Happy 15th Anniversary Fourstar Clothing

Wow, I feel old. Fourstar has been the only skateboarding clothing brand that I have been wearing since I could remember stepping onto a board. This year they turn 15. In the 90's, a lot of companies came and went. Clothing companies were probably amongst the fastest to come and go followed by board companies (remember A-team?)
Trends come and go, styles change. This is life. Fourstar clothing has done it right. Being able to adapt to the changes I think was the key. That's how you survive. That's how you strive. That's how Eric Koston and the Girl guys became amongst the most successful skaters in the industry.

Congratulations on your 15th Fourstar Clothing. As an anniversary gift, you get Ishod Wair.

Fourstar Clothing welcomes Ishod Wair to the team from Crailtap on Vimeo.

Unbeleafable

Great pics by Atiba.

DQM X Lakai

Daves Quality Meat NYC X Lakai Footwear. This shoe is the Pico. All day, everyday.

Jason Dill and Anthony Van Engelen Syndicate

So I've been seeing Jason Dill around LA recently and have been noticing that he doesn't rock Etnies anymore. Now, It's pretty common to see pros wear vans or chucks when they're chillin', however, I predicted that there was a going to be a power move on the way.


This Agenda trade show previewed some upcoming Vans from the Syndicate line and an upcoming shoe featuring Anthony Van Engelen and Jason Dill. So it's official. Jason Dill is on Vans and why not? Teaming up with fellow Alien rider and homie AVE. Power moves.

Congrats on the cover.

Fragmented

This is possibly my favorite shoe in the closet. From a colorway standpoint, it's perfect. It took a Japanese design firm Fragment Design to make it.

Vans Syndicate Wtaps

It's Vans sexy time.

Lunarlon Technology X Nike SB

Nike SB Eric Koston & Lunarlon

I don't understand why every Nike shoe does not have lunarlon technology. This is by far the best, most comfortable cushioning I've ever experienced in a Nike shoe. Better than air, air max, air max 360, shox, zoom, you name it.
Supposedly they've been using lunarlon tech in running shoes for a long time but it took Eric Koston to put it in a skate shoe.
The overall aesthetic of the shoe is very simple. Some might say a bit mundane but when it comes to comfort and cushioning, this is the best skate shoe on the market now.

I got my limited edition pair of Kobe-Koston early and I already want another pair. No, I'm not trying to hype things out of proportion but if you find something that works you stick to it. I'm sticking to this.

Lakai X Supreme

Mike Carroll's 5 sig shoe out of Lakai will see a ltd edition Supreme collaboration in the two colorways pictured above. Funny how anything Supreme is synonymous with ltd edition. Check out the La Brea Girl wall for details.
Available in-store June 1, 2011. Call and check for availability.

It's about time.

This summer we get a peak of a set of new Vans Syndicate Shoes. Inspired by Rodney Smith of Shut Skateboards NYC. The two models will include the Old Skools and a new shoe named The Native American which spots a high top feel. Sort of a combination of a PF Flyer, Chuck Taylor and a Vans sk8 Hi, beefed up with only the finest materials The boys at Syndicate are known for.

We Get Lifted

Today, Co-Founder, co-owner, mastermind of Lifted Research Group (LRG), Jonas Bevacqua was found dead in his Laguna Beach home at the age of 34. An icon in the industry and a genius all in his own. I am proud to say that I was there since the beginnings and there aren't that many brands I am able to stick to, and still maintain the amount of respect that I had since day one.

It's fair to say that everyone in the industry today was influenced some how or some way from Jonas. His actions paved the way for many of the clothing companies that do what they do today.

Respect.

Frost X Kob

This June Nike SB will be releasing Eric Koston's first signature shoe for Nike. We all knew it was coming and now we're so close. The Nike Vault at the Staples center features a small exhibit on Eric Koston and displays a few of the upcoming shoes.

In celebration of the Koston 1 shoe release, Nike, Kobe, and Eric have made a super limited edition KOBE X Koston collaboration shoe that will be for sale this upcoming saturday at the Nike Vault @ the Staples Center.


This information was given to me earlier this week personally from Global Brand Manager of Nike SB, Kevin Imamura. What he forgot to tell me was there will only be 24 pairs of the limited edition Koston shoe! Thanks.

Anyways, The shoe's upper will be that of the Zoom Kobe VI with the Koston 1 sole that included the lunarlon insole. I have yet to try the lunarlon insoles and am really excited about trying them. The shoe itself if simple but very technologically advanced. To many of the non-skaters, the Koston 1 may seem a bit plain or even mundane but to the kids who grew up on suede skate shoes of the early 90's, this is gold.



I see this shoe as the revamped, technically advanced Jason Lee shoe! That's the best way I can put it. It will be fun to see Koston build a franchise out of Nike like P-Rod did.

Lakai Footwear now Girl Distribution.

Since its upstart in 1997, Lakai Ltd Footwear has been distributed through Podium Distribution with the likes of Matix and DVS. Starting now, Lakai will be distributed in-house with Girl distribution. As it should be.

Belated B-Day

Ok, March is over. My birthday month has ended. One last belated birthday gift via my best friend. Summers just around the corner so it's time to shade those eyes. Crystal Black/+ Red Iridium. RARE!



And no, you can't have one. lol.

PS. There might be one more surprise coming in.

Birthday Stuff

This last weekend I celebrated a milestone birthday. This year and many other years past, my 2nd home and favorite city in the world, Las Vegas would play as the backdrop. Sorry I couldn't post any party pics as we are trying to keep this place rated PG. lol.
Let me tell you that although I'm stressed out because my life is almost over! SMH. I had one of the best, memorable birthday in a while. Thank you for all the friends and fam that made it awesome. love you all.

Before heading out to Vegas, stopped by Heelbruise HQ for goodies!! That leopard print logo is fire btw. Thank you Richie!


I got these in LA while I was in Vegas. Does that make any sense? It does.

I have a thing for green shoes, also orange and orange & black combo. These are real nice. Under the green color is a bronze oxidation color resembling the aesthetic characteristics of the statue of liberty. You have to skate them to get to the under layer but I'm not going to skate them. I love the green. Thank you for the B-Day present Ab & Tet.

Back home in reality, I met up with an OG surf local who just happens to have some DS Old skool Oakley frogskins. Among them, is a DS original Matte Rootbeer/Fire Iridium which I bartered for a pair of 4-legged frogskins which I wasn't that into to. This is one of the most sought after epic pair of Frogskins ever made. #winning.


One of my favorite things to do is eat. I live to eat. The eats this weekend was top notch and there was way too much to post. Plus, I don't want to make this a food blog even though I'm thinking about it. Food and Shoes!
However, there was one honorable mention that I have to post and give a giant shout out to. I'm a big burger guy and this is the best burger I've ever had in my life. I don't think I'm alone on this one. If you're ever in the Orange County area, or even if you're not, you need to make a stop here. Slater's 50/50 Burger in Anaheim Hills, CA. I'm not going to say anything else. Do your research or just GO!

This is not about quantity although quantity is a characteristic of the burgers, it is quality. This is no fast food joint btw.

Amongst all the material things that one could have, I'm the most thankful for the non-material things that money cannot buy. Like watching the sun rise in the desert on the way to Vegas (One of my favorite sights of all time).


I am grateful for my family, friends, health, life and being able to do all the things I'm able to do. Thanks everyone.

Billy Bad Boy

Another Vans project with Max and his company, 4Q. Max doing his thing. This time around, the Vans Sk8 mid get revamped into the nicest pair I've ever seen. By the way, Max Schaaf will go by the name Billy Bad Boy from here on out. For the record.

Available April 9, 2011 exclusively @ Utility Board Shop in Upland, CA.
Online release April 11, 2011 @ Utilityboardshop.com

Vans 4Q Sk8-Mid Lmtd from Utility Board Supply on Vimeo.

Bruised Up

So it's my big birthday weekend and I've got a million and one things to do before I can head out and enjoy my weekend in Vegas. Hectic before the hectic. Met up with Richie Mulder over @ Heel Bruise to say and see what was up.
Richard is one of the skaters that I've looked up to and been a fan of since I started skating. I've followed his career and still do to this very day with (Heel Bruise). We also share the same ethnic background of being half Dutch Indonesian. All in all, Richard is an OG 100% street skater and genuinely nice guy. Let's just say that if I were to have any street skater's career, it would be this mans. Thanks for the VIP warehouse raid Richie. Keep up the awesome work.




100% MADE IN AMERRRCA.

Vans Syndicate Versa "S"

Yeah.

VERSA MID "S" / DOWNHILL THREE from Off The Wall TV on Vimeo.

VERSA MID "S" / DOWNHILL TWO from Off The Wall TV on Vimeo.

VERSA MID "S" / DOWNHILL ONE from Off The Wall TV on Vimeo.

SheepES (Sheeps)

If you're old like me and skated in the mid 90's, you'll remember Ed Templeton and Sheep shoes. Sheep was the first skate shoe company to go "green" before the whole movement of going green even occurred.


The shoes were to take on a vegan approach to production, not using animal products and having renown Huntington Beach vegan pro Ed Templeton become the head honcho. What most people don't know is that the whole "vegan" shoe movement was unintentional as Sole Tech had to make changes in the order due to the prices of the original design being too high. So instead of the the leathers and suedes they intentionally had in mind. They had to "cut down" to synthetics and put a "go green" slogan to them. It worked for a while but didn't last the test of time.

Here I'm holding a sample of an Es shoes/Sheep remix that should or shouldn't be releasing. I wonder if these were the intentional model and material? Either way, these are a really fun shoe.

Ribbit........Ribbit.........

Today was like Christmas as I opened a "product box" from Oakley. A big thank you to Justin @ Oakley for hooking it up. Call it an early birthday gift. More Frogskins!!


Polished Black Polarized. The cool guy shades. A must have in your wardrobe arsenal.


Grenade Fade/Black Iridium. I don't know what Danny Kass was thinking when he came up with this color scheme but it is sick! Not everyone can pull these off but I'm not going to front, I can pull them off. Lol! These are the 2nd Frogskins that Oakley did with Grenade.


Four Legged Frogskins. These are somewhat on the funky side with the interchangeable legs. I haven't seen these around but they are dope. This is definitely one when I'm riding my BMX.



So it seems I have a pair of glasses for every occasion (biking, snowboarding, chilling, stuntin!!) lol.

New Dunks

Seriously, these are new dunk pro sb's. Beefed up even more for skating. My favorite element of the shoe is the option to have your laced protected (no more blown out laces in 2 days). I don't remember the last time I bought dunks.
All in all, I love the neon colorways. Pictures don't do justice. These are nice.

Thank you for always hookin' it up Mr. Tet.
Who coins these dunk nick name terms, ie. "neon j-packs", "hulk" (todd Jordan hi's), etc, etc. They're not even official and I never liked the nick names but I understand that kids use the terms to identify the colorways.

Oakley HQ Day Trip

Had to take a day trip to Oakley HQ in Foothill Ranch today to meet with Oakley rep Justin and get some work done. I drove all the way from West Hollywood to pick up some new threads @ Supreme but luckily I kind of missed the traffic. I hate driving down there because all the toll roads around there are pretty confusing but I love being in the compound. It's amazing.


Just a few of the Oakleys I've obtained.

Oakley Frogskins Prescribed #2

These Matte Clear Oakley Frogskins just came in with Oakley HDO plutonite prescription lens...Cool.

Vans X Supreme Old Skool S/S 2011

My favorite shoe. Upcoming Vans Old Skool X Supreme. Releasing some time this year. Pay attention. Enough said.

Diamond Supply Co. Shoe samples

There has been talk coming from Nick Tershey via Twitter about the upcoming shoe line from Diamond Supply co. Here is a picture via Nick of a sample shoe that may or may not make it into production. A good looking shoe if I may say. Look forward to seeing the rest of the line up.

All Time Favorite Skate Shoe of All "My" Time #5

Throughout the next month I will be posting my top 5 skate shoes of "my" time. I say "my" time because these are my all time favorite skate shoe since I started skating in 1993. I really had a hard time putting them in chronological order so they will be listed in no particular order. So here is my #5 skate shoe of "ALL MY" time.

The Jason Lee Airwalk.


This was the first pro shoe that I came to know. I didn't know who Jason Lee was or have ever seen him but I noticed the older kids I started skating with wearing them. The shoe itself could be labeled as "the perfect skate shoe". All suede with cup soles. Simple. Effective. Super comfortable. This would be the dominant blue print to many skate shoe company models for the next 5 years and still exists today. Classic and timeless. Just like the man himself.



Being the personable kid I was, I got my hands on a pair and it was my second pair of skate shoes I ever had. I actually landed my first kickflip in these. Still didn't know who Jason Lee was. All I knew that he and Tony Hawk had signature shoes from Airwalk at the time so Jason Lee had to be good. lol.



I wish I still had my pair of Jason Lee Airwalks from when I first started skating but what did I know. Back then I was so eager to get on to the next shoe that when I did, I never looked back at my old pair. I really miss the one shoe at a time routine, now that I'm older I've got more shoes than I can thrash.

Kenny Anderson Converse Sig Shoe KA-ONE

Kenny Anderson's OFFICIAL signature shoe. The Cons KA-ONE. It's about time. 2 Chocolate pro's with signature Cons pro models.

Vans Mike Carroll X Supreme Retro Collabo

Yeah, you didn't know Mike Carroll skated for Vans? How about Rick Howard? Both these now Lakai co-owners once graced the stripe. In 2011, Supreme and Vans will retro the Mike Carroll signature shoe. The original version of this shoe is super rare because of Mike Carroll's brief term with Vans in which he left to join DC (AVE just did the opposite a few years back). I'm personally stoked to see its re-release and some creative genius come out of Supreme.