ZOO YORK PRESENTS "ZOO FREAK'N YORK"

Lurking in the shadows since the dawn of time, the New York City cockroach represents the guts, grit and Unbreakable spirit of a true Zoo Yorker. With that in mind, we recently established the Z.Y. Roach Department – a microsite dedicated to exclusive cockroach content.

Beginning this week, our premier cockroach creative, “Zoo Freak’n York," along with other never-before-seen roach footage will be available at www.zooyork.com/roaches. In the coming weeks, our cockroach-infested content will spread globally through TV spots and viral videos featuring Z.Y. Officials Donny Barley, Anthony Shetler and Ruel "Wormz" Smith.

www.zooyork.com/roaches

NEW ZY PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE

Over a five day stretch in late February, the Zoo Crew spent some quality time skating and hanging in San Francisco. Zered Bassett, Lamare Hemmings, and new recruit, Eli Reed, hit all the local spots to collect footage for Zoo York’s upcoming full-length team video, “ZY State of Mind.”

“Skating the Bay Area was super important to us because it’s a legendary city that like NYC offers unique spots you can’t find anywhere else,” says Zoo York Team Manager Seamus Deegan. “The footage we collected during our trip will definitely add depth to the new video we’re hard at work on.”

For a taste of what went down in the “City by the Bay,” a new ZY podcast is now available for download through iTunes. The six-minute clip is also posted on YouTube, but you can peep it right here.

JUN JO INTERVIEW ON ROBUST FLAVOR

Our bros at Robust Flavor recently linked up with ZY Surf Official, Jun Jo, for an exclusive interview. Find out what JJ Banks is up on their blog.

ZOO YORK HEADS TO SOUTH AFRICA

New York, NY – March 25, 2008 – For the first time ever, this April Zoo York will embark on a week-long team tour to South Africa.

Making the lengthy transatlantic flight will be ZY Officials Zered Bassett, Forrest Kirby, and Brandon Westgate, as well as ZY team manager Seamus Deegan, photographer Sean Cronan, and videographer RB Umali who will be filming for Zoo’s upcoming full-length team video.

Billed by locals as the biggest skateboarding tour South Africa will see this year, from April 7th – 14th the Zoo Crew will hit skateparks and shops in Durban and Johannesburg for autograph signings, giveaways, and demos.

A podcast chronicling all the action from Zoo York’s 2008 South Africa Tour will be available in June, so stay tuned...

Durban // April 7th // Wave House (Gateway Skatepark)
1:00pm – Autograph Signing
2:00pm – Demo

Durban // April 8th // Beachfront Skatepark
2:00pm – Demo

Johannesburg // April 11th // Monte Casino
1:00pm – Autograph Signing
2:00pm – Demo

Johannesburg // April 12th // Brightwater Skatepark
1:00pm – Autograph Signing
2:00pm – Demo

BIG SWELL IN THE OUTER BANKS

Big swell in the Outer Banks yesterday, and ZY Surf Official Will Skudin and bro Joey Crum were on the scene for some solid tow-in action a mile off shore. Just two dudes and a jet ski. Check out surfkdh.com for the full story. All photos courtesy Ryan Curtis.

ZOO YORK WELCOMES ELI REED

New York, NY – March 19, 2008 – The Zoo York Institute is proud to announce the addition of a true East Coast original to its amateur team; twenty-one year old destroyer, Eli Reed.

Born and raised in Boston, MA, Eli currently lives in NYC’s East Village. A versatile street skater with a deep bag of tricks, Eli’s unwavering dedication and years of grinding it out have earned him the respect of his peers and helped him make a name for himself in the global skateboarding community. His most recent accomplishments include placing fourth in Redbull’s Manny Mania Contest, as well as securing highly-touted video parts in Zered Bassett’s “Vicious Cycle” and “Jereme Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Eli is skating better than ever right now, and to keep the momentum going he is already hard at work filming his part for Zoo York’s upcoming full-length team video.

“Eli has been one of my best friends and favorite skaters for ten years now,” says long-time Zoo pro rider Zered Bassett. “I’m hyped he’s officially part of the crew, and I’m looking forward to traveling with him and watching him shred.”

As the newest member of the Zoo Crew, Eli joins veteran ZY Officials Zered Bassett, Donny Barley, Aaron Suski, Forrest Kirby, Kevin Taylor, Brandon Westgate (Am), Matt Miller (Am), Anthony Shetler (Am), Lamare Hemmings (Am), and Ron Deily (Am).

To celebrate Eli joining Zoo York, a special podcast shot and produced by RB Umali is now available for download through iTunes. Or you can watch it below...

Welcome to the Zoo, Eli!

RELEASE PARTY FOR Z'S NEW DVS SHOE

On Thursday night, April 3rd, come party with the Zoo Crew and DVS at NYC's Gallery Bar as we celebrate the release of Zered Bassett's first-ever pro model shoe on DVS. All the festivities get under way at 8pm for this 21+ event, and it's first come, first served so get there early if you wanna get in. The Gallery Bar is located at 120 Orchard Street between Delancey and Rivington.

ZOO CREW HEADS SOUTH

With Old Man Winter still hanging tough and keeping things unseasonably chilly in NYC, the Zoo Crew has been chomping at the bit for some warmer weather to roll in. To help the crew thaw out a bit, TM extraordinaire, Seamus Deegan, packed up the whip and headed south with ZY Officials Donny Barley, Anthony Shetler, Ron Deily, and new recruit, Eli Reed. For the next four days (3/17-20), the Zoo Crew will be holding it down in the streets of Atlanta and, in between skating and dodging tornadoes, they'll be making special guest appearances at several skateshops including Ambush, Ruin, and Stratosphere. So if you live in the ATL, keep an eye out for the Zoo Crew because they're sure to be out destroying all your favorite spots. And if you don't catch 'em live, don't fret, a podcast of their trip will be available in April. Stay tuned...

From Atlanta, Seamus and Eli will head to Tampa where they'll meet up with Zered Bassett. Both Zered and Eli will be competing in the Tampa Pro which runs from the 21st through 23rd. For more on this weekend's contest, check out the SPoT website. Kick some ass fellas!

DMC IS DOWN WITH THE ZOO

At Pete Rock's "NY's Finest" album release party a few weeks ago in Brooklyn, DMC was in the house and the living legend took time out to big up the Zoo.

EXCLUSIVE ZY OFFICIAL INTERVIEW ON RIDE UK

The crew at Ride UK recently caught up with Zoo's marketing mastermind, Nardelli, for a quick session. Peep the complete interview on Ride UK's site.

ZOO YORK FOR LIFE

Gavin from North Carolina sent us this photo the other day, and needless to say we're all hyped on his dedication to the Zoo. Doesn't get much better than a "Zoo York" tattoo from shoulder to shoulder. Thanks for your support, bro!

"PARANOID PARK" EARNS NY TIMES CRITICS' PICK

Gus Van Sant's new film, "Paranoid Park," earned a coveted Critics' Pick nomination from The New York Times. Read the full review on NYTimes.com. Van Sant's directorial credits include "Kids," "Good Will Hunting," "My Own Private Idaho," "Psycho," and many other quality flicks. "Paranoid Park" follows a Portland skater who's life begins to unravel when he's involved with the accidental death of a security guard. Sounds pretty heavy, right? It's now playing at select theaters, so check it out and watch the main character shred the rad in Zoo gear.