Fourteen-year-old female flailer Cris Byrd pumps past vertin
Alabama's Get-A-Way skatepark 3-capsule.
THRASHER
SKATEBOARTMAGAZINE
IN THE STREET 200
DOWNHILL SKATEBOARD RACING
GOLD CUP FINAL
1981
Thrasher Skateboard Magazine is born with
the January 1981 issue. The only other skate
publication on the market of any note is the
infamous Action Now (formerly Skateboarder
Magazine). Eddie Elguera, Duane Peters
and Caballero are 1,2,3 in overall points at
the Upland Pipeline Gold Cup Series. Bill
Ruff tops the amateurs. Patti Hoffman and
Carabeth Burnside take the women's divi-
sions respectively. Downhill racing rages at
Capitola. John Hutson is the man to beat.
The first cover features a drawing by KT. The
first photo cover is Chris Strople, gnarling
a pool grind. Lakewood throws a prolam half-
pipe event, Caballero wins. Tex Gibson tops
the am field. Irvine's community snakerun
is the hot spot. The East Coast is ripping.
right along, L.A. is a park paradise: Marina,
Whittier, Colton, Lakewood, Big O and.
Upland: all thriving. East Coast parks Apple,
Cherry Hill and Endless Summer flourish.
NorCal boasts Winchester and Milpitas among the living. Dallas-
onians Newton, Phillips, Johnson and Wilkes make a big noise
down Texas way. Al Losi pops a footplant fakie air on the cover.
Duane and Stevie battle at Whittier. Blender blows minds as a
rookie pro. The street is redefined in the Berkeley hills by Cliff
Coleman and Co. Parking garages are the rage. Wild Riderz of
Boardz roll rampant through Varrio X. Mike Smith wins pro comp
at Colton Ranch, Pipes seem plentiful. Cab wins Kona. Ramp
Ranch rules the Southeast. Rocco and Rodney turn freestyle
upside down. GSD debuts in Thrasher. Ken McGuire wins comic
of the month. Thrasher shrinks to 8%* x 11"
1982
Lakewood's last contest is held a week after the new clamshell
pool opens and one week before it closes for good. Ruff wins
pro, Hosoi tops am field. Winchester dies. Mike Smith and
Caballero are interviewed. Cab wins $1,000 at the Pomona World
Challenge. We spell it Pamona throughout the article-oops.
Lowboy interviews former Action Now editor D. David Morin about
the death of skateboarding. Street Scott is on the cover and in
the gutter. Catalina Island is revisited. TSOL is rocking hard. A
prolam series begins in honor of late skate photographer Rusty
Harris. Henry Rollins rips on a skate. Malba wins first Harris con-
test at Upland, earning only $150. Amateur field won by Lester
Kasai, followed by Tony Hawk, Chris Miller and Mark Rogowski.
Northern Europe starts to bust out. Malba interviews over a couple
of brews. Rodney rules freestyle along with a pair of Pers from
Sweden. Hawk and Mountain go pro at Whittier, end up second
and third. Ruff dominates at Kona, the purse is now up to $500.
Hawk wins first pro contest in home pool at Del Mar while Gator
perfects the 360° lien air. Ruff wins Harris series overall. Eurocana
summer camp in Sweden is happening. Minor Threat is on
everybody's rampside blast box. Caballero and McGill invade
Scotland and Northern Europe. Japan, Italy and West Germany
report healthy scenes. Hutson wins Capitola Classic again.
Outlaw park contest in Texas, backyard ramp battle in Florida-
the underground is alive and well. Lowboy's "Skate & Destroy"
offends everyone and even launches new magazines.
1983
Lance Mountain kicks off the new year in an interview by Glen
E. Friedman. Mike Chantry's Mile High ramp is the prime choice
of vacationing skaters. Snowboarding gains steam amongst the
skate set. Mike McGill wins a cold Christmas Classic at the