Nike x mstrpln ASRD Shoe

Today's Sneaker Freaker dropped some knowledge on the new Nike x mstrpln ASRD shoe. Interesting idea. Looks-wise, it reminds me of the old Airwalks with lace savers.

Check out the piece here:

The ASRD shoe is equipped with an integrated wireless internet detection unit embedded under the flap of the left shoe. Once the pressure sensitive insole is activated, the unit scans the surrounding area for Wi-Fi signals and displays the result through LEDs. The three LEDs on the flap enclosure represent the signal strength of any wireless internet signals within a 50 meter area. A blinking LED represents no signal, while a solid LED shows that there is a signal present.

The ASRD is based on the Nike Dunk platform and was re-engineered by mstrpln to fit the needs of this project. The aesthetics of the shoe keep in theme with a covert and stealthy feel. This is represented through the subdued all-black colourway and additional technical features, notably the shroud style lace-saver that takes design cues from the skate shoes of the late 80's. Additionally, the ASRD uses a dual-lacing system developed so that the shoe could be laced either internally with speed loops, or laced in the conventional manner. Lace locks keep everything under control.

Todd Richards Wins Ultimate Boarder Stage 1

Not a shocker that a snowboarder won the snowboard stage, a skater will probably win the skate stage, etc. It's the guy that can do one extremely solid and the other two fairly well who will probably take it, so it's still anyone's guess.

I wish the Ultimate Boarder site had more info on how people placed, but you can check the release out here.


BTW - What's up with the nose of the board on the left? Looks like someone pulled a Shaun White and broke their board in competition.

Photo courtesy of Ruben Sanchez.

Sheckler goes Mega-Ramp

Despite the massive Facebook hate for Sheckles (and even more massive Facebook love... man, I thought I needed to get a life), Ryan has now joined the group of elite skaters who can launch the Mega Ramp.

Pic courtesy of Plan B.

Vert back in the X-Games

Love it or hate it, vert is a super important part of skate. I know the field of pros and participants is small compared to street, but you can say that about other industries as well. Like biathalon and ski jump... what would the Olympics be without them?


http://www.surfexpo.com/IndustryNews/FeaturesPressReleases/tabid/106/ArticleID/497/CBModuleId/528/Default.aspx

Skate Vert Back In The X Games

ESPN has decided to continue its 13-year tradition of vert competitions at this year's X Games. Over the past month ESPN has engaged in many conversations with the X Games BMX and Skateboard vert athletes in an attempt to transition the Vert discipline into one featuring a skatepark course design. While many athletes were initially receptive to the idea, the majority of them have indicated to ESPN that they would prefer to compete on a halfpipe.

ESPN will also continue its plans to hold SuperPark as a new discipline for skateboarding and BMX at the X Games while working with the athletes to better define exactly how the SuperPark course will be designed.

"The X Games has always had a commitment to the athletes and our consistent communication with them has allowed us to collectively grow this event to where it is today," said Chris Stiepock, General Manager, X Games. "In this particular case the communication took many turns but a consensus by the athletes has emerged that has lead us to reinstate Vert as an X Games discipline this year. We will continue to work with the athletes to make the X Games relevant and successful."

Pro Skateboarder and 14-time X Games medalist, Bob Burnquist, said: "I think it's great that ESPN will continue to have a Vert contest, and I'm looking forward to working with them to make sure the vert competition at the X Games is the best that it can be."

USB Storage that's "the bomb"

Get it?

Thanks to Design Crack for the image.

Localism is lame

http://www.asrtalkingheads.com/2008/03/localism-in-cab.html?cid=108958316#comment-108958316

I have fond memories of chasing kids from Smithtown away from the Taco Bell in Commack, because those were our curbs and if you didn't wax them, you couldn't ride them. And before Vernon Valley was Mountain Creek, if I caught you hitting my little side booter that I spent 30 minutes digging, I'd steal your ankle straps when you locked up your board for lunch.

Wait... I didn't do any of that. That'd be stupid.

I understand the notion of respecting people in the water and I realize how it can be annoying and/or dangerous when inexperienced riders get in the water. However, surfers should understand the idea that they don't own the oceans and didn't build the beaches.

I know this is a very unpopular stance and I'm ok with that. Feel free to disagree and be wrong.

Sony's Crackle Site

Interesting online initiative from Sony. I find Hot Hot to be funnier than Gay Town.

From Crackle: Gaytown: Episode 1

From Crackle: Hot Hot Los Angeles: Episode 2

Skateboarding is good for your health

Good news! Skateboarding is actually a healthy activity.

Check out the latest from ESPN Magazine.

Nike Gives a Cease and Desist to Mike 23

Saw this article on Murketing and I'm pretty bummed. Nike just handed a C&D to the owner of Mike 23.

http://www.murketing.com/journal/?p=1102#comment-6519

Interesting stance for a brand that didn't seem to mind piggy-backing off the guys in Minor Threat. If you don't know what I'm talking about, read it here: http://www.boingboing.net/2005/06/29/minor-threat-vs-nike.html

Outside District Bag

I don't find myself easily swayed to buy something based on a product review, but Outside's Steve Rubin got me with this one.

I ordered the Dakine District Bag in black a few months ago. I needed a bag for client meetings that worked for my many different types of clients. It had to be profesional enough for the corporate guys and cool enough for meetings with "cool guys" that didn't know how incredibly cool I am in advance.

Super light weigh, tons of organizer pockets and internal, separate laptop sleeve area. This is the bag for meetings that you show in front of the suits and the shreds.

Keep in mind though, it's a bag for work only. Not for your dop kit or gym clothes. Laptop, accessories, sunglasses, one-two folders, plane tickets, that's it.

My only gripe is that the laptop sleeve is too short for my MacBook Pro. that is a problem easily fixed, by putting the pro in the folder area and folders in the area the pro goes into.

I back this bag 100 percent. Mac products... that's another stoy.

Image courtesy of Outside.

Zoo York Does Rehab

Big LE product drop from Zoo and Def Jam for the new Ghost Face Killah album.

Only 500 of these shirts and decks will be made available as a promotion for GF's new album.

Rome SDS is on fire

The guys @ Sno Con posted this image of an unnamed Rome shred flexing over a fire pit at the World Quarters.

See kids, you don't have to go big or go first to have fun on snow.
Thanks to Sno Con for the image.


Disclosure: I've done business in the past with Rome and most likely will in the future.

Nixon x Jenna Jameson

Looks like Jenna is rolling with the Nixon crew now.



I won't make any disparaging remarks because Tino Ortiz can wreck me just by thinking about wrecking me. I'm not strong.

Thanks to The Bachelor Guy for hooking me up with this video from Shred or Die.

UGP Brings the Doyle II Shoe to Wake

Do you know Underground Products? UGP has been on the cusp for more than a decade now, making things happen in the BMX and more recently, wake scenes. Plus, they're East Coast based, so I love them.

Here's their new wake skate shoe, the Doyle II.

According to the UGP site, it has a neoprene liner with Velcro pulls to keep everything tight as you're kickflipping the local dock at the lake. Will Velcro help? I have no idea... I can't wake skate, but if I could, I'd do it in these.

Pic courtesy of the UGP.

Crocs Cell Phone Case

The joy of working within many industries is you come across gems such as these:


I wonder if your phone-Crocs can suffer the same fate as Crocs on escalators?

Thanks to SlashPhone for the pics.