more photos from week 1

Just arrived in Houston TX coming from AZ, El Paso and San Antonio. The crew is deep. Hosoi, Grosso, Cab, Childress, Alfaro, Nav's, Braydon, Childress, Baca, Haslam, Kenny A, Omar Hassan and newly arrivals Alex Olsen and Fred Gall. Tons of skate spots and shredding going down. 5 weeks left....look out! -rhino

It's been a few days of no wifi so sorry for the delay. We spent yesterday in San Antonio, TX. schralping around in a ditch, a mini pool and The Green Monster. Kenny Anderson became the MVP of the first leg- back noseblunt, back lip, back smith. Sick.

Ninja La Raza


Grosso & Haslam before the sun stroke kicked in.


Brothers of the Four Winds.


Baca & Braydon


"Feed me before I stab someone in the neck with a screwdriver!!"-Grosso


Navs- Gila Monster


Baca throwing stones.

Mostly drove today. Phoenix to El Paso. The hook looks dry- just needs a little sweeping. Sammy found a gonzo drop-in he wants to do tomorrow. Tons of ditches out here too. Ate some Pho. Later.

Day two bitches. Woke up this morning looking for coffee and Christ. After a short jaunt to the airport we find ourselves reclining in the shade of one of our fair city's taller buildings, the Kenny and Braydon manny show playfully displayed for our viewing pleasure. Oh yeah, Alfie, in some stoner haze of brilliance climbed a tree, only to have it's tender branches splinter under his tiny frame, plummeting him headlong towards the earth. Best trick of the session. Spent a few lazy hours wandering around some random strip mall, eating bad food, offering false promises for foot wear, and watching sammy smoke Pall Mall's like a homeless veteran. Gotta love that boy. Supplies gathered, shit talked, it's off to Peoria for our first public appearance. Straight out of the van we are bombarded by a sea of prepubescent tweens, red faced, screaming for Drew. "Where's Andrew?" they ask in earnest? I don't know is our only reply. The boys post up in the flow section where Sammy strikes first with a judo-kick, back flannel slide that sent the children into a tizzy. Chet comes on strong with a waxed out bluntslide and the session was on. The OMA is there in force, dispensing grumpy juice, tales of yore, and free grub for the hungry throngs. We watched a local kid, known at this time only as Hair Helmet, shoot himself high into the air with some of the most impressive deck launches I have seen since the jump ramp days. No seriously, this 14 year old gave even our seasoned vets a run for their money. Doubles mayhem? But fuck, your gonna have to wait . I'm tired. Gotta go rub one out and get some shut eye. Thanks to the OMA and all who attended. I hope y'all had as much fun as me.
-Grosso

Spicy Blanco


Boredom Awaits. Keeps your mind in a frozen state.


Road dogs: Chet, Navs, Haslam

To make a short story shorter, the first day was a no brainer. It was raining, Shark Attack, Cheeter Cheese and Bat Face were the first to get in the van; Cabby, Kenny A. and Mr. Hupp were swooped up from LAX with Hazzzlam next door at dwindle; a quick jaunt behind the Orange Curtain and Alfy, O'Mark and Grosso got in. 3 hours of traffic later we arrived in Ocean Beach, where Rhino and the Crow awaited our arrival. Sorry- penmanship Touretts. We picked up Baca too, but you'll have to wait for the Thrasher article to hear how we found him. Off to Phoenix!



The Indy truck was purring like a kitten.



After rounding up the boys in the mourning we picked up Wez and went for a roll at the Tempe Park. Guaranteed no one's seen a more mötley crëw then this one! Killer Creager cameo and the Casperholic was there too. A backyard pool session was next in line with Rick Eusey and THE Lee Bender showing face. Sammy killed it, O'Mark, the Crow and Bat Face were right there with him. Cheba Hut subs, Cheeder & O'Mark's verbal vomit, Vegas boys, Alfy's first frontside invert, Hazzzlar's manny mayham, The Gaysian's pool geometry and the day was done.

The Independent 30th Anniversary Tour kicked off yesterday as the initial shift of skaters left California for Arizona where they will be jamming tomorrow, Sunday, May 25th at Peoria Skatepark. So if you're in the area, come out and check it out!

Independent Truck Company and NHS are proud to present the Independent 30th Anniversary Tour, supported by
RedBullSkateboarding.com, May 23rd through July 4th, 2008 in association with Thrasher magazine.

This summer over 40 Independent Trucks team riders, traveling in shifts, will embark on a nationwide US tour alongside the custom built Independent 1941 Ford Pickup. The tour will be stopping at 10 locations for skate jams, BBQs, and parties celebrating over 30 years of making the world’s best skateboard trucks.

The crew will be shooting for an article in Thrasher as well as filming for the tour video to be released on DVD and in parts this fall on the tour’s microsite at
30thTour.IndependentTrucks.com.

So come out and jam with the team at the following locations or maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of them as they haul ass in-between towns destroying whatever spots they can get their trucks on.

PHOENIX, AZ
SUNDAY, MAY 25th, 4:00-7:00 pm
Peoria Skatepark

HOUTSON, TX
SUNDAY, June 1st, 2:00-5:00 pm
Skatepark Grand Opening
Houston Skatepark

ATLANTA, GA
SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH, 4:00-7:00 pm
Mountain Park

WILMINGTON, NC
MONDAY, JUNE 9TH, 5:00-8:00 pm
Eastern Skate Supply

FREDERICK, MD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11TH, 4:00-7:00 pm
Frederick Skatepark

SKATOPIA, OH
FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH
Skatopia Bowl Bash XIII
www.skatopia.org

MILWAUKEE, WI
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH, 12:00-3:00 pm
Cream City Skatepark

DENVER, CO
SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST, 4:00-7:00 pm
IASC Go Skateboarding Day
Commerce City Skatepark

MISSOULA, MT
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 3:00-6:00 pm
Missoula Skatepark

LINCOLN CITY, OR
SUNDAY, JUNE 29TH, 2:00-5:00 pm
Lincoln City Skatepark

SAN FRANCISCO, CA
FRIDAY, JULY 4TH, 1:00-5:00 pm
30th Anniversary Party / Jam
Potrero Del Sol / La Raza Park

For more information including each location’s team roster, dates and times, directions, and updates from the road log onto
30thTour.IndependentTrucks.com.