August 2, 2006
I wrote this piece for the shoebox of the new etnies Rune Glifberg pro model, the Forsvar. Pretty stoked. Never wrote for a shoebox before. It looks pretty different from anything you've ever seen, as far as shoeboxes go, the design dudes went off on this one...so be sure to check it out.
Christiania was formed in 1971 and is a partially self-governing neighborhood in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Christiania has established semi-legal status as an independent community and is the only place in Denmark, and possibly even the world, where there is a city/society that governs itself within an already-existing city/society.
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July 4, 2006
Jeron Wilson
By Rob Brink
Sprouse Bros. Code July 2006
The Sprouse Brothers are kinda like the male version of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Like millionaire 14-year-old heart throbs that own an empire. Kinda funny when people less than half you age pay your salary. Anyway, their new mag is in stores now and called Code. They asked me to interview Jeron Wilson for it, and me, always down to try something new and bring skateboarding to a new audience via my writing, happily obliged.
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June 7, 2006
This etnies 20 Year Anniversary Timeline took months to complete. A royal pain in the ass if you ask me, but fun too. Garry Scott Davis worked on the orignal text version a few years ago, assembling a large portion the info and history. Fast forward to 2004 and I was handed the monumental task of picking up where he left off, editing it, re-arranging, working with a buttload of people here at etnies to get it approved by all relevant departments and so on.
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June 6, 2006
This is Rune Glifberg's second etnies pro model shoe, the Forsvar. Its purpose is to raise awareness for Christiana, a one-of-a-kind society in Copenhagen, Denmark that is facing threats of government abolishment. If you haven't heard of Christiania yet, do a little reading. I'm excited about this one because its the first time I was given the opportunity to write a story for a shoebox. The Forsvar will be in stores soon, so check it out if you can.
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May 31, 2006
Eric Fletcher
By Rob Brink
etnies.com May 2006
In this amateur-centric era of skateboarding, Eric Fletcher is one of the up-and coming elite and he's got a list of heavy hitter sponsors to prove it. Fletch has amazing board control. Whether its technical skating, transition or gnarly big stuff, he handles it mellow—with style and ease.
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May 29, 2006
Festivus: Tampa Pro ‘06
Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag July 2006
Sadly, skateboard contest articles have become somewhat mundane—even obsolete or non-existent, over the years. Many mags, if they cover contests at all, only devote one page to a contest or event. Sad, but sometimes mere editorial and photos on glossy paper cannot properly do a weekend like Tampa Pro justice. So, in an attempt to make your contest article reading experience slightly more engaging, I, in conjunction with The Skateboard Mag, have decided to try something off the beaten path. My coverage of this event can be broken down into four categories, and, in my defense, I cannot be responsible for anything I missed due to sleeping in as the result of late nights at clubs consuming larger-than-usual amounts of Guinness and Irish Carbombs.
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May 28, 2006
etnies Takes Manhattan
Footwear brand's 20-year celebration leaves an impression.
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business June 2006
Skateboarding moves at a hummingbird's pace…trends come and go, people and companies age in dog years, and twenty years of anything in skateboarding is a hell of a long time. “Longevity confirms ability” is what some say. In this case, twenty years of etnies shoes means two decades of impeccable skateboarding footwear—not to mention team riders, a classic video and respect in the skateboarding and action sports industry, culture and community, because skateboarding will chew you up and spit you out if you aren't legit—and that's a fact.
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May 2, 2006
Ali Boulala
By Rob Brink
etnies.com March 2006
Wrote this one for etnies.com. Throughout the interview, Ali said "I don't know" and "fuck" a lot, but I had to cut that kinda stuff out for the site. Not that many people get the chance to interview a guy as outrageous and elusive as Ali, and, even though this is a basic interview for a younger audience, I'm stoked that I had the opportunity to do it.
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March 29, 2006
Festivus: Tampa Am ‘06
By Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag May 2006
Of all skateboard wordsmiths out there, none have inspired like Dave Carnie. Mentally—never vocally, as to not “fan out” so much—I sometimes equate him to Shakespeare in the sense that, if you look at all the plays ever written since Shakespeare's day, it's nearly impossible not to rip off or be influenced by the works of Old Bill.
So I can't even pretend this Tampa Am contest article won't be influenced by Dave's Goofy vs. Regular article from issue #24, which I read on the plane to Tampa. In fact, my article will be worse and prove that Dave's a far bigger celebrity skateboard journalist than I.
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March 29, 2006
Baker Christmas Demo
By Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag May 2006
Have you ever read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein? It's about two friends—one is a young boy and the other, a tree. The young boy, throughout his life, comes to the tree for various things. The tree, having such unconditional love for the young boy joyfully gives him everything she can—from a place to climb and play as a young child, her apples to sell when he needed money, a place to make out with chicks as a teenage boy, branches to build a home for his family with, the her trunk to build a boat with for him to sail away in, and finally, years later, when nothing is left of the tree but a stump, the boy returns as an old man and he asks the tree for just a place to sit and rest. The tree, overjoyed to see her friend and be of service, gladly offers herself one last time, and she and the old man are happy together once again as the tale ends.
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