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Courtesy of Western EditionThe Mati Klarwein series for Western Edition

If anyone were ever to use Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" artwork on a series of skateboards it could only be Western Edition Skateboards. And that's exactly what happen when they approached Balthazar Klarwein, son of the late Mati Klarwein, legendary painter and surrealist who hobnobbed with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and Miles Davis in the 60's and 70's. Balthazar is a skate videographer on the streets of Barcelona Spain, whom just happened to run into Julio Arnau Cruz, manager of the FTC Skateshop in Barcelona, when they started talking about collaborating. The series of boards adorned with Mati Klarwein's art has made a splash in the art world and have become an instant collectors item. We caught up with Balthazar Klarwein to talk about his dad, growing up in a small town on the island of Mallorca and how Paulo Diaz and Quim Cardona showed up on his dads' doorstep.

ESPN.com: How involved are you in skateboarding?
Klarwein: I haven't skated properly for maybe four years, but me and my younger brother Salvador have been skating since I was 13. Deia, the small village we grew up in on the island of Mallorca (Spain), has only 500 inhabitants. It seems like skateboarding has always been a thing for kids in Deiá.

One year for our birthday, our dad got us a proper skateboard and also gave me a hi-8 video camera, so I started filming my friends and stuff. Then we moved to Barcelona with my mom and it turned into a few years making and editing my own videos over there. I did three skate videos called Analisis Skate Video Barcelona. We had parts with Julian Furones, Daniel Lebron and Raul Retamal. Sometimes I filmed... What's his name? "Butano"?

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Courtesy of Herion SkateboardsFos welcolmes Daniel Shimizu to Heroin Skateboards.

I remember going on a Foundation trip with Daniel Shimizu 11 years ago and being blown away by how smooth and consistent he wasI was instantly a fan. Since then Daniel has remained just as smooth but his coverage became less consistent, to the point of being non-existent. He claims Portland was to blame. In November he dropped a really good Nike SB Chronicles part, recently moved back to LA and today has announced that he's officially on Heroin, (Skateboards, that is.). We caught up with Daniel to hear how he turned his life around.

ESPN. com: How did this Heroin deal come about?
Daniel: Justin Roy works down at Baker Distribution and he threw my name out there when he knew Fos was bringing his company out to The States and Fos thought it was a good idea. I didn't have a board sponsor at the time and it just worked out.

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Courtesy of Street LeagueThe 24 skateboarders of the Street League Skateboarding 2012 series.

On May 18, 2012, Street League -- the glitzy televised professional skateboarding competition series conceived and curated by professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, and reality television personality Rob Dyrdek -- will begin its third season at the Sprint Center Arena in Kansas City, Mo.

Though Street League features Jumbotrons, an intricate scoring system (ISX), and a prodigious prize purse, Dyrdek has long touted the League's essential simplicity. In sum: he views the League as a forum in which 24 of the world's best street skaters can compete on a credibly designed street course in a style that mimics the way skaters actually skate the streets. (Ah... So that is why it is called "Street League." I get it now.)

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Lance DawesSteve Caballero, frontside invert on his way to first place in the Masters.

The 2012 Pro-Tec Pool Party, presented by Vans, has come to an end and the results are in: Pedro Barros wins the pro division while Steve Caballero takes home the money in the Masters division.

2012 Pro-Tec Pool Party

Highlights from the 2012 Pro-Tec Pool Party. Gallery

In its eighth year at the Vans Skatepark in Orange, Calif., the Pro-Tec Pool Party has become the greatest gathering of skateboard legends and modern rippers in one locale. With Jay Adams, Dave Hackett, Tony Alva and Glen E. Friedman in attendance, and Eddie "El Gato" Elguera flying through the bowl, you know you're in the presence of the greats.

The Masters division is usually the shining star of the event, but this year Pedro Barros, Rune Glifberg, Bucky Lasek and slew of young upstarts like Nolan Munroe, Tom Schaar, Steve Pineiro and Mike Owen took it to another level. Everyone was blasting airs higher than the next -- the energy was contagious and Barros was on fire.

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It is always a mystery to me as to why it takes some people so long to get properly hooked up in skateboarding. Ryan Lay is a prime example. After putting in time with Rasa Libre during their second coming, as well as filming and touring with Ipath, Lay established himself as an incredible skater. But after a year of purgatory, Enjoi has announced him as one of the new ams. Pool parties, a move to New York and having to be down with the crew to be in are just a few things we talk about in this Face Time.

Ben KarpinskiBoo cracks a big ollie off this bump-to-bar in Lakewood, Calif.

Tehachapi California's reigning champ, Boo Johnson sits down with ESPN to spread some love and talk about skateboarding. Boo is one of the stars of Element Skateboards' "Future Nature" video, where he's made frontside 360 pop shovits all the rage. Boo also discusses his plans for the year, why his little brother quit skating and who he thinks has the best part in "Future Nature." Boo Johnson has smiles for miles and is a name you will never forget.

ESPN: What's up Boo? Where are you at right now?
Boo Johnson: Yo what's up Brotha? I'm on this Three Amigos Supra Spring Tour with a few dudes like Spencer Hamilton, Neen Williams, and Keelan Dad. Our first stop was in Dallas.

Where you headed next?
I think we're heading out to Austin, Texas next.

Austin rips!
Yeah, that's what I hear.

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MRZOmar Hassan in mid feeble at speed.

A quarter century is a long time to be rolling upright on a skateboard. But to have the same shoe sponsor for that long? There're only a select few who can claim that -- Omar Hassan is one of them. This year Omar is celebrating 25 years with the waffle print. As far as Vans riders who have consistently remained at the forefront of skateboarding, only Steve Caballero has a brand legacy greater than Omar.

"Omar Hassan has been on Vans longer than anyone else named Omar. Hell, almost longer than anyone not named Omar, too," says Justin Regan, Vans skate marketing manager. "He's been rocking the side stripe for 25 years now and in those two and half decades he's managed to see every inch of the globe and shred every type of terrain put in front of him. Omar is the blueprint, prototype, all-terrain skater that we are starting to see more of emerging these days. He's not a bowl skater nor a vert skater nor a street skater; he's simply a skateboarder and one of the best ever."

A couple years after Omar joined Vans, Blockhead Skateboards turned him pro. After a short tenure at Blockhead he rode for Acme, then joined Black Label Skateboards in 1996, where he's been ever since. Along the way, Omar has endured skateboarding's ups and downs and forged a reputation for being tough and consistent. If there were ever any doubters, they were silenced by Omar's marathon runs each year at the Pro-Tec Pool Party, where his lines mix 540s, head high Madonnas, 5-0 grinds to fakie through the corners and heelflip frontside airs in every pocket of the pool.

The Pro-Tec Pool Party runs this Saturday, May 12, at the Vans Skatepark in Orange, Calif. ESPN.com caught up with Omar to talk about the comp, his staying power at Vans, and growing up in Southern California.

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To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Etnies and Ryan Sheckler's Sheckler Foundation held the third annual Skate for a Cause skate jam and best trick contest at the Etnies Skatepark in Irvine, Calif., Saturday, to benefit the A.skate Foundation.

Courtesy EtniesRyan Sheckler, Crys Worley and Gretchen Sheckler.

It was an all-star event with tons of the biggest names in skateboarding shredding the park, cool give-aways by some of the top skate companies and fun rides and contests for all the kids to wig out on.

At the end of the day, The Sheckler Foundation raised $50,000 for the A.skate Foundation which helps kids autistic kids learn to skateboard. An all around great day for a great cause.

Matt PriceMarty Murawski, backside 180.

Skate portfolio -- Matt Price

Arizona skate photographer Matt Price shows us around Phoenix. Gallery

Over the years Phoenix has cemented itself as a pretty crucial scene in the world of skateboarding. This is due mainly to 340 days a year of sunshine and over 50 skateparks in the greater Phoenix area. The kids have no choice but to get insanely good at shredding or start learning the ways of meth. This gallery is a nice mix of mid-western transplants, long term visitors and native sons of the valley of the sun. Enjoy the photos because these boys definitely suffered through some serious sunburn and dehydration to make them happen.

It came as no surprise when it was announced, today, that Bastien Salabanzi grabbed the final roster slot in 2012's Street League. Just two weeks ago, the voting for the European EU Selection spot began through the DC Embassy video contest. Fifteen European pros were given 12-hours to film their best part for kids to vote on and this reporter assured both you, the reader, and Rob Dyrdek himself, (owner/creator of Street League), that Salabanzi winning was a foregone conclusion. And as is always the case, I was correct. His tricks were simply harder and more impressive than anyone else and realistically, he was the only European that could stand a chance against the high caliber pros such as Nyjah Houston, Sean Malto and Chris Cole.