John Cardiel #15.

"Yeah, because this new company has inspired me so much to skate, it makes me want to go skating all the time. Like I have a burning flame inside that I just want to keep burning fatter and fatter."

Fueling the fire.

I didn't double check, but this is probably the first appearance of the classic eagle logo.

For the quote: Thrasher - September 1995 Volume 15 Number 9

Thrasher - March 1996 Volume 16 Number 3

Bob Burnquist #7.

Since Anti-Hero is turning 25 this fall, I figured I would follow up the early days of Real with a look back at the Eagle. The pickings were a little slim for this since I have posted a bunch of their early ads already, but I eventually came up with something.

Anti-Hero was started in the summer of 1995 to become the third board company out of Deluxe. They joined Real and Stereo. Julien Stranger had been riding for Real before being given the keys to a new jalopy. John Cardiel was on Black Label and doing a lot of snowboarding at the time. I've always felt the sponsor change refocused his energy back on skateboarding. Brazilian vert sensation Bob Burnquist also moved over from Real and was granted pro status immediately. Sean Young and Eric J. were the other two riders on the original team. Chris Johanson and Todd Francis were the artists who created a lot of the graphics to give Anti-Hero its signature look.

Thrasher - November 1995 Volume 15 Number 11

Jim Thiebaud #7.

I like how Jim always gives props to his friends and favorites with his t-shirt and sticker choices. He's wearing a Ron Chatman shirt. There are decals for Henry Sanchez, Matt Hensley, and Randy Colvin on his board.

Useless bit of trivia: The ad for Metallica's Black Album ran on the page opposite this.

Tail grab tally for the week: Five. Real maxed out with two in yesterday's ad. It would be nice to see larger photos of Tommy's backside air tail grab. It looks super cool.

Thrasher - September 1991 Volume 11 Number 9

Tommy Guerrero #9.

The Street Chicken flies out of a curb cut with the aid of a tail grab. I think this is the spot where Danny Sargent skated in Useless Wooden Toys. Rancid floats a nifty frontside ollie with a tail grab at Studio 43.

There's a good interview with long time Deluxe photographer Gabe Morford up now at the Transworld website.

Tommy's photo is by Luke Ogden and Jim's sequence is by Bryce Kanights.

Thrasher - August 1991 Volume 11 Number 8

Tony Henry #2.

Power.

Tony was from San Jose. He rode for Real, Thunder, Spitfire, and Vans. He had a small amount of coverage and that was about it. Rick Ibaseta said in an interview that a few injuries might have taken him out early. There are no tail grabs in this ad, but Tony does bust out a backside noseblunt slide to fakie. This has to be one of the earliest documentations of that trick. Sadly, Tony passed away in 2013.

Thrasher - July 1991 Volume 11 Number 7

Rob "Sluggo" Boyce #5.

Sluggo spins a 540 tail grab. The tail grab was quite a popular addition to tricks in 1991. You can check all the times somebody is doing one this week.

Thrasher - June 1991 Volume 11 Number 6

Salman Agah #6.

Big Sal kicks it with a tail grab over a hip. He had been riding for Powell Peralta prior to switching to Jim and Tommy's new joint. I like how he's got a red and a blue riser pad. Sal is riding a set of Real Small Wheels, the 53 mm wheels Real sold in six packs due to the smaller size and less urethane being used. He's wearing the classic Vans Chukka boots that Matt Hensley made famous, too.

Thrasher - May 1991 Volume 11 Number 5