When We Was Rad:
Skateboard History from UK Vintage Magazine

Month: June 2006

  • Lija at Beast Manor

    “Lija gets on with what he wants to get on with. Including competitions sometimes, but not on this occasion” — that was the oblique caption to this full-page picture of a skater who deserved more coverage than he got at this time. They attracted like-minded souls. Visiting vert skaters would beg rides out to the…

  • Big Ramps and Barbecues at Beast Manor

    One of the most fabulous private ramps soared for a while in the home-counties just North of London. A Fallbrook equivalent, perhaps, sessioned by a select group of local initiates and visitors. BARBECUE AT BEAST MANOR Look at the trees in these pictures, look at the leaves. See how they change from green to gold,…

  • Vintage UK skateboard mail order adverts for Christmas 1989

    Billy’s and Off Beat Sportz often appeared on the same page. Both were solid supporters of the skate scene throughout these years, as was Superbike in Ilford. There’s a fascination is seeing these old prices as well as the restrictions imposed on the graphics by the technology of the day. That Superbike advert looks as…

  • Gelfand, Goff and Gonzales: 3 very different skating Gs

    G is also for Gator… Alongside various skate gods of different eras we also find references to Steve Douglas’ “Go For It” zine from the dark ages and (topical note: there was a fuss about a BBC DJ using the word “gay” raging at the time of this post) Gay Twists. GODOY Art & Steve…

  • Rollermania pictured as pirates (by themselves)

    For me this page is all about the Rollermania advert. Other UK shops and distributors often expressed strong views about Tony and Lou’s shop. It was a Bristol cult for many, many years during the dark ages and throughout the revival of skateboarding in the UK. There’s got to be a conscious irony about portraying…

  • Billabong On Edge/ Bad Billy’s Advert 1989

    In years to come Billabong were to have a major impact on the skateboard market, but at this point they were still seen here as a surf company. I cannot remember who was their distributor in the UK at this point and have no idea who paid for this ad.

  • John Coffee Intro from 1989

    I get the feeling John Coffee would have hit it off with Gavin Hills when Vernon and Gavin went to do their feature on the skateboard scene in Northern Ireland… JOHN ‘Hotte Bnuroot’ COFFEY Last Comment —I’ve got one foot on the golf course already Influences–G. Hotte Wireneck Leyburn and D. Hotte Bubbleneck Anderson Ambitions–To…

  • Rollersnakes Go Big-time for 1989 Christmas Advert

    This double-page advert UK from mail-order stalwarts, Rollersnakes, was a bold change from their normal format. They normally used smaller adverts to generate interest, but in this case they used two pages to list a full range in true home-shopping style. In 1989 the cost of trying to illustrate all those products would have been…

  • Early Jason Ellis Intro from 1989

    David Walsh supplied words and pictures on Jason Ellis, at a time when the Melbourne star had only been skating three and a half years. JASON ELLIS by David Walsh Age — 18 (just) How long skating — Three and a half years Home town — Melbourne, Australia Favourite place to skate — San Jose…

  • BMX Mail Order, 1989 Style

    Al first glance this advert appears to be 100% BMX, but in fact there’s some token skate stuff there alongside the surfwear from Billabong plus Town and Country.