Seattle Article in Skateboarder Have you seen the January '07 Issue of Skateboarder? BFC had a chance to write up Seattle's Cityscape article on page 30. The purpose of the article is to share about Seattle's character and tourist hits from a skateboarder's perspective. If we had two pages more in the magazine, you'd see what you see here... this is the author's cut. Also, an interesting point, flip one page past the article and you see an article on "Church and Skate, Where Do You Stand?" See what P Rod and Steve Caballero have to say. IDENTITY Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Boeing, Costco Wholesale, the Mariners, Sonics, Seahawks, the Space Needle, Bruce Lee, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, rain, the best summers around. SKATESHOPS 35th North Captures the Seattle skate scene in the form of a skateshop. Product, art and people. Pumps blood into the skate scene through supporting events and creating videos. Goods Clean-cut and fresh. Partner, Steve Gonzales, supports and gets so involved in the skate scene he has the knack of being at ten different places at the same time. SKATE COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS Manik Skateboards If you get too good you'll get on Manik. This local skateboard icon of Seattle snatches up the local talent and propels them forward. Riders, decks and shirts that tell the story of Seattle. Dirty Bearings Run by skater, Dirty Dan. Keeping it real. Midnight Ice Cream Run by a true ninja on a skateboard, Yoshi Obayashi. Shirts, decks and smiles. Boarders For Christ (BFC) Organization that recently ran six-contest Seattle series. Local sensation Dan Ching took the overall award. Also performs demos and creates films. Keep an eye out for upcoming documentary, DOPE, the telling of Dennis Martinez, Christian Hosoi, Jay Adams and Bruce Logan's story. Grindline Creating the smoothest tranny parks around. Need a new bowl? Hit these guys up for the all-in-one package: design, construction and a demo on the grand opening day. Lo-Directo Skate decks. Professional skater Ryan Aningalan reprezent... reprezent... zent. LOCAL SKATERS David Gravette, Vince DeValle, Jordan Sanchez, Josh Jones, Ryan Stangland, Josh Anderson, Ethan Fitzpatrick. NATIVES Aaron Artis, Steve Olson, Chad Vogt, Danny Minnick, Ben Krahn, Reed Adam, Alex Bland. LEGENDS Yoshi Obayashi, Tom Peha, Ryan Aningalan, Joe McLellan, Joey Bast, Leigh Peterson, Aaron Deter. STREET SPOTS The Wall of Death This undercover bank acquired it's name from the 40-foot-wide, bright-orange sign that faces it. Tricks in are sick. Red Square The spot. Spacious brick plaza with ledges, manual pads, stairs and more. At the heart of the University of Washington campus. Gasworks Park Long hubba ledge and blocks overlooking Lake Union. Garfield High School Time to get serious. Gnarly banks and rails of stone in the central district. Seattle Center A variety of street spots. Skate around and discover. Just look for the Space Needle. Seattle Central School made of entirely red brick. Sits right on Broadway. Home of the brick double-set and massive white rail in the back. OUTDOOR PARKS Shoreline Well-rounded street park just north of Seattle off of I-5. Marginal Way Crazy tranny that makes it fun to skate. In the SODO industrial district. Mercer Island Got the itch for buttery ledges and manuals? First island you hit, just east of downtown. Ballard Bowl High-speed carve and grind session waiting to happen. INDOOR PARKS Inner Space Some of the funnest sessions around. Street course and home of the best mini-spine on the planet. Visit innerspaceskateboarding.com. Skate Barn West Heavenly. Spacious and chock full of obstacle combinations. Three major sections, plus a mini and a vert ramp. Check out skatebarn.com. PLACES TO EAT Dick's Classic and unchanged. A must-have for lovers of fast-food. Burgers, fries and shakes that take you back to the good 'ol days. Cedars Just finishing up a Red Square session? It's time to "get chaiphy". Hit up Cedars, on Brooklyn in the U-District, for bottomless free chai tea. Honey Hole For unforgettable sandwiches and fries. Ezell's Famous Chicken Does Oprah Winfrey really stop by here to get fried Chicken everytime she's in town? Better find out for yourself. GETTING AROUND Metro or Sound Transit buses Depending on where you're going, it could cost a little or nothing at all if you stick within Seattle's Ride Free Area. VIDEOS Splash Do your research before you hit up Sea-town. This vid communicates the skills behind the Manik Skateboard team. Stop Fronting The candid and real Seattle skate video. Produced by Tony Croghan and 35th North Skateshop. Word, A Skateboard Film The rain is good for one thing... staying indoors and editing videos. Created by BFC, Word is a collection of 19 talented skaters in your not so typical presentation. THINGS TO DO Pike Place Market The seafood employees will show you how it's faster to throw a 15-pound salmon to someone than to walk it over. The Experience Music Project (EMP) Check out the grooves and the tunes interactively at this experimental museum. The Underground Tour Seattle is the city built upon a city. Intrigued? If you have the extra time check it out. Starbucks What would a visit to Seattle be if you didn't stop by a Starbucks? Hit up the original one in Pike Place Market for a cup o' jo. Broadway Be prepared to see all types here... stores, eateries and people... day and night. The Ave (University Way) Where the action is at in the U-District. Alki and West Seattle If you're thinking about taking a picture of Seattle, consider snapping one from here. GUYS WHO KEEP THE SCENE ALIVE Marshall Reid The grandpappy of skateboarding in Seattle. MCs every single skate event that occurs. Huge event planner and promoter. Runs Manik Skateboards. Tony Croghan An uncle in the skate scene. Owns and runs 35th North. Creative and involved in the scene. Mike Martinez Another uncle to all the skaters. Makes sure there is a dry place to skate (Inner Space) and helps raise the new generation up. - end - © BFC Studios. All rights reserved.