Shoes are the foundation of your wardrobe, however, when it comes to skateboarding they are also the foundation of your stability. If you put the wrong shoes on your feet you can end up with sore arches and ankles, or worse yet sprained or strained muscles in your legs. If you are looking for a great pair of skateboarding shoes then try on the Vans Caballero.

Vans Caballero - The Basics
Vans Caballero are a mid rise shoe that offers an extra comfortable and supportive fit. They retail for about $64.00 and offer a medium width. They come in women's sizes 5-11, including half sizes, and men's sizes 3.5-13, including half sizes.

There are three styles that you can choose between. The most classic style is the black and white option. For a slight variation on this style you can also select the charcoal and white option. Finally, there is a more colorful option that offers a shoe design in black, white and ultra violet. All three styles come with the signature Steve Cabellero logo, which commemorates his 20th anniversary as a skateboarder.

The shoe itself has a suede or a leather upper and a cotton lining. They weigh in at an average of 20 ounces, however, this will vary depending on the size that you order.

Steve Cabellero
The Vans Caballero is a shoe that was designed to honor skateboarder Steve Cabellero. He's been grinding and tricking out since the late 1970s. Today he is known for his ramp work, however, he also has a history of being a top pool and vert trickster. Currently his favorite trick is done on a mini-ramp and it involves going from an Ollie to a k-grind to a Fakie stance. He also likes to do flip tricks while street boarding.

Cabellero is a family man with a great wife and a new baby. He is a San Jose native and he still lives in the American Southwest. When he is not skateboarding or promoting his career, he still jams with a variety of garage bands.

If you are a fan of Steve Cabellero, or if you just need a great pair of shoes, then try on the Vans Cabellero.

What does Chaz Ortiz have in common with Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter and Dwyane Wade? They're all ad pitchmen for Gatorade. Except, skateboarder Chaz Ortiz might better described as a pitchkid rather than a pitchman. He turns 15 years old until May 4, and yet he's already a veteran pro.

Chaz Ortiz doesn't come from one of those sunny skateboarding havens in southern California or in Florida. He hails from Chicago, where people know "the Hawk" not as Tony Hawk, but as the bitter winter wind that screeches from Lake Michigan. This means the weather often is not suited to skating, but that hasn't stopped Chaz.

When he was 6-years-old, Chaz Ortiz begged his father for a skateboard. It was a classic case of ask and you shall receive. And with his birthday in early May, Chaz had an entire Windy City skate season ahead of him. Chaz Ortiz immediately started practicing tricks, day and night, and he got better and better. Two summers ago, he competed on the Free Flow Tour, which is the premier amateur tour. He not only dazzled the crowds and the judges, but he actually won the season championship at the age of 13.

In June 2008, Chaz's first pro contest was the AST Dew Tour's Panasonic Open in Baltimore.
He placed third behind superstars Ryan Shecker and Paul Rodriquez. In September, he captured the Toyota Challenge in Salt Lake City in front of 26,000 fans and he went on to capture the season championship.

Despite his youth, Chaz is known for riding in a smooth style that goes beyond his years. Ryan Sheckler commented, "He deserves everything he has coming to him. I think that Chaz has the potential to be the next 'it' skater. He has the attitude of a champion, he skates like a champion; he skates like he wants to learn how to do everything that's going on in the skateboard world."

Chaz Ortiz says, "Just skate hard, skate your best, and don't get yourself down. Just go out there and skate how you know how to skate, make sure you have your run planned, and just have fun."

SOURCES:
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/14592-chaz-ortiz-biography
http://skateboardermag.com/skateboarder-news-features/news/chaz-ortiz-on-gatorade/
http://www.grindtv.com/athlete/Chaz_Ortiz/2627/bio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaz_Ortiz

Last week we had a special guest stop by the offices and hang out with the Rideshop and Blog teams: Espree, from Zexsports.com.

Our own Blogger and professional skateboarder Melissa L. sit down with her for a bit during her visit. Espree has as much energy as Melissa and she was such a cool person to meet!

*Editors note: Everything above is true except for the whole 'Melissa being a professional skateboarder thing'. We made that up.

Thanks Espree!

Blake Wharton is an example of teenage riders in AMA Supercross and Motocross "Lites" competition who are able to develop their skills, and their common sense, as the stars of the future. At the same time, this gives the American Motorcyclists Association another product to promote. Wharton, 17, has taken two big recent steps. The high schooler from the aptly-named Texas Town of Pilot Point won a heat in New Orleans, and then his first overall crown in St. Louis, on the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Lites tour.

The young fellows in the Supercross and Motocross Lites races learn that they must combine daring with strategy. Blake Wharton says "getting some holeshots and some podiums" are among his top goals for future races, but to take the lead on the first turn and/or to finish in the top three also requires a rider to avoid falls. This is why Blake Wharton adds, with a veteran's wisdom, "Staying off the ground would be great."

Once a youthful rider captures his first race, a barrier is broken. "I know that winning these races is tough," says Wharton, "but I did it (in St. Louis), and I know that I can do it again. You cannot win them all, so doing the best that you can is always the right way to approach it." Blake Wharton also seems to know that a sense of humor can go a long ways. A reporter asked after the St. Louis victory whether the significance had really "hit" him yet. Wharton laughed and answered, "It hit me, but I have good reflexes, so I dodged it!"

Wharton gets razzed about his dark mane of curly-frizzy hair, so he makes the most of things. "There were a couple sections on the track that were tricky," he explained in St. Louis, "and my hair created the proper aerodynamics to keep me flowing in the right direction. People don't understand the physics behind it! You've got to get Bill Nye the Science Guy on it, and he'll show you guys what it's doing. There's a plus to it, for sure. It's true."

SOURCES:
http://www.amasupercross.com/ViewPost.aspx?postId=219
http://www.speedtv.com/programs/ama-supercross-lites/
http://www.amasupercross.com/
http://www.racerxonline.com/article/monday-conversation-ii-blake-wharton-stlouis-sx.aspx

When it comes to inline skating, the highest ramp jump ever performed took place on October 29, 2001 when two inline skating champs set the record by reaching a height of 13.45 feet (4.10m) at the studios of El Show de Los Records in Madrid, Spain. Since then, few inline skaters have come close to this amazing feat that requires the perfect balance when shifting body weight and launching high into the air above the ramp. Jose Felix Hormaetxe Henry and Borja Fernandez Campuzano set the world record with their courageous attempt. So how did they do it? Here's a closer look at this record-setting stunt:

Step 1: Speed
Working up enough speed before heading up the ramp is one of the most important elements to reaching sky-high heights. The stunt masters worked up tremendous speeds across the stadium to launch themselves into the air above the ramp and over the bar. This momentum also creates enough power for them to descend onto the ramp and turn around within seconds so they can work their way back to the starting lines.

Step 2: Courage
The adrenaline rush of speed skating and flying up above a ramp looks like fun, but it's still an act of bravery. There's no room for being afraid of heights, and once the skater is launched into the air, they need to balance out their weight in just the right way to ensure a smooth descent and landing.

Step 3: The Perfect Shin Grab
When the skater has launched themselves high above the ramp and over the bar, they need to hold onto their shins to prevent the skates from crashing into the bar itself. This maneuver requires a lot of practice because the skater needs to tuck themselves into an upright position and then release at just the right time for their landing. Without the perfect shin grab, the skater will knock down the bar or miss their descent entirely.

Step 4: Landing the Perfect Jump
The only way to set the record is to land with both feet and then turn around the ramp ahead. The skaters cleared the bar and landed on both feet before landing perfectly on the ramp and skating back down the ramp.

Keeping your wardrobe up-to-date and versatile without breaking the bank depends on your ability to select great coordinating pieces. One of the most cost effective clothing pieces that you can add to your wardrobe that will give you several outfit options is the cardigan. If you are looking for a kicking cardigan that can be dressed up or down, take a look at the Roxy Sweet Treat Sweater.

Roxy Sweet Treat Sweater
The Roxy Sweet Treat Sweater, which retails for an affordable $46, comes in five women's sizes: extra small, small, medium, large and extra large. It is a button front cardigan that has ribbed cuffs, a ribbed waist and the sassy Roxy metal logo plate. This cardigan is made from 100-percent cotton is totally breathable.

It comes in four stunning colors: black, blue radiance, party pink and white. Buy a neutral color like black or white and pair with a colorful camisole or select one of the wilder colors, like blue radiance or party pink, and let it make the statement for your outfit. If you can't decide which color you like best, buy one in each color and increase the number of outfits that you can put together.

Caring for your Sweater
To protect your clothing investment, it is important to care for your Roxy sweater properly. First of all, you will want to wash this sweater in cold water on a delicate cycle. Next, don't put it into the dryer. This will cause shrinkage, fading and fiber damage. Instead you will want to lay your Roxy Sweet Treat Sweater flat on a towel to dry. You can speed up the drying process by patting down the sweater with a sponge.

Building a Wardrobe Tips
The Roxy Sweet Treat Sweater is a great layering item. Since it is a solid color cardigan, you can pair it with a solid color or patterned undershirt. During the warmer months you can wear this sweater with a camisole and during the colder months you can pair it with a t-shirt or long sleeved shirt. To dress up this sweater you can pair it with a pencil skirt and heels and to dress it down you can pair it with jeans.

In the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky is the Louisville Extreme Park. This is the town's ultimate skatepark. It offers about 40,000 square feet of skating terrain and the city is in the planning process for a 20,000 square foot addition to the park. The addition that is planned for this park will be a 20,000 square foot skating pavilion that will have room for indoor skating features and concessions. To find this park all you have to do is look for the Louisville Slugger Field on Witherspoon. The Louisville Extreme Park is right next door on the corner of Witherspoon and Clay.

Louisville Extreme Park - The Basics
The Louisville Extreme Park has one of the best collections of skateboarding features in the state. It has a very rare 24 foot diameter full pipe, a six foot bowl, a couple of four foot bowls, a couple of eight foot bowls and a couple of eleven foot bowls. It also offers several fun boxes and a great street course. To top everything off is a twelve foot wooden ramp that has a great thirteen foot extension.

Each section of the Louisville Extreme Park is marked with a blue square, a green circle or a black diamond. A green circle means that the feature is appropriate for beginners, a blue square designates features that are suitable for intermediate skaters and a black diamond designates the most advanced skating features in the park.

Louisville Extreme Park - Important Information
The most important rule that you need to understand before skateboarding at the Louisville Extreme Park is that you have to wear a helmet. This is not just a park rule, it is a Louisville ordinance. If you are caught skating without a helmet then you can get kicked out of the park and be given a ticket.

In addition to wearing a helmet you also want to be dressed appropriately for the weather. On sunny days you will want to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, sunblock and clothing that will keep the moisture away from your body. On cooler days you will want to wear layers so that you can adjust your clothing depending on the weather.

Other rules that you need to understand before skating at the Louisville Extreme Park include skate at your own risk, no smoking, no drinking, no eating and no outside obstacles inside the fenced skating area. Spectators also need to stay outside of the fenced skating area. Finally, only skateboarders, in-line skaters and bicyclers are allowed to use the park. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.

Rodney Mullen grew up in Florida and wanted a skateboard as a child, but his father resisted. His father perceived that older skateboarders were lousy role models who represented a counterculture way of life.
Finally, 10-year-old Rodney Mullen got his skateboard. It wasn't on Christmas, but on New Year's Day 1977. Still, Rodney's father warned that the first time he hurt himself, that would be it.

Sure enough, young Rodney Mullen took a spill. He could have twisted his ankle or scraped his knee or bruised his shoulder, but instead, Rodney knocked his teeth out. This wasn't the best "choice" for an injury. His dad placed a high value on strong, healthy teeth. His dad was a dentist! Somehow, Rodney Mullen managed to get his skateboard back. He started winning contests that same year, turned pro at age 14, and became a street skating legend.

Rodney Mullen has been called "The Thomas Edison of Skateboarding." At age 42, he's not forgotten by the younger crowd. He's known for inventing an array of tricks, such as the ollie and the kickflip, for his successors to build upon. Mullen was past his prime before skateboarders started showing their stuff all over the web, but his fans have produced tapes that have drawn as many as 1.5 million views on YouTube.

"I never really felt like I fit in (as a youngster)," Mullen once told an interviewer. "It's probably a common bond that a lot of skaters have, and I certainly felt that. I really liked the individuality of it, where you don't have to dress up all the time. You're really on your own. You didn't have a coach, no one's going to tell you what to do and it never ends in terms of the possibility of what you can do."

Despite the respect of his peers and the admiration of his successors, Rodney Mullen always will remain a sort of lone wolf. "I always like to skate at night," he said. "There's something about being alone to me that's so conducive of it all. Plus the practicalities of living in the city, because that's the time to hit things up, since no one's around."

Who knows what tricks Rodney Mullen has performed, that nobody has seen. However, he is willing to share some things, to the extent that he wrote an autobiography "The Mutt," published in 2003.

Sources:
http://www.rodneymullen.net/bio/
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/2008/jan/16/q-skateboarder-rodney-mullen/

Performing motorcycle stunts up a multi-story building is nothing new, but when you plan on jumping up ten stories on a motorcycle and then freefalling back down, you could be setting yourself for a mind-altering experience. That's exactly what Robbie Madison did on New Year's Eve in 2008 when he jumped up to the top of the Arc d'Triomphe model building in Las Vegas on his motorcycle, waited a few seconds until the crowds caught their breath, and then jumped off the edge of the building to fall 100 feet and landed upright on a ramp. He drove back to the crowds in full force, setting one of the most noteworthy records in motorcycle stunts to date.

The Evel Knievel-inspired stunt was a phenomenal way to kick off New Year's 2009, and this wasn't the first gravity-defying stunt by Robbie Madison. The daredevil performed the record-breaking 322-foot jump on New Year's 2008, beating Guinness World Record holder Trigger Gumm to the match. The event took place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Robbie Madison was born in Australia, and the 27-year old stunt master has become the inspiration for many motorcyclists and stunt enthusiasts around the globe. He holds the world record for the longest motorcycle jump on a 125cc bike, and the longest jump with a trick (246 feet). The types of jumps Madison has become famous can be attributed to his skills using the rear brake. Releasing the brake pressure at just the right time and shifting your body weight to the front or back of the bike give the bike the extra push it needs to soar high into the air and stay in an upright position. Madison has perfected the art of landing on both wheels after even a 100+ feet jump, and the control he has is due to the way he shifts his weight and manipulates his speed at just the right time.

Madison's been practicing his stunts for several years, but if you've been inspired by his Knievel-like ways, you can get started with simple stunts including stoppies, wheelies and one-handers. Just make sure you're wearing the right protective gear and clothing, and keep your bike in good shape to perform a few record-breaking tricks of your own.

With the weather warming and the skies clearing it is the perfect time to refresh your spring/summer wardrobe. One option that will quickly freshen up your wardrobe is the Roxy So Hip Dress. This casual slip on dress will work great as a weekend lounging outfit or as an element of a casual work outfit.

Roxy So Hip Dress
The Roxy So Hip Dress, which retails for $46.00, comes in three very refreshing colors, banana cream yellow, regatta blue and shamrock green. The dress also comes in five sizes, extra small, small, medium, large and extra large. The measurements for the length of the dress start at 30 inches for the small size and increase slightly with each size up that you order.

This dress is made of 60 percent cotton and 40 percent polyester. It has a jersey mineral wash finish and a very cute V-neck design with a tie at the waist belt. This little dress also has a single chest pocket for an added detail and point of interest.

To keep this dress in good condition you will want to make sure you follow the washing instructions that come with it. First of all you will want to use a mild detergent like Woolite. This will prevent fading, fiber stretching and fiber damage. Next you will want to wash this item on a warm and delicate setting on your washing machine. Finally, you will need to tumble dry the dress on a low setting or hang it out to dry.

Wardrobe Tips
The Roxy So Hip Dress is a versatile piece. First of all it works great all by itself for a very casual look. Pair it with a pair of flip flops or sandals for an easy day on the boardwalk, at the park or at the beach. If you want to wear this dress to a business function or to work then simply pair it with a linen blazer in white, tan or a complimentary color. Finish the look with a beaded necklace and a matching pair of pumps. For a night on the town you can dress up this dress with a pair of heels, a great necklace and a matching clutch.

If you are a disciple of concrete then the Grand Haven Skatepark is for you. This park, which can be found at One Y Drive in Grand Haven, Michigan is a fantastic skatepark that is located near the entrance of the recreation attraction known as Mulligan's Hollow. Here you will have plenty of room, about 15,000 square feet, to perfect your skating skills, learn new tricks and just have fun.

Grand Haven Skatepark - The Basics
What makes the Grand Haven Skatepark great is that it has something for every type of skater. If you are a vert skater then there is a great full sized bowl and a quarter pipe to work with. On the other hand, if you are a street skater then you will appreciate the street course obstacles that are found in this park. For example, there is a hubba box, rails, c-rails, two sets of five stair sets, one seven stair set with a rail and various boxes and configurations.

Dressing for a Grand, Grand Haven Skatepark Experience
The Grand Haven Skatepark is an outdoor skatepark. This means that you are at the mercy of Mother Nature when you skate here. In order to stay comfortable while skating you will want to dress for the local weather conditions. In Grand Haven, Michigan you can expect the weather to be hot in the summer, cold in the winter and mild during the fall and spring. When picking out clothing to wear to this skatepark you will want to think about dressing in layers. Layers allow you to make adjustments to your clothing as your body temperature changes because of physical exertion or weather changes.

In addition to selecting clothing to protect your body from the weather, you will also want to select clothing options to protect your body from your skating. When the weather is cooler you can wear jeans and long sleeved shirts to help protect your legs and arms from road rash. When the weather is warmer you will want to focus on keeping your skin dry. This means selecting clothing made from cotton and other breathable materials is a good option, as is selecting materials designed to wick moisture away from your skin.

California's Amy Caron is only 24 years, but she is among the pioneers in putting women's pro skateboarding on the map. Amy Caron remains as active as she can in women's pro skateboarding, even though the events remain few and far between. Caron was a star in the still-popular 2003 movie, "A.K.A.: Girl Skater," which documented a group of lady pros on an event and contest tour through the skateboarding hotbed of Australia. Other stars of A.K.A.: Girl Skater also included women's pro skateboarding stars Vanessa Torres, Monica Shaw and Jamie Reyes.

Last summer, Amy Caron participated in the Supergirl Jam in her new hometown of Huntington Beach. She grew up in the San Francisco area, in the town of Half Moon Bay, and began skateboarding when she was 11 years old. "When I was a kid, there was no event that girls could compete in, let alone an event dedicated just to girls," Caron says. "Last year, I saw tons of little girls in the crowd, and you could tell they were just in awe, which was really cool."

Amy Caron didn't let the lack of role models hold her back. She describes how her family used to let her go into "The City," which is what the kids in Half Moon Bay say when they are describing San Francisco. She hung out on Pier 7 at The Embarcadero. "There was a big skate scene there with the San Francisco kids (mostly boys), and they rubbed off on me," Caron recalls. Mostly the San Francisco kids would go to street spots to skate the rails, she says, "but every now and then we would bomb down something big, like California Street. You gotta love it. It's definitely an art."

Male pro skateboarders have events year-round. Women such as Amy Caron are pretty much relegated to an every-weekend summer schedule, but she says that in the fall she is able to travel overseas with her sponsors. All in all, pro skateboarding helps Amy Caron to earn a living.

Sources:
http://www.examiner.com/a-1504907~3_Minute_Interview__Amy_Caron.html

He's considered to be one of the most influential skateboarders in history, and this Santa Monica native spent most of his youth perfecting many of the skateboarding tricks that were popular in the 1960s. Skateboarder magazine reports that Tony Alva was the first ever skateboarder to perfect a stunt called the 'frontside air' trick, a seemingly simple maneuver that involves twisting and lifting the skateboard while in the air.
The frontside air involves riding up the wall at a slight angle and then lifting the board off the feet with the hands while turning around in the air. The skateboarder needs to have enough speed to reach high into the air so they have time to shift their wait and pop the board in their hand before hitting the landing spot. It's a complex maneuver for the beginning skateboarder, but is an incredible stunt to watch when it's performed properly.

Tony Alva managed to do just that at a very young age, and soon became famous for carrying out the first ever air trick in history. He and his skateboarding friends have been credited with creating the concept of a skatepark or 'bowl' inside empty swimming pools that allowed for these types of stunts to be performed. The frontside air is just one of several unique stunts that could be performed in the 'bowl' and many of the Z-Servant boys perfected these stunts to make their mark in history.

After continued success with pulling off his incredible stunts, Alva used the attention and spotlight to build a solid career in the industry, setting a new standard for professional skateboarders around the globe. He was the first ever professional skateboarder to open up his own company "Alva Skates" in 1977 at the young age of 19, and was also one of the original members of the Z-Servant boys.

Alva so moved on to the retail industry. He now owns lineup of skateboarding stores and created a cult-like following of fans who line up for his signature skateboarding gear. In addition to his amazing stunt performances for the crowds, Alva has secured sponsorships from companies such as Vestal Watches and Vans.

The skate item of the week is the Element Cairo Dress. This dress is adorable, summery and a great layering item for your spring/summer wardrobe. It comes in several sizes and in several colors. If you are looking for a signature piece to freshen up your wardrobe then this is a great item that retails for only $46.

Element Cairo Dress
The Element Cairo Dress is a great sun dress with spaghetti straps, a fitted bodice and a smocked backing for a custom fit. This is a short dress that hits right above the knee. It comes in three women's sizes: small, medium and large. To help you gage what size to order, keep in mind that the length of the small dress is 36 inches. Also keep in mind that this dress is made from 100-percent cotton.

The Element Cairo Dress comes in three different styles. Your first option is the black striped dress. This style has a black and white striped dress body and a printed ruffle hem. Your second option is the green Element Cairo Dress. This dress has a green and white striped dress body and a printed ruffle hem. Your final option is a light blue and white striped dress with a striped ruffle hem.

Working the Element Cairo Dress in to Your Wardrobe
The Element Cairo Dress is a great piece that can be easily be used to create several casual or work outfits. Your first option is to wear it as a great little sun dress. You can dress it up with a sun hat, a great pair of sunglasses and kitten heels. To wear this dress to the beach, all you have to do is pair it with a cute pair of flip flops. On the other hand, if you are off for a romantic drive through the country, wrap a colorful scarf around your neck, put on a pair of sunglasses and several hoop bracelets.

For dressier occasions, like a luncheon, just pair it with a single colored shrug cardigan. If you want to wear this dress to work, pull on a jacket and accessorize with a beaded necklace and a pair of coordinating heels. For a night event, you can dress up this dress by sweeping your hair up, wearing coordinating earrings and necklace, as well as hose and heels.

Many communities build skateparks in order to satisfy their residents' desire to skate. Most of the parks that are built are either built in existing community parks or they are built on virgin sites. In Virginia Beach, Virginia there is an amazing skatepark that was actually built using compressed clean soil and refuse. Yes, it was built on a landfill. The park complex is called Mount Trashmore and it is a great example of how communities can turn lemons into lemonade.

Mount Trashmore - The Park
Mount Trashmore is a multi-purpose park. It includes two amazing mountains that were made out of compressed trash and clean soil. This park also contains two lakes that are stocked with fish, and yes you can fish in these lakes. It also includes playgrounds, picnic areas and one of the best skateparks in the state.

Mount Trashmore Skatepark
The Mount Trashmore Skatepark can be found at 310 Edwin Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is primarily a street course skatepark with obstacles, stairs and rails. However, it also has a great seven foot bowl and a 13.5 foot by 40 foot vert ramp, which makes it competition size.

Skating at Mount Trashmore Skatepark is free. You can start skating here at 7:30 in the morning and you can skate until the park closes in the evening. In order to skate here you will need to sign in, get a skatepark wrist band and wear a helmet. Since this park is outdoors and made from wood and composite materials, it is important that you dress appropriately. You will want to wear clothing that protects your skin from sunburn and from abrasions and you will also want to wear padding.

The rules for skating at this park are similar to those found at other skateparks. You need to wear a helmet, you need to skate responsibly and you need to be respectful of other skaters and of the skatepark. If you break these simple rules you will be asked to leave.

Have a great time skating at Mount Trashmore and enjoy the scenery as you catch air!

If you're pro skateboarder Jake Brown, you might want a snazzy nickname to go with your oh-so-tame birth name. But you probably don't want to fall 45 feet to achieve this.

Australian Jake Brown, 34, became Jake "Unbreakable" Brown after he walked away from a horrific crash during the 2007 X Games at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Brown was on the mega ramp. In his usual fearless style - fearless even among pro skateboarders - he completed a daring 720 turn over the ramp's 70-foot gap, but he missed the quarter pipe lips. Medics say Brown saved his life by landing on his side.

"It might have been funny if it had not been potentially deadly," wrote Andrew Dalton for the Associated Press. "Jake Brown's legs churned in midair like he was trying to run. His shoes shot off in different directions when he slammed to the ground. His body looked like a rag doll as he slid to the base of the ramp." Dalton concluded, "It looked like a fall Wile E. Coyote would take," referring to the Road Runner's cartoon predator.

Jake Brown was motionless for about 8 minutes. Then he got up, walked off, waved to the crowd and asked buddy Jason Ellis, "Do I get another run?" Well, even Jake "Unbreakable" Brown is not unbreakable. He cracked several vertebrae, and he still has a metal pin in a wrist that was broken. He even bruised his liver; have you ever heard of a football player with a bruised liver? Jake Brown needed several months of rehab before he could return to smaller ramps and six months before he again challenged a mega ramp.

Even before the Staples Center fall, Jake Brown had a reputation for adverse risk. ESPN once reported: "Jake Brown has some of the hardest vert skateboarding tricks dialed in, like 720s and his double kick flip mute. However, in competitions, Jake Brown tends to go for the biggest tricks, which often backfires if he doesn't land them. But skating conservatively is not Jake Brown's style."

Reporters now want to know if Unbreakable Brown feels fear on the mega ramp. Jake affirms that this is true, but he adds a qualifier. He says he always has felt fear, even before the 45-foot freefall, because this is a natural emotion for a cutting-edge skateboard stuntman. Online viewers will note that Jake Brown was carted off in a wheelchair, not a stretcher. "I knew what happened," Jake explains in his trademark unflappable style. "I just wanted to test my body and see how wrecked I was, you know?"

Sources:
www.dailyillini.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=6d7c665b-3f6e-412a-9c8d-1440173744ec
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/05/sports/sp-xside5
http://skateboard.about.com/od/proskaterbios/p/ProJakeBrown.htm
www.lgactionsports.com/athlete.html?athlete_id=72&sport=skateboarding
www.grindtv.com/athlete/jake_brown/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Brown

A motocross journalist recent wrote that Chad Reed "by the numbers ... is one of the greatest supercross riders ever." Why the qualifier of "by the numbers?" Nobody ever speaks of Jeremy McGrath or Ricky Carmichael or James "Bubba" Stewart as "by the numbers." They simply are regarded as motocross greats.

Possibly the difference is that Chad Reed is so quiet and reserved. He doesn't say much about himself, not even on his own website. We can learn that he's 27 years old and from Australia, and that he came to the United States in order to match his skills with the world's best riders. He's just not big with the media.

Chad Reed won the the AMA (American Motorcyclists Association) supercrossseason championship in 2004 and 2008. As of late March, after 12 of the season's 17 events, Reed was leading Stewart, 271 points to 260. Unless Chad Reed takes a bad spill and/or suffers a major injury, he is in command for a third title. The supercross season concludes May 2 in Las Vegas.

Reed's reserved manner was reflected after his March 22 victory in St. Louis, in front of 56,000 fans. He stated mundanely: "Like I say every week, you've got to be in it to win it, and that's what we're doing. ... I just kept my head down and rode my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 as hard as I could and it was good for the win this week." At least Chad Reed speaks up enough to give his sponsor a good plug.

A few years ago, an interviewer managed to pull something original out of Chad Reed. Chad noted that back in Australia, he actually used to chase kangaroos on his motorcycle. "Well, not on a daily basis," he explained. "Those animals are really fast, and it's amazing keeping up with them on a motorcycle."

Another journalist visited Chad Reed's training and practice site on one day, and Bubba Stewart's digs on the next. He described Chad Reed as taking more of a loose and fun approach, while the Bubba Stewart team was all business. But this certainly doesn't mean that Chad Reed isn't dead serious. During one season, he continued racing in pain after separating his shoulder. The next time you watch a supercross or motocross race, try to imagine that!

SOURCES
http://www.racerxonline.com/rider/chad-reed.aspx
http://www.coolgrrrls.com/2/chadreed.html
http://www.racerxonline.com/article/monday-wake-up-call-3-23.aspx
http://www.racerxonline.com/blog/blogandt/2009/03/6/blogandt-noun-of-the-week-9/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/ama-supercross-motocross/races/?lo_id=136
www.mxnationals.com
http://www.chadreedracing.com/-/bio
http://www.supercross.com/rider-profiles/795-chad-reed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Reed

Dion Russell is a skate shop and restaurant owner by day and motorcycle stunt rider by night. This motorcycle stunt enthusiast from Kingsport, Tennessee, runs the Down to Earth Skate Shop and first started getting his adrenaline rush from motorcycling after watching videos of stunt riders throughout history. Russell has earned the title "King of the South" for motorcycle stunts and performs at special events in his neighborhood to show off his talents. His after-hours shows have attracted a strong following in Kingsport, and even the local police department has tipped their hat to this stunt rider who keeps things fun and safe at parking lots around town.

Russell says, "A lot of the balance and stuff I use through skateboarding has helped me with stunt riding." He's more involved with extreme sports these days, trying out new tricks and amazing stunts in parking lots - his "training ground."

Russell wasn't shy about jumping into the world of alternative sports, since he already had some experience with extreme sports and performing stunts on a skateboard. His skate shop is one of a handful in Kingsport and the surrounding area, attracting talented extreme sport enthusiasts of all ages who want to pick up the latest skating gear, accessories or just a few pointers from an experienced skateboarder.

While Russell doesn't offer lessons for his amazing stunts, he does host a performance for shop visitors and other motorcycle fans around Kingsport. You can also catch him at the Good Times Grill, a restaurant he's opened in Kingsport. It serves up "ole-fashioned, down home cooking," and is his way of giving back to his community.

Still, his passion remains in motorcycles. In a recent interview with the Douglass-Riverview News, Russell shares that one of the ways he's advertising the restaurant is stunt riding in the parking lot on a shiny red bike. So far, the strategy's been working; guests have reported that they would sit through a traffic signal nearby just to watch the amazing stunts Russell was putting on. He also participates in "bike nights" in the neighborhood, where everyone can enjoy some music, great food and watch an incredible show.