Board N' School.. SUCCESS

This past weekend - April 19-21, 2013 - saw the opening of the Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF) and Roarockit Skateboard Companies first ever skateboard art auction!  The event helped launch Roarockit's new Lil' Rockit builder kit, and raised money for the school by having some of Toronto's finest artists do graphics on 19 hand built boards.

In preparation of the show, each student paired up with a different artist and taught them how to build their own board using the Thin Air Press vacuum bag system.  After working on the construction, each pair designed an image that incorporated the "Board N' School" theme to apply to the bottom of the deck. Artist's then took their boards home and brought the vision to life!

Left: John Marriott pours the glue - Right: Zanette Singh goes over board designs

Artist and Student Collaborated Board Designs

Friday, April 19th - the grand opening party at the Gladstone Hotel's Art Bar. The Roarockit crew arrived early that morning and worked with the OSF students to help set up the show, which included a giant 'Handmade with Roarockit Technology' sign that the kids had made earlier that week in class. 

ROCK's OSF Mural Club use math to create the 'Roarockit Technology' sign

Lauren puts the finishing touches on the chalkboard displays.

Craig Morrison addresses the troops before the start of the show.

The night was filled with great vibes, familiar faces and an overwhelming sense of pride that could be felt from the students as they talked about their innovative program, all whilst keeping a watchful eye on their board's rising bids... they even brought out some of their signature 'Hooky' boards to shred around the gallery!

Everyone had a great time at the opening, and almost all of the boards were bid on and won by some very generous and stoked individuals! We would like to thank everyone who came out to support the Oasis program and helped show these students what can be achieved with some hard work and planning.

Also, a BIG shout out goes to the Gladstone Hotel, all the artists involved, Lauren and Craig from the OSF...and whoever brought that cake that was chillin in the back! 

Everyone here at Roarockit also deserves a bit of a pat on the back as well ;)

Check out our Facebook page for more photos of the event and the work leading up to it as well.

Board N' School Art Auction

The Oasis Skateboard Factory & Roarockit Skateboard Company Present: Board n' School - A Skateboard Art Show and Auction

Click on photo for the Facebook event page

Where: The Gladstone Hotel Art Bar 

1214 Queen St W - Toronto, ON

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When: Opening reception and silent auction Friday, April 19 7:00-9:00pm 

Exhibit April 19-21 

Friday April 19th sees the Gladstone host a retro mini-skateboard silent auction of rolling artworks by local artists in support of the Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF), the world's only skateboard and street art design themed high school program. 

A variety of high- profile Toronto artists have partnered with OSF students to create original school-themed works of art on hand-crafted skateboards, and to celebrate the launch of Roarockit’s brand new “Lil' Rockit” skateboard kit, which Roarockit has generously donated for this event. These skateboard art collaborations will be displayed in the Art Bar at the Gladstone Hotel, a community-minded arts hub where design, art and activism intersect, from Friday April 19th through Sunday April 21st, 2013.

Students had the opportunity to teach high profile Toronto artists how to build skateboards by hand. In turn, students then got to collaborate with their artist mentor on a graphic for the board. Typically, OSF students are teenagers who have struggled to connect with high school but through our program focus on creative and entrepreneurial learning with ‘real world’ results they have seen incredible success. Local artist mentorships of students built on that success, exposing students to adult role models who work in the arts while giving them an opportunity to show off their final project in a legitimate gallery. All proceeds of the auction go towards expanding OSF’s innovative program of creative project- based learning and social enterprise. 

Mentoring artists include:

- Fiona Smyth

- Alex Currie (aka Runt)

- John Mariott

- Zanette Singh

- MonsterMeans Mark Byk

- Jimmy Chiale

- Christina Zeidler 

- Laura Wills

- ROCK

- Javid JAH

- Trevor Wheatley 

- Troy Pynn

- Lindsay Fisher

- Sue Cohen 

- Giles Monette

- SLURG

- Hamish from Picnicskate

- Zen Rankin

- Champstiles Woodburning

Opening reception and silent auction Friday, April 19 7:00-9:00pm 

Exhibit runs April 19-21

Post #SWAP6...Post

Another Swap Meet has come and gone, and we would like to thank everyone who came out and helped to make this the best one yet!

We witnessed some pretty amazing swaps go down, and it seems as though most people walked away happy with a bunch of new gear for the season ahead.

Also, a BIG 'thank you' goes out to all the sponsors, organizers and volunteers who helped make this event run smoothly and for spreading the stoke as only our community knows how.  

Here's a few photos from the event we are happy to share with you:

Ted visits Costco to get enough food for 500+ hungry skaters

Calm before the storm... setting up early for the long day ahead.Chris presents Michael Brooke with a custom burned Longboarding For Peace signStudents from the Oasis Skateboard Factory did a great job volunteeringLongboarding's In Your Heart and the boys from Joule Skateboards

Beautiful weather and sooo much gear!

Even some longboard inspired street art was going down!Alistair from AM Wood hyping up the crowd for a free board

So proud of everyone who donated to the 'Sliver From Your Quiver' programRob from Bombora Boards on the mic at the Post Swap PooperThanks to Jon Nuss for always taking great photos!

You can also check our Facebook page for a full gallery of photos taken from the event. 

#SWAP6

SWAAAAAP MEEEETING!!! SWAP!SWAP!SWAP!

As the winter weather starts to (hopefully) retreat, and the salt is pushed to the side of the roads – the new year of bombing hills and fancy footwork starts to take focus. What better way to kick off the season ahead than with your friends at the 6^th Annual Swap Meet!?! None. Exactly.

As most of you know, the annual Swap Meet is an event for both new and experienced riders to get together to buy, trade and sell their skate/longboard gear. It is a great place for beginners to pick up some gently used safety gear, or for the experienced rider who wants to add something a little different to their quiver.

The Roarockit Team is proud to once again be hosting this event at our dedicated teaching facility (880 Millwood Rd. Toronto, ON) and we hope that it is the biggest and best one to date. As part of our efforts to make this event a memorable one, we are looking at ways to include more sponsors, more prizes and more stoke than ever! 

The event will take place from Noon-4pm on Sunday March 24.  If you want to come early to grab a spot and set up, we would suggest 11:30 earliest.  

THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT! 

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Here's a few things to look forward to:

1. We will be setting up as many tables, chairs, benches and designated areas for people to set up shop as possible! As always you can claim your space on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED basis. If you're not familiar with the area, it is a corner lot in a residential neighbourhood and space is at a premium. Because of this, we also ask that you be respectful to the surrounding houses and business... we usually do a pretty good job of this, so let's set a good example for the newbies :)

2. The 'Sliver from your Quiver' program will be introduced by Michael Brooke's Longboarding For Peace initiative at this year's Swap. They are asking that you bring an old board that you are willing to donate, that will be cleaned up and given to needy students in the GTA as part of their after school longboarding programs. For your donation, you will get a commemorative shirt that signifies your awesomeness.

   

3. It's FREE! Free to attend, lots of free draws to enter, free table space, even FREE BBQ! You could potentially come to Swap with no money and have a great time. Ever see the show Barter Kings? Who knows what you could walk away with!?

4. #SWAP6 – This year we are introducing the SWAP6 hashtag. For anyone who has a Twitter profile, make sure you check #SWAP6 for promotions and giveaways from Roarockit and other participating companies. Follow @Roarockit @BomboraBoards and @Champstiles for all the latest.

PLUS! Don't forget the - POST. SWAP. POOP.  

Once again, everyone's favourite skate team/art collective the Skate Invaders will be hosting a post Swap shred at the Poop Chute.  If you don't know where it is...well, come to the Swap Meet and follow everyone there after!

We would also like to take a second and give a big shout out to ever-growing list of sponsors for this years event:

- Always working hard to help organize this event, big thanks to Rob from Bombora Boards

- Another local builder doing incredible things AM Wood Skateboard Co.

- Ontario Longboarding ...pfft, nuff said!

- Local skateshops Hogtown Extreme Sports - Longboard Living - Longboard Haven

- The Rideable Artwork of Bozboards

- Longboarding for Peace and Concrete Wave Magazine

- Longboardism.com

- "Burnin trees since 83s" Champstiles Woodburning Toronto

- This...is my BOOMSTICK!! Boards.

- Muskoka chairs/wakeskates/longboards/spacers, Frenique Customs

- Always down to show some love, BC's Switchback Longboards

- Toronto's own Skate Invaders holdin down the Post Swap Shred at the Pooper

- Stoked to have Aimless Skate on board as a late addition!

Click on the poster below to visit the event page for the 6th Annual Swap Meet!  People have already started posting what they are bringing and further updates will be made there.

Lars Erickson Board Company

It's always fun to see up-and-coming board builders, with a passion for the industry, progress in their craft with the help of Roarockit Technologies. In this edition of Rockit Talk, we will be profiling a young builder named Lars Erickson who has been documenting the development of his own custom longboard company through various websites and videos posted to his 'Gnarfarian' YouTube channel. 

Lars has been building custom boards for almost two years now, and has recently added the Thin Air Press vacuum bag process to his arsenal.   

“I have been using my Roarockit vacuum bag now for half a year. It is working very well and I have been pressing customs and riding some of my very own decks... To me board building is all a process. Longboarding is a process. One that challenges barriers and walls set in our souls. It helps expand what we are capable of and push our limits.”

Lars currently lives in Kansas, and is constantly building and getting input from riders in his area. He plans to put that experience to use when he leaves for college, and starts selling his new topmount speed board on campus. Not only will he have a new set of customers, but he can teach them how to shred as well!

“Longboarding to me offers many benefits. It isn't just about going fast or learning to slide... I mean, going fast is totally awesome, but longboarding offers so much more than that. It can boost cinematography, woodworking and even people skills!”

"I hope to continue my board building and eventually start a larger company. It's definitely gonna stay with me my entire life."

As you can tell, Lars is very passionate about both building and riding his own longboards, and you can follow his exploits on his awesome YouTube channel, and his own personal blog – LarsLovesPeace – He is also sponsored by Daddies Board Shop to help test out new products and give reviews.

Check out the Lars Erickson Board Company on Facebook