by Byron Essert

Comet rider Byron Essert jumping Comet rider Liam Morgan

Two days, Five radical events, 150+ skateboarders, and unlimited amounts of stoke could be one description of this year’s Menlo Park Slide Jam brought to you by David Hiltbrand. Read the rest of this entry »

What used to be known as The Paskapoo Downhill Rodeo has been renamed to The Winsport Cup and this year was exceptional.
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I got a call from Comet team rider Byron Essert one afternoon; he was talking about how the Sunset Sliders (a famous crew from San Francisco) were loading up a van and heading to the Central Coast of California. The purpose was to attend the first San Luis Obispo slide jam put on by Trent Skate and Mike Roberts. Van trips are always super fun and pretty hilarious and the Sunset Sliders always know how to have a good time so I asked to have a seat saved.

We embarked from the Sunset district last Friday night with a stacked crew of 12 NorCal rippers. Our captain: Big Dave, a Comet homie, San Francisco OG and all around shredder. We left the Sunset way later than expected so we didn’t get into SLO until 2 am. We rolled into a friend’s “skate ranch” in SLO grogy and ready to sleep. Everyone ended up passing out in pretty random spots which was funny; luckily I scored myself a spot in a nice tent.
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Eli McEndarfer
Okay.  So, I was just notified that there’s a brand new guy named Eli that I hadn’t yet met.  Pretty crazy for a small company.  Quick interview…

I’ve heard some call you Elvis?
Elvis Refley.  I’m a women’s flat track roller derby referee.

So, you just started working at Comet.  What had you been up to before this?
For the last 18 years I have worked in newhome construction, timberframing, remodeling, cabinet making, wood working, with a little blacksmithing/ornamental iron work thrown in.

Do you skate?
I street and ramp skated all thru highschool. My first skateboard was an Alva, Fred Smith. I have kept a board since but it has been used mostly as a way to get tools back and forth from truck to jobsite. I currently have a Comet Ethos 37.

by Anthony Flis
Photos by Blair Caldwell (all photos here)

TMMR is hands down the best outlaw on the East Coast in the U.S. Don’t even try to argue it. Phat Dean is also the most giving, and supportive person of the east coast downhill scene. Don’t try and argue that one either.

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Liam Morgan
Comet team rider visiting and interning with Comet for a couple weeks.

How long have you been riding?
I’ve kind of been riding skateboards as long as I can remember, but its been the biggest part of my life for about three years.

What attracted you to Comet’s boards?
I was attracted to Comet in the first place because of their shapes and strong roots in the Bay Area.

You just interned with Comet a second time.  How did it go?
This summer at Comet was pretty different than the last. The facilities this year are relatively new, so I played somewhat of a different roll. I focused more on screen printing boards, making t-shirts, working in the retail shop, and responding to emails.

Tell me a bit about the scene on the west coast.
The current scene on the West Coast is crazy. The levels of skill and progression are of the charts, new events are popping up all the time, and so many kids are getting into it! I have such high respect for my fellow riders and  the skating they are doing.

On March 18th, 2009, Comet team rider Kawika Omoto set out to the Colorado hills looking for another great downhill session with friends.  The tragedy that unfolded shook the Colorado community, everyone here at Comet, and riders from all over who caught the bad news.  Equally shocking was Kawika’s heroic return, which seemed to us from afar to be as sudden as the original accident.  I recall saying, “What do you mean Kawika came in fourth?  Isn’t he in the hospital?!”

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Cody Austern-Aceto
A Comet intern and soon to be senior at Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS)

What was it like growing up in Ithaca?
I actually spent my first eleven years in Trumansburg, NY moving to Ithaca before sixth grade. It was nice spending my early years running around in the woods and then experiencing a small city once I got older.

How does Lehman Alternative Community School compare to a typical high school?
LACS has a big focus on doing things differently, and once a week all the students meet to discuss proposals that modify how the school is run.

How long have you been working at Comet?
I worked here in the summers after eighth and ninth grade, and I started again midway through this summer.

How did you land this job?
When I was 14 I signed up with a program called Youth Employment Service that funded job opportunities for teenagers. Comet had just moved to town, and I was interested in sustainability, so I asked to be placed with them.

What do you think of the job and of Comet?
I love it. I get to work part time in the print shop silkscreening. I love Comet’s mission.

Tell me a bit about the Ithaca Youth Council.  What is your role in that program?
I’m the chairperson of Ithaca Youth Council. It is a government group for teens through the Youth Bureau. We work with common council and city government to advocate for youth issues. We also hold workshops for teens on subjects like how to interview for a job and how to manage money.

What might you be doing a decade from now?
I’d like to be working for an environmental non-profit.