Skateboarder Mike Vallely in fracas at hockey game

News item: Mike Vallely, a legendary figure in the core skateboarding universe, is arrested after a brawl at the end of a Friday night Anaheim Ducks hockey game (a video has already been posted on YouTube). The fight begins when player Scott Niedermayer tries to toss his stick to a girl in the front row as a friendly gesture. Niedermeyer stares in disbelief through the glass at a group of people struggling for the stick, including Vallely. The Ducks reportedly have disassociated themselves from Vallely, who's a die-hard fan and had blogged on the team website.

Reaction: Perhaps the Ducks ought to discontinue the practice of tossing sticks to fans. This so-called fight was mostly just a struggle over a stick intended for a girl who might have been Vallely's daughter. Not to defend fighting among fans, but can you blame him if this was the case? That said, Mike V.'s rebellious acts have appeared in other videos and so have his fights -- the skateboarder/rocker is semi-famous for another fight video in which he takes on four people at once and beats them to a whimper. 

Were the Ducks right to yank Vallely's blog and will they be right if they also pull his season tickets, as they're reportedly considering? I wasn't there so I'll reserve judgment. If you were present or have any thoughts, please chime in.

-- Pete Thomas

 

'Snowboarding With Shaun White' auction open on EBay; proceeds go to charity

Shaun White is up for auction on EBay -- well, the opportunity to snowboard with the Olympic gold medalist is.

Bidding is open through Friday for the chance to win a snowboarding session with Shaun and one-day VIP passes to the Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships on March 16-21 at Stratton Mountain in Vermont.

The auction winner will also enjoy lunch with Shaun; a complete set-up from "The White Collection" by Burton including board, boots, bindings and outerwear; and one night's accommodation at a four-star hotel on March 20. Plus, the auction winner can bring a friend (but all travel to and from Stratton Mountain is the responsibility of the winning bidder and his or her guest).

Bidding closes at 7 p.m. PST Friday and is restricted to preapproved buyers only, which means those interested must e-mail the seller to be placed on the preapproved list.

All auction proceeds will benefit Right to Play, an organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health and develop life skills for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

The video above shows Shaun teaching children how to skateboard at Right to Play programs in Rwanda. Their smiles and cheers speak volumes about the value of Shaun's involvement with the charity.

-- Kelly Burgess

Video credit: auctioncause via YouTube

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Tony Hawk to bring star-studded skatepark benefit act to Las Vegas

What happens in Las Vegas on Nov. 7, when Tony Hawk and his cast of high-flying action sports stars begin to soar and spin on their skateboards and bikes, will leave families thoroughly entertained and feeling charitable.

The legendary skateboarder is bringing his personal vert ramp to the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel, with numerous celebrities in tow, for a benefit called "Tony Hawk: RIDE Presents Stand Up for Skateparks." Among athletes scheduled to perform are Bucky Lasek, Simon Tabron, Mat Hoffman, Andy MacDonald, Kevin Staab, Shaun White, Jamie Bestwick, Bob Burnquist, Ryan Sheckler and Dennis McCoy.

In its sixth year, but for the first time in Las Vegas, the gala will raise funds for the Tony Hawk Foundation's national skatepark program. Hawk believes skateparks afford kids a healthy alternative to hanging out on the streets, and, as a millionaire entrepreneur who gained his fame and fortune through skateboarding, he should know. His foundation has awarded nearly $3 million to 448 communities that so far have opened 341 skateparks.

The benefit is a red-carpet affair expected to include such celebrities as Lance Armstrong, Andre Agassi, Elaine Wynn, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mia Hamm, Jon Favreau, Lorenzo Fertitta, Frank Fertitta III, Robin Greenspan, George Maloof, Andrew Pascal, Mat Hoffman, Shaun White, Robert Kotick and Ron Burkle. Rancid will provide the live music. [Updated 8:23 a.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified Frank Fertitta III as Frank Fertitta II.]

The benefit is pricey: Individual tickets are $350 and family packages range from $2,000 to $20,000. Guests will receive various goodies and the package prices include signed skateboard decks and, in some cases, a VIP reception with Hawk and other celebrities, and hotel accommodations. 

The event also will include a pledge drive to  fund improvements at a specific skatepark in Las Vegas. Similar pledge drives have benefited skateparks in Compton, New York City and the military community of Tierrasanta in San Diego.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available on the Stand Up for Skateparks website or by calling C.C. Hafner at (760) 477-2479.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Tony Hawk spins his signature 900 while Fred Durst checks the action from the ramp earlier this month in Beverly Hills. Credit: Jody Morris

Ski Dazzle opens Thursday at L.A. Convention Center

Ski Dazzle makes its return to Southern California, opening Thursday and running through Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The annual ski and snowboard consumer event, touted as the world's largest, will feature more than 375 exhibit booths showcasing equipment and resort information.

There will also be activities each day, including ski and snowboard lessons, contests and seminars, a climbing wall, and skateboard and BMX Vert ramp shows.

Event hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Adult admission is $17; children ages 6 to 12, $5 ; and those 5 and younger, free.

Once inside, paid adult tickets can be exchanged for a one-day lift ticket coupon to either Snow Summit or Bear Mountain resorts (certain restrictions apply).

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A snowboarder takes a turn at Snow Summit in Big Bear. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Mammoth Mountain closes temporarily because of warm weather

So much for Mammoth Mountain's second-earliest opening on record. The Eastern Sierra ski area, which opened Friday after a sizable storm had blanketed the region, has temporary closed because of warm weather.

"Mother Nature forced our hand -- after a big storm earlier this week and great skiing and riding on Friday, record-breaking warm temperatures rolled in, wreaking havoc on our snow in the process," the resort stated in a news release issued Sunday night.

The warm, humid weather melted the snow quickly and also made it impossible for the resort to use its snow-making equipment. That could change quickly, however. In fact, rain and snow showers are in tonight's forecast.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Mammoth after last week's storm. Credit:  Mammoth Mountain

Skateboarding mourns the tragic loss of trailblazer Andy Kessler

The skateboarding community remains in mourning and stunned by the bizarre manner in which Andy Kessler died earlier this week.

Kessler, a pioneering figure and advocate for skateboarding in New York City since the 1970s and a skate park designer, died Monday after suffering cardiac arrest following an allergic reaction to a wasp sting. He was 49.

Kessler and other members of the ragtag Manhattan skate/graffiti group Soul Artists of Zoo York -- the rough equivalent to the Dogtown crew in Southern California -- skated Manhattan's Upper West Side and Central Park's Bandshell in the '70s.

Years later he persuaded city officials to build a skateboard facility in Riverside Park. He designed other skate parks in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Montauk.

Last year Kessler was featured in a documentary, "From Deathbowl to
Downtown: The Evolution of Skateboarding in New York,"  which is scheduled for international release on DVD on Sept. 15.

That will be a bittersweet day for the film's producers.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Andy Kessler by Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images

Tony Hawk skateboards with Zulu children on their home turf

Fresh from his stint as a TV commentator for the X Games, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk flew to South Africa, then ventured to the outskirts of Durban and discovered a skate park in what seems the most unlikeliest of places for such a facility: a Zulu village.

“I can’t believe what I am seeing here in this community,"  he said. "It is one of the most amazing skateboard sites I have ever been to. The experience of seeing these young people from disadvantaged backgrounds is something that will stay with me forever."

Hawk is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy and was on hand for the launch of a partnership with Indigo Youth Movement, as part of a larger project to help young people in rural communities develop life skills and confidence through skateboarding.

The program also affords opportunities to learn English and math, and interaction with more advantaged young people in the area. Dallas Oberholzer who created the project eight years ago with an initial focus on promoting cultural diversity. "Having a legend like Tony Hawk land on site is further acknowledgment that we have created an alluring play place," Olberholzer said.

"With this momentum we are strengthened in our commitment to creating an awesome learning platform for all to enjoy, Oberholzer said. "As all skateboarders are connected, Tony Hawk has already impacted our lives; his accomplishments give wings to our dreams."

Hawk is an inspirational figure, to be sure. Hopefully the kids picked up a few new tricks.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Tony Hawk grinds the ramp at Indigo Youth Movement. Credit: Patrick Royal / Laureus 

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Pierre-Luc Gagnon on Twitter, Tony Hawk [Video]

After earning his second straight gold medal in the skateboard vert men's final Saturday, Pierre-Luc Gagnon was asked if he was "tweeting" in between the competition.

The question was posed by @andymacdonald, who took the bronze medal.

Gagnon was actually retweeting a Tony Hawk post during the press conference.

By the way, Gagnon has "only" over a 1,000 followers. Here he asks that Hawk help in his effort to break the highly-coveted million-follower barrier. Heck, while we're at it, follow @LATimesAguirre.

-- Mario Aguirre from Home Depot Center

Video: Pierre-Luc Gagnon talks about Twitter at a press conference following his gold-medal performance in the skateboard men's final Saturday. Credit: Mario Aguirre / Los Angeles Times

Christian Hosoi wins Skateboard Park Legends title

Christian Hosoi or Tony Hawk?

It’s like asking who is better – Prince or Michael Jackson?

Certainly the King of Pop would receive more votes now following his untimely death late June. But before that, music enthusiasts would have debated the question endlessly.

For those looking for ammunition: Hosoi competed Sunday in the Skateboard Park Legends Final in Home Depot Center. Hawk did not.

Not only that, Hosoi, 41, won the gold medal in a competition that featured 10 of the most recognized faces in skateboarding – minus Hawk, of course.

For that reason, Hosoi looked for another target and found it in the form of Chris Miller, who proved to be a formidable competitor throughout the heats.

But when it came time to distance himself from Miller, Hosoi dazzled the crowd with the smooth style that made him a skateboarding fixture in the 1980s.

“It’s competitive,” Hosoi said. “For those who want to win, you have to compete.”

Hosoi finished first among five skaters in the first heat, posting a combined score of 112. The best three scores of seven runs were added to determine a final score for that heat.

In the second heat, which featured the other set of five skaters, Miller finished atop that list with a score of 121.

Miller and Hosoi squared off in the final five-man heat and were tied around the third run. But Hosoi forged ahead with a three-point lead and never squandered that advantage.

“Really, you’re going against Chris Miller. You know, you just got to hold on and hope you make your run and that’s what I did,” Hosoi said. “Chris Miller, in my eyes, is one of my favorite skaters in the world. Just skating against him … words can’t explain how excited you could feel.

“I feel like I’m a kid back in the 80s in my heyday skating competition again.”

-- Mario Aguirre from Home Depot Center.

Rune Gilfberg leaves no doubt at the Skateboard Park final

Smooth like velvet dipped in cream, Rune Gilfberg left no doubt at the Skateboard Park final. And though the final scores were close – Gilfberg edged Andy Macdonald 125-118 – it was clear early that Gilfberg was comfortable on the new course.

“I kind of had my three go-to lines. In that sense, I’d done those runs around the park a lot of times, so that’s probably why,” Gilfberg said.

Though he was satisfied with winning gold for the second straight year in the event, he still wanted more, particularly pulling a 540 on his final run, which he wasn’t able to do.

“Not taking anything away from these guys, I guess the other stuff was enough but I would have liked to have done a little bit better, personally. But it was great. You can’t be bummed by winning.”

Then Chad Bartie, who finished third and was seated to Gilfberg’s left during the press conference, chimed in, laughing: “Aww..you all right?”

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: Rune Glifberg competes in the Skateboard Park Final. Credit: Lori Shepler/Associated Press

Gagnon repeats as Skateboard vert men's champion

Pierre-Luc Gagnon has won multiple X Games medals, but it still doesn't exempt him from being uncertain heading into an event.

He felt the pressure mounting heading into Saturday's competition, largely because he stood on 13 medals and he wanted one more to break out of the unlucky number.

Gagnon had no trouble accomplishing that, collecting his 14th medal as he defended his title in the skateboard vert men's event.

"I was kind of trippin'," he said laughing. "I was, like, OK I can get one more. And this year was the year. So I was, like, alright I just want to get away from number 13."

Gagnon was favored to repeat as champion, although Bucky Lasek provided a sturdy challenge.

Both were tied in the unofficial scores heading into the final head, which narrowed the number of competitors from 10 to five.

Scores later, however, had Gagnon atop all competitors heading into the final heat and Lasek trailing.

Ultimately it finished in that order, with Gagnon cobbling together a 93 in two runs. He finished two points ahead of Lasek, who collected his second consecutive silver medal.

Shaun White, last year's bronze medalist, announced beforehand that he would not be competing in the X Games. Andy Macdonald filled that void, taking third-place honors.

Fans were surprised when Bob Burnquist did not qualify for the final heat. He was four points shy of a tie with Alex Perelson.

-- Mario Aguirre from Home Depot Center

For Danny Way, being injured is nearly normal

Danny Way says he has spent the better part of 25 years injured.

He's only 35.

He has had 13 surgeries, including eight on his knee, along with four ACL reconstructions in the same knee.

On Thursday, he says he nearly tore his MCL in his right knee, the one that has, to this point, stayed injury-free.

And on his second attempt in the Skateboard Big Air Rail Jam, he rolled his right ankle

“I don’t know why I always have to be the guy that gets hurt,” said the 35-year-old from San Diego, who walked into the press conference on crutches with a bag of ice on his right knee.

No matter. He won the event, scoring a 92 on his one and only landed attempt, a switch 50-50. He was limping all through the day and there was speculation he might not skate.

But that speculation wasn’t shared by his teammates, including Bob Burnquist, who took silver and said he knew Way would be skating no matter what.

“I knew before he got hurt that if he got hurt – he would skate,” Burnquist said. “That’s just the way Danny rides.”

There was more significance for Way because it was the first ever Skateboard Big Air Rail Jam, and skating on a rail is one of his specialties.

Still, he said, it can get old being injured.

“Maybe that’s my place in skateboarding and my place on the planet, but it’s not what I set out to do, that’s for sure.”

--Baxter Holmes

Photo: Danny Way fell on his second attempt after landing on the quarter pipe and limped off, but got back up and kept taking runs, eventually taking the gold medal in the skateboard big air event. Credit: Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times