I just added two issues of Skate Life generously donated from reader Will Heesp, some 5 years ago. Better late than never. Funnily enough, I skated with Mark Conahan last night and he told me that he once sold Will a Datsun pickup in the 80’s whose ignition was in such bad shape that it had a screwdriver instead of a key. In other plate-of-shrimp news, one of the tales featured in an issue of Skate Life mentions that Dave Tobin lost a $100 bill and the keys to the van on a road trip to the Chicago Blowout. I was at that NSA contest, but wouldn’t meet Dave (or Mark) until I moved to Portland circa Y2K. Skate Life was based out of Newburryport, MA, and has the distinction of being one of the rare zines that doesn’t seem to include any issue number or title, so it’s hard to tell what order they came out. Check out Skate Life in the 80’s Zine gallery.

I’ve been working on the redesign of the site and it made me realize how long it had been since I updated the Zine Gallery. I’m starting to panic because I’ve reorganized a lot of S&A stuff in storage since preparing for Skate Swap 3, and I can’t for the life of me find my collection of skate zines anywhere. I did find a folder full of some of the original mechanical layouts and most of the early issues of Skate And Annoy. Hopefully the rest of my collection will turn up. In the meantime, enjoy issue #1 and issue #2 of Skate and Annoy, warts and all. These were published in 1986. Some of it is pretty good, and some of it is pretty embarrassing, or “cringe” as the kids probably don’t say anymore. This is where it all started folks.

GSD has released the Best of Skate Fate Too, available in hardcover and softcover. I already have the first volume and I’ll be stoked to have the second one on the way. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into… you know.. all this vintage skateboard culture.

Travel Portland commissioned and published a series of “zines” for use in their campaign to entice people to travel to Portland and spend money. Included in the series is FSBS (For Skaters By Skaters) which is a guide to Portland skate spots, shops, parks, etc… We all know skate-tourism attracts scrounges who tend keep their wallets closed as much as possible, excepting trips to the beer aisle. Still packaging it as a “zine” (in quotes again for a reason) does make Portland seem hip. I’m starting my own zine to discourage people moving here from California to buy newly built houses on lots where cool, old buildings with character recently stood.

And that’s pretty much it. One of the items was Fun Fun Fun skate zine #12 from Matt. You can get your own copy by mailing something (at least a stamp!) to 3880 Carroll Drive, Horn Lake, MS 38637. The other was a SASE sticker request from Krista, complete with a post it note in the shape of a hand, fashioned out of boobs, butts, and boners. Perhaps my cat’s delicate sensibilities were offended.

That’s Skreech on the cover of the latest Confusion zine. Apparently he’s turning over a new leaf after evaluating his life via Dragonslayer, so he’s going by Joshua instead of Josh. He didn’t ditch the “Skreech” moniker though. He’s no dummy when it comes to marketing. In addition to the Skreech interview, this shot of Elias Assmuth on a skateboard made out of a fingerboarding ramp got my attention. Radness! Those guys at Blackriver Ramps take their skateboarding every bit as seriously as their fingerboarding, or vice versa.