1983
The year, like many others, was a year of
accomplishment, triumph, glories,
Innovations and last but not least, defeat.
In order not to bore you with a drawn out
accountance of 1983, we'll briefly whip
through the year as divided by our last
twelve issues. In order to gain the
maximum effect, you must read this
real fast!
1.1 Lance Mountain hovers an interview over a doomed Whittier Skate Park.
Meanwhile, Mile High ramp is peaking with sub zero sessions. Channel realities
on ramps are fully realized. Upland and Whittier hold Christmas Classic.
1.2 Salba slags, to the dismay of more than a few. Skate Spot contests are
happening. Ramps are being planned for the Spring thaw. Hosol bomb drops from
roof to ramp.
1.3 Billy Ruff and other stuff. Skate Rock, a major exposé on skate bands
reveals our rock roots. Skaters are ripping everywhere from Jersey to Japan, and
writing in to tell their stories. Skate City is reduced to rubble.
1.4 Shattering all previous precedents, the Great Desert Ramp Battle is held in
between flash floods in the Palmdale desert. Street sliding, dock drops and pole
plants are the norm for most these days. Streetstyle becomes a word.
1.5 Del Mar Pro/Am Spring Nationals brings skating down under. San Jose is
made an example of. Skate art from the skaters. Thrasher delivers Skate Rock
on cassette.
1.6 S.F. streetstyle refreshes everyone's memory conceming skating and fun.
Rad street sequentials reveal some of the moves. East Coast thaws out. CASL
Ams start up again at Pipeline. Florida backyards are alive."
1.7 A skate rock weekend reveals what most skaters already know. Backyard
pool action. Brazilian and Puerto Rican graffiti. CASL Ams rip at... Palmdale!
Summer World Series dates are announced. Okay, everybody back in the
skateparks.
1.8 Photograffiti comes from the four comers. Skate jamming at Joe Lopes'
sets a new precedent for backyard contest/sessions. Caballero is winning
everything in sight. Summer heat. Upland. Skate spots, new and old, are being
shredded.
1.9 Underground is where skaters are bound. Non-sanctioned contests: Devil's
Pit, MESS Series, New England; Newtron tours to Kona, St. Pete and most of
the East Coast with his merry band of Tex necks.
1.10 Radical vertical progressions. Annandale, hot ramp with a history, Billy Ruff
returns from Eurocana with a story and a year's supply of creepers. Oceanside
freestyle and Del Mar wrap summer series. Bring out yer snowboards.
1.11 On tour again. This time a carload of Pros non-stop it all the way to...
Lincoln, Nebraska and the Midwest Melee. The locals rip and are stoked.
Roskopp feels closer to home. Someone said McGill won...what contest? McGill
speaks out. Downhills last gasp at Capitola? Surely not, but Hutson is upset.
Downtown is skatetown.
1.12 Lance's ramp is considered skate of the art and he holds an open house. Hot
dogs, meat and eat. Skaters sending in wild tales with wilder pics. Thrasher
continues to investigate the skate question. Tomorrow? We'll be there, will you?...
Touring through 1983 (clockwise from opposite page, left); Dan
Wilkes straight up at the Midwest Melee, Photo: Fausto. Neil grin
ding Salbe at Lances! Photo: Glen E. Friedman. Newtron with ladies
at Lincoln. Photo: Fausto. Hosol hurting. Photo: Newtron. Summer
ramping in Sweden. Photo: Billy Ruff. Tommy Guerrero, upset at S.P.
Streetstyle. Photo: Sue Chan. Hawk twirling at St. Pete. Photo: Paul
Schmitt. "Tex' Gibson grinds through Summer Tour. Photo: Newtron.
Sticker slamming at Midwest Melee. Photo: Newtron. Lance toasts
new teammates. Photo: Friedman. Melee proofsheet back drop by
George Powell