Category: SHRED

Makaha Bowl Jam And Food Drive 2015: The Real Venice Rec League

Danny Baraz January 6, 2016

It’s Saturday morning in Venice California and while there may be some AYSO volunteer somewhere painting lines on some patch of grass, the real Venice rec. league is gathering at the skate park for one of the annual events that brings the neighborhood together. Generations of families gathered at the edges of the bowls and along the edges of the snake run to both reminisce and to take a look to the future. Skateboarding has replaced Little League and flag football in this town and neighboring communities. The high water mark skateboarding first left in this city decades ago is still visible. It is wrapped up in the very identity of Venice. Skateboarding will also make sure that the less fortunate become a little MORE fortunate this holiday season. It’s time for another Makaha Bowl Jam and Food Drive, the annual event that helps feed the homeless and identify the next generation of skateboarding stars that have been brought up on Hinano Burgers. To the casual observer, The Makaha Bowl Jam might be just a little neighborhood skate contest of little consequence. What it actually is, is decades of storylines developing into countless new chapters. This once blue collar community,

Shredtopia Fest and Contest Invades the Santa Monica Pier

Danny Baraz December 10, 2015

This past Saturday, The Shredtopia Music Festival and Skate Contest came to the Santa Monica Pier and low key, was one of the funnest skate contests I’ve been to in a long time. Was it because the contestants were 90% comprised of the skaters I see daily at the Venice Skatepark or was it because of the 10% of skaters that came to test them on their home field? With little promotion and the El Gato Competition happening concurrently in Palm Springs, the turn out for Shredtopia was light but the times were good and that made for an intimate but competitive event fought amongst friends. Bands were playing throughout the competition and in particular, Meet Me at The Pub set a high energy soundtrack to a number of the heats and Tony Alva’s band, “His Eyes Have Fangs” switched the vibe up nicely for the final round. I was a bit disappointed that TA’s other band, GFP wasn’t playing Shredtopia. Given the nature of the event, GFP might’ve been more apropos but His Eyes Have Fangs have a pretty cool sound too. There was no shortage of controversy, though. Between some of the names left off the finals roster

Cosmic Creek Surf Contest and Music Fest in Dana Point

Brent Smith June 3, 2015

Akaw! What’s probably the hippest and most utopic small-town-beach-party in the entire universe was held last weekend at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. What’s always been known as a feel-good, retro-style surf contest among locals and pros, Cosmic Creek has emerged from a new metamorphosis in its 14th year. Cosmic Creek seemed to have been a long-time Billabong event, sponsored by Subaru, with all the airs and frenetic energy of an up-and-coming, bona-fide surf tournament, culminating with drum circles on the grass and Donavon Frankenrieter playing live tunes. But this year, the event underwent a radical and aesthetic rebranding, now presented by Vissla, and sponsored by D’Blanc and What Youth. The new partnerships, though, didn’t make way for some more ramped-up spectacle. On the contrary, it seems to have receded back to its grassroots. Admittedly, I had never heard of Cosmic Creek—that is (thanks to my Instagram feed) until the night before it was about to go off. That day, fortuitously, I had received my DVD copy of North Shore (1987) in the mail. For some reason I had been itching to watch it, and, as it turns out, it’s so cool that not even the Internet has it. I

Air + Style Saved by Hard Rain Washing Away the Crowds

Danny Baraz February 24, 2015

Air + Style, the Austrian based travelling snowboard and ski competition/ music festival made it’s first ever stop stateside at The Rose Bowl in Los Angeles this past weekend. The event came off like a karmic disaster for event organizers and attendees alike. Maybe it was the $6 bottles of water or $10 cups of Pabst Blue Ribbon which angered the festival gods enough to have Saturday nights’ headliner, Kendrick Lamar storm off half an hour before the scheduled end of his set, furious over the fact that the festival grade sound system sounded no louder than a car with a booming sound system that had it’s windows rolled up. Or maybe it was Saturday’s hour-long wait to get food, beverage or bladder relief that caused the sky to open up with a torrential downpour on Sunday’s audience of only a couple thousand people. Even though the table was set for Air + Style to be a one of a kind type of event that could thrill and entertain all ages of snow-sport and music enthusiasts, a few logistical and pricing mistakes made Air + Style a dud for everyone involved, including it’s majority owner, Shaun White. The biggest mistake

Vissla premiers Palmera Express surf flick in Culver City

Danny Baraz February 21, 2015

Ahh there is nothing quite like an industry party; the drinks are free, morals are low, and there is entertainment for all! The weekend has finally landed last night at the Byrd’s Nest in Culver City. Vissla, a recently launched surf brand via action sports conglomerate Stokehouse Unlimited, premiered their newest film offering, Palmera Express. Directed by Eddie Obrand, Palmera Express is surf film shot on location in Mexico, Hawaii, Indonesia, and other tropical locales. Also billed for the evening was an open bar courtesy of House Beer and Jose Cuervo, with live music from Laguna Beach transplants, Mr. Elevator & the Brain Hotel, and records spun by Reverberation Radio. The vibes were high, the flannel was staggering, and the drinks flowed like they weren’t tacked to the consequences that were sure to come. Arriving punctually around 8 PM, there was already a strong air of drunken chatter and cigarette smoke. Per usual, I darted straight to the bar where I quickly sunk a jalapeño margarita and shoved some beers in my girlfriend’s purse. I may be coming across as an alcoholic, but when the demographic can surely drink enough to sink a pirate’s ship, you need to get your

Makaha Bowl Jam and Food Drive 2014: Charging hard at Venice Skatepark

Danny Baraz January 4, 2015

Janky Smooth was proud to sponsor this year’s annual Makaha/Vans Bowl Jam and Food Drive at the Venice Skatepark. There is nothing like the community spirit that is displayed in Venice whenever surfing, skating and outreach are involved. The last time the neighborhood got together was for the Jay Adams Memorial which assembled all the the original, remaining Z-Boys and the next event on the schedule is National Go Skateboarding Day, scheduled for Jun 21st 2015. This years Makaha Bowl Jam was originally scheduled to take place before Xmas on December 13th to get hungry folks a helping hand before the holiday. The event had to be rescheduled for Sunday, Dec 28th due to wet concrete in the bowls which is common this time of year. Unfortunately, there are hungry people all year round so feeding them is just as important before and after the holidays. You can donate, year round at the Makaha Skateboards website. The day started at 9am with the 10 and under division. The groms charged right out of the gate and shit didn’t stop until sunset when the 16 and older heads broke off stylish, clean lines throughout the snake run and the minibowl. The

Janky Smooth Proud to be a Sponsor of Makaha Bowl Jam and Food Drive ’14

Danny Baraz December 18, 2014

In 1963, Skateboarding Hall of Famer and Innovator, Larry Stevenson, held the first ever Skateboarding Contest/Food Drive. Last year, in celebration of the 50th anniversary, Makaha Skateboards, along with other legends of skate from the 60’s and 70’s celebrated the 50 year anniversary with the Makaha Bowl Jam and Food Drive ’13. The 2nd annual Makaha Bowl Jam and Food Drive will take place On Sunday, December 28th 2014 at the world famous Venice Beach Skatepark. The event will be hosted by legendary skater, Dave Duncan, voice of World Cup Skateboarding. The day will also feature an all day snake run/mini bowl contest along with Food Trucks, Live Music, Food Collections and extreme Pro-Am Skaterboarders. This event is in association with the Westside Food Bank and 100% of profits go to feeding those in need this Holiday Season. All donations are much appreciated and valued and you can donate, check contest rules and sign up here. Skaters Sign-ups for Makaha Bowl Jam 2014: $10 Entry Fee + 2 Cans of Food – Registration Open Now – See full Contest Rules for details – Sign Up Now! There will be two categories- 15 and under and 16 and over.

Vans Vans World Cup 2014 Winner- Michel Bourez

Vans World Cup of Surfing 2014: If in doubt, don’t go out!

Danny Baraz December 8, 2014

There’s nothing like the Van’s Triple Crown on Hawaii’s North Shore to kick off the winter holidays. The air is clean and the sun is shining. The rain makes an appearance for ten minutes every few hours only to cool you off and then the sun comes shinning through the magical clouds with a rainbow to follow. The Vans Triple Crown bleachers are up at Sunset Beach and there’s an energy that moves through the entire North Shore. There’s a two week holding period and the four best surf days is when they call the contest to be ON. This year week one had only one ON day while the rest of the week was OFF to due mediocre surf. Week two is where the bulk of the Vans World Cup of Surfing 2014 contest shaped with Round 2, 3, and 4.. Round 2 and Round 3 had average (Hawaiian) surf while all the invitees surfed their best possible skill set. These are no ordinary athletes. To surf Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu, you have to be one of the best. Not necessarily someone who competes but someone who understands the ocean and it’s heartbeat and when