Skate and Annoy – Page 407 – Skateboarding in Popular Culture

Disposable: Postpartum bible depression, part 1: the first Zorlac John Gibson

Never fails. In the months to follow the publication of Disposable: A History of Skateboard Art there were a number of decks that I’d failed to find after years of searching that suddenly surfaced out of the dusty blue. Fortunately, I was able to go back and make a few of these key additions with subsequent reprints, but this time around with The Disposable Skateboard Bible there will be no such editorial shenanigans (well, aside from the one previously noted here).

A Soldier’s Story

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 ]

DIY Plexiglass Cruiser

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.

skate comic from http://www.antigravitypress.com

Skate and a toy

I copied a picture by Stella Robertson for frame two.

I may not know art but I blah blah blah

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.