If you’re from Louisiana, you have to know about the wall in Baton Rouge (or the Bank One walls to be more accurate). These brick transitions are legendary… I know I’ve personally skated them for well over a decade and a half, but some of us are a little worried that the days that the walls remain skateable could be limited… although the walls themselves are still very ridable, it seems the bank has torn down the planters that surround them, and are doing some sort of construction work. We’re hoping that the transitions we all know and love remain intact, but we can’t be too sure… so to be safe, we’re giving you a homework assignment. For this assignment, you need two things:
1. A camera.
2. A board.

We want to create a compilation video of any and everyone skating the hell out of the wall… so send us whatever you can! We can take mni DV, 8mm, VHS, DVD, AVI, MPG, QuickTime, MP4, etc etc… just SEND US YOUR TRICKS!!!
If you have some footage on tape, bring it to the shop (or mail it to Small Time Skates: 108 N. Oak St, Hammond, LA, 70401), or email me your footage at “vectornerd “at” gmail dot com. We basically want to compile the definitive tribute to one of the most unique skate obstacles in Louisiana, and we want you to be a part of it. If you have any questions, feel free to call the shop at 985.345.8504.

w00t

I recently got an email from our friend Jason at the Skate Spot… they’re going to be having a contest with a very unique format… this won’t be your regular “one dude rolls around aimlessly because of stagefright” kind of event… if you’ve never entered a contest before, get a couple of your friends together and consider entering this one… it’ll feel more like skating with your homies than entering a comp (which can mess with some people’s nerves). Here’s what Jason had to say:

The contest will have several divisions for all skill levels with unique formats. Beginner is a three trick format. Each contestant has two runs to land three tricks in a line. If they fall at any point before the third trick is landed the run doesn’t count. Intermediate fourteen and under, Intermediate 15 and up and advanced will all have the following format. Three person groups skating two runs together and judged cohesively. Skaters will have to pick who they want to skate with before the event and skate together.
Hopefully this format will encourage skaters who wouldn’t ordinarily enter a contest to skate with friends and enter.

Here’s the official flyer:

…put your answer in the comments.

Skaters unite! Kerry and I are going to make concerted efforts to make this one… on June 5th, Picayune will have a city council meeting that will cover the possibility of the construction of a skatepark. We don’t have the exact meeting time yet, but I’ll post that as soon as I get it.

In other news, St. Charles Parish has a skatepark under consideration. We’re doing our best to help educate the powers-that-be there, and at this point, they seem responsive. Keep your fingers crossed.

Also in skatepark news, Mandeville is entertaining the notion of a new skatepark as well… however, if the rumors I’ve been hearing are true, they’re going out of their way to do everything wrong. Again, what I’ve heard are rumors, but they’ve come from some very credible sources. Hopefully today we’ll be in contact with some park officials to separate fact from fiction and give you a fact-based account on what’s really going on.

Last bit: rumors have been circulating that Zachary has a skatepark… this is not the case. I have been informed that Zachary will recieve some pre-fab ARC ramps (yuck), but I have no word as to when those ramps will be installed.

To any government officials reading this… PLEASE STOP USING ARC RAMPS. They’re overpriced, poorly designed, and they’re very hard to repair. I know this first hand, as I’ve watch Baton Rouge’s Velodrome park degrade over the years. You’d be much better off contracting with local ramp-building skateboarders… you’d save a LOT of money, and the result would leave you with a skatepark that your local skate community can really appreciate. C’mon now! If you’re a local government employee who has the job of representing a local population, then it’s your job to meet those interests after being educated about the activity of skateboarding. STOP BEING LAZY.

I needed to post something, so how about a great clip of the Combi?

A hat tip to all of the skate moms out there… most of us reading this had one, and we appreciate you for everything you do!

The shop has a friend in Picayune named Tristen who’s been fighting for a skatepark… he sent us this letter to announce an upcoming meeting, if you can attend, PLEASE DO:

The goal of this project is to build a good concrete skatepark in the Picayune area. Building a skatepark in our community can have great effects on the local youth: It gives them a safe environment to skate in and helps keep them off the streets. We build basketball courts, baseball, and soccer fields for our youth; why not build a skatepark as an alternative to traditional sports? Not all youth are interested in these sports.

In 2002, there were about 16 million skateboarders and an estimated 400 public skateparks in the United States. That number is up from 11.5 million skateboarders in 2000. Incidentally, in 2000, there were only 9 million Little League baseball players in the U.S., yet most cities with multiple baseball fields had yet to build skateparks. (© TransWorld Media 2001.)

Local youth should have the option to participate in whatever sport they choose and be provided with a safe environment to do so. Skateparks are being built worldwide to accommodate the needs of the local skateboarders. A skatepark in our area can draw people to the city, allowing for them to use our shops and restaurants; therefore, more money would be brought into the area. Cities have put money aside little by little in some areas to help pay for their local parks. Local youth can hold car washes and fundraisers for money needed for the park. Police can drive by and check on the parks regularly to help maintain adult supervision. Vandalism of the park will not be tolerated; have the same consequences as for any other public recreation area. Drugs will not be tolerated and will be dealt with as in any other circumstances.

City Council meeting is on Tuesday May 15th 6:00p.m. City Hall – 815 N. Beech Street in council chambers. Please come and support the local youth.

We got a note from a skate mom out of Houma about her son’s impending trial… if you live in the area (or can get out there), try to show some support for a fellow skate rat:

Trial Weds. May 16th—–> PLEASE Come Show Support!!!!
Body: If you would like to help show support PLEASE attend the trial May 16th at 9am. If you can, Write to or call Our DA’s or Sheriff’s Office to show support!

My son’s TRIAL is May 16th. For skateboarding in my driveway and in front of our home on Alma St. After 21 citations, all but the most recent were thrown out due to being written incorrectly and for a crime that does not exist. I was told it was the people in the neighborhood that were complaining and calling the police for my son playing and skateboarding. So the Sheriff’s Office will keep writing citation’s until ” I keep my kid inside”! My son is not allowed to leave the front of our home so where should he play? I’ve talked to Joe Waitz, Jerry Larpenter ,and Huey Usie they say pretty much the same thing, “Keep Him inside” In order to keep the people in the neighborhood happy. Well, The people in the neighborhood DO NOT seem to exist now, Since the only “WITNESS’ that will be testifying against my son will be the deputies that wrote the citation’s. The same deputy that said “my son was to big to be skateboarding”. If the police were called then how were they an eye witness to anything? Now, is this harassment ? I’ve had to hire an attorney, They are going to try to give Nikki thirty days in jail because I won’t make him stay inside… I’ll do what I have to, to keep that from happening. We need as much support poss. If you can attend the trial to HELP support Nikki we would greatly appreciate it! The Media will be attending and covering the trial as well. Please repost this….
Thank you everyone for your response and support. Email me if you have any questions or just want to show support.

Always
Shari

Our friend Oby sent us the flyer below:

If you’re in or around Arkansas, show some love… bring some love and help keep a good thing going.