Click here for more information on the Remz 08two Skates

Click here for more information on the Razors Aragon 2 Skates

What is TheM goods and who is all involved with it?
Themgoods is a brand and a distribution company for Valo, Them bearings, Them clothing and who knows what else to come?
I started Themgoods with Brandon Smith and Erik Bailey.. We just call it Themgoods one word. But The “M” stands for my home town Milpitas, Ca. People call Milpitas “The M”. Hence the origin of the name.

What made you decide to start a distribution/bearing company?
It was just the right time to take full control over Valo. I have a lot of projects in the works with Valo and it was very necessary to go the next big step with distribution. The bearing company is a great opportunity to expand Themgoods. My ultimate goal is to supply the best quality products possible into the market. Bearings have naturally come into play. I was able to source a REAL Swiss bearing. “Made in Switzerland”. I know when kids ride our bearings they are gonna feel the BIGGEST difference in speed. I want people to know when they see the Yellow Themgoods Umbrella that they are riding the highest quality product available. The Themgoods STAMP of approval basically!
Who is on the team?
With Them Bearings the team is Erik Bailey and I’m proud to announce Chris Haffey as our second team rider. They have a dual pro series bearing coming out available mid March. 1st time in our industry to offer a pro series bearing. THE BEST IN THE WORLD RIDE THEM BEARINGS!

With Valo we have myself (Jon Julio), Erik Bailey, Alex Broskow (Pro skate Launching this year!), Cosimo Tassone, Oli Short, Tory Treseder.

Representing the ams Austin Paz, Victor Arias, Sean Keane, Michael Braud, Ross Kuhn, and Gabriel Hyden

Representing Europe we have Fabrice Guyont, Ilia Koutchoukov, Leon Humphries, Jojo Jacobi, and representing Valo Japan Soichiro Kanashima and can’t forget B Smith.

How do you find time to do everything that you do? (skate professionally, daily updates on the site, creating/designing new skates and softgoods)
It is hard but I have a solid team here. Everyone contributes! It’s an exciting time and I can’t wait for 2008!

What are your plans for the company this year? Do you plan on distributing products for other companies?
We plan on expanding both Valo and Themgoods lines. I want to be able to offer a wide variety of after market parts and clothing. We are going to offer a higher quality Valo clothing line in the near future. We will also be releasing a line of limited skate models that will be released throughout 2008. I can’t forget to mention a long awaited Alex Broskow Pro Model that will be released later this year! PLUS We Are Valo 3 is in the works…We are trying to step up the level on this production. So look out for We Are Valo 3 in the NEAR FUTURE!

Alex won this year’s Bittercold with a big 540 transfer over a quarter to quarter gap. In addition to the winning trick, Alex was doing clean grinds down the box, disaster fakie 540 topsoul, and a 540 to flat over the launch box. The Flow skatepark was by far the biggest park Bittercold has been held at and had tons of options for everyone to skate.

Following Alex was Jeff Stockwell in 2nd, Chris Haffey in 3rd, Brian Shima in 4th, and David Sizemore in 5th.

Kruise Sapstein skating the 08one’s in Milwaukee at Cream City. Check it out, Thanks for the edit Luda!

It’s been snowing like a son of a gun lately so Bruno put together a park edit at Krush in Chicago. Orange Helmet!

People that have been to Bittercold understand why this contest is one of the best of the country but others wonder why should I make the trip thousands of miles to go to a contest where the temps are just too cold and snow? What is your response?

First off, the tradeshow has become the strongest aspect of the event. It is the most successful rollerblading tradeshow in the country and provides all the companies involved along with all the attendees an incredible opportunity to interact with each other. The contest on the other hand has continually been one of the most exciting in the country as well and I couldn’t be more excited about this year. So yeah, even though you may have to brave some of our wonderful Midwest weather it will be worth it.

What pros are you expecting to be competing this year?

Brian Shima will be there representing Nimh which I couldn’t be more excited about. Along with the typical cast of pro rollerbladers including Haffey, Aragon, Bailey, Stockwell, Bambrick and many others.

Will there be any changes in the format this year?

The format will remain the same this year as in years past. We will continue to do Qualifications Friday night as well to reduce the number of competitors. So, on Saturday we can cut down the time the Bitter Cold Showdown takes but still give everyone the chance to compete.

How much time do you spend preparing the Bittercold Showdown each year?

It’s hard to tell. I usually take around 30-40 hours developing the website and all the promotional materials and go through a bunch of emails everyday leading up to the event. I am spending quite a bit more time this year on everything with the park moving because I am taking care of a lot more myself. No worries though; I like to keep occupied.

What is the hardest part of putting on the Bittercold Showdown?

The hardest part is planning everything thoroughly and trying to make it the best event possible but still have rollerbladers that complain about paying for admittance and supporting the event, rollerblading and the winners. Everybody wants something for nothing and if I could, the event would be free to watch but that’s just not possible at this point. At the same time the event would be nothing without the support of all of the sponsors along with the thousands that come to the event every year.

What drew you to the Flow skate park?

Moving the event to The Flow in Columbus, OH is going to provide the whole event with a lot more space and give competitors the chance to really take full advantage of the park. Along with that, spectators will have plenty of room to move around and not be as cramped as in years past.

Over the many years, which contest stands out in your mind as the most memorable?

The most memorable event for me is still the first one in 2001. It was an incredible surprise to see how many people turned out for the event and Ben Weis shocked everyone by skating this crazy steep 2X4 handrail.

Any last comments or thoughts you’d like to share with everyone?

If you are competing be sure to register for the event online or you will be unable to compete.
http://www.bittercoldshowdown.com/2008/?page_id=16

Also be sure to pick up your tickets for the “Blood, Pride & True” premiere and after party presented by Sixwonsix. For tickets visit
http://www.shopintegrated.com and for the latest on the production of the DVD visit http://www.shopintegrated.com/swsdvd

See below for the Press Release from Themgoods. Check here for the new site!

PRESS RELEASE: For our distributors,retailers and supporters

TheMgoods Distribution by Jon Julio, Brandon Smith and Erik Bailey

This press release is to inform you that Them Goods Distribution will be taking over the International soft goods distribution for Valo and the international distribution for TheM Goods products.
(Valo will no longer be affiliated with Empire Distribution starting January of 2008.)

Based in Milpitas, California (The “M”), we are very excited and proud to introduce our new business structure/direction for 2008. We look forward to improve customer service and offer a higher quality product for your consumers.

This is a very exciting time for Valo. New focus and new direction.

To celebrate our new venture we are launching an Exclusive Limited Edition T-shirt Line for Spring 2008

Mikey just sent in a new edit from skating Milwaukee’s Cream City in winter.

The first video below is the Youtube style and the second one is the Quicktime type.