An orderly overview of Vision's 1988 Irvine extravaganza
contest/mass marketing device
THRASHER
Gonzalez arrives on the streetstyle scene. Neil Blender takes
over the cover. A lock at Lances becomes a reality. VA Beach
sets new standards in public ramp facilities.
Joachim (Yo-Yo) Shulz of W. Germany intro-
duces the Yo-Yo plant. THRASHER gets
color on the inside. MoFo's classic Whadda
Bow Dem Niners piece is literary. Christian
Hosoi talks about Madonna and Prince.
Everybody is stoked on snowboarding. Frat
rats throw down in the Thrash-a-Thon at Cal
Poly. The number of skateparks with cement
transitions is down to four. Texas pipes are
re-awakened for big sessions. Pools rule.
Hawk talks in a dinner with Mo. Cab's hair
is tied and soldered for the June cover ses-
sion. 90° transitions are negotiated regularly
by Jesse Martinez and the boyz. Mile High
madness continues with an NSA contest.
VA Beach also gets into the act. Cycloid
ramp theories are being developed. MoFo
and a host of skate talent are turned loose
on European shores. The famous Butt Shots
article is a big hit with the conservative set.
Madonna marries Sean Penn. Capitola is corrupted for the last
time. Christ tops the field at the NSA rap in Del Mar. Boston and
New York City are terrorized.
1986
Culture Clash. East meets West. Claus and Shane Rouse drop
in to Czechoslovakia. Massive terrain is on our minds. Puszone
is happening. The art of downhill is not lost. Alan Losi eyes himself
on the cover. THRASHER celebrates a five year anniversary and
Natas gets so fired up he skates on the roof of a car. Freestyle
fanatics refine it to an art form. Longboarding is given a short.
look. The pups of Dogtown-Oster, Murray, Dressen, Jackson,
Martinez et al-carry on a long-standing tradition. Our poetic
centerspread raises some eyebrows. KT clicks Tommy Guerrero
for the cover of a Hawaii spread. The Fresno ark is huge. Girl
skaters are given their due-B. Blouin, Karen Zapata, Stephanie
Person, April Hoffman, Michelle Sanderson are the sugar and
spice. Thrashin', the movie is released and buried. Skateboard-
ing is all over TV, billboards, at the movies and in the mags big-
ger than ever. Cedar Crest Country Club is the choice ramp
around and it's not on the West Coast. Wall rides are going
beyond vert. Blood, sweat and tears fly at the Sacto street events.
Flej perfects the gymnast plant. Metallica is full steam ahead
and on everybody's Walkman. Gator is arrested at the VA Beach
pro event. Keith Haring draws on a few skateboards, graphics
are selling. Mullen's rep includes ollie airwalks, one-footedollies
and 50/50 fingerflip grab melvins. Beastie Boys are pumpin'. St.
Louis is out of control while Gonzalez gets an interview. We also
talk to Rob Roskopp. Banks are robbed and Vision comes out
with the first skate shoe in a while.
1987
The '86 pro season winds down with the Chicago Blowout. Hawk
1st, Cab 2nd, Hosoi 3rd. Meanwhile, over in Europe, Pierre Andre,
Gunter Molokuys, Frank Messman and Gogo Sprieter are rip-
ping. Streetstyle goes back to Eugene, OR, and gets rained on
again. Pushead tells of large metal pipes out Boise way. Anthrax
wears high-tops and jams. Skatemaster Tate and the Sirens work
L.A. Gang Green hits hard on our first rock cover. NSA goes to
Arizona where it's Hawk, followed by Hosoi and Caballero. Lance
Benson is one ripping skate rat. The sound that roars in '87 is
Samhain, Jesus and Mary Chain, COC, DRI, Accused, Butt-
hole Surfers, Big Black, Sonic Youth, etc. Nosepicks are now
a skate maneuver. Hawk misses a McTwist at the NSA finals in
Anaheim and Jeff Phillips walks away with first place buckage.
Reese Simpson takes am honors. Christian soars to 10% over.
56
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CENTER
VISION
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