Through all of this, have we, at times, lost sight of what skateboarding really is? And, what about Jon Q. Public, the non-skater, the one who dismissed skateboarding as just another "born-again" fad? How many times have you heard someone say "Skateboards- Yeah, I used to ride them back in the sixties." The problem here is a lack of understanding of what skateboarding is all about. The average individual was never properly exposed to the unlimited possibilities of a platform with four wheels under it- a simple basic mechanical device which serves as an energy-efficient mode of transportation, a basis for a valid sporting activity, and as a vehicle for aggressive expression.
Meanwhile, at the height of the skatepark explosion, the skaters have been virtually swept off the streets and deposited in the parks, where the action is radical but lacks the inspiration of a knock-down, drag-out backyard pool session or a skate cruise down the boulevard with the crew. The fact is skateboarding can survive without the parks, but the parks will never last without skateboarding as a whole to support them. Many times I have wired a new trick in the street only to find myself the next day at the park trying to perfect it on the vertical. Skateparks are fun! Street skating is fun, and also visual. The whole world is out there waiting to be entertained, but they want it delivered to their doorstep. So let's deliver!
Thrasher was born out of a need for intense and objective reporting on an activity that has established itself as a major pastime for many people and a rewarding experience for countless others. Thrashing is an attitude, a skate attitude. Thrashing is part of a lifestyle, a fast-paced feeling to fit this modern world. Thrashing is finding something and taking it to the ultimate limit- not dwelling on it, but using it to the fullest and moving on. Skateboarding has not yet reached it's maximum potential, and who can say what the limits are? To find out- Grab that board! You don't have to be a super talented professional skater- Grab that board if you're a novice just having some fun on a Saturday afternoon. To the kid hanging out at the Stop'n'Shop with his gang- Grab that board! To the college student who needs a vehicle to get from dorm to class- Grab that board! And how about the dad who calls his kid crazed for riding a skateboard all the time - Grab that board! There's no rule saying you have to go fast or skate vertical. Just being outside or in the skatepark practicing maneuvers and balancing is a lot of fun. Remember, there are tons of asphalt and concrete being poured every day, so- GRAB THAT BOARD!
-KT-