Red Bull is taking over Central Park on June 12 to see if Kevin Robinson can break Mat Hoffman’s height record on a quarterpipe of 50.5 ft. in the second “Red Bull Experiment.” You may recall the first “Experiment” took place on New Year’s Eve and featured Robbie Maddison’s record-breaking distance jump on a motorcycle (since beaten by Maddison himself down under).

Robinson’s attempt will take place on a 60ft high roll-in and up a 27 foot Super Quarter Pipe and his goal is to reach at least 27 feet over the ramp to break the record.

Two days after the event, Robinson is hosting the Kevin Robinson Innovational, in which other riders will get their chance on the ramp and quarterpipe.

No word in the press release, but I believe ESPN is televising the event — if they aren’t, they should.

Check out the poster right here and then read the press release following. Gotta love how the press release knows K-Rob isn’t a big enough name so it says “Man Will Attempt to Soar Above NYC Skyline in a Single Bound”

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In every profession there are a few suspect people who have the status of professional when they may not have exactly earned it.  Sometimes it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time and accidentally meeting the right people while there are those who are embedded into the cracks of the far ends of the earth who may deserve it more.  For those of you who like art, take a look at Jean-Michel Basquiat and his scribble art.  His scribbles and kindergarten style drawings captured the attention of those surrounding the New York art scene in the 80’s.  And his paintings went for thousands. 

Or how about someone everyone knows, Britney Spears?  I don’t follow celebrity news or anything but you would have live in a cave not to know her life has gone downwards and she’s starting to look like Aries Spears.  How is she still selling records?

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The City Skateboards crew is on the verge of finishing up their skate video title “What the F**k is a Bachinsky”, and has graced us with a nice little montage of Eduardo Craig demolishing a double set, set in a nice Minnesota location under harsh 25 degree weather conditions.  I didn’t know skateboards are so fragile in the cold. 

May 17, 2008: Pohwaten Springs Skatepark, Arlington VA
June 21, 2008: Olney Manor Skatepark, Olney MD
July 19, 2008: Charles County Skatepark, White Plains, MD
August 9, 2008: St. Mary’s County Skatepark, Lexington Park MD

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But now there is something even more to look forward to. For all you K-Towners, and surrounding Angelinos, Xtreme Boardshop will be opening it’s second store and will be celebrating with a grand opening party complete with skate demo and contest.  The will take place at the Koreatown Plaza on Sunday May 18th from 12pm – 4pm.  The event will also come with a bunch of free gear so get your Kim Chi together and make it out to K-Town if you can. 

A rally is being held for the memory of Dane Williams in San Diego this Sunday.  The event will start at 10 a.m. and run all day.  The goal of the event is to “keep his story in the media to help find answers.”

Williams was a Hurley employee and surfer who disappeared during January’s ASR show in downtown San Diego.  His body was found a few days later and no suspect has ever been identified despite a $10,000 reward being offered.

There isn’t an official site for the Williams investigation or rally but you can see the flier above and here’s some background…

In Glendale, AZ, an off-duty cop is being prosecuted for choking a neighbor who was skateboarding past his house.  On the street!  Pulled by his dog, even!  So it’s not enough that skaters get attacked by on-duty cops (*cough* Hot Springs, AR).

Then there’s the pleasant little burb of Fredericton, population 50,000 and change, in New Brunswick, Canada.  Apparently there it’s illegal to skate on city streets and one skateboarder is willing to go to jail to make his point, even though all he had to do was pay a $50 fine.  (good for him)

So as your town puts together an event for GSD this year (mark it:  June 21)  be thankful you’re not in one of those towns.  Or Hot Springs.  Or Tampa.  Or in any one of the thousands of towns and cities that looks down on skateboarders.  Oops…

Last year atheltes like Pierre-Luc Gagnon and Simon Tabron dominated the event, with additional wins by Dennis Enarson, Morgan Wade and others.

Check out the schedule below along with the full press release following.

2008 Action Sports World Tour Schedule

• July 25–27 - S3 Supergirl Jam - Huntington Beach, CA (HB Pier)
• July 29-31 - Action Sports World Tour - Costa Mesa, CA (OC Fairgrounds)
• September 27 - LG World Championships of Freestyle Motocross - Pomona, CA (Fairplex Park)
• Oct. 3-4 - Action Sports World Tour - Cincinnati, OH (Bank of Kentucky Center)
• November 7-9 - LG Action Sports World Championships - Dallas, TX (Reunion Arena)

And here’s a few links to our coverage from ‘07:

• Glendale, AZ Stop - PLG, Tabron and Enarson Win
• San Diego, CA Stop - Vert Finals Photo Gallery
• Pomona, CA Stop - Twitch Wins FMX Championships
• Dallas, TX Stop - Skate Vert Finals
• Dallas, TX Stop - BMX Street Finals

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Aren’t advances in technology great?  Especially when skateboarding adopts the technology and integrates it into the production of skate videos.  Like the discovery of a proper editing bay.  The use of VCR to VCR editing got a little annoying after a while when you could see the rainbow colored lines running up and down your screen while watching an H-Street video.  Or do you remember the very first 3-D skate video?  I’m not exactly sure who made it (I think it was Nickelodeon) but it caused many kids including myself to vomit and possibly go into a seizure. 

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I love politics and I love campaigning for people.  When I was eight years old, I suggested my buddy John Kraner be put on the voting ballot for “Head of the Library”.  His job would basically be the person responsible for cleaning up the reading area after library time.  Him and I campaigned by threatening most of our classmates with a punch in the arm if they didn’t vote him in.  True story.  Of course he lost because some girl ratted us out and instead we got sent to the principal’s office. 

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