Good skaters are a dime a dozen. What sets each apart
is style and individuality. Over the next six months we
will run profiles on rising stars in our skate universe.
If they rip on a board, they're in here. This month meet
a few of the crew from a new generation.
42 THRASHER MACANE
A
SKIP PRONIER
Skip (previous spread) is nineteen and
lives in Huntington Beach, skating
with long time rival Ed Templeton. He
looks forward to skating pro and trav
eling the world for a long time to come.
Hot skaters?
Doug Smith. Wade Speyer is gnarly and goes really fast.
Long ve John Cardiel
Tricks?
I have been trying to keep up with the new stuff,
pressure flips and big jumps.
Where is it going?
I hope it ain't staying. This flatland shit is hella boring.
What bugs you about skating?
That you have to keep up with all the latest tricks to be
considered good.
Do you surf?
I cant swim, so I don't surf
Terrain?
Natural neighborhood streets.
Family?
My parents split up, so I live with either one, depending
Injuries?
I broke my arm do ng handrailings
Set-up?
Thunder 159s. Spitfire 50197, no risers, rails or sick.
Quote?
Skate faster than you walk."
BRIAN LOTTI
Nineteen-year-old Brian Lotti (left)
recently settled down in San Diego
after a childhood on the road in a mili-
tary family. He was born in Okinawa,
Japan and got into skating in Las
Vegas, where he went to high school.
Contests?
I bail on a first or second trick, the run's over. You've
got to go for the gold. People want to see air. It's what
they're going to remember Non-skateboarders can't relate
to anything else.
Terrain?
The best place to find everything-steps, benches
curbs, olle bumps, rails-is a downtown area of any city.
It's always raddest when you go to a new mall and find a
brand new red curb or a bench that's never been skated.
Other interests?
Ilke bowling, pool, air hockey, mini gol, all that stuff. I
like to play for money. Lately I've been playing Nintendo a
lot, but that can be evil, the devil's tool.
Injuries?
A broken foot.
Influences?
The usuals. Ike Mark Gonzales. Tom Knox. I like the
way Rick Howard, Mike Carroll and Henry Sanchez skate.
There are certain qualities about everybody like.
Tricks?
A lot of switchstance noile stuff. With switchstance tricks
you have to think of yourself as skating the other way.
People are doing a lot of late stuff, but it seems like more
of a one-n-ten make. Pretty soon it's just going to be fruit
loop trick number one, fruit loop trick number two.
Any recent busts?
We were skating from one sidewalk to the other in
Burbank and a cop gave us tickets for skating in the street
It was funny. They're cracking down
The future?
I don't know if skating will ever make it to the Olympics. I
don't know how people would react to somebody focusing
their board. Summer's going to be great.
Set-up?
32 1/4" long, 14 1/8" wheelbase (heading for 14"), 61.4"
tai, 67/8" nose, Planet Earth wheels. Indy trucks.
KARMA
TSOCHEFF
At seventeen, Karma is regarded as a
mystical personality from Visalia, CA. He
might not win contests, but be sure that
all eyes are on him when he rides. Karma
wants to someday visit Europe and skate
the public parks.
Contests?
They are cool because you see the other pros hang out and
show how consistent you are. It would be nice if the street
contests were a little more street-oriented as far as obstacles
Hot skaters?
Gonz Speyer, Barrett. Petersen and Knox.
What's wrong with skating?
The only thing that bugs me is that you cannot go skating
without getting a ticket or being harassed.
New tricks?
Switchstance pressure dips and nose or tas slides that you
pop into a grind.
When?
I started pushing and doing tricks both ways from the very
beginning, but after awhile I figured out that I was more regular
than goofy
Where?
Bakersfield, Fresno and San Francisco are some of my faves
Injuries?
cracked a rib and sprained many an ankle. I also screwed up
my back and it was hurting me for about eight months
Clothes?
Tget my clothes from the Salvation Army because they are
cheap and you can find sizes the 45, which are perfect
Music?
The band I listen to five times out of ten is Nomeansno. They
are totally original and they make me happy and sad.
Set-up?
Iride a narrow board with 155 Thunders and 48mm Saucers
Family?
My mother Penni and my sister Peaches are great. They
always let me they love me. A person truly needs to hear that