The 1990s were a golden era for skateboarding, as the sport exploded in popularity and new innovations and styles emerged. During this time, a number of classic skate videos were released that captured the energy and creativity of the era. Here are 10 must-watch classic skate videos from the 1990s:
Plan B - Questionable (1992): Considered one of the most influential skate videos of all time, Questionable features iconic skaters like Rodney Mullen, Mike Carroll, and Danny Way, and helped popularize street skating.
Blind - Video Days (1991): Directed by Spike Jonze, Video Days features the legendary Mark Gonzales and set the bar for creative and innovative skate videos.
H-Street - Hokus Pokus (1989): One of the first skate videos to feature a narrative storyline, Hokus Pokus is a must-watch for fans of the old-school skateboarding style.
Toy Machine - Welcome to Hell (1996): Known for its dark and subversive tone, Welcome to Hell features skaters like Ed Templeton and Jamie Thomas and helped establish Toy Machine as a leading skate brand.
Girl - Goldfish (1993): Featuring skaters like Rick Howard and Eric Koston, Goldfish is a classic street skating video that helped cement Girl as a major player in the skate world.
Powell-Peralta - The Search for Animal Chin (1987): A classic skate video that helped popularize vert skating, The Search for Animal Chin features the legendary Bones Brigade team.
Santa Cruz - Streets on Fire (1989): Featuring some of the biggest names in skateboarding at the time, including Jason Jessee and Jeff Kendall, Streets on Fire is a must-watch for fans of classic skateboarding style.
411VM - Issue 20 (1997): 411VM was a popular skate video magazine that featured highlights from the skate scene around the world. Issue 20 is a particularly iconic episode, featuring some of the biggest names in street skating.
Element - Fine Artists Vol. 1 (1994): A unique skate video that blended skateboarding with art, Fine Artists Vol. 1 features Element team riders like Ray Barbee and Matt Hensley.
Neighborhood - Personalities (1995):Personalities was released at a time when skateboarding was still considered an underground subculture, and it helped to further establish Neighborhood Skateboards as a leading skate brand. Today, the video is considered a classic of the era and a must-watch for fans of mid-90s street skating.
In summary, these classic skate videos from the 1990s capture the energy and creativity of a golden era in skateboarding. Whether you're a long-time fan of the sport or new to skateboarding, these videos are a must-watch for anyone who wants to experience the evolution and history of skateboarding.
The 1990s were a time of significant change and innovation in skateboarding, as skaters continued to push the boundaries of what was possible on a board. During this era, two distinct styles of skating emerged: street skating and vert skating.
Street skating, which involved performing tricks and maneuvers on urban obstacles such as stairs, rails, and curbs, had been around since the earliest days of skateboarding. However, in the 1990s, street skating experienced a surge in popularity, as skaters began to explore new possibilities and push the limits of what was possible on the streets.
Some of the most notable street skaters of the era included Rodney Mullen, who pioneered many of the foundational street tricks such as the kickflip and the heelflip; Jamie Thomas, who popularized big rail tricks and gap jumps; and Eric Koston, who brought a smooth and technical approach to street skating.
At the same time, vert skating, which involved performing tricks and maneuvers on halfpipes and other vertical structures, also continued to evolve in the 1990s. Skaters such as Tony Hawk, who had been dominating vert competitions since the 1980s, continued to push the limits of what was possible on the ramp, inventing new tricks and incorporating more technical and creative elements into their routines.
Other notable vert skaters of the era included Bucky Lasek, who brought a smooth and stylish approach to vert skating, and Bob Burnquist, who pioneered the use of the MegaRamp, a massive structure that allowed skaters to perform some of the biggest and most daring tricks ever seen in skateboarding.
Overall, the 1990s saw the rise of skateboarding as a mainstream sport and cultural phenomenon, as more and more skaters began to gain recognition and influence in the broader culture. Whether on the streets or on the ramp, skaters continued to innovate and push the limits of what was possible on a board, paving the way for a new era of skateboarding in the decades to come.
In summary, the 1990s marked a significant period of evolution and growth for skateboarding, as both street and vert skating continued to evolve and become more popular. Skaters of the era continue to be influential figures in the sport today, and their contributions have helped to shape the direction of skateboarding for generations to come.
The 1990s were a groundbreaking era for skateboarding, with a new generation of skaters pushing the boundaries of what was possible on a board. These skaters not only helped to popularize the sport, but also paved the way for a new wave of professional skateboarding. In this article, we'll take a look at 10 of the most iconic skateboarders of the 1990s, and explore what they're up to now.
Tony Hawk - Tony Hawk is perhaps the most famous skateboarder of all time, thanks to his groundbreaking aerial tricks and numerous video game appearances. Today, Hawk is still involved in the skateboarding world as a commentator, businessman, and philanthropist.
Rodney Mullen - Rodney Mullen is often credited with inventing many of the foundational tricks of modern skateboarding, including the kickflip and the heelflip. Today, he continues to skate and innovate, and has also authored a book about his life and career.
Eric Koston - Eric Koston rose to fame in the 1990s with his smooth style and technical skating. Today, he is still an active skater and is also involved in the skateboarding industry as a designer and entrepreneur.
Jamie Thomas - Jamie Thomas was a dominant force in skateboarding in the late 1990s and early 2000s, known for his big rail tricks and fearless approach. Today, he is the founder and CEO of his own skateboard company, Zero Skateboards.
Andrew Reynolds - Andrew Reynolds was a standout skater in the 1990s and 2000s, known for his powerful style and massive gaps. Today, he is still an active skater and also runs his own skateboarding brand, Baker Skateboards.
Geoff Rowley - Geoff Rowley made a name for himself in the 1990s with his fearless approach to skating, including his famous loop-the-loop trick. Today, he is still an active skater and runs his own skateboarding brand, Flip Skateboards.
Chad Muska - Chad Muska was one of the most iconic skateboarders of the 1990s, known for his unique style and fashion sense as well as his innovative tricks. Today, he is still involved in the skateboarding industry as a designer and artist.
Mike Vallely - Mike Vallely was a dominant force in skateboarding in the 1990s and 2000s, known for his aggressive style and big tricks. Today, he is still an active skater and is also involved in the music industry as a singer and guitarist.
Ed Templeton - Ed Templeton was a standout skater in the 1990s, known for his smooth style and creative approach to skating. Today, he is a successful artist and photographer, and also runs his own skateboarding company, Toy Machine.
Bob Burnquist - Bob Burnquist is one of the most successful skateboarders of all time, known for his innovative tricks and dominance in competitions. Today, he is still an active skater and also runs his own skateboarding brand, Burnquist Organics.
While these skaters have all moved on from their peak years in the 1990s, they continue to be influential figures in the skateboarding world and have left an indelible mark on the sport.
Hi Frizzo, thanks for joining us today. Congratulations on the release of your new instrumental album "Omega Man." Can you tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the title?
Frizzo: Thank you, My album title was inspired by a web documentary by Vice that was done in I believe in 2009? It was hosted by Johnny Knoxville and he visited Detroit and mentioned how you get a sense of being the last person alive on Earth while in Detroit like Omega Man the film starring Charlton Heston from the 1970's and I understood immediately what he was referring to being a Detroit resident at the time myself. It's truly a post-apocalyptic, Socialist United States akin to a third world nation that most Americans wouldn't believe actually exists in this nation. So that feeling of being alone on Earth and living in the isolated ruins of a shelled-out society were and are the inspiration behind the title.
That's a very interesting and unique inspiration for your album title. It definitely gives your listeners an idea of what they can expect from the music. Speaking of which, can you tell us a little bit about the sound and style of your album? How would you describe it to someone who hasn't heard it yet?
Frizzo:
It's really hard to specify my exact sound because it changes from each song to the next. Some of my music has obvious Classical influences while others are something you would want to rap over. I guess think of it as Philip Glass with a beat? MTV Italy classifies my music as World music. the track "You Don't Move Me" on the album samples Pachelbel's Canon in D and I use an almost Phil Spector "Wall of sound" technique to layer thick, delayed with resonance and decay effect string harmonies over Pachelbel's famous piano measure and use a solid kick and snare drum pattern for the the foundation of the song. It's really a minimalist approach to music production in the spirit of artists like Philip Glass, Wim Mertens, Terry Riley and others. I don't take the end result too seriously in my music or attempt to follow standard music theory or song arrangement. The art is in the process, it's almost an improvisational, jazz mixed with classical. I honestly don't know how to categorize my own music and I would like to openly invite anyone to try by simply listening to my music.
Your music sounds like a unique blend of various genres and influences. It's great that you take a minimalist approach to your music production and prioritize the creative process. It's definitely something that sets you apart as an artist.
Can you tell us about your creative process when making the album? Did you have a specific approach to creating each track or did it vary from song to song?
Frizzo:
Each track is the result of being inspired enough in the moment to sit down behind my EMU PX-7 Command Station that I produced music on since 2004. I typically start with a string arpeggio sequenced over 16 tracks and then begin to fill in the loop with complimentary ,harmonic sounds. I enjoy using heavy bass, cymbals, layered drums and voices to create an almost seemingly demonically inspired sound of evil classical music mixed with gangster rap influences.
That's really interesting! It sounds like you have a very intuitive and spontaneous approach to your music-making. Your use of string arpeggios and layered drums definitely adds a unique dimension to your sound.
As a musician, who would you say are your biggest inspirations and influences? And how have they shaped your own musical style and approach?
Hip Hop wise, EA SKI and Brotha Lynch Hung have a rap production style most similar to my own. But again, as far as minimalist classical influences, it's always Philip Glass. I love Leonard Cohen, too when it comes to just overall influences. Some of my favorite moments in life were spent alone listening to Leonard Cohen drag his gravely voice over acoustic tracks that all had a very distinct and special Jewish melody within each of them. His writing style influences some of my written works. The way he would use vague, inside, religious references and the context of his poetry being open to subjective interpretation by the listener and it not having to mean anything to anyone other than himself. That's where I get inspiration from. Others would be Wim Mertens, Vangelis, Carl Orff, Wendy Carlos, Nas, Ice T, Esham, NOFX, everyone I appreciate artists that are irreverent toward any notions of perfectionism in production being the defining factor in what constitutes quality music or that structure and predictability are vital to a song's validity as a potential hit record. The Punk Rock approach to music is my approach to production and becoming that conduit between the muse and the medium that gets the credit for the songs that have always existed but whose time has come and have been mined out of the ether by slightly bored individuals such as myself just looking for an artistic distraction. I could go on for days about the artists I respect and draw inspiration from, these are just a few. I love music, talk to me.
It's great to hear about the diverse range of artists who inspire and influence you. It's clear that you have a very eclectic taste in music, which no doubt informs your own creative output. Your appreciation for the irreverent and punk rock approach to music production is definitely reflected in your own work.
Finally, what can fans expect from you in the future? Do you have any upcoming projects or shows in the works?
Frizzo
No, I don't perform live as I'm strictly a studio musician with personal physical limitations from a stroke I survived when I was 35. Since I had my stroke I found time to dig through old music I've produced over the past 20 plus years from my little hidden corner in Metro Detroit where I produced in a home studio inside of a 350 square foot shotgun shack off of Livernois Avenue. I was just living there hidden for over a decade making music in absolute solitude in my little beat down rental property. I have a substantial amount of unreleased music that I have yet to rediscover myself. In the future, if I feel the desire to send the tracks out for mastering and compile an album or single for release, I may do that but I'm a 100% independently self-produced artist not beholden to press runs, deadlines, managers or anyone telling me when it's time to be creative other than my fanbase and G-d almighty. If I find something I feel is topically relevant to the times or whose time has come to be heard, I'll release it. That's how I've chosen to approach my music career from here on out.
That's understandable. It sounds like you have a lot of unreleased music waiting to be discovered, so it will be interesting to see what you decide to do with it in the future. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today and share your insights about your music and creative process. Best of luck with your future endeavors!
Flip Skateboards is a skateboard company that was founded in 1991 by professional skateboarders Geoff Rowley and Jeremy Fox. Here is a brief history of Flip Skateboards:
In the early 1990s, Rowley and Fox were both riding for the skateboard company Deathbox. They decided to start their own company after Deathbox went out of business.
The name "Flip" comes from the idea of flipping the skateboard deck while performing tricks. The company's logo is a stylized version of a flip trick.
In the early days of the company, Flip Skateboards was known for its innovative skateboard designs and graphics. Many of the company's skateboard decks featured bold and colorful graphics, often created by famous artists.
In 1995, Flip Skateboards was acquired by the skateboard company NHS, which also owns other skateboard brands like Santa Cruz and Independent.
Over the years, Flip Skateboards has sponsored some of the most talented skateboarders in the world, including Geoff Rowley, Tom Penny, Arto Saari, David Gonzalez, and Luan Oliveira.
Flip Skateboards has also released several popular skateboarding videos, including "Sorry" (2002) and "Extremely Sorry" (2009).
In 2018, Flip Skateboards celebrated its 25th anniversary with the release of a special edition skateboard deck and a video featuring the company's team of professional skateboarders.
Today, Flip Skateboards remains a popular and influential skateboard company with a rich history of innovation and creativity in skateboarding.
The Carlsbad gap is a famous skateboarding spot located in Carlsbad, California, USA. It consists of a large 7-stair set with a long gap in between the stairs. Here is a brief history of the Carlsbad gap skate spot:
The Carlsbad gap was first skated by professional skateboarder Neil Blender in the early 1990s. He ollied the gap and landed on the other side, which was a huge feat at the time.
The spot gained popularity after professional skateboarder Danny Way skated it for his part in the Plan B video "Questionable" in 1992. Way did a huge backside ollie over the gap, which became an iconic moment in skateboarding history.
Over the years, many other professional skateboarders have skated the Carlsbad gap, including Andrew Reynolds, Chris Cole, and Ryan Sheckler.
In 2005, the city of Carlsbad filled in the gap with dirt and cement to prevent skateboarders from skating it. This caused a lot of controversy in the skateboarding community, with many skaters arguing that the city was taking away an important piece of skateboarding history.
Despite the city's efforts to prevent skating at the spot, skateboarders continued to skate it by building ramps and obstacles around the gap. In 2017, the city of Carlsbad removed the dirt and cement, allowing skateboarders to once again skate the famous gap.
Today, the Carlsbad gap remains an iconic skateboarding spot and a symbol of the creativity and innovation of the skateboarding community.
