Mike D is Doing..

-The Dept.

Here we go people. The Dept. Summer Skate Camp schedule is set. We are adding 2 weeks of camps this summer bringing your total options to 9 weeks. The same great camps The Dept. has put on the last 5 years but this year will feature the new course layout. The camps run Monday - Thursday each week from 9am to Noon. Campers are then welcome to stay and skate the park all day until 6:30pm. Camps are a mix of group and individual instruction, games, and open skate time. Any ability level can benefit from Skate Camp and camps are open to skaters 6 years old and over. Each week is limited to 30 skaters and the cost is $150/week. You can sign up by calling 503.233.1237 or contacting The Dept. @ info@departmentofskateboarding.com.

Back for round 2 this Summer are The Dept. Field Trip camps. The Dept. Field Trip camps are designed to combat stagnation and encourage terrain variation. If you were one of the lucky ones who got in on these camps last year you definitely remember how fun it was hitting a different park in the Portland/Metro Area every day for four days. This summer should be even better as the # of parks in the area continues to grow with Ed Benedict and Gabriel park slated to be finished in the next few months. The Field Trip camps run the same weeks as the standard Dept. camps. Skaters meet up @ The Dept. at noon and jump in the van. We head out for an afternoon of sessioning and return to The Dept. at 5:30pm. Lunch is included so all you need to do is remember to bring your skateboard and desire to have fun. The Dept. Field Trip camps are open to 12 skaters each week 10 years old and over and are also $150/week. To sign up or for additional information call 503.233.1237 or email The Dept. at info@departmentofskateboarding.com.

So Art stopped by today to pick some grip up. Upon receiving his change, he got an unexpected surprise. Autographed Paul Rodriguez dollar! This was no marketing promotion or gimmick. Evidently, this type of random miracle happens on it’s own. He had to have made money on this little deal. EBay prices for P Rod autographs have got to start at least 10X that! Art is sooo stoked!! Just look at him!! Couldn’t have happened to a better guy.

While they were down south, Garric and Normine went and spent a little time in Nick’s world. Nick’s definitely got a strange world. First try smith grind. No denying Nick shreds.

Top left quicktime.
Contests are all about staying on your board.

Day 2 of Garric and Lance’s roadtrip produces another good shot. Something about this photo looks familiar. It doesn’t take a codebreaker to see a pattern forming. We might have to draw the line at 3 straight front boards. It’s definitely a sick shot though. Actually knowing Lance, this might be a back lip.

   Here we go again…..Another full night of skateboarding, pizza, and dodgeball.

$30.00 for the night. Remember to sign-up in advance to guarantee your spot.  Food is provided, but feel free to bring snacks.  For any additional info please call the DEPT. at 503.493.9480

Garric and Lance went down to stay in Corona for Spring Break and skate in the sunshine. Here’s a photo of Alien that Garric got the first day out.

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The mini ramp got a makeover to help boost it’s self esteem. We threw some Birch on it so it rides like the bowl now. It’s already pulling Ramp Gramps out of his house on a Saturday. Dave’s auctions must have all ended. Come check it out with a blunt of your own.

We tried to give a little warning that Matt can turn it on when he wants to. What happened? His first trip to Tampa Pro in 6 years, 4th place, $5K, and more cheers from the ladies than Sheckler. Nice job buddy. What do you have planned for the ‘Rocco with that loot?

Matt walked off with 2 of these trophys. He got this one because everyone was so stoked to see him show up. If you have’nt heard by now, Matt is returning to the Pro skateboarder ranks and his board on Skate Mental should be out next month.

P.S. Rattray got robbed. Lutzka literally walked away with $5000 extra dollars that rightfully belonged to Rattray.

Christopher Nichols on the come up.

Alright, who’s playing dodge ball?

Spring Break is next week and you could do 1 of 2 things: be lazy and sleep in and not go skate outside because it’s more than likely raining OR come hit up Spring Break SkateCamp at The Dept!! If you’ve never been to one of the skatecamps, they run Monday through Thursday from 9am-Noon. They are open to anyone 6 yrs old and older and any ability level. The Dept. Skoaches can help you out with tips on anything from pushing to 360 flips. The goal of these camps is to emphasize the FUN of skateboarding as well as challenge skaters in their progression. Camp is open to the first 30 people who sign up. Campers can also stay and skate the regularly scheduled public sessions until 6:30pm.

See you next week.

Beach is breaking out to Tampa on Thursday for Tampa Pro. He may or may not be riding a board with his name on it. It may or may not be 8″ wide and may or may not have a porpoise included somewhere on the graphic. Matt, go for the win. Everyone else entering should probably take note because Beach has some experience doing well in contests.

Gene, shouldn’t you be steering clear of police stations for awhile? The dudes over at Skatedaily have hooked another one of G. Ray’s photos up as their Weekly Image and this time it’s Gene’s sick front board.