Stylized Ampersand.
G & S was started as a surfboard company by Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith in 1959. They got into skateboarding and had quite a successful run in the 1970s and 1980s. The team during the heyday of the 80s included Chris Miller, Neil Blender, Hugh "Bod" Boyle, Steve Claar, Nicky Guerrero, Remy Stratton, Blaize Blouin, and more. The company lost a number of riders and employees in the early 1990s. Chris Carter, Mike Hill, Neil Blender, Steve Claar, Rob Dyrdek, and Duane Pitre all bounced to start the Alien Workshop. Willy Santos and Andrew Reynolds were picked up for Tony Hawk's new Birdhouse Projects in 1992. Kris Markovich was also on G & S briefly before going to 101.
Even with the changes in skateboarding at the time, G & S switched up their image a little and kept going. Mark Heintzman stuck with the team and they still had rising am Matt Beach until he left for Birdhouse. Future Think pro Matt Pailes and Maple pro Thom Hornung were part of the company as well.
Transworld - December 1992 Volume 10 Number 12
5 comments:
Never knew Reynolds was on G&S, I had his first (or one there of) Birdhouse deck (Grim Reaper, remember it being a perfect shape at the time) and thought he was someone Hawk had unearthed.
It seems like when companies try to dramatically change their style/image/aesthetic, it never works.
I remember the Grim Reaper. I think Reynolds rode the same shape for ages. Like he found one board he liked and just kept going with that.
Trying to keep up with the current trends never works out. You have to be aware of them, but also a little bit above them.
how would you describe the style/image/aesthetic of G&S ? before the 90s change.
The 1980s.
A somewhat eclectic mix of stuff. It was cool that they let the riders do their own art.
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