Previous page: The "Hook" at
Fisherman's Wharf feels the deli-
cale touch of the Gonz's bock-
side tailslide frontside blunt
amidst the joggers and tourists.
While other mags might ask,
"Who does the most tweaked
frontside handplants?" We
know (inset) it is Mark Gonzales.
This page: No stranger to inno-
vation, Mark is right on top of
the game with a backside casper
tailslide at Fort Mason. All pho-
tos by Bryce Kanights
A
see some kids skating and have the urge to
skate. Sometimes I'd ask to try their boards.
Sometimes I'd just watch and think of cool
tricks. It really doesn't matter if I'm pro or non-
pro, I'm always up to something.
Is it hard being "The Gonz"?
I don't care, but I get pissed when people try
and be funny about it. "Hey, Gonz... I didn't
give myself that nickname. I'd rather be called
Short, "Nude' or 'Mike's little brother, Mark."
When did you start skating?
When I was nine, we got boards for Xmas.
When will you stop?
46 THA
Never
What do you plan to work on with your new
company?
Not a skate video, that's what other compa-
nies are doing. I'm going to start on making
an ATM snowboard, then clothes, shoes, etc.
What skaters do you like?
Jason Rothmeyer, Matt Rodriguez, Sluggo,
Salman Agah, Christoph in Paris and the guys
on the ATM Click.
Who's on the ATM Click?
You'll see when the video comes out.
Who were your early heroes?
George Orton, Cab, Jay Adams, Ray Rodri
guez and Christian Hosoi.
What was the first skatepark you visited?
Concrete Wave in Anaheim and Russi
Howell was there doing 360's.
What was the gnarliest thing that you did in
the Combi-Pool?
Backside airs out in the round. I liked Spidey's
layback rock & rolls through the corner in the
square.
Any last words?
Most of the young skaters don't know what
Vision Street Wear was all about. I'm not sure,
but I think it had something to do with seduc-
tion. Many of the new skaters don't even
know who Spidey is
You can't win...
RACE
if you don't run the
RACE