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| GRAB THAT BOARD
I often feel that skateboarding has painted itself into a curious
corner. It is almost it's own worst enemy in that it has become over
overspecialized- almost elitist in attitude. Sure, at one time there were
skateboarders everywhere. Enthusiasts numbered in the hundreds of
thousands. Parks began springing up in cities and suburbs all across the
U.S. and Europe. New products appeared on the market every day and the
skater was hard pressed to keep up with the new developments. Soon there
was a professional pool riding contest circuit and media hype to go along
with it. Skateboarding even surfaced occasionally during a weekend of
television sports programming.
Through all of this, have we, at times, lost sight of what
skateboarding really is? And, what about Jon Q. Public, the non-skater, the
one who dismissed skateboarding as just another "born-again" fad? How many
times have you heard someone say "Skateboards- Yeah, I used to ride them
back in the sixties." The problem here is a lack of understanding of what
skateboarding is all about. The average individual was never properly
exposed to the unlimited possibilities of a platform with four wheels under
it- a simple basic mechanical device which serves as an energy-efficient
mode of transportation, a basis for a valid sporting activity, and as a
vehicle for aggressive expression.
Meanwhile, at the height of the skatepark explosion, the skaters
have been virtually swept off the streets and deposited in the parks, where
the action is radical but lacks the inspiration of a knock-down, drag-out
backyard pool session or a skate cruise down the boulevard with the crew.
The fact is skateboarding can survive without the parks, but the parks will
never last without skateboarding as a whole to support them. Many times I
have wired a new trick in the street only to find myself the next day at
the park trying to perfect it on the vertical. Skateparks are fun! Street
skating is fun, and also visual. The whole world is out there waiting to be
entertained, but they want it delivered to their doorstep. So let's
deliver!
Thrasher was born out of a need for intense and objective reporting
on an activity that has established itself as a major pastime for many
people and a rewarding experience for countless others. Thrashing is an
attitude, a skate attitude. Thrashing is part of a lifestyle, a fast-paced
feeling to fit this modern world. Thrashing is finding something and taking
it to the ultimate limit- not dwelling on it, but using it to the fullest
and moving on. Skateboarding has not yet reached it's maximum potential,
and who can say what the limits are? To find out- Grab that board! You
don't have to be a super talented professional skater- Grab that board if
you're a novice just having some fun on a Saturday afternoon. To the kid
hanging out at the Stop'n'Shop with his gang- Grab that board! To the
college student who needs a vehicle to get from dorm to class- Grab that
board! And how about the dad who calls his kid crazed for riding a
skateboard all the time - Grab that board! There's no rule saying you have
to go fast or skate vertical. Just being outside or in the skatepark
practicing maneuvers and balancing is a lot of fun. Remember, there are
tons of asphalt and concrete being poured every day, so- GRAB THAT BOARD!
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