P-Rod Wear Test Weekend 2009

Photos & Captions by Barak Wiser and Ryan Clements

While Rob and Brian were in Rotterdam, Barak and I spent the weekend in LA with our friends from Nike SB. Along with some serious skateboarding industry-takeover meetings, we got to check out the new P-Rod 3's, skate some great spots, and enjoy CA Hollywood/Nike SB-style with plenty of good food and drinks.

Right off the plane we were reminded that we were in Hollywood

This is the view from The Roosevelt down onto Hollywood Blvd. The crowd is gathered around Michael Jackson's star and the Chinese Theater

Dugan from 6.0 on the left and Kevin Imamura, Nike PR Man, on the right. This was right after we ate one of the worst dinners I've ever had

The next morning at breakfast we got to take a look at the Larry Perkins Dunk

We don't have any pictures of the bid'ness meetings that took place all day, but during those meetings the rest of the crew showed up and started drinking at the pool. That's Oliver Flores

The Roosevelt has some damn nice catering

Trying to keep it healthy while on the road. Rob would not eat this

That's Ben Kelly from TWS on the left and none other than Mr. James Craig on the right, who is now the buyer for Liberty

The picture is blurry, but hey, it's Mike Carroll and he likes to hang out at the pool at The Roosevelt

L to R is Shawn, Brad, and Shea hanging out uncomfortably close

Florida represent! Barak is on the left, former Tampa Bay resident Craig Chimile who now works at Podium is in the middle, and MIA Skateshop and Skatepark owner Chris Williams is on the right

That's Scotty from The Hundreds. Yep, he'll be at The Moat Show

L to R is Rob Sissi and Darin O'Brien from Nike SB...and dammit I forgot your name on the right, but I got your aloe shake next time you're in Ybor!

Oliver Flores wanted to pick me (Clem) up and Ben Kelly is getting super-hyped in the process

Dodger is wondering who's been drinking all of that alcohol

Big Nike Nick is double-fisting

When I got back to my hotel room on Friday night after dinner, these shoes were waiting for me. I'm not the biggest fan of white leather, but that plastic, embossed box is a keeper

The next morning I got up early and skated around. My first stop was Hollywood High, which was right behind our hotel. I went to the top and looked down to confirm that there is nothing easy about the 16

Kermit the Frog was a big part of my childhood

It's hard to believe that Jim Morrison died when he was 27. That means that I've been alive for nearly 10 years longer than he was and there is still so much I want to do

What can you say about Michael that hasn't already been said?

A couple hours later during breakfast we got a tutorial on the P-Rod 3 and schooled on the inspiration behind it

Then we got to test the shoes at P-Rod's favorite spots. That's Dodge on a bs 50-50 at one of the many perfect ledges at the P-Rod Street Plaza

L to R is Paul G., the man that makes things happen at FUEL, Hunter from Nike SB, and none other than Torey Pudwill

I can't remember what spot that these stairs are designed after, but Shane "Nugget" O'Neil is either doing a 360 flip or 360 shove-it. I couldn't tell from looking through my littler, buster-cam

That's Chris Williams bs lipping up that super-fun, unique obstacle at the top of the Plaza

P-Rod and Theotis Beasley showed up to demonstrate how it's done. Every time I see either of these guys I'm so highly impressed with their professionalism

This part of the P-Rod Street Plaza is somewhat of a copy of that ditch spot you always see footage of. Part of it is banked and part of it is tranny, making a great combo

Josh Brooks from one of those ESP-something websites with a poll jammer at the bottom of the Plaza

The next stop was P-Rod's private TF, located in "The Valley," which means nothing to me since I had no idea where I was anyway. Sorry there are no photos of the TF, but I was busy skating and socializing