Archive for November, 2011
NYJAH’S TWS BUYER’S GUIDE COVER + HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Whoa. Somehow, it’s almost gnarlier in photo form. Nyjah is gracing the cover of Transworld’s 2012 Buyer’s Guide in quite impressive form. I can’t remember the last time I smithed 2.4 stairs, let alone ten times that many. If you haven’t seen Nyjah’s RISE & SHINE part yet, do yourself a favor and treat yourself with an early present. Download it HERE.
While we’re on the subject of the TWS Buyer’s Guide and gift ideas, here’s a few for your rad Dad, best bud or yourself…
As rare as skateable pole jams are, you’d be a fool not to grab one of our DROP SPOT Pole Jams. They’re strong, portable and fun as hell.
If you’re hitting the town in your ratty old skate shoes, it’s time to step up your game with Element’s Emerald Footwear collection. They’re guaranteed to stink less than your skate kicks and attract 2000% more ladies.
A Travel Well cruiser board is just the tool for a quick run to the liquor store or taco shack. If you catch an urge to shred along the way, they’re more than capable of enduring whatever you can throw at it, as proven by Tim Tim’s Berrics Bangin! clip.
Element Skatecamp Spain – 2011
The Element Skatecamp in Spain was an amazing few weeks. The camp is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountain range in a small town called Gueñes, close to Bilbao. Gueñes is a picturesque place with old country houses, open fields and spectacular views. This summer however, there were a few additions to this sleepy countryside town; a custom-build street-course, a perfect miniramp, the Element Europe team and 3 weeks of Skatecamp attendants. Judging by the faces of local-residents, this is not a regular sight!
The camp was hosted by Emilio Arnanz who, along with his team, ensured that the campers went to skate at the best parks in the North of Spain, have personal skateboard coaching and all in all have a great time. Element Advocate, writer and wildeness guide Nick Weston introduced the campers to the Elemental Awareness program which included building shelters, creating underground ovens amongst a host of other activities.
Way too much went down to write about here – so check out this video from Skatefilms.tv which follows the whole of the few weeks in Spain.
Want to attend the Element Skatecamp Spain in 2012 – Dates will be HERE soon
Element at Woodcamp, Poland
German magazine Playboard has just done a 5-page article on the Element week at the Woodcamp Skatecamp in Poland. Element sponsored one week of the skatecamp and sent out staff and team riders to be at camp, skate with campers and general ensure that everyone had an awesome time – which they did! You can read the article below
Elemental Awareness at Element Skatecamp Spain
Here’s Advocate Nick Weston presenting the Elemental Awareness wilderness program – be sure to watch it here. Thanks to Skatefilms.tv for getting the video together.
The full Element Skatecamp Spain video is coming soon!
CHANGING LIVES THROUGH SKATEBOARDING
Elemental Awareness hit the road to visit their friends on the Apache, Flathead, and Navajo reservations, where they were able to skate with the kids, and connect on a larger level…
Through the CHANGING LIVES THROUGH SKATEBOARDING program, they were able to give away more than 100 pairs of shoes, 50 skateboards and tons of other product. Needless to say, the kids were hyped and received some much needed gear.
Click here to see some photos from the tour. And for more information on Elemental Awareness and their programs, visit their site and Facebook page.
Skateboarding is embraced in Africa as a vehicle for social change.
Indigo Youth Movement employs skateboarders from Indigo Skate Camp to coach in a nearby Zulu villages. Over the past 4 weeks coaches G and T have introduced skateboarding to the remote Zulu village of Number 9. The response they have received is overwhelming as most days there are over 100 Children lining up for a go. It’s warming to see a mass of first timers embrace the enjoyment of pushing and coasting around. Andres Bignasca our Swiss volunteer expressed his amazement at the sense of community. One of his joys was his experiences in sharing. Click here to see more photos.
PIRATE’S BOOTY
Matt Ward is a behind-the-scenes super hero at Element. He’s that dude that bends over backwards for anyone, does everything for everyone, and skates like a mad man. So when the sad news came in that his car was broken into (during the video premiere of Nyjah’s video), everyone at Element banded together to help him out…
On Friday, Matt had the day off, so we sent a shoe box around the office, and everyone anonymously donated a couple bucks. The money raised was to help him and his family repair their car, but what happened next is where good turned great. The creative geniuses and illustrative icons, Todd Francis, Bryan Arii, Esther Kim, Jerimy Lumia, and Bobby Sattler decorated each and every dollar bill to turn the dead presidents into pirates. You may be asking, why pirates? Well, because Matt and his family are certifiable pirate aficionados, just take a look at this family portrait!
Nevertheless, I was blown away by the pouring in of love, then the creativity, and wanted to share it with you. That’s a couple of bucks I’d never spend, and have framed instead.
VIDEO: ELEMENT “CROSSING CANADA TOUR”
In “Crossing Canada” the Element team linked up with West49 for a series of demo’s and signings from sea to shining sea. Mark Appleyard, Nyjah Huston, Levi Brown, Nick Garcia, Julian Davidson, Evan Smith, and Boo Johnson put on a show at every stop.
Music by:
Dirty Fences
“Kilsythe Rabbit Road”
facebook.com/dirtyfences
“RISE & SHINE” NYJAH HUSTON PREMIERES AND COVERAGE
This was a week chock full of premieres, events and buzz surrounding Nyjah’s new RISE & SHINE part. We kicked off with a private screening at Element’s headquarters.
The day after the screening at our Irvine headquarters, a viewing was held at The Berrics in Los Angeles, California.
A day later, another private RISE & SHINE showing was held at Transworld‘s skatepark in Carlsbad, CA. After a heated and sweaty session, fires were re-lit after watching the vid.
The next evening, we celebrated the opening of our new Universal Citywalk store with a premiere. The crowd was massive and kids were hyped.
To correspond with the release of RISE & SHINE, Thrasher posted a Hall of Meat clip featuring one of the nastiest slams Nyjah endured during the filming for RISE & SHINE. It’s never good when you bounce on concrete. FYI: Nyjah got up and got the back smith.
Strange Notes posted a vid of Nyjah warming up at his hometown park in Costa Mesa, CA before heading out to film for RISE & SHINE. I wish I warmed up like that.
Phew. Helluva week and helluva video part. Get yours HERE. Get stoked and go get some.
LEVI BROWN: BEHIND THE COVER
Transworld posted a vid of Skin Phillips surprising Levi Brown with his cover photo. After the excitement subsides, Levi describes the trip and the photo’s back story.
