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We need to mention that NJ Skateshop kingpin ex-Big Brother / current Skateboard Mag writer and overall good guy Chris Nieratko will be blogging the shit out of X-Games skateboarding (aka “the internet version of Sal Masekala” for ESPN over at EXPN. Get stoked.

X Games 14 is here and plenty of skate blahgs have already begun to hype and highlight their own points of view on this week’s mighty showdown. We checked the practice sessions first hand yesterday and indeed there is going to be some heavy skating happening over the next four days. So like it or not, and regardless of your personal view of skateboarding, here are some facts and questions going into X Games 14 that might be of interest to you.
Big Air
Danny Way is back in the line up for tonight’s Big Air competition after sitting out last year due to ACL surgery. Look for him to bust out the “El Camino” and a few of his other signature Mega stunts as he guns for the podium once again.
Miracle man of the decade, Jake Brown has been skating strong in the practice sessions and looks ready and able to land the 720 once again, especially now that the Mega Ramp has been reconfigured to position two launch ramps on each side of the gap (at 70 feet) with one placed at 50 feet in the middle. This adjustment evens the playing field, goofy or regular or even switch.
With regular sessions his own backyard Mega Ramp, Bob Burnquist is poised to blow minds with some stunts that only he can divulge when the time is right. Look for him to unleash and spin to win in the finals, as for now, he’s not saying what he has in mind once it’s go time.
Street
Out on the impressive, diverse, and fully functional street course will 2006 and 2007’s champ Chris Cole three-peat with gold this weekend? He certainly has a very good chance of making that happen with his large arsenal of difficult tricks.
X Games 14’s youngest competitor, Nyjah Huston is 20 years younger than Eric Koston, the oldest in the street field. He’s skating solid and will be a front runner amongst Mark Appleyard, Billy Marks, Ryan Sheckler, Paul Rodriguez, Rodolfo Ramos, Terry Kennedy, Jereme Rogers, Greg Lutzka and even first time X Games competitor Sean Malto. And let’s not forget the ladies either. Look for Brazil’s little powerhouse Leticia Bufoni to throw down big time against Elissa Steamer, Vanessa Torres, and Marissa Del Santo.
Vert
For the first time ever at the X Games, the Vert ramp will run in a jam format. Joe Lopes would be proud huh? Will consistency remain a factor or can special stunts like a first-ever 1080 from the Flying Tomato deliver a repeat victory for last year’s gold medalist?
SuperPark
Emulating a concrete skatepark environment, the SuperPark has been added for the first time in X Games history and it looks to be designed and configured to a very tight layout and space. We’re not sure why really. Nonetheless, with Rune Glifberg, Alex Chalmers, Omar Hassan, Benji Galloway, Bob Burnquist, Tony Trujillo, Kyle Berard, Alain Goikoetxea, Bruno Passos, Ryan Sheckler and Mike Peterson all rolling for a piece of the pie in a jam format, it’s gonna be “criss-crossing craziness” as Double D likes to say. After competing in every X Games since 1995 can Rune bring home his first X Games gold medal? We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, these geared up guys will be sure to have all of the angles covered for you home viewers out there.

The New York Times has posted a piece on Dogtown legend and recent free man Jay Adams. The piece details Adam’s life since leaving prison as well as touching on a few earlier career highlights. There are also a few new photos to check out. Good luck Jay-Boy, we’re pulling for you.

Although the often battered Baby Lamb has just gotten off a lengthy Creature am tour with Hammeke, David Gravette has undoubtedly paid his dues both on and off the board to earn a spot as a paid professional. Congrats David, you’ve earned it!

The gents at Crossfire are hosting another skate event at London’s Meanwhile 2 next month. As a direct result from last year’s gap jam to raise awareness to keep the aging park from being dozed, the city’s council spent 100K pounds on the legendary park’s refurb and new street course. Skaters of London should make a note of Saturday, August 16th on their calendars and get on out to the Meanwhile 2 Rebirth Jam. It’s gonna be “off the chain” as they say.

With a vengeance, Jake Brown returns to the Mega Ramp for this Thursday evening’s X Games competition. He’ll not only be rolling with a fire in his eyes and heart to right the wrong of his near death mishap last summer, but he’ll be speeding down and across the massive structure with fire beneath his board too…yup, Spitfires as a matter of fact. Welcome to the team Jake!
While we’re celebrating Jake’s induction to one of the heaviest of skate teams, have a look at Jake’s recovery this past year according to Jake and his pals. Hell yes!

Traffic skateboards is premiering its newest video Moving in Traffic featuring Bobby Puleo, Jack Sabback and the rest of their ill team of riders this Friday, August 1st. The impressive collection of new footy will roll online at Traffic’s very own website at 1pm EST/10am PST and will be on a continuous loop so you can check it at your leisure. Get to it!

Soul Bowl – Huntington Beach, CA
Final Results
Pros
1. Sandro Dias
2. Omar Hassan
3. Brian Patch
4. Cristiano Mateus
5. Marcelo Bastos
Masters
1. Tony Mag
2. Steve Caballero
3. Mike McGill
4. Duane Peters
5. Henry Gutierrez
6. Lester Kasai
7. Eric Nash
8. Mike Barnes
Ladies
1. Mimi Knoop
2. Karen Jonz
3. Cara-Beth Burnside
4. Julie Kindstrand
5. Allysha Bergado

Roger Skateboards is now alive and kicking and their website has been showing up all over the skate-web. That being said, we’re excited to see more work from Michael Sieben and there certainly aren’t enough companies with a sense of humor. Plus, they’ve signed Corey Webster AND Brian Kelly. They’ve got the eighties teen heart-throb market on lock. Take that Sheckler.

Vans has teamed up with 80’s style king Jeff Grosso and Santa Cruz Skateboards art guru Jim Phillips to produce some serious skate shoes. Visit the Van’s site to check out Grosso’s classic graphic gracing the sides of the Sk8 Hi and the Old Skool shoe. As much as collector’s will drool over these, we’re excited to see them hit grip and get some use.