Previous Page: 1990-In celebration of a delicious
decade of destruction, the Thrasher Ten Year Anniversary
skate cake. 1986- Mark Anthony gets the upper hand on
a VA Beach copper before being subdued and shackled,
Mt. Trashmore.
Clockwise from Top: 1990-Tony Alva, a forerunner of
aggressive style, has transcended several generations.
Ol' Mad Dog bangs one out of an Arizona shallow end.
1987-Jim Thiebaud, smooth defiance of gnarly
transition in SF 1981-Ivan and Christian Hosoi, paused
at Colton Skatepark, during the wonder years.
1990-Current champion of ams Lance Conklin dances
the Florida shuffle at the post-modernistic
Powell/Peralta skate zone.
Sharing is a simple sport and it
requires freedom to exist. Shating
will continue forever. It has its own
language and its own values. In
essence, it's a life form
D. David Morin
Action New, October 19811
"Where's your elbow pads?"
Skateparks drop like flies at the
turn of the decade. A few remain,
many not for long Apple, Endless
Summer, Kona, Ocean Bowl, Cherry
Hill, Colton, Reseda, Whittier,
Marina, Del Mar, Winchester, Up-
land, Milpitas, Tijuana and others
too shoddy to mention.
Soon, they're all on the endan
gered species list and irony reigns
Lakewood goes down right after
constructing a stunning clamshell
bowl, Big O is buried after a water
slide accident then opens again as a
water park. Abandoned parks usu
ally see their best sessions through a
hole in the fence. Ramp towns
abound: Skatepark of Houston,
Phillips, Tower, McGill's, 10 1/2 in
Guadalajara. The Boys Clubs and
YMCAs slice into the pie. Closed
but never dozed, the Turf reopens
New cement is poured at Stone
Edge, Benecia, Thrashers of Ocala,
Eat Concrete, City Skates, Cheap
Skates, Magic and Crown...
I still manage to get universal
credit as the guy who "killed the
sport of skateboarding. But in a
way, I probably am the guy who
"saved the sport," Because nothing
can come back to life if isn't dead. It's
truc, look at Donny Osmond's
career. Anyway, I killed skating in
1981. My role as scapegoat secure, I
have requisitely gone into oblivion
(via aliases) and let the sport
metamorphosize into what it is
today. It's not really even a sport
anymore. It just is Mission accomp
lished. And yes, you're welcome.
D. David Morin
Freelance thinker
October 1990
"Watch out for them wobblies"
John Hutson holds the standup
record at 53.45 mph. Annual con
tests rage in Capitola and Laguna
Seca until the insurance axe falls
Speed suits, duck tails, tear drop
helmets and other assorted fairing
techniques look strange but reduce
drag. Roger Hickey dominates the
lay down underground with veloc
ities upwards of 85 mph and finally
cracks Hutson's standup speed with
a snappy 55.145 mph.
"How big are the transitions"
Flatbottom is a major discovery.
Backyard ramps fill the void created
by lack of other vertical terrain.
Community ramps are built by
cities with good intentions Virginia
Beach breaks new ground with Mt.
Thrashmore and four other civic
improvements. Hostile neighbors
contribute to the lawful demise of
countless constructions Legendary
Ramps Palmdale, Annandale, Ana
heim, Cedar Crest, Mountain Man
or, Fallbrook, Summit, Caballero's,
Raging Waters, TK's Ramp Ranch,
Mile High 1 & 2, Eagle Rock, Dallas
Clown, Houston Kahuna, Sacto
Burnout, Farm Ramp, Cambodia,
Chin, Joe's, Crystal Palace, Farn
borough... New knickknacks add
Clockwise from Top Left:
1985-Rob Roskopp steps
lively over a battered Valiant
at Capitola. 1990-Scott
Oster, shows his slash in an
olympic pond. 1989-Master
of cylinders, Micke Alba
pushes high inside Pipa
Grande. 1983-John Lucero
enjoys a layback air at Del
Mar, the scene of many mis-
demeanors. 1990-Carabeth -
Burnside, still an inspiration
for girls who skate everywhere,
everyday, Miller flips at the
Vans ramp.