New hardgoods will be available soon, including UHMW Anti-rocker wheels, Xsjado souls, and Valo souls.

Big things are in store for 2011, include a number of new accessories, including a new and improved gel shock absorber. We are also re-inventing the team concept with our “Supported by” group of skaters. The Supporters will be announced at BCSD at the end of February.  Our Supporters are a group of skaters that we believe in, but they truly believe in what SWS is doing. They are not merely team riders, but a truly integral part of the company. These guys will play a critical role in developing new products & accessories, and of course promoting the products they actually use. Wait until you hear the lineup we’ve got going!  They support us, we support them, and we all support rollerblading! So, support the supporters!

FIRST OFF, CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND HIGHROLLAZ?

I’ve been skating for 15 years and turned pro on vert in 2002.  My rookie year in 2003 I finished the year ranked 4th in the World on the Vert pro tour.
I competed in as many vert comps as I could but now that there are so few and all in Europe or Asia so I have been skating more park and street. I’m from Maui, Hawaii and I got tired of having so few people to skate with there and the long travel time so I moved to Woodward, PA 2 years ago.
I started Highrollaz.org in 2004 so vert skaters could have a community to go to.  Vert is so spread out over the world that we needed a place for us to network and keep in touch. From there I had the idea to make edits and do a video.  We also sell wheels and have made shirts. 

Continue reading the interview at www.be-mag.com

For full interview and photos visit www.be-mag.com

HIGHROLLAZ
Is proud to present vert rollerblading as never showcased before. We’ve compiled the best available vert footage from the past and present. Includes Europe, Japan, Australia, America, England, X-Games, Woodward, and ASA events. These unique athletes from all over the world have been achieving new levels in this aspect of rollerblading. Sections from: The Yasutoko brothers, Marco De Santi, Shane Yost, Marc Englehart and Thumper Nagasako. Also featuring: Nel Martin, Ayumi Kawasaki, Sven Boekhorst, Borja Fernandez, Fabiola Da Silva, Cesar Andrade and more. With cameos from Chris Haffey and Chris Edwards.

Visit www.highrollaz.org for more information.

The Conference Transition Period –

As many of you may already know, Powerslide / The Conference will take over handling shipping directly to US market.

The decision was made as a team effort together with Integrated Distribution and without their support it would have not been possible to make this call.
Integrated Distribution have been exceedingly helpful in setting up a sales network for us in the United States and have continued to support and help us with all Conference related situations as they arise, including sponsorship, products and team issues.

For the Christmas season it was decided that shipments should now go directly to shops, as we believe this will be a more effective distribution option for many US shops.

What is the story behind this decision to change?

1. Times are not easy and there are considerable limits that have recently been endured due to the current state of international trade.
2. We believe that this change will enable us to offer the complete range of Conference products to the US market, and in a timely manner.
3. We aim to lower costs for our products to enable more affordable prices to you, the skater.
4. This change comes to the US market during the same period that we are plannning changes to our team for 2010 which we believe will create a more powerful, dedicated, and unified force representing our legacy.
5. It will be an ideal way to strengthen and expand our market position and support in the US by having direct communication with dealers and shops and at the same time it will enable us to study and understand the US market and its needs much better.
6. We would like to work closely with US shops on new concepts such as the Conference “custom tool” which will be available by Christmas and also the launch of new products such as USD Carbons, and much more.

via theconference.org