Skateboards

A stunning memoir of growing up in America as the child of would-be socialist revolutionaries during the twilight of Communism.

Contains photographic sequences with narrative text that describe thirty-four skateboarding tricks, including old school, spine, and new school stunts, and includes an interview with skateboarder and coach Steve Badillo.

Every culture has a creation myth, and skateboarding is no different. The Ollie forged a new identity for skateboarding after its invention in the 1970s, and it lies at the root of nearly every significant move in street skating today. This groundbreaking no-handed aerial has also affected the evolution of surfing and snowboarding, and has left a permanent impression upon popular culture and language. This, then, is the story of the Ollie, the history and technology that set the stage for its creation, the pioneers who made it happen, and the skaters who used it to start a revolution.

Eleven-year-old Sibby Henry liked her old life. Now she's living in a new town with her nan and pops, and is mad at her dad for messing everything up. On her first day of school, she sees a dope skateboard park. But she can’t use it because her precious board is gone forever. To make things worse, Freddie, a super skater and a super jerk, dominates the park. Sibby tries to stay cool, but when Freddie gets in the face of Sibby’s friend Charlie Parker Drysdale, things get too hot for chill. Never one to back down, Sibby accepts when Freddie challenges her to a skateboarding competition. She won’t let anything stop her from proving herself.

In the 1970s, photographer Hugh Holland masterfully captured the burgeoning culture of skateboarding against a sometimes harsh but always sunny Southern California landscape. This never-before-published collection showcases his black-and-white photographs that document young skateboarders sidewalk surfing off Mulholland Drive in concrete drainage ditches and empty swimming pools in a drought-ridden Southern California. From suburban backyard haunts to the asphalt streets that connected them, this was the place that inspired the legendary Dogtown and Z-Boys skateboarders. With their requisite bleached-blond hair, tanned bodies, tube socks and Vans, these young outsiders evoke the sometimes reckless but always exhilarating origins of skateboarding lifestyle and culture.

The variety of skateboards, wheels, trucks, and gear available for skaters is incredible. It's easy for skaters to get confused when searching for the right board suitable for their size and the kind of skating they do. Wingate eliminates the confusion by explaining the difference in such things as board sizes, the similarities of rubber wheels, and the importance of maintenance.

"This collection of graphic art covers 40 years of Jim Phillips' free-lance and fine art, and contains hundreds of samples of posters, ads, logos, labels, cartoons, and other art forms that have entertained many and provided cultural identity for others. The story weaves history and insight into Jim's images, revealing the life and works of this California artist. ..."--Back cover.