Durant le milieu des 70's, quand commençait à se former les traits de personnalité du skateboarder moyen, beaucoup d'industriels espéraient que le skateboard serait présenté comme un sport "conformiste". Mais une fois que la masse fut exposée aux exploits des Dogtowners plus rien ne fut pareil. Et c'est à travers ses articles que les standards furent établis pour des générations d'individualistes rebelles et que la personnalité atypique du skater fut libéré.

Stecyk tente souvent de m'attribuer une part du travail pour avoir découvert et photographié quelques unes des plus fortes personnalités de Dogtown. C'est vrai jusqu'à un certain point mais si je n'avais pas lu ses articles en premier (même quand je faisais partie des scènes qu'il décrivait), je doute que mon travail eu la même portée. Alors, voici quelques uns de mes articles préférés dans le book de Craig. Ils ont présenté Tony Alva, Jay Adams et le reste des Z-Boys au monde.

 — G.E.F.

FEAR OF FLYING

In the final analysis, truth always evolves from the state of total madness. Everyone has their own spatial orientation which is basically a combination of awareness, balance and experience. A large order of co-related spatial orientations result in a like system called a dimension (hence, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, fourth-dimensional). For each dimension there exists objects, persons, and concepts all with similar spatial orientations. For example, American technology produced a generation of mutants who relate only to the two-dimensional (flat) world, due to prolonged exposure to television. These persons only relate to photographic representations, feeling the medium to be the absolute truth, it being impossible for them to perceive the difficulties and non-structured events of everyday 3-D life as being more real than the flat, static photograph. Aspects of this phobia are the terms photographic proof, seeing is believing, a picture’s worth a thousand words, visual verification, picture perfect, pictorial splendor, etc.

It’s been prophesied that the fourth-dimension exists at a 90 degree angle to all known planes and angles simultaneously. Surfing is a three-dimensional experience (especially tube riding). Skateboarding on banks closely parallels surfing, so it must also be 3-D based (after all, the ultimate outcome of a curvilinear plane (a bank) is a cylinder). But what of the 4-D phase? The fourth-dimensional experience involves weightlessness, relative speed, relative velocity, and time sequences. Since the fourth exists simultaneously to our own third-dimension, it is logical that certain 3-D occurrences must be closer to the fourth in nature than the others. In other words—here is the other side of there.

SkateBoarder Magazine vol.2 #3 Winter ‘75

FISHEYED FREAKS AND LONG DOGS WITH SHORT TALES

Tony Alva was from the banks and canyons of the Northern Points. He and his friends “didn’t go to school” together. Usually they would surf on the low-tide mornings, and ride the banks and canyons during the afternoon winds. He had a reputation for being fast. Tony wasn’t sure where this rep came from, and he really didn’t care. He just knew he didn’t like it. A couple of his friends told him about the contest at the Sports Arena “Prize money” was the only thing they said he could remember. His sponsors were up for it, So Alva entered the Pro division. “Figured I could have a good time, and maybe pick up a little money. Besides, I needed a new car.” So they went to the arena, the pride of Exposition Park. Tony had the fastest time in the slalom prelims, and won the Cross Country. His friend Bob Biniak got second. Upon receiving his $500 check, Alva stated, “Take the money and run, son!” Tony was spotted in the Islands a week later.

SkateBoarder Magazine vol.2 #5 June ‘76