PRODUCTS (213) 452-2919
Blackhart
Ask
the
Doctor
RAMP EXTINCTION
I'm writing from Longwood, Florida, the
scene here is extremely rad. There are new
ramps being put up everyday with sessions
lasting into the late hours. Well it all started
the other day when I was in school. It was a
crummy day, all the teachers were ragging
on me, so I said to myself, "Don't let this
bother you, just think SKATE." I finally got
home, grabbed my gear and headed out
the door to a new 32' wide, 10' high, all
around killer ramp. Well I'm in the front yard
and I notice the words "Longwood Leaning
Toward Ramps Ban" on the front page of
the rolled up newspaper. I couldn't believe
it. These high class, pencil neck city offi-
cials want to make half-pipes illegal. I'm
sending the article for you to scope on and
to let other skaters around the States know
that it's not so easy to throw together the
old ramp anymore. So be on the lookout
and don't let your city officials do this to
you.
Scott Starkweather.
Longwood, Florida
Sounds like a bunch of jerks run your
town. To be so lame as to outlaw ramps
when the only leg they had to stand on
was the noise factor. I mean come on.
There are so many ways to cut down
and damn near eliminate ramp noise.
I'm surprized no one brought this to the
atention of the city council. Remember,
it's up to you, the skaters of the world, to
THAT WAS EASY
In regards to the question, "What is
wrong with this photo," in Ask The Doctor,
in the March issue, the answer is easy. The
front trucks are mounted backwards. Later
J. Daseking
Toms River, NJ
Hold it, Whoa, stop the press, looks
like we have a winner here. Congrats go
out to J. Daseking from New Joisy no
less. First and only letter received per-
taining to the aforementioned photo
and question. Actually, the front truck
was airbrushed on the surfboard back-
wards. I guess this means I should give
out some kind of prize huh? OK, how
about some Thrasher stickers and
maybe I'll throw in one of the newly re-
produced and highly sought after Black-
hart t-shirts, or even a new "Ask The
Doctor" shirt. Anyone other than our
highly perceptive winner who wishes to
have one of these shirts for their own
collection, please refer to the "Thrasher
Products" page.
PAY TO SKATE
How do feel about me forming a ramp
club? Charging local skater's a $5.00
yearly membership, just for maintaining the
beauty of the structure and giving them a
key to unlock the ramp with?
Danny Cocke
Defiance, OH
Sounds feasible. If you spent bucks
on the ramp and don't want it trashed, a
little financial help from friends for
maintenance is cool. Better yet throw a
huge party and charge three bucks a
head for beverage, you'll probably be
able to build a whole new ramp from the
profits. I would rather see this than have
you charge people to skate. If they're
good enough friends to want to contrib
ute, that's fine.
Longwood leaning
toward ramps ban
Skateboarders.
told to take
ramp elsewhere
wooden and concrete skate
ramp buin by a down young
emply Lemoyne
If the group's reques for
parkland and reted, Mayer and
private property in the
Na friends will rebuild the ramp
where and keep the location
$40 membership fee and
Each ranger paid a
pays about $50
tance
ewer is the same
deboarders, have met be
Limayne's 10th Shop
Center for seven years
the ramp from the
"They put their ow
fight for your right to skate, just as any their, and otariata Nicholas, of Camp Hell, whow i
other citizen would fight for their right to
mow their lawn with a loud powered watch
mower at 8:00 in the morning on a Sun
day. Get it? Now go!
burg Expressway ofte
keeping these kids out of
NOTHING NEW
The other day I was walking down the
halls of my middle school (I'm in the 8th).
and saw a stoner with long hair and a Texas
brand "Benjamin's shirt on. It said "Skate
Tough in lame bloody letters and had what
looked like a close up of some freak slicing
his wrist with a razor blade! Worst of all
there was a picture of Joe Johnson's re-
verse ice plant, the one on page 36 of
Thrasher, vol. 4, no. 6. I asked the lame
dude if he skated, he said. "Yea, I have a
freeformer, it's rad! The dude doesn't
skate, but he wears skating shirts. My only
concern: is skating turning into a sport like
surfing, where people wear "O.P's but
don't surf, let alone have never seen the
ocean?
Brennan Burger
Austin, Texas
Ha! Wake up and smell the urethane
dude. These types are, by all means, not
new to this sport or any other. Don't get
me wrong. I don't like skate leeches
either. But poseurs will be poseurs, its a
way of life. Whenever you have some-
thing that's cool, like skating, surfing,
skiing, etc. you're gonna have people.
who want but can't; your basic wanna-
be, in other words. Actually when you
step back and look at it, I guess every-
body, at one point, has been a wanna-
be. If you didn't wanna-be a skater you
wouldn't skate, right? So when you ask,
is skating turning into something like
other sports, I hate to tell you this but
it's been that way for a long time. Any-
way, thank Dog we can tell the differ-
ence between us and them, right?
MY BONELESS IS BIGGER
There's trouble right here in River City
(Redlands, CA)! This place is dead 'cept for
skating (least we have that!). No more punk
vs metal or skates vs BMX, now we have
skates vs skates? There are bout 20 skat
ers with the attitudes and all, but there are
about 10 popular, trendy, GO types who
are makin' waves. These buttholes are
claimin 5 ft. backsides, etc. or they just
plain suck? (Bubble Ears aka Rambo, got
his skate thieved upon) They're poseurs,
who have some say in the snob group, they
have them thinkin' that they're rad skaters
and we suck. You may think just hold a
skate session to see who really sucks No
such luck, they won't show. Even if they did
they would still insist that they're the best in
"Deadlands" What should we
THRASH OR BE THRASHED?
do?
Spanky and the Gang
Redlands, CA
I think what we have here is a failure to
communicate, to coin a phrase. Bottom
line is, if these Freds don't show and
prove themselves, then you've won
your so called battle. If that's not good
enough, just mind your own business
and shine these poseurs. Next time you
happen to skate with these guys just rip
it up. Can't get the dwids out? SKATE
em out.
Blackhe
DESIGNING THE FUTURE
CONSTANTLY IMITATED
NEVER DUPLICATED
EX
Alva
85"
T
އއ
NEW 90-A and 96-A Alve Rocks