Claus Grabke #4.

Zeitnehmer.

Claus takes flight over a field. He is from Germany and was pro for Santa Cruz. He's also a musician and has a band called Eight Dayz. Claus is vegetarian and turned down the offer to have the first pro model shoe from Etnies on account of the design using leather and suede. As was often the case with pros from the 1980s, he had a thematic series of board graphics with variations on clocks and time.

I scanned some stuff form assorted issues of Strange Notes, the 'zine/catalog that Santa Cruz would mail out back before the internet ruined the world.

The photo is by Ulrich Niewöhner.

Strange Notes - October 1989

Peter Hewitt #19.

Nifty, nifty, Hewitt's fifty.

Long time vert and pool ripper Peter Hewitt hit the 50 year old mark somewhat recently.

When Hewitt and Al Partanen did the loop in Mexico that was set up for Birdhouse's The End, was it ever documented or did they simply do it for the sake of doing it? I assume that somebody would've taken photos. I believe they helped build the loop, too. I know Tony Hawk asked them to keep it a secret until after the video was out, but it seems like enough time has passed to let any footage see the light of day. Although I think I kind of prefer the loop story as a story. It's getting boring how everything is documented these days.

Spitfire: Thrasher - September 2009 Volume 29 Number 9

Anti-Hero: Thrasher - April 2012 Volume 32 Number 4

Nestor Judkins #3.

Nestor recently popped up in the new Jacuzzi Unlimited video with hot shoe am Tony Latham. He's got still got his classic style and tricks, although it was strange seeing him with longer hair. Tony might be the new Mike Plumb. Nestor is running Salad Days of Skateboarding, a nonprofit organization that looks to promote skateboarding in places that could use some support.

Thrasher - September 2009 Volume 29 Number 9

Marisa Dal Santo #3.

Destruction Squirrel.

Silly little things like this are sometimes the best part of skateboarding.

That new Quasi video was something. I dug the skateboard moves and weird chopped up editing. I wasn't really digging the hassles of all the house spots. It's too much needless anxiety over a dumb trick.

The article is by Joe Hammeke.

Thrasher - October 2012 Volume 32 Number 10

Guy Mariano #7.

Guy takes a railslide for a lengthy ride during the Girl, Lakai, and Fourstar days.

Honestly, having a clothing line on Dickies feels like a step down from riding for Fourstar. Although we all know that skateboard clothing is the ficklest of all the fickle aspects of skateboarding business so go with whatever is working for you at the time.

In other Guy news, Palace is running a graphic based on a board he had for Girl in 2001.

Thrasher - October 2012 Volume 32 Number 10

Collin Provost #10.

Swinging party down the line.

A long haired Collin goes the distance for Toy Machine on a lipslide. He recently closed out the new Creature video with a part full of big ollies and ditches that one would expect from him.

In Toy Machine news, they have a new video out soon. I'm stoked to see they turned Georgia Martin pro.

At least one of the photos in the ad is by Joe Hammeke.

Thrasher - April 2012 Volume 32 Number 4

James Hardy #4.

What's your biggest vice, then?

Sweet tea. I drink that stuff like there's no tomorrow.

James was pro for Real and recently passed away. His other sponsors included Fallen and RVCA. He was part of the stellar Real team that stared in the Since Day One video from 2011.

For the quote: Thrasher - January 2011 Volume 31 Number 1

Tailslide: Thrasher - September 2009 Volume 29 Number 9

Handrail: Thrasher - December 2010 Volume 30 Number 12