Jeff Grosso #2.

Mothra for Halloween.

Thrasher - November 1989 Volume 9 Number 11

Riky Barnes #4.

Ah, the good old days when pros could get away with a 5 - 0 on a curb for a serious advertisement.

Thrasher - July 1990 Volume 10 Number 7

Riky Barnes #3.

This is the graphic for Riky's first pro model. John Lucero's art from this time is some of my favorite stuff in skateboarding. I had the t - shirt. I wish I still had it. Lucero at this point was distributed by Santa Cruz/NHS before a failed partnership with Vision. Black Label was started after the Vision deal fell apart.

Thrasher - September 1989 Volume 9 Number 9

Riky Barnes #2.

It's pretty cool how pros sold just on image back in the day. If a guy had a neat graphic, it didn't matter a whole lot about the person. Of course if the pro did have an interesting personality to go along with some good art, then it was even better. This is why people still care about Jeff Grosso and not Bill Tocco. As I'm typing this, I realize I don't know all that much about Riky Barnes, other than I liked his board graphic. Looking at the photo today, I notice the obvious Duane Peters influence, which probably explains the leopard spot hair. Maybe. Also the nose ring is something else. Not many people had those in the late 1980s.

Thrasher - June 1989 Volume 9 Number 6

Wade Speyer #2.

Wade throws down a street grab back when street grabs were a legit trick and not frowned upon by the You Will Soon crew.

Thrasher - February 1991 Volume 11 Number 2

Mike Conroy #3.

"I try to be strong, fast and powerful. Every time I learn a trick, I try to do it as big as I can."

In his Hot Shoes interview, Conroy listed Tony Hawk as a big influence. He also mentioned Danny Way and Allen Losi.

The photo is another by Bill Thomas shot.

For the quote:

Thrasher - July 1990 Volume 10 Number 7

Thrasher - November 1989 Volume 9 Number 11

Mike Conroy #2.

"I don't use riser pads because I use those Gullwings that have the thick base plates. I like my front truck really tight. The back truck is loose so I can pivot better on it and the front truck stabilizes the board."

Another vert soldier flies the 'wing. Conroy did turn pro and that is the board he is riding. That's a pretty messed up way to ride your trucks, but I guess it worked for him.

The photo is by Bill Thomas.

Thrasher - July 1990 Volume 10 Number 7

Mike Conroy #1.

...what's in store for the sport of skateboarding in the nineties
"A lot of pain."

I believe there was a request in the comments a while back for some Mike Conroy action, so here you go. He rode for SMA and was from Virginia Beach. I hate to label him as such, but he really was the token vert guy on SMA. For a team that truly acted as a team and skated the streets, Conroy seemed like an odd choice to add to the mix. I am fully willing to buy the idea that Natas wanted him on SMA and that's good enough for me.

Thrasher - July 1990 Volume 10 Number 7

Julien Stranger #7.

You ever have one of those mediocre weeks? Nothing bad happens, yet at the same time nothing good happens either. It's all work, work, work, blah, blah, blah. That's been my week. It rained after skateboarding for ten minutes one day and I missed seeing a band play another day. You aren't a happy camper and you're not sure what it's going to take to snap you out of the funk. But then you see something that instantly turns everything around for you. And going with my theory that I'm getting dumber as I get older, it usually takes something random or ridiculous to make that change. The less grown up or adult, the better.

I went to a house party with some bands last night. When I got there I saw that two of my friends had Wizard Staffs going in full effect. This is what put me in good mood. For those who don't know, a Wizard Staff is made from beer cans and duct tape. Each time you get a new beer, you tape it on top of the old one. After a few cold ones, the staff starts to grow quickly. You reach official Wizard Status when the staff is taller than you are. It's probably not the best thing to have at a house party because after about six beers it takes up a lot of room, but whatever.

Just like everybody else, I can't wait to see the Beauty & The Beast DVD.

Thrasher - December 1996 Volume 16 Number 12

Remy Stratton #3.

"In the heat of the Las Vegas sun, Remy Stratton cuts a fat tailgrab."

It's not his patented Seat Belt tailgrab, but that's OK.

The photo is by Lance "Diggity" Dawes.

Thrasher - December 1996 Volume 16 Number 12

Dan Drehobl #3.

Cancer feeble grinds at Fort Miley.

I was bummed when he quit Venture to ride for Indy. I've been skateboarding for roughly 21 years and I've ridden Ventures for the last 11 years straight. In my first 10 years of skating, I rode Ventures more often than not as well. I guess since I'm over 30, I should just make the switch to Indy, but I'm sticking with the V.

Thrasher - December 1996 Volume 16 Number 12

Julien Stranger #6.

"In The Spirit Of Misadventure"

Julien falls down. Who else would think to use a bail shot like this for an advertisement?

Since there really isn't much more that needs to be said about Citizen Stranger, I'm going to throw my two cents in the debate on fall skateboarding. My preferred months are July and August. Any time when it is hot out will do, but it's hot more days than it isn't in Western New York during those two months. I skate better in warmer weather. Throw in some humidity and I'm loving it. Plus my board feels better, too. Bushings are sensitive to the temperature and skating in the early spring or late fall, my trucks never seem quite right. Of course I almost only ride at night and the local skatepark is on Lake Erie, which takes a bit of the edge off the high temps. I can deal with September as long as it stays like August, but once you get to October and have that first cold rain, fall sucks. You're skating on borrowed time until winter.

Thrasher - September 1996 Volume 16 Number 9

Sean Young.

Most colorful Anti - Hero ad ever?

What happened to this guy? He just vanished. I feel I should know, but I don't. The ski mask photo is classic.

Thrasher - October 1996 Volume 16 Number 10

Mark Gonzales #3.

Genetically superior to all others.

Thrasher - October 1996 Volume 16 Number 10

Drake Jones.

It's all about frame number four.

For as much of the stuff you remember, there's a lot you forget or maybe didn't notice the first time around. A photo gets tucked in the back between the band interviews or something and you don't think much about it at the time or even recall it being there. Then there are the guys that came along, kicked ass and left for greener fairways. I'm sure the kids today are wondering why all the older guys are stoked on Drake Jones, but there were several things that made him awesome in the mid 1990s. He had great style and great trick selection.

Thrasher - September 1996 Volume 16 Number 9

Matt Hensley #2.

"The last few years of Matt Hensley's life have been quite a success story. Although he hasn't been in more than a handful of contests, he has earned the respect and admiration of the skateboarding population throughout the planet. Matt's been lying low lately, playing guitar in a ska band and attending scooter rallies between skate sessions and traveling. Dan Sturt caught up with Matt and shot this brilliant photo of him cruising a vintage handstand, with body art and Doc Martens in full display."

I distinctly remember being disappointed with this photo when it came out. I wanted Matt to be doing some cool trick and not a handstand. It is from the time when Matt was more or less retiring from skateboarding. Everything makes more sense today. He didn't really fit in with the goofy clothes, small wheels and pressure flip scene. I don't blame him for wanting to get away from it all. Now I think this is great photo.

Transworld - June 1992 Volume 10 Number 6