was used to balance the 2009-10 budget. The skatepark would probably cost between $750,000 and $1 million, she said.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by a handful of people who live near the planned detention basin and about a dozen skateboarders.

Councilman Frank Lopez opposed building the skatepark in or near the proposed detention basin but said the council made a promise to build a new park when the old one was torn down.

“It’s a promise,” he said. “Now how do we put it in?”

Councilman Bob Campbell said there was “not a promise” made when the old park was torn down. The city said it would consider building a replacement, he said.

Campbell said the users of the old park created thousands of dollars in damage and were verbally abusive to nearby residents and people patrolling the skatepark.

“Unfortunately, there are kids that need (a park) and other kids who ruin it,” Councilwoman Judy Ritter said.

Miki Vuckovich, executive director of the Tony Hawk Foundation, a Vista nonprofit that advocates the creation of public skateparks, said Vista has about 5,000 skateboarders, and it’s in the city’s best interest to provide a place for them.

“There is a great need” in Vista, he said. “Essentially, without the skatepark, your city is the skatepark.”

Like Shift, most residents who spoke against the skatepark being placed in the detention basin were not against the idea of a skatepark elsewhere in the city.

“But the location is not in my backyard,” said Lindy Lane resident Tamara Sarracino.

City staff said they would continue to look into other potential sites for a skatepark in existing or future parks and would bring those ideas to the council when funding is available.

“I hope, because we decided not to continue in that location, that we don’t completely forget about this,” Lopez said.

Contact staff writer Cigi Ross at 760-901-4067.

[ North County Times ]

The food will be donated to Feeding America San Diego, which will use it to feed San Diego County children and adults during the holidays.

In addition, every participant will receive a raffle ticket for prizes from Board for Life and Airspeed Footwear. Additional raffle tickets can be purchased at $1 each, or $5 for six tickets.

All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Feeding America, which can buy 10 pounds of food for $1, said Tim Hodgson, recreation coordinator for the city of Escondido.

Non-skaters who want to donate also are welcome.

If they bring canned food to the Escondido Sports Center from Nov. 16 through 21, they will receive a free raffle ticket for LA Galaxy or Anaheim Ducks memorabilia. Those tickets also can be purchased at $1 each, or $5 for six tickets.

The event — Skate Out Hunger — is organized by the Escondido Sports Center, Board for Life and Feeding America.

[ Sign On San Diego ]

Guest curated by legendary Z-boy Nathan Pratt in conjunction with museum staff curator Michael Trotter and advisory committee members Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom, Cris Dawson, Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and Christian Hosoi, the exhibit features more than 275 rare boards and memorabilia from the collectors such as Kevin Anderson, Art Brewer, Terry Campion, Jason Cohn, Cris Dawson, Skip Engblom, Craig Fineman, Ray Flores, Mike Horelick , Todd Huber, Chuck Katx, Mike Kolar, James Lang, Gordon McClelland, Jim McDowell , Marc McKee, Aaron Murray, James O’Mahoney, Nathan Pratt, Mark Richards, Wentzle Ruml IV, Steve Salyer, Dale Smith, Gabriel Steptoe, Joel Tudor and Cary Weiss among others, plus photographs and art by C.R. Stecyk III, Glen E. Friedman, Craig Fineman, Wynn Miller, Kevin Ancell and Wes Humpston.

SKATEBOARD: Evolution and Art in California

A full series of events, including film screenings of Dogtown and Z-Boys, Skater Dater and Rising Son: The Christian Hosoi Story, will take place at the museum and talks, photo exhibits, special guest appearances and autograph sessions will take place throughout the exhibit run (through May 30, 2010).

California Heritage Museum

2612 Main Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone (310) 392-8537

Hours: Wed through Sun, 11AM to 4PM
Admission: General:  $3.00; Seniors,
Students:  $2.00;
Members, Children under 12:  Free

Matthew Mercuro, 36, of San Clemente is charged with two felony counts of grand theft with sentencing enhancements if convicted for excessive taking over $200,000 and $65,000, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Mercuro worked for companies owned by professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler and transferred the funds from the companies to personal accounts of his wife and a friend, prosecutors said.

Mercuro was arrested Friday in San Clemente.

His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six years and eight months in state prison.

Ed: In May 2009, Sheckler launched his clothing line RS, which is sold in JC Penney stores nationwide. He rides for Plan B Skateboards and is also sponsored by Etnies Shoes, FKD Bearings, Nixon Watches, Oakley Eyewear, Red Bull and Panasonic.

[ Orange County Register ]

Guest curated by legendary Z-boy Nathan Pratt in conjunction with museum staff curator Michael Trotter and advisory committee members Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom (Zephyr co-founders), Cris Dawson (1966 Hobie Champ), Z-Boys Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, and 1980’s world champion Christian Hosoi, the exhibition traces the evolution of boards from pre-1950 to the present showcasing the riders, designers, artists, and manufacturers that created the California phenomenon known as the skateboard. From the first planks of wood with metal roller skate wheels nailed to the bottom to the modern polyurethane wheels and kicktails, the boards have rocketed the skaters to greater heights of performance and style while taking “sidewalk surfing” from a homegrown activity to a worldwide cultural phenomenon.

Vintage skateboards at The California Heritage Museum. The “SKATEBOARD: Evolution and Art in California.” exhibit
will run through May 30, 2010

More than 275 rare boards from the world’s finest collections including Jason Cohn, Dale Smith/Skate Designs Inc., Todd Huber/Skatelab Skatepark, Ray Flores, James Lang/South Bay Skates.

Additional lenders included are Kevin Anderson/Model Worm, Art Brewer, Terry Campion, Cris Dawson, Deluxe Distribution, Earl, Skip Engblom, Craig Fineman, Wayne and Donna Gunter/Surfing Cowboys, Mike Horelick/Tunnel Skateboards, Chuck Katx, Mike Kolar, Gordon McClelland, Jim McDowell/RIPWynn City Skates, Marc McKee, Aaron Murray, James O’Mahoney/Santa Barbara Surfing Museum, Nathan Pratt, Mark Richards/Val Surf, Ronnie/Animal House, Steve Salyer/Pastures of Heaven, Gabriel Steptoe, Joel Tudor, Wentzle Ruml IV, Cary B. Weiss, Z-BOY Archive, and Z-CULT Skates. Photographs and art by C.R. Stecyk III, Glen E. Friedman, Craig Fineman, Wynn Miller, Kevin Ancell, Wes Humpston and more document the movement and its personalities.

Renegade photos courtesy of Micah Abrams

This is the first exhibition of the California skate movement to be shown in “Dog Town”, the Santa Monica/Ocean Park area where modern skateboarding was born and the skate became an art form. The California Heritage Museum is located in the vortex at Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard.

A full series of events, including film screenings of Dogtown and Z-Boys, Skater Dater and Rising Son: The Christian Hosoi Story, will take place at the museum and the downtown Santa Monica Library. Talks, photo exhibits, special guest appearances and autograph sessions will take place throughout the exhibit run into 2010.

ESPN contributor, Micah Abrams, was able to snap some photos of the walls at the event, before being told that no photos are allowed. It’s not much, but it’s a taste of some of the history. If you are around Santa Monica, take a stroll through the walls and walls of history, at 2612 Main Street in Santa Monica.

The show also features work by C.R. Stecyk III, Glen E. Friedman, Craig Fineman, Wynn Miller, Kevin Ancell, Wes Humpston and more.

[ ESPN Skateboarding ]