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For the past few weeks Pat O’Dell’s Epicly Later’d show has dipped into a percipient “behind-the-scenes” look with Koston, Ty, Mike Mo, and those close to Lakai and last year’s November release of its extraordinary skate video, Fully Flared. The final segment (episode has been released online featuring the talents of Alex Olson and his transformation with shoe sponsors. Be sure to take the time to watch all of the episodes if you haven’t done so already. Not to be missed!

While skating the MegaRamp in Sao Paulo, Brazil Danny Way has apparently suffered a serious, but recoverable injury to his back. Sources close to us mention that he’s in the hospital with broken vertebrae and will not be able to return to his skateboard for up to 6 months. This (translated) report from Brazil highlights the heavy fall that Danny withstood after he came up a bit short on the landing.
Tough as they come, be assured that the MegaRamp pioneer will make a full recovery. Get well soon Danny!

Thrasher has announced this morning that Silas Baxter-Neal is in fact its 2008 Skater of the Year. Congratulations Silas! We’ll see you at the 19th Annual SOTY party with Short Dog in the house!

Doing it small, steady, and strong up in the Northwest, Tribute skateboards is backed by a lesser known crew of sick skaters. Have a look around their blog site for trips, clips, their online store, and more. Don’t miss Mikey Chin’s part in Dave Hupp’s “Why Wouldn’t You” either.

With a street course overhaul and re-design and a bunch of extra curricular events planned, the boys at the Skatepark of Tampa are making preparations to host the 15th annual Tampa Am early next month. The heated action kicks off Thursday, December 4th and rolls through Sunday, December 7th. Check the full schedule of events laid out in black and white right here.

Veteran skater and The Skateboarder’s Journal, founder, Jack Smith is currently writing a self-published book, with the working title, “Lives on Board – Memories of a Skateboarding Generation”. With this project he is welcoming contributions of stories with significant memories from your skateboarding life, or how skateboarding has directly impacted or changed your life. The submission deadline is Friday, December 5th.
For additional info and submission guidelines you can contact Jack directly at: jack@theskateboardersjournal.com.

Around this time every year, Jake Phelps and those at Thrasher magazine resort to the voting pool and wrap their collective minds around the decision of just which individual out there deserves to be crowned as the magazine’s “Skater of The Year.” The rules are simple and straight forward really. Who’s been out there for the past 12 months gluefooted to their griptape, killing it on ALL levels?
So now comes the question who’s it gonna be for SOTY 2008? Rune had a solid year with magazine coverage and contest winnings. Busenitz always impresses and pushes the gnar meter beyond expectations. You can’t ever count Chris Cole out. His closer footage in Fallen’s Ride the Sky was truly ill and a level above most parts produced for a video. And for all of the Sheckler haters out there, don’t sleep on his skills. He cannot be counted out either. Don’t forget that Paul Rodriguez took home the largest winnings in skateboarding ever this summer and had a productive year too. Then there’s Silas and his ninja styled attack on all things skateable with coverage everywhere. Who knows what the results would’ve been if Alien Workshop’s Mind Field or Flip’s Extremely Sorry videos had dropped this year?!
Be sure to check in with Thrashermagazine.com tomorrow morning at 9am PST when the Phelper will announce just who will be awarded as Thrasher’s 19th Skater of The Year.

Over the Halloween weekend Ultimate Distribution celebrated Independent Truck Co’s 30th Anniversary with a couple hundred of their closest friends in Vancouver. The festivities started at Leeside with the Bowl Series Jam and rounded out the night with a celebrated Indy 30th party at the Sweatshop with the rock outfit known as Pride Tiger.

Welcome back to San Vanelona. EA has been busy with the production of its bigger, badder, and better sophomore video game titled, Skate 2.
The returning line up of riders Chris Haslam, Dennis Busenitz, Rob Dyrdek, PJ Ladd, Alex Chalmers, Jerry Hsu, Terry Kennedy, Ryan Smith, Colin McKay, Danny Way, John Rattray, Ryan Gallant, Pat Duffy, Chris Cole, Jason Dill and Mike Carroll have been tuned up with new kits and a double bag of tricks on a whole new level of interactive gaming. Roster changes for Skate 2 reveal that the professional talents of P-Rod, Gonz and Ali Boulala have been swapped out for the collective skills of Eric Koston, Mark Appleyard, John Cardiel, Lucas Puig, Marc Johnson, Braydon Szafranski, Darren Navarette, Jake Brown and Ray Barbee this time around. That’s quite the power move right there.
Check EA’s Skate site for new added features, producer’s blog, forum, clips of the week, and other info and peep the current promotional trailer to witness the scripted cameos with renowned skate photographers Reda, Atiba, and Burnett featured in the game as well.
The targeted release date for Skate 2 is slated for January 2009.