Tags:   Danny Way · Los Angeles · Ryan Sheckler · X GamesNo Comments.

Here’s a short clip from the group Y event last week by Stoked Phoebe. Many thanks to group Y!

Tags:   Carey Hart · Fox Racing · Group Y · Los Angeles · Sal MasekelaNo Comments.

Some of you may or may not know that we are housed in Zoo York’s headquarters. They’ve supported us for the past 3 years by providing us with office space, phone, internet, inspiration, and more! We have nothing but love for the Zoo and Marc Ecko Enterprises. Marc Ecko Enterprises as well as Marc Ecko have redesigned their sites and included us in their corporate profile. We’re under their “Philanthropy” section. We’re really fortunate and grateful to be a part of this wonderful and creative company.

Zoo York was just recently featured on Vimby.com

VIMBY - Zoo York

Tags:   Marc Ecko · Marc Ecko Enterprises · Vimby.com · Zoo YorkNo Comments.

Abe Lincoln Jr. grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and came up in the hardcore punk scene in the early 80’s. Skateboarding & punk rock were the only things that mattered to him as a teenager and those two influences shaped who he is today for better and for worse. Abe Jr. spent a great deal of time being one of those “Troubled Youths” you read about. By pure luck he made it through all that when a lot of people he knew didn’t. Now he’s an Artist and Designer who’s been grinding for a long time, first with Street Art and now Pop Art. He’d rather create something that makes a person laugh or stop and say “WTF?!!?” than impress art critics. Abe Jr. was a contributor to our Stoked Sessions LA event is an overall great guy! We look forward to collaborating together in the future. Check out his site Girls Bike.

Chase Dunny for Kid Robot.

Stoked: What is your definition of success?
Abe Jr: Success is how you feel at the end of a project. I don’t measure success by how much money or props I get at the end of the day (though both are really nice). If I felt that I’ve created something that I’m proud of, then that to me is a success.

Stoked: What inspires you to do what you do?
Abe Jr: My main inspiration was my daughter initially. When she was born something clicked inside me and I started making art again after a 10 year hiatus. Once I started doing art again I was fortunate that people liked my work and saw the sense of humor in it, and I kept being asked to do cooler and cooler projects. Now my motivation is to grow as an Artist and Designer and create work that I love and try to get it out to as many people as possible.

Baller Status deck for Stoked Sessions LA

Stoked: How important is it to have a supportive community within your field of work?
Abe Jr: I think it’s very important to have a community and support from within it. When I first discovered Street Art it had the exact same vibe that Punk had but it was new and wasn’t trying to recreate something that happened a long time ago.

Stoked: What have you learned from a particular action sport (snowboarding, skateboarding, or surfing)?
Abe Jr: I learned more about tenacity and sticking with things from skateboarding then all the pep talks from guidance counselors and “role models” combined. The rewards of dialing a hard trick to me was concrete as opposed to the “life choices” they were talking about in school.

Stoked: What are you Stoked about these days?
Abe Jr: My Wife and Kids, my Art, even the day job ain’t so bad. The projects I’m working on now are things I would have never imagined doing even a couple years ago so I guess I’m stoked on my life, who’d have guessed?

Le Cirque Des Oiseaux - - New 19 x 27″ 3 Color Silkscreen Print for Little Art Book

Tags:   abe lincoln jr · Interviews · street artists · TestimonialsNo Comments.

A huge THANK YOU to Team Stoked for running and raising over $12,000 for Stoked in yesterday’s NYC Half Marathon Presented by Nike. Our fastest runner was Elaine Ross of 1:48:50! Overall our team members did really well and everyone finished! Here are all of our runners: Julie Barrett, Rosalind de Lacy Staunton, Kevin Gremillion, Eleanor Haynes, Danielle Jenkins, Steve Larosiliere, Jordy Liebowitz, Lucinda Parkhurst, Nadera Rampersaud, Elaine Ross, Kate Wetzel, and Christine Zalocha! If you would like to donate to Team Stoked, please do so as we’re still accepting donations!

Here are some pics from the Pro Runners..

Tags:   NYC 1/2 Marathon · Team StokedNo Comments.

Here’s a cool interview with Stoked Co-Founder Sal Masekela in Upscale Magazine. Stoked gets shout out in the piece.

Tags:   Press · Sal Masekela · Upscale MagazineNo Comments.

Buy tickets today for Stoked Sessions NYC on Aug 14 at NYC hotspot 1OAK NYC!

This is Waajeed rocking a crowd in Chile!

Tags:   New York · Stoked Sessions NYCNo Comments.

Kathie graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Psychology and then went on to earn her J.D. degree from the University of Southern California Law School. She practiced law in private practice for several years before joining the Rockwell Corporation as an Assistant General Counsel. Following a professional hiatus during which she raised her three children, Kathie became an in-house attorney for Quiksilver, focusing on trademark and intellectual property matters. In 2004, Kathie became the first Executive Director of the Quiksilver Foundation, where she currently oversees its management and administration. Active in community affairs, Kathie is also a board member of the Humanitarian Fund for the Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association. The Quiksilver Foundation is one of our earliest and biggest supporters since we were founded in 2005. Visit them at www.quiksilverfoundation.org

Kathie introducing an art show display at Quiksilver.

Stoked: What are you Stoked about these days?
Kathie: Personally, I am in a really great place in my life—all my family members are happy and healthy, and work is meaningful and rewarding. I am proud of Quiksilver and its commitment to environmental, educational, health and youth-related projects. And I think I am the luckiest person to be in a position to carry out that commitment and lead the efforts of the Quiksilver Foundation. It is so gratifying to be able to assist an organization like STOKED! The Quiksilver Foundation was one of STOKED’s earliest sponsors, and it is just amazing to see how it has grown and positively impacted so many young people and adult mentors in a relatively short period of time.

Stoked: What inspires you to do what you do?
Kathie: Quiksilver is the best company, filled with smart, energetic, creative and fun employees. In addition to their many talents, my co-workers are socially-conscious and generous of spirit. So, I am inspired by them, knowing they take pride in opportunities to continue Quiksilver’s tradition of giving. Of course, it is also extremely inspirational and rewarding to see first-hand the results of our contributions, whether from a small donation to a school fundraiser to a more significant one to our humanitarian project where we have partnered with SurfAid to establish the Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre in Katiet, Indonesia.

Stoked: How do you get motivated to take on major challenges?
Kathie: I have to admit that my initial reaction to a major challenge can be one of anxiety, that I am just not up to meeting it. But, then, I think my background as a lawyer kicks in to help me be more objective and analytical about the obstacles. I am never shy about seeking counsel and support from friends and colleagues. It is my family, though–especially my amazing husband—to whom I turn for advice and encouragement.

Stoked: How important is it to have a supportive community within your field of work?
Kathie: Extremely! And I am very fortunate to be surrounded by people who want to help me help others. Our CEO Bob McKnight was the inspiration behind the Quiksilver Foundation and he is passionate about its efforts. I feel comfortable reaching out to any of the Quiksilver departments for assistance, from pr to marketing to financial planning. In fact, I consider the entire Quiksilver family of employees to be my team—they respond enthusiastically and generously to every contribution request in support of our local community. Recently, we had an Art Show event where we invited employees to produce a piece of art which could be auctioned off, with proceeds to benefit the Quiksilver Foundation. It was a tremendous success due to the great philanthropic spirit of our Quiksilver employees.

Stoked: Who has played an important role in your life/career?
Kathie: My dad was always my biggest fan. We were very close, and although he passed away more than 25 years ago, I still feel his presence and guidance in my head and heart. It goes to show how one individual can influence and shape a life. That is why an organization like STOKED is so important. STOKED understands how key it is for young people to connect with mentors who are willing to share their life lessons, skills and opportunities.

Stoked: What have you learned from action sports?
Kathie: That I seem to be the only one here at Quiksilver who can’t do them! Just kidding! I actually have tried snowboarding and surfing. I have learned that both sports require much determination and focus, and that I derive a lot of satisfaction and success in terms of achieving my own personal goals…which, admittedly, are very different from those of our Roxy and Quiksilver-sponsored athletes! I am around enough expert boarders to observe that they share certain impressive qualities. These individuals are dynamic, risk-taking, competitive, confident, which traits are evident in all aspects of their lives.

Opening of Quiksilver/SurfAid Community Health Centre in Katiet, Indonesia.

Tags:   Interviews · Quiksilver · TestimonialsNo Comments.

In the midst of all our events, we started our Surf Mentor program in NYC this past weekend. There were lots of waves caught.

Stoked Sand?

Mike & Leo chillaxing on the beach.

Jasmin & Christine hit the beach.

Moussa’s first wave. He’s Stoked.

Not to be outdone, Moussa’s mentor, Brian catches a wave too.

Tags:   New York · Surf MentorNo Comments.

Thanks to Jerri Chou for the article.

Tags:   Huffington Post · Press · StokedNo Comments.