Up Freed
In My Eyes
"The Key to Happiness
is having Dreams...
The Key to Success is
making Dreams come True."
CABALLERO ON SPONSORSHIP
It is in my sincere hope to help
bring skateboarding out of its nega-
tive state of mind and enlighten the
few who are deprived of the true
knowledge of what being a profes-
sional skateboarder is all about. It's
definitely not about trying to outdo
the next skater or putting other
people down because they aren't
cool. Whether it's a contest, demo,
or just sessioning with your friends,
being a pro is mainly about having a
positive attitude towards the people
that surround skateboarding, rather
than the actual act of doing it.
I've seen three generations of
skaters come and go, and I've been
problem is many kids are becoming
professionals too soon, without hav-
ing the time to mature as amateurs.
Street skating is great, but it isn't
the only type of skating that's fun.
We need to show the future genera
tion that any type of skating you do
is rad, no matter if it's riding a ramp,
carving around in pools, or just
cruising down the sidewalk. If you
spend the time to learn the basic
skills first, the more progressive
tricks will come easier. I know not all
skating is for everyone, but don't
put it down just 'cause it's different
from what you're doing. Be open
minded, 'cause the direction of skat
can only better yourself by learning
everything that you can.
around from its lowest to its peak.ing will change in the future. You
cannot believe the attitudes of cer-
tain skaters who have only been
around a few years and think the
industry owes them something.
Some companies give their riders
everything and they still complain. I
hear things like, "This board sucks,
my ad sucks, the company I ride for
sucks. Do we really need inappre
ciative people like that leading the
direction of skateboarding? The
I started skating in '78, got spon-
sored in early '79, and became a
professional in 1980, at age sixteen.
All through my career people have
asked me, "When are you going to
get a real job?" The truth is, skating
has been a real job for me, and it all
started when I got sponsored. I was
so stoked to receive free product
and get sent all over the country for
demos and contests that I worked
hard as an amateur to make a name
for myself, representing my compa-
ny in every positive way I could. I've
been with this same company for
over fifteen years. Loyalty and
respect had a lot to do with this,
which my sponsor and I both share.
I'm proud to say that what I once
thought of as a hobby has become
the job and the lifestyle I live today.
We should all help preserve the
enjoyment of skateboarding and
never let it die. You hold the future
in your hands and it's up to you to
change what is sour in skating today
into an activity filled with enjoyment.
Always try and keep this in mind:
"Anything you do with a positive
attitude will work for you, anything
you do with a negative attitude will
work against you."
-Steven Caballero
His wheels have seen three generations
of skateparks and Steve Caballero contin
ues to roll with the game: 360° kickflip at
a company-sponsored training facility.
TONY FERGUSON
Shortage of Shortage
I was zoning out in
front of my trusty boob
tube last week, feeling
beat-up, buzzed and
burnt, when this thought
started buggin' me:
Whatever happened to
shorts? Eventually!
became so annoyed 1
actually muted The
Simpsons and gave this
useless question some
semi-serious pondering.
In no time, I
compiled the
following list of
possible reasons
as to why mod-
ern skaters
would ditch
something so
functional.
1. They're embarrassed
to reveal how hard their
shins got worked from
learnin' switch 360 flips.
2. They don't want to
cut down those $60
pants that mom just
bought 'em.
3. Over the last two
years, shorts have grown
so long that they are
usually mistaken for
pants. Thus we have the
origin of
"shants."
NOW
4. After a
brush with
death,
Hershey
squirts run
down the
leg.
5. Fear of
the age old
humiliation
of having a
ball shot
printed in
the mag.
6. Mom
grew tired
of droppin'
hard earned
cash just to
make her brain-washed
kid look like Joe Pro
7. Vert dogs decided
carrying around extra
sweat/weight was better
than being mistaken for
a trendy street skater.
8. Shorts, no matter how
long, can never conceali
the fairy stance.
THEN
9. Ninety-eight.
pound weaklings
grew tired of
being heckled
about toothpick
lookin' legs.
10. Skaters in
the US decided
that MC Ham-
mer style skate
shorts better be
dropped quick
now that the rest of the
world has saved enough
bread to afford a pair.
After wasting almost
two hours, I decided I'd
continue to wear shorts
whenever the sun is out
or all my pants are dirty.
I've never been that hip
anyway. -Jesse Driggs
GIRL
SKATEBOARDS
DISTRIBUTION 818 500 8818
16 THRASHER
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