Columnist and Brooklyn shredder Brian “Deka” Paupaw recently linked up with Jeremy Jones for the latest installment of his “Why We Shred” interview series. Go here to read what the guys spoke about.

RC columnist Brian Deka Paupaw was in Santa Cruz last week for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic. As part of his coverage of the event, which was also the 60th birthday for O’Neill, Deka interviewed pro surfer Jordy Smith for his ongoing “Why We Shred” interview series. Read Smith’s answers as well as his unique stance on the Olympics with regards to surfing right here.

We’re only a day away from the start of the O’Neill cold water classic in Santa Cruz, CA, the ninth stop on the ASP world tour which also coincides with the 60th anniversary of the O’Neill brand. Our Brian Deka Paupaw will be out in SC, assuming he can catch a flight out of post-Sandy NYC, and bringing back interviews, behind the scenes access, and an up close view of O’Neill’s latest product line. You can also watch the event on the interwebs on O’Neill Live. Stay tuned!

Our favorite youth organization, Hoods to Woods needs your help to support its Winter program for teens in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn. A $5 donation enters you in a raffle to win a YES snowboard signed by team rider Trevor Andrew. To donate or learn more about the cause go to www.hoodstowoods.com/donate. Hit the jump to see the flyer.

Earlier this summer, Radcollector columnist Brian Deka Paupaw’s Hood to Woods Foundation got together with Trouble Andrew and Santigold to help re-open the Open Road Park in NYC’s LES. Jay Z’s Life + Times blog shot this short piece documenting the day and finally released the embed code so that it could be shared. Enjoy.

In some great news for the day, the Brooklyn youth organization Hoods to Woods was granted 501(c)(3) non profit status this week. Founded by artist/designer/shredder and Radcollector columnist Brian Deka Paupaw in 2009 after a global shred journey showed him that being on a board can change lives, Hoods to Woods gives kids specifically from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn the opportunity to experience another world through skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. Contact him here to get involved. A shot of the kids after the jump.

With the northern hemi snowboard season officially upon us, columnist Deka had the rad idea to compile stories, photos, videos, or anything at all from our readers that tell us why they shred. So we’re going to do exactly that. Send anything you got to Deka at se7ennations@gmail.com and he’ll post the raddest entry each day for the month of December. At the end of the month, we’ll pick the raddest entry of all and feature it on the homepage as well as send out a sick prize pack to the winner. Shred on!

Brooklyn based crew BLK OPS has it’s first board out this winter with the super limited edition Power by Brian Deka Paupaw. The Power is limited to ten pieces, all signed by the artist. With five reserved for OPS members and two reportedly already sold to Mos Def and Denzel Washington, only three are currently available for collectors. Contact Deka directly here for inquiries. A closer look after the jump.

Columnist Deka was out in Montauk this past weekend for the Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational, a late season East Coast competition for only the most gnarly. Check out his sick gallery from the event here.

New York City-based Laurus is a manufacturer of premium hand-made face wraps for snowboarding that caters to the frigid conditions of the Ice Coast. RadCollector familia and founder of the Hoods to Woods movement, Brian “Deka” Paupaw, connected with Laurus’ Darell Abrams at a jib session in Fort Greene Park last year and the two recently sat down for an interview to talk about the background as well as the future direction of the brand. This is local DIY NYC shred at its finest. Read the whole interview and check out some product shots after the jump.