Thrasher (magazine)

Thrasher

November 2007 cover with Steve Nesser
Categories Skateboarding
Frequency Monthly
Circulation 250,000[1]
Publisher High Speed Productions
Founder Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello
Year founded 1981
Language English, French
Website thrashermagazine.com
ISSN 0889-0692
OCLC number 13789617

Thrasher is a monthly skateboarding magazine, founded in 1981 by Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello, and published by the San Francisco, United States (U.S.)-based company, High Speed Productions, Inc.[2][3] The publication consists of skateboard- and music-related articles, photography, interviews, skatepark reviews, and miscellaneous content. The magazine also maintains a website that consists of numerous features, including segments such as "Firing Line" and "Hall of Meat", an online store, a video collection, a radio show, and a forum for registered users.[4] The company also owns and operates the Double Rock indoor skateboarding facility.

History

In 1999, the magazine sponsored a PlayStation game called Thrasher: Skate and Destroy.

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

Skater of the Year

The title of "Skater of the Year" is awarded annually by Thrasher magazine. 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 the skater based on a decision made by Thrasher's editor-in-chief. Chris Cole and Danny Way are the only recipients to have won the award twice.

Recipients

Videography

Thrasher has also released an annual King of the Road video since 2003.

King of the Road

In 2003, Thrasher started the King of the Road (KOTR) skateboarding competition. The KOTR contest consist of a group of invited teams of professional skaters who are each given a booklet in which a series of challenges are documented—corresponding 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 the U.S. to complete as many challenges as possible.

KOTR has been held annually since its inception, with the exception of 2008 and 2009. In 2011, Thrasher and Converse hosted the competition in China, with the participation of the four biggest Chinese skateboard deck companies.[11][12]

2003

2004

2005

2006 - The Beast Creeps East

2007

2010

2011

2011 - KOTR China

2012

2013

2014

Skate Rock

Thrasher released a music compilation series titled "Skate Rock" under the High Speed Productions label. The first release was in 1983, with Volume One, and continued until Volume Seven in 1989. The series started out featuring California, U.S.-based punk rock bands, including bands fronted by skateboarders, such as Steve Caballero, Tony Alva, and Klaus Grabke under the name Eight Dayz.

Of the seven volumes of Skate Rock, all volumes were produced as a cassette available through Thrasher Magazine. Some volumes were also available as vinyl records.

Volume 1

Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1983
Format: Cassette

Volume Two: Blazing Wheels And Barking Trucks

Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1984
Format: Cassette/LP

Volume Three: Wild Riders Of Boards

Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1985
Format: Cassette/LP

Volume Four: Smash

Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1986
Format: Cassette/LP

Volume Five: Born to Skate

Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1987
Format: Cassette/LP

Volume Six: Road Rash

Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1988
Format: Cassette/LP

Volume Seven: Noise Forest

Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1989
Format: Cassette/LP

References

  1. ↑ Carlson, Michael (June 30, 2011). "Eric Swenson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  2. ↑ VentureBeat (2007–2012). "Thrasher Skateboard Magazine". VentureBeatProfiles. VentureBeat. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Fausto Vitello, 59, Is Dead; Made Skateboarding Gnarly
  4. ↑ Thrasher Magazine (20 August 2012). "Home". Thrasher Magazine. BNQT Media Group. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  5. ↑ ThrasherMagazine (3 February 2011). "Double Rock: Almost". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  6. ↑ ThrasherMagazine (8 June 2012). "Firing Line: Lewis Marnell". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Skateline". Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Thrasher Skateboard Magazine - April 2001". Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions, Inc. April 2001. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "Leo Romero - From Birth To SOTY - Full Length" (Video upload). ThrasherMagazine on YouTube. Google, Inc. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 LUCAS WISENTHAL (13 December 2014). "Thrasher Just Announced the 2014 Skater of the Year". RIDE Channel. Complex Media. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  11. ↑ KOTR 2010
  12. ↑ Thrasher Skateboard Magazine
  13. ↑ "King Of The Road 2014: Team Profiles". Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions, Inc. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.

External links