In my role as skate blogger, I am going to try, for the most part, not to just recycle press releases that get sent my way. But this is going to be an exception: I'm super stoked on how the DC King of New York and King of LA contests went down, and so news in my inbox this morning about the DC King of Barcelona showdown shaping up over the first two weeks of September is welcome news indeed. Has there ever been a better idea for a skateboard contest? Pick iconic spots in cities that have transformed -- and been transformed by -- skateboarding, then invite the best amateur rippers who have been out destroying them to do it up right.

Skaters in Barcelona will throw down on the marble tables, ledges, and benches at Sants Estacio, move on to the crazy curvy benches and perfect rails at El Maresme Forum, and then hit a third secret spot. I'd hazard a guess, but Barcelona has turned out to be so huge for skateboarding in the last few years that it would be hard to say. The big 4-stair set and other crazy stuff at the contemporary art museum, maybe? Those wierd waves at Los Pordus where Geoff Rowley went nuts? The boobilicious humps at Port Olimpic? All the strange metal manual pad stuff at Parallel? The banks, pyramids, and benches at Fondo?

I'm in Portland right now and, so, can't really complain. But... anybody want to send me to Barcelona? I'm totally down.