Tony Hawk's New Video...

I just watched Tony Hawk’s 'Secret Skatepark Tour 2'.  Something about the megabrand “Tony Hawk”, I expected it to be a made-for-tv-sham.  Instead, I was shocked at how inspiring and back-to-basics the video turned out to be.  This isn’t just another video documenting how cool and talented pros are.  This one isn’t for the ego; it’s for the kids. 

Hawk traveled with his posse—some of the biggest name skaters in the world—to skate with fans in their small home-towns, unannounced.  I imagine it means a lot when your hero stops by to meet you…when that hero has the money to travel the world, but he instead makes time to stop at YOUR piece of crap town to skate—with YOU.

Anymore, it’s as if this Tony Hawk guy doesn’t even exist—video games, magazine ads, television shows shot half way around the world—he’s a brand!  …But somehow, this video makes him a person again.  Finally: a celebrity using star-power to hands-on-inspire fans!  He’s taking the time to be one of them, teaching them tricks, slapping hi-fives!  It’s awesome!

You’ve got to check out Tony Hawk’s 'Secret Skatepark Tour 2'.  I love the scene where Hawk came over the intercom at a small town, Montana middle school, announcing himself at first as simply a “professional skateboarder” who can’t tell you enough to ‘say no to drugs’, for they will rob you of your motivation.  All the kids faces say 'who is this guy preaching over the intercom???'  But at the same time, you can see the kids are hearing this mystery skaters’ words crystal clear, as somehow very important.  Then the words 'I’m Tony Hawk. I’ll be at the skatepark after school' echo over the loudspeaker and all the kids start SCREAMING! …Those kids were so excited it brought tears to my eyes!  It was something out of a Make-A-Wish Foundation commercial.  I’m telling you…there are tons of cool moments like that.

Check out the Have It / DTS episode of Ten80 coming out this week for a sneak peak into Tony Hawks 'Super Skatepark Tour 2'!  I’ll be in the chat!  Tell me what you think…

The NEW Ten80! Satellite Board Shop Kicks It All Off!!!

We’ve got a new show ready to be unveiled!  We’ve recreated the action sports show into a show that gives you a sneak peak into the biggest, raddest and latest videos (before you buy!), and introduces you to the totally talented (not to mention a bit famous) folks behind them.  The new show also features an all too forgotten scene in mainstream media, which is Core Shops and the Shopkids who support local business.

Our first episode, airing December 10th, features the skate videos and personalities of Satellite Board Shop and The Wetboys, out of Boulder, Colorado.   What an interesting cast of characters! They’re talented.  They broke down impossible tricks for us, took us out to their parties and even let us chill out with them at the skatepark.  You gotta check out the episode!  You’ll be inspired…

Satellite Board Shop does a lot for charity, and the Satellite Team mentors their young shopkids 24/7 - say no to drugs, stay in school, treat others with respect, etc.  The result is a new generation of skaters, giving the sport a better name. 

Where the positive persona of Satellite Board Shop ends, so The Wetboys begin.  Their persona is no less positive, but separate from the shop in that, when these guys get together, it’s not about making a difference in the community, it’s just about SKATING.

These guys aren’t Hollywood.  They don’t have big budgets to make videos, but they make them anyway.  The footage is sick, and that’s all that matters.  This is a core shop, giving this show CORE credibility.  I am honored to work with them.  It makes me wonder how much undiscovered amateur footage is out there, waiting to be aired.

It’s so cool to be a part of something that still can shed light on the little guys.  Like YOU.  If you’re a shopkid, or part of a skate crew that seriously KILLS IT, we would love to feature you on an upcoming episode of Ten80.  All you have to do is send in your footage.  Email me at Kristen@maniatv.com, and I’ll set you up with details.  It’s easy, and it’s a first step in getting yourself out there, keeping this show, and the scene, CORE.

Hot For The Holidays

Global Warming has anyone who cares about snow wanting more to fall.

And so sad, I don’t think Santa is able to deliver. 

At least not in the four-foot deep, blizzardous form I remember growing up. 

When I think of the holiday season, I think of being snowed into a warm house with my family.  I think of snowboarding trips with friends, building snowmen, and pegging my sister with as many snowballs as I could throw before she made it to the house.

Snow.  Where is it?  That’s all I want, and it seems I’m not alone. 

We just covered the premier of Absinthe Films’ latest release 'Optimistic?' as part of the Sphere of Influence Tour, which is a film tour geared at raising awareness about Global Warming.  When we asked the pros Mark Frank Montoya, Nicolas Muller and Justin Bennee what they wanted for the holidays this year, every single one said SNOW.  They said that as professional riders, they’ve seen the marks on the rocks where the glaciers used to stand hundreds of feet higher.  Year after year they notice  the climate change, and it sucks.  Sure, they’ll be able to take Heli-trips to Alaska and still find snow, but for resort riders like you and me. Holiday Season is no longer synonymous with Killer Snowboarding Trips.

To find out ways you can help stop Global Warming, check out sphereofinfluencetour.com, and to check out the full episode featuring The Sphere of Influence Tour and 'Optimistic?' from Absinthe Films, be sure to watch Ten80.

Follow me to Pescadero, Mexico: Playa Cerritos!

When it came down to it, I could either have a cute Mexican looking Diesel dress I bought in a moment of impulse, or I could return it for the cash and actually spend the week surfing in Mexico. 

I returned the dress.

The next day I flew into Cabo San Lucas and took a bus an hour and a half north to a beach in the middle of nowhere.  I met two of my girlfriends from Breckenridge, who had just gotten back from a Summer spent skiing in New Zealand (www.snowpark.com).  Snow had yet to fall in Breck, so rather than wait around for the fun, they convinced me to join them for this week of surfing bliss in Southern Baja.

Now, I’ve got to admit.  I had no business flaking out on my life and running away to Mexico.  I’ve been busy.  It’s that time of year again: ski and snowboard video Premier party season.  Every year, industry insiders emerge from the woodwork to celebrate the release of the film they spent all last season shooting.  Now that the action sports show is shot completely on location, part of documenting industry happenings is covering as many premier parties possible.

I wouldn’t go as far as calling myself an industry insider, but somewhere along the road of snowboarding my heart out every chance I get, I’ve met the insiders.  Good people.  You’ll meet them in our show.  I’ve been chasing them around with microphones and camera for the last few months…catching them going nuts at these premier parties, shop interviews, skatepark shoots, up riding, etc…it’s been a blast!  But it’s still been work.  Still a lot of staring at computer screens, team roundtable meetings, sorting through viewer emails about show ideas…Just a lot of “inside time” in general. 

I was beginning to feel like a fraud hosting this show.  I’ve been spending all my time talking to people about their adventures, rather than living my own.  As if that isn’t bad enough, I had fallen into the trap of thinking I had to have THE PERFECT OUTFIT to do the job I’m doing.  Like it was more about the hair, makeup and clothes than it is about the personality and the adventure.  And it’s not.  This show especially is about fun and spontaneity.  It’s NOT about credit cards and Diesel dresses. 

So I lost my mind, returned that dress, and flew to Mexico.  Surfed all week under the sun.  Utter bliss. Made thousands of friends (Never been on such a social vacation. Straight out of the movie “The Beach”.), survived on cheap tacos, and stayed at Pescadero Surf Camp (www.perscaderosurfcamp.com) in a gorgeous hut for twenty dollars a night—which included a surfboard rental!  Twenty bucks! 

Two realizations and one promise. 

One: Adventures afar are not only for the “industry insiders”.  You can make your own at the drop of a hat and with only a slight shift of funds.  Two: I should have bought a camera.  I should have included my crew on this trip.  The surfers local to that beach (Playa Cerritos) were really good.  To watch them catch waves as I tried not to get killed in the surf was aw inspiring. It would have made sick footage. To laugh with them on the beach (doing my best at speaking Spanish), under the setting sun, with reggae music in the background and not a care in the world, was equally as exciting as playing in the ocean.  I am so grateful to be a part of that week, and I promise you, cyber-friends, that next time I will bring a camera and share the adventure as best a camera can. 

Our action sports show launches the first week of December. 

Tune in to catch the adventure….

And in the meantime, feel free to email me stories of YOUR adventures…Kristen@maniatv.com