New Balance Numeric and Liverpool’s Lost Art skate shop have joined forces on a special NM600 collab shoe with Tom Knox leading the charge. Don’t call ‚em dad shoes! These classics are reimagined for skateboarding with skateboarders in mind. Take a look:

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We’re always stoked to see major shoe brands supporting skate shops on levels like this. New Balance has been on a roll, too! Love to see it. And more importantly, I’m stoked to see Tom Knox getting all the shine he deserves. Dude rips. Simple as that.

Related: First Look: The New Balance Numeric 480 Remixed by Andrew Reynolds

For those of you who want the nitty-gritty details, here ya go:

• New Balance Tom Knox signature model

• Lost Art color way 

• Suede/ Mesh/ Synthetic/ Pigskin upper

• Upper silhouette adapted from ’90s indoor football shoes

• Heritage-inspired design• FantomFit upper offers ultra-light bonded support

• FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward• Adjustable lace closure

• Ortholite insole

• NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas

Related: New Balance Numeric and 8FIVE2 Skate Shop Join Forces on Exclusive NM480

It only takes a few seconds in the comments to realize how stoked folks are for these. Sometimes you can just look at a shoe and know it’ll perform. These look as strong as they do comfortable, and that subtle grey colorway is super easy on the eyes. If they work for Tom, they’ll work for you! 

The shoes are available on the Lost Art site. Peep them here. Hey, the holidays are here. Snag some before they’re gone! Big ups to NB#, Lost Art and Tom Knox on this epic collaboration. Keep the skate shop collabs coming! 

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The holidays are officially here, and if you have a new skateboarder on your gift list, finding the perfect present can be as fun as it is challenging. That’s why we’re here! 

From pre-built complete skateboards to essentials like helmets and pads, strong skate shoes, apparel, useful accessories, lessons, and so much more, there are plenty of great options to consider. Whether you’re looking to provide some safety, style or stoke, here are seven great holiday gift ideas that will get any aspiring skater hyped.

1. Pre-Built Skateboard Completes 

Don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing better than walking into a skate shop and picking out all your parts for a brand new complete. For many of us, it’s what made skateboarding so rad and magical in the first place. But these days, a ton of companies and local skate shops alike offer pre-built complete skateboards with beginners in mind. (Available in a variety of different shapes and sizes!)

The benefits? Well, they’re always a little easier on your wallet, for one. And the majority of them still come with proper trucks, wheels, bearings, etc. Another obvious benefit is that they’re 100% ready to use. The hard part is over! Toss it under the tree, and boom—your job is done. Honestly, there’s nothing better than waking up and seeing a brand-new skateboard sitting there. It’s literally the gift that keeps on giving. 

Related: 7 Epic Gifts for Skateboarders Perfect for This Holiday Season

2. Extra Parts and Accessories 

When it comes to stocking stuffers, there’s nothing quite like skate accessories and parts. The best part is, you can truly never have enough of them! From skate wax to spare bearings and hardware, extra bushings to rails, wheels, socks, speed cream… stickers! 

The list honestly goes on, and pretty much every skate shop on the planet has a few shelves stocked with tons of goodies that any new (or old) skateboarder will love and appreciate. It’s often the little things that bring the most joy. All of these items are super affordable, too. Necessities, baby! 

3. Pads and Helmets

One essential item that every new skateboarder should have in their arsenal (well, besides a skateboard itself) is a set of helmet and pads. Falling is an unavoidable part of skateboarding, regardless of skill level. In fact, I’d argue it’s basically guaranteed. While skaters may learn how to fall better as they progress, the reality is that the unforgiving cement always hurts. Having the right protective gear can make all the difference in staying safe on the board for beginners. 

More importantly, having pads on will absolutely provide any new skateboarder with more confidence, which will ultimately speed up their progression. Plus, pads and a helmet are still mandatory at certain skateparks and camps. Better safe than sorry!

Related: Skateboarding 101: How To Drop In with Ease

4. Skateboarding Shoes 

You could argue this list is sort of categorized between „wants“ and „needs“ but one thing every skateboarder certainly needs is solid skate shoes! Whether you’re just starting out, consider yourself a hometown hero, an aspiring pro—whatever!—the shoes you wear can make all the difference when it comes to skateboarding. 

Personally, I suggest rolling down to your local skate shop and admiring all the options on their shoe wall. There’s nothing better than seeing and feeling everything right in front of you. Take a seat, take it all in and leave with confidence knowing you got the right size and fit. There’s certainly no shortage of options out there these days, so again, hit your local and find the perfect pair! 

Related: First Look: New Nike SB Dunk Low ‚Supersonics‘ Set to Hit Skate Shops December 5th

5. Skateboarding Apparel 

I remember flipping through old CCS catalogs as a kid, circling every item I saw, often based on what my favorite pros were wearing or riding. This excitement hasn’t faded even into my 30s, and honestly, I hope it never does! Skate fashion has influenced countless subcultures over the decades, and the same holds true today. Skaters love to dress like skaters!

Say what you want, but clothes are always a great gift, especially when they come from your favorite brands or, even better, a local skate shop. The art, logos… all of it. It’s a way for new skateboarders to make a statement. How’s the saying go? Look good, feel good.

6. Accessible Ramps, Rails and Boxes

We’ve come a long way from the crusty, makeshift ramps and rails I used to skate in my front yard as a kid, but the mission remains the same! There’s nothing like having all your friends over, setting up a kicker ramp, box, or flatbar, and creating a DIY skatepark right outside your house.

Brands like Keen Ramps and Blunt Steel have made it easier than ever to assemble, transport, and store various skateboarding obstacles. And honestly, they’re all pretty reasonably priced considering the amount of stoke they provide! 

Most importantly, for beginners, these moveable ramps and rails offer a perfect opportunity to get comfortable on their board and progress at their own pace, without the crowds and stress of a busy skatepark. Best gift ever! Actually, if any of my friends or family are reading this… I want that rail up there. Thanks! 

7. Skateboarding Lessons

Getting the new skateboarder in your life some skateboarding lessons is the perfect gift! And there’s certainly no shortage of skateboarding camps and classes being offered across the globe these days, from local skateparks to private training facilities and everywhere in between. 

The California Skateparks Training Facility in Vista, California (CATF) is a great option if you’re in Southern California. It’s literally where the Olympians skate! But as I mentioned, there are a ton of coaches and instructors running lessons at public skateparks all over! 

Gaining that much needed confidence as a beginner can be hard, but lessons provide a safe and fun environment to progress at their own pace. Tap the post below to learn more about all the benefits that skateboarding lessons can provide beginners. 

Related: 5 Ways Skateboarding Lessons Can Benefit Beginners

As far as gifts for new skateboarders are concerned, there are tons of other great options out there. Sure. But at the same time, I’d say any of these items here would be a major win for the aspiring ripper in your life! 

Shoot, I’d be stoked on any of these, and I’ve been doing this for 20+ years! Truly never gets old. Keep these items in mind as you shop around the next few weeks. Hope you and the fam have a great holiday! Enjoy those festive sessions. 

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The big cities across the world, maybe they’re the capitals of these nations, get all the shine. We all know about London, Paris, NYC, etc. But what about the smaller cities, sister towns, the quieter metropolises that don’t get visited by the big skate tours yet hold secret treasure troves of skate spots? Well, we’ve been to a handful, and we’re letting the cat out of the bag. Tired of seeing footage from the same rinsed scenes around the world? Try these oft-overlooked cities on for size. We guarantee they’ll be worth your time.

1. Taichung, Taiwan

You’ve likely seen tons of skate footage out of Taiwan. Nike SB, LRG, to name just a couple companies that have scoured the island nation for its spots that go crazy. Taipei gets all the shine, but take a bullet train two hours south and discover what the slower-paced city of Taichung has to offer. A creek runs through the whole town, and there are natural concrete kickers over the water in certain spots. Taichung is also home to the best brick quarterpipe-to-curb spot in the world.

2. Hanoi, Vietnam

Spend some time in Anthony Bourdain’s favorite city in Northern Vietnam, and you’ll see what all the hype is about. It’s got two of the best, smoothest marble plazas the world’s ever seen (Lenin Plaza and Lý Thái Tổ Plaza), and the whole city is dirt cheap. Sit outside a local, family-owned pho restaurant and eat for $1.50 USD. The best and most fun way to get around the city is via motorbike. Head to the outskirts of town for an amazing skateable, picturesque temple. Roam the formerly French-occupied streets at night with cheap Bia Saigon and party with travelers from around the world.

3. Hamburg, Germany

The city where The Beatles put in their 10,000 hours of work, and home to Richie Loffler’s Mantis Skateshop and Trap Skateboards, and the bucket-list-worthy Wilhelmsburg Banks! Europe’s third-largest port city is actually quite small and easy to get around. The locals are friendly, food is great, and there are tons of art and museums. After skating all day, be sure to check out the Reeperbahn, home to the nightclub where The Beatles honed their craft, plus the street is full of all kinds of late-night fun.

Related: 9 Things Every Skateboarder Should Keep in Their Backpack

4. Leeds, England

We’ve got to admit that we didn’t know much about Leeds, but we just watched this incredible video piece by The Ben Raemers Foundation, and it looks to be about the best skate scene in the world. They’ve got the street spots, the indoor park, the outdoor bowl and the shop is doing all kinds of great things to support the scene. Those football kits are sick!

5. Mar Del Plata, Argentina

Sure, if you ever take the flight down to South America, you might hit the massive streets and plazas of Buenos Aires, but how many take the bus ride out to the coast to sample Milton Martinez’s stomping grounds in Mar Del Plata? Well, we can tell you the beachside city has everything you need. Skateparks, street spots, amazing restaurants, sunbathing and more. Stay at La Maquinita hostel with the mini ramp right across from the beach, say hello to Ezequiel, and tell him TransWorld sent ya!

6. Bordeaux, France

Like many cities on this list, Bordeaux gets outshined by its bigger sister city, in this case, Paris. But it’s very much worth taking the time to discover what the Magenta team already knows: Bordeaux is just as beautiful as Paris but smaller, easier to navigate and with a fraction of the tourists and crowds. You’ve got to powerslide down the butter-smooth “Magenta hallway” at least once in your life. Check our articles with the Sour team and the Riddles in Mathematics crew to get a little slice of the French scene in the city of great wine.

Bordeaux spots start below at 14:25.

Related: 10 Best Cities to Skate in the World (Redux)

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Nils Svensson has been documenting the Swedish skateboarding scene and beyond for over 30 years. Now at the age of 50, he is questioning his relevance and how many years he’s got left. Dive into this hefty documentary that covers three decades of skateboarding and the art of capturing it forever. From Polar Skate Co. and FujiFilm.

„Original soundtrack by Joshua Ng, Sondre Mortensen & Andrew Gibbons. Starring Nils Svensson, Pontus Alv, Danijel Stankovic, Martin Ottosson, Tor Ström, Martin Nilsson, Sarah Meurle, Oskar Rozenberg and many more“

Related: The New Polar Skate Co. Video is LIVE, „I Don’t Even Know How To F****ing Airwalk“

Nils‘ photos are timeless. The black and white stuff on film is pure photographic beauty. Malmö has a scene like no other. What Pontus and the Polar crew have created has reverberated around the world. The DIY spots, the filming and editing style with their videos—it’s an aesthetic admired, and copied, all over. 

Related: Markus Bengtsson and Friends Skate the Malmö Art Gallery in New Video ‚OooOoO Malmö Sessions‘

They touch on all aspects of being a skateboard photographer: You’ve gotta have high standards for your work, you’ve gotta have and cultivate a good relationship with your subjects, and at the core, you’ve got to be a skateboarder yourself. Congrats to Polar and especially Nils on this one. A lifetime dedicated to bringing us into your world—and it looks beautiful. 

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