Skate Soup

Skatepark Listing - Pipes Skatepark

Pipes Skatepark is located in Export PA, just outside of Murrysville.  It has become a popular winter destination on Friday and Saturday nights for bowl sessions and good times.

Click the pic or the link above for more information on Pipes

Skatepark Listing - Tarentum Skatepark

The Tarentum skatepark is about 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.   Just come straight up Route 28 and take the Tarentum exit.  (2 Exits past the Pittsburgh Mills).  Turn Right, Go Two Lights and take the First Avenue Exit before the bridge.  Go a couple of stop signs and VIOLA you are at the Tarentum Skatepark. 

Just a quick note:  They have only 1 Rule that they enforce at this park.  Clean Up Garbage.  They are very strict on this one and have closed the park several times because of this.  Clean up your trash and if you see something laying around, just swallow your pride and pick it up too.

Skatepark Listing - Greensburg Skate Plaza

Part of what we are trying to do here at Skate Soup is document the who, what, when and where's of the Pittsburgh Skate Scene.  In order to do this we plan on documenting all of shops and skateparks in the area.  We have most of the shops done and are now starting to work on the parks.

One of the better concrete parks in the Western Pennsylvania area is located in Greensburg. It is well designed with street and transition.  There are rumors of a second phase for the skatepark that includes a bowl.  I have not heard anything recently to confirm or deny these rumors.  Although, I am sure by posting this I will only fuel those rumors.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SKATE PLAZA

Merry Christmas To Yinz All

I hope 2008 was a good year for you.  If it wasn't, don't let it define you.  I certainly know it was not my best year.  Those of you who know me, know that stuff just snowballed on me over the course of 2008.  In all honesty, I just want to get the hell out of this year and start on 2009. 

Skate Soup is my new project and the potential for it grows every day.  There are new ideas, new thoughts and direction that are continually opening up for the Skate Soup Project.  I am very excited about it and even more excited that I am still contributing to skateboarding.

So from all of us (me) at Skate Soup.com, We sincerely wish you a Merry Christmas.

I know some people would have said Xmas to keep it politically correct. In fact, the original post for the XBoard was all about how I was insulted that they replaced the word "Skate" with "X".  They were taking the skate out of skateboarding the same way "Xmas" takes the Christ of out Christmas.  It was going to be the original post for Christmas, but I decided to go with the Top 5 List that referenced hookers instead.  I thought it was funny, but I didn't know who else would get it.....like 90% of this site.

Y.O.T.W. Dom Scanga

Dom Scanga Interview
by:NH

first off, how old are you and where are you from?
im 19 yrs old and i am from apollo,pa

how did you get started pushing wood?
well i would always see my older brother skating with his friends so after so long i just picked up a board and started doing it till this day

when did you start?
it was a little after sixth grade during the summer

are you riding for anyone nowadays?
yes i am, for The Shop Skateboarding in Greensburg

 hows that going for you?
its pretty rad, Eric Williams is a chill dude like everyone else on the team. i knew most of them before i got on. its just a really chill atmosphere when I'm around them guys

who do you skate with on the regular basis?
with my boys, Luke Evanchec,Eric Calfo,Dan Peindl,Zooky,Rob Sheckler,Shreddie, and Cornhead

were you ever into pokemon?
lol yeah i was a lil maniac with that stuff. spent hundreds of dollars and joining the official pokemon card league. yeaaa sounds a lil gay am i right?

what kind of shoes do you like to wear?
i like a solid vulcanized shoe with good support and padding for my messed up ankles. i will regret that when im olddd and in pain

video in the works?
yes indeed, should be dropping sometime next fall or so. keep an eye on updates on the fwsskate blog

whats up with your carcass throwing on them handrails?
lol, i knew that would be brought up. well i just love to skate a good rail even though i pay the price a lot of the time, but i wouldn't want it any other way. a good fall makes you know your alive in this world. in fact i don't feel too hyped when i don't have any bumps or bruises

what else are you doing other than skating?
well right now I'm just working night shifts up at walmart and getting ready for classes in the spring. other than that I'm just chilling with the girl and with my bros

if a dog chased a car that was going at 23 mph would you make me a salami sandwich?
wow for just thinking of that i sure would

do you enjoy being tickled or the tickler?
well i HATe being tickled so it would be nice to be on the other end i suppose

if you had to live with someone everyday for the rest of your life starting now who would that be?
geez thats a toughy cause being around for a long period will make you go at each others throats in sometime, but i would choose my gf if that would happen

what website do you visit the most?
deff youtube. im always watching some wierd videos for laughs. lol

If you could have lunch with any two people in the world dead or alive who would they be in order?
hmmmmmm chuck norris and bruce lee. sounds like a kickinggggg lunch

hows skating in the alle-kiski?
its sucks man, spots are rare,cops are ridiculous so I'm not around here too much.

whats your favorite thing besides skating?
hmmm running over helpless scooter kids at tarentum park

what about tarentum park?
lol don't even get me started about that place. i go there a few times a week if there's nothing else going on or just to warm up.the park is great don't get me wrong, but the tarnys that hang outside of it are the reason why it gets frustrating. they ruin the park for all of us

any last words?
id like to thank jeff revilla for this interview, blank skate RIP, FromTheGroundUp, fws crew, one up, friends,my brother chris, and god+

One Up Lights Up B-Cubed

A session with lights.  Featuring the Skating of: Zach Funk, Doug Plezia, Drew Windon, Nick Panza, Rob Dumas, Davey la Sorda Shane Plezia and Justing Funk.  Filmed by Ryan McKowen.

Video is hosted on the One Up Site.  Click the Pic to go directly to the video

XBoard Illuminators

One of my favorite things to do is cut up on products that try to enter the skateboard market, that skateboarders clearly do not want or ask for.

Usually it starts with some kids dad hanging out at a skatepark and he gets a "million dollar idea".  He'll say, "Wouldn't it be cool if.........?"  The answer is always NO.

Let's take a look at xBoardIlluminators.  I got a postcard in the mail from them.  These are ground effect riser pads with Ultra Bright LED's DUDE! 

They list a bunch of reasons why you need their product.  I decided to make an Official Skate Soup List of Why You Need XBoard Illuminators.

1. It makes it way easier for cops to find where you are skating at night and CHASE YOU
2. Gives "Street Walkers" fair warning before you plow into them.*
3. If you put on a red one and a blue one you can roll up to spots as the Skate Police.  Then you can kick out Jocks and Roller Bladers**.  If you write your own citations and carry hand cuffs it makes it easier to sell.
4. Hitting rocks and stopping dead is so much cooler when you are drawing attention to yourself.
5. You'll look extra dope getting out of the Tony Hawk Jeep

*And Yes, buy "Street Walkers"  I meant hookers.
** I am not 100% sure Roller Bladers still exist. But those damn scooters still do.

They are not the only ones:  Khrio makes a version too called the Flux.  Khiro also makes the best risers and very good bushings.  Call up and ask for Cowboy Bob!

Upcoming Events on Skate Soup

We've been adding a ton of content these past few weeks and have a ton of stuff planned.  We are continually scheduling new posts and planning events for 2009.  Look out for the Soup!

Coming Up this Week:
SkatePark Section Gets  Underway.
We will be adding photos, directions and reviews of as many local parks we can get to during the winter.  We have already been to 4 and have photos of all the ramps and fun stuff.  We are going to be launching with Tarentum, Greensburg Plaza, Blairsville and Pipes during the course of this week.  If you have any photos of parks please send them to us.

It will look just like the  skate shop listings on the right hand side, except it will be on the left hand side.  We are like totally freaking geniuses.

Dom Scanga Yinzer of the Weak
This comes out on Wednesday December 24th at noon.  The whole piece is already done and scheduled to publish.  Thanks again to Dom for putting this together for us. 

The YOTW series is booked through February already.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOUP?
1.  Tell 40 of your closest friends about us.  Tell them SkateSoup.com is so hot right now.
2.  Use our Contact the Soup Page to pass on events, specials, sales, deals, products.

Photo: I don't your name, but I took this photo a few months ago when these damn kids were skating in an alley way behind sunoco.  It is a nice gapper.  Name this skater and get the recognition you have always wanted.

The Phenomenon of Throwaway Footage

I have to be a little honest, I don't quite get the importance of throwaway footage.  If it truly is pure crap, why post it?  Yet, Youtube is full of kids throwing away footage.  It's like saying, "I wouldn't watch this pile of crap, but you can."  I Found 712 Videos for Throwaway Montage.  What is the point?

The best news is that it is very difficult to make good money at selling videos thanks to video sharing sites.  So from a business stand point all of your footage should be throwaway footage.  You are spending all this time to film a video and the return on your time is very little to none. 

Why not just skate and enjoy it?  Document it and have fun.  So many of you are missing out on what it means to actually skate by focusing on your "next big project".  The truth is, by the time you are ready to put your big video together, you begin to view your footage as dated and chunk blowing.  And all the time you spent was just thrown away.

Here are some Throwaways from Yinz Guys in Pittsburgh!  Support the Cause!

With that said.....stay tuned in the coming weeks for a bunch of photos and videos we never used over the past 7 years!

DC Shoes - Live From Europe

If you have about a half hour and want to watch a good tour/demo video check out DC's Live From Europe.  Great quality and tons of good skating.  There are two groups of skaters that are attacking from the north and south.  They meet up in Paris and I think Paris surrenders in 5 days.  I am not sure, I got a little lost during the intro where they explain it.  See if you can figure it out.