top 200 commentsshow all 203

[–]sleepytaco 158 points159 points ago

i cant tell if he is falling or a wizard....

[–]WizardsMyName 65 points66 points ago

Confirmed member of the council.

[–]cole631 13 points14 points ago

Serious love

[–]Cabooseman 1 point2 points ago

I WILL GIVE YOU

[–]sleepytaco 2 points3 points ago

ahh i see, i see...

[–]Honey_Dog -2 points-1 points ago

Don't know why but I thought it was a girl until seeing this comment.

[–]ThatHighCracker 191 points192 points ago

Watching Dogtown and the Z-boys makes me wish I grew up with that group sooooo bad...

[–]DullScissors 17 points18 points ago

As an ex-skater in the late 90's, this makes me both a little bit nostalgic and a little jealous. I want to pick up the board again so badly sometimes.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]DullScissors 29 points30 points ago

I broke my ankle in 13 places skating on a vert ramp in Banner Elk and had to have most of the bone replaced with mostly titanium plates. That didn't heal correctly and I had to have a few skin grafts done to fix it up.

So if I were to be completely honest about what's stopping me... It's fear.

EDIT: Someone asked me why I hadn't picked up the board again, and this is my reply.

[–]ThatHighCracker 1 point2 points ago

Broke my arm Aug before freshman year of high school. Not fun. Now I have my longboard, so it's all good.

[–]terriblespeller 3 points4 points ago

maybe you get out there again.

[–]atm0 12 points13 points ago

Kid looks down at his board. Lotsa memories start rushin' 'round in his head. He's nervous; been a long time since he's done this.

His worries won't stop him for more than a few seconds though. Kid steps onto his old treasured companion and kicks off into the night, blazin' down the asphalt fast as he can go.

[–]Perk-a-Derk 2 points3 points ago

aaaannnnndddd time to play bastion.

[–]cityofcranes 0 points1 point ago

[–]boopidy-boop 0 points1 point ago

Have you considered just doing some flatground? Obviously theres still danger of you falling, but less so. Sucks to hear about that, its often hard to find a good reason to justify the risk after what happened.

[–]DullScissors 2 points3 points ago

I have tried just a bit, but a lot of my previous skill has diminished. I still have the core-value knowledge and athleticism, but it isn't the same.

I've since picked up fulfilling hobbies such as the guitar and love it just as much if not more. It would also be very expensive to get back into it.

[–]somekook 6 points7 points ago

Wait, you're into musical instruments and think skateboards are expensive?

[–]funnyhattedrapingjew 1 point2 points ago

It's not fear, it's intelligence.

[–]Osiris32[!] 0 points1 point ago

A similar story is why I don't snowboard anymore. I know the fear you speak of, and the same yearning to go and do it again.

[–]Adultery 0 points1 point ago

i always get that feel

then i look down and realize my shoes would get torn the fuck up in an instant. and i don't feel like throwing down money for skateboarding-only shoes.

[–]edwardkmett 1 point2 points ago

I stopped skateboarding around '93.

I recently picked it back up as a way to get ~10 minutes of exercise in on my commute in to work. I don't ollie or kickflip or do any tricks any more, since my bones and muscles aren't what they used to be, and my wife looked at me like I was crazy when I bought it, but it has worked out pretty well.

[–]IkeHmope 0 points1 point ago

I had five high speed crashes within a month when I was about twenty. No broken bones besides a couple of fingers and a toe, but I was so beaten up that that I just HURT all over for several weeks, and lost the sense of abandon that you need. By then, though, I had gotten heavier into skiing, not to mention cars and girls, so I didn't miss it too much. Thirty years later I'm the bald dude in the mall looking at longboards and about half seriously considering getting one. But I have better cars and girls now, so I pass. Reluctantly.

[–]Snufflesaur 26 points27 points ago

probably the greatest childhood ever.

[–]KoalaZombie 90 points91 points ago

Until they all got addicted to coke and heroin...

[–]MuxBoy 58 points59 points ago

I can't comprehend that, I'm a Pepsi man myself

[–]upvotes__everything 10 points11 points ago

RC all the way.

[–]docious 19 points20 points ago

Safeway Select Grapefruit Soda

[–]adamdavidson 0 points1 point ago

I recently had Safeway Select Diet Grapefruit Soda. It wasn't that bad.

[–]Scorched_Herb_Tactic 1 point2 points ago

Haha I think it makes it funnier that you got down voted.

[–]Cinelli 27 points28 points ago

That would have been the best part, though.

[–]Noturordinaryguy 4 points5 points ago

yeah but that was later

[–]ThatHighCracker 1 point2 points ago

I think that is a risk I'd be willing to take. Peralta made quite the career out of it. Alva still skates pools like it's his job after partying harder than any of them.

[–]xXNetRavenXx 1 point2 points ago

Probably self medicating for that epic road rash that happened moments after this picture was taken

[–]dehydratedpink 50 points51 points ago

Did they have a nintendo64?

[–]BrainInAJar 0 points1 point ago

Are you kidding? Aside from the surfing and skateboarding they lived in the ghetto, their childhood sucked a lot so they took to surfing & booze & drugs.

[–]d4rn3ll 0 points1 point ago

Best sound track ever

[–]zwillms 110 points111 points ago

Steve is my stepfather and continues to be a badass to this day, although he's more into surfing than skateboarding now.

[–]jyoon86 10 points11 points ago

Skateboarding does a lot of damage to the knee.

[–]extra_23 10 points11 points ago

It does a lot of damage to the everything.

[–]Fabrezio 7 points8 points ago

Pavement just isn't that forgiving.

[–]wkytrees 0 points1 point ago

Yup! After 7+ years of skating street/park competions, i'm 23 with the knees of an 80 year old.

[–]jimbonics 11 points12 points ago

So you're saying he's banging your mom? 'Cause that's pretty rad.

[–]zwillms 18 points19 points ago

I figure if anybody's gonna do it, might as well be somebody rad.

[–]iam_that_one_ag 10 points11 points ago

That's genuinely awesome, man!

Did no one else see that this guy said that's his step-fath... oh. I forgot where I was for a second.

[–]tharizzle 6 points7 points ago

easier on the knees

[–]thatSunset 2 points3 points ago

That's cool. Do you know if he is about to fall in this picture or he is just that good?

[–]zwillms 10 points11 points ago

No, I don't believe he took a spill right after this shot (this was the defining element of his style, he was very good at it). Interesting factoid: this is the same photo used as the basis of the original Sector 9 logo.

[–]sjg391 1 point2 points ago

Whaa I was trying to look that up. I have tons of stickers with this picture on it: Sector 9!

[–]ACommentFromBelow -3 points-2 points ago

So it looks like his center of gravity is outside of the footprint of the board. If this is the case it's physically impossible to remain standing, unless he has some serious momentum to the left (to re-enter the footprint with previous velocity)

[–]zwillms 15 points16 points ago

He's turning sharply left (uphill) in this photo, it's the only reason he's still on the board. :)

[–]loofawah 4 points5 points ago

You were awesomely helpful. Thanks!

[–]Drijidible[S] 61 points62 points ago

[–]erin_erstwhile 12 points13 points ago

That's an amazing album. Ah, youth and California...

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]382794 0 points1 point ago

Gulf coast?

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]382794 1 point2 points ago

I know one guy from there that was really into skating in the 70's. Porter?

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]382794 1 point2 points ago

That's cool. Seems there used to be a big skateboard scene there from what I remember in the late 70's but most of that's before my time. I just had an uncle that was big into it.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]382794 1 point2 points ago

I lived there also from late 70s to early 90s. I was just referring to the coastal area. I didn't skate at the time, it's just from what I've heard. But my uncle tends to brag a bit, he could be full of it.

[–]a_shady_swashbuckler 0 points1 point ago

and video

[–]Dorfidiot 5 points6 points ago

That california sky. One hell of a photographer.

[–]pyramideyes 2 points3 points ago

Rainy UK resident here... every time I see photos/movies showing places like California, especially back in the 60s/70s when it was a lot quieter, I want to live there so bad. It's almost otherwordly.

Like the place they filmed E.T. (not sure where exactly)... it looks like your whole life would be better just by living somewhere that looks like that.

[–]greenforks 3 points4 points ago

I'm glad a portion of the California Dream is still alive. I live in CA and knew instantly that it must have been shot here. I think its the hills and the angle of the sun. Weirdly enough no matter how bad a rap the state gets, its psychological holding of being a better place no matter what is powerful...well you're from the UK. That's enough proof right there.

[–]GodsFavAtheist 0 points1 point ago

I think it's been proven theoretically ... California knows how to party.

[–]pyramideyes 0 points1 point ago

It's partly the movies that do it. That kind of hazy image quality is dreamlike. But generally, the wide open roads and rocky terrain is something you don't really get in the UK. We just get cold a lot.

[–]StManTiS 0 points1 point ago

Yeah those are the children he had with his Thai wife

[–]Irtep 18 points19 points ago

Why do roads in pictures from the past always look so damn smooth compared to the pothole canyon thing that I have to drive to work on every morning

[–]monkeychess 73 points74 points ago

Because people skateboarding choose smooth roads?

[–]odsquad64 18 points19 points ago

Because that's the last time they were paved.

[–]geoman2k 5 points6 points ago

what is the climate like where you live? roads mostly get torn up because they expand and contract in winter and summer. that's why the roads are such shit in places like chicago. roads are a lot nicer in southern cali because the temperature doesn't change that drastically.

[–]YHWH_The_Lord 0 points1 point ago

And because california spends alot more money on road upkeep than many other states.

[–]somekook 0 points1 point ago

Debatable. The roads don't get worn out as quickly.

[–]SamuraiJakkass86 3 points4 points ago

Crumbling infrastructure.

[–]Tripleshadow 0 points1 point ago

Because your city doesn't spend a lot of money on roads. It's smooth driving for me until I cross from the suburbs to Toronto, then it gets bumpy as fuck.

[–]cohrt 0 points1 point ago

because the road you're on now is the same one from the past

[–]Savet 0 points1 point ago

Because they use to use concrete, which lasts forever and stands up to abuse. Nowadays, everything is asphalt which is cheaper, but lasts nowhere near as long.

[–]somekook 1 point2 points ago

Actually, these days most non-highway road surfaces in California have this stuff called slurry seal, which is a cheap way to resurface a road but sucks for skateboarding on.

[–]TrollinRanger 11 points12 points ago

Steve Cathey! I was just a kid growin up in CA, but I remember how badass he was. He taught at a skatepark I used to visit. So cool. Upvote!!!

[–]asdjrocky 14 points15 points ago

That was my era, and those were indeed the days. Fat flats, big wide polyurethane wheels. We did most of our skating in downtown parking garages. Once I discovered skateboards, baseball and football and basketball, and basically everything else fell to the side.

[–]IkeHmope 7 points8 points ago

My day too. I don't get the little tiny wheels the kids use now.

[–]asdjrocky 9 points10 points ago

Thank you! They're the same size as the wheels on the little toy steel wheel boards of the very early 60's. And for what me and you get, it's not our job to "get it" any more, it's more our job to get out of the way, eh? These days I've taken to sitting on my front porch and yelling, "You kids get off my lawn!"

[–]bigups43 16 points17 points ago

You used to be with "it", but then they changed what "it" is, didnt they?

[–]IkeHmope 1 point2 points ago

No doubt. All I'm saying is that I don't fully understand their function, though they must help with the popping up on things. To me they just seem like they'd be slow.

70mm blue Kryptonics were my choice of wheel.

[–]asdjrocky 0 points1 point ago

The first ones we had were the ambers, I think, but I remember the blues. I was from NorCal as a kid but I had family in San Diego and I'd always spend a good part of the summer down there, and that's where I got my first board, I think it was the summer of 74, and when I came back up north, you couldn't find the boards with the new wheels anywhere.

I must have sent my sister money to buy about a dozen boards that winter.

[–]somekook 0 points1 point ago

70mm blue kryptonics are near-legendary among longboard skateboarders these days. That said, the chemistry has come a long way. Modern soft wheels are faster and grippier.

[–]Anonazon2 2 points3 points ago

Kids in Seattle use longboards still.

[–]upinflames 5 points6 points ago

Are you talking about skateboard wheels or long board wheels? There are many types of long board wheels, many of the types used for cruising are pretty wide. Skateboarding and long boarding are very different sports.

[–]IkeHmope 5 points6 points ago

Good point. I was active mostly in the pre-ollie days. What skateboarding was for me is more like longboarding nowadays--long fast runs down curvy streets with speed and flow being the objective. I skated quarter pipes but never got the hang of half pipes. Tricks weren't the priority unless you were "freestyle skating," a whole nother discipline. Street skating by popping up onto things and grinding and such were mostly after my time. I think it's great stuff, just not my taste. Had I stayed more with skating, I'd for sure be a longboarder now.

Edit: in the photo, Adams isn't actually ON a longboard (though they were around at the time), even if that's what that type of skating has come to be called.

[–]LivingSaladDays -1 points0 points ago

Longboarding: It's a sport now.

[–]Broken_S_Key 14 points15 points ago

yeah, it is. For a lot of the same reasons racing is.

Aerodynamics: Car body shape vs a tuck

in longboarding you have to pay attention to wheels just as you do in racing. Shape, size, durometer (hardness), urithan formula, core size, lip shape and contact patch.

then we have board shapes and all of their properties and features.

then theres having balls of steel to go 30+ MPH on a plank of wood on Marryhill. thats a road you see in car commercials to show off braking ability.

[EDIT: heres a much better DH video]

then theres sliding, which is our equivalent of drifting.

also, just like in biking, racing, and running there are different disciplined that require different combinations of wheels, bushings, boards and rider skill set.

theres Down Hill (first video), Freeride (second video): which is mid speed sliding and tricks, freestyle which is tricks on flat land, Dancing and what you probably thought of: crusing (and commuting).

and also, Techslide

all of these usually need a different type of board shape, wheel, bushing set up, and it really depends on the riders ability as well.

I dare you to get on a 43 inch piece of wood and try hitting even 15 miles per hour without getting speed wobbles.

or to bust out a standie at any speed.

tl;dr you practice the different disciplines of longboarding as you would in any other sport. it also requires a fair amount of knowledge and customizability and bravery just like any other race sport.

besides, if pool skating gets respect as a sport, why cant I put on a leather suit and skate a mountain pass at 45 miles per hour and bust out a stand up slide?

going to class is just what you might see most often.

super tl;dr: its a sport

[–]LivingSaladDays 10 points11 points ago

How do you spot a longboarder?

Don't worry, he'll tell you.

[–]Broken_S_Key -5 points-4 points ago

thats not even an argument proving me wrong.

[–]schizoidvoid 1 point2 points ago

Is joke, comrade!

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]lindy101 1 point2 points ago

I used to skate on a modern short board and do some of those sliding tricks. It doesn't take long before you get large flat spots on the wheel. They must have gone through a ton of wheels doing that.

[–]Broken_S_Key 0 points1 point ago

you do go through a lot, but if youre getting flat spots its because your wheels arnt spinning while you slide. you should be keeping them at an angle so that they spin.

[–]potatohamster 0 points1 point ago

Thanks for the post. I do commute longboarding, but I had no idea the depths of longboarding. Thanks for the videos as well.

[–]Broken_S_Key 1 point2 points ago

sure thing man. hit up /r/longboarding some time; the side bar offers a wealth of information.

[–]RuuDee 2 points3 points ago

Sport is any form of competitive physical activity, so yeah pretty much.

[–]LivingSaladDays 0 points1 point ago

http://www.japanator.com/post.phtml?pk=9887

Masturbation: It's a sport now.

[–]MaxATX 4 points5 points ago

They use small/hard wheels because it helps when trying to land those technical flip tricks. The small wheels slide quite a bit when popping/landing those tricks, and big, wide, gummy wheels obviously dont slide as well.

Basically, the big wide wheels were made for grip, the small hard wheels of today are made to slide (a little bit).

[–]Broken_S_Key 0 points1 point ago

i know what you mean to say, but skate wheels are rock hard. 90a+

longboard wheels are usually 70a-85a. one of the biggest parts of longboarding is sliding and down hill. the 2 cross over a lot.

softer urithane slides more smoothly while harder breaks into a slide more easily.

[–]jewfrojoesg 1 point2 points ago

70a wheels ಠ_ಠ slowest. rollspeed. ever.

[–]IkeHmope 0 points1 point ago

Excellent! Thanks.

[–]somekook 0 points1 point ago

Small hard wheels are great for flying through the air and sliding across obstacles. Big soft wheels work better for rolling on asphalt.

[–]heyitzclint 1 point2 points ago

You guys might be interested in this.

[–]abbabaababba 0 points1 point ago

The old way is back: sector 9

[–]Broken_S_Key 1 point2 points ago

double king pin trucks arnt the old way and there are much better alternatives to S9's intro models.

[–]abbabaababba 0 points1 point ago

i'm actually ready to buy an s9 just to get the nice big kryptonite wheels. what alternatives should i be looking at?

[–]Probable_Foreigner 37 points38 points ago

Burnt ass in 0.5 seconds

[–]nolcat 10 points11 points ago

I tried this once. Once.

[–]Arborgold 4 points5 points ago

I saw this same picture on /r/oldschoolcool, there it was posted as Jay Adams. Can anyone verify who this actually is?

[–]diabolotry 3 points4 points ago

[–]somekook 0 points1 point ago

This is actually Steve Cathey.

[–]ohratz 6 points7 points ago

Thought this was a misplaced post to /r/birdswitharms when I saw the thumbnail..

[–]hybridsilence 2 points3 points ago

Who's got the buku delores?

[–]Howard_Beale 0 points1 point ago

*beaucoup dolores

(upvote for Fast Times at Ridgemont High reference?)

[–]penislaser 2 points3 points ago

Any idea what those shoes are? I love them.

[–]Mobango94 2 points3 points ago

Forever Young

[–]Bazooe 2 points3 points ago

For everyone saying "longboarder*" No. This is skateboarding. This is where modern skateboards, and longboards originated from.

[–]SpiderDairy 3 points4 points ago

Superb hang ten shit

[–]shankyu1985 3 points4 points ago

Cuz, fuck physics.

[–]Cappelitoo 2 points3 points ago

[–]kami81 1 point2 points ago

Additional sweet 70's skateboarding action+bitchin/trippy song: http://vimeo.com/10377992

[–]Mad_Sconnie 0 points1 point ago

Knew somebody would link to this.

[–]socialogic 0 points1 point ago

Super Hands!

[–]Hu_dat 1 point2 points ago

I cant tell if thats a really wide road or a poorly planned parking lot.

[–]faint_riot 0 points1 point ago

My thoughts exactly.

[–]uncle_redeye 0 points1 point ago

amazing.

[–]pyr 0 points1 point ago

sector 9 designed a bunch of their graphics based on this. so much style!

[–]556x45mm 0 points1 point ago

My skin hurts just looking at this picture.

[–]RZA1M 0 points1 point ago

Right before he fell on his ass

[–]AmosKeto 0 points1 point ago

1958-1975*

[–]shoebox- 1 point2 points ago

so steezy

[–]dahud -1 points0 points ago

Finally, someone posts some male skin!

[–]raresaturn 1 point2 points ago

[–]klars1623 0 points1 point ago

Reminds me of this

[–]Xeracy 0 points1 point ago

I wish i had been in better physical condition when i was younger...

[–]THEUNPOPPABLEBUBBLE 1 point2 points ago

yea, he's dead now...

[–]xxunrealxx 0 points1 point ago

longboarder* :D

[–]SaviorofHyrule 0 points1 point ago

Dat Road..

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

I feel like I have a lisp saying his name.

[–]BUFF4LO 0 points1 point ago

How does this guy not have any skinned knees?

[–]harrydickinson 0 points1 point ago

This is one of the most re-posted pictures on reddit lately.

[–]talashira 0 points1 point ago

He could brachiate with arms like that.

[–]Grandmaofhurt 0 points1 point ago

Drijidible, a reposter, 2012

[–]PlaysSnDnaked 0 points1 point ago

Is he from the lords of dog town movie? Good movie.

[–]kylter 0 points1 point ago

For some reason, this makes me feel all sort of good

[–]ianwashere 0 points1 point ago

Thats actually a longboard incase you're wondering.

[–]aguspell 0 points1 point ago

did he died?

[–]erode 1 point2 points ago

He looks to be in complete harmony with that board. Damn cool pioneers.

[–]metaphysicalme 0 points1 point ago

Steve Cathey, a skateboarder, 1959-1975

[–]floppybunny26 1 point2 points ago

Can someone please draw me a free body diagram?

[–]Collegemaiden 0 points1 point ago

I really thought it was a topless chick at first...

[–]blissmemberment 0 points1 point ago

Thought I was going crazy looking through the comments for this.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

[–]SuggestiveMaterial 0 points1 point ago

Right before he loses the top layer of skin from his back.

[–]ALKINDA 0 points1 point ago

totally thought this was a chick skateboarding... was going to say shave ur pits or somthing but i read your comment and i guess its a guy... haha for him

[–]PleaidianLove 0 points1 point ago

total hottie.

[–]Ma99ie -1 points0 points ago

For those of you too young to remember it, that thing he's skating on is called a well maintained road. These littered the landscape back in the day, before the government started constantly shafting it's own people - Beginning with the Reagan Revolution.

[–]Lo0seR 0 points1 point ago

@50 raised in SoCal OC area, I really can't think of a better place and "time period" to grow up as a kid.

[–]extra_23 0 points1 point ago

This pic always reminds me of my dad for some reason. He'll always be a better boarder than me I think, the man can still do a handstand on a board and he's 53.

[–]purplepumpkinyo 0 points1 point ago

That's a dude?

[–]imabacon -1 points0 points ago

a longboarder*

[–]venku122 0 points1 point ago

Was this taken on Placentia Avenue, Newport Beach? It looks very familiar.

[–]Xenu3 0 points1 point ago

Back when skaters still had style . . .

[–]MrLOLsteveLOL 0 points1 point ago

Life looked so much happier in the 70s and 80s

[–]derpyizbestpony 0 points1 point ago

That is the actual photo for a lot of the sector nine stickers. I have one of them, but its at my actual home and not my dorm :/

[–]IcedJack 0 points1 point ago

And this, children, is how you laugh at physics.

[–]Derwos 0 points1 point ago

Hey, for all you know he fell like half a second later.

[–]ithinkyourweird -1 points0 points ago

Did the other orangutans make fun of him for having no hair? Or like him for having crazy mad skate boarding skills?

[–]Kriztauf -2 points-1 points ago

He has armpit hair.

[–]explosionsmakedebris -2 points-1 points ago

What makes you so sure he is a skateboarder?

[–]Broken_S_Key 0 points1 point ago

what wouldnt?

[–]explosionsmakedebris 0 points1 point ago

I'm trying to mock him, Professor Poophead!