Ah hah! I got some free time and you know what that means. Once a month updates! I'm workin on it, I'm workin on it. Either way, another month of fun has sprung and gotten everyone on the team, in the shop, and out in the world crazy with the sun rays. I hope everyone has been able to enjoy at least one day out in the sun. Its cold again, sucky. But the snow is gone and everything is on schedule to start poppin for the spring/summer. We got some new orders in recently from Landyachtz, Earthwing, and some more regular ass skate stock for you to come scoop up.

Mark Lawson was recently a new addition to Air Raid Skate Shop. He is gonna be reppin' Air Raid at Longboard events as he already had been walkin around the streets of Minneapolis. If you see this kid, he is bound to be going really fast on his board, or just a super laid back kid with big ideals off of his board. Keep your eyes open, cause if you blink you might miss him.

The video above was shot on Tuesday, April 12th. Some of us from the shop and some homies ditched all obligations to go and take a one day vacation up to the St. Cloud Skate Plaza. Let me tell you!, what a sick park that put together up there. Tyler Dunn went into work and somehow got the day off *cough cough*, Hendo was pressured into coming for at least several hours although it was his anniversary, Matt Suminiski got a paid day off, and Clover, Alex and I all just kinda bummed along. Take some time for yourself and get up there to skate that place. Highly recommended.

As the sun keeps shining (or not shining for that matter as long as the weather is above 40 degrees) we're gonna be out getting some shit done this year. We're going to try and keep bringing you the videos you want to watch, the photos you want to see, and bring you the products you're lookin for. Keep checking back for a summer filled with fun shit. Now get offline and get on your skateboard.

Some flicks of what we been on, G.

Photos by: Alex Uncapher (From top to bottom: Ricky Nunn/Front crooks, Tyler Dunn/ Back Blunt, Ricky Nunn/Big front 180, Ricky Nunn/ Back 50-50)

A.S.

So yes.... Before I go on. I'm falling behind on my duties with the "interspace". There are a whole lotta big things coming up and Nic, Tim, and I have been preparing for the spring. Look out for those things dropping in the spring!

Things around the shop lately haven't been exactly going as planned, but what ever does? About a week ago, our motor on the ghetto ass heater broke down. Of course, the heater is 30 years old and needs a special motor. Sweet, so anyways, our motor has come in and the heating guy had done miracles. The shop now has heat inside of it and we aren't freezing our tails off.

Since it has been a minute since I've had the opportunity to actually update the website, heres a couple photos from 3rd Lairs Southern Slaughter. Congrats to everyone that had placed and killed the comp!!

Photos (top to bottom): Tyler Dunn - Back Tail, Ricky Nunn - Ollie, Mike Akande - Back Smithers, Eli Rashad - Back Smith

Photos by Alex Uncapher

Although the winter has been slow, the keyholder bowls have been poppin. The new Dark Arts ramp is sick. Its a killers hideout and theres been some sick shit thrown around that thing in its early months. Some of the guys on the team have made their ways over to the Double Barrel Bowl, and Hiawatha. Check out Slam Dunkapher's Blog for some photos of locals rippin the shit out of em and some other funny shit. Enjoy, throw some old bearings, wheels, board and trucks on and go skate the thawing, wet cement.

A.S.

We got some new stock in this week! We got a couple decks in from Deathwish, Real, and Flip to settle your hungry stomachs until spring comes rolling in. Damn, You know, I'm trying to count the days of winter left but March 20th still gives me little hope. All I can truly say is, thanks to all you indoor skateparks and private little bowls to keep us skating through the winter.

As for other news at the shop, Southern Slaughter was last weekend and we had a pretty killer time! There are a shit ton of little rippers these days that the parks are breeding. Its insane to think that normal competitive tricks now, are the same as ridiculous demo tricks you'd see when you were a kid. Gotta love progress. Our team got into the semi-finals and not an inch past that. Got some work to do for that product, Fools! Again, killer time being there and hanging out all weekend and seeing everyone shred the hell out of 3rd.

All in all, good things are happening and continuously keep our heads up. Take the rest of the winter day by day and just remember, the sun is on its way. Now find a lit up dry spot to go skate and annoy.

A.S.

Big day here at the shop today! NFC Championships will be on and in full effect as we have a couple of Wiscos that like hanging out down here at the shop. Go Pack Go! Things have been going alright down here at the shop even through the bitter -20 degree temperatures.

We had E.T. in here the other day and I have to say, as skateboarding is engrained in my being, this guy is truly one of my idols. He is a personable guy who had lived the dream when living the dream wasn't something you picked up off of watching Rob & Big and two seasons deep you decide you might want to pick up and be like Rob. This guy is one of the heads that had stayed in the game through the drought in the early 80's and kept skating. Him and his buddies built the only ramps that there were to skate during that time. He continuously brings in artifacts for me to check out and keeps my inspiration burning. There is no doubt, him turning 50 in April, that he will stay on his skateboard as long as that old body he has allows it. That is the heart of a true skateboarder. Heres a photo of the artifact itself from around '78.

We've also been doing some training here for the Maloof High Ollie Contest being held in Familia Skateshop on Sunday, January 30th, 2011. Here is a video of some of the team down at the S.H.A.R.T. training for the contest. Its pretty damn cold outside, and the kids aren't hustling up enough money to get even down to the skate park so we gave them some space to get all worked up in.

Life is good. Now go skate.

A.S.

Last night was f'n great! The Dark Arts Blood Bowl is in full effect and is a pretty gnarly ass bowl. Its a fun, tight ride around that thing and I witnessed some serious killers out there ripping it up at the grand opening. I just want to give a big thanks to everyone down at the Dark Arts ramp for throwing a kick ass party full of booze and skating. I'll be looking forward to coming and getting comfortable in that thing.

You know, Its sunday and its playoffs week. I don't really care if you like football, GO PACK GO! I just had to throw that one up there real quick for good measures. I got some pictures from Alex Uncapher yesterday from their trip over to Summit Skate Park out in Woodbury, MN. Killer photos, so peep em. My true Internship starts tomorrow along with classes. Not too excited, but get ready cause the Shop Rats Blog will be launching soon. Find a spot where its not wet and go skate.

Oh yeah, and here is the video our buddy Ryan Johnson made when they went down to Summit.

A.S.

Eli Rashad, B/S Overcrook

Photo:Alex Uncapher

Mike Akande, B/S Smithers

Photo: Alex Uncapher

Ricky Nunn, Kickflip B/S 50-50

Photo: Alex Uncapher

Alright, Alright! Its the weekend and we're ready to get down at the Dark Arts Blood Bowl tonight! Its the new indoor warehouse down in the south side of Minneapolis. The bowl's construction is done but the project is not done as a whole. Its going to be a $5 dollar charge to get in but then you get some refreshments and a rad time skating. Live DJ and bring an idea to enjoy the alcohol. Please park on the street and enter through the side parking lot door.

In other news, the team went down to Summit Skate Park earlier this week and got some photos of them all hangin out. (which I'm still waiting for the hand-off...) I'm gonna throw them up pretty quick. We're still missing our buddy Corey Hanssen!

The shop is now carrying a company called Scumco & Sons out of Pittsburgh. You should check em out, because they have some killer graphic design work as well as a passion for skateboarding. If you're around the neighborhood at all, stop in and check em out.

P.S. We still got a few FlowTrash DVDs down here that you should come and pick up. It'll make your evening more enjoyable.

A.S.

Hell yeah! 2010 is coming to a pretty quick close and us here down at the shop are ready for whats next. We've had a pretty amazing year and been accompanied by a lot of good and some bad. We've lost a couple of friends, made some new ones, but one thing is for sure... We are all still out there skating. Check out the documentary I made about a year ago called, Fam. Its got one of our old pals we miss very much in it.

This year has been a lot of fun being introduced to so many folks that have held down the Minneapolis scene for so long.We've also been able to be a part of some local skate warehouses that have gone up and been in existence for some time. Its our first year out and we got a lot to figure out here in the shop as well as out in the o'so wicked skateboarding scene that surrounds any locality.

We opened up in September and have continued along this far and couldn't have done it without everyone's support. All in all, its been great being able to serve the skateboarding community here in Minneapolis. Here are a couple of Photos from the grand opening.

A.S.

The shop has simply become a man cave during the ridiculous amount of snow that had just fallen over the past week. Owner, Tim, is out making rent while dominating Fedex routes in Minneapolis and owner, Nic, and I have been manning the station.

Some exciting news for Air Raid's skate team. Eli placed 61 in the qualifiers on Friday down at Tampa Am 2010! We'll see how he comes up after today. Boun was down in Cream City, Milwaukee this weekend for the Almost a Comp and placed 5th after he sprained his ankle during his run. Damn, Boun, way to kill it.

If you haven't seen them out there yet, you just might! Hendo and Uncapher have been ridin dirty with product and throwing mini comps at local parks here in Minneapolis. They've already hit The Hub twice handing out boards, wheels, shirts, movies, and some other random stuff. So if you happen to see some little kid with a big smile and an Air Raid shirt... yeah, thats cause hes awesome. Now, snow or no snow, go skate somewhere.

A.S.

Well, Here we are at the shop. Its now near the end of November and the streets are glazed with ice. We've been in here hard at work putting together a killer team for the spring and searching for the indoor skatepark invites.

A Couple of weeks ago, we headed back to my (Aaron) hometown, Stevens Point, WI. It was a lot fun to attend the grand opening of their new concrete park. Afterwards, we went out and got buck at the bars and headed out to the woods to camp for the weekend. We had a great time with the guys. Now, I know its cold around here, but go find a place to skate, little kiddies.

A.S.

Damn. Alright, Its been a bit since the last post. My apologies. Here we are, Its november and the weather has been treating us with quite the respect lately. Now that there are extra opportunities to get out there and go skate, what are you doing? We here down at the shop have been extremely busy getting everything in order and jamming through the kinks. Its already been a month and a half of us being around! Holy cow, It already seems like forever. I just want to give a shout out to our little crew we get coming through here and all those who have been following us in our journey. We'll get at you soon!!!!

A.S.

The shot that started a shop.... After Nic took a bullet, he realized only so much time is really there. So use it. Do something with your dreams.

A.S.

Quite the rainy day. Something sort of like a Minnesota Monsoon. But even with the weather displaying no affection for us skateboarders, they're out skating in underground holes and bowls. Gotta love indoors when you're in the midwest. So even though its raining, get the hook up and find an indoor flat spot. Go Skate!

A.S.

This weekend went great. We could not have asked for a better weekend. Everything from grand opening, meeting a ton of new people and getting some good feedback on the work we all put into the shop. More to come soon, so get off the net and go skate.

A.S.

Dang!!! We're already here. This has been one wild ride and a dream come true for all three of us down here at the shop. We're very happy to have our friends, family, and peers supporting our venture here in minneapolis. We're hoping that we can offer you guys some product, advice, and a place to belong to when you're done snapping your leg at government banks. After all of the hard work we've put into the shop, we're hoping that you can join us in continuing our journey skating and destroying.

A.S.