Only a few graphic icons in skateboarding are as omnipresent (until this day) and legendary as “The Ripper”, created by Vernon Courtland Johnson in 1978 for Powell Peralta. You’ve seen it on boards, shirts, jackets, stickers, in videos, as graffiti, selfmade grip tape art and even tattoos over the years. Now, 30 years later Powell-Peralta hosted the Rip the Ripper Art Show, inviting numerous artists to reinterpretate the Ripper – probably the most successful graphic in skateboarding history.

On January 23rd, 2009, Powell-Peralta hosted the Rip the Ripper Art Show. Fifty eight artists had pieces on display. The reason for the show was to celebrate The Ripper graphic. So many skaters and artists have been influenced by VCJ’s image over the years, we wanted to do something that would pay respect to VCJ and get skaters stoked. We invited a group of artists and asked them to interpret The Ripper in their own style. Curator: Désirée Astorga

see all pieces of the show on powell-peralta.com

The artist Kelly D. Williams, who heads up the Distrikt Collective, a design agency who has worked with Burton, Foundation, Billabong and others, and is currently running the Permanent Light Archive for Analog, has a great interview over at Typo-Graphical. Check it out here.

Stereo has just announced their Spring 2009 collabs including a board with Danny Supa and Truth and Soul Records, boards and a tee with the photographer Isaac McKay-Randozzi and some HiFi wheels with the San Fran skate website 48 Blocks. Via Transworld.

Nike SB is also releasing some apparel this month to go with their shoe drops. Meant to inspire the high living times of the 90’s when we all rocked a sag and XXXL tees, pieces like the coaches jacket, the icon crew, the icon plaid tee, and the fitted cap go perfectly with a Honda Civic on it’s way to the store for 40’s. Some vintage looks after the jump.

It’s been announced that Burton will once again provide the official snowboard outerwear for the U.S. Snowboarding Team, this time at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Burton will partner with Gore to produce ultra high end outerwear for riders representing the U.S. There are no images as of yet but Greg Dacyshyn, Senior Vice President of Creative at Burton, recently gave a preview of the outerwear design, which will be revealed once the 2010 Olympic U.S. Snowboarding Team is officially announced. Here’s what he said:

The inspiration behind the U.S. Snowboarding Team outerwear for the 2010 Olympics is classic Americana. Although we are creating a uniform, our first objective is to express the individuality of snowboarding. As such, we are taking vintage American looks and interpreting them in a very unique and unexpected fashion. Finally, we will ensure that all of the highest technical attributes are maintained in the pieces, so that performance and function are not jeopardized. The result will be a progressive and fresh look that challenges the former conservatism of the Olympics.

Korean brand Buried Alive has flipped a pair of C1RCA Lopez 50’s. Clearly the choice for any late night cemetery session. Detail after the jump. Via Vapors.

We recently showed you the 686 x New Balance collab that has a lot of people talking. Keeping it heavy on the collab tip, 686 has also updated their partnership with Levi’s for 2009/10. From the flagship 3-Ply Process Jacket and 514 3-Ply Pant which boast 20,000mm waterproofing and 15,000gm of breathabilty down to gloves, hoodies and tees, its going to be hard to associate riding in jeans with Jersey anymore. Some early looks at the collection after the jump.

The Skateboard Mag’s “The Mag Minute” is always worth to watch as they are often showing good footage of new talent. This time it’s Zach Wagner, who’s proving here that he really got what we call “flinke Füsse” and has a good sense of the the spots. I’m pretty sure the future looks bright for Zach. Good one!

While we’ve been hearing tales about Zach Wagner’s ability shred, we had no idea dude was so sick he could backlip across the entire state of California! Check that ledge spot if you don’t get what we’re talkin’ about, pretty awesome. This Mag Minute obviously comes through with the goods so hard that it’s no surprise why Hurley, Val Surf, and Lakai hook Zach up with the goods. Big thanks to Zach and Matt Williams for coming through with this banger. Watch the Mag Minute here.

Plan B, the übercompany that brought us legendary videos like “Questionable” and home to legends such as Danny Way, Paul Rodriguez, Pat Duffy, PJ Ladd and others now started Plan B TV. A short video section that gets updated on a regular basis and soon should be available as podcast. Go, check it: PlanB Skateboards

Out for some weeks now, Lennie Burmeister’s new pro model should be now available in finer skatestores in Europe. The graphic is a reinterpretation of the 80’s classic Psycho Stick from Vision Skateboards and was transferred into 2009 by Skism. Funny coincidence – Baker Skateboards announced the new Dustin Dollin pro model a few weeks later – guess the graphic idea behind that one…