RASH
POWER POLITICS
Not so immediately following the wanton
destruction of such valued spots as Im-
perials' Lemon Grove Ditch, The Cow Pool
and Aggroland, the NSA coincidentally stag-
ed a big meeting. Ostensibly scheduled for
discussion of the upcoming Anaheim finals
as well as tentative proposals for next year's
NSA slate, the meeting instead featured a
demo of ritual bloodletting. With such
notables as Frank Hawk, Sonia C, the Hoff-
mans, Schmitt, Ridge, Fausto, Balma,
Dorfman, Peralta, Britt P., etc. in atten-
dance, we suppose that anything could
have happened (or nothing at all as has
been the occasional NSA tendency).
amateur schedule administered by local
governing bodies? Did slick ed Kevin Kin-
near make all those notes and tape record-
ings
for a reason, or was he merely attempt-
ing to keep all the facts straight? Is Sonia
Catalano, as rumored, actually considering
leaving the NSA in order to devote more time
to the burgeoning Fantasy Skates empire?
Can any of this be true or will the NSA
resume business as usual?
Without holding our breath we are amaz-
ed that the manus could get together and
agree to do anything. Things were so
strange at this meeting that the owners of
the Tracker and Independent Truck com-
panies actually arrived in the same car. (It
ston, et. al., are legions of the skate-
addicted now considering the graphic arts
as an avocation? (Never a career.) Rumor
has it that Steve Rocco is much in demand
as an art director following his impressive
Venture Future Wear campaign, Even such
primordial skate legends as the "Hammer"
(John Van Hammersveld) is rumored close
to controlling the 50 thou plus per year Got-
cha account. And of course there's our old
art award-winning boy David Carson, who
effectively covers any skate involvement
with his standard former pro surfer"
disclaimer. Things are reportedly so out of
hand that Steve Olson is now employed in
the design, promotion and marketing arm
An unidentified prankster stumped paramedics with a blood bag routine and a good act at the Bare Cover event in AZ
However, skatedogs be forewarned! Can it
be true that virtually all of the sponsoring
manufacturers were in agreement regarding
wholesale changes in the NSA program for
the upcoming year? Are major changes on
the NSA board of directors inevitable? Will
Frank "We're more flexible now" Hawk
be figurehead of a streamlined post-modern
skate organization? Will Brad "Don't eat
potatoes when I'm talking" Dorfman
spend 100 thousand dollars if necessary to
assure the quality of the Anaheim finals?
Will future NSA events be Pro only with the
was a two-seated sports model-if it had
been any bigger we're sure the Moto men,
Grippers, Wingers, Japairmen, Ventureboys
and Chicago-types would have been there
also. Maybe next time they can rent a bus.)
POISE, PRIDE, PASSION AND PROFITS
Is there life after commerce? Following
the leads of such notables as Lucero,
Keenan, Swank, Metiver, Spidey, G.S.D.,
Gonz, Blender, Ruff, Mountain, Caballero,
Brittain, Johnson, Schmitt, Mofo, That-
of a prominent clothing concern. Word has
it that early Dogtown graphic types such as
Wes Humpston and Kevin Ancell have
taken to sketching skate art onto cocktail
napkins in plush watering holes and selling
them to the highest bidder at obscene
profits.
And if you don't think it strange enough
yet, consider Glen Friedman as a video
director, or long time La Jolla downhiller.
Bolton Colburn as a curator at a prestigious
art museum, or Jeff Davis as head of pro-
cher, Carson, Pushead, Ancell, Hump-gramming for a Cox Cable network. (In all
fairness, we suppose that turnabout is fair
play. Remember all the vapid art types who
tried to pretend they were skate types?)
RUMORS OF THE MONTH
Rumored to have dressed up in disguise
as MO-Donna just after scoring 200 bucks
worth of genuine swastikas in Honolulu just
after borrowing Clyde Aikaus' surfboard-
Mofo.
Rumored to be featured in an upcoming
issue of Sports Illustrated - Tony Hawk.
Rumored to be in attendance at the latest
Skate Rock concert - X.
Rumored to have sidestepped a gnarly
beef at the Pink Cadillac Club while in the
company of a very Drunk Injun-Pat Darrin.
Rumored to be preparing an entry to blow
off Eric Swenson's fabled '57 Chevy at the
vintage drag races - Larry Balma.
Rumored to be going faster than anyone
else in the vintage category, "no matter
what the cost" - Louis B. Dorfman.
Rumored to be so underground that even
news of his upcoming THRASHER interview
can't raise him- Larry Bertelman.
Rumored to be preparing an upcoming
feature article on skateboard photography
-American Photography.
Rumored to be subjects in aforemention-
ed article Mofo, Bolster, Brittain,
Cassimus, Stecyk, Roloff, Stoner, Terre-
bone, Friedman and G. Dog, Stu and Goo.
Rumored to be suing Canadian
Skateboard Association for alleged non-
payment of offered prize money over alleg-
ed infractions leading to alleged skate riot
- Steve Caballero.
Rumored to have been observed chant-
ing for Hank Williams Sr.'s return in Junior's
tour bus Mo, Muir and Ware.
Rumored to be in Tokyo at the same time
as Tony Freidkin's art opening (for radically)
different reasons) - Pushead.
MORE SLAMS
Combine a big party, a posh motel room,
the Alva team, lots of bucks, a lampshade
and Per Welinder's head and what do you
get? Could the answer be irate motel
managers? Will Welinder ever tell? The
answer is never.
SCANDAL OF MONTH
Apparently everybody's favorite wide-
body bail bondsman, Fat Carlos, is embroil
ed in another controversy. Rumor has it that
Fat C. has sold out to Harley-riding roller
skate magnate Lee Cole. The Fogtown
name is now rumored to be in the hands of
Skates on Haight. As to the fate of the
original Fogtown shop; it's now and forever
to be known as Concrete Jungle.
In what was perhaps an unrelated inci-
dent, Lee Cole's motorscooter was alleged
ly spit on in the middle of his show room by
a man who identified himself as Dudley
Perkins. Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson were
unavailable for comment.
SCANDAL TWO
Authorities are searching for the
whereabouts of a certain skate type who
unsponsored, unscheduled and unauthoriz
ed dropped in to the Arizona Bare Cover
contest and slammed. Fortunately, his hid-
den blood bags exploded on cue, sending
massive quantities of movie blood
everywhere. Unfortunately, local para-
medics were on alert and fully bummed.
Fortunately, Frank Hawk had not only at
sense of humor but sufficient sponges to
clean up the mess.
SHORTS
The Bones Boys are reportedly up in
Canada video documenting, following some
semi-secret sessions in the Sandwich Isles.
Disturbing news from an ancient skate site
reported the following graffito (presumably
inscribed in the lava)- "Brad Dorfman '56"
All we can add is this-which came first, the
eggs or the chickens? Over easy. By the
way, did the Brigade try surfing in those 10
to 12-foot North Shore slammers? A Wakiki
board rental agent claims the lads did in-
deed go aqua-planing somewhere near
Queensurf. Caballero was observed
feeding the fish deep in Huanama Bay, as
was Mrs. Mountain. Hawk skimmed while
Guerrero scammed. McGill, already in-
jured, sustained a megahit at Wallos and
skated away, demonstrating real guts. Yes,
life is tough at the top. But, when and what
did they film?
Q: Can Eddie Reategui, Christian Hosol Will success spoil the mad? Since
and Jesse Martinez survive running. G.S.D.'s cash purchase of a new Toyota
truck, Mr. Davis has taken to sleeping in the
through the rented room, leaping off the
balcony down five floors and over twenty-tailored comfort of his own new front seat.
two feet of concrete into the pool? A: They Now if that's not uptown enough, how about
all lived.
And from our mysterious coincidence file:
How about a certain recent contest
brochure which featured a photo of Chris
Miller which coincidentally also appeared
on the contest t-shirt. Coincidentally, a
famous photo man claims he was never
paid. Coincidentally, his photo lawyer says
the pending lawsuit is no coincidence.
G.S.D.'s backing it up into another car right
off the show room floor? Not to be outdone,
Tracker Larry immediately purchased a
house overlooking the ocean at Stonesteps.
Out in glossy surf rag world it seems the
hot new sport is demographics. While the
two majors each try to out-numbers-hustle
the other, the third alternative publication is
rumored to be in danger of serious legal ac-
ON BOARD
tion. Tsk, tsk, tsk. The only source of interest
to sane men here is that an advertising
salesman from the Big Kahuna of surf mags
relates that the "demographics for body
boarders and skateboarders are virtually in-
terchangeable." And to think us landlock-
ed greaseballs had it all wrong. K.T. once
mused that surfing required a beach.
COWABUNGA. Just think of those big
aquatic thrills awaiting us out in those par-
ched wheat fields of Kansas. This could be
the biggest crossover since World Surfing
Champ Peter Townend used to do laybacks
out in the driveway next to Alva's Hawaiian
hideaway.
MORE BEEFS
Lester Kasal is healed and raging.
Salba is said to be shredding in a Baldy
area giant pipe.
Blender has moved following his latest
four week U.S. tour.
Chris Miller has joined the Police
Academy Four cinecrew. Angie Reno is
there also..
Doctor Rick Blackhart is resisting all ef-
forts at forced typing education.
Gotham City's resident skate soundtrack
whiz, Robert Aarons, is the subject of an
upcoming Interview profile.
Primo and Diane Desiderio are often
seen performing at Sea World in San Diego-
in between television engagements.
Ex Z-Boy Alan Sarlo tied the knot recently
with a plethora of Z-Types in attendance as
well as such skate/surf crossover types as
Willy Morris, Shaun Tompson and Mr.
Skip Engblom. (Is there ever a wedding
Engblom misses?)
The fabulous Skipperboy. Jeff Ho,
Nathan Pratt, Peralta, Ken Jones, Jimmy
Sweeters, Lowboy and others have all
been observed allegedly jamming the high
security halls of the local S.M. Place shop-
ping mall way after hours. The all-night ses-
sions were reportedly passed off as some
sort of art installation.
QUESTION OF MONTH
Is Mike Crescini seriously considering a
career as a brain surgeon? Or are certain
NSA eastern division competitors merely
spreading rumors in a plaintive attempt to
undermine Mike's intense psyche?
Are contributions to political office
holders' compaign funds the most effective
method of blocking anti-skate legislation?
Which prominent major manu makes it a
habit of skinning raccoons these days? (He
reportedly always has something furry on
ice in the office fridge.)
QUOTE OF MONTH
"The owners were kooks, so Dave was an
asshole."
Dave Swift
97