And from Tory Boettcher, resident terrorist
of Cary, Illinois, the sad news that his ramp
has been chopped into a dozen pieces. After
nine years of sessioning by the likes of Neil
Blender, John Lucero, Joe Lopes, Chris
Baucom and Mark Lake, Billy Beauregard
and the mighty Slug, the village fathers had
a meeting and decided to outlaw ramps.
Here's their logic: 1. Village board declares
skateboard ramps are structures. 2. All
structures must follow building code
regulations governing said structures. 3.
There are no building codes governing
ramps. 4. Ramps are illegal. Talk about catch
22. So now Tory of Cary is without a ramp,
BUT what goes around comes around
Tory reports that he recently chanced to
skate the Turf Skatepark in nearby Milwaukee,
where they are in the process of reopening
the long closed but never dozed perfect
bowls. Jerry, the owner of the facility, let Tory,
his bud Nels, Gomer Istanovik and Zil and
Marty Boudion carve and grind in a
flashback of the skatepark years. Tory's
summary: "That place is even better than
before. The pro's who haven't skated there
yet are going to be way stoked on it."
Lastly, Tory concludes that his Am Bam
write-up from the December issue stands to
be corrected regarding his status with former
girlfriend Monique. That's right, she dumped
him. So, the correct version of his future
plans should read: Find a new girlfriend,
manage a mushroom farm.
SKATE ABOUT
inexpensive means. So, if you're reading this
and are a freestyle skater, stop practicing that
ollie to Casper and drop your name and
address along with a note to: Freestyle
International, PO Box 6120, Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1A0 Canada. There's no charge for this
service and Michael promises he won't send
you any junk mail or mail order garbage.
Here are some questions, quips and
quotes culled from our bottomless mail bag
and various reader contribution files: In the
heavyweight media coverage department i
(i.e. TV, radio, tabloid, etc.): Matthew Soileau
of Oakdale, CA, points to the November 2
issue of US Magazine. There is a spread
featuring a pic of the kid who played Elliot,
ET's earthling BMX buddy in the movie ET
riding a half-pipe. "He's a skater now!" gasps
Matthew in his letter.
Gavin Gregory of Wheaton, IL, points out
the new Lucky Charms commersh in which
the fruity little leprechaun ("yellow moons,
pink hearts...") is now calling "totally tubular"
on the actor geeks who are street skating
around in pads and helmets. Gavin wonders
if commercials these days are promoting
product or making fun of skaters.
HACKIN
by Drake
ON BOARD
COMING EVENTS
SAVANNAH SLAMMAH #2
April 2 Savannah, Georgia
Second annual pro-only streetstyle contest
will be held in the Savannah Civic Center
Arena. For more information write to: High
Tide, 5500 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA
31405. Or call: (912) 355-8551
1988 E.S.A. Contest Series
OFF Eastern Skateboard Association
Did my last column excite you? Are you
straining at the leash to join the computer
underground? Does the thought of accessing
government computers cause you to orgasm?
Well, then it's time for the obligatory "How To Get
Started" column. Yes, I know it's boring, yes, 1
realize it really doesn't matter, but IT'S GOOD
FOR YOU. Mother knows best. Eat your spinach.
This just in. Michael Brooke of Toronto,
Canada, would like the attention of all free-
stylers, pro and am. Since it's obvious that
freestyle makes up only a small percentage
of the skate market and receives little atten-
tion, he feels there needs to be something
that promotes freestyle and gives it some
worldwide recognition. For this reason Mike
is proposing an International Freestyle Pen
Pal service where freestylers can exchange
ideas and info through an effective and
The 1988 E.S.A. series is composed of over
15 districts. Skaters in each district earn
points for placing. Highest scorers compete
in E.S.A. finals. After only 11 months the
E.S.A. already has 1,5000 members
Competition this year will be good. Unless
noted, contests are street/freestyle.
January 2-3 North N.J. District
February 27-28 North N.C. District
March 19-20 North N.J. District
March 27 N.Y.C. District
April 3 N.Y.C. District
April 3 North MD District
April 9-10 North N.C. District
April 23-24 North MD District
June 11-12 North N.J. District
June 25-26 South MD District
July 2-3 North N.J. District
OK. You need a computer. (Suprise.) Any kind
will do and I'm not going to even try to suggest
what type to get. But "the more you spend, the
more you get works as a pretty good rule. Onto
the important bit. What really transforms your
computer into a tool for world domination is a
modem. A modem is a device that you plug into
your computer and telephone line. By making
different tones it can send information over the
phone line to another computer, which decodes.
the tones. What a great explanation. Let's try an
example: You press the letter "A" on your
keyboard. The computer sends the letter A to the
modem by minute changes in electrical voltage
The modem changes that voltage into a special
audio signal that means "A" and it goes across
the telephone lines. It is received by another
modem on Jack's computer. The modem
transforms the audio signal back into electrical
vollage and the letter "A" appears on Jack's
computer screen. Look, if you don't get it, don't
worry. Call it magic if you want; it really doesn't
matter how it works as long as it does.
There are different kinds of modems. The main.
difference is speed. The speed of a modem
means how fast you can send data over the phone
and it is measured in "baud" or "bits per
second". The bigger the number, the faster it is
The standard speeds are 300, 1200, 2400, 4800
and 9600. The most common speed is 1200 baud
and it is probably the best to start with. However,
if you have an IBM or compatible you might as
well get a modem that can go 2400 baud, as they
don't cost much more. The other maint
consideration is "Hayes compatiblity. Make sure
the modem you get is 100 percent Hayes
compatible. That means, scream at the
salesman "IF THIS MODEM ISN'T 100
PERCENT HAYES COMPATIBLE, I WILL TURN
YOU INTO A RADISH!" The only exception to
this is if you have an Apple II, in which case you
should get an Apple Cat II, which isn't really
Hayes compatable, but it's so cool it doesn't
mattor
Now, once you have, been kicked out of the
computer store and you have your spankin' new
computer system set up in your room ("I need
it for homework, Mom."), you have a: something
that is a bitch to dust or b: as I said earlier, a tool
for world domination. OK then, how do we start?
For information on complete series contact
E.S.A. Headquarters, 101 Warren Ave.,
Seekonk, MA 02771 (617) 336-9563
How do we join the low, the olite of the computer.
underground? You work at it. Call up some BBS's
the Thrasher one for example. Log on using a
clever name (that means don't use "The Hacker"
or "Dr. Hacker" or "Mr. Hacker"). On it you'll see
ads for other boards Call these. Post good
messages. Learn. You'll get onto boards that have
some phreak and hack activity. If you're smart.
you'll get invited onto private hack and phreak
boards. Pretty soon you will be a member of the
computer underground, Wow. And you don't even
have to learn a secret handshake
NEXT MONTH: How those evil phreakers can
make calls for (gaspl) free. The thought makes
me shudder, Where has America's innocence
gone, alas. PS. Write to: THRASHER Magazine,
cio Drake, PO Box 884570, San Francisco, CA
94188-4570
SKATE GAMES
Premiere software developers at Electronic Arts
have come out with a new game for you
Commodore 64 owners. It's called Skate or Die
and, as far as video games go, it rips. The
graphics and music are excellent and the action,
though computer generated, will get you going.
There are five events in which up to eight players:
can compete a half-pipe where your electronic
skater can style airs, twist, plant or side for paints;
a high air contest, a downhill race for time and
style; a head to head race through an alley
against another player; and a gladiator joust in
a backyard pool. You should be able to find it at
any decent software store for something less than
30 bucks. Check it out.
Hook up your modem now and call the
THRASHER BBS. Dial (415) 822-5630 and see
what's happening on the high tech end of things
Awar
FOR DIE
A
Was Fis
H
MICK
BILL DANFORTH
LAYBACK ROLL OUT
AT THE DUST BOWL
PHOTO: LUKE OGDEN
SONDED
HERE
TONE S
32991-F CALLE AVIADOR
55B
BOY
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA, 92675
714-496-8330
2
TEAM DEMOS AVAILABLE