ASK THE DOCTOR
Doctor Rick Over the
demonstrates years, read-
his potented ers have sent
technique in some pretty
for super bizarre ideas on
oxygenated how to improve
brain call skating. The
stimulation. easiest and most
By hanging common way to
help skating grow is
upside-down
for as little as
four hours a
day, he is
able to boost
his thinking
powers to the
ultra-genius
level and cre-
ate a psychic
link with his
followers.
by pulling off a new
move. Another method is
product invention. Some of
these brainstorms are ridicu-
lous and some have potential
to take skating one step
beyond. This month's column is
a salute to the entrepreneurs who
are using their brains to conserve
used products, improvise with
scraps and invent the goods that i
will shape the future..
PADDED SELL
Here is a way to make burlacious
palm pads. Find some gloves, old or
new, that will fit your hands. Steal a
CareFree thin maxi-pad from your sis
ter or your mom, or, if you are a girl,
you can use your own. Cut the pad to
the shape of the area you want it to
protect. Peel the stickum paper off the
back and place on the glove. Cover it
with duct tape. This padding is protec-
tive against bruises, yet very flexible.
Plus, if you want to shake a chum's
hand, the funnel dot weave and hour-
glass design will absorb the sweat for
a dry grip.
Kerry Wood
Tucson, AZ
Another example of how skaters
are getting maximum mileage out of
their dollars in a depressed econo-
my. Hey, if it works for you...
TRICK QUESTION
If Mike McGill invented the McTwist,
and Jeff Phillips made up the Phillips
66, then who created the Madonna?
Also, was Santa Claus the first do the
ho-ho plant?
Jon
Coopersburg, PA
Here's another question that
pertains to the theory of Parallel
Evolution Zig-Zag (PEZ), the
common phenomenon of two sepa-
rate people in different locations
22 THRASHER MAGAZINE
thinking and
acting simultaneously. As to your
question, I believe Tony Hawk holds
the meal ticket for the Madonna.
Although, when applied to PEZ,
Johnny Klink might have stuck it at
exactly the same time in Outer
Mongolia. As for the ho-ho, I think it
is the brainchild of that mystery
man, Neil Blender. Kris Kringle, on
the other hand, came up with the
"chimney drop," and after that it
was all downhill. These are just a
few who, by continuing to create
and invent moves, have contributed
to the growth of skating, however
much it may be.
MARKET ECONOMY
If you can't afford rails or don't have
anywhere to buy them, go to your
nearest supermarket and look near
the cash register for sticks used to
separate groceries. These bars are
made of the same plastic companies
use to make rails. Just toss a couple
in your bag as you leave. When you
get home, cut them down in half or
fourths on a bandsaw or jigsaw, drill
them and you've got some good rails.
They come in white, red and blue,
they slide super fast and last a long
time. I've gone through two sets in a
year. Don't get caught.
Chris Zodrow and
the "Jaard Dawgs
Olympia, WA
You guys are ahead of your time.
That stuff is what they use on the
bottom of certain boards these
days. They just go around to
grocery stores and rip off
every divider they can get their
hands on, throw them in a big vat
and melt them down, then spray it
on. Not. Actually, I checked out
your story and found these dividers
are made out of rubbery material,
not in any way suitable for sliding.
So, unless your region has some
bio-hard grocery separators, I'm
going to have to call your contri-
bution a bogus one.
TRASH CORRECTOR
Isn't it possible for skate manufactur-
ers to recycle their products? Since
they melt down most materials to pour
into molds or casts, how about throw-
ing the old stuff like wheels, rails and
trucks in for re-cooking? Maybe it
would bring down the cost. Skatel
shops could have a box where you
throw old, coned wheels and ground
trucks. That stuff probably takes thou-
sands of years to decompose on it's
own. Is it feasible?
Daniel Shrake
Troy, MI
Now here's a concerned soul, one
who is conscious of the need for
conservation. Yes, the skateboard
industry does have the ways and
means to recycle. Items such as
trucks can be melted down and
repoured. The problem, common to
all recycling, though, is that not
enough people do it. Even if they
did, it wouldn't make any difference
in price.
SHIN & BEAR IT
Say good-bye to bruised ankles and
calves from having your board smack
them after a bail. All you have to do is
get a cheap pair of soccer shin guards
and put them along your ankle and
calf, then pull a sock over them. It
works like a charm.
Tom "Bomb Townsend
Samaria, MI
I've seen many a skater taken out
by the runaway skate to ankle chop.
Personally, I tend to shun the idea
of suiting up for skating and just
gamble on paying the price. Good
Idea, though, keep 'em coming.
-Rick Blackhart
Walking the Dog
WHY?
Omar Hassan
WHY ARE PROS LIKE OMAR, BO AND REMY SWITCHING
TO ACME? WHY ARE ACME PRODUCTS BETTER
NOW THAT THEY RIDE FOR US? WERE
THEY GOOD IN THE FIRST PLACE?
THEY DIDN'T KNOW TILL THEY
TRIED AND NEITHER WILL YOU!
ACME
ACME P.O. BOX 1696, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92663