Let me taste your cake...

I still have not yet found the words to fully describe my experience at Maryhill 2011 but this video is pretty spot on. Well besides the stuff that we don't want cameras and sponsors seeing. Not me though..I'm a saint.

Maryhill 2011 - official video from Yvon Labarthe on Vimeo.
If you're paying attention to the girl interviewing the homie from Laguna Beach at the end you'll notice a red blob in the background. Yeah, that's me. I'm going to be sooooo famous! *Shout out to Tully!*

I've been collecting photos from the Concrete Kings Mini-Bomb and am almost done with my write-up. Stay tuned for that. This is a super busy time for the skate world but I'm doing my best to manage my time between sitting behind a computer and skating. The skating is winning of course but I know that's what you expect. I am currently trying to decide where I'll spend my weekend. There is this 5k race..

And this

The LOOSEWORLD Pool Party: July 16, 2011 from LOOSEWORLD on Vimeo.

Or I could stay in NYC and film with German TV/Radio broadcaster ARD at Bustin's Longboard Loft. It's a hard decision for me choosing between events that are going to be tons of fun and something that could mean quite a bit of exposure.I would only have to be there for 30 minutes and someone else could definitely do it but I'd like to benefit off the work I put in AND I love the camera. Saying that it looks like I have already chosen my fate. I haven't gotten this far without making some sacrifices...Not many though..that's not my style. Seriously why the hell would I want cake if I couldn't eat it? And I love cake...hello ladies. Stay Skatin'

Bomb on Broadway Coming Soon!

Just a teaser for the Mini-Bomb race I organized with the help from all of you this weekend. Waiting on some more media and I'll be back with a detailed update. Much thanks to all involved! Also..mark your calendars!!! The Broadway Bomb 2011 is October 8!!!!!!! Stay Skatin'.

1st. Kiefer Dixon(Bustin) 3rd. Theseus Williams(RatRod) 2nd. Evan Armbrister(RatRod)

The White Knight

                                               Best Trick Contest at Open Road Skate Park

Just the Tip...I promise

I'm back. Apologies for the delay in between posts. Two Sundays ago I was heading out to chase one of the most amazing highs I have experienced in my life. It has taken me this time to get this blog to you but there was so much I wanted to say..too much for you to read or me to type.

Even with doing this video there is still a lot that I didn't get to mention. Like running up mountain paths and chasing waterfalls on the way to Maryhill. Or having such a tailwind you speed up when you stood instead of slowing down. That was my "oh shit" moment of the week. How about the huge wrestling tournament in front of the Bustin tents until well past 2AM? Where else was all the testosterone being pent up going to go? The local townies came over to join in, let's just say it was more fun for us than them. Hmmm. I found my first use for gnarly, someone called one particular run gnarly and it finally clicked. However, I will still only be using the word to refer to that moment. Maybe. Not. 

I mentioned a few firsts for me as well. What didn't get mentioned was my first case of sunburn and application of sunscreen, Dallas taught me how to get my back. Sara also spent a lot of time talking about "Just the Tip" and proclaiming her "Swag". I could go on and on about the level of epic achieved but I'll end it with the story of how I got my gnarly Maryhill scar. I collided with a tree...while walking. Swag.

 Thanks to Bustin, Hillside Gear and all the lurkers (another word I picked up) at Maryhill for blessing me with such memorable experiences. For info on actual race standings check out the crew at Push Culture News.

So I know the quality of this video sucks salty ones and that I'm not looking at the camera. I'll have better vids from now on, I just wanted to hurry and get this to you. As far as looking at the camera, there was so much going on around me and Max probably had your attention anyway.

It's good to be back and I'm super stoked about continuing this new discipline. This Saturday July 16th the Concrete Kings will be hosting our second annual Mini-Bomb. The race starts at 116th and Broadway at Noon and finishes at Union Square. We will then head to the Open Road park at 11th St and Avenue A for grilling, other contests and awards. On Sunday there is a quarter-mile sprint race hosted by Fabrika Pro. However...I am hoping to make it to Pennsylvania for a downhill race with speeds between 50 and 60mph. This is just the tip of what is to come...I promise.

Stay Skatin'!

I believe I can fly..

Do you want to go fast? I do! No celebrities or news of me trying to go Hollywood on you this week. (Not that that isn't still part of my plan...I love wearing my shades at night, usually out of necessity.) Nope, this week I am actually going to focus on what most of you know me for..skating. In a few hours I will be flying to the other end of the country for what I'm expecting to be one of the most intense and enjoyable experiences of my life, Maryhill Festival of Speed. This technically won't be the first downhill event I've competed in but Major Stokem was "just the tip" compared to this coming weeks events. That's my favorite game by the way...

I have to admit that I'm just a bit nervous and not because of the speed, though I won't be totally confident with that until I get my first run of the hill in. To be honest what I'm really nervous about is not performing at the level I believe myself to be capable of. It took a lot for me to say that but I have to give you the truth here. I know my city and the rest of our worldwide Bustin family has my back but I also know I have my haters(undercover admirers) who laugh at the thought of the self-proclaimed "king" competing at anything other than endurance push races.  I want to succeed for them, for you, for me. Hopefully this will encourage more people from the Beast Coast and more specifically from the NYC area to try their hand at downhill competition. If I can do it then you definitely can! And don't worry about the haters getting in my head too much...they're to busy getting on it.

I have quite a bit more I would like to say but blog etiquette dictates that I not give you too much to read and I have a bit of packing to finish and I would like to get a few hours of rest. To everyone that has encouraged me in this new endeavor...Thanks a million. To our Bustin staff much thanks for allowing me the opportunity to go represent us. I bleed Bustin. If you would like to keep tabs of what's going on follow me @stayskatin and/or @bustinboards on twitter. Maryhill here I come!

Stay Skatin'!

Mingling with the stars!

Happy Father's Day. To my dad...thanks for everything. I didn't grow up with you around much but it was enough. You put me in the right situation that has led to me becoming the man I am today. Also much thanks to Magnum XL for ensuring that today is not my holiday.

Another week of me on my acting grind. My dopest gig this week was playing background for Men in Black 3. I didn't get cast as a skater but guess who'll you'll find skating behind Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as they converse in Battery Park in the last scenes of the movie? Yezzir! I'm taking my venture into acting seriously so I was real cool on set even though I was close enough to reach out and punch the Fresh Prince at times. I wouldn't punch him...just putting it in perspective. The tourists hanging in the park didn't have any reason not to scream out for his attention and some were even rewarded for their efforts.

While we are on the subject of celebrities I want you to check this shot out...

That's Spike Lee and his family...with his son rockin' the Bustin Longboards Maestro. Jackson Lee has been one of the regular groms at our Bustin Brooklyn shop and more recently at our Longboard Loft location in Manhattan. I just found out he was Spike Lee's son when another friend of mine sent me a message from the airport saying he had run into Spike and his son who was carrying his longboard with him. Apparently I am a role model and they were stoked about the connection. That's NYC for you.

My last photo and my favorite of the week. That's Brooklyn and she is awesome! Thanks for the photo David. And no I am not the daddy! I prefer practicing how to get one rather than having to constantly change diapers.

Stay Skatin'

I know you like my style!!

Welcome to the inaugural edition of my blog. I have been meaning to do this for quite some time now but I have been just a bit too complacent with the progression of things in my life. Don't get it twisted, I am definitely on my hustle but haven't been thinking big enough and fear of failure has had me immobilized for some time now. Time to break the chains and this is as good a point as any to start. I am going to skip the "let's get to know me" introduction and go straight to letting you get to know me. I'll say right now my thoughts and viewpoints here are my thoughts and should not be taken as coming from Bustin Boards. If you don't like what I say and feel the need to bash someone feel free to bash me. I just had titanium skin implants so it won't bother me much. I would compare it to be tickled, it's amusing and sometimes annoying but always harmless.

Now to what I've been up to lately. I have always been fascinated and drawn to the craft of acting. When I look at movies and shows I am more wondering what the actor is thinking or why that scene was included rather than what is actually going on in the film. I usually have the movie or show figured out well before the end anyway. So with my work schedule allowing me lots of free time while living this dream I figure I would use this time to follow my dreams. Following this path I was cast on two HBO shows this past week as an extra, "How to make it in America" and a new series called "Girls". Both gigs happened to be party scenes and I have enjoyed every minute of it! On the first show I ran into Adam Crigler's old roommate Will Tully and it was no surprise he had a board with him, Bustin of course. Connecting with Tully was the best thing that could have happened for us, we both kept ourselves and others entertained. The highlight of the first show for me was is between a scene joking with Kid Cudi and having him pass us his joint...which turned out to be fake. I left that show around 7 in the morning and skated the Williamsburg Bridge home for literally a couple hours of sleep. I woke tired but excited for the Central Park Race and somehow managed to place fourth before being burned out for the rest of the weekend. Good times.

On Tuesday I started shooting this other show which involved a Brooklyn hipster party scene. Wow! Take all the "crazy" types that you see on the streets of NYC and put them in a concentrated area and you have one hell of a party. The party scene was fake but the fun was real, especially off set. What was made even more clearly apparent was that all the people we generally call crazy, weird, flashy or even cocky are the "real" people. I met so many people that were awesomely talented and different  but above all that they were super comfortable with being themselves. It has been inspiring. And then there's the whole sex crazed young and having fun aspect...that has been a lot of fun to watch. Beautiful women with minimal clothing and a surplus of guys more than willing to chase after them. Of course I enjoy the scenery but I like to think if she wants it she'll let me know. And if she doesn't have the balls to be real about that then she definitely isn't getting mine. Ha! Seriously though I'm having lots of fun. I spend most of my time skating and giving lessons and I'm getting payed for it. I was cast as a skater and spend my time on and off camera exactly how I do every other day, sweaty and topless. What a life! Now many of these "hipsters" are excited about skating! And based on me asking the same questions of quite a few of these guys I have decided to take a few classes, mostly on acting technique. I've gotten some good reviews of HB Studios, let's see how this turns out. Stoked!

Enough talking! Here are a few pictures I've snapped from my phone. My life. Your entertainment.

Oh!!! I almost forgot to add this last video. The lady in this video was one of my favorite talents and all the hooping she has done has given her an amazing body(come on, it's me here, you know I had to throw that in). She and other hoopers on set made the sport look effortless. Many sat around and was mesmerized by their grace and flow. I have already watched this multiple times myself and am hoping she will trade hula lessons for skate lessons from me. Jami you are awesome!

Stay Skatin'!