OUT OF CONTEXT

Price just has a heart for these stray dogs around our house in downtown LA. There are quite a few of them. Most of them run off the second you try to approach them. Price made friends with this one, fed it and gave it water. The “no kill” shelter was closed so we had to leave him be. He couldn’t have smelled any worse. After about 2 hours of hanging out with the little beast we called it a night.

Hey, I know I stink lady, but can you please scratch my head?

Adapted from my Thrasher Magazine Skater of the Year Cover. painting by Paul Rusconi

berra & felix - check out a couple more Read more »

over here doing some stuff for the past 3 days.

Special thanks to Kelch, Cab, FTC, New Era and Lowcard for a spectacular skatebook launch in SF.

Lots of other interviews on here as well, with P-rod, Ray Barbee, Chris Pastras and more. This clip is from the taping of 1st and Hope directed by Brian Lotti and the Malloy Brothers.

for a chance to win absolutely nothing.

One free James Kelch limited edition New Era 59FIFTY hat + the new skatebook to the first 59 guests.

Place: FTC | Time: 7-10pm | Info: 415.626.0663 | ftcsf.com | skatebook.tv

at Element headquarters on his way to finding Santa Claus. Keep your eyes on Element’s website, cause Bam signed a boatload of decks that I believe that they are giving away for free. photo kingman

Last night I had the privilege of attending the 10th annual Transworld Awards Show and Video Premiere. David Gravette, Malto, Miller, Jackson, Trapasso, Hoyle, what can I say… all those guys rip. I was super stoked to see the level of creativity that they all exhibited in their parts. I can’t wait for Jon Holland to make a video about all the teenage transition skaters coming up, like Tyler Mumma and that Anti Hero kid that skates Pedro.

Some people we hung out with in pictures. Price and meJamie Stone, Chris Pastras and their girls. Read more »

This is a limited edition t shirt by surprise. The smoking monkey is a graphic from a painting given to Jai Tanju by Marc Johnson. The shirt ships with a complimentary edition of skatebook. Oh yeah there are only 50 of them.

photo kardy

A must read for anyone curious about the true nature of persian/iranian people. Cuts through all the negative Iranian propaganda in the corporate US media. This is certainly not to say that Iran as a country is perfect, but it certainly is not what the corporate media makes it out to be. Warm, compelling, compassionately written. An entertaining journey to say the least.

If there ever was a time to make history for the Spurs, the time is now. We went to the Spurs game last night in San Antonio. According to my limited knowledge of the game, it seems that no team has ever comeback from a 3 game deficit. Go Spurs Go.

When James Stewart was very young, in a video produced by Fox Racing he claimed that he intended to dominate like McGrath. Are we finally on the dawn of the Stewart era? I haven’t watched the race yet from Glen Helen, but by all accounts and observations I think his time has arrived. I sure hope that James, doesn’t follow the lead of all the others who are taking supercross only contracts. In my opinion the real champion wins outdoors. After seeing some of the highlights on motocross.com it seems that Bubba is on his way. Photo by Steve Cox

Photo by Chris Tedesco

text message of the week.

Surely when Shepard made this poster, he had no idea that Barack Obama was going to be running for president in 2008, let alone the top brass, rank and file over at Lakai Limited Footwear. Now that these clowns are running in the race too, it seems that the chances of getting a skateboarder with a high caliber of talent into the White House just might be doable. I’m for Koston, either as president or my running mate. I’m just looking forward to the type of food we’ll serve during our 8 years on Pennsylvania Ave. I can see the table set now… kabobs and pad thai. Pepto Bismol, anyone? Oh yeah, my name is Salman Agah and I approve this message. Look for me as I ride my camel to our inauguration later this year.

Quite frankly, Blake doesn’t have anything to do with skateboarding, but he sure is hot. Photo taken during the commemorative Mike Conley ride day at Perris Raceway, sponsored by DVS. Oh yeah and he’s a damn good tattoo artist.

I figure if I’m going to bite Max’s logo from his blog that he might as well be present in the picture I’m showing it on. This photo is from 1991. We were on tour in Spain. From left to right. Sluggo, Me, Max and Sebastian (Real Skateboards Distributor Flow Kid) from Switzerland. Time flies when you ride a skateboard.

We went to Sabre today and picked up some sweet limited clear Mauve X Sabre poolsides at Dont Panic. Sabre has skatebooks so if you want one, get down there to “Dont Panic” in Newport Beach and buy a set of shades and get a skatebook for free. While supplies last. Don’t Panic - 436 32nd Street Newport Beach, CA 92663

Last night we had the pleasure of going over to Greco’s place to shoot some photos and interview him for the upcoming issue of skatebook. We discussed deathwish, his gear, being sober, playing music, business, and about what the future holds for Jim. Greco is undoubtedly one of the handful of icons in modern day street skating and just plain hot, period.

photos Salman Agah

Boost Mobile Yamaha of Troy rider and 2008 Supercross West Coast Lites Champion, Jason Lawrence, garnishes his crown with the Volcom stone. Could it be that Volcom is planning on coming out with a moto gear line? Or does JLaw simply relate to the Stone’s youth against establishment creed? It’s no secret that lots of the guys and girls that work at the Stone like to get out and do hot laps around some of southern California’s finest tracks.

photo Carl Stone

Price and I are staying here for the weekend in Palm Springs. Family, friends, hot tub, golf, Coachella. But besides that, I think this picture sums up why people love California. Maybe if I practice my golf game on the signature Jack Nicklaus course I’ll be able to give Koston and Gavin a run for their money.

In a bold move, world famous girl skateboards art director, Andy Jenkins, of Sevilla, Spain backs the new Toyota Sequoia. According to Andy and his family, the dishes can wait but life won’t. Lakai comes up huge with product placement in the advertisement as the new big wheel braking system. The new Sequoia is anything but ordinary.

This is the Scorpion 2, which is going to run a supercharged Revmaster R-3000 engine designed by VW racing legend Joe Horvath. Should have some preliminary Dyno data in the next 3 to 4 weeks. We are about to get hot!

We used to love to go to this park in Almaden, which was just down the street from my parents’ restaurant. Dennis used to pull out his jump ramp and we’d all proceed to jump to flat for hours and hours everyday. This photo is from the mid to late 80’s, probably taken by Tom Miller.

Farsi - Mark aynack sadeh ast. English - Mark is wearing glasses or Mark has glasses on.

In this video that I filmed, Jake Phelps is talking about what it takes to make it on the cover of Thrasher Magazine. This is part 1 of 5.

Mr. Mojo Rising

World News

photos courtesy of fixed gear bicycle guy Mark “The Gonz” Gonzales

As one can see in this picture taken at the turn of the millennium, not only was Alan ripping the Visalia YMCA Skate Camp to pieces, he was also setting trends… checker board vans before you. This shot is way better than mine. Thanks, Dennis.

Grant filmed these global lurkers on a not-so-recent trip, but worth viewing nonetheless. Peep the scene.

Or something like that. Slug Bug courtesy of world famous rc car driver Mark Gonzales.

Watch “The Kid” blast this stalefish.

Gee Mark, I thought adding the Daily Gonz was going to seriously increase my stats. Looks like a roller coaster ride to me. Let’s get hot. Read my blog about it.

Chet Childress aka Luda Crooks does not get a raise for having the most appearances on skatebook.tv.

I’m so jealous that my blog gets to hang out with the Gonz everyday.

The barometer poached from the 4Qconditioner.

How could Tommy and Jim not have sponsored me back in 1990? Just look at that hair. It’s funny because that cocky look on my face is the same one that lots of the sponsored kids and professionals have today, thinking that it all lasts forever. What can I say? Don’t stop believin’.

In this image, famous eclectic tinkerer, Mark Gonzales, ponders life as a professional automobile racer on the European circuit.

and do something boys. We’ll take a movie. I’m trying!

A prelude to a motion picture by Mark Gonzales… gritty, unpretentious, original, a mosaic of color, personality, and imagination. Full of emotion.

These might not be as cool as the latest greatest wheel to come out of the spitfire camp, however they are the only way you’ll get to experience the sheer pleasure of racing a camel down the start straight. Actually these wheels are out of production, so really they are just for your viewing pleasure. Camel Jockeys are signature wheels for Salman Agah - the president of the Iranian Skateboarders Association. Droppin’ Bombs since 1972. Don’t nuke me ’cause I’m Iranian!

Typical skaters… no pads. Touchdown.

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

World famous trapeze performer Mark Gonzales.

Away from the set, Heston was a passionate campaigner for civil rights. Here, he (left) pickets a whites-only restaurant in Oklahoma City in 1961.

This is quite possibly the worst photo of Alan Petersen ever taken because I don’t know how to use a camera. I captured this frontside invert of Alan’s at Visalia YMCA skatecamp several years ago. I feel quite sorry for those of you who have just taken up skateboarding in the past several years, because you missed out on ole Al. Alan’s ability on a skateboard is and was freakish: street, pools, ditches, vert ramps, whatever. No terrain is safe… Alan rips it all to pieces.

I don’t know why this didn’t ever get delivered to Cab when Kayla was born? Whatever the case, it’s never too late to congratulate your friends for conquering amazing feats of daring… like having a baby. So Cab, this here little card was made either by Joe Brook, Jon Klein, Frank Gerwer, Anthony Claraval, Ray Barbee, or myself. I can’t remember. Whatever the case, congratulations for having Kayla Caballero. It’s not like we didn’t think you could do it.

Raw, Technical and Amazing. What are you waiting for? Watch the Coda Skateboards video.

World famous skater, otherwise known as Mark Gonzales, enhances the view of his boob tube.

photo steve cox

Known for being light and nimble on his feet, Gonz hops credit unfazed by the global credit crunch.

Some people write about the latest greatest collab or the sneaker of the week. I’ve done it too, but not this time. This picture here is of the world famous chocolate chewies that my mom invented at Our Daily Bread in San Jose. These little cookies were one of the most popular items in our family’s restaurant growing up and still are for people all over the world. Get some today. Maybe these little cookies should be president.

This image is called “no comply over car / step hop over roof of the auto” shot by world famous mouse trapper Mark Gonzales.

Awhile back some kid sent me a copy of this sequence shot by Chris Ortiz. The sequence was taken at the one and only pro contest that I ever won in Venice Beach, CA in 1992. Switch nose-wheelie on a desk. It’s hard to believe that this photo was taken 16 years ago, yet I’m still a spring chicken.

One Man Wrecking Machine. Coming soon to a town near you. Images of Mike that I shot while producing First Step instructional skateboarding videos for kids.

I guess you could say that some of us have been around since day 1.

A drawing of Jai that I did while I was living in Campbell, CA with Alan Petersen and Jason Adams.

A photo that I shot of Darrell along his way.

COSTA MESA - Professional skateboarder Salman Agah’s campaign in the upcoming imaginary primary received a boost on Friday with the endorsement of John Lucero, (I-Ca.), a prominent industry figure with a strong following among the hard core working-class skaters that Agah has struggled to win elsewhere.