Date of Birth: August 8, 1977
Best Known For: Riding bikes, I guess. But mostly just falling down.
My Crew: Brandon Lillard, Tony Hawk, Dave Yarvo, Little Anthony (The Boy)
Dream Trip: I want to do too much stuff to call anything a dream trip. They’re mostly all good. I've been living the dream trip since I was 15; just gonna spend the next few years trying not to wake up.
| My Top Five: | 1.) Zombie Movies — all of ‘em 2.) Hugo’s tacos (2 carnitas, 2 carne asada, no extra onions, small fresca) 3.) Roadtrips with no schedule w/ people who aren't scared to live a little 4.) Street spots with no security 5.) Anywhere with REAL friends |
The "world's greatest global road race" is on the final stretch
Our resident stunt man, Mike Escamilla, found another way to get his kicks. Right now, he's in fifth gear somewhere in Canada on his way to the finish line in New York. Gumball 3000 is a high-stakes road race, this year starting in London. He's with Tony Hawk, Jesse Fritsch and John Dale, and to be honest, they're not really trying to win. "We've been kind of straying from the Gumball path and hitting up skateparks and goofing around the whole time," he said. Nevertheless, they've been documenting the ultimate road trip. Check his videos here, here and here and follow his twitter page here.
For more on the race itself, go to www.gumball300.com.
The first of our Phantom Sweepstakes winners is announced at ZJ Boarding House. Check the video highlights here. Video: PK. Photos: Michael Lallande
What a weekend for a barbecue. Eighty-degree temps, slack winds, decent little waves...and a healthy Spring Break crowd looking for some fun. A few hundred found it at ZJ Boarding House on Saturday afternoon, as the first of our Phantom True Performance "Upgrade Your Boardshorts" events kicked off in style.

Great day for a barbecue...and some boardshorts. PHOTO: MICHAEL
Peter King kept us entertained on the bullhorn, Timmy Curran, Bob Burnquist, Curren Caples and crew served up gourmet burgers and dogs for free. And, best of all, throngs of people lined up to trade in their old boardshorts (which will all be donated to a local charity), buy a pair of Phantom with Nike Flywires at half price, and be entered for a chance to win a trip to Kandui Resortwith Rob Machado and the Hurley Team.
Of course, there wasn't just one winner. Everyone who attended had a chance to customize t-shirts and boardshorts at our Phantom truck or try their luck at our Phantom Fortune machine. But those who purchased Flywires hung around ’til the very end to find out their fate with the Indo Dream Trip. Keep in mind this trip — which will take place in late October and will host five winners plus one friend each — is no Publisher's Clearing House odds. In this case, it was about 1:150, which would beat a trip to Vegas any day. Just ask Marina Del Ray resident Chris Hardt, who went to Sin City last weekend and had a shocker. "It wasn't a good trip for me," he said.

A few good men: the ZJ crew and the Hurley Team. PHOTO: LALLANDE
But he attended our "Upgrade Your Boardshorts" event, had a burger, then bought a pair of Phantoms with Nike Flywire. When the evening wrapped up, Tim Curran stuck his hand in a plastic bin, pulled out a stub and announced the winner. "Chris Hardt!" he said.
Hardt was in disbelief. His buddy, standing right next to him, is also going on the trip, and they immediately started texting their bros. "This is real, right?" he said. And then, when he was assured he wasn't about to be Punk'd, he said. "This is the best 100 bucks I've ever spent."
(Special thanks to ZJ Boarding House for making it all happen. Keep track of our Phantom Truck, coming to a beach near you.)
Rooftop and friends go BMX all over the Hurley Skatepark.
Mike Escamilla makes the rounds with the troops
I had the opportunity to go to Iraq recently and be involved in some shows for the troops. Of all the trips I've ever been on this was the most gratifying one yet. The excitement and sincerity of the troops was so honest and real. We visited bases in Bagdad, Basrah and Hunter. I got to meet so many people and hear so many stories.
Hurley made custom shirts for the troops, which were a hit; Skullcandy, Happy Madison and Tony Hawk also gave gear to give out. I really want to thank everyone who made this trip happen and a special thank you to all the troops all over the world who are out there missing their families to keep us safe. Here are a few photos form my trip. —Rooftop
Mike Escamilla and Jason Maloney blend bikes with art for this BMX Plus cover shoot. Watch the whole process here.
Rooftop and Lillard introduce themselves to the BASE jump. Better them than you.
A photo gallery from Mike Escamilla and Brandon Lillard's road trip to Idaho. Make sure your parachute works.