C FOUR INTERNATIONAL: July 2013

Well the mini revolution is firing on all fours! Heaps of completes & decks for the little tackers. Perfectly sized to make learning tricks easy on a manageable sized stunt wood.

Check out what we have for immediate delivery from TOY MACHINE & FOUNDATION available in deck only to build em' your way or off the shelf completes ready to schralp!

WORLD INDUSTRIES ready to roll completes, great quality that save you a few bucks and are great for the next step up from your first complete.

If your looking for a directional smaller board loaded with old school cool for the wee folks, Check out this POCKET PISTOLS DUANE PETERS SPEED BIRD!

Directional Mini's make for a perfect park or ramp board for the littleuns' or a great little cruiser deck for the big dogs.

Hit up your local shop or Goliath to find your nearest dealer.

DAVE HACKETT INTERVIEW JULY 2013 WITH AHA

As you scroll through this blog you'll see I have a genuine soft spot for board companies that offer something a little different. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's from my own passion for thinking out how to build something you have an image in your head of, then covered in saw dust and paint a few hours later admiring what you have just created? There is something very cool about the skate companies out there still building boards the old way, or should I say the proper way... and I'm lucky enough to be able to offer a bunch of these brands to skate shops in NSW.

2013 see's the return of DEATHBOX SKATEBOARDS after a hiatus and DAVE HACKETT has been kind enough to give us an insight into where this brand comes from and what it's all about. Dave went above and beyond in providing a unique perspective and a bunch of cool images from his personal archive. I hope you get as much of a kick reading on as much as I have in putting it together.

Enjoy!

AHA

AHA: Hello Mr Hackett, thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for the folks in Oz. So for those that don’t know, a quick run down. How long have you been skating for and when did you turn pro?

DH: Thanks AHA - Been Riding Skateboards For Over 40 Years Now- Turned Pro In 1975 When I Was 15.

AHA: What is your favorite terrain to skate these days?

DH: I’ve Been Riding All Terrain My Whole Life- These Days It’s Perfect Bowls And Pools. I Like Stuff In The 7-9 Foot Deep Range.

AHA: You took out an event at The Indian School in New Mexico ditch a few years back. This is one of my dream spots and I was fortunate enough to ride there a while ago. What is your dream skate spot?

DH: Funny You Mention Indian School In The Same Sentence As Dream Spot- That’s One Of Mine For Sure. I Wish I Had My Own Empty Pool, Shaped Like The O.G. Dogbowl, 8 Feet Deep, Lot’s Of Flat Bottom, Perfect Coping, Rippable Shallow End With Perfect Coping, Three Deathboxes- One In The Shallow, One In The Deep And One On The Side, Two Love Seats, Two Lights, And A Set Of Stairs!

40MPH CONTEST RUN, INDIAN SCHOOL OUTLAW DITCH RACE. Photo: FARID ©

AHA: In 1982 Glen E Friedman shot the ‘Hackett Slash’ which has become one of the most famous and iconic skateboarding images ever. Tell us a bit about the session where the shot was taken?

DH: I Really Don’t Remember Much It Was So Long Ago And I Think We Were Probably Wasted- But What I Do Remember Was I Went There With Olson And Arab. Jay Alabamy And Glen E. Friedman Were There Shooting. Deep Into The Session Olson Said “Hey, Try My Board!” - So I Grabbed His Board And Started Slashing About....His Board Seemed So Loose And Surfy And I Just Started Whipping These Insane Slashes On This Really Harsh Coping And Making It- All Of Them...It Was Really Wild- Glen Was Right There- Documenting It All And Bam! He Got The Shot- It Wasn’t Planned And I’m Just Stoked I Was In The Right Place At The Right Time!

OG HACKETT SLASH SHOT - © GLEN E. FRIEDMAN - BURNINGFLAGSPRESS.COM

AHA: How do you feel about competing in different events in 2013. There seems to be a massive surge in veterans events going on these days?

DH: I Love Competing- I’m Getting Ready To Defend My 2012 Oceanside Open Master Overall Slalom Racing Title In Two Weeks- Now It’s Called The U.S. Nationals. I Would Compete In More Pool And Bowl Events But They Need To Create A Division For Us O.G. Guys.

AHA: Who are some of your favorite guys from the old guard still out there shredding at the moment?

DH: Obviously Duane Rules, But I Like Watching Cab, Christian, Miller, Mcgill, T. Hawk, Salba, Grosso, Sergie, And One Of My All Time Favorite Warriors Is Tmag- No One Tougher Than That Dude- He Can Still Blast A 20 Foot Bs Air On The Mega Ramp At 50....

AHA: What about up and coming young punks, who should we keep an eye on?

DH: There Are So Many Good Young Turks Coming Up- My Favorite Is Daniel Cuervo! But Also Watch Josh Rodriguez, Josh Mattson, Mike Owen, Brad Mclain, Austin Poynter, Alex Sorgente, Sky Siljeg, Curren Caples, And My Other Favorites- Travis And Justin Rivera.

AHA: Surfing has played a huge role in influencing the style of many skaters over the years. Are you getting out in the water much?

DH: Well Yeah, Of Course! For Guys Like Me And Jay, Surfing Is Number One, Skateboarding Number Two- When The Surf Is Up We Are In The Water- The Rest Of The Time We Are Riding Perfect Pools- Which Is The Same As Perfect Waves In Our Minds...

AHA: What are your favorite breaks and boards?

DH: I Surf Allot Around Here In San Diego- I Like Blacks, Seaside Reef, Boneyards, Brown House, Lowers, Uppers, And Up North- Malibu, Zuma, Point Dume, Rincon. I Surf Everything From A 6’-8” To A 10’-6” And Probably Have 9 Boards All Sizes In Between.

SURFBOARD QUIVER - A MUST FOR ALL SIZES OF SURF - Photo: Zannah ©

AHA: Death Box Skateboards are being produced again, tell us how Death Box started?

DH: Well, originally, back in 1999, I heard that Stacy Peralta was doing the DogTown Documentary; DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS because he called me and told me he wanted to interview me. I got to thinking what an Impact that film will make on bringing back Respect for my Generation of Guys and Wider decks. (At that time and all during the 90’s it was hard to find a deck wider that 8” or a Deck with a “Directional Shape” - Basically everything was Street/Popsickle decks.

I think Black Label and Beer City were producing a couple wider decks, but my Idea for DEATHBOX was let’s ONLY do Wide and Directional Shaped Decks and Focus on Pool Riding and the Men who were some of the first Pool Riders and build the brand around those guys. It just so happened that Tod Swank and Pineapple were thinking along the same lines, so we all decided to create the brand together with Tum Yeto backing it. The original DEATHBOX Team was Jay Adams, Brad Bowman, Mike Folmer, Myself, Tom “Wally” Inouye, Doug “Pineapple” Saladino, Wentzle Ruml, Rick Blackhart and Steve Olson. Blackhart & Olson Dropped out at the last minute but eventually made Guest Models later on.

AHA: What is the design process to create a DeathBox board when it comes to producing an original shape & graphic?

DH: Well, without revealing any personal design “Secrets”- I do allot of research with shops and online to see what size (Width & Length) is selling, then I do the same with shapes; wide tail? Round tail? pointier nose? more or less concave?

I ask myself these questions and more before I sit down at the computer to draw the shape in illustrator. Once I have the shape, I start playing with different imagery and logos that I create in illustrator/Photoshop for that deck- If the new deck is a teamrider’s new model, I usually either ask them to provide the artwork and shape, or I will work with them to create whatever they want- But try and keep it in the “DEATHBOX STYLE” of Artwork, Look and Feel of the Brand.

I try and keep all of DEATHBOX’S artwork and Image HARDCORE, but not all Evil/Devil Worship Crap. Were HARDCORE SKATEBOARDERS - Not weak Evil Scumbag pieces of shit!

AHA: You have had some pretty heavy hitting names on DeathBox with signature & guest models in the past, what do you have planned for this round in the Death Box story?

DH: HA HA! Yeah, I’m pretty Stoked on how many HARDCORE Purely GNAR Skateboarders have Ridden on DEATHBOX- Even Random Dudes who Kill it- Like Ricky Stiles, Dave Reul, and Will Kimball. I really don’t have anything “Planned” for the next round in the DEATHBOX story, but I will tell you that I’m looking for some SUPER GNAR YOUNG POOL & BOWL WARRIORS who can carry the Torch and “Light Up The BOX”!!

AHA: Your other skate hardware project is BLACK LEATHER RACING tell us a bit about that and the type of gear you produce with that program?

DH: BLACK LEATHER RACING or (BLR) was started about 7 years ago by myself and Steve Olson. We were going to all these Slalom and Downhill Races and seeing all the racers wearing Silly Lycra tops and Tour De France helmets and just looking like Poofters Mate! We didn’t fit into ANY of their team concepts of what a HARDCORE SKATEBOARD RACER should look like- So we started our own team- BLACK LEATHER RACING TEAM! We wear all Black, sometimes Black Leather Racing Jackets and White shoes- We have “A Look” and Chicks Dig Us. We make Racing Decks- Downhill, Tight, Hybrid and Giant Slalom Boards, Longboards and Cruiser Decks and Completes as well- We have some KILLER SHIT!

AHA: What can skaters expect when they get a DeathBox or BLR plank under their feet?

DH: Straight Up- 100% Canadian HardRock Maple Decks actually produced in Canada- NOT CHINA! and SUPER SICK and BAD-ASS Graphics you can Scare your Chick With- None of this Silly Artsy-Over-Designed-By-Some-Non-Skating-Art-Student-Trying -To-Build-His-Action-Sports-Portfolio-So-He/She-Can-Get-A-Job-In-The-Nike-Art-Dept.-Next!

ALL OUR STUFF IS CONCEPTUALIZED, DESIGNED, TESTED, AND PROVEN BY REAL SKATEBOARDERS FOR REAL SKATEBOARDERS!

AHA: I’m sure you have a vast quiver of skateboards, what are your 3 favorite completes and how do you have them set up?

DH: I probably have and ride at least 20 different decks in my current quiver and I ride them all- All for different applications and terrain. My 3 favorite completes are: L-R, 1) My 9X38” Sean “Duck” Mallard Downhill Model with Randal Downhills and Abec 11 Centrac wheels, 2) 9.5X35 DEATHBOX Pirate For Big Pools and Bowls with Jay Adams Tracker Trucks, and 3) My 9X34” Kenny Mollica BLR Pocket Pistol Foam Core Slalom Racing Deck with Radicals and 3dM Avalon wheels. All my Decks are set up with KHIRO Bushings, Risers and KHIRO HARDCORE HARDWARE and NITRO Bearings- The World’s Fastest Bearings!

AHA: You have just joined Jay Adams on the Tracker Trucks team, how did that all come about?

DH: I started working with Tracker as the Creative Director on their new History of Tracker Trucks Book Project, which I always thought they should do...and in talking with them they asked me if I would be interested in Joining Jay on the Team and it’s a good fit. I still love INDY and will always dig the History I had with Fausto and Eric Swanson, but since those guys are Gone (God Rest their Souls) INDY Just hasn’t been the same for me. Don’t get me wrong, Rhino is a Soul Brother and has Always taken great care of me and used to send me whatever I wanted or needed the next day, but now Everyone is on INDY and where once Tracker Ruled the Industry before INDY, Tracker is like the UnderDog Company and Truck now and I find that more of a Challenge to help Rebuild the Tracker Brand with Jay and the new Riders we have. Plus allot of people don’t know this but Tracker not only makes A LARGER selection of different size Trucks but almost every trick ever invented on a skateboard aside from some of Duane’s tricks were invented on Trackers and Almost every Gnarly INDY rider once rode for Tracker before they got on INDY too including Salba, Bowman, Alva, Danny Way, Bucky Lasek, Cab, - The list goes on and on...The new Jay Adams Trackers turn SO Good it’s Crazy- And they are Strong as Hell!

AHA: Are you doing any design work with Tracker Trucks at the moment? Anything new in the pipeline?

DH: Right Now I’m focusing on the Book which is a HUGE Project. Tracker is always coming out with new stuff, next in the works are Wider versions of Jay’s Axis Truck which will be about the same width as a INDY 159‘s 169’s.

AHA: Any plans on getting down to Australia to surf or skate?

DH: I wish! I’ve never been to Australia, and have wanted to go for years!

AHA: Thanks again for taking the time out for this interview, any shout outs to crew or sponsors before we wrap this up.

DH: I’d Like To Thanks All My Sponsors Including KHIRO BUSHINGS AND HARDWARE, OSIRIS SHOES, NITRO BEARINGS, TRACKER TRUCKS, DEATHBOX, BLR, 187 PADS, AND PARADOX GRIP TAPE! I’m Looking For A Clothing Sponsor And An Energy Drink Sponsor Too- So Hit Me Up!

Thank You Guys And Stoked On You Picking Up Deathbox And Blr!! I’m Looking For Some Warriors To Represent Us Downunder On Blr And Deathbox Too.

So Let Me Know Who Can Throw Down!!!

DH: Here’s a Final Thought: Call your dreams into reality everyday by affirming this...

“Infinite spirit open the way for me to experience Health, Wealth, Love and Perfect Self Expression in Perfect ways under Grace.”

And so it is… God Bless- HACKMAN!

C FOUR INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

WATCH THIS! ... Bob Burnquist and the best clip you'll see for a while!

MINI SKATEBOARDS : Perfect sized boards for Kid's... and big kid's from TOY MACHINE, FOUNDATION, WORLD INDUSTRIES & POCKET PISTOLS.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

COREY DUFFEL DECKS NOW IN STOCK... BACK THIS DUDE!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

TOY MACHINE - NEW DECKS... TIME TO JUMP THE SHARK!

Friday, July 5, 2013

DAVE HACKETT INTERVIEW - Dave talks Pools, downhill, why Silly Lycra tops and Tour De France helmets have no place in skateboarding and graphics by Some-Non-Skating-Art-Student-Trying -To-Build-His-Action-Sports-Portfolio-So-He/She-Can-Get-A-Job-In-The-Nike-Art-Dept. really suck!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

POCKET PISTOLS... New Decks just landed including NATHAN 'JIMMY' BECK PRO MODEL