Ask
the
Doctor
TUNE IN
With
Rick Blackhart
I have been told I can't listen to a certain
kind of music. Of course I argued about it.
They said I couldn't listen to Jane's Addic
tion, White Zombie and the Sex Pistols,
which are my favorite groups. I don't know
what to do.
Ryan Reed
Belleville, KY
Have you been told which toilet paper
to use also? Give me a break. Music is
the heart and soul of a skater's life. I
listen to the music I like because it makes
me feel good. Whether you listen to the
Sex Pistols or Frank Sinatra, if you dig
it, then do it.
PROQUEST
Skating has always been very important
to me. It's not just "skate," it is a way to live.
Now I'm asking you, Doc, is it hard to
become a pro?
Some Kid In Finland
Not if you're good enough.
SHREDICAL RESEARCH
I have a question for you: What kind of
doctor are you actually? If you are a licensed
doctor, have you received your M.A. or are
you still working on your B.A.?
Buzzy Zirulnik
Isla Vista, CA
Yeah, I've thrown a few BA's in my time.
Of course I have a license.
BEARING STRAIGHT
I got my new wheels and the bearings
were hell of hard to get in. I tried pushing
them in with almost everything, then I used
my skate key. I pushed really hard and I
smashed in the side of the bearing. Doc,
what can I do to make it easier to put them
in without destroying them?
Dylan LaPlaca
Concord, CA
Most boneheads know the proper way
to insert bearings. Apparently you
missed the boat. Listen up. Using the
truck itself, preferably on the board, put
one bearing on the axle, then your spacer
(optional), then the other bearing. Now,
push the wheel onto the first bearing, flip
it over then push on the second bearing.
End of story.
DEVIL MAY CARE
Doc, my parents think skating is satanic.
What should I do?
Jason Hallama
Chantilly, VA
Behold my son. Go forth and ye shall
be free. Dismay their beliefs. Skate like
the devil, shred like the dickens and ride
like a bat out-of-hell.
ROOT CHAMP
Why do all you wimps cry and ask Rick
Blackhart these stupid questions? Do you
really know who this guy is? The Doc was
one of the hottest and most innovative
skaters on the contest circuit in the late
seventies. I think you younger skaters
should show him more respect when you
write in. I also agree with the Doctor's
answer to Brandon
Riza (April '90). I'm
26, I've been skating
for 12 years, in the Air
Force for 6 and I still
skate at least a couple
times a week. When
I tell people I skate
they look at me like
I'm strange, imma-
ture, whatever, but
who cares? Skating a
ditch, bank or curb
beats jogging anyday.
I think you're doing a
good job to put up
with all the whining.
Richard West
Frankfurt, Germany
Get down bro.
Thanks for the sup-
port. I'm sorry skaters like you have to
put up with some of the boring skate
wimps like I do. Hopefully if I razz them
enough they'll get wise and become one
of the few, proud, lean, mean skating
machines that we have become through
a lot of time and experience.
HATE OF CLUBS
My parents told me that I need to join
some clubs at school or something related
to school. I'm not interested in them.
It's not like I'm a social outcast or
anything-I have plenty of friends. I just en-
joy skating and goofing around with my
friends. You see, my parents don't identify
with skating at all so they don't like what I
do with my spare time, which is skate. What
should I do?
Screwed up
Anytown, Any Country
They want a club? Give 'em one upside
the head. Then tell 'em you're the head
of the local skate club.
OBNOX LUNCH
I'm a "sev" and I skate. I wasn't in school
today because there were conferences. Me
and some of my friends went down to the
grade school and harassed the little jerks
when they were outside after lunch. I was
in the middle of smarting off to the lunch-
ladies when my mom drove by. She must
have noticed me and my friends giving her
the "6 bird salute" because she made a
quick stop, forced me into the car and
dragged me home. For a punishment she
took away my skate for the first month I'm
out of school. What can I do for revenge?
A Pissed Skater
Duluth, MN
Yeah, that'll happen. He who hassles
will be hassled. It's called karma, dude,
and what you got is bad karma. Don't
spread it around. Tell your mom you
won't hassle anymore preschoolers and
therefore will she please return your
skate. Revenge is just a continuation of
bad karma. If I were you, I'd lay off Mom,
at least long enough to get your skate
back, and don't cause any more trouble.
One of these days you'll flip somebody
off in a car and they'll pull out a gun and
you'll be dead. Then you really won't be
able to skate.
TUFF SKTS.
AROUND THE WORLD
22
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TUFF SKATES
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