Ask
the
Doctor
Blackhart
with Rick Blackhart
WHO RIPPED MY STICK?
I've got a HUGE problem. My brother,
my friend Rob and I went to a party with
our skates. We put them in this chick's car,
cause I know her. The problem is some
scummy assholes ripped off all three
boards (mine was just bought the night be-
fore). We just had gotten on a skate team
called "SWAK sponsored by SWAK Skate
Shop. We went back in Rob's truck and
some freaks chased us in their car. The
question is, should we hang low and wait
for someone to open their big mouths or
go back there and ask around?
Kenny, Rob, Doug
Lake Worth, FL
Well, I started off to say go back and
try to find out about the pilfered sticks,
but by now I'm sure it's useless. Getting
your board ripped off has got to rate as
one of the lowest, scummiest things any-
one could have happen. I mean that's low
to them. Anyway, I'm sure you'll learn
not to leave your stick somewhere like
in plain view inside an empty car. Try
the trunk next time, or possibly an infra-
red alarm system, or even a ten pound
chain with padlock. Prevention is the
moral of this story.
ONCE YOU'RE LAME
YOU'RE NEVER THE SAME
I recently tore the anter-cruciate ligament
in my right knee from a bad slam on the
local ramp and had to have major surgery
on it, which included cutting, drilling and
stapeling a new ligament in its place.
(Makes you kind of sick, huh!) Well anyway.
I've been in a cast 2 months since then
and when I get it off I'll still be on crutches
for 3 months after and won't be able to
skate or snowboard for a year, which has
driven me crazy since all my friends can
and I can't. Anyway, I was wondering if you
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know anybody that had to go through this
ordeal and how well they have gotten along
since: pertaining to being able to skate like
they used to. I really need to know if and
when I can skate again, will I be able to do
the stuff I used to on my board? (Wearing
a $600 knee brace, of course.)
D.T.
Ogden, UT
Well, sounds like you're doing as
much as you can for the time being. Re-
cuperate and exercise that knee, get it
back into shape thoroughly before try-
ing to push it on your skate. And always
wear that brace. I never had to have
surgery but will definitely never skate
with the reckless abandon, that harks
back to an era from once which we came
and furthermore will be, due to the injury
which was inflicted upon the interior of
my left knee. And you can quote me on
that one. Now get out there and rip it
up...Oh, sorry.
CONVINCIBILITY
I have a bitch of a problem. My mom.
The deal is I want a halfpipe and she won't
let me put it in the backyard. I told her I
would pay for it, and it would pay for itself
with contest use and other skaters that I
would charge to skate it (if that is a good
idea). So what should I do? Just keep trying
to convince her to let me build, or what?
Help!
Matt Bieger
Well I'd say you blew it already. You
think your mom's gonna dig the idea
that a shitload of skaters will be in her
backyard raising hell? I doubt it. You
might want to try and sell her on the
idea of a ramp from this angle, the one
that worked for me anyway. You're into
skating so much that you need to prac-
tice night and day, and the only way to
do that is to have a ramp. Give that one
a try. You've got to have one cool mom
to start off with and one big desire to
skate to back it up.
RAMP RIFFS
I bought a new layer of masonite about a
week ago and it's already starting to bubble
up and peel away. I put on one coat of water
seal and calk between the cracks, but noth-
ing seems to work. Oh, I also used nails
instead of screws. Do you think I should
stick to plywood or masonite? If so, what
kind? Or, how else can I keep my masonite
layer skateable?
Tony McMilleon
Bellevue, NE
With the onslaught of Winter's wet-
ness already well underway, especially
for those skatoids down in the hurricane
torn Gulf states, the question of ramp
preservation once again surfaces. Your
problem is common. I've gone over it a
million times but let's do it agian. Ma-
sonite is an ideal skating surface but
probably the worst when it comes to
durability. It soaks up moisture like a
sponge and, once it gets chipped and
worn, breaks down real fast. The sealant
solution only works if you go the whole
route before any moisture gets to it. Also
remember that both sides of the maso-
nite have to be sealed to make sure the
plywood underneath is water-tight as
well. No matter what kind of surface you
have on your ramp, bottom line is it will
wear out. Masonite wears about the
same as plywood if both are treated
properly before deterioration ensues.
Exterior latex paint and lots of it is prob-
ably the most economical, best wearing
and nicest ride for a skateable surface
sealer.
RECAPPING
I can't seem to keep my Smith re-caps
on my pads. I have tried everything. The
best thing I found to work was new ad-
vanced Shoe Goo II, but they still keep on
falling off. Can you please give me some
ideas on what to use?
David Radtke
Calaveras County, CA
Now here's one I've never come
across. Whip on down to the hardware
store and grab some stuff called PVC
Adhesive for plastic plumbing pipes. If
that doesn't work get some new pads.
Hey, maybe you can get together with
our winner of the month and come up
with another winning idea.
WINNER OF THE MONTH
I've got the answer for PAD ROT. What
you do is take a sock, cut off the ends, stick
your arm or leg through and put the pad
on over that. It soaks up the sweat and
scum and makes wearing pads more com-
fortable.
Pad Rotless
Steve Jacobson
Marietta, GA
Hey, sounds like a great idea, might
even work. Tell you what, this is such a
great idea I think you deserve to be win-
ner of the month. What do you win? Not
a damn thing. It's the thought that
counts, right? No, seriously I think it's
an excellent solution to an age-old and
socially unacceptable problem of Rec-
tor Breath. So in lieu of that fact and
just for the hell of it I'm going to send
you a first edition "Ask The Doctor" t-
shirt. Keep on skating on.
Hey now! Just when you thought you
couldn't hold on any longer the Doc pro-
vides the relief you need. Now you can
receive the much bally hooed ASK THE
DOCTOR T-shirt with the mortar and pes-
tal design on back and a THRASHER
logo up front. Support the medical arts
and wear this one when you go in for
X-rays and what not. Just send a check
or money order for $9.65 (includes post-
age), payable to: THRASHER Magazine,
P.O. Box 884570, San Francisco, CA
94188-4570. Then, stay healthy for three
or four weeks and you'll get yours.
SERFLEX
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