Mike Vallely #9.

“It’s 1990, boys. Let’s get rid of the skeletons.”

I guess you can't go too far wrong with a skull on skateboard, regardless of what Neil Blender thinks. Or maybe you can. Truthfully, this has to be decided on a case by case basis.

For general accounting purposes, Mike recently plowed Street Plant under and is back on the nostalgia machine that is Powell Peralta. Again. I never knew or maybe simply forgot that Powell's Bug graphic was also a model for Mike. Vallely Skateboards was distributed by Giant after he rode for the Black Label and before he would ride for Element. The team included Steffan Attardo, Jesse Fritsch, Alysson Castro, and Bobby Stewart.

Transworld - September 2003 Volume 21 Number 9

Donny Binaco.

Jersey Metal.

Kre-per Trucks were created by the Grind King crew. They came up with a gothic design that looked like something Batman would have on his skateboard. The ads followed along with a vaguely dark and apocalyptic theme. Donny is one of Fred Gall's boys and part of the Metal squad.

Here's a sample of the trucks from Transworld:

I understand why the mags slowly phased out actual product reviews over the years, but skateboarding lost something without the occasional bit of cynical criticism.

I picked out assorted spooky ads from 2002 and 2003 for Halloween this year.

The photo is by Ryan Panis.

Trucks: Transworld - June 2004 Volume 22 Number 6

Donny: Transworld - October 2002 Volume 20 Number 10

Matt Field #11.

Wall Flower.

I've been thinking about what skateboarding was like twenty years ago lately. They built the local park and a lot of kids were rolling. Rasa Libre and the relaunched Stereo were popular among the skaters who were more creative and didn't fully relate to either the hesh or fresh camps. After doing this blog for a while, I'm fascinated by what younger generations pick up as as key influences.

I guess the Ipath reboot has been selling well, even if a few of the original heads aren't involved. I only did minimal research when I posted the Ipath scans back in August, but the company was on the sketchy side in its heyday, as per usual in the shady world of skateboard business. It turned the week into kind of a bummer because I wanted it to be a feel good type of entry about the return of a much loved departed brand. That's how it goes sometimes.

I've got the annual week of Halloween fun planned out. I'm amazed I can think of something vaguely different each year for scary season.

Thrasher - June 2004 Volume 24 Number 6

Max Schaaf #17.

Ultimate North Cal Barney.

It's a rare sighting of street Max. Mr. Schaaf goofs off in front of Mike Carroll and Paul Rodriguez during a photo shoot for Fourstar.

Jamestown Skateboard Products is having their annual King of the Ramp party this Saturday, October 26, 2024. Bad Waitress, Thee Audience, and Television Overdose will be playing some live tunes. There's also a Halloween costume contest. The event is sponsored by 4 Life Skateboards, Lowcard, Rust Belt Skateboards, Tail Devil, Goodsen, Biodome, and Snowbelt Gardens. JSP is located at 207 Pine Street in Jamestown, New York.

Thrasher - June 2004 Volume 24 Number 6

Ed Selego #4.

Hitting the bricks.

Ed's doing a wallie to backside lipslide on a steep brick planter. I picked this one out because I thought it was a different view for an uncommon trick.

Are Habitat and Alien Workshop now under distribution by Quasi?

The photograph is by Ian O'Connor.

Transworld - June 2004 Volume 22 Number 6

Ryan Gallant #3.

The new Orion.

Silver was a truck brand started in 2003 by Rob Dyrdek. Syndrome Distribution handled the production logistics. I figure that Orion Trucks ended in 2002 and Rob wanted to establish a new sponsor. The team had some heavy hitters of the day, including Josh Kalis, Paul Rodriguez, and Stevie Williams. Silver was around for a while and lasted until the early 2020s with the expected roster changes along the way. I never had a pair so I don't know what they were like, but I believe Silvers didn't get the best reviews ever. I do think the kids rode them at the skatepark with their plastic cored wheels.

Transworld - May 2004 Volume 22 Number 5

Anex Trucks.

Built to hardflip.

Rodney Mullen wasn't the only guy from the A-Team who was into truck design. Chet Thomas launched Anex in the spring of 2004. I'm making an educated guess that Chet started or worked with a separate distributor outside of Dwindle since the trucks are listed as available through Aparatus Inc. The team included Canadian rippers Gailea Momolu and Pierre-Luc Gagnon.

I found this in the thrift store on Saturday:

Transworld - June 2004 Volume 22 Number 6