Dennis McNett

playing it safe will only get you so far. Take some risks and put in some work. I really respect hard working artists. Its risky to work for long hours every day for months producing work that in hopes will sell and pay your rent for the next little while so you can do it all over again. Not much job security in the art world. Sometimes you got to do as Dennis McNett does and do the occasional board series for Anti-Hero to get by.

I first saw his work through Anti Hero. I just recently learned more about his lino-cut prints and his methods as well as a look at the rest of his very, very large collection of works. I believe his work might be the heaviest of many inspirations right now for me. when I find things that inspire me i like to share them, so enjoy these documentary style episodes of Dennis done by Buddy Nichols.

Also, check out some of his work online here.

we aren't just chillin

So its been slow. Maybe even dull for you guys. but new things are on the way for the new year. new graphics, new shirts, and possibly some visual stimulation for your brain. looks like you'll have to wait and see

How Rude of Us...

We never made the proper introductions.


This is Austin Beard. He's a great guy, he's got a crazy bag of tricks and...




... he rides for Cooper. Check out the video

Photo Dump

Going through photos, I thought i might share a few.



Trife Street


Hammond


Luke Steffenhagen, pivot fakie.


Luke, stalefish


Switch Disaster


Jack blasting

Believe it or not, this is a judo disaster.


Austin Beard


.

Zombie Boards

Since I know how much all of you the graphic i thought i'd let you know that we're down to the last bunch of Zombie Candidates boards. They are a limited Artist Series board and we won't be making anymore. Not only will you be getting a limited edition board but you will also be helping us fund more boards. Get down to your local skate shop, be it Cheapskates or Life Blood or our friends in Nashville, and pick up a deck. If your local shop doesn't have what you want, let them know. Thanks for everyone's support so far

Skatepark Design

In case anyone hasn't seen it, here's Wormhoudt's design for the Memphis park. Some elements are changing, like the blast kicker into the deep end (crazy talk). I think the bowl area is staying thesame and the flow area might get some changes. these things always turn out different from design to completion. Either way, Memphis is getting a skatepark. just say that to yourself three times and then see how you feel.

Cooper in Nashville

I want to thank Franklin Skateshop, Imperial Skate Shop, and 6th Ave. Skate Shop for taking a chance and putting our product on their walls. If you live in the area go snag a Cooper deck and support your local shops!

Rebate Jam

Thanks to Lifeblood skate shop for the video

Rebate Jam

Almost forgot to let everyone know that we will be in Oxford MS on October the 18th (Sat.) for the Rebate Jam. We will have boards, we will have shirts, we will have stickers, and the team will be there ripping. Starts at 1pm, see you there

Car Sesh

It is Memphis after all. Some days its lookin a little bleak. John Willingham, Luke Steffenhagen and Zach Galinis improvise. Thanks Luke and John for the video.

Cooper Car Session from Cooper Skateboards on Vimeo.

SHIRTS

We have some new shirts left over from the Cooper Young fest product. Also, new graphics are in the works, i promise.


Charcoal Grey Axe shirt




Bird Feathers, Steel Grey. Carolina Blue. Cactus Green
Click Here for the shop

Post Cooper-Young Bowl Session

We packed up our tent around 6pm and headed to the bowl for a celebration of our success of the day and our good friend Erich Bambei's birthday. I invited along a photographer friend of mine Alex Smythe and this is what he saw through his lens that night.



Jack was skating like a madman. This is his go-to trick, melon front disaster. This is also one of many war faces that Jack often makes



Local ripper and friend Kevin Wu sailing the hip



Wu, front rock



John Willingham, frontside flip



Luke Steffenhagen, switch front disaster



Luke with a meaty stalefish over the hip



Mark Patrick, back feeble



Bambei was ripping as always. He skates faster than anyone i've ever seen before. With huge airs, long grinds, steady consistency, Bambei is going to be around for a while. Be on the lookout for this guy. Front lipslide



Bambei, blunt nosegrab



Jack, front tail block. Jack and Bambei were just feeding off each other. It was rad to watch these two go at it.



Bambei, front crailslide



Camera trickery



Ghost plant



Jack, judo disaster



Jack Carlson. True skate rat



Always the crowd pleaser, Bambei with the upper atmosphere tuck knee. Ripper

All in all it was a damn good day. Everyone was juiced and it showed. This was Alex's first time shooting skate photos and i think he made the cut. See you next time

Cleared out again

Cooper-Young Fest cleared us out. Thanks to everyone who came out and bought some product. You ensured our future a little more. We'll let you know as soon as we are restocked. I wasn't prepared to be cleared out, so it will be a minute before we have more product. thanks again. also, Be sure to contribute your voice at the Tobey Skatepark Meeting at the Orange mound Community center at 6pm september 21st

Tobey Skatepark Meeting

Tobey skatepark meeting is Tuesday the 21st (tomorrow. we're real punctual aren't we). It will be at the Orange Mound Community Center at 6pm-8pm. come and support this park

Everything is for Clay. All of this is for Clay. May Clay's spirit rest, may his memory live on forever.

Pirates

Cooper-Young was great. We barged it like true pirates. thanks to everyone who made it possible. But especially thanks to the people who came out and bought some product. Because of you all Cooper is no longer a dream for me but is a full on reality. Exceeded my expectations completely. thank you all and i'll see you out there

Cooper-Young Fest

Cooper will be at Cooper-Young Fest this Saturday the 18th. We will be next to Soul Fish restaurant. We will have boards, new shirts and stickers. come on out!

Night at the Bowl

Last night the boys got together for the weekly session at the bowl and it was an especially rad session. Don't even try to find this place. Locals only

Cooper and Friends at bowl from Trife Street on Vimeo.

Clay Hopkins

I just want to again say thank you to everyone who showed their support for The Hopkins family during this past week. The family set up a memorial fund that will be used to buy skateboards and protective gear for inner city youth. For more information visit SkateLife Memphis's website, or to donate click here. We lost a great man who touched many people in this city. I've never met anyone who could light up the room and brighten everyone's day in just a few moments. If you spent 5 minutes with him, you were his friend and he was yours. He lived life to the absolute fullest. He loved life and i know that he would want everyone to remember to do the same every day. I love you Clay and there isn't going to be a day that goes by that I won't think about you. - Christian

P.S. I will put a page on the right side of this blog that will have the link the donation site. it will remain there constantly

there will be a memorial service for Clay at Advent pres. church in Cordova on Friday at 4pm

A website is under construction for a fund in Clay's memory. the fund is to help promote skate safety. more information will be posted as soon as I get it. - Christian

I just want to thank everyone for their support during this time, the family needs it. I will post any information about a memorial fund as soon as i get it. - Christian Westphal

these guys rule

I don't know what any number of skaters in Memphis would do without Terry Kerr and Mike Lasiter. Working hard to keep the Memphis scene from losing a pulse

Terry from 901 Productions on Vimeo.

Terrytopia

another wednesday Terrytopia night is upon us. you should make it out.

Memphis's first Skatepark

We are finally getting our skatepark. Mayor A.C. Wharton announced yesterday that Memphis will have its first skatepark at Tobey Park and it will be built by Wormhoudt, Inc. ( the guys who built Louisville ). So, its super rad that they chose Tobey because that was the first choice for most everyone on where to put the park. It was everyone's favorite, anyway, but it was stated about a year ago that it wasn't in the cards. I don't know what happened between now and then and i really don't care because that is the prime location for a Memphis city skatepark; centrally located in Midtown, plenty of facilities around, and I live right down the street. The only snag to this happy ending is that it won't be completed until September 2011. One more year. But, it is happening and it is happening in the best location. So, thanks A.C.. For the Commercial Appeal's story click here. Also, thanks to Skatelife for bringing us together to push for this park, and thanks to anyone in Memphis who supported this park, skater or not. Hope to see you out there opening day

Stocked

just what it says. get some

Luke and John

here we are with another one. Luke and John have bee throwin it down. check it

John Willingham & Luke Steffenhagen Cooper Skateboards from 901 Productions on Vimeo.

Jackbone

Jack Carlson kills it. Hands down. Respectful, appreciative, and he's got a killer melon to front d. Introducing Jackbone

Jack Carlson-Cooper Skateboards from 901 Productions on Vimeo.

Cleared out

right now we are low on boards. but never fear, more are on the way. We never expected that it would take off like this and you guys would be down for us. So from everyone here at Cooper, thank you for all of you support. More boards are on the way, all we have in stock right now are the Bird graphic boards at 8.1. We will be offering more sizes with the boards that are on the way, like an 8 and a 7.8. Please call Cheapskates and CBS to see if they have what you need. thanks again to anyone who is down with Cooper

R.I.P. Al Town

If you are reading this you probably already know about Al Town being a bust now. Go Skate Day turned into don't skate at al town day. Cops shut it down, forever. Something might work out in the future but it is looking highly, highly unlikely. its a tricky situation but in the end its just another example of how people's mentalities in Memphis are light years behind the rest of the country. R.I.P. Al Town. Go to trife street's blog for coverage

Full Catalog

We now have a full catalog, it is available to your right

GO SKATE DAY AT ALTOWN

Monday june 21st at 4pm. Al Town. Brew, bbq, and crete. If you're reading this, go get some. Sorry Taylor, nobody reads this shit

BOARDS

Cooper Decks can now be purchased at Cheapskates and CBS. If you don't know where it is click here for Cheapskates and here for CBS and google will direct you.

Al Town

Just some pictures of 2 different days at Al Town with Grant and some of Trife Street. Taylor and the boys on Trife Street have been killin it for a long while. True dirty Memphis skate rats. Check out their blog as well as Taylor's Index blog. Buy a coozie and support AlTown.




Luke Patrick snaggin a smither



We used QuickCrete for some patch jobs. Not
the best decision


gotta work with what you got


This day was a scorcher. you can see additional
coverage on Taylor's Index blog


Taylor, back smith



Colby, backside hurricane



Taylor, front 5-0



Taylor, front tail

BOARDS

After a long wait, they are here. get some. but get one of these first.

I am proud to present our Spring boards. the zombie graphic comes from a painting done by Grayson Castro. google him and be amazed. he should have a full website up soon. thanks again grayson

well thanks to Wanda Halbert, Glenview is not going to be the spot for Memphis' first skatepark. Apparently a skatepark in a bad neighborhood providing kids with a positive outlet and also local businesses with more business from more traffic due to people coming from all over memphis to skate the park is not a good idea in this recession, according to Mrs Halbert. people need to do their homework. so far a new spot for the park has not be chosen, even though the money has been allocated for almost 3 YEARS now. our city council needs to get with it. Look at Greenlaw