Words by Rob McWhinnie
After a week traveling the Andes in search of the biggest mountains we could find, I’m stoked to have made it back safe and have had an unforgettable experience. The goal of the End of the World tour was to find Abra Malaga, the back road to the epic Machu Picchu and skate it top to bottom. Along the way we found many new roads and created friendships to last a life time.

Two months ago my buddy Pablo Seone, owner of Chaman Longboards was having a beer with me at a BBQ, we were a little wasted and started talking about hills in the country that had never been skated, he rushed to the laptop that was already surrounded by people checking photos from that days freeride event and pulled up Google earth, typed in a string of words and directions in front of us arrived a massive 50km plus, 30 hairpin, middle of nowhere mountain road. It makes its way down between 2 5000m high peaks stretching 1000m above the summit of the road.

It was Abra Malaga and it was EPIC!!!!

As far as we knew no one had even been close to riding it, it’s a back road through a national park to the ancient Machu Picchu, the city of the Incas, little did I know how awesome and crazy the trip would be to get there. Soon after seeing the hill on screen Pablo offered to pay our bus fare to get to Cuzco to go skate it!! Yeeeeeeww this was the start of a massive sponsor drive that eventuated in a fully paid for trip for myself and 5 good mates to reach Abra Malaga to bomb and film it.

The road trip is 24 hours to Cuzco and we had a new H1 van to enjoy it. Unlike most skate trips you or I have been, this one included 3 girls and 3 guys.

The girls were: Marisa Nunez, Ishta Backlund and Maga McWhinnie, you couldn’t choose 3 better girls to travel with, amazing, fearless skaters and positive vibes all day. Still, girls being girls they packed a shit load and took forever to wake up in the mornings. Jose Cortez and Christian Salmon would be joining me, getting rowdy and bombing everything on the trip. Jose shreds anything and Christian is an awesome videographer for Choro Longboarding helping me document the adventure.

First stop on the way was Nazca, famous for its alien airports and megaliths in the lifeless desert. It is now going to be famous for the 70km downhill paradise we found on an empty road out of town, Mt Poquito ( poquito meaning small) burned most of our petrol getting up and we only had time for a little corner session every 10-15km on the way up but made plans to skate it on the way home, at the summit we stopped to check out the view and a little grommet came out of nowhere to talk and play on our boards. I’m sure Yori won’t forget us for a long time to come.

Yori on the top of Poquito

Once in we made it to Cuzco we wanted to leave and find mountains to skate. Cuzco is a crazy city, built hundreds of years ago as a treasury for the Incan empire, once including an entire garden made from gold, flowers, bugs, birds and beast would stand basking in the sun entirely made of gold. You can guess what happened when the Spanish turned up, so now the city is half Inca masterpieces and half Spanish churches, in a weird but beautiful mix. I organized free stay with a local hostel. The Kokopelli Hostel had put Marisa and Ishta up before on our Mancora Endless summer of Gnar trip and they knew what we were up to and provided us with a massive room and bunk beds for the entire week.

A short drive out of town and we hit our first hill, half way down it turned into a sand pit and made for some slipping and sliding even on the straights. We could have stopped but it was a bit of fun drifting our way down. Across the Sacred Valley of the Incas, we noticed our next run, climbing high up the mountain to some ruins at the peak was a dead end road with little bridges over the rivers, hairpins around cliff faces and straights through the green farm land. We spent a full day skating Pisac, warming up for the bigger mountains to come and having some fun as a group for the first time on a hill.

If you have seen any of my photos or videos before from longboarding in Peru you would have noticed that I’m usually in the desert of some kind. Where we found ourselves now was a green, lush, rich diversity of life atmosphere, with rivers, wild plants animals everywhere, completely relaxing and awesome.

After a few days skating local roads we planned the trip to Abra Malaga, 250km away, on the way we passed all the tourist stops and ancient ruins. The closer we came the more wild and extreme the environment became, it was like stepping back into the dinosaur period. When we arrived at the base of the mountain everyone was majorly stoked to have even made it, the mountain just erupts out of the river plains, we drove skyward for an hour to reach the summit, stopping and admiring the view and unbelievable amount of hairpins and sheer cliff face passes.

Once at the top, well damn I forgot how hard it was to breath, the environment was insane, massive clouds where blowing right up against the cliffs and moving at a speed more like smoke from a fire, after putting on rain wheels and stretching it was time to face the road and bomb it.

No one except myself had rode wet weather wheels on anything seriously needing them and it took a while to convince the crew that they are shit and you will need them. I had 6 sets made up at the Fico Longboarding workshop, we customized a disk sander to rotate the wheels at warp speed and used a hunting knife to cut the wheels. Instead of sanding off the urethane it melted off like butter and produced the best wet weather wheels I’ve ever seen.

So we kicked off in the dry and quickly got in the flow on the easy first section of sweepers and pins, Maga was keeping up as we all were taking it easy having fun and admiring the view as we passed between the two peaks either side of the road, it was a huge deal for her to conquer this hill as it was for me too, it was even better to be doing together.

Soon it began to rain, it got steeper, colder and clouds began to block the view of the next corner, I stopped the group and we had a few practice runs at predrifting into a hairy hairpin, while it was bucketing down. We were all drenched but every one was smiling ear to ear. Jose fell in love with rain riding, blasting out standys sending out rooster tails of water. The girls got confidence to slide in the rain, locking up and railing, so we did some filming then decided it was time to bomb the steep section.

I had a word to Maga and wished her luck and to take it easy, she was going to do it but at her own pace and safely, I however wanted to get sideways and have some fun so we headed off separately, the next 35mins of downhill in the rain was the 4 of us now smoking each other around hairpins and throwing massive predrifts into corners like pros in a DH race, the best thing about rain riding is it feels like your doing 80 when you bust a slide.

At one stage I thought I was going to freeze solid. The wind chill at 60kmh down the straights was terrible, should have worn a full face! We stopped when the rain gave way and road started to dry, had some lunch and changed wheels, did some interviews and rang our clothes dry. I brought dry clothes hahahaha, I felt like a million bucks. The rest of the day we sessioned the bottom section, 8 hairpins 4 straights, 1 bridge, cows, horses, donkeys, kids with water bombs, hi fiving old men and perfect pavement. That has got to be one of the best afternoons I’ve skated in a long time and the biggest, longest decent I’ve ever made in my life.

Over the next few days, we would trek to Mach Picchu and spend the day safe on a rock looking over the ancient city surrounded by mountains rising into the sky. Other days we would relax on a mountain road just having fun drafting and filming, the way home would be another 24hour trip so we planned to do it over 2 days and skated the hell out of everything we arrived at.

The entire trip wouldn’t have been possible with out our Major sponsors Chaman Longboards, RipTide Bushings, Rayne Longboards, Hopkin Skate and the guys at Kahalani, TeamB (arbi), Kokopelli hostels, Nuqa Clothing, Choro longboarding and Fico longboards peru. These guys believed in us and supported the whole trip, I’m stoked to represent all of them and its awesome the level of support they have shown to longboarding development and exploration.

Overall the trip was incredible, I really couldn’t imagine doing it again anytime soon though, it was exhausting and extreme, its taken a solid week to lose the flu I got after riding raining mountains one day and arid desert the next. I’m glad, that like last years Across the Andes trip, I’ve discovered new roads and epic hills. It inspires the locals to leave the big cities and explore their own country, I’m stoked to have made it home safe and conquered my fear of returning to the big roads of the Andes once again. The friends that joined me will be friends for life now, we experienced some awesome shit together and risked everything to do it, downhill skateboarding is our life and we are living every day we do it.

See you back home soon!!!

Rob

Rob McWhinnie (do rad shit)

Instead of a Christmas card this year, we are sending STICKERS to all our wonderful customers!

If you were a Hopshop customer this year, thank you, you made 2011 the best year ever. We loved seeing you in the skateshop, at the events, talking online and generally being part of the Australian skateboard community.

OK SO HERE IS THE DEAL

We have collected over $100,000 worth of skate stickers from all your favourite brands. We are mailing out to our top 3000 customers over 20,000 stickers!! First 1000 envelopes were mailed out a couple of days ago, if you have received mail, you are one of the top Hopshop customers.

Not everyone is going to get stickers, we had to make a few rules. You had to have ordered something in 2011, and for logistic reasons, the cut off was the end of November. We sorted customers by their total orders, so if you only ordered bushings this year, you probably missed out. You had to have a Hopshop account or ordered online, it is only these customers that we know who you are and your address. That’s why it is so important to have a Hopshop account … you know it is free.

HUGE thank you to the brands that helped us share the stoke this Christmas. It sounds simple but it has been a huge effort getting organised. Stickers have been arriving months in advance, and they have been hidden in the Hopshop waiting for mail out time.

There is also a real cost to all the skate companies that participate. PLEASE give them a huge shout out. I have provided below all their social contacts. Like them, friend them, send them a thank you. We want this to be an annual event, if you share the stoke, they will see the value in doing it all again.

Big thank you to the elves in the Hopshop that stuffed envelopes: Caspian, Harrison, Josh. Also the family insider help from Veronique and Lisa.

Special mention to the distributors: John and Christine at JHS and Co, Peter at Goliath, Glenn at Black Box.

WHAT STICKERS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT

Caliber Trucks
Caliber on Facebook or Find them on the web
Give em lots of love, they were very generous.

3000 stickers released

Loaded Boards

Our friends at Loaded and Orangatang are always first to join an event to stoke skaters in a major way, they send a slab of stickers!!

Big moon hugs to Loaded – you can squeeze their face or grab their tweets or watch the vids

500 stickers released

500 stickers released

500 stickers released

500 stickers released

500 stickers released

500 stickers released

25 stickers released = RARE

25 stickers released = RARE

25 stickers released = RARE

25 stickers released = RARE

Rayne longboards

Always a favourite in the skateshop, and they love you very much with thousands of stickers. You can return that love on the face or tickling their twitter or watching their moves

1500 stickers released

1500 stickers released

1000 stickers released

Sector 9

Shout out to the Sector 9 Australia team, you rocked Australia with a suitcase of stickers. Show em that they are not too big for a hug, pinch em on the tweeter or stalk em on facebook or just be a voyeur. If it wasn’t for these blokes, Jackson would not be Number Two in the world !! (IGSA World Cup rankings)

1500 stickers released

1500 stickers released

Heelside Magazine

Your favorite Australian skateboard magazine. They are original, creative, bold and crazy. They deliver you something your mum does not understand and probably does not approve of, so let them know their hard work is appreciated. Get social on their arse. Or a quick little spray.  You must subscribe for them to survive.

1100 stickers released

ASRA – Australian Skateboard Racing Association

They are the only REAL skateboard association in Australia. Real members, elected board, community inspired and skateboarders looking after skateboarding. So who is fake? SbA or Skateboard Australia are a $2 event company. The sham is our tax money is funding a private skateboard company. No elected officials. No accountability. Hundreds of thousands of dollars siphoned off with our Government’s approval. They know the facts, and continue to waste your money. WE NEED TO GET MAD. Join ASRA. Even better become a financial member, it makes ASRA stronger and SbA look stupider. Time magazine has made the Protester the person of the year. You can make a difference. You can change the world. You can create the world you want to live in. No generation in history has more power at their fingertips than you. Protest. Talk. Yell. Scream. Skate. Create. Dream. Then take small steps to make it happen. Contact your elected politician or senator. Tell them to stop wasting our money and take skateboarding seriously. Then get your mum, dad and all the family to do the same thing. If you use twitter, so do they.

1500 stickers released

Fallen Shoes

Some of the raddest skate stickers you’ll find on the planet. I did not scan every sticker that went out. If you got something different, post a pic.

On the Fbook or on the inter webbie thing, they probably dont want to know you like them, they’re too cool for school. And are core = only little boards here (they’re easier to carry).

100 stickers released - RARE

200 stickers released - RARE

50 stickers released - RARE

25 stickers released - RARE

125 stickers released - RARE

125 stickers released - RARE

50 stickers released - RARE

Early Skateboards

The OG crew on the Goldie, designing boards for Australia. Twitter or FB or web

40 stickers released - RARE

20 stickers released - RARE

Fibretec: Swiss made dream machines. They are fine like a piece of … art. 50 stickers were add into the mix.

Vicious Griptape: Sent 50 special decals to stoke, if you got one, your lucky. If you have their tape on your deck your even luckier…and probably dont have any fingerprints.

Bombsquad, Ladera, Dekline and Slippery Dip all contributed some special stickers.

Thank you to everyone who is apart of the Australian skateboard/longboard scene. Lets do it all again next year. We promise the Hopshop will be bigger and better in 2012. We hope you will be a part it.

Live life … skate every day.

PS: We send out stuckers to our bro’s in New Zealand. We  love our cousins across the ditch too!

TWITTER USERS
We are using #hopkinstickers

Words by Jackson Shapiera

I could easily summarise this post in just a few words – fucking mental…

When Brazilians talk about downhill skating, and each run, they don’t call it a run. They call it a ‘Drop’. Now I understand why. This hill is the biggest mental challenge I’ve ever faced. It seems as if they were running short on pavement and instead of winding the road up the mountain gradually, they just went straight up. Shortest possible distance from A to B.

Most people see this road in videos or photos, but the thing is all they ever see is the final drop, the steepest section coming into the finish line. What they dont see is the top section, which adds so much to this already insane hill.

Teutonia - she is waiting

The pavement itself is not as bad as some have said.

The top section which consists of some slight sweeping bends before hitting the hardcore part is actually rougher, however by the time you’ve gotten past it you drop down a steep section into a long sweeping left hand corner. This corner plays with your head, its totally makeable with just a slight airbreak but the fact you hit it at 90km/h, then flying into the steep as hell bottom section is what makes it scary. Traveling at over 100km/h down the next few drops (which is dead set like a roller coaster) you feel every slight crack or bump in the road. Finding the right body position to handle the gnar is key, any slight movement is a loss of speed, and on this track speed is everything.

Once again we are in IGSA mode – things are running slow as hell. We did not do any skateboarding before lunch. We all hung out at the top for hours while tech inspection was being run, and eventually they said we need to break for lunch and come back later. This had made the nerves build up so much and I just wanted to get that first run out of the way.

Due to the lack of time, we only got 2 runs before the first qualify run. The first practice run we started above the corner to get used to the high speed and the pavement. The second run was taken from the top.

Never before have I felt so nervous riding a hill!

I am comfortable with the speed, but the way the hill stares you down as your dropping is intense. Its a hill that just gets steeper and steeper, small features to avoid come at you before you know it, and trying to hold a solid line while avoiding clipping the hay bales makes it even scarier.

I took it pretty chilled today in Qualifying. I only had three runs. One from halfway, one from the top and then a Qualifying run. Day One I’m placed 26th, which I’m happy with. I had a hell airbreak happening before the first turn, and then did a safe tuck down the bottom section. Tomorrow is full tuck and I’m really going to open it up and let ‘er rip.

Kevin is back in action and took a few runs, then busted out the fastest qualify run of the day. Its the world championship and on this hill he can dominate, so I think that he will be looking for a re-match with Dalua. However if Kevin races, I believe Dalua will be even hungrier for the win as he wants some payback from last year!

Qualifying after first run Day One

1. Kevin Reimer (USA) 1:20.075

2. Douglas Silva (Dalua) Brazil 1:20.664

3. Mischo Erban (Canada) 1:21.878

4. Vinicius Mendez (Brazil) 1:22.192

5. Otavio Munhoz (Brazil) 1:22.561

6. Dandy Dean (Brazil) 1:22.581

7. Thiago Lessa (Brazil) 1:22.934

8. Max Ballesteros  (Brazil) 1:23.553

9. AugustinVirgolini (Argentina) 1:23.776

10. Patrick Switzer (Canada) 1:24.095

11. Garcia Silon (Brazil) 1:24.236

12. Graham Buksa (Country: Canada. Province: Rayne) 1:24.449

13. Malessa Wendel (Brazil) 1:24.558

14. Alysson Garcia (Brazil) 1:24.931

15. Renan Vasques (Brazil) 1:25.345

16. Luciano Pauletti (Brazil) 1:24.405

17. Gabriel Almeida (Brazil) 1:24.455

18. Vinicius Castagna (Brazil) 1:25.647

19. Italo Lima (Brazil) 1:25.649

20. Giovani Maschio (Brazil) 1:25.824

21. Andrew Dassi (Brazil) 1:25.912

22. Alex Tongue (Brazil) 1:25.939

23. Rafael Sabella (Brazil) 1:25.942

24. Lucas Bontorin (Brazil) 1:25.984

25. Jonas Richter (Brazil) 1:26.346

26. Jackson Shapiera (Australia) 1:26.417

27. Filipe Rosa (Brazil) 1:26.535

28. Juliano Cassemiro (Brazil) 1:27.010

29. James Kelly (USA) 1:27.204

30. Fabio Lambs (Brazil) 1:27.432

Most of the riders are staying at this pretty cool man-made lake/resort

Here are the top qualifiers from Day two and the order they will race in tomorrows finals.

1. Patrick Switzer (Canada) 3:10.745 –> 3:06.756 (from third to first!)

2. Douglas Dalua (Brazil) 3:10.044 –> 3:07.728  (improves time but slips from 1st to 2nd)

3. Jackson Shapiera (Australia) 3:10.848 –> 3:08.256 (jumps from 4th to 3rd)

4. Dillion Stephens (Canada) 3:10.572 –> 3:08.630 (3rd to 4th)

5. Mischo Erban (Canada) DNF –> 3:10.835 (off the sick bed and into 5th)

6. James Kelly (American Dream) 3:16.518 –> 3:10.907 (big mover of the day, no crash this time!)

7. Felipe Malaga (Peru) 3:14.177 –> 3:11.318 (that’s what I’m talking about = REPRESENT)

8. Danky Dean Garcia Ovalhe (Brazil) 3:11.509 –> 3:12.353 (aaahhh pressure)

9. Max Ballesteros (Brazil) 3:13.576 –> 3:11.512 (is that an Early hat???)

10. Diego Alemparte (Chilli) 3:16.531 –> 3:11.653 (he b fast)

11. Alex Tongue (USA) 3:14.772 –>3:12.519 (the kids getting faster watch out)

12. Kyle Martin (Canada) 3:13.235 –> 3:12728 (the conundrum – faster but goes backward)

13. Travis Craig (Canada) 3:17.775 –> 3:13.652 (he’s loving the thin air)

14.. Luis Vinassa (Argentina) 3:21.288 –> 3:14.135 (22 to 14!! what’s Luis been eating?)

15. Daniel Padua (Brazil) 3:14.378 –> 3:20..275 (bad day in the office)

16. Graham Buska (Rayne Longboards) 3:16.977 –> 3:14.944 (16th to 16th – dude’s running to stand still)
Hey Graham – enough of this jet setting, back to the factory and send me some boards!!

17. Robert McWhinnie (Australia) 3:15.188 –> 3:40.546 (ouch I sense a crash? Dude more rail less haybale)

18. Robin Sandberg (Sweden) 3:15.457 –> 3:16732 (me thinks he’s mind is elsewhere)

19. Federico Manzitti (Argentina) 3:15.457 –> 3:24.570 (I got nothing for this one)

20. Mauricio Rodriguesz (Columbia) 3:21.448 –> 3:15.607 (big improver)

21. Luca Coleman (Australia) 3:22.571 –> 3:15.937 (cleaned the bearings!! And proving he is not just a pretty face)

I’m stopping before I run out of smart arse comments.

That is the final wrap up of Qualifying. Tomorrow is Finals Day and we’ll have results on the blog as we get them.

Sorry ladies about no women qualifying times or luge. Have not received those. IGSA will have their PDF online very soon. Word is Skatie Katie is killing it, no one could catch her in Day One qualifying (Brianne, please come back, we need you to challenge this speed vixen in 2012).

Hot off the phone from Peru, here are the first day’s qualifying times. No surprises that Dalua is number one.The Aussies have shown great form and have all placed in the top 25. The most notable name missing is Mischo, we’ll have to wait on more news to find out what happened there.

1. Douglas Dalua (Brazil) 3:10.044

2. Dillion Stephens (Canada) 3:10.572

3. Patrick Switzer (Canada) 3:10.745

4. Jackson Shapiera (Australia) 3:10.848

5. Danky Dean Garcia Ovalhe (Brazil) 3:11.509

6. Kyle Martin (Canada) 3:13.235

7. Max Ballesteros (Brazil) 3:13.576

8. Felipe Malaga (Peru) 3:14.177

9. Daniel Padua (Brazil) 3:14.378

10. Alex Tongue (USA) 3:14.772

11. Robert McWhinnie (Australia) 3:15.188

12. Federico Manzitti (Argentina) 3:15.457

13. Robin Sandberg (Sweden) 3:15.457

14. James Kelly (American Dream) 3:16.518

15. Diego Alemparte (Chilli) 3:16.531

16. Graham Buska (Rayne Longboards) 3:16.977

17. Aysson Sole (Brazil) 3:17.517

18. Travis Craig (Canada) 3:17.775

19. Gustavo Paredes (Peru) 3:18.747

20. Lukas Falcioni (Argentina) 3:20.575

21. Camilo Cespedes (Columbia) 3:20.663

22. Luis Vinassa (Argentina) 3:21.288

23. Mauricio Rodriguesz (Columbia) 3:21.448

24. Vicro Patricia Santander Pons (Chilli) 3:22.311

25. Luca Coleman (Australia) 3:22.571

26. Luis Lina (Brazil) 3:24.024

Whatever it is or whatever it will be … it will always be this: something local in your neighbourhood.

Rob McWhinnie takes us to Byron, where you wish you were last Sunday.

Byron Bay has long been known for its amazing waves and the surfers it has produced, almost in the background but never out of sight, longboarding has emerged in our city and like surfing has hooked young and old. Longboarding is a national sport but seems to gravitate around relaxed beach side environments, with no designated riding areas the sport has moved from riding footpaths and boardwalks to quiet steep roads and mountain passes.

The first monthly Sunday Showdown, an OUTLAW downhill skateboarding event, was held in the back streets of Byron Bay. With a total of 16 riders including 2 juniors 3 girls and 4 international riders, the event was a demonstration to the public and learners what is possible on a longboard, including safety, speed, breaking and stoke. It showcased great riding and progression from everyone who attended.

With only 3 corners over a couple of hundred metres the riders needed to master breaking at high speeds and tight cornering, while battling with 3 other riders for 1st position. As a precaution marshals were placed at all corners and allowed flow of traffic and clear runs for the riders.

Planing for this outlaw only began last Tuesday, when I was visited by a half naked gnar chief in the desert, “book it and they shall come” I was told, so the only hill in town worth doing this ( and getting away with it ) was chosen and with a little hard work we had a great days racing and radness.

No haybales, fast action, dozens of spectators , wandering dogs and old ladies were just part of the experience that is urban outlaw racing.

The finals were a Early riders only event, with the Lundmark bros Seb and Jon riding the Arift Yates pro model and Dennis and Mathias on the new TB top mount.

As the riders took off for the win it was clear that it was going to be the fastest attack of the top right hand corner yet. A guard rail extends out from the corner apex, closing the racing line in tight. The finals went 3 wide around it and after some scrubbing Dennis ate it and slid fast in to the gutter, bouncing off into the front yard of some local, smashed, while Mathias and Seb bombed down the steep straight away and got hell sideways for the crowd in to the main righty, Mathias took 1st , Seb 2nd, Jon 3rd and Dennis 4th. Great racing boys.

Chicky babe riders Maga, Kate and Natalia proved that with practice anything possible. I have spent a lot of time watching and helping these girls build their skills and confidence preparing for events like this, we are really proud of your efforts and stoked to see your progression.

Kate took 6th overall riding on my new fibretec for the second time only and won a set of TSG knee pads for her efforts. Maga and Natalia got free chocolate cake!

2 groms battled it out for a 2nd prize Early gnar pack and 1st a new set of Rayne Idle Hands race gloves, the two rippers are hooked now and I’m hanging to take them to a bigger hill, Sol took 1st place followed close by Charlie ‘FISH’ Fisher, on ya boys.

Thanks to our great sponsors Hopkin Racing, Rayne, Early Skateboards and MadDog Surf we had plenty of prizes for the best riders on the day and a bbq after, thanks to all the neighbours on Shelly Drive and Pacific Vista who attended the event, helped out, cheered and generally made the day much more enjoyable, it was great to see our small downhill skateboarding community join with the locals and provide a full afternoon of thrills and spills and complete radness.
Photo credit to Adam Yates (thanks yah-dawg good to see you excelling in something other than skating!!)

Although not largely publicised the next event might be on a street near you, so always drive careful and ride safer, hope to see you all next time.

Rob McWhinnie…enjoy the video

Hopkin Racing has asked the top  downhill skateboarders who are competing at Newtons to do a fan day meet and greet. Not all the international competitors are in Sydney at the same time, but we have rounded up the  majority for Wednesday and Thursday.

Where: Hopkin Racing (Hopshop) Shop 3, 8 Northcote Street St Leonards NSW 2065

We have the riders dropping in to the Hopshop all week, but there are two days most of them will be hanging around.

Wednesday 24th November from 2pm to 5pm

Mischo Erban (2009 World Cup Champion, Current  holder of the World speed record  130kmph)

Douglas “dalua” Silva (Brazil, one of the fastest men on the planet)

UPDATED
Brianne and Dominique are both in the Hopshop on Wednesday.

Thursday 25th November from 10am to 12pm (could be as late as 2pm)

Hopshop is a gathering point for a lot of the international racers who are  traveling together to Newtons. There are a few team buses leaving from the Hopshop to Bathurst. How long they are in the shop depends on late arrivals. There are a lot of competitors flying into Sydney on Thursday morning. The buses are not leaving until all the skaters have arrived. Here is the list of skaters who will be there:

Sector 9 Team
Jeff Budro (USA)
Louis Pilloni (California)
Evran Ozan (2009 Junior World Champion)
George MacKenzie (G Mac)
Jackson Shapiera (Aussie Aussie Aussie)

Fastest women in the world
Brianne Davies (current World Champion)
Dominique Vukorep (World speed record holder)
Katie Neilson (Skatie Katie – raddest chick on earth)

Team Orangatang
James Kelly  (California)
Kevin Reimer (2009 and 2010 World Champion and 2010 World Cup Champion and Newtons Nation defending champion)
Patrick Switzer (Canada)

Landyachtz Eh Team
Scott “scoot” Smith (Team Green, 2008 World Champion)
Andrew Chapman
Adam Yates (The only Aussie on the Eh Team)

Other Internationals
Christoph Batt (current ranked 3^rd in the world, highest rank Swiss rider, winner of 2010 Kozakov)
Stefan Rufli  (Switzerland )
Robin Sandberg (Team Sweden)

If there was ever a day to cut, sneak out of work, call in a  sickie it is THIS WEEK. There is only one time every year we get this many international riders in one spot in Sydney…and at the Hopshop!!!

Please try and make time, dont miss this opportunity.

There is one benefit of rain, and more rain in Vancouver. Jackson is not skating as much and editing up videos more.

Embedded from the Rayne Youtube Channel and scraped off skatehorde.

JAKES RASH !!!!

dial up that HD.

Did you notice K-Rimes’ modifications on his Killswitch at Newton’s Playground? The big mod was drop thru trucks. It is no secret Rayne is bring out a new version of the Killswitch, it was featured in the Concrete Wave Buyers Guide.

Rayne quietly released details to skateshops last week. The tweaked killswitch is available and coming to a skateshop near you.

The evolution continues. The 2010 Drop Killswitch.

The board that blew everyone’s minds last year, and what every manufacturer copied. Just got better. Universal Drop Through Truck Mounting. Lowers your board for easy pushing and stability.

All the other key adavantages to this deck remain the same. K-Rimes unique design of locks in the deck to create a more ergonomic board.

Sharp edges: For locking your feet in.

Vert Lam Bamboo Core: stronger than steel but light as a feather.

Sublimated Artwork: scratch resistant ink is tattooed on to the deck.

Pre tensioned fibreglass: adds long life, durability, strength and energy return.

Speed Stiff: Dont get bounced! Stiff boards make you stable at speeds.

New stock arrives in the country in the next 10 days. Check out all the new webpages, and if you are in the market for a new board or an update, put your email address down for notification when they arrive.

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Today we bring you another tasty piece of Rayne longboard bling.

Rayne Hustler longboard – 2010 edition

The new 2010 Hustler has been updated, and it looks like they have made an all round longboard, suitable for most occasions.

First thing we noticed was the new shape and larger wheel wells. Deck now allows a wider range of wheel options. This was one of the biggest issues with the older model, only bear trucks could be used with larger 75mm wheels.

Rayne have come to longboard party with an absolute stunner. Hard to imagine they can get more creative!
Just when you thought life was meant to be dervish, along comes a Hustler to waken the senses. Graphics are eye poppin. It is definitely artwork, and according to Rayne, it is scratch-resistant ink, tattooed into the deck.
Here is what we are liking about this deck:
Construction: Vertically Laminated Bamboo Core and Pre-Tensioned Fiberglass making it strong but light. This deck will be strong, durable and have a huge energy return.
Shape: Offset Camber that helps initiate powerful turns and smooth exits. Sharp edges that make it look sleek, but has a function effect by creating an extra dimension for your feet to lock onto. New shape makes for better foot placement, 2010 model is a better all round longboard.
Flex: Flex has always made the Hustler special. It makes carving fun, creates those surf style turns, more rebound when pumping, and flex just makes a comfortable skate when you spend a bit of time on your board.

What is board is not is a downhill board. It is fast, you can bomb hills but the flex makes it unsuitable for high speeds.

Our review on this deck remains unchanged. This is the deck for the individual and the skater with style. Let all your friends get hustled on a dervish, stand out on a hustler!!