Trash

Thrasher Magazine, Oct, 2002

STAND UP

AFEW MONTHS AFTER ALMOST LEAVING CHOCOLATE FOR SEEK, Stevie Williams has now departed the Choc fam for reals with his Dirty Ghetto Kids (DGK) company operated out of Expedition. Marcus McBride is rumored to be the first of the new riders. Another new venture on the horizon is Artafact, Daewon's new gig, which includes Deca refugees Chris Haslam and Cooper Wilt among its crack force. No news on Shiloh...yet.

Rumors of more new companies are gurgling at the Giant camp with a possible split of the New Deal team. Recent Real departee Cairo Foster is said to be in the fray, as is (of course) Kenny Reed. Look for the team's future Thailand adventures in either SLAP or Skateboarder.

In other Skateboarder news, the message boards and voice mailboxes are practically bursting with bile as they battle with the old men at TWS over their sweetheart deal to cover the idiot box's King of Skate Pay Per View event. Seems the 'boarder's exclusive deal didn't sit well with Grant and Swift, who barreled over to the sight and shot it all anyway. TWS staffers, who claimed they were only shooting for their "private collection," turned the said shots into double pagers and beat Meza and the boys to the punch. Rumors of a trade show boxing match to settle the score are already afloat.

In other TV retardation, did anyone see that Tom Green skateboard show? Kinda made you feel sick, huh?

On the summer Euro-contest trail, Caswell snagged first in Lausanne and Bastien let everyone know he's not sorry by taking the top spot at Dortmund. The latter's post-victory touch-down dance is said to have rivaled Mako Urabe's in scope and surpassed it in length as it went on for a good 10 minutes, to the delight of the Germans who are really into that kind of thing.

SIT DOWN

Barcelona was the top post-comp destination this summer with literally hundreds of pros swarming the hot spots, systematically blowing them out. Look for Thrasher coverage of what went down at this Spanish Shangri-La over the next two months (then in the other mags around Christmas.)

Let's start the plus column: Pig Pen got put on Pig, Koston scored a spot on Ricta, Rattray rides for Savier, Ja Biebel bangin' in Matix, and new dude Greg Meyer skating for Seek and DC (we told you he was hot shit.) In another surprise move, dimming comedian Tom Green has been added to the Birdhouse team with a pro model. This is the first time something like this has happened since Don Rickless had that model on Caster.

In the minus column: Kenny Hughes opted off DC, Henry Sanchez and Lucky boards parted ways, Jesse Paez kicked off Think, Stefan Attardo booted from Santa Cruz, and bad news for the ladies--Chet Thomas got hitched. Sorry gals.

As was falsely reported last ish, Duane Peters has NOT split ways with Beer City and, in fact, would rather fight than switch. He did, however, sign up with Vision shoes. In other Beer City news, hot am Tim "Cap'n Radical" Kulas is cruising Europe, taking few prisoners as he spreads the message of midwest stoke.

FACE FRONT

Jamie Thomas and Kanten Russell went to Ireland recently to demo for The Lord. In other developments, JT is said to be so taken with Barcelona that he and the missus are taking Spanish lessons to better prepare for future visits. Says the master of the rails, "You can get more done in one week in Barcelona than in a month at home."

Shorty's buying Sammy Baptista a house? Shit, that's what we heard. More solid home-buying news comes from Donny Barley, who has purchased a pad in the mountain town of Truckee, California.

RIP? Arthur Lake III, the legendary Man Hole proprietor, reports from Hawaii that the widely-heard rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated. These days Arthur the Third lives in Honolulu where he is employed as a Mason. Frequently he can be seen skating Steve Ellis's ramp in the country and surfing near Ala Moana. As for the supposed vast fortune left by his great grandfather William Randolph Hearst, Lake informs that he's "...never seen it. I've got to lay block everyday just to make ends meet."

TURN AROUND

Bob Denike, Erik Swenson, and Richard Novak continue to conspire to re-release the original Independent sprung suspension slalom truck. Reportedly on board and testing protos are Steve Olson, John Hutson and Rick Blackhart. Dr Rick's analysis seems to involve the whole consumption of numerous vintage Schwinn Sting Ray bikes, which he disassembles for no apparent reason.

The San Diego Children's Museum is presenting the "International Coup D' Etat" exhibition. This interactive project includes work by NHS, Dwindle, DC, Giant, Turn Yeto, Alien Workshop, Toy Machine, Templeton, Habitat, Foundation and Seek.

And as we wind up for the coming art show season, the mignons of high culture plot madly. John Lucero is rumored to be working up a model with Bulky Olson. Meanwhile, Steve is negotiating with the Ghetto Gloss Gallery in Los Angeles to organize an exhibition of Neil Blender's work. Olson is said to be inked for a Valentine's Day Gloss debut as well.