Life and Limb

Thrasher Magazine, August, 2004 by Michael Sieben

Skateboarders Write From The Deep End Edited by Justin Hocking, Jeffrey Knutson, and Jared Maher Soft Skull Press

THE LAST TIME I was in New York I met this guy named Justin Hocking and he gave me a copy of this book. It's basically a collection of stories, all of which are written by people who skateboard. I started reading it on the flight back to Austin and then I told myself that I had to finish the book by the time I got off the airplane. I often make little goals like that for myself. Things like, "OK, you have to finish tour paintings in the next two weeks," or like, "OK, you have to do two new tricks the next time you go skate." Just little things to push myself. So anyway, I told myself that I had to finish this book before I got off the plane and I finished it just as we pulled up to our gate. I felt pretty proud of myself, but probably not as proud as Justin Hocking felt by getting this totally radical book published. I think my favorite story was written by Michael Burnett, but I'm probably biased since he's responsible for me getting hired by Thrasher. Here's some other names to validate this project: Scott Bourne, Jocko Weyland, Mark Gonzales, Dave Carnie, Andy Jenkins, Ed Templeton, Bob Kronbauer, Wez Lundry, and even some dude named Andreas Troll. When this thing hits the shelves I'd suggest you buy a copy instead of spending your allowance on condoms and Mad Dog or whatever it is you kids are buying these days.