Join the IPATH crew with friends Innes and Osiris on June 21st as they do their part to help celebrate the worldwide phenomenon, Go Skateboarding Day. Call in sick, cuz your gonna have to meet up at Bishop Skatepark in Oceanside California to hang with the pros and grab some free stuff.

Whether you’re on your board or in your car, you never know what you’re going to see on Skate Day...

I know you're all dying to know what kind of trouble we're causing and fun we're having out here in Vegas, so we made it easy for you and set up our Twitter account. You can spy on us and follow us each and every day at http://twitter.com/Zappos_Rideshop. We'll be posting some cool info and letting you in on our deepest, darkest secrets. Ok maybe not that much, but we will be filling you in on local Rideshop events and updating you on the latest and greatest that's going down with us, our brands and the industry. We all know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but if we happen to twitter it out who knows what kinds of good stuff you'll find out. Everybody's doing it, so join the cool club and hit us up!

-love... your local Vegas Rideshop peeps

G-shock's steeze is all over the place these days with their poppin' colors and collaborations, and it's hard not to get hyped on their latest and greatest that are continuously surfacing. To help celebrate 25 years of keepin' it cool, G-shock put a special touch on one of their classic designs-the Frogman.

The guys at G-shock dressed their Frogman to the nine with a transparent skeleton resin and added gold IP hardwear (buckle, buttons, caseback, and bezel) to help celebrate in true style. And of course since you're only 25 once, these Frogman's are limited and will only be around 'til they're gone. Here's a Video Product Description!

It's probably a good idea to snag one of these guys while you can, because they will definitely hit collector's status and will up your rep when you get to show off this guy in all it's 25 years of glory. You know what your buddies will be thinking when they see your watch, so don't be a droolin' fool and miss out.. snag one of these boys while they're still around.

We've got the last of their kind from G-shock, and trust me, you don't want to miss out. I save mine for Fridays, and since today is Friday, it's telling me it's about time to peace and start the weekend in true Vegas fashion... the G-shock crew is in town and we're going out in style!

If you were that kid that was totally into finger painting and not sharing your favorite 3 crayons back in the day (or maybe still today?), you will find yet another reason why DC stokes you out. DC has taken their Manteca and spun the color wheel of fun to come up with their RGB collection that decks out the entire shoe, from the sole to the laces to the inside, with crayola worthy shades of red, green, blue, and black. For a sweet $65 bucks you'll still have money left over to buy you and that cute chick you've been diggin' lunch. Just don't forget the kicks.

Having the right pair of shoes on your feet makes all the difference. Not only do they help you to perform better on your skateboard or on the basketball court, but they also ensure that you look and feel good as well. Element Omahigh is one of the coolest types of hi-top shoes on the market today, take at look at this shoe before you make your next shoe purchase.

Element Omahigh - The Basics

Element Omahigh are hi-top shoes that retail for $79.00. They offer a medium width in men's sizes 7-14, with half sizes available. This shoe is made with a leather upper, blind sided ollie reinforcement and cold-connect construction. These shoes weigh in at about 15 ounces, they have a 15 inch circumference and a six inch shaft (based on the men's size 9 shoe.)

Element Omahigh - Styles

The Element Omahigh comes in three different color combinations. If you are looking for a dressier shoe, then the black and antique style is a good option. On the other hand if you are looking for a shoe with lots of personality and flare, then the brown, black, suede and mustang style is a better option. The third style is a great mediation between the flashy and the dressy. It offers a black, white and regal color combination.

The colors used in the Element Omahigh are neutrals so they will compliment just about any wardrobe. However, you will want to select the style of Element Omahigh that will work the best with the clothes that are in your closet. If you don't know which style to buy print out a color copy of each style and hold them up to your clothes. See which style works the best with your wardrobe basics or that gives your wardrobe the most pop.

Shoe Care

Since the uppers of the Element Omahigh are made from leather you will need to take extra steps to keep your shoes looking great for years. To start with you will want to weatherproof or waterproof your shoes. This can be done by using a commercial weatherproofing product designed for leather/suede shoes. You can find this product at shoe stores or online. Next you will want to clean your shoes regularly by brushing dry dirt off the suede or leather portions of your shoes. Finally, you will want to condition the leather portions of your shoes at least once a year. This will keep the leather supple and prevent it from cracking and peeling.

Support Macbeth's studio project with Jack's Mannequin and The Dear Jack Foundation at Zappos.com.

One of the most important pieces of safety equipment that you need for skateboarding is a great pair of shoes. The best skating shoes will have a flat sole with good grip. This will keep you from sliding or skidding off your board. You will also want to select a shoe that has been properly fitted to your feet. Shoes that fit the size and shape of your feet will not only improve your stability, but it will also reduce your chances of twisting your ankle or developing blisters. If you are looking for a great skate shoe then consider the Van's SK8-Hi™ Slayer.

Van's SK8-Hi™ Slayer - Specs

The Van's SK8-Hi™ Slayer is a skate shoe that retails for $69.00. It comes in women's sizes 5-12, with half sizes available, in men's sizes 3.5-13, and in youth size 4. It has a medium width and a black, red, white and gold design. The shoe weighs in at about 18 ounces for a men's size 10 and has a shaft height of about 6.5 inches.

The construction of the shoe is impeccable. It has an upper made from a patchwork of canvas, leather and suede. It has an EVA insert that has been die cut and a gum sole.

Working Van's SK8-Hi™ Slayer - Wardrobe Tips

The Van's SK8-Hi™ Slayer is a great shoe that can be easily worked into nearly any casual wardrobe. They coordinate well with jeans and t-shirts, and can also make a great compliment to skater shorts and tanks for summer wear. These are not dress shoes but you can create a funky evening look by pairing these shoes with a more formal outfit, such as a dark pair of slacks, a bold printed T and a sports jacket.

Keeping Your Shoes in Top Condition

When you invest in a good pair of skateboarding shoes it is a good idea to take steps to protect their appearance. Keeping them clean is one step that you can take to keep the color and their general appearance crisp. Obviously when you skate outdoors you are bound to get them dirty. The trick is to allow mud and dirt to dry before brushing them clean. This is a better option than trying to clean mud off of wet shoes. This only embeds the mud into the fibers of the shoes. You can also protect your shoes by spraying them with a Teflon or waterproofing treatment before you first use your shoes. This will help make them water proof and also help them to become more resistant to stains.

Freestyle is doin' it again with their classic Shark series. This season's round is holding it down with 3 solid colors that add to their already well known collection of Sharks in my favorite color, neon. The new guys have taken off, and for a sweet $55 bucks, there's no reason you can't start your own collection. Freestyle keeps on keepin' on with their classic Shark reinventions that will get you noticed in and out of the water - literally, they're neon, you can't miss them.

Sharks in the water, not so good; sharks on your wrist, always good.

Ipath's crew made a special stop while in Vegas the other day to hang with Rideshop and show us their latest and greatest kicks coming out for Holiday. The new line is lookin' good and we're stoked to bring in the limited edition Locusts and the vegan friendly Rasta Hemp Reed (since it's made from hemp and vegan, you could essentially eat it...let us know how good it tastes). Check out the video and check out the Rideshop for these sweet Zappos exclusives, mon!

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.

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!

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!

While Chicago is a hot bed for cultural and urban attractions, sometimes you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Champagne, Illinois is a charming city south of the Windy City. Here you will find a great little skate park called Spalding Skate Park. This park is a public skate park and free to use.

Spalding Skate Park - the Basics
Spalding Skate Park is a concrete skate park that offers about 18,000 square feet of skating terrain. It can be found at 900 Harris in Champagne, Illinois, and is open to both skateboarders and in-line skaters. Here you will find both vert park features and street course features. In the vert park, you will find three great bowls with easy bowl-to-bowl transitions and several quarter pipes. The street course offers a snake run, rails, stairs and obstacles.

Spalding Skate Park is open all week long from dawn until dusk. It is a part of a larger park called Spalding Park. This park offers open, grassy areas, ball parks and other recreational attractions.

Staying Safe in Spalding Skate Park
Skating is a lot of fun and is a good way to stay in shape, however, it can be hard on your body. To keep yourself from getting injured, you need to wear the proper clothing and the proper safety gear. During the hot months of the year, you will want to wear clothing that is breathable and that will wick moisture away from your skin. During the colder months of the year, you will want to dress in layers and wear the proper outerwear. Regardless of the time of the year, you will want to wear a well fitted helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. You will also want to wear a pair of skating shoes that will give you good traction on your board.

In addition to dressing properly for skateboarding, you will also want to take steps to stay safe on your board. First make sure the skating zone is free of hazards like broken glass and trash. Clear these things away before you start rolling. Next, check out who else is using the park. Get a feel for how they are skating and their skill level before you try to share the skating space. For example, if you notice a skater is wobbly on their board, you will want to keep a larger gap between you and them while skating as they obviously are a newbie and most likely will have troubles keeping their board under control.

The skate item of the week is the Reef Reef Mick Spackler. These versatile men's flip flop thongs are easy to slip on right before you head out the door. If you are looking for a great looking pair of summer shoes that will give you grip when you need it, try these on for size.

Reef Reef Mick Spackler - Product Description
The Reef Reef Mick Spackler is a thong made with a supple leather upper, a midsole made from compressed and molded EVA and a molded rubber sole. The upper is white leather and the midsole and sole are brown with a white side stripe. They are light weight, only weighing in at eight ounces and very comfortable. What is unique about this product is that it has replaceable spikes. These spikes can be inserted to give you traction on the beach or while playing sports on the grass.

Building a Sporty Wardrobe
Building a sports wardrobe is something that a lot of people just don't think about. Instead they pick up items here and there. This creates a sports wardrobe that is full of mismatched items that are hard to coordinate. You can put together a great looking sports wardrobe that is also functional by thinking about the purchases that you make. You will want to pick up a variety of sports shoes, including summer shoes, like the Reef Reef Mick Spackler, wet weather shoes and cold weather shoes. Buy your shoes in neutral colors like browns, blacks and whites. This way they will match all of your other clothing items.

In addition to a selection of sports shoes, you will also want to select shirts, pants and outerwear items to complete your wardrobe. Your shirt collection can include items like tank tops, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts and sweatshirts. When picking out your shirts look for materials that breathe and wick moisture away from your skin. Pant options need to include long pants and shorts. Finally, don't forget about your underwear. Complete your wardrobe with supportive underwear and sports socks that wick away moisture.

Keep your sports wardrobe separate from your work wardrobe and everyday clothing so you can quickly find items to throw together when you are ready to go skateboarding, play a game of basketball or just have a great workout.

According to a recent news report, a group of teenagers were eager to enjoy some fun in the sun on the Sunshine Coast of Australia by jumping off the Coolum Beach's Esplanade rooftop - on skateboards.

The teenagers were practicing awe-inspiring leaps, twists and jumps on top of the roof and managed to catch the attention of shoppers and retail store owners over the weekend. The daredevils managed to pull off an impressive lineup of skateboarding tricks including vertical jumps, 360 degree leaps and 180s on top of an uneven rooftop.

Residents and shop owners confirmed that they were dong no harm and were just having some fun. The skateboarders simply enjoyed their practice session and adrenaline rush before heading home for the evening.

Ramping Up Your Skateboarding Skills

Skateboarding tricks and stunts can take months, even years to master, but the gurus of the skateboard have learned how to ride, maneuver and balance properly to avoid serious injuries.

Beginners may need to wear protective gear such as knee and elbow pads, the right shoesand even a helmet to reduce injury from a skateboarding mishap. Getting just the right angles and balancing the body just right before performing a jump or leap can be difficult for the beginning boarder; still, there are some ways to improve your skills.

First, you'll be better off practicing at an actual skate park before venturing onto the rooftops of buildings in the near future. Skate parks are designed with special edges and tracks that cater to the wheels of a skateboard. This will make it easier to practice those ollies, grinds and 180s without running into walls or other skaters. Well, at least for the most part.

You'll also need to practice good form. Keeping your weight balanced by bending your knees slightly and relaxing the body will help you maneuver the board easily and help you execute each move with ease. Keeping your eyes focused on the ground ahead (and not on your feet) will also help you navigate better and plan your next move.

Finally, don't forget to use skateboard wax. You'll need to rub this on the ledge you are working against so that you can ride up to the edge and make your turns with ease. A block of hard wax is fairly cheap and will likely last you through an entire skating season.