The Kitsap Sun did a feature on Rebel Team rider Mikee O’Friel. The article appeared as Mikee heads dowwn to Jacksonville, Florida for his first pro event and includes a few cool shots of Mikee. Good luck in Florida, dude!

Congratulations toSky Siljeg and TJ Lewis on their first and second place finishes for the 11-12 year-old age group at the Battle Ground finals of the 2007 Concrete Rodeo clinched their First and Second place finishes in the final standings

Mikee O’Friel won the 13-14 age group at the Nationals and seventh in the final standings.

You guys rip!

Sky photo: Kevin Brighton, TJ photo:Rich Burton, Mike photo: Dan Hughes.

Hey there people. It’s been a little while since I’ve had anything to write about or time to write.
With that being said, I’m going to give you the low down on what’s been going on in the world of REBEL SKATES.
The CONCRETE RODEO has been inching way closer to PORTLAND. Having just thrown a couple events in REDMOND, REEDSPORT, and MEDFORD. the RODEO is now slipping back down into NoCal for a couple of events there before the FINALS which will be held @ BATTLEGROUND Skatepark in late August. I’d like to congratulate a few of the guys that did well at the fore mentioned events.
First off, a big pat on the back to REBEL rider, ROBERTO GONGORA for his 1st place showing @ the MEDFORD RODEO. As well as a shout out to former REBEL Rat, BROGAN ROBINSON, for his 1st place effort @ the REDMOND RODEO. and finally a big bark for ADAM KAYS and his 2nd place finish @ REEDSPORT. ADAM has been skating a lot after an unfortunate injury last winter. All of his hard work is paying off, so my hero of the week is ADAM KAYS.
In other news. REBEL SKATES BOMB SQUAD Capt., WILL POWERS is working on his record of WORLD CUP “RIP-OFFS”. After winning “BEST TRICK” at last years PRO-TEC POOL PARTY, and receiving the invite to this years event, he was scratched, at the last minute, from the event and not allowed to skate. Here we go again. This week he qualified 8th at the DEW TOUR street comp. Which is no easy feat. He was up against 23 of the worlds best. The problem started when he learned the cut was 7. However, somebody failed to report on time for the finals so WILL was told he would be in the final. GOOD NEWS!
But a PRO (from all the magazines) showed up and wanted to skate,and this is how it goes when you are backed by a small independent company instead of the money. The PRO was in and WILL POWERS was out. If you are as disgusted by this as well. you can change it. Stop buying from the companies that don’t do anything for you and your community. The people that should get the breaks and the publicity are the SKATER’S SKATER. People like TIM JOHNSON, BENJI GALLOWAY, GREEK, SAGE, DONOVAN RICE, LANCE LEISHER,even YOU. This is a very political business but I believe we can change it if we want to. Think about it. there are tons of skaters out there that are incredible & they don’t get coverage. We own this sport not big business. but it’s big business that runs the show. SKATERS UNITE! how many pictures do you need to see of the same skaters in the same magazines, with 80 pages of ads? IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

The Portland Metro Area’s finest kid friendly retailer is throwing their second annual “GROMFEST”. This is an event you don’t want to miss! I will post this a couple of more times before the event. Never the less, you should start planning your last summer activities around this event. Most of the REBEL Family will be on hand as well.

I know it seems like REBEL always has it’s hand out. That’s because we want the money you owe us! but really it takes the effort of the community to keep things interesting. Last time We were asking for your photos of SLAMS, SCABS, STITCHES,BLOOD, and SKATE related CARNAGE. It’s all good to look at, even if they are your scars. It promotes healing to ones spirit.
This time around WE are asking for you to send us your TATTOOS. REBEL SKATES LOGO tats will always get priority posting but any skate related TATTOO will go on the site. I will eventually put them all together in some sort of BOOK or website that is dedicated for such things.
So please send me your TATTOO pictures, SLAM Photos, anything you think is something that other REBELS will find pleasing. I should have plenty of time to keep this site up to date. As I just did a number on my KNEE @ PIER PARK! Knees aren’t supposed to bend that way, that’s why it made that horrible sound.

This is the first, of what we hope are many,SLAMOGRAPHS. This one is from CHRIS STEVENS over at OLDSCHOOLSKATEBOARDING.COM, the premiere old dog website. CHRIS has been skating for eons and never fails to add one of these BELLYFLOP flesheaters to his scar collection, every year or so. I’ve seen the damage in person and it’s a WHOPPER! Please keep in mind, C-SKATE is 100% skateboarder and would never let a little thing like a SKIN GRAPH keep him off his board. CHRIS was skating the following day. So if you think you deserve HE-MAN status like C-SKATE, roll on up to MT.TABOR every WEDNESDAY for a session. While you’re at it, go really fast and dive on to the asphalt at 40 M.P.H.
Then go skate the next morning. That’s what I thought. PUSSY!

to send us your SLAMS! The bloodier, busted, broken, twisted, tweaked, ripped,and torn, the better! Whether it be a photo catching the moment or a good shot of the end result we want it.
It’s all about the CARNAGE. It’s the whole “train wreck” syndrome. Ever since we were little kids we were taught it’s not polite to stare. But YOU HAVE TO LOOK!
It’s something that is etched in your core being, “I MUST SEE THE DAMAGE” So now is the chance to indulge yourself and others. We will start running these photos and stories, when available,as we receive them. send to……..
desk@rebelskates.com

on REBEL SKATES. After a year on the team, BROGAN ROBINSON has decided to leave his home grown sponsor for the greener pastures of big deal manufacturer, POWELL CORP.
REBEL SKATES supports both our budding & experienced Team Riders, keeping the Love alive….BEST OF LUCK, BROGAN!

Event planner, MIKE ESTES goes through the first cone of the course Saturday at the 2nd Annual WEST LINN Park Slalom.the results posted are just the winners. I will add to this list as I receive more info. 2nd through 4th place, times, etc.
9-12div=Riccie Henson
13-15 div=Brandon Palmer
16-19div=Justin Thompson
20-29div=Steve Howell
30-39div=Benji Galloway (Winner w/fastest run overall and $250,000.00)maybe it was $25.00
40-49div=Tom “Wally” Inouye
50-59div=Doug Edwards
Thank you to all the competitors and spectators. with a special thanks to the city of WEST LINN and Ken Warner.

Not much information is available at this time other than Our Friend “Wes Linn”, as I fondly nicknamed him, Has passed on. He was first class asshole, as his final act will attest to, never the less, he was a blast to skate with. Wes will be missed by a handful of close friends at the very least.
More will be revealed as it learned. The photo above is of Wes ripping a FS 50 over the entrance stairs at his home park and name sake.
We here at Rebel Skates hope that you have found the peace you couldn’t find here amongst the rest of us.
Rest in peace my friend.
Jay Smay