Woodward Beijing

There will be a WoodWard opening up in Beijing sometime late Spring. I havn't posted much info on it since you can read all about it on KickerClub.

I'm not quite sure what I think about it; I mean, it's def. going to be an epic park, but how the fuck do they reckon they'll stay in business? Look at SMP for example. The biggest skatepark in the world, and yet on a daily basis, there are less than 5 skaters there... ever. Plus, I hear the fees to get into Woodward are about 3000RMB/week. Who are they targeting? The Russians? The Japanese? Because the average Chinese family makes less than 3000RMB a month. Who's going to be going to this park? 3000RMB in the States ($441USD), is nothing for a week at Woodward, especially for what looks like (now) the best skatepark in the world, but I don't know any skaters in China that aren't sponsored or an expat child, who can afford to go to this camp. Also, the park isn't even in Beijing. I heard the bus ride takes 2 hours to get there from downtown Beijing. Will there be a bus on the regular to take people there? I mean, SMP Skatepark in Shanghai is considered pretty fucking far from downtown (that's also one of the main reasons it's so empty), but by taxi, it still takes less than 30 minutes. So the real question is.... what will Woodward do differently to attract its' customers, WHOM (am I using it in the right way?) are its' customers, and how will they keep them coming back?

I heard a soft opening is in March/April, I'll keep you guys posted on how really fucking awesome this park looks. Oh, but I heard they require helmets and pads.... really... really??, come on now, it's 2010 fellas.

"It's a Wrap"

There is a version of the Gift video online which you guys can check out. Please note that it isn't the version that premiered and I'm not sure at what stage of the editing process this was put up but you can check it out and since the DVD's will be free, I'll try and send as much as I can to the States if anyone wants a copy out there.

The DVD should be out sometime in February, with bonus footage, and all the usual. Also, the credits are not done, so I apologize to anyone who was a part of this video and left out in this version. Thanks!

Youku Videolink: CLICK HERE
(Youku videos don't seem to embed well w/ Blogger.)

Chinese New Year

I'm leaving for HuaiNan, AnHui Province tonight at 1am to hang with my relatives over Chinese New Year. During this time of year, taking the train anywhere in the country is really fucking crazy. Apparently, people just hop on with no tickets and if they get caught, either buy a ticket on the train or just jump off and catch another. A lot of the migrant workers work all year and this is their only chance to make it home, so basically picture 260 million people hopping onto like... 10 trains/day/destination. So since I bought a ticket, it doesn't gaurentee that I'll have a seat, just gaurentee's that I can get on the train, haha. To add to that, it's going to be cold as FUCK where I'm headed. It's going to be a long night. See you fellas in a week.

Slumdog Millionare

One of the perks of living in China is the massive amount of DVD's available for purchase on EVERY street corner. By every street corner, I am in no way exaggerating, it may even be an understatement. And at a mere 5RMB each (DVD quality, mind you.. we've come a long way since people started filming in theaters, they're going straight to the source now)... I can have every movie that is in theaters in the States now for less than the cost of a movie ticket. (I don't want someone to leave a gay ass comment like "Oh.. well the cost of these DVD's is actually people dying in Afghany and supporting terrorism, etc, etc. If I want to get into that, I'll google it myself. I'm buying them from a nice lady... if that makes a difference.) These DVD's consist of classics from Running with Scissors to the very latest such as Will Smith's Seven Pounds, Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, and the best movie I've seen in a very very long time: Slumdog Millionare. Now, usually I wouldn't go about posting or advertising something un-skateboarding related but I held my piss in for 2 hours watching this movie. Shit's bonkers. But maybe it's just me and my bad taste in movies. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. I actually have no idea if this even came out in the States or if it's still in theaters though. Anyone want me to watch and review any movies before you go yourself? Just shout me a holla.

Now the BEST would be if they had bootleg skate videos.... I sure could use me a copy of Translations and Final Flared. Fuck it, throw Last of the Mohicans in too! Anyone want to trade?


Here's the trailer for Slumdog Millionare:

Mike Mo's Double Set

Remember what I had said earlier about spots being named after skaters? .... well looky looky what I checked out the other night.




This is actually the better spot.... manual pad -no push- ledge across three steps. HOLLA

Wallride

Tommy Zhao wallride from Tommy Zhao on Vimeo.

I'm trying to put together a short montage. But I'll try to post as much shitty clips as I can.