Archives

The Freshmen
|TransWorld Skateboarding
The FreshmenPhotos by Pete ThompsonDan MurphyIn the unpredictable world of skateboarding, seldom are there instances of unknown talent exploding onto the scene without warning, but I think Dan may be headed in that direction. He's from Boston, Massachusetts but lives in my hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. He's one of those guys who likes to skate all day, and when you're finishing up that cold-cut combo at Subway, he's the guy who oddly chimes in, "You wanna go skate that gap?"He's full of energy and full of ideas, including driving... Read more...
What'd I Do?, Emerican Ams in Florida
|TransWorld Skateboarding
A Motley Crew IndeedPretty much the whole team had eyebrows, well, except for Bryan Herman, I suppose. He had shaved his off the previous night. I had assumed that he’d either lost a bet or had them removed in some kind of Baker team hazing. Nothing could have been further from the truth; he did it himself. His uniformly cut hair and lack of eyebrows gave him the appearance of a bald chemotherapy patient sporting a wig. We were definitely a strange-looking group. Team Manager Justin Regan had a thick... Read more...
Toner 23: Not Happening
|TransWorld Skateboarding
TransWorld SKATEboardingVolume 21 Number 5file: Toner 23Toner 23Not HappeningPushing around on a skateboard, and all the things that go along with that simply truthful exercise, would appear to exist gleefully and almost exclusively in the last minute: that magical instant just before any moment. And the idea that anything associated with skating might be destined to take place–no matter how premeditated or -arranged it appears–is complete and total caca.Why? Because (Yoda says) a society of procrastinators, we are–serving our sentences in the infinite space preceding what’s supposed to happen. Consider... Read more...
Kristian Svitak: Pro Spotlight
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Kristian Svitak is a professional skater. His saleable name and abilities detach him from the multitudes. Advertising and video production have made him known to you. In skateboarding’s blurry eyes, he’s a man of commendable escapades–a hero some might say. But, if you would, gaze up from your scuffed toes and reflect on this thought for a moment–no one’s really unlike their so-called heroes. The main difference between you and them is only one of these three things:Situation (right time).Geography (right place).Absolutely nothing (right?).Svitak is genuine. He’s actual. He doesn’t... Read more...
Good Stuff Ryan Gallant
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Ryan Gallant is one of the most influential human beings who’s ever stepped on a skateboard–ever! And the strength of that can’t be diminished. If anything, it’ll grow. People who aren’t even alive now will be influenced by his skating. That’s the power of skateboarding when it’s done that well, which isn’t very often.In the early twenty-first century, young skateboarders didn’t have a voice–they were just null and void. No one dealt with them or took them seriously until Ryan Gallant came along. He leaves most with the impression that... Read more...
Amboy Road, The Road to Nowhere Ends Here
|TransWorld Skateboarding
The list of those who either frequented the area (or were just passing through) reads as if we’re talking about a famous skate spot–and in a way, we are. Pat Duffy, Jeremy Wray, Jonas Wray, Neal Mims, Danny Montoya, Rob Gonzalez, Fabrizio Santos, Pat Channita, Chany Jeanguinin, Chris Lambert, Mike Manzoori, Kyle Leeper, and Richard Angelides, among other people just passed by without even seeing Amboy Road. It’s a 50-mile stretch of California’s Mojave Desert that links the town of Twentynine Palms with the all-but-forgotten-about ghost town of Amboy. Amboy... Read more...
Dodging Bullets, Vans Excursion to Mexico
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Everything was going a little too smoothly. The new Vans amateur squad–Van Wastel, Jeremiah Vance, Scott Kane, and Terry Kennedy–boarded Mexicana Airline flight 252. Then, right before we landed, the turbulence hit. A very unhappy stewardess yelled at Terry because his tray table was still down and he was using his Discman. He just looked at her and shouted lyrics from a Jay-Z song he was listening to. Then she freaked the f–k out, started screaming, shook his fold-down tray, punched his Discman, and stormed down the aisle ranting something... Read more...
20 Questions Jake Nunn
|TransWorld Skateboarding
1. If you could resurrect one spot, what would it be? Jeff Phillips’ old skatepark.2. What’s your biggest pet peeve when traveling? When I have to drive at night or in traffic on an interstate.3. Retro dance club or emo dive bar? Anywhere that has quality music and cheap bottles.4. Lower East Side art gallery or death-metal mullet-fest? My house, sound asleep.5. Long socks or ankle socks? Gotta have the shorties for good circulation.6. Have you ever done a flip in-flip out trick? Only frontside pressure flip 50-50 to late... Read more...
2002 Vans Triple Crown FinalsOceanside, California
|TransWorld Skateboarding
2002 Vans Triple Crown FinalsOceanside, CaliforniaAlmost twenty years after Oceanside, California hosted its first professional contest, 1986's Oceanside Street Attack, the Vans Triple Crown extravaganza descended on the historic beachfront amphitheater for the final stop in its tri-city series. O.S.A., held only for two years ('86 and '87), was the setting for what would later be recognized as the definitive stage in street skating.At a time when ollieing up a curb was a huge deal, Mark Gonzales backside truck stalled on a bench, and Mike V. nosepicked the wood backrest... Read more...
Check Out Kellen James
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Check Out Kellen JamesAge: 20Hometown: Chula Vista, CaliforniaSponsors: Maple, Street Machine skate shop, Orion trucks, Etnies"When I was youngerFull of ideas and broken dreams (my friend)When I was younger, ah hahEverything simple but not so clear ...Now I am olderThe more that I see the less that I know for sureNow I am older, ah hahThe future is brighter and now is the hour."-John Lennon Read more...
VOLUME
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Krushed And SortedAcid Made Me Do ItAfrican Dope RecordsSpacey, trippy, rootsy, wavy, beatsy, groovy, and cosmic are a few words that could describe this DJ beat-fest. There’re two reasons why this CD has a place in a skateboard magazine—one reason is the content will appeal to the reggae/Rasta crew of hippie-flip skaters. Also, there’s a song titled "Animal Chin Remix." Animal Chin was the name of a skate video in the 80s—how appropriate! This is drum and bass with a reggae/dance-hall flair that’ll cause your speakers to boom and your... Read more...
Video Reviews
|TransWorld Skateboarding
La LuzA film by Jay MaldonadoCapicu Productions I’ve spent one-third of my life in the suburbs of Long Island; one-third in Ozone Park, Queens; and the other third in and around Brooklyn, New York. This means that I used to have an actual driveway and backyard; I used to have a "Free John Gotti" T-shirt; and I speak an ugly, bastardized version of "white boy in da ’hood" Spanish. Basically, the latter knowledge usually consists of ordering food and telling girls on the A train how beautiful they look. Unfortunately,... Read more...
Skate Slang
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Absolut Claimers–Tricks people claim they’re going to do when they’re tilted at the bar. Example: "You should have heard the Absolut Claimers coming out of Tim’s mouth last night! Dude was claimin’ BSNBS down the Hollywood sixteen!"firecracker–Rolling off a set of stairs and smacking every stair on the way down with your tail. Example: "Dude! Griffin pulled the loudest firecracker down a twelve-stair yesterday!"fader–The technique used when cops roll up on a skate session and you just slowly fade away from the scene to avoid a ticket. Example: "We all... Read more...
Tangent
|TransWorld Skateboarding
"A Film About The Birth Of The Now," the tag line accompanying the Dogtown And Z-Boys movie poster says it all. On April 26, 2002, Sony Pictures will unveil the much-anticipated movie–documenting the rise of surf/skate culture in and around Santa Monica and Venice Beach, California during the 70s–in a nationwide release. Rush to movie theaters to spend your hard-earned greenbacks, or if you need a taste of what’s to come, visit sonypictures.com to sneak a peek of the flick’s trailer.On the subject of Dogtown, Tony Alva was featured in... Read more...
TAMPA AM 2002
|TransWorld Skateboarding
The following story is based on actual events.Scene IThe story begins on a street in Queens, New York. Traffic is audible, as is the cry of a fishmonger. In a nearby apartment, Andy, a journalist, sits at the window watching businesswomen come off a bus across the street. The phone rings.Andy:Hola. Hello. Speak to me!Voice on phone: Hey, Andy–this is Eric at TransWorld. Listen, Shad is going to be busy next week, so we were wondering if you would go down to Tampa to cover the contest for us.Andy: You’re... Read more...
Starting Point
|TransWorld Skateboarding
1. First you need to make sure you have enough speed to clear the gap. In other words–SKATE FAST!2. Start your ollie.3. Keep the board attached to your feet and under control.4. Now level the board out and spot your landing, check if you’re going to clear the gap.5. Extend those legs and center your weight.6. Land straight.7. Absorb the impact.8. Roll away. Read more...
Relapse
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Following the theme of the Amateur Issue, we decided to resurrect photos of current pros before they were elevated to the illustrious title of professional skateboarder. Our weekly editorial meetings have become a forum for throwing out ideas and naming classic photos we'd like to see in print once again. Kris Markovich, Guy Mariano, Lance Mountain, Jeremy Wray, and Steve Berra were just a few names tossed around for this issue's Relapse. We had trouble finding photos for all of the above, but we were able to find a group... Read more...
Pink Motel
|TransWorld Skateboarding
The legendary Pink Motel in Southern Califonia was the scene for an afternoon backyard style pool session. For a few hundred dollars an hour, the Pink Motel could be yours to skate, but on February 9, 2002 it was a gathering for yesteryear's pool shredders. Deathbox skateboards spearheaded the event, which was even catered. As time was running out on the session, Tum Yeto's Tod Swank footed the bill to extend the sesh an extra hour, much to the delight of the skaters. It was the ultimate pool party without... Read more...
Park Spotting
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Grass Valley, California is the home of a sweet new skatepark. In my opinion, it’s one of the best parks in NorCal (right up there with Ripon). What makes this park extra sweet is the beautiful surroundings and fresh air. No fluorescent-lit malls, fourteen-dollar entry fees, pads, or any of that other bullshit. Grass Valley’s park was built by the local skateboarders and their community.This park is the end result of many years of hard work. Gus Coronel (owner of Goodtimes Board Shop in downtown Grass Valley) got the ball... Read more...
Litterbox
|TransWorld Skateboarding
This Litterbox is dedicated to the kooks–the kooks at your school, the kooks at the skatepark, and that kook in the mirror. Get kooky: TransWorld SKATEboarding, Attn: Litterbox, 353 Airport Road, Oceanside, CA 92054, or email skatemag@twsnet.com.GRANDMA RIPS! Dear Sirs, when my grandson requested a "skateboard quilt," I agreed–only if he would help design and cut it. The result was "Logo Legends," a fun project we did together. It measures 50 inches by 50 inches and is flannel-backed.–Sincerely, Dona Bassnett, Aurora, ColoradoYou’ve just earned the prestigious TWS Grandma Of The... Read more...
Last Words Brandon Biebel
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Last person you took out in basketball: Can’t remember. Line ’em up–you’ll get dunked on.Last book you read:Who Moved My Cheese? Last album you listened to: Jay-Z, Unplugged.Last country you visited: Spain.Last time you cried: Not happening. Last piece of clothing you bought: Leather coat. Last time you were in a car accident: Girl barge trip. Smythe almost killed us. Last food you ate: Cheeseburger from the Foreman grill.Last dream you had: Don’t dream, or at least never remember.Last TV show you watched:Blind Date, ElimiDate, NBA League Pass.Last team sport... Read more...
Grown Man Hammers: Evan Hernandez
|TransWorld Skateboarding
When you ask most skate kids who their favorite skaters are, they usually pick someone from the lineup of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game. But when I asked Evan Hernandez who his favorite pros were, he said Mike Carroll, Cairo Foster, and Danny Montoya. I must say, to pick those three you must really know that (A) They all do good nollie kickflips, or (B) There are plenty of great street skaters outside the lineup of today’s most popular video games. Evan’s knowledge of today’s street skating goes further... Read more...
Gasbag
|TransWorld Skateboarding
As a kid, I remember trying to make my measly five-dollar allowance stretch as far as it possibly could. Sneaking into the movies with some friends was a clever way to spend minimal fundage while being entertained for a couple hours away from the hot sun in the comfort of an air-conditioned building. We devised a plan: Put our money together to pay for one ticket! Once the inside man was in the theater, he’d open the emergency-exit door for the rest of us. Ingenious, to say the least–it worked... Read more...
Chris Dobstaff Good Stuff
|TransWorld Skateboarding
Chris Dobstaff is a rare breed in skateboarding. I’ve had the pleasure of watching him come up the ranks for years now. He has a good style, great pop, and can be a real animal on his board. Chris is very disciplined and reserved, yet can be wild and crazy at the same time. It just depends on what mode he clicks into. You can tell when he takes his first push of the day that he truly enjoys being on a skateboard. But when it comes to landing one... Read more...