The ‘Broadway Bomb Run’ is an infamous and illegal skateboard push race through the streets of New York City

The Broadway Bomb started in 2000 as a branch off from the Central Park Race. While the Central Park Race was satisfying, many yearned for something more. Ian Nichols and Fred Mahe came up with the idea of a race to skate in traffic and called it the Broadway Bomb. The 1rst race was small, only 14 skaters. This year on the tenth anniversary we expect to have over 1000 skaters. This race is the highlight of skater!s whole lives. They train all year for 30 minutes of glory!

Here is a sum up of the bad big brother news…

From Reuters Newswire

A New York judge has banned up to 2,000 skateboarders from racing down a bustling stretch of Broadway after city officials said the unauthorized event known as “The Broadway Bomb” was a danger to pedestrians and motorists.

For a decade, skateboarders from around the world have barreled down an eight-mile section of the landmark Manhattan street, dodging traffic and people, as part of the annual daredevil race.

This year, they will have to defy a court order, and risk arrest to participate.

From the New York Times

The plan was for racers to converge at 116th Street and Riverside Drive on Saturday at noon and then race on skateboards — mainly longboards — down Broadway to the statue of a charging bull near Wall Street.

The city contended that racers have “engaged in reckless and dangerous behavior such as failing to stop for red lights, cutting off and weaving through moving vehicles,” the city’s Law Department said in a statement.

The judge ruled that the organizers were violating city regulations because they did not have a parade permit. Mr. Nichols said he would obey the ruling and take part in other races.

From the Village Voice

New York State Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Wright ruled in favor of a city-backed injunction to halt this year’s race. And there’s a reason: as organizers of the race note in their slogan, “you could die.”

In addition to halting the race, Wright banned “any similar race.” In other words, organizers can’t just call the race something else and then go bombing down Broadway.

The judge also is requiring organizers to contact each of the 1,800 people expected to participate and tell them the race is cancelled. He also doesn’t want any “flash mobs” gathering as a result of the race.

From Ian Nichols via the Village Voice

“I don’t like jail,” Broadway Bomb organizer Ian Nichols tells the Voice. “They served me with legal papers — I have to distance myself from the race.”

But — as Nichols explains — that doesn’t necessarily mean people won’t be bombing down Broadway on long boards tomorrow afternoon.

There you have it, Bombers — you can still bomb tomorrow, but you will be bombing at your own risk.

This is the unofficial history of the biggest outlaw longboard race in the world; The Broadway Bomb.

Taking place on the world’s most famous boulevard and told by the champions and the organizers who make it happen every year; “Push Culture – The Broadway Bomb” is the story of a small group of 15 outlaw longboard skaters who weren’t satisfied racing in the passive environment of the parks of New York City so they took it to the streets.

Once a year in the fall the craziest longboard skaters in the city would brave the traffic of a busy Manhattan Saturday to see who could get from the Upper West Side at 116th st to the bull statue in the Financial District.

10 years later over 500 outlaw riders show up to ride the concrete wave of Broadway for the ultimate prize: City wide bragging rights as the fastest skater in all of NYC.

Take a look inside the mind of New Yorkers on the edge and the culture of push.

You can find out more from BroadwayBomb.com

A 23-year-old man was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, after allegedly striking another man over the head with a skateboard.

The victim was standing in front of KeyBank at East Holly and North State streets when he was hit, apparently unprovoked, with a skateboard, said Mark Young, spokesman for the Bellingham Police Department. The victim, who had a large bump and a cut on his forehead, was treated by medics, Young said. He provided a description of the suspect, including what clothes he was wearing.

The suspect was later located carrying a skateboard at East Holly and Railroad Avenue, Young said. Daniel Meador was booked into Whatcom County Jail for second-degree assault and an unrelated Department of Corrections warrant. Meador and the victim both appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, Young said.

Not sure why Miguel Velazco thought he could roll away from this big drop-in, but I’m sure if his brain’s still functioning he’ll think twice before doing it next time.

Proof that old skateboard mags never die..

Well not if you have some scissors, a video camera and a lot of patience…

Well landing this one is pretty much out of the question!

Here are the top ten reasons why Clyde Singleton thinks that the 90s was the best decade in skateboarding. Based on the information provided below, we can’t find any reason to argue with him.

1. The Best Videos Where Made

Let’s see….Video Days. Questionable. Trilogy. Welcome To Hell. Goldfish. Spitfire video. Skypager. Soldier’s Story. The End. Uno. Lick. Eastern Exposure 1-3. Stars And Bars. Yellow. Life In The Fast Lane. Love Child. Tim Dowling’s Listen. A Visual Sound. Color video…. I could go on for days. Basically , there ain’t no comparison.

2. The Level Of Talent Will Forever Go Unmatched

I don’t care what anybody has to say. If it weren’t for cats like Eric Koston, Danny Way, Pat Duffy, Kareem Campbell, Daewon Song, Tom Penny, Guy Mariano, Chad Muska, Mike Carroll, Alphonzo Rawls, Jason Lee, Andrew Reynolds, and Jeremy Wray (just to name a few), there ain’t no telling where or what the hell skateboarding would be like now. Those guys literally changed and are partially responsible for the game as we see it now.

3. The Best Contests

I mean, is this even debatable? Just the level of excitement that joints like Back To The City, Brooklyn Banks, Munster, Houston Pro, Tampa Pro, Slam City had…and then we had the illest amateur contests imaginable. You go to any NSA district, regional, or finals, and they were better than most Super Bowls! And here’s another great thing–the street guys would actually stay and root for their vert comrades. I’mtelling y’all, 90s was the best.

4. The East Coast Explosion

Good googly moogly. I remember this like it was yesterday. It was like when Snoop Dogg (Ricky Oyola) and Tha Dogg Pound (Fred Gall, Matt Reason, Donny Barley, et cetera) thought East (West) Coast was biased about their music (skating), and came through and kicked over the buildings in the “New York, New York” (Eastern Exposure0 video. Sorry if y’all don’t get that, but that’s the easiest way I could reference the “takeover.”

5. World Industries Was Created

It took on dude to change the face of the skateboarding industry, and that one dude was Steve Rocco. He didn’t give a f*ck about what the industry thought of him. He didn’t give a f*ck who he made angry. And he didn’t give a f*ck about the way the industry perceived the way he ran his business. He was a real bawss! Don’t wanna run my ads? I’ll start my own magazine! I don’t like you. I’ll take your riders and make them superstars. Plus, he gave more minorities jobs than the damn Job Corp. As I said, BAWSS status.

6. Vert Skating Was At Its Peak

The level vert skating was at back then was so ridiculous that there was street dudes incorporating it into their video parts. I’m saying, when you’re watching a video and you see a dude do a backside 360 tailgrab fakie nosegrind revert or a fakie 540 heelflip indy grab, you’d wanna skate vert too! It was like these cats were literally doing ledge, mixed with the hardest flatground tricks, on eleven-foot ramps! And oh yea, the 900 was done in the 90s too. And it ain’t even fair to discuss when Bob Burnquist hit the States.

7. There Were No Manufactured Pros Or Ams

See, unlike nowadays, you had to actually be at least somewhat well-rounded at skateboarding to even be taken seriously. There was no such thing as a “video skater” or a “rail guy.” There seemed to be a common, unspoken level of wackness that was just not accepted as much as it is now. Teams had variety. Skaters had real personalities. All in all it was doper.

8. Graphic Design Was At Its Peak

The 90s was the premier era of design. Guys like Sean Cliver, Marc McKee, Marty Jimenez, Natas Kaupas, Andy Howell, Ron Cameron, Ed Templeton, and Thomas Campbell (just to name a few)….these guys were at the forefront of art. Galleries were paying attention. Companies were literally ripping off skateboarding logos. As Russell Bongard said, “The new bible of cool was written in the 90s, from and aesthetic standpoint.”

9. The Best Shoe Companies Were Created

And when I say “the best,” I’m speaking in terms of teams that these companies were built around. And with that said, I think we can just stop at both DC and Etnies (yes, I know Etnies is technically from the 80s, but that was really just Natas). These are our “Nike” and “Adidas” of our sport. They’ve both been built around solid teams, have always had solid products, ads, branched into other sports and genres, and furthermore, have withstood the test of time. Say what you want, but these two companies will be around until they wanna be.

10. Trends Were Actually Being Started, Not Followed

When the hell did skateboarders start following trends? Real talk. Since when was it “cool” to dress like anything other than a skateboarder? If you look at the history, half these other “action sports” stole our tricks. Half these bands/rappers stole our looks. It’s like, we Benjamin Buttoned our whole existence and now we look as if we’re emulating other people…and accept it! We let money and sheep define our current existence. ‘Scust. Now I know why my folks always say, ” The good ol’ days.”

Come celebrate the Grand Opening of the newest Vans Store @ Belmont Shore in Long Beach, CA on Saturday, August 15. Johnny Layton, Tony Alva, Christian Hosoi and Ray Barbee will be signing autographs followed by a live acoustic performance by Barbee. The Vans “What If” skate bus will be parked outside the store all day, so bring your board and try out the mini ramp.

Vans Shoes Opens Store In Long Beach, California

Danny Way started skateboarding at age 6 at the Del Mar Skateboard Ranch. At age 11, he won the first contest that he entered and shortly after he received sponsorship from Hosoi Skateboards and Vision Skateboards. In 1988, he briefly rode as an amateur with the famous Bones Brigade skateboard team, which was sponsored by Powell Peralta. He, along with Bucky Lasek were featured in a very short segment in the Powel video “Public Domain.”

Months after Way joined Powell, he left to join a company called H-Street. While with H-Street, Way would win his first vert contest. His sponsorship with H-Street also lasted briefly. In 1990, he would leave H-Street for a company called Blind. He rode for Blind Skateboards from 1990-1991, but soon left to join the founder of H-Street (Mike Ternasky) to begin a new company called Plan B Skateboards. Ternasky died in a car accident in 1993, leaving team ownership to Way and teammate Colin McKay.