Just so you are updated with team acquisitions, Jose Rojo from ENJOI is the latest addition to the etnies skate team.  There is a lot to be said about one of the O.G. members of Enjoi.  But there’s even more to be said about him after you read his sit down INTERVIEW.  Be prepared to be surprisingly empathetic and disgusted at the same time.  Depends how you look at it.

Sometimes, there are occasions that should stay between those involved.  Other times, you should be so proud about certain moments that you should tell the whole world.  So again, it depends how you look at it. 

As companies around the country and around the world for that matter, are cutting back, downsizing, and just looking back as to what went wrong, Adidas is no exception.  Major cutbacks are crucial to these companys’ survival. 

In an email sent to all employees last week from Adidas Chairman Herbert Hainer, “…due to the trouble economy, the company is imposing a hiring freeze, cutting external meetings, seminars and consultants, and aiming to pare travel expenses next year by 15%.”  He went on to say, “We believe the current climate does not offer an occasion to party,” and will do without year-end parties, which cost a total of about $6.3 million. 

In the spirit of JOYEUX NOEL, Etnies is coming to Adidas’ rescue by doing the very thoughtful and admirable gesture of throwing a company party.  All this giving and good deeds make me want to do something special.  So here you go – a Plan B warehouse video featuring an ETNIES skater, Ryan Sheckler.  Also features Jereme Rogers and P-Rod. 

The etnies GvR contest is always one of the best to watch and this year’s was no different thanks to a thrilling final that actually resulted in a tie, meaning the two teams would have to face off in a Game of SKATE.

The Regulars’ Chris Cole and Andrew Langi went head-to-head with Goofys Tyler Hendley and Justin Figueroa and the contest was decided when Cole landed a backside ollie 360 down the double set.

Cole was named MVP for the Regulars, earning a $17K payday, while Justin Figueroa was named MVP for the Goofy team.

There was also a best trick contest and a ladies jam and for those results, keep on reading.

REGULAR TEAM WINS FIFTH ANNUAL ETNIES GVR BREAKING THE TIE!
Closest GvR Ever Ended in Overtime with a Game of SKATE between Regular and Goofy Skaters

Lake Forest, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2008) – The Regular Team took home bragging rights, and a 3-2 lead with their win in today’s fifth annual etnies GvR, while the Goofy Team will have to wait for another chance to redeem their stance.  At the close of the standard etnies GvR Finals the scores of the Regular and Goofy Teams were within 25 points, which according to the rules is considered a tie, so the event went into an overtime Game of SKATE.

Regular Team Capitan Mark Whiteley selected Chris Cole and Andrew Langi to represent his team in the tie breaking Game of SKATE.  Dave Swift, Goofy Team Capitan, selected Tyler Hendley and Justin Figueroa to represent his stance on the double set and hubbas in the etnies Skatepark.

The final debate in the 2008 etnies GvR was incredibly close.  After Regular Footers Chris Cole and Andrew Langi went back and forth in the Game of SKATE with Goofy Footed Tyler Hendley and Justin Figueroa many times the winner of the debate was still undecided.  Team Goofy had SKAT and the Regular footers had SKA until Chris Cole led the Regular Team to victory with a backside ollie 360 down the double set.

Final etnies GvR Results:

Regular Team:
1.  Team MVP Chris Cole* – $17,000
2.  Andrew Langi – $10,000
3.  Julian Christianson* – $6,000
4.  Carlos de Andrade – $3,500
5.  Chris Troy* – $3,500
6.  David Loy – $1,000
7.  Fabrizio Santos – $1,000
8.  Rick McCrank* – $2,000
9.  Kurtis Colamonico – $1,000
10. Austen Seaholm – $1,000
11. Sean Malto* – $2,000
12. Steve Reeves – $1,000
13. Chris Mendes – $1,000
14. Adam Dyet – $1,000
15. Danilo Do Rosario – $1,000

Goofy Team: 
1. Tyler Hendley* – $2,000
2. Jereme Rogers* – $2,000
3. Team MVP Justin Figueroa – $2,000
4. Rodolfo Ramos – $1,000
5. Chad Bartie – $1,000
6. Caswell Berry* – $2,000
7. Brandon Westgate – $1,000
8. Darrell Stanton* – $2,000
9. Taylor Smith – $1,000
10. Alex Olson* – $2,000
11. Felipe Gustavo – $1,000
12. Tom Fynn – $1,000
13. Morgan Smith – $1,000
14. Kevin Romar – $1,000
15. Helder Lima – $1,000

The * symbolizes the five riders selected by the team captain for the final team.  Each of these team riders receives an automatic $1,000 going into the event.  The MVP is also awarded an additional $1,000.

During the contest weekend, etnies also hosted the etnies Girl’s Jam Street Contest.  Check out the results below:

etnies Girl’s Jam Final Results:
1.  Rachel Reinhard – $2,500
2.  Lacey Baker – $2,000
3.  Leticia Bufoni – $1,500
4.  Marisa Dal Santo – $1,000
5.  Amy Caron – $600
6.  Vanessa Torres – $400
7.  Lorena Lima – $300
8.  Lyn-z Adams Hawkins – $200

The orange Zumiez couch was featured on the etnies GvR street course again and Zumiez hosted a contest giving cash prizes for the three best tricks on it.

Zumiez Best Trick Contest Results:
1.    Rodolfo Ramos – Frontside 180 Switch Krooked Grind to Frontside Half Cab Out – $2,000
2.    Julian Christianson – Nollie Heelflip to Feeble Grind – $1,500
3.    Cody Davis – Kickflip Backside Smith to Backside 180 Out – $1,000

At the close of the GvR qualifiers on Saturday night, Bad Religion thrilled the 8,500 fans in attendance with their performance in the parking lot above the skatepark.  The entire weekend was filled with great music including performances by Los Olvidados, Hyper Crush and skateboard legend Ray Barbee.

Upon its inception in 2004, GvR provided skateboarding a forum for the first team-based event in the industry, and annually features top pros divided into teams based on stance to determine who comes out on top in this skate debate.  More than 20,000 people attended the fifth etnies GvR skate contest this weekend.

Be sure to catch all of the action from the etnies GvR of Skateboarding on FUEL TV!  FUEL TV will air the etnies GVR 2008 on Friday, November 28, 2008 at 8:00 pm ET/PT, during the Skate @ 8 programming block.

For additional details, photo galleries and video check out gvr.etniesskate.com.

The event will start this Thursday, October 2nd and go on until the 5th at the Etnies Skate Park in Lake Forest.  Not to mention performances by two bands who have probably influenced each other over the years, Bad Religion and Hyper Crush. 

If you really want to be there but you can’t for various reasons like babysitting, you want to watch Dancing With The Stars, or any other reason you may think is valid, then don’t worry because there will be a Live Webcast of the entire event to show you who reigns supreme.  Although I think that they should factor in The Mondo (Mongo) Foot skater. 

It’s true; I think you can tell a lot about a person based on their footwear.  I consider myself a good, no great judge of people especially from their shoes even without looking at who they are above the ankle.  For instance, I was at the beach the other day and while staring at the ground because of my depression, I saw a pair of Birkenstocks walk past my frame of vision.  Without even looking up, I figured because we’re by the beach, Hermosa Beach specifically, the dude must have been a 205 lb body builder from Austria.  When I did look up, the guy must have weighed at least 255 lbs with a blond flat top and a muscle t-shirt.  I knew it!  Well I come across these situations all the time and I’m never surprised how correct I am 80% of the time.

Well it looks like I’m not the only shoe expert here.  After reading this amazing article in the New York Times about skaters and their sneakers, it looks like I might have some competition.  The article features the relationship between skaters and their sneakers and how unlike most sport related footwear; skaters seem to prefer style before function.  I myself would have to agree.  Although unrelated to skating, I prefer the color of my Soaps before I check the detail of the shoe’s buttery sole.

Anyway, check out the article in the New York Times.  You might find out like I did from reading it that I may be a little shallower than I thought.  I mean, I would never use a gray colored Soap.  Are you kidding me!?

Just look at the example of Pierre Andre Senizergues who is the founder of one skateboarding’s most popular skate shoes today, Etnies.  With continuous persistence and a go-getter attitude, Pierre was able to turn his life around.  Now you yourself can take a peak into Pierre’s world and see how he lives.

The Los Angeles Times did a feature on Pierre and his home in Newport Beach.  It’s a bit of a change from his days sleeping on the local skate shop’s sofa, but he seems to be a lot happier now.  Check it over at the LA Times.  I’m liking that wheel clock.

Anyway, I’m talking about a style of skating I’m sure more than 50% of us started out by.  And that would be the “Mongo Foot” or “Mondo Foot”.  That’s when you push off with your front foot and put it back into place before you do your trick.  Mondo’s have been kept out of this competition for so long, I think it’s time to make the addition and call it “Goofy Vs. Regular Vs. Mondo”.  I found this quote from the Goofy Foot team full of prejudice.

“The problem afflicting some skateboarders who push off with their back foot on the skateboard instead of their front foot. Such skaters are known as mongo footed and feel uncomfortable or unsafe pushing with their front foot on the board. As a result, mongo footed skateboarders don’t have as much time to prepare themselves for a trick after pushing off because they have to shuffle their feet around a lot after getting on the board.”  Tony Hawk said that.

Well whether or not you’re with me on this campaign, the Goofy Vs. Regular presented by Etnies will still hold its 5th annual event on October 2nd  – 5th.  It will take place in Lake Forest California.  Plus there will be a special guest playing a secret concert.  I’ll give you a clue as to who it is.  They started as a band probably way before you were even born.  One of the band members is a wise aged man.  And they make sure they never miss Sunday Mass.  If you’ve guessed Bad Religion, you’re correct!!!  Check out the flyer and go to the Etnies site for full details.

The skate jam will be from 5PM to 7PM and will feature team riders Mike Taylor, Sean Malto, Tyler Bledsoe, and Kyle Leeper.  Plus you will have the opportunity to win an Etnies prize pack loaded with a bunch of good stuff.  Check out the flyers below for more information.  Finally after watching a bunch of athletes win a bunch of medals, now it’s your turn to get a piece of the pie.

Just in case you didn’t know and you haven’t had your fix on Barcelona skating for a while, then check out Etnies’ new footage taking place in the beautiful city.  And just in case you didn’t know, Barcelona is actually pronounced “Barthelona” by the local Spanish.  You have to make sure you stress your lisp when you say “Barthelona”.

So the next time you tell your homies that you want to skate Barcelona, you have to say, “Yo brrah!  We’ve gotta take a major vacay and skate Barthelona for our next skate tour.  Barthelona will totally be sick!  Barthelona here we come!”

Now that you know a little more about “Barthelona”, check out this video over on the Etnies site and improve your cultural literacy that much more.