Posting this picture...

...because I like it.

Don't forget:  Barrier Kult Interview in the upcoming issue #5.

Duane Peters, Skate Rock, Me

As I mentioned in a post earlier this week, Thrasher Magazine's Skate Rock Tour came through Memphis on Wednesday, and I loved it.  To see that many top notch pros at a local spot was awesome. Heck, to see that many people at a local spot was awesome.  The skating was great, and the envelope was pushed to new levels (see video).

It seems that as they moved south toward Jackson (their next official stop) they picked up an impromptu music gig at a place in Oxford. From what I understand, things didn't go so smoothly in Oxford. In fact, there was quite a bit of online noise about the gig. Negative things have been said about both the skate/music crew coming through town, and about the Mississippi natives.

I'm not going to join up with either side on this.  I just have something I'd like to point out:

The skater in the video below is Duane Peters. His nickname is the Master of Disaster. He has fronted tons of punk bands including "The Exploding Fuck Dolls" and "U.S. Bombs." It is rumored that he is the person who first came up with the term Thrasher that was adopted both in name and theme by the magazine.

Part of me would love to see skateboarding be a squeaky clean activity that I could go out on weekends and do with my son. And, in fact, it can be just that. I think of a good friend of mine who has brought so much positive media to the local scene by being himself: a father, a skater, a caring citizen. However, we can't ignore the history of skating. Skateboarding was and is a sport for the misfit that doesn't fit in with the team mentality. It is an individual sport that smears the line between sport and art. It has reveled in a rebel image since the first young skaters were banned from riding the first skateboards. It continued through the punk rock heyday when the name Thrasher was born. It was the refuge of the small town weirdo kids in the 80's.

And finally, the rest of the world caught on that skating is amazing.

But we're still the misfits.

I'm not condoning behavior. I'm just pointing out history, and let's just say the name "Bad Shit" might just be a clue that this ain't gonna be Rodney Mullen doing a freestyle demo in short shorts and knee pads.

Luchaskate 4

Open publication -  publishing - More europe

skull skates on urban rush

Ok. Watch this.  Then write an essay for the book, Common Criminals.
 Email it to me:  luchamag@yahoo.com

Read Issue 2 Here

Here it is folks:

Issue 2 of Luchaskate Magazine.  Read it.  Download it.  Print it.  Embed it on your blog or website.  Email it. Share it and like it on facebook.  Spread the stoke!

Open publication - publishing - More d.i.y.

One correction in this issue: Dustin Dattilio rides for Shipwreck Skates NOT Shipyard Skates. Sorry, bro!

Outlaw El Bandito

I stopped by my house on the way to pick up the kiddo from his mom's place yesterday and found a box with this in it sitting on my porch.

Outlaw Skateboards El Bandito

Outlaw Skateboards was the first company to show support for a fledgling Luchaskate Magazine.  The first issue wasn't even out yet (it was just my blog) when Outlaws said they were down for the cause.  Now?  Now they've come out with their new deck, El Bandito.  The sizes vary from just over 8 through 8.8 and the larger sizes have a 15 inch wheelbase.

You can check them out at http://outlaw-skateboards.com/, but be forewarned (yeah, I been listening to Pentagram again tonight) the site will be down for maintenance until October 10th while Mike goes to Europe and prepares to come back and take wage war with corporate skateboarding.

Until then?  You're gonna see a lot of Lucha and El Bandito.

Outlaw Pray for Death Pt. 2

I did a blog post a while back...the day I got my Outlaw Pray for death deck.  I finally got a decent pic riding it today (instead of those pixelated video stills).  Fun times.

Photo by Lindsey Rowland

Stickers and T-shirts

So we have a new sticker in the works that many of you who have liked us on facebook will know about:

But, there has also been some interest in this being a t-shirt as well.  I've done a couple of mock ups, and I'd like to know your opinion.  Black t-shirt or white?

The Day Finally Came

I was hoping there would be a pour at Al Town before the first issue of Lucha came out, but it wasn't to be.  It always seemed there was something holding back fresh 'crete from happening.  Well, it finally came time today.  I wasn't able to help (had the five year old in tow and pouring 'crete wasn't the place to be with one that young), so I dropped off some refreshments (after spending the morning at the Children's Museum with my kiddo) to the crew and said hello.

Overview Shot

So...what the hell is Luchaskate?

A friend asked me about Lucha:  Who is he?  What is the idea behind Luchaskate?  WTF?

Here is where Luchaskate came from (excerpts and revisions from my email to her):

Last year, when the Memphis skatepark was being built, I made a joke that I would dress up like a luchador (masked Mexican pro wrestler) for the grand opening. I thought it would be pretty funny, and my friends would get a good laugh out of it. BUT, I was looking at masks when I realized I couldn't wear one because I have to wear glasses.

Fast forward a month or two.  I wanted to start a blog about skateboarding, but I didn't know what to call it.  Everything I thought of seemed contrived and lame like I was trying too hard to be cool.  I'm not cool.  However, I did keep thinking about the Luchador joke...in the end I called the blog, "The Four Eyed Luchador." For a while nobody read it. If I had 50 hits in a week I was happy.

BUT, suddenly I started getting readers! Hundreds of page views each week (nowadays that is everyday).

After a while I realized that "The Four eyed luchador" was too long so I shortened it to luchaskate.com.

Because the blog was now established, when I decided to start a 'zine I named it after the blog.  And, in the end I did get a couple wrestling masks and occasionally I put one on if I'm skating somewhere I'm very familiar with for a picture or two (that's all I can handle without glasses).

There ya go, the story of Lucha.

Kris and Lindsey killing time at the Yard Sale with new sharpie luchatats

 

Outlaw Skateboards "Pray for Death"

So, I got home from work today to find this in a box on my porch:

 I was officially stoked.  9" wide deck from Outlaw Skateboards ready to be set up and ridden.  Those of you that know me know that I've been working my way down from 43" longboards to more standard pool size decks.  My last deck was a 15.5" wheelbase handcut board that sat at 10.5 inches wide.  9" was my next step, and man, I'm glad I did it.  I ran over to cheapskates, picked up some 56mm Miller SPF formula wheels and griptape to set this guy up.

I'm in heaven here, folks.  This is so much lighter than what I was riding.  I was pulling the old layback airs like it was nothing.  I'm not bragging on me, I'm bragging on this set up:  Outlaw "Pray for death" with Thunder trucks (8.5" wide) and Bones SPF wheels.

Kris Gurley, one of my favorite people to skate with, met me at Tobey for a session and he was kind enough to hold a video camera for me for a second so I could get some still images to take from it.  The video camera doesn't produce good stills AT ALL but we got a couple things:

I love wallies

My favorite move on the jersey.  Kris calls this a Lucha wall ride

Damn, I thought I was gonna hit coping.

Metal Ramps/Metal Music: Friday October 21, 2011

Wednesday's bowl session was cold.  Too cold for October in Memphis, TN.  Either that or I'm just not ready to say goodbye to the summer heat, and I was worried the weekend would end up freezing or (worse) rainy.  Thursday was better.  A little warmer.  And Friday was just about right.

This was going to be a true skate day.  I hit the Greenline for a little slo-mo cruise Friday morning (do my pintail's bearings need a cleaning?).  Went home and had an unplanned nap, and woke up to hit Al Town for about an hour.  I HAD to skate Al Town Friday.  I wanted to be psyched for the benefit show at The Buccaneer that night.



 After Al Town I headed over to a Baptist Church on Union where the Sidewalk Skate Ministry had set up some metal ramps.  While going to a Baptist Church before a metal show didn't seem appropriate at least the ramps were metal...right?

I wasn't sure about skating metal ramps, honestly.  My experience with metal ramps has always been that they're too slick for how I skate, but a launch ramp is a launch ramp and it had been far too long since I've skated one.




Chris N. was  killing it,

and I recognized a couple others from Al Town.  Greg S. brought out the hippy jump (it was too dark for pics).  I'm not sure what it is about Memphis locals that make them so good at hippy jumps.  Somehow Chris (who isn't a tall guy) and I cleared the bar at its highest level while Dalton and others were close on our heels.

Anyway, the sun was down and it was time to get ready for the metal (music, this time).

The Al Town benefit was awesome!  Turnout was great.  E. Pidgeon, Sneed and Jungle brought the O.G. vibe.  The raffle was a huge success (thanks Andy!).  The music was great.  The beer was cold.  What more could you ask for...oh yeah, nearly $1,000.00 toward Al Town.  Huge success!

Around 2 a.m. I made my way home and set up a new longboard deck up to ride (my slide board is ready...now to get some gloves).  A great day to skate and a great night for the future of Memphis skateboarding.