NEW YORK
My name is "Thrasher" Al. I'm writing to
let all the skaters out there know that
skaters in New York rip. We have been
ripping since the clay wheels and we will
keep ripping until.... I skate with a crew of
skaters that is called the "Radical Rats,"
we skate anything and everything that is
skatable. I'm sending some pics of our
ramp that we built in the Bronx. The ramp
is across the street from the team captain's
house. We also skate a ramp in Fort Lee,
New Jersey, the ramp is cool. There is
some pool in Brooklyn that we skate on the
weekends. It's cool because the owners
chase us out once in awhile that's a lot of
fun. Then we go sneak on the subways
and go somewhere else to skate. We skate
about two or three different places in one
day. In New York you see a lot of people
skating the streets but if you go ask them,
"Do you skate any pools?" or something.
they don't know what you're talking about
most of the time, but all those skaters are
cool because they skate for the fun of it,
and that's real cool. So, all you skaters out
there that live in Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx,
Manhattan, Long Island, Staten Island,
New Jersey, let's get together and get an
indoor spot or something and build a ramp
before the winter comes so we can skate
all winter. Your mag is real cool because it
shows all types of skating. The mag gets
better every issue. Keep up the good work.
P.S. Where is that abandoned pool in
the Bronx that you showed in the March
1981 issue. The skater's name is Jamie
Aff. If you let me know where the pool is, I
will let you know where our ramp is, if you
don't already know. Give me a call, my
number is in the Brooklyn book, under the
name I. Wilder.
RAD RATS
THRASHER AL
New York, NY
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma, home of the Dust Bowl, the
Spillway, and the Dead-Rat halfpipe, is
alive and well. In August, the Dead-Rat
Underground held its second contest,
complete with prizes from the local skate
shop. Skaters from Texas and Oklahoma
put the 100 degree temperatures to shame
as stoked spectators looked on. When the
dust had settled, Gringo, TF, and Creiton
had finished 1-2-3 in the advanced division.
After the THRASHING action, everyone
satisfied the munchies with free hot dogs
and watermelon, compliments of the local
grocers. Now who says we Okies don't
know how to put on a contest?
Word has it that the shop is planning a
citywide demo and street contest, so be
looking for more from Oklahoma.
The King
a.k.a. Dead-Rat
Durant, OK
COLORADO SKATE SUMMER '82
Although skating action in Colorado has
been fading out ever since its peak
sometime in '78 or 79, there are still good
skaters here and still a lot of energy left.
Hi-Roller is still standing and while it may
be closed, skaters still ride there and it's
free, which is great since we don't mind
hopping the fence. First generation skaters
as well as beginners and non-skate
spectators frequented the park this
summer; and there was usually a good
session whenever we made it down from
Fort Collins.
There are two halfpipes in our area, one
south of town and one in Timnath. The
halfpipe in Timnath is owned by Joe
Johnson and has been rebuilt several
times since its beginning as a portable
team demo ramp about four years ago. If
anyone around here wants to come out for
a session, you can contact Joe and me by
calling Wright Life Sporting Goods in Fort
Collins.
Joe is currently skating for Powell and
has all the latest tricks wired including
some of his own. With a halfpipe in his
back yard, he gets a lot of skating in and it
shows in his smooth style. Some of the old
Hi-Roller locals also skate frequently and
rip whenever they hit the park.
Street skating is definitely the most
popular type of skating in Colorado right
now, CU and CSU campuses have a lot of
fun places to skate and with school starting
soon, there will be a lot of unsuspecting
individuals to blow away. Skating may not
be as popular as it once was here, but we
still know where the action is.
Stake forever,
Phil Burcher
Fort Collins, CO
Since I sent you my article about
Colorado, we can no longer say we have a
skatepark; Hi-Roller has seen its last
session. Earlier this month, huge yellow
caterpillars moved in and reduced the park
to its present condition, vacant flatland.
Just what we need, more flat. They even
destroyed the coping, what a waste!
Phil B.
COLORADO
Enclosed are some pictures and an
overview of my ramp in Estes Park, Colo.
It's 8 ft. wide, 9 ft. high, with 8 ft. of flat
bottom and platforms. There are some
other ramps scattered around Ft. Collins.
Greeley, and Denver. There are skaters
around the state who session
the streets and the many banks and
ditches available. Some people are
thinking of organizing a halfpipe and/or
ditch contest later on this year. Hopefully
later we will send some more pics.
Thanks,
John Weyland
Estes Park, CO
33