Click the flier to visit the MySpace page of Y.O.U.R.S., who are promoting the construction of a skatepark in the Gonzales area. Of all the cities I know of, Gonzales skaters need something now.

We’ll be getting more details soon, but for now we know that there will be plenty of music, as well as some ramps and rails for everyone to skate. We’ll keep everyone up to date, maybe we can carpool some Hammond (and nearby) locals since we can explain the benefits of a really good public skatepark. Let’s do our part and support our fellow skaters.

I mentioned this before, but now it’s time to unleash the news… a bunch of major companies that are truly down recently sent in a more gear than you can imagine, all in an effort to raise money for the Big Mike fund. We’ll eventually do some auctions on eBay, but first, we’re keeping it local (local to everyone in driving distance at least, hehe).

This may be the biggest bunch of loot I’ll have ever heard of anyone getting… this really is a lot of stuff.

I’m going to show you some photos, then I’m going to give you a list of everything you stand a chance of winning.

First thing though, here’s the details:
One raffle ticket is $5. Yes, that five bucks burning a hole in your pocket can win you all of the stuff below. The raffle officially starts tomorrow night (Friday, January 25th). You have exactly two weeks from then to take a shot at getting every single thing. Two weeks from tomorrow (as I write this), we’ll announce the winner to the world. Raffle tickets are at the Hammond shop… walk in, buy one, and wait. If you don’t win, you’ll still have contributed the memory of a friend of all skateboarders. Ok, like I said… here are the photos, and below that is a list of everything you can win (for five stupid bucks):

There’s more…

Wait… not done yet…

Allrighty then, here’s what you’re looking at:

Three Flip decks.
One autographed Jamie Thomas deck.
One True Love deck.
One Habitat deck.
One autographed Almost Cooper Wilt deck.
A Listen DVD, a Habitat DVD, an Element DVD, and Berry “Atmosphere,” also on DVD.
One set of 51mm and a set of 53mm Zero wheels.
Three DC beanies, plus two DC New Era hats.
One Habitat hat.
One Zero T…
Two Enjoi T’s…
and Three DC T’s.

All of this for five bucks… possibly.

Thanks to all of the companies that you see above, though we have more thanks coming up.

Anyway, just remember… five microscopic dollars. Either way, you’re showing love to Big Mike, and you have a chance at getting something for yourself.

You have two weeks. Enter as many times as you’d like.

Revolution Mother will be playing at the House of Blues tomorrow night… the opening band starts at 6:30 pm. I’ll personally be there to celebrate my birthday (that midnight) and to give some love out to Mike V for helping us put Hammond on the map. I hope to see all of the homies there… it’s an all ages show, so you don’t have to be a geezer to get in. Come do this.

We got word that the Big Mike deck should be available next week! We’ll let everyone know when they come in by alerting you here, and via MySpace. Keep a lookout for all of our bulletins… if you don’t read them you might be missing something important.

Much love to everyone that’s shown love to Mike. It’s really been coming in from everywhere… it really restores not only my faith in humanity, but the fact that all of us that skate are family. Remember that and live it.

The new Deluxe Distribution Spring ‘08 catalog is online… click on the “REAL” logo and go through a few pages… the Big Mike deck is in full effect!

Also, we’re about to set up the biggest skate-product raffle you’ve ever seen. Companies from all over have donated more gear than you’d believe in order to help us raise money for the Big Mike fund. You seriously won’t believe the overwhelming flood of product that was sent for the sole purpose of helping out the family of a fallen brother.

We’ll be setting up raffles in the shop itself, as well as create some f’ing insane packages for Ebay. I’ll be sharing full details on those packages as soon as my homie Kerry sends me the photos he took… whoever wins the raffle or Ebay auctions will be coming out a winner in a couple of ways… for one, they’ll be walking away with a ton of loot, and for two, they’ll be chipping in to help out people that are part of our big skate family.

Skateboarders are family. If you know it, don’t forget it. If you didn’t know it, now you do. If we don’t have each other’s backs, no one will.

I can’t help but be stoked on the Small Times’ heads that not only showed up, but kicked a little ass at the Jam this year! Props to Jordan, Gnarly Trey, Thomas, Ernie, Joe (STS w00t w00t!), and more props to The Skate Spot for having the Gumbo Bowl Jam, as well as all of the skaters from everywhere that got together and made it happen. When it comes to contests, getting a big random crew of skaters from all over together is the most important thing… sort of like family reunions, you know?

Credits on the sick footy go out to McNeil Imaging. Good stuff.

Every time I have a birthday coming up, I feel an urge to share my perspective on skateboarding to younger skaters… I can’t relate to my teenage (and younger) friends about much these days, but we can all relate to skateboarding. Below is a copy of a message that I wrote to some online skaters I know, most of which are half my age and weren’t even born when I started skating roughly 22 years ago:

Enjoy skating at the level that you’re at and don’t let tricks frustrate you. I promise that you will progress naturally as long as you stay on board and skate whenever you can. Don’t ever compare your skating to anyone else’s, because all that matters is that you enjoy being on your board. Push yourself when you feel like it. There are all kinds of ways to manipulate a skateboard on just about every kind of terrain… consider skateboarding an exploration rather than a challenge you feel that you’re required to meet. If someone tells you you suck at skating, tell them to ‘eff off and continue enjoying your board. The relationship you have with skating can last your entire life as long as you keep up your end. Skateboards aren’t to be stared at, they’re to be skated on. Just keep that in the back of your mind and be part of the next generation of older skateboarders.

I get some surprised looks when people find out that I’m an active skateboarder at nearly 33 years of age… but what else am I supposed to be doing? Drinking beer and watching the game? That’s fine and all, but if I can skate, why shouldn’t I?

Anyway, that’s it… just keep with it and skate for yourself.

Because articles bump older content from the main page, I wanted to make sure we had one page that was permanent and set aside to honor our friend Big Mike.

Keep this page in your bookmarks, and share it with friends.

Peace.

…a good year to skate. Happy New Year, folks.