TRash
FEET FIRST
Sole Technology Chief Executive
Pierre Andre is being represented by
the US business press as the guiding
force of the skate shoe market. Brands
under the former world freestyle
champion's direction like és, Emerica,
and etnies are said to be turning $100
million a year in sales.
Ken Block, the founder and president of
DC shoes, unleashed a series of high profile
television commercials that are running on
the Comedy Central, MTV, USA, and espn2
networks. Seen doing the New York 'crete in
these big budget spots is Josh Kalis. Also on
line for such widespread exposure are Mike
Carroll, Rick Howard, Colin McKay,
Danny Way, and Rob Dyrdek.
Also expect more aggressive marketing from
Vans. Just opened are two additional Californial
skateparks in Milpitas and Bakersfield. Each of
these will be in excess of 40,000 square feet.
The Bakersfield facility includes a 30,000-
square-foot street environment, a couple of
cement pools, a 48-foot-wide vert ramp, and
another 3,000-square-foot street course and
bowl as well as a pro shop. This project con-
stitutes the world's largest skatepark. The
Milpitas park should also be completed around
December of this year. Anybody remember the
giant vert parks of the '70s? Didn't think so.
The mass media preoccupation with Tony
Hawk continues to blow up in some pretty
bizarre ways. The prestigious New Yorker mag-
azine just expended five thousand words in
praise of his eminence's sporting intellectual-
ism and pointed out how he represented "day-
light" in contrast to Jamie Thomas' "dark-
ness." The prime-time pundits on the ABC net-
work observed that "Hawk made it safe" for
Madison Avenue to go near skateboarding.
And in several-hour stint on the
nationally
syndicated Loveline therapy show, Tony fielded
a variety of questions from both friendly fans
and the tortured friendless. Along with famed
substance abuse and sex therapist Dr Drew
and skater-headbanger Rikki Rachtman,
Hawk frankly discussed personal topics such
as his past divorce and the psychological
gymnastics required to pull off a 9 in compe-
tition. He also pointed out that caller's
description of a penile encrustation as a "magic
shell" was an allusion to a Foster's Freeze prod-
uct, gave props to JT, Andrew Reynolds, and
Chad Muska, and described his relationship to
Gator Rogowski.
SIR VICE
After testing several different brands (since
quitting Airwalk some time ago), Aussie dare-
devil Matt Mumford decided to lend his
endorsement to Duffs footwear.
Donny Barley is riding for Spitfire. Jason
Dill and Reese Forbes are sporting
Quiksilver gear, and Neil Heddings quit 151
and is a free agent.
Dan Rogers, Brian Young,
and Vinnie Ponte are taking
their careers in their own
hands and are said to be
forming a new company
called War, with Dead End
Vinnie as business manager.
PLAQUE TRACK
A significant volume of memorial dona-
tions in honor of Tim Brauch have been
given to the International Association of
Skateboard Companies. IASC head Jim
Fitzpatrick is considering starting a foun-
dation in Brauch's name to distribute the
donations properly. Another possible fund
generating plan might be an Internet-based
IASC-backed skate memorabilia auction.
Another fabled IASC move is that organ-
ization associate Scott Westguard is
somehow involved in shepherding a deal for
NEW PARK ALERT
Get Baked, Bro
The old Steve Olson jumps
the onion of the capsule.
The Vans fun factory has rolled on into the oven-like burg
of Bakersfield, CA, installing another wood and concrete
mega-park in the sweet air-conditioned confines of a '90s-
style shopping mall. Situated next to a large cowboy bar and
even larger than the OG Vans park in Orange, Vans
Bakersfield has taken the street course farther, with several
different sections, both indoor and outdoor, and installed a
proper mini-ramp as well as a kiddie area for the ten-and-
under crew. And don't even think they left out the concrete.
For the big boys there is a seven-foot-deep mini-ramp-style
square bowl that channels into the mother of all capsules:
a thirteen-foot-deep, concrete-coping lined monster that can
swallow all but the Jeff Grossos among us in one quick gulp.
A vert ramp, a steel-copinged footie bowl, and even some
hydrants round out the place as well as a retail facility where
you can show your support for the funmakers by picking
up some new checkerboard slip-ons. From the 99, take the
Rosedale Hwy exit one block west. Details next issue...
Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze were
married and are hiding out in Bora Bora.
The bride's directorial effort, which had the
working title of The Virgin Suicides, had no
relationship to the couple's honeymoon.
Critical reviews of Sofia's movie were out-
standing. James Woods described her as
being the "best director he had ever worked
with." The groom is appearing in the pro-
duction called Three Kings with Ice Cube
and George Clooney. Spike is also putting
out the flick Being John Malkovich.
the Ford Motor Company to come into the Triple
Crown contest series as a banner sponsor.
Steve Berra was recently spotted in
Lincoln, Nebraska where he's hard at work
shooting scenes for new movie he's pro-
ducing. The film, which has been years in
the planning, is rumored to feature the
amateur theatrics of Elissa Steamer, Jim
Greco, Mike Vallely, and Micah
Mattson, among others.
In order to quell any suspicions that Kevin
Ancell hasn't gone Hollywood, he just
received his Screen Actor's Guild card. The
acting in question took place in a Robin
Williams film, where Ancell was "playing
the part of an artist who works in the movie
business." Tumbleweed snatched the cash
and disappeared into the jungles of Costa
Rica for two months rather than endure the
ridicule of his friendly support group.
HALL OF MEAT
Dave DeAustin of Fargo, ND colored his
ankle with a couple torn ligaments. He'll
be out for at least six weeks while it
heals; meanwhile he's on hold in hell.
THUNDER BOY
Scotty Copalman has returned from the
heat of Arizona to terrorize the streets of
Orange County by day and rock out with the
Pissdrunx at night, while Jim Greco and Ali
Boulala are rumored to be doing the exact
opposite. In an unrelated incident, Boulala
found himself facing possible deportation
after a late-night liquor spree landed him and
Grecs in the OC drunk tank. A week and some
smooth talking by his Flip bosses later, Ali is
safe and sound, ready to film for the upcom-
ing Flip video.
Congrats go out to Chris Swanson and his
girlfriend, who are expecting a baby.
Old school cultism regenerates itself again.
"Seen my
Polaroids?"
"Vels klavs Eight
nore vost!"
Eme
CU
Ed Templeton and Arto Saari.
Now Mic-E Reyes and Mark Gonzales are
recreating the old El Thumper de Dog Town
portrait shot. To reinforce the trend, Tommy
Guerrero is working on a circa-'74-photo real
tattoo of Jay Adams skating. Julien
Stranger is claimed to have even been look-
ing towards his old advisor the Fabulous
Skipperboy for contemporary inspiration.
QUICK QUIPS
Bruce Gilbert was very evident as he flagrantly
skated offstage during the globally televised
Woodstock riots. The rider apparently evaded
capture, as Gilbert was seen days later in Japan
in the company of Roach at a Rage Against the
Machine concert.
Oxnard local Chris Malloy was imported
to New York by fashion designer Ralph
Lauren to model suits.
Vibe magazine is starting a new sports mag,
and Kareem Campbell is rumored to be an
initial cover story subject.
Tony Alva recently pulled a drain-and-ride
at the Gonzales pool on a road trip through
his old haunts.
Donny Barley's parents are dispensing reports
about their son's activities via the Internet.
CHOP CHOP
POSER OF
THE MONTH
Perpetrator: Eddie Lora
Perpetration: Gut-buster
backside boneless
Punishment: Back into
the closet
Investigative reports allege that irate envi-
ronmental activists are looking for scapegoats
to sacrifice in opposition to the recent
Extreme Games held in San Francisco. Apart
from Tony Hawk's 900°, the most memorable
occurrence at the X-position had to be the
aerial bombardment of the games site at Pier
30-32 by person or persons unknown. As you
recall, bandit
helicopter is alleged to have
dropped hundreds of pounds of unauthorized
leaflets, stickers, and United States currency,
supposedly creating a
"widespread public
endangerment and
significant irre-
versible
envi-
ronmental
harm.
Some
authorities
are said to
be "in pos-
session of
some
me evi-
dentiary
materials"
that are helping
them home in on
the guilty parties.
BEARING
BALL
TEAM LUS
CHERRY
BOMB
HOME INVASION
THE
TSOCKEFES
The Tsocheffs are ready for Y2K.
Can some World Industries pressure-sensitive
labels that somehow found themselves to the
event's venue be the damaging materials being
spoke of? Or was it the two-, five-, and ten-
dollar bills that seemed to be stamped with
the leering countenance of Wet Willie?
Another topic of discreditation in the smear
campaign is that the propaganda dropped
from above fell into the fragile ecosystem of
the bay below. These fouling stickers are
being regarded as representing "decades of
intrusive presence before their eventual
breakdown." Cop types are asking questions
which are believed to be an effort to nail
down the identity of the entity that rented
the chopper as well as all others concerned
with the perpetration of this act. Some ESPN
folks are said to have provided footage to law
enforcement officials that supposedly shows
"World logos" on the airship. Also believed to
have his ass on the line is an unfortunate moto
jumper whom Marine Sanctuary agents are
saying polluted the bay when he crashed his
stunt cycle into the pure saline waters next to
the X-perience. The lurking labels and that
evil leaking oil and petrol could add up to a
significant fine for all concerned.
TABLE
DIS LIST
"I am not an actor and I just finished working
in a commercial with Gidget the Taco Bell
chihuahua to prove it."
-Skip Engblom
"It's a great time...skating finally has a posi-
tive public image."
-Tony Hawk
"The Birdman...part Michael
Jordan, part Evel Knievel-is
the star of a multimillion-dollar.
industry that still can't shake its
outlaw image."
-The New Yorker
These days Al Losi is still rolling-
just down a different line.
BREAKIN' IT
DOWN FOR THE
SD PARK
San Diego's Casbah, famous for launching '90s So-
Cal rock sensations Fluf, Rocket from the Crypt,
Drive Like Jehu, and Tanner, opened its doors on
July 30th to raise much-needed cash for the still-in-
limbo Washington Park skatepark project and to
showcase the premiere of the Foundation Super
Company's latest cinematic endeavor, Nervous
Breakdown. The folks at the gate reported record-
breaking attendance as hundreds of skaters and hip-
sters packed the place to check the flick, get loaded,
and rock out to Fluf, The Furious IV, Corrugated, 7%
Superstar, and Freedom for Saturn..
Drinks were raised high in the billiards room where
skate fans toasted the editing prowess of Josh
Beagle as the F-Troop's riders danced by on the big
screen. Omar Salazar raised some brows, showing
some big moves for a wee-man, while Daniel
Shimizu and Gary Robinson slaughtered rails
and blocks on their way to becoming household
names. And even though it's hard to imagine Ethan
Fowler filming lines with some video goon all day,
his part still included plenty of gems-letting all
doubters in on the fact that he's one of the true nat-
urals in the game. In some scenes, his clothing was
so tight and uniformly dark that it kind of looked like
he was skating in a mime's suit. Finishing up the film
were Jon West and Brad Staba, each of whom put
in a clutch performance brimming with equal parts
finesse and gnar.
As the loaded crowd spilled out onto Kettner
Boulevard, word from event organizer and Hangar
18 skate shop owner Ken Lewis was that the event
raised over $2500 for the skatepark, an amount
that Tum Yeto owner Tod Swank has proudly agreed
to match.
OSTRIS
Josh Beagle and Chad Knight get ready for
The Storm at the Foundation Nervous
Breakdown premiere in San Diego.
153
152 THRASHER