TALKING ED
YEAR OF THE SKATE
Frankle Hill takes a hands-on approach to his ollies.
Greetings from the West Coast, California, planet Earth-the center of the
skate universe where all the best pros live and the best skate spots are found.
It's the land of money, fame, fortune, unlimited pools, bitchin' ditches, the hot-
test babes, fast cars and, of course, Thrasher Mag.
Now that I have your attention...
You hear a lot of talk these days from the business people that the business
of skateboarding is softening up, that it's "leveling off," the market "is flat,"
board sales are down, shops are going out of business or have stopped sell-
ing skate gear. Clothing and shoe companies are no longer flowing the heavy
dollars to support the sport. All the same things we heard ten years ago in
January 1981 when we put together the very first floppy issue of Thrasher.
This kind of talk comes from clueless newspaper reporters, lame
shopkeepers who would rather sell bikes anyway, wannabe manufacturers who
are still trying to get it right and crybaby skaters who can't decide which
graphic to buy or have decided that their scene is lame.
Does anybody ever ask the real skaters, the guys and girls all over the
world who are out there everyday enjoying the pure act? Does anyone ask the
ones who are on a roll with no time to stop and wonder why they do or don't?
The kids who are building their own ramps, making their own scene, finding
all the best spots and taking midnight downhill runs under a full moon.
No. If they did ask, the question wouldn't even be acknowledged with an
answer. Skaters don't have time to analyze or sit around and talk shop. The
real skaters of today are savoring each moment and then moving on. If you
can't keep up, get out of the way. 1990 is the year of the skater. Shopkeepers,
manufacturers, distributors, whiners, followers-if you're not into it, get out.
Skaters-stand up, step on and drop in, wherever you are.
Kevin J. Thatcher
THRASHER
MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER: Edward H. Riggins
EDITOR: Kevin J. Thatcher
ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Maria Martinez
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Richard Noll
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Bryce Kanights
ART DIRECTOR: Ken McGuire
PHOTO EDITOR: M.Fo
COPY EDITOR: Kurt Carlson
ART ASSOCIATE: John Dettman
STAFF WRITER: Miles Orkin
LARGE ARTIST: Kevin Ancell
DARKROOM TECHS: Mark Madeo, Fred Conrad
MUSIC EDITOR: Brian Schroeder
PROOFREADER: Sarah Bowen Shea
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Lowboy, Jake Phelps, Don Redondo,
Billy Runaway, C.R. Stecyk III
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Chris Ortiz, Ken Salerno, Keith Stephenson.
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