Trash.

THE TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION AND INTERNATIONAL superstar of skate, Bastien Salabanzi, has parted ways with the much fearsome Flip team who he had ridden for since the age of 12. Though some cite erratic behavior for his dismissal, others point to a new-found love of blues guitar that may have taken crucial attention away from his thrash time. Regardless, the Bastien story is hardly over.

Bryan Herman and Andrew Reynolds are going to be looking hella tight in their brand new Altamont clothing brand, but let's hope they don't get stabbed by any rogue, outlaw motorcycle club members.

In a very rare reversal of fortune, Matt Ball not only got put back on Birdhouse, but was given a pro board at the same time. Joining him in Hawk's nest are fellow hellraiser Ragdoll, and You Tube sensation Shaun Gregoire.

Following his surprise surfacing on the Indy roster, Eric Koston has gone full-on NorCal gnar by joining the Spitfire camp as well. He's not on 40's yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Following a trend that seems to haunt these types of events, Benji "Black Sox" Galloway snagged first at the Volcom Brother's bowl contest in Mammoth Lakes, CA recently. Other top placers include Bartie, Senn, Dennis Busenitz, and a gaggle of locals.

Their ads may be black and white, but Mystery has scored a little bit of color in the form of Colorado Springs hot shoe Windsor James and Devine's brother, Everett Stallion. If that weren't enough, the SF legend Drake Jones has been spotted at work in the Black Box warehouse.

Keith Hufnagel's HUFSF has recently celebrated its fourth anniversary as a world-wide center of skate shoe fame. The well-attended, well-shod affair torched the Azul Lounge. Colorways and deliberate scarcity have really changed everything.

TIT TIME

Stereo skateboards split their ties with Giant Distribution, citing a need to better focus on the crux of their brand--ie, art shows and specialty hats. The team remains unaffected, still as stylish as always.

Terry Kennedy is featured in a HP television spot displaying both his viability as a professional endorser and also his ultra-suave cache of ample technological savvy.

HOT FOOT

Following a shit storm of top-shelf coverage, Zero's Tommy Sandoval has taken the pro plunge. Check the interview again if you don't understand why.

Is Gonz teaming with Rita Ackerman to cure breast cancer? This is only the latest download of rumor from the esoterically philosophical Keep A Breast Kings and Queens project. Philanthropic symbolist sculpture is the mode and people like Chris Cole, Duane Peters, Jeremy Wray, Chris Pastras, Bucky Lasek, Bam Margera, Erin Kirkpatrick, Jen O'Brien, Cab, Natas Kaupas, Robert Williams, Chris Miller, Markovich, Mountain, Senn, and Jodie Foster are also said to be involved in one form or another. Soirees, charity auctions and art exhibitions are certain to ensue.

TRUCKER HUT

These days, Tony Vitello is now concentrating his efforts towards some considerably momentous new moves at Venture.

Andre Genovesi has signed with Hosoi Skates and joins Daniel Cardone and good K-grinder Richard Mulder. According to an oft-repeated rumor, the expanding Hosoi ranks allegedly may soon also feature one

The new Consolidated am Tanner Zelinsky's ad debut in the very issue you hold now may contradict his current stay on the wagon--or is that just Yoo-hoo he's spewin'? Like the cougars he slays (both of the human female variety and the NorCal mountain cat kind), Z's lines are fast and deadly.

And in the sponsorship change up of the new millennium, DC founder Ken Block has parlayed his 2005 Rally America Rookie of the Year award into a full-fide subsidy from Subaru USA.

VALLEY FUDGE

SF's Upper Market underground den, the Care Du Nord, recently played host to a skate (kinda) rock homecoming when Grandaddy's Jason Lytle, Jackpot's Rusty Miller, and Thrasher's Nik Freitas produced some well-built sounds for SF's well-dressed masses. This being a sitdown (well, Nik stood because he's a champion), nice-dinner type of show, the raucous "fuck yeahs" and high-pitched screams proved startling for the average music nerd--but Karma, Doug Saenz, AM Magic, and El Capitan flew the flag regardless. San Joaquin por vida.

FAT ASS

Utah and 15th was the location of the Sneaker Pimps extravaganza featuring Stash, Big Foot, Futura, et al. Local mover Mic-E Reyes was observed in the vicinity, hovering somewhere between art acclaim and signature model shoe stardom. Accompanying Mic-E was the auteur-director Larry Clark, and the complete gutter rolling lead cast of Wassup Rockers. Is Reyes moving out of Alley Cat bicycle fabrication and back into wholesome aesthetic accumulations cobbled together from crime scene evidence, shivs, and gats?

Leiana slayed the Viper Room in Hollywood. Numerous Suicidal/Dogtown/Z-Boy notables were in attendance, along with such denizens of Hollywood as KROQ executives, supermodel Janice Dickinson and also Ed Hardy muse Christian Audiger. The celebratory anxiety was generated largely by the presence on stage of Chuck Treece, a veteran of such highs as McRad, Urge Overkill, and Bad Brains, and a survivor of such dangerous sessions as G Love and Billy Joel. The red carpet was out and paparazzi snapped, causing a couple of Dog Boys to wonder aloud about some of the dubious party crashers. Leiana and Treece's chops cut through all the celebrity crap, and a good gig was delivered to all.

The Missoula, Montana Skatepark Association is getting boards out to artists for their 2006 auction to benefit the skatepark seen on page 97 of this issue. Famous people paint, others buy the art, the money goes toward' crete. Google it.

WHY GAMES

Danny Way decided to deliver the news that his recently removed left knee ACL was not an issue, as he pulled a single backflip with a full leg extension over a 50-foot gap on the Mega Ramp at the X Games in Los Angeles. He won for the third time in a row in the event which he has pioneered. Jake Brown got second in the increasingly popular and very gnarly discipline. Third place Bob Burnquist is reportedly well into the construction of his own mega rampage facility back at his Vista ranchette. Other X stories of note were the early runs of young-buck Nyjah Houston, Chris Cole's mega attack, Sandro Dias' style, and Elissa Steamer's cool consistency. Cara Beth Burnside's own golden accomplishment was eclipsed somewhat by her and the other female competitors' political advocacy. The organizers promised to address the she-riders' various concerns, which narrowly staved off a threatened boycott. Will the womens' activism end up initiating some meaningful change? Tune in next time.

MY TIE

"If it's not you it's someone else."--Mark Gonzales

"The only thing that helps me keep my sanity--it's like my security blanket--is my skateboard, because I know I can get down quickly. A 100-foot ramp? Give me the money and I'll build it right now."--Danny Way

"Guns are an industrial art form and skating is performance, but what do you call bad, ugly, gay-ass painting?--Mic-E Reyes

"Jen shows me the lines when we skate pools."--Bob Burnquist