Unfortunately, the skateboard industry has lost yet another great storyteller and friend to many. Eric Stricker, Editor of Transworld Skateboarding Magazine is reported to have passed away on Wednesday, September 23. No word yet as to what happened, though we suspect that the circumstances of his death may be silenced to allow his friends and family to mourn (as they should).

photo provided by willysantos.com

Willy Santos on the left, Stricker on the right.

For more on skateboarders who have passed away, check out an old article I wrote on Skateboarding and Partying: It’s Killing our Heros.

The guys at The Skateboard Film Festival are hard at work with a viral video in the works called LURKIN’. Apparently it stars Mike Carroll as himself. No other information about the video has been confirmed at this time.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8th, 2009

Exclusive skateboard film festival gives young talent a national platform, cash prizes.

SEATTLE, Wash. – On August 15, 2009, Seattle, Wash. will host the first annual Skateboard Film Festival, created to celebrate excellence in skateboarding and independent filmmaking.

The Skateboard Film Festival (TSFF) is now accepting submissions online at www.theskateboardfilmfestival.com, in a variety of categories including Sponsor Me, Documentary, Shop Video, International and more. Cash and prizes will be awarded to an overall festival winner and stand-out submissions in each individual categories.

In addition to film screenings, the three-day festival will include:
• Workshops and informational discussions on editting and filmmaking.
• Various contests and skate jams held around the Seattle area.
• Industry ‘meet and greets’ with some of your favorite skateboarders.

TSFF brought together cinematographer Kurt Hayashi, who films for Flip Skateboards and Marshall Reid, co-owner of Seattle’s Manik Skateboards, along with a long list of other committed people in the skateboard industry to help serve as Board of Directors.

About The Skateboard Film Festival:

The Skateboard Film Festival is a collaborative effort by some of the industry’s most respected entrepreneurs, filmers, photographers, and skateboarders. It was brought about to promote independent film making in the skateboard community at large. It is open to the entire public by way of video submissions, and there will be several categories by which each film maker can submit his or her video short or full-length movie. Videos are carefully selected by a panel of judges and only the winning categories will be shown during the annual film festival event.

Contact:
Eric Burgess, Executive Director
The Skateboard Film Festival
http://www.theskateboardfilmfestival.com