vintage skateboardsRead: 2 mins

Vintage skateboards

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I’ve been skateboarding for a long, long time; More than 35 years (and yes, still counting). I’ve been through loads of decks, countless sets of wheels and grinded through my share of trucks. But for some reason – maybe I was nostalgic even as a kid – I always kept my first skateboard and kept it in relatively good condition.

vintage skateboardsI got my first skateboard on a family trip to see my cousins in Alexandria, VA in the mid 1970s. I loved this board. I bombed a lot of hills on this board. Fortunately for the board when I started doing tricks I had already moved-on to another set-up. Fortunate too, perhaps, for investment because the board may hold some value as a collectors item.

Board 1 description:

  • Sauer deck (I have no additional information on this brand, let me know if you do!
  • ACS-500 trucks (I’ve seen similar condition 5″ models go for $175-$200)
  • Vans wheels (Ever seen these before? If so, let me know!)

Board 2 description:

  • Nash (red transparent) – Deck only, with ‘Keep on Boarding” decal.

kookmeyer vintage skateboards

Photo courtesy: Boston RiffRaff

Lots of people collect vintage skateboards, including my college buddy and former partner in crime Rob Kendall (known as Kookmeyer). Rob has a massive collection of new old stock (NOS) and more recently started Weird Wood Skateboards.

Rob has a pretty sick set-up in Maine, a skateboard compound that has something for everyone (inside and outside). We’ll save that for another post, but for now check-out some video:

If any of you collectors out there know anything about the two boards in the picture I’d like to know. I showed the pics to a Vans rep yesterday and he’s asking folks back at HQ if they’ve ever seen these wheels, he’s never seen Vans wheels so it kind of blew his mind.

Posted by: Lawrence

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garmin virb bitness.comRead: < 1 min

Gamin VIRB – Not just another wearable action camera

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The Garmin VIRB, is touted as a “go-anywhere-endure-anything 1080p action camera with: built-in color ChromaTM display for setup and playback, 2000mAh battery (up to 3 hours of HD recording), and a 16 MP image sensor.”

Enclosed in a ‘rugged’ waterproof enclosure, the VIRB also provides heart rate, altitude and velocity to help set it apart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6CGI3XkAiQ&feature=youtu.be

Cost: $299.99 USD

Posted by: Lawrence

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trace bitness.comRead: < 1 min

TRACE – The Most Advanced Activity Monitor for Action Sports

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Trace makes action sports measurable, sharable, and comparable. Using advanced inertial sensors and GPS technology, Trace gives you detailed information about every session you have.

Trace can identify a tre-flip down 10 stairs, detail every turn on a 100-yard Rincon right, and measure a backflip off a 20-foot kicker at Mammoth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wvDRO7jPx8

Donate to Trace on Kickstarter

Posted by: Franz

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naish bitness.comRead: < 1 min

Robby Naish: One Helluva Wave

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Not a new video, but one worth checking out if you haven’t seen it. Robby Naish taking a ride…

Posted by: Jason

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otterbox waterproof caseRead: 2 mins

Otterbox Pursuit Series – waterproof dry box

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otterbox waterproof caseMost Sunday’s in the Summer I like to paddle up Narrow River to meet friends on the beach. We hang out with our kids, BBQ, swim, explore the estuaries for crabs and other wildlife, climb the rocks, hunt for tidal pools and surf. All of these activities have one common thread – water. Most of my free time is spent in the water and most of the time I like to keep my phone with me for emergencies or photo opportunities. Since phones and water don’t mix well, I needed a solution that was…

  • waterproof
  • durable
  • lightweight
  • easily thethered to me or a my board

The OtterBox Pursuit Series fit all my requirements and had a lot of innovations that I hadn’t considered which help protect a phone from damage. This case also allows me to carry an ID, spare cash, my car key and more if I need it (e.g. a granola bar).

The OtterBox Pursuit 40 (the model I use) costs $34.95USD and is worth every penny. Here are the specifications for this model…

  • Exterior dimensions: 2.05” H x 4.75” W x 6.95” D
  • Approximate Interior space: 30 cubic inches
  • Holds: Phone, keys, sunglasses, wallet
  • Easy to open latch
  • Tether/belt loops
  • Lockable carabiner loop
  • Internal cushioning
  • Webbed partition

The author and his daughter (OtterBox in hand).

There is a smaller model called the OtterBox Pursuit 20 (Exterior dimensions: 1.65” H x 3.85” W x 5.60” D) which costs $19.95USD. This model, like the OtterBox Pursuit 40 are available in blue, grey or black.

OtterBox sells several other waterproof cases called Classic Cases and they are available in black, yellow, blue or grey.

If you’re looking for peace-of-mind on your next adventure for your phone, keys, money and other valuables, consider the reasonably priced and well engineered OtterBox Pursuit 20 and 40.

Posted by: Lawrence

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g-form bitness.comRead: < 1 min

G-Form G90 – phone to GoPro in a ‘Snap’

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I’m a big fan of G-Form products and not so long ago we reviewed the G-Form Elbow Pads which I now wear religiously for snowboarding.

G-Form announced during CES 2013 that in June of 2013, they will sell the G90 waterproof phone case with a 90° angled lens/mirror with up to an impressive 140° field of view (your existing smartphones lens will determine the exact field-of-view you’ll get). Because smartphones are so narrow, the G-Form set-up is more aerodynamic and poised to give GoPro, Vholdr, Drift and others a run for their money.

Posted by: Lawrence

Source: Gizmodo

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yaktrax bitness.comRead: 2 mins

Back on Track with YakTrax

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We got like 6″ – 8″ of snow where I live in the Northeast and it’s been hanging around. The first few days I did some snowshoeing, but over the next few days the snow melted just enough to get crusty and the trails got pretty tracked-out and I was relegated to hiking. Given my longstanding hatred of treadmills and the fact that the surf has been relatively flat, I needed a plan C to get back out and de-stress.

Click to enlarge image

I run trails and from time-to-time with my friend and neighbor Dan and he asked if I had Yaxtrax and wanted to go on a run – I didn’t, but a run sounded great. So today with my new Yaktrax Pro’s I hit the frozen, muddy, snowy tracked-out trails not expecting much from these spikeless, rubber and coiled-metal contraptions that slid over my regular running shoes and fastened over the forefoot with a single velcro strap.

For the first mile or so I took it easy, gently testing lateral movement and I felt as locked in as though I were on dry ground. By miles 3 and 4 I was cutting confidently through treed trails like Barry Sanders cutting through the Bears defense. OK, maybe more like Colonel Sanders cutting through a boneless variety bucket, but I gotta say I was impressed with the way these things held ground.

Features of the Yaktrax include:

  • SPIKELESS, ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN
  • 360° OF TRACTION WITH PATENTED SKID LOCK COIL SYSTEM
  • DURABLE NATURAL RUBBER BLEND FOR FLEXIBLE FIT
  • ABRASION RESISTANT 1.4MM STEEL COILS
  • REMOVABLE PERFORMANCE STRAP ENSURES FIT
  • HEEL TAB ALLOWS FOR EASY INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL

For anyone looking to hit the trails in suspect conditions, trust the Yaktrax – they work. Price: $25-30.

Posted by: Lawrence

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