Portlands own and PBC repper Seyi Sosanya has make a big move to go to Taiwan for a year and teach English to kids. These are the first two messages from him and there are some pictures of the local skatepark as well. If you want to contact Seyi, track down his myspace and send him some love.
"I have arrived in Taipei. My initial thought driving through the city was that this place is like a mixture of New York, Mexico, and Hawaii. I will be here in Taiwan for one year teaching English to young children. This year is going to be very interesting to say the least. My goal is to get the language down to the point that I can come back and make my way around fairy easy. The trains are so much cleaner then New York but the train system is not as big so you can find your way around pretty easily.
I met a few friends for my birthday, it was chill we had a few beers and talked, these were people from Taiwan so it was cool because they knew the city. I really don't have much to say yet because I am just been attending training every day (8:30 – 7). I must say, the night markets are DOPE!
I really want to stay in contact with all of you so I don't get too home sick, even if you just write me a few sentences, I would like to have the contact! I will write you all really soon!
You all stay up and get back at me!"-Seyi
"As you may know I have been in Taiwan for the last week. I am teaching English here for a year. I thought you all would like to peep the park.
This park meeds some love, but it is far from dead. All the frames are metal, so all the city needs to do is resurface the ramps. You know I do it PBC style so it's all good with me! When you all come to see me we will kill the street spots and the park, cats here love BMX!
I am starting to make friends with the locals. I will send you more pics of street rides and cool stuff I come across.
Wow I really have been slacking here. My apologies, I have been super busy with work, and there hasn't been a whole lot to report lately. I guess you could stop by the Mosh site at www.mosh-parts.com to see what Rich, Matt Puorro, Eddie and Jesse have been up to lately. I think www.goodsbmx.com "News" has had a bit about that as well.
Maybe it has been the change in the Daylight Savings Time schedule. How does it work now. Everything I read gives me no info. about the change other than it is about to happen. At first I was kinda, "What is the Government up to now?" But now I know it is to try and reduce energy use and that is A+ in my book. Not a whole lot else. I know tomorrow I am going to be putting up and update from one of Portlands finest locals and what he is up to lately, so check back.-ben
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*click to see the area bike was stolen from and what frame looked like*
Someone stoleNebraska Max's bike yesterday from his work on 28th and Burnside. This is super rad and any help finding this thing would be appreciated. The bike was a:
-Raw/Rusting Solid AA with Yellow paint marks. -Fit Purple Series 3 Stem, spray painted Black. -Macneil Seat Combo -25T FBM Sprocket -Shadow Chain -Blue Pedals
If you see anything that looks like this in the 28th and Burnside area, or anywhere and the person doesn't look like they belong on the bike, call GOODS and let them know. Thanks!
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You may have noticed I took the poll down on the right side of the page. The thing wasn't very sweet and it was causing pop ups, so I dumped it. You can click the image above to see the results for Plans for 2007 Poll.
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If you stop by BMX online you can check out an Interview with Bruce. They talk to him about sponsor changes, traveling, music and life in general. It's a good read.-ben
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Cruising the net this morning and found this picture on the Sunday Bikes Myspace. So it seems that Mike Hoder has scored his 2nd cover with another huge trick. Congrats.-ben
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I have been sitting on this video for quite a while now. I have been wanting to do some research and try to get more background info. on this film. But of course, I have been way too busy. This video really opens my eye's to the Bike Gallery and their willingness to help bmx out.
I always deep down inside thought they had some alterior motives to help boost their sales and exposure to the local cummunity. I can now say they don't care about any of that. They were one of the first Bike Shops to support BMX in Portland. I know they helped a lot in bringing Joe Kid on a Stingray to Portland and I wonder if that is what kicked of this project.
If there is anyone from the Gallery that would like to contact me I would love to got more information about this video. Thanks and enjoy.-ben
Jesse Whaley is a good friend of mine. He is one of the heads that came from the land of Pvillians, Prineville, Oregon. I remember when I first met the kid, dude was s shredder. He could ice grind soooo far, especially for back then. I guess he had a long grind bar that he would ride in front of his house and he handled it. Well Jesse is still handling it. He rides for Failure Bikes, Mosh, and gets those hot kicks from Lotek. Enough of my typing, go check out his interview.-ben
Jesse Whaley just put a new ride together and he has a hot new color scheme going on. To check it out visit www.goodsbmx.com and click on the news section.
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You may have seen the Flyer I posted for a Peaceful Protest in Brookings Oregon this past Saturday. I guess the police were called and one individual spoke for the group. When he continued to ride the park after the police asked him to stop he was arrested. You can click the image above or this link to read the article from the local paper, the Curry Coastal Pilot.
As some of you may know, I have spent countless hours of my life dedicated to gaining access of bike into skateparks. I really don't know how I feel about this action of civil disobedience. Part of me says, fuck yeah, another part of me know how cities work and making an example of yourself is not what they want to see. I am really interested to see what you guys out there think. Check out the story and quit hiding behind that screen and let me know what you think.
If you are a rider local to the Brooking Skatepark and you need any assistance, please feel free to contact me. I am a bit rusty, but I with some digging I can hopefully dig up some resources for you to take advantage of.
Also if you don't want this to happen in your community get involved. Listed below this in another post are details to a meeting in Tigard for their new skatepark. Several people along with myself layed the foundation for this project and it was hijacked by Dreamland. The park went from a progressive street/ramp park design to a typical Dreamland style park that is not what the people in the community want. The next step could be to ban bikes from the park even though we riders raised all the intitial funds for the park with video premiers. Take action, get involved.-ben
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Well you read a few of my updates I had with the guys now relive their days. If you head over to the Fit Bike Co site and visit their media section you can check out the video. It stars Eddie c, Chase D, Jesse W, Andrew F, and our homie Jay Thorp. Or click here and peep it direct.-ben
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*Kurt, Dean, Fudger after ditch. Chet putting the bikes on the rack.*
Yesterday was Chesters last day down here in California. We had the idea to head down to San Diego to ride some spots. Dean and Chet left Friday and went to session the Pala Pool. I headed down early Saturday morning with Kurt and Dakota. We got a really early start and of course were riding for a few hours before anyone decided to wake up and meet us.
First stop was the San Deguito School. This is a pretty famous spot in skateboarding and now one of my favorite spots to ride when visiting down south. We didn't do a whole lot other than ride around and just play on some stuff. Dak did almost fight some old guy that was playing tennis. Dak was out of control and the cops were called we bailed. The cop eventually caught up to us within an hour later and wasn't too pissed. He was actually pretty cool.
By that point everyone met up and we headed out to a ditch spot. Chet killed it, that is all I can say. I think Chet filmed the clip for the up coming Ride video that Ryan Navaz will be editing. After the ditch and some lunch we went and checked out a few other schools around SD and called it a day.
I jumped into Dean's ride so I could go out with the boy's. They had a wild plan of just going out till at least 2, then jumping in the truck to take Chet to the airport back in LA, so he could catch his 6am flight and I was game. It was a long night and I quit early and had them drop me at my house around 3:30am.
It was hard to wake up today. But it was 88 out and Eddie called me to go ride. The super bowl didn't start until 3:25 so I went out and enjoyed the weather. It was by far the nicest day we have had in several months. It was a good sesh and an even better super bowl. Thanks Chet for coming out. Don't be a stranger, we will miss ya out here.-ben
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The meeting will be at the following: Tigard Skate Park Meeting Thursday-February 8th, 2007 6:30 - 8:00 pm Tigard Water Building 8777 Burnham St.; Tigard, Oregon 97223 (northwest corner of Hall and Burnham)
The meeting will give you an opportunity to see and comment on the current design before we move into construction scheduled for this spring 2007. City staff and the designer, Dreamland, will be present to discuss and answer your questions. If you have any questions here is the contact info!!
Marco R. Cabanillas, P.E. Project Engineer City of Tigard Phone: (503) 718-2469 Email: marco@tigard-or.gov Web: www.tigard-or.govRead on.
Head over to The Come Up to check out an interview with Northwest Shredder, Facad Wearer, and Federal New Killer, Davey Watson. This dude is blowing up bigger than a doll at a frat party.-ben
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