Only 33 days until the next Newton’s Playground!!!
For those of you who could not make it, and for all our overseas visitors we give you the official video made for local TV. I dont think this one has made it on the internet before, enjoy.
It is not too late to make a date to see all the action live at Mount Panorama Bathurst on 27th – 29th November 2009.
You might have seen my twittering this week about a film crew in the Hopshop. It was the team from Rush TV, interviewing Jackson Shapiera about all aspects of longboarding.
RUSH TV is a half hour action sports series exploring youth lifestyle and profiling the most creative people engaged in the dynamic world of action sports. Their mission is to be a totally relevant TV program for youth, offering the kind of entertainment and action that youth expect.
The series will feature both Australian and international action sports athletes and events, as well as segments celebrating the fusion of sport with music, fashion and the arts, showing how the culture of action sports has become a full time and viable way of life.
The series will launch as a weekly show on the new ABC 3 youth channel on 5th December 2009 at 7pm.
In his interview, Jackson explained about the different types of longboards for racing, freeriding, cruise and carve. How to set them up, and the different different styles of riding. When we get our hands on the edited version, we’ll throw it up on the blog as a video, and keep a look out for when the show starts.
The RushTV website in the next few months will start to get more content.
Everyone that reads this blog knows that Newton’s is close, and it is the IGSA World Championships. So there is a bit of extra activity going on Australia’s roads. 150 Australian competitors practicising as much as they can, honing their skills for Newton’s Playground. It is to be expected that we are getting a bit of extra attention by the media. Some good and some bad. Bad news articles are more misinformed, which for a news journalist, is a poor reflection on their skills. It just shows how lazy or bias journalsts can be. I’ll save the bad news articles for my rant of the week tomorrow…today it is all good news!!!
The Good News
There are some great journalists out there, willing to show something new, give a balanced approach. Sports Tonight, on the national network Channel Ten did a great news piece on our sport last night. Hopkin Racing Team on show last night. Jackson showing off his media skills, and putting it out there that he is going to Newton’s to win!
Leeso re-living last year’s crash, but planning to finish and win this year not kiss the haybales at Rayne Elbow.
I’m on holidays this week, though most people would say my life is one big long holiday.
The kids are out of school, so I’ve packed them up and headed north to where it is hot.
As you can see (photo below) there is always room for a longboard. The Loaded Ceviche fits perfectly in a standard travel suitcase, makes an excellent luggage divider. Dont let the wife/mum/dad/brother/sister tell you there is no room for your board. You will be kicking yourself when you get to your destination and find a road with perfect hot mix surface or a boardwalk aching to be skated.
Tip of the hat to Bernie, who found a new housing estate at Palm Cove on his last visit. Oceanbreeze behind novatel resort is a new estate that has not sold. Perfect hot mix, no traffic and a minute to the ocean to cool off after a skate. So if you get up here to Palm Cove, check it out. They have also put in the roads for the new Village resort, a lot of fun to be had there as well.
Thanks to the GFC, there seems to be a lot of new estates waiting to be discovered and skated!
I forgot to update the blog and website to remind everyone.
Pumpstation is on this weekend, last event of the ASRA Conehead Cup. Due to bad weather it was canceled a few weeks ago. It is back on this weekend. Check out the ASRA website for more details. If you are in Sydney this weekend, you gotta check this event out. It is a locals only area, outlaw, but one of the best longboarding spots in the Blue Mountains. A longboarding fun park!!! You just have to convince an ASRA member to give up the location, it is worth the hassle.
This weekend it is all slalom racing, with some time out in between for longboarding.
It is the last race of the year for the ASRA Conehead Cup 2009. Giant Slalom in the Blue Mountains at the Pumpstation.
Pumpstation is a locals only area, if you are planning to come out for the day, you’ll need to know an ASRA member to get the directions. The address is not posted on the internet.
ASRA calls the race Giant Slalom, but it is GS Australian style. Which means the giant part is extreme speed. The cones are places in a mixture of tight, hybrid and Giant styles. Most of the skaters will be on Hybrid boards because the course has a tight start and finish with a few bruising offsets. The middle part of the course is classic Giant Slalom, with widely spaced cones on a big fast curve of the track.
We have been working on the trophies in the Hopshop all week. This year they are special. Best of all we have found a use for all Jackson’s coned Orangatangs.
Manufacturers
