Channel One was started by former Vision pro Marty "Jinx" Jimenez. I simply liked their old ads and board graphics. Channel One was in cahoots with Acme and subscribed to the idea of not having pro models. At first this wasn't that big of a deal since they didn't have any pro riders. Most of the early team consisted of Huntington Beach locals. Later on in the 1990s, Chet Thomas, Chris Senn and a young Anthony Van Engelen would ride for the team.
Transworld - August 1991 Volume 9 Number 8
4 comments:
I want to say that Jeff King rode for them too, but I'm not sure, since the ad I think he was featured in — which was a full page of his face with blood streaming down from his temple — didn't give the rider name.
I remember the early issues of 411 had tons of footage of Channel One riders like Ron Resurrecion, Mike Judd, James Reed, and my favorite name in skateboarding, Zozi Bernat.
On the issue of pros not having models, is Powell the new Acme/Channel One? I haven't seen a Powell pro model in years, even for Steve Cab. I will say their Bones STF and SPF wheels are fantastic. Flatspots are no longer an issue.
— Rikku Markka
I don't think that Jeff King rode for them. He rode for Blockhead and Invisible. I'm pretty sure I know the ad you are talking about. When Channel One started, I think the graphics and ads were just Jinx doing his own art thing. He was working as graphic designer at Vision while he was pro. Then as time went on and Acme started using cartoon type stuff, they did as well. The comic book art looked tacky.
The issue of not having pro models has been discussed a bit on here and other websites. Back then I didn't think too much of it, but I tend to agree with the notion that it is lame and hurts the pros.
Powell had a phase in the 1990s where they had no pro models, but they ended that in the late 1990s. As far as I know, they still make boards for Cab, Wainwright and whoever else is on the team. I know they are doing the reissues of the old school decks, too. I haven't seen anybody riding a Powell board in forever, or more exactly until last week. One guy at the park had a Mini Logo blank deck. I know that there are the people that will always support Powell, but those numbers have to be dwindling. It's sad that they have lost their direction and are almost a trivial company at this point. I guess they sell bearings.
Chet Thomas..top 3 underrated skaters..Chet Thomas, Julien Stranger & Peter Hewitt....
I took a look at the Powell website. Jordan Hoffart looks to be the only pro. There is the Powell Peralta reissue wing, which has some neat looking boards.
It's hard to believe that this is the still the same company that made most of the people over thirty who look at this website want to skateboard. I didn't realize how lame they had gotten. They seem very out of touch with skateboarding today. It's kind of sad.
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Chet is an interesting choice. When you take in his full body of work, than yes he has mad skills. He did some insane mini ramp stuff in the 1990s and was the hot am on Powell. Too bad he gets bogged down with the blandness of Darkstar these days.
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