Where
Am
1?
Back-White
THRASHER
here are few guarantees in life: Death, taxes and
Venice street contests.
When it comes to death, it's better to avoid it
for as long as you can. Taxes, well, if you're not
having tax problems you must be doing something
wrong. As far as Venice street contests go, this
year's event could have been a hundred times bet-
ter if its organizers had taken some time to plan it
instead of just trying to get by. Skateboarding is
getting bigger, and as it gets bigger it is also get-
ting smarter. Companies are being run by those
who skate. Skaters are controlling the direction
skating is taking. It's a great thing that's happen-
ing. It's too bad, however, that the contests are
staying the same as they were years ago. Today's
skating can't be applied to old contest formats
and the same course set-ups that worked three
years ago. Where a contest could be organized
to facilitate modern skateboarding where every-
one comes together and skates, it seems like more
PARKING
Company of Ameri
The post-contest jump ramp fest was out of this
world. Mike Carroll (above) stole the show with his
japaned-ass airs. The crowd waited all day in the
hot sun for Mark Gonzales (opposite top) to FSU.
This bank-to-bank kickflip is dddddope! While the
masses watched the freaks flying off the ramp onto
the soft pavement, the superhuman Donger (oppo-
site right) casually stole NASA's line and powered
over the top into the launch. Hard-working Rick
Howard (opposite left) was all business as he
stretched out mean kickflips on the slant bank.
Ronnie Creager (right) shows what pop is all about
on the switch heelflip over a handtruck. The Venice
contingent was in the house and high as a kite.
This Neanderthal beach-combing Barney (left) was
sniffing on his Rush vial all day and loving it.