Thrasher (magazine) explained

Thrasher
Editor:Michael Burnett
Staff Writer:Eddie Hobbs
Frequency:Monthly
Circulation:250,000[1]
Publisher:High Speed Productions
Country:United States
Based:San Francisco, California
Issn:0889-0692
Oclc:13789617

Thrasher is an American skateboarding media brand founded in January 1981 by Eric Swenson and Fausto Vitello, who also founded Independent Truck Company, And officially launched as a skateboard magazine.[2] Since the 1990s, Thrasher has expanded its presence in television, video production, online blogging and merchandising.

History

Thrasher was founded in 1981 by Fausto Vitello and Eric Swenson, primarily as a way to promote Independent Truck Company, their skateboard truck company.[3] [2] The magazine's first editor was Kevin Thatcher. Photographer Richard Knoll, aka Mofo, became the second staff member, joining Thatcher in mid-1981.[4]

In 1989, Cara-Beth Burnside became the first woman to appear on the cover of Thrasher.

In 1993, Jake Phelps was named editor of the magazine,[5] bringing the punk-skater ethic to the world through his photojournalism, which changed the essence of Thrasher and in turn changed the sub-culture of skateboarding. In 1999, the magazine sponsored a PlayStation game called Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy.[6] Vitello's son, Tony, took over as owner of the magazine after his father died of a heart attack in 2006, and Swenson died by suicide in 2011.[7] [2] On March 14, 2019, long-time editor Jake Phelps died.[8] [9]

In 2017, Thrasher was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.[10]

The company also owns and operates the Double Rock indoor skateboarding facility, and the San Francisco skateshop, 66 6th.

Photographer Michael Burnett is the magazine's current editor-in-chief.

Website

The magazine's website features regularly updated episodes of segments and hosts a forum in which registered users can engage in online discussion.

Segments Include:

Skater of the Year

The title of "Skater of the Year" is awarded annually by Thrasher. The tradition was started in 1990, and the accolade remains one of the most respected awards in global skateboarding culture. The title is bestowed to one skater annually and announced by Thrashers editor. Chris Cole, Danny Way and Tyshawn Jones are the only double recipients.

!Year!Skater of the Year!Age!Stance!Team
1990 Tony Hawk22GoofyPowell Peralta
1991 Danny Way17RegularPlan B Skateboards
1992 John Cardiel[14] 19GoofyBlack Label Skateboards
1993 Salman Agah[15] 21RegularReal Skateboards
1994 Mike Carroll[16] 19GoofyGirl Skateboards
1995 Chris Senn[17] 23RegularAdrenalin Skateboards
1996 Eric Koston[18] 21GoofyGirl Skateboards
1997 Bob Burnquist[19] 21RegularAntihero Skateboards
1998 Andrew Reynolds[20] 20RegularBirdhouse Skateboards
1999 Brian Anderson[21] 23RegularToy Machine
2000 Geoff Rowley[22] 24RegularFlip Skateboards
2001 Arto Saari[23] 20RegularFlip Skateboards
2002 Tony Trujillo[24] 20RegularAntihero Skateboards
2003 Mark Appleyard[25] 21GoofyFlip Skateboards
2004 Danny Way[26] 30RegularAlien Workshop
2005 Chris Cole[27] 23RegularZero Skateboards
2006 Daewon Song[28] 31GoofyAlmost Skateboards
2007 Marc Johnson[29] 30RegularChocolate Skateboards
2008 Silas Baxter-Neal[30] 24GoofyHabitat Skateboards
2009 Chris Cole27RegularZero Skateboards
2010 Leo Romero24RegularToy Machine
2011 Grant Taylor20GoofyAlien Workshop
2012 David Gonzales22regular Flip Skateboards
2013 Ishod Wair22GoofyReal Skateboards
2014 Wes Kremer25GoofySK8MAFIA
2015 Anthony Van Engelen37RegularFucking Awesome
2016 Kyle Walker[31] 22GoofyReal Skateboards
2017 Jamie Foy21RegularDeathwish Skateboards
2018 Tyshawn Jones[32] 20RegularFucking Awesome
2019 Milton Martinez28GoofyCreature Skateboards
2020 Mason Silva24RegularReal Skateboards
2021 Mark Suciu[33] 29GoofyHabitat Skateboards
2022 Tyshawn Jones[34] 24RegularKing Skateboards
2023 Miles Silvas[35] 28RegularPrimitive Skateboarding

King of the Road

See main article: King of the Road (skateboarding). From 2003 to 2007, Thrasher held the King of the Road skateboarding competition annually. In the contest, teams of professional skaters are each given "The Book", which contains a series of challenges.[36] Points are awarded at the completion of each challenge. The teams compete at the same time over a two-week period, in which they travel across various American cities to complete as many challenges as possible. Each of these events was released on DVD.[37]

In 2010, Thrasher returned the annual competition, however releasing the episodes via the Thrasher website going forward, instead of on DVD. In 2011, Thrasher and Converse hosted a one-off King of the Road competition in China, with the participation of the four biggest Chinese skateboard deck companies.[38] In 2016, Viceland would acquire the rights to release King of the Road 2015 on its network, and all subsequent King of the Road events going forward. The most recent King of the Road tournament was held in 2017.

In April 2020, Thrasher editor-in-chief Michael Burnett said that Vice's decision to not renew King of the Road for a fourth season, along with the recent passing of previous editor-in-chief Jake Phelps, caused King of the Road to be put on hold, with the intention of it being brought back, possibly in a different format, at a future date.[39]

Skate Rock

Thrasher released a music compilation series titled "Skate Rock" under the High Speed Productions label. Skate Rock was conceptualized by Mofo. The first release was in 1983, with Volume One, and continued until Volume Eight in 1990.

The series focused primarily on punk rock and thrash bands, and most of the bands were made up of skateboarders, including well known professionals and community stars such as Steve Caballero, Tony Alva, Bob Denike, Brian Brannon, Mofo, Pushead, Chuck Treece, and Claus Grabke.[40] Of the seven volumes of Skate Rock, all volumes were produced as a cassette available through the magazine. Some volumes were also available as vinyl records.

Thrasher has organized multiple tours throughout the United States and worldwide under the name "Skate Rock".[40] [41]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Carlson. Michael. Eric Swenson obituary. November 17, 2011. The Guardian. June 30, 2011.
  2. News: Eric Swenson, Co-Founder of Thrasher Magazine, Dies at 64. Weber. Bruce. June 23, 2011. The New York Times. March 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180221201144/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/business/media/24swenson.html. February 21, 2018. live. 0362-4331.
  3. News: Guevara . Milton . 'Artists, Weirdos, Hellriders And Homies:' Thrasher Magazine Turns 40 . January 14, 2021 . . January 14, 2021 . en.
  4. Web site: Huber . Todd . Mofo Archives . Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum . 31 March 2024 . http://web.archive.org/web/20231204142017/https://skateboardinghalloffame.org/shof-2016/mofo-2016/ . 4 December 2023 . 2016.
  5. Web site: Willy. Staley. Thrashed. March 24, 2016. The California Sunday Magazine.
  6. Web site: Thrasher: Skate and Destroy Review. Perry. Doug. December 6, 1999. IGN. https://web.archive.org/web/20071106020432/http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/161/161885p1.html. November 6, 2007. dead. March 16, 2019.
  7. News: Fausto Vitello, 59, Is Dead; Made Skateboarding Gnarly. Fox. Margalit. April 27, 2006. The New York Times. March 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063511/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/sports/fausto-vitello-59-is-dead-made-skateboarding-gnarly.html. July 4, 2018. live. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Success at High Speed. SF State Magazine. https://web.archive.org/web/20190316083412/https://magazine.sfsu.edu/archive/spring_12/alumni3. March 16, 2019. live. March 16, 2019.
  9. Web site: Jake Phelps Dies at 56; as Thrasher Editor, a Skateboarding Guru. Staley. Will. March 20, 2019. The New York Times. April 26, 2019.
  10. Web site: The list of Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductees. surfertoday.com.
  11. Web site: Double Rock: Almost. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/SF_ykHpoaNk . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. October 6, 2012. ThrasherMagazine. February 3, 2011.
  12. Web site: Firing Line: Lewis Marnell. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PmfI0KYT6NU . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. October 6, 2012. ThrasherMagazine. June 8, 2012.
  13. Web site: Skateline. Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions, Inc. December 14, 2014. December 9, 2014.
  14. April 1993. SOTY 1992: John Cardiel. Thrasher.
  15. February 1994. SOTY 1993: Salman Agah. Thrasher.
  16. March 1995. SOTY 1994: Mike Carroll. Thrasher.
  17. March 1996. SOTY 1995: Chris Senn. Thrasher.
  18. March 1997. SOTY 1996: Eric Koston. Thrasher.
  19. April 1998. SOTY 1997: Bob Burnquist (Default for Jamie Thomas. Thrasher.
  20. April 1999. SOTY 1998: Andrew Reynolds. Thrasher.
  21. April 2000. SOTY 1999: Brian Anderson. Thrasher.
  22. April 2001. SOTY 2000: Geoff Rowley. Thrasher.
  23. April 2002. SOTY 2001: Arto Saari. Thrasher.
  24. May 2003. SOTY 2002: Tony Trujillo. Thrasher.
  25. April 2004. SOTY 2003: Mark Appleyard. Thrasher.
  26. May 2005. SOTY 2004: Danny Way. Thrasher.
  27. April 2006. SOTY 2005: Chris Cole. Thrasher.
  28. April 2007. SOTY 2006: Daewon Song. Thrasher.
  29. May 2008. SOTY 2007: Marc Johnson. Thrasher.
  30. April 2009. SOTY 2008: Silas Baxter-Neal. Thrasher.
  31. Web site: SOTY 2016: Kyle Walker. Thrasher Magazine. 2022-12-15. 2016-12-05.
  32. Web site: SOTY Party 2018 Photos. April 30, 2021. Thrasher Magazine.
  33. Web site: Skater of the Year 2021: Mark Suciu. Thrasher Magazine. 2022-12-15. 2021-12-10.
  34. Web site: Skater of the Year 2022: Tyshawn Jones. Thrasher Magazine. 2022-12-15. 2022-12-08.
  35. Web site: Skater of the Year 2023 . Thrasher.
  36. Best Of KOTR 2003 & 2004 . en . 2024-04-18 . www.thrashermagazine.com.
  37. Web site: KOTR Memories 2003 . 2024-04-18 . www.thrashermagazine.com . en.
  38. Web site: Thrasher Magazine.
  39. Web site: Macdonald. Neil. April 7, 2020. Michael Burnett Interview.
  40. Web site: Skate Rock Mexico: Feature Article . March 14, 2017 . Thrasher Magazine . en . December 20, 2020.
  41. Web site: Thrasher Magazine.