SKATE NEWS

Name it nostalgia or pass it off under the guise of some kind of 'history lesson.' Whatever you want to call it, skateboarding's ode to the past is just as important as it's reported present and rapidly approaching future. One site that's paying respects to the past better than most is, Bobshirt.com (it was the name that graced the tag of most World Ind. T-shirts in the early 90's). If you haven't seen it yet, the site that's dedicated to 1990's skateboarding have just posted a full interview with Washington, DC legend, Andy Stone. For all you new-jacks, Stone was an OG member of the infamous, grimy Pulaski Park crew, skating everyday just outside the confines of The White House. Andy was known for his super smooth style and effortless way of rolling away from tricks. Andy rode for 101 in its glory days and Element when it was still young and new and called Underworld Element. Check the interview to learn more about Andy, his friendship with the late Pepe Martinez, his multiple team switches and what he's up to now. Also, for more 90's skateboarding, hit up Police Informer, another site dedicated to some of skateboardings golden years.

The year was 1993 and 101 Skateboards was still the sh*t, despite Koston leaving the team to help form Girl. To prove they still had a set stake in skateboarding, 101 dropped the ultra-classic skate flick, Snuff. Andy Stone had first dibs, Jason Dill took seconds while wearing his pants on his waist, Gabe Rodriguez had a one trick part (a switch heel), Adam McNatt did some weird stuff with his arms and the world was introduced to the skate genius of Gino Iannucci. You're damned right it was a good year. Watch and learn, or sit back and reminisce.-Jay Riggio

Ramona Got Rumbled

"A Rumble Ain't a Rumble Without Me." —Dallas Winston

Tadashi

Vert don't hurt. Christian Hosoi, Jeff Grosso, Darren Navarrette, Lance Conklin adult cheerleading in the back and Max Schaaf.
This past weekend a mighty vert jam went down in Ramona, California the likes of which hadn't been seen since the vertical heyday of the late '80s. Creature was the title sponsor and their crew was rolling deep at the event with all the fiends including The Vertical Vampire, Darren Navarrette, Sam Hitz, Alex Horn, David Gravette and Al Partanen.

Tadashi

The man who fell to earth: Jake Brown back in the skay where he belongs.
Tadashi

Good to see Max Schaaf in the mix. Dude's good at skateboarding and life. OAKTOWN!
Keeping the Creature boys company were a slew of all-terrain rippers including Tony Trujillo, Ben Raybourne, Duane Peters, Peter Hewitt, Jake Brown, Max Schaaf and more.

If the massive vert ramp weren't enough to feel like the '80s had re-emerged in full force, classic skaters who are still on top of their game showed up to remind everyone that vert don't hurt and age is just a number. Leading the way were Christian Hosoi, Jeff Grosso, Lance Mountain, Lester Kasai and the Master of Disaster, Duane Peters.

—Adam Salo

Epicly Later'd has uncovered some of the amazing stories behind skateboarding. For every episode where you're feeling your brain cells slowly wither away (and there are only a few episodes like that), there are about five with a story you've never heard before.

I can just imagine some of the killer lines: "Ethan, eat your fake-on…Ethan, do your homework, 'cause we're going to Paris for my art show…I need to take some pictures for a photo book about the decadence of American society. Ethan, make out with this girl at a middle-American skatepark…Don't you love/hate Huntington, too, Ethan?"

He's one of this new generation of kids who's as comfortable in a park as he is out in the wild. To be honest, I had no idea where he came from—it's like he rolled out from under the quarterpipe of some wooden skatepark, the spore-grown result of the sloughed skin, hair and sweat of all the pro and am rippers who shredded the place in the past. Really, though, turns out he's not the product of a skatepark experiment. He's from Chicago, IL.

JCB

Nobody has this angle. Chaz Ortiz crooks.

Lil' dude just won the Dew Tour, which doesn't make me want to get his autograph or anything, but is impressive when you remember that most ams are eating their friends' left overs and begging for spare cigarettes, while Chaz is out there kickflip back smithing into piles of money. I'm gonna have to recline here for a second.

—Josh Brooks