Just received a set of the new Thunder 148 Trucks. This features an 8.25" axle and is meant for decks measuring 8.12" to 8.38". I'm very excited to give these a go and hook them up to the American Zero deck I recently purchased. Much thanks to the great staff at Deluxe Dist. and Supra Dist. for sending these, fully comp'd, due to a defected product I messaged them about.
I know I continuously tell readers to support local skate shops, sadly when a major sale pops up at a mall store, it's too good not to avoid. One particular company had a Buy One, Get One 50% Off Sale on skateboard items and was surprised to see this in a sale bin. The price alone and the fact that it's a Brian Anderson pro model from the now-defunct 3D Skateboards was enough to grab it. Measuring 8.5" x 32.35, it's a little far beyond the dimensions I'm used to. It's strictly for the wall and will stay there for a very long time.
As stated earlier, the store was having a BOGO 50% deal on skateboard hardware and I scooped this as well. A very nostalgiac board celebrating the 20th Ann'y of Zero Skateboards is this American Zero graphic. It measures 8.375" x 31.9 which is a size and shape I've never tried before, but looking forward to it. Furthermore, it's pretty reminiscent of a time when skateboarding was most raw and playing as Jamie Thomas in the video games with this deck.
Found a pair of éS Accel Slim shoes and couldn't pass up on the amazing $40 price tag. Like the Accel OG, this is a thinner and lighter version with a special colourway for pro skater and Philadelphia native Tom Asta.
Featured today is a much sought after Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky jersey in its road blue colourway. This is a custom piece without any company labels. Just like some jerseys in the collection, it was built from the ground up. The sweater itself was found at a thrift store with some recreation league logo on the front and a random number on the back. I did my best to strip the previous details, but unfortunately, some glue residue still remained.
I knew from the start this will not be a perfect looking jersey. The patch for the front was ordered online and it was taken to Game Day Sports to complete the job. The numbers are in triple layered tackle twill with a single colour name and name bar. Aside from the glue marks, this jersey is perfect.
Wayne Gretzky would would be featured on many magazine covers wearing this style all while tearing up scoring records in the National Hockey League.
"A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be." - Wayne Gretzky
I've always admired the So Hip Jays deck and pulled the trigger on it. I intended it to be a hanger, but the shape was too good to pass up. There have been a few changes to this complete since picturing it, but here's how it looked when I first put it together. The deck itself measures 8" wide and aboout 31.5" in length. A white is always prime for sticker creativity.
What kickstarted this complete was pair of slightly used Venture Trucks I found online for a cheap price. These are the Torey Pudwill signature model that came out a few years ago.
For the wheels and bearings, I originally attached an new old stock set of sml. Wheels and Bones Reds Bearings. As of now it has a set of Darkstar Wheels and Bronson Bearings.
This grip job was one I was most amped on, but unfortunately had to replace it because of a repair on the bolt a few days ago. With an extra sheet of clear grip and a Simpsons calendar, I chose to get a little creative.
Today's post is what I consider a double throwback. It's the Quebec Nordiques Joe Sakic from their final years in Quebec City.
This would be the road style jersey worn back in the early to mid 1990s. The royal blue CCM sweater features factory pressed team emblems and embroidered letters/numbers in single and double layered tackle twill.
Born on 7 July 1969 in Burnaby, BC, Canada, Joseph Steven Sakic was selected 7th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 NHL Draft, scoring 62 points in his rookie season. He would play in his first All-Star Game in 1990, and continue to represent the Nordiques until 1994. In 1992, he became the captain and helped lead the the franchise to their first playoffs appearance in six seasons. He would help them win the Adams Division in 1995.
The following fall, the Quebec Nordiques franchise moved to Denver, renamed themselves the Colorado Avalanche, and captured the Stanley Cup in their first year in the Mile High City. Burnaby Joe recieved the Conn Smythe Award as Playoff MVP with 34 points in 22 games played. In 2001,he won another Stanley Cup Championship and the Hart Trophy as league MVP with 118 points [54 G, 64 A]. He would finally call it a career at the end of the 2008-09 NHL season.
NHL Highlights & Achievements
1378 games played, 635 goals, 1016 assists
2x Stanley Cup Champion [1996, 2001]
Conn Smythe Trophy [1996]
Hart Memorial Award [2001]
13x NHL All-Star [1990-94, 1996-98, 2000-02, 2004, 2007]
NHL All-Star Game MVP [2004]
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy [2001]
Lester B. Pearson Award [2001]
NHL First All-Star Team [2001, 2002, 2004]
Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee [2012]
No. 19 retired by Colorado Avalanche in his honour
"The more I can hear, the more I can learn, the better off I'll be. - Joe Sakic
This weekend, Blue Tile Lounge hosted Worst for the Worst, an art show featuring Anti-Hero Skateboards most prominent artist Todd Francis. My brother and I had the pleasure of meeting the man himself as well as pro skater/DJ John Cardiel.
Here are a bunch of pics taken from the event. Great people and great times, I hope to see something like this again in the near future.
Recently, Dwindle Dist. has been re-releasing some classic skateboards and this particular one is something I needed for the collection. As luck would have it, a seller posted this online and I immediately scooped it up. Originally released by 101 Skateboards in 1991, this Devil Worship deck was a perfect fit for pro skater Natas Kaupas.
Measuring 9.6" x 31.5", this deck is as original as it gets with rounded nose and square tail. I'm not 100% sure if this is the hand silk screened graphic or heat transferred, but regardless, it's a timeless classic. Ultimately going back to its roots, it's no mystery why the Dwindle Dist. reissue decks are the most wanted among collectors.
When I grabbed this Santa Cruz Sun God deck a few days ago, I was considering just hanging it on the wall. But then I thought, "screw it," and attached the Gullwing Trucks and enjoi rail. I don't think it's necessary to buy new wheels for a used deck, so I'm continuing to use an old set of Bones Wheels and Bronson Bearings.
To top it off, I'll be using MOB Grip and generic bulk hardware.
I'm now at a phase where I want to ride old school skateboards and a seller posted an ad for this Santa Cruz Jason Jessee Sun God re-issue deck. There are some scuffs and dings, but the overall condition is superb. I myself have always wanted a Jason Jessee board and this just fell into my hands the most perfect way. It measures 9.9" wide by 29.7" in length. Part of me wants to skate this, the other part may leave this on the wall. Who knows.
In case I do feel like skating this deck, I grabbed a pair of used Gullwing Trucks and a set of enjoi Tummy Sticks.
Support your local skate shop.
This is really awesome deck I grabbed from an online seller. It's a quadruple collabo deck made by The Royal Hawaiian Pool Service with Crows Nest Barber Shop, Grant's Golden Brand pomade company, and influential/legendary Santa Cruz pro skater Jason Jessee. The unique shape and off the chart graphic is what drew me to this. It's a limited item, but will for sure put this together and cruise the streets.
I was stoked to find a decently used and priced Powell-Peralta Ripper re-issue skateboard online. I was definitely sold on the shape with the pointed nose and squared tail. It measures 10" x 31.75" with very steep concave for a modern feel. For extra flair, I screwed a pair of enjoi Tummy Sticks rails. Unfortunately, it took multiple attempts and covered the damage with a few of my favourite stickers.
Upon receiving the board, the previous owner applied the grip tape poorly. Luckily, I had extra Jessup Grip and covered the top properly. Later on, I will add a set of trucks and I will make this board return to all its glory.
