TRASH
TURN OUT
The 20th Anniversary of the Independent
Trucks franchise has seemingly inspired
countless tributes. Team rider Joel Tudor
kicked off the onslaught of celebratory
graphic cloning with his Bismarck battle
flag model that was replete with the infa-
mous Indy cross. Longtime Independent
supporters Jim Gray and George Powell
have also gotten into the act, each releasing
products emblazoned with the ultra identifi-
able symbol. Even the fine boards from the
Republic of Taiwan on sale at the monolith-
ic chain Toys R Us are covered with
Independent paint schemes.
The aftermath of Governor Wilson's
approval of skateboarding's inclusion on the
hazardous activities list continues to mani-
fest itself in a myriad of ways. Cops seem
blithely unaware of the law's passage as
they cite/arrest/detain/harass as usual. A
recent encounter with a Los Angeles centu-
rion produced both a ticket and the follow-
ing observation,
courtesy of the
boys in blue:
"They make
the laws, we
write the
tickets, and
everybody
lets the
courts sort
A TEAM
it out later." A working man's translation is
that the law is still so new, no one is certain
what it all means. Still, there are signs of
positive growth. Steve Rose-licensed archi-
tect currently has 94 public skatepark pro-
jects scheduled for construction in
California. James Fitzpatrick, director of
the International Association of Skateboard
Companies, continues to be deluged with
requests for information on the Cali bill
from other states. Also, Fitz and Rose are
scheduled to appear at the National
Conference for Public Recreation
Administrators where they are doing a sym-
posium on access, liability and skate-friend-
ly urban structures..
HOT FOOT
Tim McKenney appears
serious when he contends
that he now resides in
Seattle even though he
flies to San Francisco and
spends three days there
each and every week.
Perhaps the hit the Media
Action Alliance have
directed towards Think
and McKenney in specific
regarding one of their
recent adverts in this mag
might explain his new
transience. In the words of
the Alliance, who are
devoted to "resisting the
culture of violence and
exploitation," the page
"depicting a semi-clad
woman as a footstool"
couldn't "go by without
comment." According to
them, "Women are human
beings, too. Reducing us
to objects-a footstool, no
such as Brooke Henning who said,
"Thanks, we need more guys out there who
are not afraid to piss some chicks off." And
who was responsible for this high-minded,
low-life tripe? Keith Cochrane, habitual
functionary of the cultural underbelly, pro-
claimed, "Hey, blame me. I'm tired of not
getting any credit. My shit gets burned
and hung up in the museum, and nobody
ever gives me any props."
And to demonstrate that we are political-
ly correct, we offer verbatim this gem of
reportage from Glamour magazine: "My
wife and I have a special tradition. Every
other Christmas, she buys me a new skate-
board. I love that she lets me be a kid at
heart even if I do have a 14-month-old son
who calls me Daddy."-Leon, 35. Isn't this
sort of blatant exploitation of skateboarders
and children in the name of high fashion
consumerism just the sort of thing the gang
at Ms, NOW, and the Media Action Alliance
get irate over?
MAG MA
Bonnie Crail, the K2 henchwoman, is
reportedly still panting hot and heavy on
the acquisition trail. The other day, she
was seen chatting up heritage rancher and
former Skateboarder Magazine art director
HUNGRY MEN
yanis
Brad Staba's considerable donut-dunking skills proved to be no
match against the mighty stomach of Steve Rocco in the 14th
Annual Gutbuster Skate 'n' Scarf Challenge in Ventura, CA.
less-is hurtful and unconscionable." The
proto feminist bible Ms Magazine also
devoted a full-page to a reproduction of the
shot of McKenney resting his feet upon the
backside of a tortured hulk of womanhood,
encouraging moral people to contact Think
to register their outrage. Even the National
Organization of Women got in on the cru-
sade against this misogynistic propaganda.
Since then, hundreds of comments have
arrived at the company, both pro and con.
Many were from females who apparently
realized that the ad was a satirical exercise
RODNEY MULLEN
HANNIBAL OR HOWLIN' MAD
MURDOCK? YOU DECIDE
Paul Haven. What's next, a Haven-
designed line of rodeo leather wear to go
along with her recently taken over compa-
ny, Planet Earth? As for Earth founder
Chris Miller, will he now apply himself to
the occupation of action sports photogra-
phy per his recent deployment on video
contest shoots?
Dug One was attacked by a gang of les-
bians who tackled him to the ground and
maced him in the City by the Bay. Were
they that upset over his latest mural, or did
they actually have him confused with Mike
X, the publisher of the glum girl, glam
'zine, Huffer?
CASH MONEY
Did Mark Gonzales' appearance in a
Spike Jonze-directed Nissan commercial
where he's sleeping in a chair, combined
with his performance wrestling with a chair
in Harmony Korine's latest film Gummo
result in his becoming a hotly desired acting
talent? Does Mic-E Reyes field all of the
calls from agents, etc? Will Mark and Mic-E
do buddy movies? Is this the Jason Lee
phenomena all over again?
Did Miki Vuckovich actually spend a
couple of days studying with the eccentri-
cally erudite guru of Goleta? Was this a
search for wisdom, or is there a career
change afoot?
Giant, everyone's favorite quirky graf afi-
cionado, has developed further complica-
tions in his elaborately tweaked psychologi-
cal profile. The spray meister has begun to
embrace the cause of Tibetan independence
in a novel manner. In homage to the Dali
Lama, Giant now walks for blocks down-
ROCKET RIDER
Could this new torpedo 3-speed be a glimpse at
the future of extreme sports? Only ESPN knows.
town with his eyes closed and his hands in
a full lotus prayer position.
Vandal Joey Escalante was inflicted
with a severe head trauma after being..
involved in a fatality-inducing accident
on the freeway, which totaled his car.
Was he affected adversely? Let's just
say he emerged from the wreckage with
new desires of producing a signature
model skateboard and a golf magazine
for yuppies.
MOVE IN
Mike Carroll is moving to LA to raise
the stakes and access new terrain.
As if proof of the resiliency of the skate
business needed verification, Bryan
Ridgeway gifted his parents with the paid-
off mortgage of their family home. Ridge's
philanthropic gestures are becoming leg-
endary, what with his financial support of
political refugees and his Mexican orphan-
age lend lease clothing program.
Rob Dyrdek is also said to be in the sig-
nificant real estate procurement mode. He
is rumored to be purchasing his own apart-
ment complex.
A couple of days after sidetracking his
mates Gonz, Huf, Joel Price, and Paul
Leung, then showing up at a NY fashion
week party where Robin Leach, Ivanna
Trump, and Cindy Crawford were in the
reception line along with him, Greg
Carroll was seen at Burlingame,
California's posh La
Scalla Restaurant sit-
ting at a table next to
Bill Gates.
HALL OF MEAT Many observers at
Mow, the English
recording and publishing
concern, has been work-
ing on gathering up
examples of historic
skate design, art and
graphics. Ben and
Aaron Rose have spent
a number of days around
the world hooking up the
necessary connections. A
number of the "Where
Are They Now?" stories
are provocative. Some
are obvious in the man-
ner of Mofo becom-
ing a porn art king-
pin, who in turn
changed into an
international corporate designer; Kevin
Ancell, who is now the fine arts world's
favorite Hollywood AD; Mary Kittila,
who designed the original Sims Pure
Juice logo, is now a portraitist of pure
bred show
Ass, grass, or gash-nobody rides
for free. Matt Larsen paid the
price for trying to bomb the North
Ave grass hill in Milwaukee, WI.
I show dogs; John Van
Hammersveld, who created the first
Makaha sticker, is now designing In
And Out Burger locations; and Mike
Salisbury, who did the Gordon &
Smith trademark, is now churning out
Joe Camel and
Jurassic Park stuff.
Occasionally, the
lads turned up real-
ly odd information.
For example,
Courtland
Johnson, who drew the
Ray Bones Rodriguez
skull and sword design,
has been incommunica-
do for years. Rose finally
located the reclusive
draftsman reading books
aloud so that they could
be recorded on tape,
thereby enabling blind
individuals to join them.
As further evidence of
the transformation,
Johnson, who was
known for wearing only
the color white, was now
attired entirely in black.
This quirky aspect
inspired Ben to wonder
"if it was some kind of
blind thing."
ART BITES
the recent Texas-
sized video promo-
tional extravagan-
za were amazed by
this display of
apparent censor-
ship by a transna-
tional corp.
Spokesmen for the
TV dirge claimed
that the "explicit
nature and mature.
subject matter" of
Templeton's piece
were deemed
"unsuitable for the
viewing of chil-
dren." We won-
dered if Ed's long-
standing criticism
of such MTV activ-
ities as the X
Games could have helped inspire this curi-
ous turnabout. Certainly the phrase "MTV
Corporate Cheese Factory" Ed had embla-
zoned across the mural accurately predict-
ed his eventual treatment.
Brad Lilly, De La Guerra local and one-
time employee at the old Peralta-Powell
Museum of skate and surf curiosities, has
re-emerged with a new career in the spot-
light. He is now a highly-regarded DJ on
Santa Barbara's alternative radio station
POSER OF
THE MONTH
Criminal: Jordan Baker
Crime: Bogus big wave barging
Conviction: Ripped hide
Ed Templeton's
artistic stock rose another notch with the
completion of his latest corporate-commis-
sioned mural. The monolithic painting por-
trayed Ed's usual angst/kunst expression-
ism and uncensored full-frontal genitalia,
so how objectionable could it have been?
Are there any surprises left in post modern
art? Apparently so, for the Grande patrons
of the MTV Sports and Arts festival pur-
portedly rejected the fine piece outright.
KJEE. The irreverently
gregarious Lilly is regard-
ed by many to be a prime
pioneer of the modern
longskate movement.
Topics on his show run the
range from skater's rights
to off-the-cuff humor.
Recent Brad on-air com-
mentaries concerning an
unnamed former boss and
his tyrannical paranoid
behavior has elicited mea-
surable controversy.
Apparently, a couple of
Lilly's former employers
are convinced that the sar-
castic lambasting is direct-
ed at them personally. One
is so shook that he alleged-
ly wanders his factory
complex, checking radio
dials to determine if his
laborers are tuning in to
Brad's show.
PRIVATE PARTS
"I'm a private man in a
public place. My life is
nobody's business, includ-
ing mine."-Tim McKenney
"All of these '80s moves are played out. Pat
Duffy already did all that. Let's put it up
onto a new level."-Mike Carroll
"I'm not as good as I once was, but I'm bet-
ter now than I never was." -Steve Olson
"I'm still your publisher, damn it."-Attr to
Peggy Cozens
"This dog was the fanciest of mutts; he was
the Cadillac of canines." -Joe Brook
139