The Elemental Awareness crew headed out to MIA Skatepark in Miami, Florida for a stop on the National Contest Series. Flow riders Matt Fink and George Evans helped judge this this contest packed with great skating, check out the video. Thanks to Ed, Chris and everyone that came out and ripped!

Mike Barker is on Hype Skateboards.

Stereo is proud to introduce part 1 of Jason’s new segment on the Stereo website called, “The Earl Files.” In this episode Jason takes us for a tour of the set, with special guest Chris Pastras. Stay tuned for monthly Earl Files episodes starting in 2009…

Also, check out Chris’ first photo update from his Dekline trip to Mallorca, Spain (see attached photo). More posts from Dune’s 2008 coming soon…

The Earl Files (Part 1)

Co-Captain Pastras’ Mallorca Update #1

We made a new friend this year. His name is Jose Rojo. Somehow he ended up on a few etnies tours and impressed everyone with his skateboarding. He kept hangin’ around, is fun to skate with, tells some good fishing stories and made us laugh a lot, so we decided to put him on. Because we love him so much, and he’s the new guy, we thought we’d do a feature interview with him so you can get to know him a little better, just like we’ve gotten to in the last year.

All the Final Flare orders shipped yesterday, so the box set should be at your local skate shop real soon if it isn’t there already. Peep the Out Now video at the top of the Lakai website.

Check out the Silver Pure Skateboarding re-edit featuring unseen footage!

Tony Hawk Foundation Supports First Concrete Skatepark In South Carolina

Organization continues growth with addition of Jamie Thomas to Board of Directors.

12/16/08 (Vista, CA) – The Tony Hawk Foundation Board of Directors met in December to select the recipients of its Fall 2008 Skatepark Grants. Among the 27 communities to receive a grant is Columbia, South Carolina, whose proposed 16,000-square-foot Owens Field Skatepark project will be the first custom-concrete skatepark in South Carolina, and also the first skatepark project in the state to qualify for a Tony Hawk Foundation grant.

The Board also welcomed new member Jamie Thomas, whose long history as a pro skater and industry leader had an immediate and positive impact on the group, which also includes Tony Hawk, Lenore Hawk Dale, Pat Hawk, Steve Hawk, Kent Dahlgren, Sandy Dusablon, Bobby Kotick, Jared Levine, Mike Vallely, Erica Zohar, and Lior Zohar. Each Board Member brings a unique background to their work with the Foundation, and the addition of Jamie further diversifies the Foundation’s governing body.

Since its inception in 2002, the Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded 427 grants worth over $2.7-million to help construct free, public skateparks in 48 states. The latest recipients of Foundation grants include both urban and rural communities in 18 states.

Fall 2008 Tony Hawk Foundation Grant Recipients

$25,000
Harrison, Arkansas
Bemidji, Minnesota
Columbia, South Carolina

$10,000
Imperial Beach, California
Ukiah, California
Owensboro, Kentucky
Sparta, North Carolina
Doniphan, Missouri
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rochester, New York
Walla Walla, Washington
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

$5,000
Mena, Arkansas
Greenville, Illinois
Pittsfield, Illinois
Greenbush, Minnesota
Perham, Minnesota
Ironton, Ohio
New Concord, Ohio
Maysville, Oklahoma
White River, South Dakota
North Bennington, Vermont
Saint Johnsbury, Vermont
Edgerton, Wisconsin
Viroqua, Wisconsin
Hinton, West Virginia
Guernsey, Wyoming

The next deadline for completing Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Grant applications is March 2, 2009. Details are available on the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $2,717,500 to 427 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

Maloof Money Cup to Receive Expanded Broadcast Coverage in 2009: More Than 3 1/2 hours of Original Programming to Air on NBC and MTV2

Costa Mesa, Calif. (PRWEB) December 16, 2008 — The Maloof Money Cup (MMC) announces a media partnership with Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, to bring MMC to NBC and MTV2. On the heels of a very successful first year, the new partnership expands the 2009 MMC broadcast coverage to 3 1/2 hours in original content, from its initial one hour of programming in 2008. This extended coverage allows MMC to better showcase the competing skaters while highlighting their histories and accomplishments in skateboarding through individual profiles during the broadcast.

“Because of the great success we had with the inaugural Maloof Money Cup, I am very excited to announce that our 2009 TV coverage has more than tripled between NBC and MTV2,” said Joe Maloof, president of Maloof Companies. “The Maloof Family is thrilled and honored to be associated with Alli, NBC and MTV. Although we will continue to maintain all creative rights and autonomy, we will work closely with Alli to continue to deliver the world’s greatest skateboarding event.”

Because of the great success we had with the inaugural Maloof Money Cup, I am very excited to announce that our 2009 TV coverage has more than tripled between NBC and MTV2.

The Maloof Family is thrilled and honored to be associated with Alli, NBC and MTV. Although we will continue to maintain all creative rights and autonomy, we will work closely with Alli to continue to deliver the world’s greatest skateboarding event.

Partnering with Alli allows for an expanded broadcast schedule while maintaining the contest’s authenticity and our ability to manage MMC in the manner that has made us successful. We continue to lean on skaters and the skate industry for guidance and to ensure that MMC always stays close to the heart of the industry, while energizing new fans and elevating the skaters to new heights. In only its first year, the Maloof Money Cup proved to be one of the biggest events in all of skateboarding.

“Partnering with Alli allows for an expanded broadcast schedule while maintaining the contest’s authenticity and our ability to manage MMC in the manner that has made us successful,” said Tim McFerran, general manager of MMC. “We continue to lean on skaters and the skate industry for guidance and to ensure that MMC always stays close to the heart of the industry, while energizing new fans and elevating the skaters to new heights.”

“In only its first year, the Maloof Money Cup proved to be one of the biggest events in all of skateboarding,” said Alli President Wade Martin. “Alli is thrilled to have MMC join the Alliance of Action Sports and bring compelling and competitive content to the masses via NBC, MTV2 and Allisports.com.”

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, AMA Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Free Flow Tour; Alli Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels.

Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes,fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

About Maloof Money Cup
The Maloof Money Cup is the premiere showcase for amateur and professional skateboarding in 2009. This three-day festival takes place July 10-12, 2008 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California, during the opening weekend of the Orange County Fair. The Maloof Money Cup 2008 boasted the largest purse in the history of professional skateboarding with more than $450,000 in prize money awarded in three professional U.S. Championship Competitions - Men’s and Women’s Pro Street, Men’s Pro Vert and the U.S. Amateur Championships.

Tickets for the 2009 Maloof Money Cup will be available soon at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com, by calling (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232, or at the OC Fair & Event Center Box Office at the Pacific Amphitheatre. Ticket prices range from $13 - $30. The official website, www.maloofmoneycup.com, shares the competition experience with a global audience, featuring contests, social networking, video episodes, photos, news stories and more.

About Maloof Sports & Entertainment
Maloof Sports & Entertainment includes the Palms Casino and Hotel, Sacramento Kings (NBA), Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA), ARCO Arena, Maloof Money Cup, and Maloof Productions, a film and music label. Led by Joe, Gavin, George, Phil and Adrian Maloof, and owned by the Maloof family with a group of long-term partners, the organization is committed to the community and to making a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of families in need and at risk in the regions in which their enterprises operate.

Fallen and Thrasher are joining forces to head up a raffle and fundraiser for Oakland’s Boardertown Skatepark. On December 20th drop on by DLXSF, 510, or Caliskatz and purchase your $5 raffle tickets towards the cause.

In the great tradition of independent video projects, Chris Mulhern’s This Time Tomorrow is destined to become a classic. Peep the brand new promo.