MZUNGU support exhibition for skate-aid Kenya

MZUNGU support exhibition for skate-aid Kenya

If you are in Denmark enjoy Skate Art and want take part in a very neat project, you’ll want to check out Mzungu!

We have recently been in contact with a Danish Skateboard Builder, Casper Haugegaard. Casper is hosting a fundraiser art-show in Copenhagen from the 1st to the 12th of March 2017, at Galleri Bomhuset.  The exhibited boards are made with Roarockit technology and decorated by Danish artists.

“Mzungu” is a support exhibition for skate-aid Kenya. Skate-aid is an NGO which offers free skateboard lessons for children from slum Kangemi on the outskirts of Nairobi. Since there is no opportunity to buy skateboards in the area, the idea is to create a small production of handmade boards, in cooperation with the local skaters. For this, Bomhuset and a total of 12 artists, each decorated a skateboard for the exhibition. The works are sold at 2500kr. PCS. and the sale will go to skate-aid to establish a production of hand-made skateboards in Kangemi slum. The exhibition runs until 12th March. Opening hours: Thursday: 16:00 to 18:00 Friday: 16:00 to 18:00 Saturday: 12:00 to 15:00.

So if you are in Copenhagen, drop by to check out the boards and help support their project!

 decorated boards by Danish Artists

Coming up…

From 19.03.17-20.09.17, Casper will be volunteering as a skateboard-instructor with “skate-aid” at the orphanage “Shangilia”.

The Shangilia association is offering street children a home in an orphanage, providing them with an education and a decent life. The orphanage is on the edge of Nairobi, in the Kangemi slum. The aim is to carefully restore the children’s self-esteem with acrobatics, music and sports.

In Kangemi, Casper will be setting up a small production of handmade skateboards using Roarockit technology, in collaboration with the local skateboarders.

Read more about Skate-aid’s work in Kenya here

We shall also post updates on Casper’s project here on our blog, so stay tuned!

 

video

Photo credits: Simon Skipper

Interview Fabio Brambilla – Broken Board Design: English version

Interview Fabio Brambilla – Broken Board Design: English version

This month’s shaper has kindly written his story in Italian and in English, so pick your language and enjoy!

 

Fabio Brambilla – a talented Italian skateboard builder, with a passion for skateboarding and custom decks, has recently launched his own brand: Broken Board Design! Read on to find out more…

Broken Board Design

 

A little personnal introduction…

My name is Fabio Brambilla, I live in Como, Lake Como lovely place … I am 40 years old but did not hear them, for the moment.

My work is the furniture designer, I work in a large company, and I have a passion for … Skateboard passion for punk and electronic music, a background as an illustrator and designer tshirt, pins and stickers as well as paying video experimental … in short, a small local artist.

Finished Deck

 

1) YOU RECENTLY STARTED BUILDING BOARDS…

It ‘s always been my desire since I was a kid and I practiced Skateboard … to create a custom skate, and now I can do it!

 

street

 

2) YOU HAVE NOW LAUNCHED YOUR OWN BROKEN BOARD DESIGN….

Broken Board Design wants to be a brand dedicated to street-style, contemporary, dynamic, creative brand that keep holds skate and design !

 

 

 

3) WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE NAME  “BROKEN BOARD DESIGN”…

Why not ! I liked Having an “rude” logo and rough, near the punk spiritMaple boardshape-cut-out

Skateboarding, but at the time same ironic and irreverent.

Break a skateboard was a moment to celebrate.

But above all I reuse waste of veneer furniture Processing

And furniture, to give him a second chance … A Second Life!

 

 

maple

 

4) YOU USE OUR ROAROCKIT TECHNOLOGY…

For my work I have heard and seen the machines that bend the plywood with the technology of vacuum … and so in a restless night I searched the internet a similar method. and I found the “Canadian doctor” that explained and showed the ROAROCKIT TECHNOLOGY … et voilà

 

 

5) WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF DECK IS…winter-collection

After a period of tests and tests with various forms I am now concentrating production

SURF SKATE models of style and old school. These are the models that we reflect to me

more and who marry better with my design and the veneer to broken pieces

 

6) ANY FUTURE PROJECTS….

In the future I see other projects not only for skateboards … I want to get hold of the technology

and implement small design objects … the limit will be my fantasy

 

logo-slogn

 

7) ANY COMMENTS, SPECIAL THANKS…

My inspiration it’s my job as a designer and especially playing with my son Lorenzo 4 years and have stimuli with his unstoppable creativity … he’s a little ruscal !

I would like to thank all those who in this period were close to me and they really encouraged me and supported and who believe in this strange project … thank you very much!
– > a special thanks to the “Canadian Doc”


You can find and buy all of Broken Board Design Skateboards on their website 

Like and follow their page on facebook

Christmas is on it’s way!

Christmas is on it’s way!

Christmas is on its way and it’s time to start looking for that PERFECT GIFT!

To help you find the best present we have set up a Gift Ideas page specially for you.

With gift ideas for all budgets, ages and personnalities.

From Skateboard building Kits for him, for her or the whole family, skateboard tools and original trendy gifts for shapers!

All Skateboard Kits come packed in a beautiful box, so you don’t even have to worry about gift wrapping, slip them directly under your Christmas tree ready to be unwrapped on the day!

Skateboard Building Kits

Skateboard Building Kits

Be sure to check out our page and pick the perfect DIY gift in time for Christmas!

Get creative this Christmas – DREAM IT, MAKE IT, RIDE IT!

KriD Strassenbretter – Daniel Krismer

KriD Strassenbretter – Daniel Krismer

Daniel contacted us a few weeks ago with pictures of his builds and what he was up to! We loved his decks and couldn’t resist putting forward his project that has gone from a winter hobby to a passion and small board building line. Give it up to this board builder in Austria!

 

KriD Strassenbretter

 

1) So Daniel, can you tell us a little about yourself, where do you come from ? Where do you currently live ? What do you do ?

My name is Daniel Krismer, age 31, since I was born, I live in Kufstein, that’s a nice small town in Tirol/Austria. I’m married and proud daddy of 2 lovely kids. I love to ride motorcycles and play guitar. I was skating for fun since I was a little boy, trying new tricks with my friends at the park, now I enjoy more cruising around than doing tricks.

 

2) We understand you have recently started building skateboards, how did this come about ? Any particular reasons ?

I love to work in my workshop, no matter what to do, to fix something or rebuild an old motorcycle. Last autumn I kept an eye out for a new winter project. With my motorcycle students, I spend a lot of time on the parking lot to do some basic excercises. To get throw the exercises I use a skateboard, a 10 year old 7,5 Minilogo with independent trucks and monster wheels. After a thousand scratches and a realy bad griptape, I decided that it´s time for a new one. I surfed the internet and then ….from Skateshop – to google diy skateboard … and 5 hours later .. I had a new winter project.

 

winter skateboard building project

 

3) You have launched a facebook page for « KriD Strassenbretter » (@skateboards4fun), can you tell us about it and how it is going so far ?smile

Last November I pressed the first decks, and the results were wow. I´d never thought that I could build a skateboard like that. It´s currently a great hobby, I can do it alongside my family, when my kids go to bed, I go to my workshop. A few month ago I decided to publicise my boards. Therefore facebook is the perfect platform. It’s not my goal to earn livelihood, but to create a customized skateboard is really cool, but I cannot use so many boards on my own, so I decided to sell them. The feedback is great and the feedback is motivation to go on.

 

4) You use the Roarockit  Thin air press to build your decks, how did you come across us and how do you find it so far ?

A friend of mine builds skis and he presses also with a vacuum press. I searched online for vacuum bags and alternatives. After a few hours of reaserch I found your homepage. And the first order was done. I only use your thin air press. I like it to build my own molds and go to the timberdealer to look after the right veneer. Usually I use european maple and ash. Your vacuum bags are amazing. The material is hard-wearing and longlasting. It´s a really great idea to press without an expensive vacuum pump. Thank you for a great product like that.

Thin Air Press_mg_2622sm_mg_2642sm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) Any future projects or plans with « KriD Strassenbretter » (@skateboards4fun) ?

My next project is to get a straight line throw my boards, find my style. I just start out on my sk8boardbuilder career, « lol ». In addition I have another new project : a powder-surfer . Hopefully I can show you the results in the near futur .

 

deck longboard-deck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6) Little end note : any favorite saying, special deck or personnal note you would like to add?

It’s amazing, how quickly an idea becomes a passion. I hope that I can build many skateboards in the futur.krid-logo

You can checkout, follow and buy KriD Strassenbretter boards on facebook ! 

 

Melody Boards – Mélanie Blanchard

Melody Boards – Mélanie Blanchard

Ce mois-ci, vous avons le plaisir de vous présenter Melody Boards. Mélanie Blanchard est une passionnée de la fabrication de planches et de design.

melanie-blanchard

 

1- Peux-tu nous faire une petite présentation de toi, d’où viens tu, quel âge as-tu, où habites tu ..etc ?

Je m’appelle Mélanie Blanchard, j’ai 25 ans et j’habite à CHINON. J’ai habité quelques temps sur Paris pour y exercer le métier de graphiste/illustratrice et après un an j’ai voulu retourner à ma campagne natale à Chinon.

 

 

 

2- Tu as lancé ta propre marque de planches fait main, quand as-tu commencé ce projet et pourquoi ?longboardcruising

L’idée de fabriquer des planches moi même m’est venu très rapidement après être rentrée en Touraine. Je n’avais qu’une petite planche que j’utilisais tout le temps sur Paris et j’en voulais une nouvelle, plus grande, plus personnalisée … sauf que je n’avais pas un rond! Je travaillais sur mon book d’illustration en même temps et tout cela est venu presque naturellement, j’avais besoin de nouveaux supports et c’est comme ça qu’est née ma première planche!

C’était un peu l’aventure, j’avais une brève idée de ce que je voulais et je me suis lancée. J’ai pris quelques planches de contreplaqué dans mon grenier que j’ai collé avec une bonne armada de serre joint! Cette première planche avait l’épaisseur d’un steak mais c’était la mienne avec mon dessin.

Je me suis très vite prise au jeu, ensuite j’ai découpé ma première planche de street qu’on avait du m’offrir au collège pour en faire un cruiser. On ne pouvait plus m’arrêter!

 

3- Quelles sont les spécificités de Melody Boards ?

 

Hand made decks

 

La spécificité de Melody Boards c’est justement les illustrations. Il m’arrive très souvent que les personnes me donnent un petite idée de ce qu’ils veulent, je fais un croquis et c’est parti! Il m’est même arrivé de dessiner le chien d’un petit garçon par exemple, du coup on a organisé une petite séance photo et le petit est reparti avec sa planche avec son chien dessus. On peut pas faire plus personnalisé! J’adore dessiner et je trouve ça excellent de pouvoir faire cela sur un support aussi intéressant qu’un skateboard.

 

4- Pourquoi le nom Melody Boards ?

Je suis une grande fan de Serge Gainsbourg alors c’est mon petit clin d’œil perso envers cet artiste de talent. Et puis, je sais pas pourquoi mais les gens confondent souvent mon prénom avec Amélie et aussi Melody.

 

5- Tu utilises notre Thin Air Press et Érable Canadien, pourquoi et comment nous as-tu trouvé ?bambou-sous-vide

J’utilise votre thin air press car c’est vachement pratique! Ça prend pas de place et on peut faire pleins de moules différents.

Le service client est génial, si j’ai une question on me répond super rapidement.

Je vous ai trouvé lors du Fise à Montpellier, j’avais déjà entendu parler de vous sur internet mais c’est toujours mieux de rencontrer les personnes directement, surtout lors d’un événement comme celui-ci!

 

6- As-tu une type de planche préférée et pourquoi ?

J’adore toujours autant un bon vieux longboard pour faire du cruising. Il n’y a rien de mieux qu’une bonne balade en bord de Loire/mer au soleil couchant!

 

7- Des futures projets, types de planches en vues ?

J’ai commencé à faire des objets en skateboard recyclé, des skateurs me donnent leurs vieilles planches cassées et je leur donne une seconde vie! Je trouve ça vraiment intéressant, c’est fou ce que l’on peut faire avec des skates (décapsuleurs, porte-clés, manche de couteaux…)

skates-recyclesporte-cles couteaux-en-skate coque-samsung

 

 

 

 

 

 

Et pour les planches j’ai commencé des longboards en bambou et bientôt il y aura pleins de nouveaux shapes donc une en drop deck que j’ai hâte de commencer!

 

8- Des remerciements, dédicaces ?

J’ai beaucoup de monde à remercier, tout ceux qui m’ont soutenu dès le début, qui ont toujours été là même pendant les coups dur. Ce soutient c’est hyper important, ça donne énormément de baume au cœur et toujours l’envie de continuer et de faire toujours plus.

Ma famille, qui se cotise à tout mes anniversaires pour m’acheter du nouveau matériel, mes amis qui m’aident à faire connaître mon travail. Mon père qui m’a transmis l’amour du bois. A toutes ces personnes je veux leur dire un grand merci.

 

planche-bambou

Vous pouvez suivre Melody Boards sur facebook
Et sur son site www.melodyboards.com