“Last year, Shaun White disappeared from the snowboard scene, holing up in the wilds of Colorado training for what would be the biggest winter of his life. This is the story of his year, the private halfpipe and one of the most progressive sessions in history.” (Red Bull)

Pushing skateboarding as far as it pushes us — Scoff Skateboarding…

It all started with an idea and passion. Add a little kick ass from an entrepreneur leadership class.  Then mix it with practicality and necessity.  Last drop a hit of craziness and Scoff skateboarding became the brainchild of Jason Huewe.

“I’m a very creative individual;” Huewe said.  “A guy with crazy ideas.”

That was 2004.  Those crazy ideas have led to very practical needs.  Huewe, a skateboarder since Jr. High, noticed a constant need for all skateboarders that nobody in the market was providing–shoe laces. Not any ordinary shoe laces, but laces that could withstand the torture a skateboarder puts them through.

“What is the first thing that wears out when skateboarding>”  Huewe said.  “Shoe laces would always come untied, ripped, frayed.”

Through trial and error, Huewe created a technique to re-enforce first the tips of shoe laces and eventually the entire lace.

Broken down, the Skatelace is 2 to 3 times resistant to abrasion, guaranteed not to fray in reinforced areas, and when finished the lace is stiffer than normal. This allows it to grip the majority of the lace holes in your shoes keeping them tight when untied and even after the lace breaks. The last 8 inches of the skatelaces are left untreated from the process to make it easier to lace your shoes.

They are the only lace to combine the 3 aspects of abrasion resistant, non-fraying abilities, and gorilla gripping technology into the single lace. They go through our own in house reinforcement process that actually bonds the threads of the lace, giving it its high fray resistant abilities. This also means that the lace can withstand high tensile strength even after being broken. For example, the skatelace breaks and instead of tying it back together (or throwing it away) you can grab a stapler and pound 3 staples into the 2 broken ends of the lace and continue skating. Having no worries of the lace becoming unraveled by the pulling staples due to fused threads, the staple would actually be more likely to bend and come out before the lace unravels. (From www.scoffskateboarding.com)

Out of this world. Something that seems so common place, had not been approached by any major shoe/ shoe lace manufacturers.  Scoff Skateboarding has begun business to business talks with major brand names from a wide market–not just skateboarding.

Huewe’s philosophy; “keep everything simple and bold.”  Scoff’s Skatelaces are the perfect example of this.  A simple need with a bold application.

Round two, enter the Scoff Project.  Goal: build a mega mini ramp.  Huewe got his idea of putting a mega mini ramp in his parent’s backyard from various threads online.

“Had some old wood, started at eight foot,” Huewe said.  “A year later, I thought I want to make something legit and film it being built.”

Thus the inception of the Scoff Project. The first attempt started with no plans, no sponsors, just friends and an idea.  Built, but not “legit” enough.

“Version 2.1, six months passed.  Started trying to get sponsors,” Huewe said. “October 4, 2007 started construction with 20 plus volunteers–skateboarders, filmers…”

The Scoff Project since has gained the likes of Grind TV, Birdhouse, and Monster energy drinks.  After many a hiccup and $2,000, the project is 3/4 complete.  To push through and finish, Scoff Skateboarding has been trying to raise money through their website and sales of t-shirts.

All the progress and work has been documented through film–with hours and hours of video.

Scoff Skateboarding, has rolled with the punches, but always maintained its identity.  With state of the art shoe laces in route to mass production, Scoff continues to innovate with another 5 or so projects/ideas waiting at the helm.

“Setting a high standard for ourselves we made a promise to develop the most practical, eduring, and original innovations.” (from www.scoffskateboarding.com)

Shoe Laces un-wrapped:

The Scoff Project : 1st Test Run:

Check out more at: www.scoffskateboarding.com

The Scoff Project You Tube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/skatescoff#p/u

I know this out of the ordinary, but awhile ago I read an article on Yahoo! about a former MMPR (Mighty Morphin Power Ranger) who wants to be a  MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter. Which Power Ranger you ask? It’s none other than Tommy, the Green Ranger. It has been reported that Tommy, whos real name is Jason David Frank, has been training with a current UFC fighter, and eventually wants his shot at a fight in the Octagon. There is no question that, at the age of 35, JDF hasn’t toughend up since his dino-days, but the question that does get raised is “Will they allow him to use his Dragon Dagger, to call his Dragonzord, if he’s about to tap-0ut?”

Good Luck Tommy!! Make Zordon and the people of Angel Grove Proud!!

During my middle school and high school days, pop/rock music WAS MY LIFE.  I was addicted, absolutely infatuated to its helplessly catchy power of pop.  Sure, I may have matured a little with my music taste, but I’ll always love that genre. ALWAYS.  It’s what made me love music…

In the course of discovering amazing pop/rock bands, I remember fortunately stumbling upon a band that PERFECTLY fitted in the music I loved at the time; it was progressive, hard hitting, and powerful pop music that exceeded most bands in that genre.  This band, of course, was CARTEL.

From then on… I’ve always been a fan.

Their 5 song EP called The Ransom (2004) depicted Cartel at their youth and (even though I may say this for a lot of bands) showcased the band at their most raw form.  In 2005 they released their first full length album Chroma introducing the world  to singles such as “Honestly” and “Say Anything (Else).”

In 2007 Cartel released their self-titled sophomore effort, which unfortunately did not push the band any farther.  Though the album had some of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard, including “The Fortunate” and their single “Lose It,” the album was a small success.

So now, 2 years later, Cartel will be releasing their third full length album titled Cycles, in stores 10/20/09. Listening to the album’s first single “Let’s Go” (which can be streamed on the band’s myspace), the song takes an epic and uplifting approach with full and heavy instrumentation with supporting lyrics such as “If you got a torch to carry, hold it high…light up the sky…take the world with me.”

Judging from this single, Cartel is sure to release a satisfying effort, giving us the most solid and catchy pop/rock record that will guarantee them stability in today’s music.

Listen to the band’s first single “Let’s Go” from the their upcoming album CYCLES on their myspace, where you can also pre-order the album before it hits stores 10/20/09.

Below is an acoustic version of one of the tracks (possibly another single?) taken from Cycles called “Faster Ride.“  It’s just a song that, again, reminds me of why this band exists in the pop/rock world: they’re just damn catchy, catchy, catchy.

Hurt so Good

Designer crutches, glamorous slings and light up canes, who would have thought? Cookie Tanney, as a matter of fact. Founder and Creator of Pretty Hurt, Tanney has made a name for herself in the extreme sports scene and is making headway all across America.

Tanney, a Huntington Beach native, moved to Fresno a few years ago and dabbled in a little bit of this and a little bit of that. She eventually grew restless and began to pursue a different type of avenue all together, crutches.

The concept came when a close friend, Ernie, broke his leg. Being the fashion forward gal she is, Tanney used her fearless senses to create a custom pair of crutches for him.

To her surprise, the crutches were a smashing hit and pretty soon Pretty Hurt was born.

Marking her one year anniversary of Pretty Hurt, Tanney has succeeded in being a part of the surfing US Open, touring with the Action Sport tour and signing on a team of riders (Adam Denny, Jeff Bohuslavsky and Patrick Ivison) to sport the Pretty Hurt name.

Doing big things and keeping the creative vibes going is what Cookie is known for best. Her spirit and passion has allowed her to achieve greatness.

If she has done all this in one year, we here at Lean Green Machine can’t wait to see what happens next with Pretty Hurt; keeping it PRETTY and makin’ it HURT so good!!

Written by Brooke Rolfs

The N.E.R.D. front man will not rest until he has accomplished all genres of music. Which is very admirable in today’s world where individuals constantly limit themselves from exploring new ideas/things, and never just “take a chance”. Be BOLD and embrace the unknown, cause nothing comes from nothing. Props to you Pharrell.

Cleveland Brown, Peter Griffin’s token black drinking buddy in “Family Guy,” is leaving Quahog to pursue life in the spin-off series “The Cleveland Show.”

Follow Cleveland as he returns to his hometown, marries his high school sweetheart, begins a new family, and befriends a bear. Yes, a bear.  If Family Guy can have a talking dog, American Dad have a talking fish, then Cleveland can have a talking bear, damnit.

Check out the trailer here…

So being Father’s Day and all, I needed to show my pops the true recognition he deserved, so I ran out around 12pm to  get him the perfect card, like any good son should.  After a stop at REI and a burger at In-n-Out, I wandered over to Vromans.  Of course being my luck, most the Father’s Day cards were already gone–I blamed Vromans for under stocking because of the recession, but that’s another story in its self.  Anyway, found a card, cheasy nonetheless and long story short is I happened upon some of the most “laugh out loud” funny cards I have ever seen– Bald Guy Greetings.   The dark, sketched drawings stepped right in line with  the sadistic, sarcastic, absolutely hilarious nature of these cards. A few lines below and some images, but a must check out if you’re the card sending type — fuck it, even if you’re not, these cards are, like I said, “laugh out loud” funny.  Check it at baldguygreetings.com.