PRODUCT PATROL
Well, I am not a virgin anymore. After six years of hearing about industry trade shows, I
finally went to one of these debacles myself. The idea is simple, get all the companies to-
gether in one spot to show off their latest and greatest and let the distributors, retailers
and investors see it in person. Somewhere along the line skateboarding got lumped in
with other so-called action sports, which is where the problem lies. Bikinis, headsocks,
SHAWN MARTIN
OLLIE KING
Black Label Skateboards
7451 Warner Ave, Unit E 102.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Black Label is borderline cult sta-
tus in some parts of the world,
and they don't let their disciples
down with the Shawn Martin and
the Max Evans Grease Belly
models. These are both standard
(5-2) 7-ply and, though not the
lightest around, they rode hard
and took a hell
of a beating.
Both boards
are so similar
that they get
the same num
bers (Simon
told me the Martin will have a
rounder tail). The Evans slick
lasted the longest, but I took it on
one rain ride and the plastic did
the old wavy gravy. Long, strong
and well worth the money. So,
even if you are not old enough to
drink, you can still go to you local
shop and get some Black Label.
Look for the Cardiel "Chaw" model
in stores now.
32.5" LONG, 9.25"wx 7" NOSE, 6.25" A. 13.75" WHEELBASE
Etnies, Beach Center Station, PO Box 78.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648-0078
Etnies shoe for 1992, the Ollie King, has been
redesigned for maximum wear and tear. The
shoe is comfortable and light, and has new fea-
tures. The ollie area has been beefed up to
take major abuse and the shock absorption
heel pad make it a mattress at the end off your
leg. The only thing I disliked was the synthetic
laces, which slip and slide too much-they
used to come with killer natural cloth laces. A
good shoe if you have gobs of cash and the
time to wear them in
bongo boards, beach thongs and
any zombie with the bread and a
mouth is now a part of our "indus-
try." I wandered around as a casual
observer and found that a number of
companies were still trying to sell off
old, heavy and out-dated merchan-
Code Blue Skateboards
407 Douseman Street
Green Bay, WI 54303
From the land of cows and beer
comes Code Blue Skateboards
and their Brian Emmers model. I
am always leery of the latest
here-today-gone-tomorrow com
pany, but Code Blue seems to
be on the right track with their
line of ultra-light slabs. They are
making 7-plys that are respon
sive yet not overly-flexible. The
Emmers top (Elmer's glue
graphic) only lasted two weeks,
but overall it was a good load. I
have never seen them in stores,
so the only logical way to get the
lowdown is to write direct
dise. The graphics are cool and the 3225 LONG, 5 WE, 6.75" NOSE, 6.25" SL, 13.75" WHEELBASE
booths look great, but to steal a line
from Clara Peller, "Where's the
beef?" Products are now lean and
light, so why stand behind heavy,
wide planks and lathed wheels? If
these companies spent as much
money talking to kids and shop own-
ers as they do making their south
seas voodoo booths, they might
make it into the next generation. It's
time they took a closer look into the
sport they helped create.
NIES
Acme
PO Box 1696
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Acme is trying a new approach to
the pro model battle. The gist of
their decks is that three guys de-
sign one deck and they all put
their name on it. Sound confus-
ing? Well, it isn't when you put that
pup on the road. Stratton, Hassan
and Ikeda all had input in this
board so you know it has some-
thing for everyone. Simple and
functional with a smooth shape
and a durable slick make the
Acme line one to watch. Jim Gray
is at the helm of this small compa-
my with big plans.
BRIAN EMMERS
32.25" LONG, 9.15" WIDE, 7" NOSE, 6.25" TAL, 13.75" WHEELBASE
I am going to avoid these Action
Sports hype-fests in the future,
because I'd rather be out skating.
Until then, like the manufacturers
told me, I am just another clueless
skater. Jake Phelps, c/o Thrasher
Magazine, 1303 Underwood Ave.,
San Francisco, CA 94124.
LEGENDS
VANS
S
VANS
24 THRASHER MAGAZINE