It’s “OFFICIAL” Mr. Henry Gutierrez will be joining the Embassy Skateboard Team. Look for this OG legend to be shredding everything in site. Henry is currently on a road trip in Southern California. He’ll be skating Hawk’s place today and possibly Bucky’s. The Embassy crew is looking like an assortment of Legendary OG’s to go along with the new and upcoming pro’s. Embassy WELCOMES Henry, LOUD & PROUD. There’s so many FUN times ahead for this crew! Summer release of Henry’s new shape & graphics are in the works. Stay tuned for updates.

Henry Gutierrez this past January @ Quiksilver’s 80′s all day. WELCOME to the crew !

Henry still skating strong almost everyday.

News from Down Under:
PAYING SOME DUES, Our motto from the 80′s attitude is “Skate Tuff or go Home”. Steven Pineiro DID skate tuff. On our second day of sessioning he got a taste of the pain that comes with skateboarding. Steven’s only 14 years old, and can do more variation’s of a 540 than most. He can style a Smith grind around the corner. He has lip tricks on lock. When you’re blasting 7 foot 540′s alot can go wrong. He had the misfortune of under rotating on his landing, SLAM! THRILLS & SPILLS. On another note, Embassy had Simon “Sac” Reynolds skating in the “Master’s”. He got to the Bondi Beach Skatepark just in time for his heat. He ripped it. There was alot of love from the Bondi locals, Sac is the man! This guy can rage with the best of us! We had a great time in Bondi, Next year we plan on taking more of the crew. We’d like to thank Sasha Steinhorst, Sergie Ventura, Cam, Fabiana, All the Bondi Road Hotel staff, for putting on a great show and giving the hook up. CONGRATS to Pedro Barros and Steve Caballero for winning their respected division’s.

Steven Pineiro skating the Bondi Bowl

The Thursday before the Contest

Pineiro POWER

Simon “Sac” Reynolds, killed the Bondi Pool

News from the homefront, Craig Johnson’s much anticipated legend series model is in production. We expect them to be in by middle of March. With the addition of Legends, Mark Partain and Henry Gutierrez, Team Embassy just keeps getting stronger!

Craig Johnson, CLASSIC layback grind,

Mark Partain is a name that goes with skateboarding. This old dog was looking for a home, so we threw him a bone!! Mr. Partain comes from “Old School” roots and style. And will represent the Embassy Loud and Proud. EMBASSY WELCOMES the newset AMBASSADOR to the crew!! MARK PARTAIN

Mark Partain, Oregon, Trifecta 2009

Mark Partain, Tigard, Oregon

This Saturday January 29th, Embassy will have double duty at “The Block” in Orange County Ca. Edward Sanchez has been invited to compete with the top 15 winners from last years Van’s Warped Tour. It’s a mini-ramp comp, so Edward should feel right @ home!! It’s his first time in that time zone, so he’ll be looking forward to that Southern California vibe!
On the flip side side Juan Pineiro is no stranger to Cali. He’ll be competing on the other side of the Van’s skatepark in the Combi. Last year Van’s changed it up a bit for the Pro-Tec Pool Party. The “Am’s” get their own day on Saturday, to showcase the skill level and next generation of Bowl Riding. The Combi is no chump, the weak need not apply, even with the new crete. Embassy wants to extend a GOOD LUCK to the guys. Rip it up, but mostly have FUN with it!! Note to Edward: Don’t go there on vacation, and come home on Probation!!! RIDE WITH PRIDE!!

Edward will be competing in the Van’s Warped Tour mini ramp rumble.

Juan Pineiro will be competing in the Protec “Am-Tec”, at the the world famous Combi

Graphics are to be 100% Chaz Pineda, SIKNESS! Sneak peek, next week!!! The kids been on the West Coast for the past 2 years, but that STRONG Texas influence can not be denied. Back from a deep sleep, and broken up body. Chaz is ready to hit the crete, Embassy Style! Stay tuned, updates to follow:

What a weekend! Making the trip to Big-D, actually Plano, Tx to the Eisenberg Skatepark was for sure to be an adventure!! Anytime you have Tex Gibson and Todd Prince joining forces with Craig Johnson, Billy Smith, Mark Abrook and a handful of other characters get ready for Bloody Mary’s in the morning.

Big Embassy Congrats to “Dirty” Gary Morris & Ben Johnson for throwing it down, and taking home 1st and 3rd place. Gary killed it, Texas Style, landing a crowd pleasing 540. Cockfights “Germ” took 2nd. Congrats to Pat Sherman who killed the Master’s division for 1st Place, Lou Statman (Promoter, Ramp builder, Ramp painter, Event MC, Event Coordinator) took 2nd, and Conspiracy’s Dana Buck handled 3rd place. It was a fun day to see all the old heads, and see the new generation of vert skaters. Highlight of the day was the Henry Hester sighting, yes Henry Hester was there. Todd Prince’s new deck, and new t-shirt design was a hit w/ all the O.G.’s. It was a fun atmosphere to hang & skate. Cold Beer’s could be had at anytime. It reminded me of the days in the 80′s, when the original Clown ramp was in full effect. Punk Rock, Ice Cold Beers, a Vert Ramp, Good Vibes is always a recipe for a Good’ole Texas Throw down.

“Dirty” Gary Morris, ripping it up Backside on the new Todd Prince Model

Gary Morris, Mean Lien!!!!

Capt’n Gnar Gnar, Ben Johnson, Frontside Rocker

Ben Johnson, Frontside TucKnee Air

EMBASSY Ambassador’s, Craig Johnson & Tex Gibson

Ben Johnson, ripped it up for 3rd Place!!!

Billy Smith checking out the new Todd Prince model, While TP downs an I.C.B.

Gary Morris, in true Form, CONGRATS Fucker on 1st Place!!!

STOKED

Dana Buckit ripped it up in the Masters, Gary Morris 1st Place Sponsored Division

Ben Johnson & Gary Morris, Coming to a town near you!!!!

Big EMBASSY shout-out to Lou Statman for putting on a great day of Skateboarding, drinking, having the old TEXAS spirit in the air. And…… getting 2nd place in the Masters, and more drinking!!

We’ll fininsh it off with this Gary Morris / Todd Prince ghost shot, Happy Trails!!!

Words by: Jorge Blacktop
Another Rock the Cradle for the Johnny Romano kicks cancer Foundation is under our belt, and this one lived up to the hype. The skate full event raised $25,000.00 and had enough blood donations to save 75 lives. A huge TEXAS shout out to all the sponsor’s that supported the event. Congrats to Ben Johnson, Steven Pineiro, Juan Pineiro, Ken Fillion, Todd Prince, all the Embassy riders that represented Loud & Proud. Highlight of the day was TP in the bowl shirtless. Double D said it, “It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen Todd Prince on a board”. Actually TP has been ripping it up on Old man night @ Southside for sometime now. Can’t keep an old dog off his board!! Todd had fun with it. The Pineiro brothers, came into town on a mission. Steven has melon 5′s on lock. Steven landed his 720 on the big face wall. I think they said, it’s the 1st 720 in Bowl Riders comp, it was sick. I will say, when the brother’s gain some weight, and get a little bigger…LOOKOUT! Juan his younger brother (11 months younger) skates fast, smooth, and blast overhead backside airs at will, with style. These two young guns are going to be ripping it up for many moons to come. What can I say about Embassy Team Captain Ken Fillion, he brought his arsenal of inverts that would give anybody migranes. He did 12 inverts in a row, back-to-back-to-back-to-back, sadplant to eggplant to invert, he just kept on ticking. He also blasted higher than most, not bad for the OG. Tex Gibson was on hand as a celebrity judge, to judge the “Masters” division, and just hang out. Craig Johnson was in the house as well. Speaking of Craig Johnson, I think I saw half the crowd sporting the new Craig Johnson graphics T-shirt. His new model will be out for the holiday’s along with the Todd Prince! Embassy Street fighter Edward Sanchez was on hand to soak in the festivities, and give support. Really he was on hand to see if he could keep up with Craig & Tex @ the Lola’s after party. What happens at Lola’s, stay’s @ Lola’s, so that’s a different story. The Embassy Girls were in full effect, giving out Embassy swag through out the day. Chris Gentry is always a riot, he represented strong with his heel flip body jar and the Phillips 66. It’s always a party, it’s always a good time, it’s always a headache in the morning. Overall it was a killer day, like the old Texas comps of the 80′s. The 80′s were the blurry years. It’s rad to see the same cast of characters living it Loud and Proud. I want to thank Gibson and the Embassy heads for putting me on that Greyhound and bribing me to come out for the weekend. Until next time, nuff said. Below are a few pics. photo’s by: GROOVEHOUSE and Lee Leal

Craig Johnson & Chris Gentry

Ben Johnson

Ken Fillion, one of his 12 inverts in a row!

Lance Mountain, John Gibson & Edward Sanchez (whats in the bottle? Edward)

Steven Pineiro

Juan Pineiro, Blasting ,like a NASA rocket ship!

Ben Johnson, skating for the buck$ in the pool

Double D & Todd Prince

Craig & Ken, representing

Ben johnson, pic by GROOVEHOUSE

Ben Johnson, showing the style

The Embassy girls

New Craig Johnson Graphix

New Todd Prince t-shirt, hot off the press