For being labeled (one of) the so-called dark ages of skateboarding, the early 90’s saw the realease of some good skate videos. I had never seen the 1991 Life skateboards video titled “A Soldier’s Story,” but I realized it was sitting in a grocery bag of old videos GVK picked up at a yard sale or something. After watching this Sean Sheffy part I was so stoked I dug it up and popped it in the VCR. The copy I have has issues with the soundtrack, but it’s pretty strong video. My favorite part is still the Sean Sheffey bit, and at 17 years old, he was pretty impressive. Look for a mid air revert at about the 1:30 mark. I think that’s the first time I ever saw that move on a skateboard. On a snowboard with bindings a thousand times, but not on a skateboard. I hope the re-issue thing is going well for him. (Note: Mumble Link removed, original site is gone and appears to be malware now.)

[Source: Fairways and Flips ]

The late 70’s gave birth to the plexiglass skateboard. They were fashion over function, more heavy but cool looking. I always wanted one. Somebody over at Pleasant Home made their own. There are no instructions, but I imagine it’s simple enough. Cut it out of thick plexiglass and heat up the tail with a torch and bend it over a pipe. My plexiglass working knowledge is limited to something I saw on TV once, or imagined I did, so take it with a grain of salt. I do know you need a extra fine tooth saw blade to cut it. I’m not sure how that works with a jigsaw though. The old plexiglass board I remember appeared to be molded rather than cut from a solid sheet. Maybe they weren’t technically plexiglass. I wonder if this board is too flexible. Come on Pleasant Home, let’s have a tutorial. That kicktail needs help.

The Wall Street Journal Online has a story about skateboard art, or more aptly, art on skateboards. Gotta give them props for the title “Skateboards Now Hang in Galleries, But Are They Wheelie Art?” Are they wheelie art? Good one. Not so much on the subtitle: “Painters Give Old Toys New Tricks—Teen Angst, Nude Portraits, Broken Bones.” Check out the Wall Street Journal for the article and accompanying video.

– Thanks to Brian Susk for the tip.

I found this great flyer somewhere on the Interwebs™, but my spotlight comments got wiped out so I can’t credit the source. I’m sorry, so sorry… that I was, such a fool. I think this is from the early 70’s.

UPDATE: Sidewalk Surfer is online. The web site says they’ve been in business since 1977

Ryan used to live in Battle Ground Wa, and now he lives in Albany, Oregon. He was lamenting on the lack of coverage of nearby Harrisburg. So here you go.

This gem of a commercial is an adolescent boy’s smorgasbord of dreams. It’s got skateboards, lasers, ATVs, a post apocalyptic Rollerball-style arena and a referee with a big rack. Come to think of it, that sounds like fun to me too. I think it dates to around 1987 because Worlds of Wonder essentially went out of business in 1988. Look the size of that bowl. I think it may have been built for the commercial.

[Source: Pure Skateshop]

This would be Brian Summers at Glenhaven in Portland. Photo by GVK.

Yeah I know the A scale doesn’t really go up that high. Technically, it doesn’t even goo up to 101, but that never stopped wheel companies from marketing them as such. These old Kryptos are made out of cement, and so is the deck. It’s a piece called Irony that was in the PUSH benefit auction for the Division Street Skatepark Project in Bend, Oregon. At least I think it was, because it’s not in any of the photos of the work. It’s kind of hard to tell what’s going on with the project. There’s a blog that was last updated in 2008, and there are pictures of DIY concrete action happening somewhere, but key areas of the site have missing images, and it’s unclear whether or not construction has actually begun. And seriously, guys, I would have loved to promote this auction, give us a heads up next time.

I’m getting off track here. Drew West of the talented Real Concrete Design, cast these. There are more pictures available are on Facebook. Those wheels fit bearings, don’t ya know?

– Thanks to Kevin Porterfield for the tip.

From Crust Productions:

Rob Morrow of Morrow Snowboards, located in Salem Oregon managed to get NOFX to stop and play in his basement. NOFX was on their way to do a gig at the now defunct La Luna in PDX when a lucky few got there own personal show in the basement of the Ranch. About 100 were jam packed into the basement. Bad vocals, no lightning and zero room but the show went on! This video has been in storage for over 15 years and thanx to Mr Hauswirth and Mr Price, the footage was transferred from the old VHS to MiniDV.

So there you have it. Video after the jump.

Its a Mystery Greg photo of Jason Greene shot at dusk in Newberg, Oregon. Extra points for the nose slide. Check out the Shot of the Week.