TALKING ED
HOW TO WRITE, EDIT, DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPH,
PASTE UP, AND PRINT A SKATEBOARD MAGAZINE
During these past several months myself and a few
dedicated souls have committed ourselves to the finer
points of skateboarding and related activities. Compiling
notes and gathering information each month to produce
a valid media representation of an activity that is once
again on the rise. Establishing contacts throughout the
world and exchanging ideas with the nucleus of different
skating centers. We have seen a new energetic spirit with
radical ideas to further expand previously established
barriers
As we tear into a blazing summer issue we thought it
would be appropriate to pass along some of the
knowledge that we have gained to our readers. To give
some i of you aspiring young artists or journotts some
pointers on publishing your own skate magazine tabloid
or newspaper.
First off you must go out and find the action. If you
can't find it create your own, then the action will come to
you. Everybody wants a piece of the action. You shouldnt
have too much trouble now that skateboarding has been
to the far comers of the world and back. There are no
skate centrals only separate pockets of energy each
having their own history, legends and heroes. These crazies
on the skateboards, who of one time infiltrated and secured
empty swimming pools are now filtering out into the
streets to wreck havoc on an unsuspecting public. Toko
pen in hand and draw upon this untapped energy and
record the oction from the source. Write with abandon as
you describe tales of skate adventures into the unknown
Add observations and stretch the truth as far as possible
After all isn't skating itself an expansion of reality?
Edit your copy down to the bare essentials, leaving
nothing out but leaving everything up to interpretation. Let
them read between the lines Make up new words to
replace old wom out forms sko "bitchin" "gnarly and and
"oh wow
Design your publication to reflect the intensity and
craziness that you see around you. Use illustrations as
much as possible. If you can't draw, steal artwork from
other magazines and books. Use the ransom note method
of cutting and pasting to create one-of-a-kind designs
Artists aids such as screen tints and border tapes are a
must for the c
or the designer who wants to create that tastefully
trashy new wave look
Photos should feature the most bizare subject matter
possible while still keeping within the category of radical
skate activities. Use your imagination, and if you can't get
the kind of photos you want, what the heck, pose a few
shots Posing is a good way to get the shots you want while
thinking up new and bizotic maneuvers to try out later on
If you don't have a camera, simply go down to the nearest
photo booth and take some shots. The studio space is
rather limited but four pics for a quarter is definitely a
bargain
The size of your publication is up to you. A small pocket
size mag can be carried around by your readers and
whipped out at a moment's notice A larger format is nice
too because you can use bigger photos and bigger type
The larger edition is also helpful for the distributors and
retailers who insist on using unsold issues for packing
material
When you go to have your mag printed you can save
money by using a small insta-print type operation Better
yet, take it down to the library or supermarket and use the
Xerox machine Printing on col
color paper adds a nice
touch and definitely staple t
the pages together (if you
have more than one page) to keep it intact.
These are just a few suggestions from the crew here
at Thrasher to start you on your way. We've already received
several nice publications from stoked skaters who have
taken the situation into their own hands. A small magazine
or newsletter is a great way to keep your team or gang
members informed of the goings on in your area. So get
out there and start gathering information and don't forget
to send a few copies out this way
Stay jamming
USMA
MAIL DROP
THRASHER
Your mag is the knarliest. I just
picked up one at the local surf
shop, and it's radical. I told my
friend, Dave Pay, about it and he
is subscribing
e Oasis closed down
Ever since
here, I've gotten into street skating
Street skating's hot. The cement is
unlimited. I think it's most cool how
your mag covers street and vert
Keep up the good work
Steve Brooke
El Cajon, California
THRASHER
Your magazine is great. You can
tell that ya' are full on behind our
sport. I live in Longview, Texas, and
for our size city we have a large
skateboard population. We have
over 25 serious skaters. We are ful
on behind it and we are in progress
of opening a skateboard shop. Its
called "Peterman Enterprises" and
the people managing it are
dedicated to the sport. We are in
progress of forming a team to
travel to contests and to skateparks
We have people here who shred
Give us a week in a top LA park
and we will be able to compete
with the top amateurs. Keep up
the good work and let's see
coverage of East Coast parks like
Apple, Cherry Hill, SurfnTurf and
Endless Summer. They gotta get
some coverage by this hot mag
You should help keep them in
business because of all the people
who read your magazine.
Brad Hemon
Longview, Texas
THRASHER
My congratulations on another
fine issue. The Whittier Pro/Am
contest was well done. Plus keep
on writing about Zekes and Vatos
Banditos-I dig that article. It
makes a lot of sense and decribes
the world in a now way. I think you
should have a Pro interview a Pro
How about a section on
maneuvers or a trick of the month?
I have heard some people say
skateboarding is dead-BS-it
is more alive now than when it
started. Oh ya, how about a
THRASHER calendar? Another idea
-how about telling your readers
who the hot up and coming riders
are? Let's see some hot lady
skaters. This magazine is pure
skateboarding to the fullest. And it
is always improving
An Avid Skater
Anaheim, California
THRASHER
I think your mag blazes because
you just cover the radical action
of skateboarding. Here in Las
Vegas everyone that is into
skateboarding reads it and likes
the articles you print. We have a
lot of hot s skaters here but not
many places to skate. We only
have one "real" pool that we call
Shotgun. Our local park is so "bunk
that it is ready to close down from
lack of skater support."
-Joe Calzon
Las Vegas, Nevada
vana
Vand
VanALEX
THRASHER
You guys really got a bitchin
mag-it's about time an all
skateboard mag has been made
again I also do vertical roller-
skating when I'm not into
skateboarding my half pipe. It's a
nice change to see skating instead
of half the space taken up by
BMX, motorcycles and other lame
conventional sports which have
their own special mags. How about
an article on D. Andrecht, D. Peters
-Paul Howard
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Dear THRASHER,
I think your mag is totally hot.
Everything you do is so professional
But come on, that sequence you
do called "Wild Riders of Boardz
just totally sucks. How lame can
you get Zekes Vario X Blade?
And who the hell cares about
Naomi? If it is a joke, it's a bad
onel
Thank
-Bob Pribble
Indianapolis, Indiana
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