and now for a short commercial break
Woodcore Kraftsman Luke Bugge endorses Lib Tech Skates!
Posted by Webmonkey at 03:02 PM on August 15, 2008 in Skate | Permalink | Comments (0)
working hard in the mid day sun
100 degress, 10 beers, 1 photo opt...... priceless
Kraftman Stan Tech
Posted by Webmonkey at 09:03 AM on August 14, 2008 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (4)
Dirty Al Takes a Day Off
and goes on a skateboard adventure with Lalo from London.
Posted by Webmonkey at 04:25 PM on July 7, 2008 in Skate | Permalink | Comments (1)
Remembering Jared
“More than words can say” sums up our disbelief at the loss of a great person, but I will try to use words to remember Jared.
My first impression of Jared came on the Peninsula College Soccer Field during the fall 06 season. As a part time coach I watched him lay down one of the cleanest and hardest soccer slide tackles I have ever seen. All ball and all power with dreadlocks flying. “Who was that?” I asked the players. Jared Nagel from Oregon came the reply.
He later attested to co-workers at Mervin that he could have laid me out on a tackle during an indoor soccer game at the college, but decided to hold back so that he could get a job at the factory. Thinking that if he took me out he wouldn’t get the job. Jared was very eager and enthusiastic to get a job at Mervin and we hired him in the summer of 07’. It turned out to be one of Mervin’s best hires as Jared quickly showed his outstanding character, work ethic, computer prowess and common sense at the factory. He became very good friends with all his co-workers in a very short period of time. Jared impressed bosses and brightened people’s days with his cheerful zest for life personality. In the fall he very successfully balanced his schedule between school, work and soccer. He was selected to all –league team in the Nwaac and helped to lead the Pirate Soccer team to a division title and a fourth place finish in the nwaac.
“Carpe diem” he would say in summer time when it stays light until 10 pm. “You going surfing? Do it…. You should go.”
See you tomorrow. “Don’t die,” he would say ironically at the end of the workday.
Rest in peace Jared. You lived your life to the fullest and lifted up our spirits everyday at Mervin. You influenced us all in a profound and positive way. Though you were only twenty you taught us lessons as if you were the old wise man. You followed your own path. You did what you thought was right in life and stood up for your own beliefs. Your character lives on in us. You are a part of us. Our future actions are guided by your presence in our lives. We will never forget you and are very grateful that you could be a part of our lives albeit for such a short time.
We offer our deepest sympathy to Jared’s parents, girlfriend and family in this tragic time. It is so “cliché”, but you died doing what you love with loved ones around you. Shred eternally ripper. I probably shouldn’t have attempted this piece because words really cannot say how much this devastates us and how much you will be missed.
Starting to plant
There was a memorial ceremony for Jared on Tuesday night at Peninsula College. I guess Jared had made some remark at one point about how if he ever died, he wanted his funeral to be a party and everyone should wear pink... so lots of people were wearing pink, including his parents and sisters. A bunch of people spoke, including the college soccer coaches (Jared was a soccer star there) and the Nib spoke, he gave a eulogy and did a great job in front of the crowd, a side of him I've never seen. We had made a couple of custom boards with his picture on them, which everyone in the factory signed and the Nib and Ambur and Eric presented them to his parents and his girlfriend at the memorial ceremony.
Planting the tree
After the big ceremony, a group of people - mostly family and friends, came back here to the Mervin factory and we planted a tree in Jared's honor here. It's a Thundercloud flowering plum tree (Prunus cerasifera) so it will bloom pink every spring. The Audette brothers built a bench to sit by the tree, and Ambur got a plaque made to put on the bench. It was after dark by the time we got back here, so we planted the tree by the light of some headlights, and most of my pictures are not that clear.
-Norm
Jared's girlfriend and the bench
The tree planting gathering
The next day
Plaque on the bench
Posted by Webmonkey at 07:10 PM on February 5, 2008 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (17)
Tractor Pull
Posted by Webmonkey at 01:39 PM on January 4, 2008 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
Snowboarder Dual Interview: Pete Saari & John Gerndt
As Seen in Snowboarder Issue 03, 2007
Posted by Webmonkey at 11:41 AM on September 4, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (2)
NW REP BACK FROM CHILE!!!!!!
Hey Y'all - I'm back from South America!
Here's an update from the last posting....
Had some storms roll through in Farellones and shredded La Parva and El Colorado Pow Pow in the sun! Great times with my new friends exploring and finding secret windlips, chutes and drops!
Finally ran into Jeremy, Tarek, Connie, and Lucas from Funner Films the last night in town. Enjoyed some Piscolas and a preview of the new movie - "Sentimental Values" insane!
Then it was on to the Bar where a Chilean AC/DC cover band Rocked us All Night Long!!!! The next day was a Chilean Holiday and there was a massive influx of people which made it difficult to get down the hill. An hour drive turned into 4 late into the night on our way back down to Santiago.
In Santiago we hopped a bus to Las Andes, a small town near Portillo. We lined up a taxi to take us and when it showed up - sure enough a small sedan. The 4 of us (2 Kiwis and 2 Americans) piled gear into this small car and headed up the road. We hit a road-block and sat for a couple hours - typical Chilean travel!
It was all worth it when we made it up there - PORTILLO Rocks! Amazing mountains with super steep runs. The best was the surface lifts with 4-5 pomas attached. Crazy lift - but it got ya right up in the chutes with tons of access to gnarly lines. One run even takes you over the main highway between Argentina and Chile with tons of trucks stopped for Customs.
Amazing place that Portillo - right in the heart of the Andes. It is hard to get to and most stay in the massive yellow expensive hotel on the hill. The views were worth the trip alone and the shredding was the topping on the cake!
From Las Andes the next day my Kiwi friends and I took a bus over the Andes past Portillo and on to Mendoza, Argentina. Cool town that is producing some amazing wine and has tons of outdoor adventure. Argentina has an amazing vibe and I was relieved to be able to speak some english again with the locals. We caught the 1am bus overnight to LAS LENAS with front row seats to an eerie highway through Argentina.
Las Lenas is a true resort with tons of lines. Kinda like the Whistler of South America - expensive, but worth it. Had alot of fun exploring and wishing for the pow the week before to truly use the terrain. Amazing views from the top!
Hopped back on the bus to Mendoza after a couple days shredding. Connected to the bus to Santiago and found my friends from Farellones to hang with a couple hours before the flight out.
Rocked the 159 Banana and 172 Skunkape for the whole trip. The Ape held me up in the deep snow and the banana was awesome in the steep and technical terrain!
It was tough to leave for sure, but I had a great trip with a taste of winter to bring home to the Seattle Summer!
Check the link for some photos added to Flickr!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11278836@N05/
Kyle
---NWRep---
Posted by Webmonkey at 02:38 PM on August 28, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
NW REP IN CHILE!!!!!!
Hello from Chile!!!
Wanted to send some photos and a bit of what I've been
up to.
I left Seattle and arrived in Santiago, Chile the next
morning middle of last week. What a long flight -
especially if you are tall and your knees jam into the
seat in front! We landed and after watching the
luggage go around and around, I gave up. 2 board bags
are MIA of course - stuck in LA. Oh well - time to go
check out the Santiago and see what the haps for a
day.
Santiago is a massive city with lots of cool things to
check out. I took a cable car up a hill to check out
the view. Amazing sunset on the Andes for sure!!
Unfortunately I missed the shot for the camera but ya
can see the mtns in the fotos. I Did get a shot of a
guy that modified his bike. You gotta check his
photo!
Santiago just had some snow for the first time in 20
or 25 years and it was muy frio! The Chileans were
making Snowmen and driving around with them on their
trunks and hoods of the cars! Crazy.
The next morning my Chilean friend Matias picked me up
and we were off to pick up my bags and head up to the
mountains. Sunny day so I was anxious to get-er. The
road to the resorts is super windy and there was at
least 70 turns - back and forth.
Pulling into Valle Nevado we could see insane lines
and the powder was looking like 2 feet of dryness!
Unbelieveable day shredding all the pow up!! Most of
the lifts are POMA and T-BAR with a couple chairlifts.
Found alot of good lines - windlips, pow slashes, and
cat-track launchers. Super fun day for sure.
I checked into my Farellones Refugio (Hostel House)
with multiple nations represented - Sweden, Ireland,
Australia, New Zealand, and of course the tall Yankee!
Super fun house and there is always something going
on. Met some cool people already in just a couple
days in this hopping ski-bum town. It's funny - I am
always asked where I am from and I say Seattle. I
either get "Oh - I Love Grunge" or "Jamie Lynn." Its
funny for sure. So many stories to go into here -
lots of characters and crazy times.
There are 3 connected resorts here - Valle Nevado, El
Colorado, and La Parva. There is a ton of snow and
Chile is having an all-time year. It's been bluebird
and now a new storm is just rolling in with good size
flakes falling.
Holding tight in Farellones for this next round of
snow and then I'll travel on to some other shred
spots! I'll keep ya posted from down here in winter
wonderland!
Kyle
---NWRep---
Links:
More Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11278836@N05/
www.ValleNevado.com
www.ElColorado.cl
www.LaParva.cl
www.Snow-Forecast.com
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:19 PM on August 13, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (5)
Mervin Company Party
The Mervin company party was last weekend at the Port Angles Skate park. With tunes provided by DJstanselector, Mervin employees enjoyed ribs, chicken and salmon supplied by Blue Flame BBQ of P.A.
Lay up Technician and secret surfboard project helper Jeff "Hendo" Henderson destroyed the park and took home a sexy leg lamp.
Wood core production worker Luke Bugge took the 2nd place prize, a magnetraction skateboard.
Sales manager Greg Hughes came up with his family from the Utah "Mountain Center" And the guys that still commute from Seattle showed up a mere 4 hours late after a hectic travel through the Sequim Lavender Festival traffic and long ferry lines. All and all It was a great company picnic and a wonderful thanks from Mervin to all the nearly 80 employees.......Now back to work guys.....We've got deadlines to meet....
-Kraftsman Stan Tech
Posted by Webmonkey at 04:58 PM on July 25, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (3)
BANANA DRIVE BY
Lib Tech Kraftsmen and Rippers meet up at Mt Hood for a Banana Blowout Session.
We watched the Universal Sneaky Peek Premier, "Thanks Brain!"
Stan Tech does his hair via chair lift.
Guy (Peter Line) in the sky.
Grand Poobah Draplin Sr.
CL Smooth Banana
Danaus plexippus drive by too.
Oneball Jay
Bananas make Halfpipes )
Sammy Luebke just turned 18, Happy Bday!
NW Rep Kyle and his techies Kris Melton and new schooler Terry Parker demo bananas from parking lot.
Posted by Webmonkey at 12:57 PM on July 13, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (9)
Skate Banana Testing
Skate banana testing at Mt. Baker concludes snowboarding is dead the skate banana is here to stay...Insane in Pow, insane on grooms, carving has never been funner, propeller 360's on a wim (oh, you don't know about propeller 360's?), riding switch is as easy as boogie boarding, "slippery bananas" like it's not even in style yet. New tricks like, Banana bread, banana peels, and gone bananas... This is it! Combine with magnetraction, It's as big as the introduction of the tri fin in the sport of surfing..........2007 "Coming In Hot!"
StanTech
Paul Ferrel
StanTech
Paul Ferrel
Posted by Webmonkey at 12:46 PM on January 11, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (39)
Cigarette Cake
The Kraftsmen in Port Angeles had a little smokey cake for Kraftsmen Shren.
Posted by Webmonkey at 05:54 PM on December 18, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
Poopy
2 year caught pooping and reading the latest zine from Lib Tech.
Posted by Webmonkey at 05:30 PM on October 25, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
my name is nib and you are watching F stop on fuel tv
Ryan Williams rad ramp session. photos taken from qc department..... 50 dollars a shot. let me know if you want to use them.... these are some of my most famous shots.... some people just have an eye for a good shot .... you know.
thanks alot
Chris Saari
Head Boys Soccer Coach
Port Angeles High School
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:15 AM on August 31, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (5)
StanTech Rips
Lib Tech Kraftsmen Stan Tech AKA Poopie placed 2nd in a Surf Contest near Canada. Stay tuned for Home School 79 for total video coverage.
The Zman and Stan Tech are arch rivals.
Posted by Webmonkey at 02:45 PM on July 12, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (2)
BMX Jones
Justin Inman
Ex Kraftsmen Kurtis "too tall" Jones and a handful of BMX pros stopped by the PA factory on Monday. The visit turned out to be a "Rad Ramp" photo session for Ride Magazine. Members of the "Northwest Crew" sessioned the whole weekend at a secret Port Angeles loctation called The Black Diamond Trails. The trails are well known in the BMX world as the best trails in Washington State. Check Ride Mag in a next issue for the NWC images........stantech
Ex Kraftsmen/BMX ripper Kurtis Jones
Posted by Webmonkey at 04:42 PM on July 10, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (2)
Kirra Found
Ryan and Jami's Dog Kirra was found on capital hill...They can rest better tonight.
Posted by Webmonkey at 11:43 AM on July 5, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (3)
Hot Saws
Logging show, Sequim Irrigation Festival
-Norm
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:04 AM on May 17, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (2)
Mervin Mafia Broturnity Bash
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:59 AM on May 8, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
The Hollywood Lightweights
Shipping Craftsmen Musician Hero John Pardo's Band The Hollywood Lightweights are playing next Wed. Check it.
Posted by Webmonkey at 09:30 AM on April 13, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
Don't wear a seal hat to the zoo...
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:11 AM on April 12, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
Guerilla Knitting
Spotted on eastlake ave this weekend.
-Cobb
Posted by Webmonkey at 11:14 AM on February 27, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
turbo scooter
Posted by Webmonkey at 02:01 PM on January 17, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (4)
Lib Tech Skateboards In Snowboarder Mag
Lib Skates, Courtney is exposed in Snowboarder Mag.
Posted by Webmonkey at 02:38 PM on January 16, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
Mt Baker Banked Slalom Start Shack
Lib Tech Kraftsmen Ryan Davis and Pos painted up the new and improved Start Shack.
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:16 AM on January 13, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
Holy Pow
Posted by Webmonkey at 02:43 PM on January 12, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
Mad Science
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:06 AM on January 11, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
Volcom Snowboards?
Check out these custom snowboards Lib Tech built for Volcom...
Posted by Webmonkey at 03:30 PM on January 4, 2006 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (6)
Bring Your Leash
Rode Crystal Mt this Sunday, Nov 6 with Kraftsmen Pos, And Krush this crazy dude from Kettle Falls, Id. It was the real deal, its winter up there the NW skipped the preseason. Just remember that Crystal Mt likes skiers more than snowboarders, they require useless leashes to ride the lifts, (while skiers don't need leashes?hmm) they will not let you on the lifts so bring one from home or they will make you buy an overpriced one from their shop and then make you go back to the end of the line. You should have seen Pos blow up on the leash checker guy on our first attempt on the lifts. Comedy!
T
Posto, Tnuts, Krusha
The New Bugz!
Posted by Webmonkey at 07:47 PM on November 6, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (2)
Lib Skate Kraftsmen/Ripper Dirty Al in Slap Mag
Posted by Webmonkey at 01:45 PM on October 24, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
news from norm
Went to a great club last night... St. Nick's Pub... up here in Harlem, right in the thick of things... like 148th street or something. When we first walked in, I was a little intimidated... like in the "this is where whitey gets the shit kicked out of him" sort of way...
...but the place was GREAT... the people were all super friendly, and the music was awesome. They had a patio out back and they had free food, all you had to do was tip the server a buck or two for food... gumbo, fried chicken, potato salad... I guess they have live music every night... people say it's the last great jazz club left in New York... they say there is one other like it in Boston (Wally's), but not as good. From what I could tell, the band that was playing was made up of a few guys that normally play together, and a bunch of others that don't... it was jazz / funk / R&B... keys, horns and everything... the drummer was a guy named Dennis Davis, the folks said he played with Stevie Wonder and David Bowie for years in the 70's and 80's... he was great. It was Dennis' birthday, so it was basically a party for him. Dennis had also made the gumbo that they were dishing out on the patio... fun stuff.
-Norm.
Posted by at 11:03 AM on September 16, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
Sick Shop Logos
nice industrial factory stuff:
Posted by at 12:10 PM on September 15, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (2)
News From Norm
More from Norm:
Rubbed elbows with NY's cultural elite at a Nouvelle Vague show. That's David Byrne handing the ladies his swiss army knife corkscrew so they could open a bottle of Remy Martin... though it turned out to be a twist off... ( !!!! )
Nouvell Vague will be in Seattle on 9/20 at Chop Suey, Norm recomends it as a good show. Mr Byrne will prbably not be there, maybe you'll run into Kurt Bloch.
http://www.nouvellesvagues.com/
Wasted a night in a hookah bar:
Gas is going richter:
He mentioned that it is fashion week in New York City, but hasn' sent any photos to prove it. I'll upload more as he sends it.
G.
Posted by at 10:24 AM on September 14, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
P.A. people
Every once in a while I'll pull some Kraftswerker off of their station and make a portrait. I'm most always in P.A. so these are all P.A. people, maybe the webmonkey's doing something similar on the eastside. Not that we ever have much free time to do projects like this. I'll post more as i make them.
Ryan
Brent
Ethan here took off for Hood, to work there last winter. The winter that never was. ( out here anyway )
Hans
Jared
Curtis
Nick used to be a Kraftswerker, now he's a full time Artist, Cyclist and Dad. (with a capital A,C, & D)
Posted by at 08:30 PM on September 13, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
News from Norm
Norm's off tripin' around the East Coast and sent in a report. He dropped in on Les Paul and his Trio. He's 90 and and ripping. Seen schooling Eddie Van Halen in the photo below.
Norm also sent a pic from his old watering hole:
Posted by at 06:49 PM on September 13, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
MAMMOTH LAKES SK8 PICS
Check it out folks! This is the Jeff Anderson Brothers skate park. Grand Opening is Sept 24!
Posted by at 03:40 PM on August 31, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
fu%# Wakeboarding
All that's missing is a blond mullet and the Bellevue skyline in the background.
Posted by at 12:05 PM on August 24, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (2)
Craftsmen Action Hero "Shagnan"
Posted by at 11:27 AM on August 24, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (0)
Spring Cleaning
Posted by at 11:22 AM on August 24, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
Slash, Aka Saul Hudson On An X Solo
Check out this photo from Mark Kohlman.
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:20 AM on August 24, 2005 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (3)
