King Pi n Birthday Suit:
The Anatomy of a Board
Skateboarding:
Hop on the Bandwagon
Wonder Boy Danny Way Compton A** Terry
Table Of Contents p.2 Ride The wave: Skateboarding in the Mainstream p.3 Anatomy Class p.4 Skate or Die: Compton A** Terry Kennedy p.8 DareDevil Danny Way
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nitially when skateboarding started to catch on, it caught on in areas that were predominantly inhabited by surfers. Many of the early parts of skateboard culture were tied to the surfing culture, and it was not until skateboard branched out to other areas of the world that were not influenced by surfing that it developed its own personality. The first injection of skateboarding into mainstream culture came through movies and music. Starting in the late 1980’s, movies began to appear that portrayed skateboarding culture as a group of reckless punks that were bent on destruction. This image was deepened when heavy metal bands, and punk bands, began to appear in conjunction with skaters on videos and in the ever growing library of movies. But by the middle of the 1990’s, there was
a movement among skateboarders that wanted to become civilized business people and successful inspirations to others. While some skateboarding magazines maintained the rebellious image, others countered that with information geared towards the more serious skater who was more interested in improving their technique than in breaking the law. As skateboarding videos started to branch out into hip hop and reggae music, the people influenced by those genres of music started to take an interest in skateboarding. This helped skateboarding to grow even more, and the next level of exposure brought wealth to those that looked as skating as a business instead of a thumb at the nose of society.
that eventually found their way into mainstream society. Today skateboarding video games are among some of the most successful titles being sold, and there are new skateboard fashions being introduced regularly that make it well into the mainstream of American culture. Skateboarding received a huge boost when the X-Games made it to ESPN in 1997, and reached the television sets of millions of impressionable skating hopefuls. Since 1997, the X-Games have moved to major network television and are now seen by millions of people all over the world each and every year.
As video games and fashion become more popular in the 1990’s, skateboarding kept pace by being the foundation for several successful video game titles and offering fashion companies such as Vans Shoes
Skateboarding Ride the Wave:As Skateboarding a Lifestyle / 2012 in the Mainstream / 2012
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odern decks vary in size, but most are 7 to 10.5 inches (17.78 to 26.67 centimeters) wide. Wider decks can be used for greater stability when transition or ramp skating. Skateboard decks are usually between 28 and 33 inches (71.12 and 83.82 centimetres) long. The underside of the deck can be printed with a design by the manufacturer, blank, or decorated by any other means. The longboard, a common variant of the skateboard, has a longer deck. This is mostly ridden down hills or by the beach to represent the riding of a wave in the ocean on a surfboard. This was created by two surfers; Ben Whatson and Jonny Drapper. One of the first deck companies was called “Drapped” taken from Jonny’s second name. “Old school” boards (those made in the 1970s–80s or modern boards that mimic their shape) are generally wider and often have only one kicktail. Variants of the 1970s often have little or no concavity, whereas 1980s models have deeper concavities and steeper kicktails. [citation needed] Grip tape when applied to the top surface of a skateboard, gives a skater’s feet grip on the deck. It is most often black but can come in a variety of colors including clear, allowing the top of the deck to be decorated. It has an adhesive back and a sandpaper-like top. Grip tape is a sheet paper or fabric with adhesive on one side and a surface similar to fine sand paper on the other. Grip tape is applied to the top surface of a board to allow the rider’s feet to grip the sur
Anatom
face and help the skater stay on the board while doing tricks. Grip tape is usually black, but is also available in many different colors such as pink, yellow, checkered, camo, and even clear. Oftentimes they have designs die-cut to show the color of the board, or to show off the board’s company logo. Trucks
a 7.75” wide deck will usually be fitted with trucks that have axles between 7.5” wide and 8.0” wide. (Standard truck axel nut size is 5/16”-24tpi UNF, and the thinner “jam” style with an optional nylon lock.) Trucks that are too wide can make doing tricks difficult and can cause the wheels to get in the way when the skateboard is being ridden. Trucks that are too small can be hard to maintain stability and can cause wheel bite to occur when turning.
Longboard specific trucks are a more recent development. A longboard truck has the king pin laid at a more obtuse angle (usually between 38 and 50 degrees[2]) to the deck, this gives a greater degree of turning for the same tilt of the deck. This allows riders to go much faster while still maintaining stability and control. Giant strides have been made in the truck industry over the years. In late 2007, Gullwing Truck Company manufactured a truck named “Sidewinder” that can pivot on two different angles, thus greatly decreasing the turning radius of the board, resulting in a greater feel between the rider and the sidewalk.
Attached to the deck are two metal (usually aluminum alloy) trucks, which connect to the wheels and deck. The trucks are further composed of two parts. The top part of the truck is screwed to the deck and is called the baseplate, and beneath it is the hanger. The axle runs through the hanger. Between the baseplate and the hanger are bushings, also rubbers or grommets, that provide the cushion mechanism for turning the skateboard. The bushings cushion the truck when it turns. The stiffer the bushings, the more resistant the skateboard is to turning. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn. A bolt called a kingpin holds these parts together and fits inside Wheels the bushings. Thus by tightening or loosening the kingpin nut, the trucks can be adjusted loosely for better turning and tighter for more stability. Standard Kingpin nut size is 3/8” - 24tpi. Skateboard trucks are manufactured in a number of different axle widths. In general an axle width should be chosen that is The wheels of a skateboard, usuclose to the width of the deck it ally made of polyurethane, come will be used with.[1] For example, in many different sizes and shapes Anatomy Class / 2012
my Class to suit different types of skating. Larger sizes like 54–85 mm roll faster, and also move more easily over cracks in pavement. Smaller sizes like 48–54 mm keep the board closer to the ground, require less force to accelerate and produce a lower center of gravity, but also make for a slower top speed. Wheels also are available in a variety of hardnesses usually measured on the Shore durometer “A” scale. Wheels range from the very soft (about Shore A 75) to the very hard (about Shore A 101). As the A scale stops at 100, any wheels labeled 101A or higher are harder, but do not use the appropriate durometer scale. Some wheel manufacturers now use the “B” or “D” scales, which have a larger and more accurate range of hardness. Modern street skaters prefer smaller wheels (usually 51–54 mm), as small wheels with lighter trucks can make tricks like kickflips and other flip tricks easier by keeping the center of gravity of the skateboard closer to the deck, thus making the deck easier to spin. Street wheels are often quite hard as this allows the wheels to slide easier on waxed surfaces for bluntslides and nose/tailslides. Vertical ramp or “vert” skating requires larger wheels (usually 55–65 mm), as it involves higher speeds. Vert wheels are also usually softer, allowing them to maintain high speed on ramps without sliding. Slalom skating requires even larger wheels (60–75 mm) to sustain the highest speeds possible. They also need to be soft and have better grip to make the tight and frequent turns in slalom racing. Even larger wheels are used in longboarding and downhill skateboarding. Sizes range from 65 mm Antaomy Class / 2012
to 100 mm. These extreme sizes of wheels almost always have cores of hard plastic that can be made thinner and lighter than a solid polyurethane wheel. They are often used by skateboard videographers as well, as the large soft wheels allow for smooth and easy movement over any terrain. Bearings
In particular, the ABEC rating says nothing about how well a bearing handles axial (side-to-side) loads, which are severe in most skateboard applications. Many companies do not show the ABEC rating, such as Bones Bearings, which makes bearings specifically for skateboarding, often marketed as “Skate Rated”. Each bearing usually contains 7 steel or ceramic ball bearings, although other configurations are used as well.
Each skateboard wheel is mounted on its axle via two bearings. With few exceptions, the bearings are the industrial standard “608” size, with a bore of 8 mm, an outer diameter of 22 mm, and a width of 7 mm. These are usually made of steel, though silicon nitride, a high-tech ceramic, is sometimes used. Many skateboard bearings are graded according to the ABEC scale. The scale starts with ABEC1 as the lowest, 3, 5, 7, 9. It is a common misconception that the higher ABECs are better for skateboarding, as the ABEC rating only measures tolerances, which do not necessarily apply to skateboards. The ABEC rating does not determine how fast or how durable a bearing used for skateboarding will be.[3] 4
“Even though skateboarding is what I really want a lot … I want to be a professional skateboarder and for kids to be like, ‘Yeah, I bought your board.’ ... “
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erry Kennedy might be the hardest working men out there. The whole time we sat down for dinner, his rants consisted of two things: skateboarding and being upset that he wasn’t physically doing it while we were doing this interview, and being perplexed that people in his ’hood aren’t buying houses and fixing them up to sell for a massive profit–something that he plans on doing in the near future. Whether it’s skateboarding, acting, or just using his street smarts, Terry Kennedy is going to beat the odds and make it–and make it legitimately. How did a kid with nothing find skateboarding– something that can cost more money than hardcore chilling and looking good in the ’hood? This is how that started–I look at it like this: I wasn’t raised around it, but I had seen people who skated. And they had just as much stuff as people who did other (illegal) stuff. I was like, “Damn, I can go this route, or I can go that route.” I can still get as much as the person who’s doing wrong. I thought skateboarding was kind of corny at first, too, ’cause dudes would be on my head laughing at me. I was like, “Forget it.” But my grandmother always told me to go the straight route. What made me pick up my skateboard was it was a
cool thing to do. It was mellow–nobody was sitting there trying to teach you how to do it. You didn’t have to go to school to do it. It was straight off the block, just like you were buying it straight off the block. When you first came out I honestly thought you were just another dude who jumped down handrails, maybe luckily rode away to a surprised self. Did you feel you deserved to be sponsored when you first did get sponsored? (Laughs) Hell nah. I thought it was a joke. And it was a joke to me. There was just somebody I knew who was sponsored that I used to kick it with, and he was just like, “F–k it, we’re gonna put this kid on.” I was just like, “Damn, really?” But sometimes in the back of my head, I think they knew I had potential, ’cause they would take me real serious at points. I would get down on myself like, “Dude, I don’t even know why I’m sponsored.” They would pump me up, hype me up. When I first started, it was just coincidence. Ever since then I just ran with it. Was there a time that hit you where you really said, “Damn, I’m good at this skateboarding thing”? Nah–ain’t no point where I think I’m really good. I just try to skate. I just try and take care of biz. Try to eat. That’s it. I look at it as a job, but at the same time, it’s just fun. I try to take care of it–take it one day at a time and try to do it big. Was that your main motivation to start skateboarding, just to get something out of it as opposed to doing it for fun? I ain’t even gonna front. It was to get something out of it. I used to see kids who were sponsored, and they used to have brand-new stuff on all the time. I was like, “Damn, how’d you get that?” “Oh, I’m sponsored.” That just made it look better. Like when you see a rapper. If you rap, you get all the outside stuff–you get the clothes, you get the jewelry, you get to travel. So that always made it better.
Skate or Die: Compton A** Terry Kennedy / 2012
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At the end of the day it was something to do, and it was always fun. At the end of the day you’d be like, “Damn, I ain’t got nothing to do. I’m bored, let’s go hit the skatepark. Let’s chill and kick it.”–just somewhere to get away. Plus I stayed in the ’hood, so I was always trying to get away from my house. I would go skate, try to get away, and not try and come back ’til the next day. I’d be out skating all night.
so much on the other side of it.
Yeah, I used to run 501s real tough, the Levi’s. I got off that stage and Where did the “Compton Ass Ter- started bustin’ my little Sean Jizzle, ry” thing come from if you’re from all that type of stuff. But I’m EleLong Beach? Was that an MTV mented out right now. I ain’t player exec’s idea? hatin’.
Yeah, you know. They look at Long Beach like it’s tough, but it ain’t like NWA-Compton-cop-killer tough. I guess they chopped it up and thought about it like, “Yeah, we’re gonna call him Compton Ass Terry.” I was like, “Damn, shhh … I Who influences what you do on guess.” As long as I get the check at your skateboard? the end of the day, I can be Hootie And The Blow. I ain’t trippin’. Man, I’d have to say Andrew Reynolds, because he’s seriously no joke. He won’t stop. He won’t give it up. I just had a conversation with him the other day like, “Hey, you think you might retire?” He seriously gave me the craziest look, like I was askin’ to drive his Cadillac or something–just looked at me like, “Nah, it’s not happenin’ at all.” That dude’s so motivated. I love him. He’s sick. Do you think being a part of a television show like Viva La Bam detracts from your persona as someone who has the potential to be a legitimate skateboard pro? Yeah, I see it, too. I look at it like, any day I’d rather go work on the show than go jump down something. Even though skateboarding is what I really want a lot … I want to be a professional skateboarder and for kids to be like, “Yeah, I bought your board.” But I can’t even front, it’s so much easier and so much more fun to just be yourself. At the same time, I mean, I skateboard the same. Skateboarding’s the same, it’s just that there’s 7
How is life as a black man in TNTs? It’s pretty crazy. People look at me, and they’re like, “Damn, what’s those?” ’Cause they also look like Jordans. Kids on my block look at ’em like, “Damn, them new Jordans?” “Nah, these Vans.” Damn. I don’t know, but he (Tony Trujillo) struck a goldmine. He designed a good-ass shoe–crazy-ass colors and stuff. Have all the kids in your neighborhood traded in their Air Force Ones for Vans? All day. Not traded in, but they’re just raping their parents’ pockets. They want the Jordans that cost 150 dollars when you could have two pair of Vans for that. But on top of that they also want some Vans. That’s like an extra 60 dollars. It’s like over 200 dollars in shoes. What kills me is that people love the Old Skools. It’s funny, though.
When you go pro, will you feel you How often do you get recognized have deserved it even without havin public now that the Bam show ing put out a full video part? came out? I don’t know if I deserve it, but I’m It’s always the random stragglers– not the one that makes the decipeople who know nothing about sions at the end of the day. All I skating. I get recognized more off can do is go out there and skate. If that than skating my whole life, pe- someone looks at me like I’ve got riod. It’s crazy, but it’s always ran- the potential and skill to go to that dom dudes. next step, I’m not gonna go against that. All I can do is put out–make When did you take the 501s off? sure I’m comfortable with what I’m doing. Skate or Die: Compton A** Terry Kennedy / 2012
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AREDEVIL ANNY WAY
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anny Way is probably the best skateboarder in the Planet. There is not another human being that brings fresh, outrageous and creative ideas to test the boundaries of what could be done on a skateboard. Zac managed to get an hour or so with Danny exclusive to this Crossfire website whilst he was making plans for his Mega Ramp competition being held on August 8th 2004 in the USA. This interview is as big as the stars that surround the planet Danny Way has created by himself. Enjoy.. Ok, let’s test this Dictaphone out ‘ say something Mr Way. Gooday mate! (bellowed in an Aussie accent!) Hey I’m from the UK fella, you are in the wrong country! (Laughs) So, where you at right now? I’m actually in my car driving away from the doctor’s office trying to get my ankle sorted out so that I don’t have to worry about limping around at the XGames here. What’s with the ankle?
sprained it a couple of weeks ago, it’s not a major sprain, but swollen..i can still skateboard, but it’s definitely not 100%, so I gotta take of it, you know. Are you missing out on a DC US tour at the moment? Yeah, I skipped the whole tour this summer so I would not have been in a situation where I could get hurt. But it just so happens I have legitimately rolled it practicing for the XGames which is bad luck! I have to focus on this Megaramp Jam as opposed to being on a tour, I need to my concentration and being on tour would have taken my thoughts away from where they ought to be right now. A lot of people over here in the UK would not have heard about what you are bringing to the XGames this year, so fill us in on what will be going down. Well, we have taken the Megaramp to the XGames this year. We wanted to look beyond where have been at with competitions and look into the future to figure out what is the next step as far as the progression of skateboarding. It’s been progress over time, little by little putting the building blocks in place so now we are almost ready to go. Check out the photos, you can see where we are at as far as progressing the environment to be able to extend the boundaries of a trick to put skate boarding on a level where there is an unlimited amount of possibilities. It’s not just what can be done on the Megaramp but also to show that
we have barely begun to experiment with what we have. Obviously all of this has come from Point X Camp, how big is this ramp, is it bigger? It’s about the same size part from it’s built on flat ground in a parking lot, so it’s freestanding from the flat ground to the top about 100ft (33m)! Wow, that is fucking huge! What other skaters will be riding this ramp at the event? Pierre Luc Gagnon, Jason Ellis, Bob Burnqiest, Jake Brown, Brian Patch, myself, and Bucky Lasek. No Mike Valelly? Nope, I don’t know if Mike is ready to roll into this.he is amazing skateboarder and has a good shot of doing this but I dunno if he is ready to get into this right now? Who invites the other riders to this particular event? Not me, but I have provided the practice facilities for these guys and that allows me to kinda get my thoughts on where people stand on where their ability goes and you can tell who will be entering the contest. It’s pretty self explanatory who should be in the contest and who shouldn’t, so that is where we are at right now, there has been enough guys coming out there, so it’s been dictating itself. You mentioned the word practice, it’s shit or bust really on
It’s not too bad. I rolled it and 9 Skateboarding As a Lifestyle / 2012
something that big right? Well, yeah, you can practice as there are 2 different sizes of jumps. There will be a 50 ft jump and a 75ft jump. The smaller one, you can practice quite a few things on without being too beaten up, but the big one I would say is more the for when the time is right in contest time. I would not say that we have too much time to practice on the big one. It makes that better for the contest. All the guys have been going down at the ramp a lot to practice and have had as much time as I have out there. It’s pretty fair, I don’t wanna make this a biased situation, and i wanted to make sure that we had an equal amount of time to be good at it. Have those guys been hitting the box and the rainbow rail as well? No, the box and the rail have been left out of the picture this year because there is simply not enough time to learn how to do every thing out there and we are out there to get jumps wired as that is enough time consumption as it is, and I feel as though the rail and box will add too Skateboarding As a Lifestyle / 2012
much confusion this year. If it goes well this year, and I have a good feeling that it is going to, then it will be more exiting to add them into the contest next year.
a lot like snowboarding but on a snowboard you have a lot of plusses on your side.
What kind of prize money is up for this?
Yeah, i snowboard; it has helped me, as much as motorcross has helped me as in trying to gather enough confidence to be able to look at a jump that big a magnitude on my skateboard so that I can actually jump it. So those kind of jumps on my motorcycle and a snowboard have really helped.
You know what, they have not even told people yet, and that is not the issue, it’s all about doing it. So, have you had a run on the new Megaramp yet now it is constructed? Yeah, I was up there yesterday taking a peak at it, and it’s pretty much done. Apart from they would not let anyone practice just yet because they have to have the safety engineering stuff done first and we have to all sign off on it all. The thing is nuts though, it’s no joke! Do you compare it snowboarding? To some degree, yeah, but on a snowboard you can slow down, but on a skateboard there are no brakes and you got straps and stuff! It’s a lot more technical,
You snowboard though yeah, does it help for this?
How much time was spent deciding how the Megaramp would go from idea to built? We tried to mimic or duplicate the plans of the DC ramp as much as possible without having the same landscape to build it on which creates a few variables here and there. It is similar, but there are definitely some design changes. Looking at the ramp you can tell that the roll ins into the ramp are all just really steep and gnarly looking, and at Point X, one of the roll in’s on the smaller jump is really
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