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ON BOARD
HACKIN' AND HEWIN'
THRASHER Electronic Bulletin Board.
In June of 1985, when THRASHER'S
electronic bulletin board first went online,
we decided that thirty calls in the first
month would be enough to qualify it as a
success. Now, six months later, operating
only between 4:30 p.m and 9:00 am. PST,
THRASHER BBS has received over two
thousand calls from almost every state in
the country, and a few from Canada. If
anyone ever doubted our skater-computer
network in the beginning you can hardly
blame them. Sure, we'd received letters,
obviously written on word processors, and
some of us knew a bit about computers
and we skated-but still it was hard
imagining many skater-types spending
time in front of a keyboard. That image
was reserved for the geekish ones with
toothpick arms, bulletproof glasses and a
Speak & Spell personality... hardly akin to
an anarchistic skater whose only mathe-
matical interest is an eternal search for the
perfect transitional curve. Obviously we
were wrong. Not only are there skaters out
there who know how to use computers,
there are skaters out there who know how
to tear on computers. This world is much
too large for puny images.
Gone is the image of the computer as
alien machine choking on numbers and
spitting out perforated datacards. May
slide rules rest in peace along with the
common typewriter. Think no more of your
bank teller's face because it's been
replaced by a video screen. The computer
is here, here to stay, at school, in the
home, at work and in the hands and arms
of the military. Computers have made their
presence known in this society. In the last
half-century humans have unleashed the
power of technology, carrying with it
ingredients that can unite our world
through creative, constructive exchange
and collection of information, or, through
manipulations and mutations of the
military, destroy us all together. We are the
generation that must face the accelerating
promises and problems of this new
technology. Computers will profoundly
affect all our lives and only by understand-
ing their capabilities and social implica-
tions can we hope to safely gain control
and benefit from them. Starting this year,
with the help of some of the bulletin board
callers, I will bring you up-to-date each
month on the latest wares and scares of
the computer world, tips on how to keep
yourself amused, how we are being
manipulated and otherwise affected by
technology, and what we can do about it.
Chauf Fer
For up to the minute information on
events, music, skate scene and other
happenings use your computer to call
(415) 822-5630 4:30 p.m. to 8:30a.m. PST.
Supports 300 and 1200 baud modems.
TRASH
STUCK IN NYC
For those of you who got lost some-
where around the third paragraph on page
51 of our New York City street exposé last
month, just re-shuffle it under the last
paragraph on the following page
and...well...you'll figure it out. Our mis-
take. If you haven't gotten there yet keep
reading. T-ED.
Following the not so secret declarations
of skate addiction by such media
trendtypes as David Byrne, Sean Ono
Lennon, Fred Astaire, Brandon Cruz
and Johnny Carson who can really be
suprized by the following story? It seems
that Steve Hawk, (brother of who else
but?), had gotten the word that Harrison
Ford craved a not for public issue Tony
Hawk T-shirt in the worst way. Being a
decent guy as well as a surf/skate
documentarian, Steve proceeded to
satisfy the motion picture star's desire.
Subsequently one night at the dinner table
Steve Hawk laid the rare Team Tony T
upon Mr. Ford. Harrison's comment was
succinct and to the point, "God, this is so
rad.".
ADMISSIONS OF GUILT DEPT.
A word to the wise, Beware. Talk has it
that numerous unauthorized phone calls
have been charged to various skate
manufacturers. The manufacturers, of
course, only pay for legitimates while the
phone police search out the identities of
illegal callers to enforce punishment and
extract payment. Keep in mind the
occasion Mr. Zoot caught T-Bone bogus
charging and laid him out with one punch.
Justice is swift on the streets. Don't do the
crime if you can't do the time. Redondo,
Huntington, Boston, Sacto, S.J. and
Greeley, Colo. have all been mentioned.
More crime... Late one night a criminal
type broke into the Tracker offices. Having
already tripped the super-sensitive silent
alarm this genius of crime failed to notice
G.S.D. sheaking up behind him. (Just
what Gary Scott Davis was doing there in
the middle of the night is anyone's guess.
We're sure he wasn't sleeping there.
Ho.Ho.Ho. See attached Police citation for
illegal camping.) Meanwhile back at crime
city... The brilliant criminal who hasn't yet
scored dime one finally sees G.S.D. and
bails out through the window. End of story,
right...no cash, no guts, no glory. Wrong,
actually the evil genius forgot to take
along his motorcycle and its registration.
The police are currently searching out
guess who. Tracker Larry is merely trying
to figure out G.S.D's excessive overtime
charges. Does he really sleep on the job?
QUESTIONS OF MONTH
Which prominent amateur ripper
1) left Mom's home because he couldn't
turn pro in order to get the money to score
an apartment, 2) got booted from Pop's
pad cause he didn't do the dishes, and
3) was last observed living well amidst the
foliage of Steve Keenan's backyard? Hint,
he doesn't wear red hair.
Was it really Steve's dad seen bumming
skate mags from rollermen in a Texas
Aeroport? After amazing several promi-
nent pros with his grasp of skate lore the
anonymous middle-aged gentleman told
Lance Mountain, "My son broke his wrist,
you see I'm the real Mr. Olson".
Which major pro skater's new company
is being backed by the same money man
whom another major pro is paying
meggabucks to in order to get out of his
old board sales contract?
Is it true that Dave "Fats" Macintyre
is spearheading a Be American Buy
American anti-skate junk advertising
campaign to involve several of the largest
manufacturers?
Which well known skate girlfriend
showed up at a recent gig with one pro.
left the party with another major mover
and came back to be last viewed passion-
ately kissing another famous former
boyfriend?
Is is true Brad Dorfman's been burning
the midnight oil personally packing and
shipping? Was it really Brad seen late one
Christmas Eve taping away on a stack of
skate boxes destined for an undisclosed
group of disadvantaged (yet soon to be
very happy) children?
Is producer Gerald Revell crafting a
feature type skate video starring Per
Welinder?
AVED P
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO SCHIFFE DEPARTMENT
NOTICE TO APPEAR
DMMC
5-17
Camping
Rohibited
"WFS Preserve. Del Mar.
Del Mar
County Mun CT
TRENDWATCH DEPT.
Can personal car mechanics be the
latest status thing among our sport's top
manufacturers?... As everyone knows
Fausto and Eric Swenson have a private
commercial skate garage and a perpetu-
ally on-call wrench man to service their
fleet of cars. Larry Balma, of course,
keeps moving Tracker's manufacturing
facility in order to find a bigger parking lot
for his mobile armada. Tracker Larry it is
rumored also employs an out-call
mechanic to massage his chrome.
Mr. Powell reportedly confers with a
Stutgart based Porsche engineer while
Mr. Peralta hangs with a veteran Detroit
bluesman who also keeps the motor of a
certain '59 Caddy in line. Rocco, not to be
outdone, has access to the mechanical
staff of the South Bay's largest used car
vendor. Louis B. Dorfman, of course,
tops all comers by paying a well known
torch to chop the tops off an assortment of
Mercedes Benz's. But then there is Santa
Cruz' motor madman Dickvak whom calls
the Mercedes Factory (presumably
collect), in order to be advised as to which
Japanese radials to procure for maximum
moloring potential.
RUMORS DEPT.
Wonder never ceases as many talk
about the voracity of Grisham's latest
business deal. Rumors now have Erik's
per board royalty ranging from eight to 150
dollars per unit.
Also much discussed as a future hot
commercial property is the Jersey Devil,
whom tipsters relate is much desired by
two other companies of the board building
variety. Groholski is also said to be the
subject of an upcoming major interview in
an unspecified magazine of ill-repute.
Tom's recent aggro contest antics and
major move mixes are all fueling the fires of
speculation.
Pierre Andre Senijerques, the French
freestyle ace is rumored to be regularly
pulling of the freestyle trick of the eighties.
Mark Gonzales is rumored to have
been observed doing Natas Wall Walks on
the set of the Eye on L.A. TV show. Lance
M. was also allegedly viewed doing some
very Natas-like maneuvers.
G/S mainman Larry G. is rumored to be
on a suprize secret mission to the land of
Australia.
Rick DeMontrand is rumored to be
hiring the artists responsible for the
legendary "Book of Spide" to create his
new model graphics.
"Spraycan Steve" Rocco is said to be
the man responsible for painting "SIMSY
THE CLOWN' on the side of the Bones
Brigade video car.
Ron Mountain, father of L.M. is
rumored to have built the latest Team
Variflex trade show display booth.
Asymetrical saw blade model being revealed by
Limo driver at the Powell Peralta video review
LOST WEEKEND OF THE DEAD DEPT.
The opening of the long anticipated
Powell-Peralta Video entitled Future
Primitive certainly was the social event of
(choose one) 1) the year, or 2) the week.
Virtually all of the sport's luminaries were
in attendance as well as an abundance of
skateboarding's most unusual types.
Oddsters observed amidst the hundreds
included Jay Adams, Bruce Weber,
Mickey Dora, Tony Freidkin, Ganzer,
Alaric Valentin, Pat Darrin, Vock
Derkes, Roger Doucette, Judith
Teltelmen, Wes Humpston, Jim Muir,
Kevin Ancell, Nathan Pratt, Bob
Biniack, Courtland Johnson, Victor
Torres, Squid, Cris Dawson, Glen
Friedman, Lee Jaffey, John Gable,
Futura 2000 and Craig Peralta. The site
was a surreal body shop on the corner of
Pico and Sepulveda boulevards. Someone
said it belonged to Keith Wilbur certified
hero and ace body man. The walls were
covered with spray art by Humpston,
Ancell, Lowboy and Neil Blender,
among others. (They came, they saw, they
painted.) Brigade members were models
of decorum with Staab being his usual
standout self. Numerous ghetto types
were attracted by the massive searchlight.
Invitation only was the rule, if you didn't
belong you didn't come. Free food and
drink were the rule. When this reporter
crawled off at 4 a.m. the opening was still
raging on under the watchful eyes of the
L.A.P.D. metro squad. J. Grant B. had
tears in his eyes during the slow motion
sequence. Mofo proclaimed (loudly) that,
ON BOARD
"Peralta was perhaps the best skater in
the history of the world." Yes, the drinks
were numerous and free. Many claimed to
be impressed. A body hung from the
ceiling while a crucified cat festooned the
wall. Hosol's white limousine blocked the
alley entrance. Everready Eddie and
DieHard Dave made girls swoon with
their video appearance. Future Primitive
featured perhaps the last video footage of
nostalgic Skate Park Del Mar. They used
subtitles for Kevin Thatcher. There were
moves never captured previously on film.
There was nightclub footage? Mr. Skip
assured us that we were being confused
on purpose. Neon art lit up the sheet
metal roof. Original music, in color, a must
see experience. The opening will definitely
be actively discussed for years.
Paramedics removed those who required
assistance. It was fun because it was real.
BUST OF THE MONTH
Prototypical surf/skate design guru Tom
Morey, inventor of Boogies, Slipchecks,
Raised skate Tailblocks, Concave Decks
and removable system surf fins, is now
working as an engineer at Boeing in
Seattle. We heard he wears a suit and tie:
but refuses to shed his tennis shoes.
SHORTS
Keith Stephenson is back from Kabuki
land and he vows the best ramp in the
world will once again be in Palmdale.
(Perhaps this is the much talked of
computer designed ramp?)
Ray Underhill, Tony Hawk and Peralta
teamed up to do a TV spot for Mountain
Dew, a carbonated soft drink of American
origins.
Ted is alleged to have once finger-surfed
on a Hang Ten keychain board in a San
Jose sandbox.
Britt Parrott has returned to/is still in
California (for the seventh time this
month.)
Duane Peters was centerpunched by a
carload of aliens and knocked out for
twenty four hours. Upon awakening he
walked out of intensive care.
Kim Reed, Miss O.P has been rumored
romantically linked with both Jerry Lund
and D. David Morin. Which anonymous
skate type sent the present to her New
York room?
A couple of notorious skate industry
execs have purchased a Dallas trailer
park and reportedly are establishing an
old skater's home".
Reverting to type. The Orange County
Register News rag quoted G.S.D. of
"THRASHER Magazine" in their
"3rd Wave" story... Couldn't they have
found more outdated research?
Jeff Davis of CBS affiliate KBLK in
Lubbock, Texas is reported to have a
full-loop video shot from a recent A-Rillo
pipe adventure.
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