Skate Soup

Peep Show from Scumbag Skateshop

This one has been out for a little and shows the buildings of a new skatepark in Natrona PA.  The shop and park are called Scumbag.  All I know is that it is getting awesome down there.  And by awesome I mean like Pitfall on the Atari 2600.  You first have to make it past an Iquana and an Alligator, then you get to skate.

New Skate Shop in Pittsburgh! -- Scumbag SkateShop. Opens NEXT WEEK

I just got a lead on a new skateshop opening in Pittsburgh.  It is actually located about 20 minutes to the east of Pittsburgh in a town called Natrona.  It will be called Scumbag Skate Shop and it is opening on July 1, 2009.  I will be getting more details as they come in.  I am also bugging them for thier full inventory list and will get that posted before they open.

The rumor is also that they will be opening a skatepark within a few months

Address:
Scumbag Skateshop
109 Chestnut St
Natrona, PA 15065

Mapquest it tonight or save in your GPS.  They don't have a site yet or a phone number.

Plank Eye Shirts now with NO BUTTONS!

Plank Eye Skate Shop got some new shirts in a "super soft" cotton.  Of course, they don't publish the price or leave the metal part of the hanger in the picture, so this is all the information I can get you at this point.  They are available in Red and Black and the cotton is "Super Soft".

UPDATE 4/5/2009 -- Make a liar out of me!  Shirt price is now on the site as $14.99

Mind Field Video Premier at the Head Board Shop (All Ages)

February 7th, 2009. 
Alien WorkShop Video
Premier of Mind Field.

Put on by the Head Board Shop

There will actually be 2 showings.  The first will be at the Head Board Shop in South Side at 7:00 PM and it will be all ages. There will be refreshments and pizza provided for your general merriment.

Then at 9:00 PM the much cooler "Over 21" crowd will be going to Ruggers Pub at on 22st for "adult" refreshments and a second video premier.  Not to be excluded are certainly Martinis, Old Fashions, Gimlets, Gibsons, and Manhattans.

Thanks to Moreboard for the heads up on this one.  I did see it there first, even tho it was actually posted on the Head Board Shop 2 days earlier....but got to give credit where credit is due.

For Gits and Shiggles

Sometimes I forget how much fun running the shop was.  There were so many times that were just plain choas and other times that were 100% complete boredom and stress.

But then, I also start to see the crazy things that I never would have intended happening.  There are some things that are out of your control when you build your own brand and sell direct.

Our decks were used all across the country in Finish Line shops to display Nike Shoes.  (I am trying to find photos of this - none exist online).  I was only in 1 Finish Line and they didn't have it displayed at the time.  The whole project took longer than it should have and the shipments couldn't get scheduled.  After we shipped the decks they had to be re drilled by their marketing team.  It was nuts.  At that time we never handled an order that big and had no idea what we were doing.  At that time Jeff in Lancaster (Kenny too) was making our decks.  They hauled ass to get this done.  oh yeah.....i forgot to mention, they had to grip them too!

Another major retailer used our products in a commercial.  (Although they never would disclose who it was for, I believe it was for Target.  They needed an all orange board for a commercial shoot.  About 3 months later there was a Target commercial with a someone skating a pool in an all orange board.)

The decks were also used across the country in various art shows, tattoo shops, and festivals.  Artists even made their own creations.  Filmers and photo studios used our wheels for tracks and their cases.  There was even a corvette shop that put our wheels under corvette bumpers so that the bumpers would not scrape when a corvette went up a curb.

Just today I was at Nordstroms at Ross Park Mall and crapped my pants.  I saw these boards that were our longboard wheels and longboard trucks.  These come from Atlanta and an artist named Didi Dunphy.  She makes these puffy style skateboards and must do pretty well.

Of Course there is:

"EPISODE 14 - Ray vs. Taylor on Trading Spaces for Kids
Skateboarder Ray wants to shred his boring bedroom. He's looking for a space with more color and curves. So friends Taylor and Ava team up with Designer Jordin and Carpenter Ginene to ramp up Ray's dull digs and create his very own Skate Park. Coffee lover Taylor is looking for a place to chill with her friends. But her cluttered pink pad is cramping her cappuccino style. So friends Ray and Arthur join Designer Scott and Carpenter Barte to stir things up in Taylor's bland bedroom and create a cozy Coffeehouse Café"

Guess whose skateboard wheels they used in this episode?  I never saw the show, but apparently it was a big failure.  They tried to glue 100 some wheels to a lampshade, but the glue would not work and it was a disaster.

There are others.  But I'll save them.  Thanks to Steve Dimbokowitz For the Foosball Beat Down Edit

Plank Eye Board Shop - New Shipment of Merch

Plank Eye just got a new shipment in.  They have the New Stereo Bamboo Core Decks, Ricta Cored Wheels, Thunder Trucks, Tensor Magnesiums, Orange Reynolds Indys, and many others.

For the smaller, young rippers out there: They now have 7.3 mini sized shop decks.

In case you didn't know (as did we), Plank Eye now as two graphics for shop decks.  They have stuck with a nautical theme, as they should, and have decks available in the classic skull and the octopus.

Pittsburgh Skate Shop Listings

For the past week we have been compiling information on Pittsburgh Skate Shops.  There is one other shop that is not listed (never open) along with B-Cubed (who no longer has a website.....And yes, I know B-Cubed is a skatePARK not a skateSHOP, but rumor has it a shop will be opening up there shortly)

I also think they do not know they do not have a website since they keep sending you to one of those spammy pages full of paid links.  Maybe someone could pass that on and tell them the Soup sent you.  Then tell them to contact us with a lifetime of free passes.

If you see any missing information that you can confirm please send it over to us.

I know what you are thinking......oooooh... a skate shop list....that is so 1997.  Why don't you just have a photo of the day? or A Link of the Day Mr Page View Counter?  (That is very funny if you understand internet marketing) 

The point is, that these 6 shops are in the trenches everyday trying to survive.  Owning a skate shop is neither easy work nor big money, especially right now.  They do for you guys.  (trust me, been there done that crap for 7 years) 

So please, take the time to seek out these shops and support them.  After all, they are the ones who put on the events, sponsor local riders and push for public spaces to skate.

One Up - December Nike SB's

Just Arrived.  Check them out.

Empire SK8 - PIttsburgh Mailorder Company

Since 2002 Pittsburgh has been home to one of the best skateboard mailorder companys on the East Coast.  They are known as Empire Sk8.

They offer a few things that other mail order companies do not offer. One of the best features is that their website has REAL TIME INVENTORY.  This means, if you see it listed on the site then they have it in stock.  No more waiting 3 weeks or calling 20 times to see if your order shipped.  If you see it, they got it and it is going to ship.

Also, because they are located on the East Coast (Just East of Pittsburgh), your order is delivered in 1-2 days.  In most cases you will get your order the next day if you place it by 3PM.  (Free Shipping on all orders over $89)

While you are on the site, you can build your own complete skateboard and get 10% off the price.  You pick all the parts and they will assemble it for free. 

Don't forget to check out the Skate Shoe section, it is out of control.

Also, by clicking EmpireSk8.com and making a purchase, Empire Sk8 will give 10% of your purchase to SkateSoup.com and support a skate site that supports the Pittsburgh scene.

One Up PGH Welcomes Doug Plezia to the Team

Doug Plezia has joined the One Up Shop Team and they have just posted some footage of him that didn't make it into Boltz and Buttah.  He is an all around good guy.

You should also check out the One Up MySpace page for a ton of videos and photos.

Boltz and Buttah premiered in PIttsburgh on November 23rd, 2008.  I would assume copies are available at One Up and finer skate shops.  If not, ask for it by name. This is thier follow up video to 7 Plys of Love which followed up Rebuilding Mexico.