Happy Holidays from Jeff's Skateboard Page

2013 is drawing to a close and it's that time of year again. It has been a year of personal ups and downs but regardless of what is going on in your life, skateboarding will always be there waiting for you. Thank you all for stopping by and making this thing happen, see you all in 2014.

Casting Shadows

Capsule dorking at Marietta, Ohio's Indian Acres. Photo by Em.

Barnyards, Circus Trains, and Snub Nose Decks

The Vallely Barnyard circa 1988. The slightly tapered rectangle shape looked like a big freestyle deck and was "the" street deck when it was released back in the day. Mike's part in Rubbish Heap pretty much sealed the deal.

Mike palming a backside melon on what appears to be a Barnyard prototype. Some local friends went to a demo back in the day and talked to Jim Thiebaud who told them that Vallely was riding a board that was "a big rectangle." We had no idea that the future was now.

Elephant Brand Skateboards brought back the OG shape of the Barnyard with the Vallely Circus Train. Thanks to the kindness of a dear friend I am now in possession of one of these jewels but I most admit that I am torn between hanging it or riding it. Strongly considering having one cut custom and hanging the original for preservation. The shape is entirely too innovative for me to not ride.

The Sims Lonnie Toft Snub Nose. Ten years before the introduction of the Barnyard there was the Toft Snub Nose shape. Steve Rocco rode for Sims for years with both a freestyle model deck and a street model. Could Toft's snub nose figured into the conversation that brought us the predecessor to today's popsicle sticks? We may never know. Unless we ask Mike.

Confusion in the market place. Buy the Toft kid!

Curb Contest

Hammerheads

Svitak Roots 10/31

Latest NOS Acquisition

Found this NOS blank on eBay and couldn't pass it up. 10" x 30.5" with 14.5" wheelbase, 5" nose and 6.5" tail. The concave is deep and the tail is quite steep and reminiscent of an older H-Street "Hell Concave" mold or the Santa Cruz "Cruz Missile" concave.

Bottom view, basic late 1980s fish shape. Can't wait to grip it and rip it.

Not Us

"Never has so little meant so much to so many." I think that's the way the ad was worded anyway. The introduction of a new dual wheelbase and variable nose size along with the addition of about an inch and a half in length to what was already one of skateboarding's top selling boards, was, indeed, a big deal to a great lot of people at the time, myself included. The Natas, previously measuring in at 10" x 30", had been re-worked, slimmed, and stretched to a 9.75" by 31.5" plank of street machinery. Minds were blown and skateboarding evolved a little more.

Before He Souled the World

The Rocco we grew up with, Bert slides and bunny hops, freestyle and street skating, the birth of streetstyle. Grip tape on the underside of the nose, Silly Stix rails, Jinx and Swank stickers, all hearkening back to a time when a close friend was simply not afraid to sign his letter to Transworld Skateboarding "...President of the Steve Rocco Fan Club."

Speed Wheels and the damage done

Fish tail spoon nose curb crusher.

OJ II Street Razor 60mm 95a from Marc's Board Shop.

About My Speed

Never Too Old

Swank

Something of an Enigma

in with the new

Sunshine and Shadows

Bored of Rain

Dreamscape

Double Oh Cee

Curb Spot

Wheel Evolution

Most of my set-ups look like 1985 or 1989, gravitating between 56mm and 60mm for the most part.

Afghanistan Bananastand

I believe this ran in the June 1988 issue of Thrasher. The rest is history.

New Fish Tail Spoon Nose

Well, there is nothing "new" about the shape anyway. Reminiscent of several H-Street decks produced from 1989 to 1991 namely the Ron Allen, this one measures 10" wide by 31.5" long, with a 6.5" tail and a 6" nose, and a 14.5" wheel base.


The Indy 169s are dwarfed by the 10" width of this deck. The wheel wells add a nice touch, but I like them more for their purpose than their appearance. With a set 1/4" Indy riser and 60mm 95a OJ Street Razors this set-up is ready to roll!

Vans Pool Party 2013 Masters Division

Common Criminals: The Anthology of Stoke

We skateboarders are a diverse and opinionated lot, each of us with our very own story about how a seven-ply maple plank with four urethane wheels forever changed our lives. Sometimes these stories get collected and shared, and David Thornton's Common Criminals: The Anthology of Stoke is one of those extraordinary collections.

Thornton, a father, executive chef, freelance writer, and skater, compiled the short stories of a dozen skaters with his own anecdotes and narratives. The result of his effort is an interesting and enjoyable medley of skateboarders "talking story" about their favorite pastime. Common Criminals contains adventurous tales of searching for backyard pools, recountings of lifetimes spent on board in pursuit of the stoke, and testimonials of aging lifers who live to skate and skate to live. Thornton and his contributor's stories are unique and are presented in diverse writing styles ranging from stream of consciousness, to memoir, to the informal essay, ensuring the reader something interesting with the beginning of each new tale.

To get a copy in your hands (or on your Kindle) order here and begin reading this book.

Fish Sticks

LIFE Skateboards Sean Sheffey circa 1990 - 1991. The fish shaped boards of this particular period often sport a slightly longer nose (approx 5" to 5.5")than their late 1980s predecessors which usually had a nose measuring 3.75" to 4". Boards of this particular period averaged about 31.5" in length and also featured double-drilled front truck mounting holes for dual wheelbase/nose length.


LIFE Skateboards Kien Lieu model. Another prime example of the 1990 - 1991 period with its dual wheelbase/nose length, and the fish shape with subtle to very little flare out in the tail if any at all.

Tuesday Tail Slide

Your's truly in the midst of a fakie to tail slide at the curb spot. Image capture by Em.

Texas Style

7 Seconds with Bill Danforth

Crusty gutter punk stuff. It's good to be old. And drunk.

SkatePaige Side-G and Indy 169s

Super stoked on this setup. The SkatePaige Side-G is now riding on Independent 169s after a long time on 149s. While I like the quick response of the 149, but there is nothing like the feel of the Indy 169. Thanks to Skateboarding Is My Lifetime Sport and their extensive research into skateboard trucks, I made a change that was way overdue.

Wallows 1986

He Was So Good Man!

Corey O'Brien

Kendallmeister

Snubs and Wide Loads

I know this had better show up on eBay Watch! Original Lonnie Toft master pattern/jig from 1978. It may be gone by the time you get there, but here is a link. Photo courtesy of Truck Bolts,used entirely without permission.

I've Got It Under Control

Follow Your Nose

How much nose is too much nose? I like enough to pop a good no comply shove-it, maybe 4.5 - 5 inches max. I find that most of my current setups have a nose bigger than, if not equal to, the size of the tail, and average about 6.5 inches or more. Board shape, like skateboarding itself,is subjective. Boards with shapes (yes, functional skateboards with shapes, not all boards with shape are "cruisers", cruising is an activity/attitude more than a board type, but I digress), are increasing in popularity and availability as many skaters are realizing that you can do just as much on a shaped deck as you can on a popsicle shape.
Now, back to the nose. The nose of the board has been utilized as long as there has been one on the board, from hang-ten nose wheelies and the Brown Bomber's Samoan Squat to Blender and Grosso's nose stalls to fakie in the mid to late 1980s. I am lucky to have a diverse quiver of boards and am always looking to diversify. My next effort to keep things fresh and interesting will be a setup with a little more tail and a little less nose. Stay tuned.

Lip Up Fatty

A gem of an ad for this Slappy Sunday post.
"Always thought Lucero had a clumsy, fat-guy style." - Skinny fucker.
"GFYS!" - Jeff

Cruz Control

Vans, bdu's, curbs.

The Meaning of Life

Derelict?

Riky Barnes, Venture Trucks, 1987.

Wall Jam Nose

Remember, Tuesday is Soylent Green Day

'member?

John Drake Is A Filthy ANIMAL!

Top quality made in USA decks available from ANIMAL! Photo courtesy of ANIMAL SKATEBOARDS.

Archival Pic

Mike D. with a fat ass Ollie North, or one foot ollie, at the now defunct City National spot. Photo unknown, circa 1992.

Bill Danforth 10/31 Deck

Things are kind of slow at the Skateboard Page these, but I found this to be a newsworthy gem. About time.

Blockhead

F.T.D.S.

I'm in a world of shit sarge. Jerm raised the bar with a Lee Ralph style grind over a hole where miscreants urinate.

We're Just A Wrecking Crew

Bored boys with nothing to do. No. We have a lot of skating to do. Still a wrecking crew though.