Topic: Attention all former skaters!

[Francois]

I was just doing a bit of research on some stuff and got wondering about something which brought me to the art of Craig R. Stecyk.
Now, if you're about my age, you know the man's work without necessarily knowing who's behind it all.
Well, it turns out he was the mastermind behind all the fantastic adverts for Powell Peralta skateboards in the 80's.
The man was a photojournalist turned illustrator turned producer...
Here's a little something the MOCA (Museum of contemporary arts) posted on him.
It contains a lot of old skateboard and surfing pictures, his newer artwork and some stuff shot on cine.
Luxuria, C. R. Stecyk III on Vimeo

And here's a bit more
! No longer available

[rpmdrd]

He was in the Bones Brigade documentary by Peralta. Very interesting concepts he did for the skateboarding ads at that time period in which they focus more on the skaters/culture rather than the skateboard.

[Ed Wenn]

Yes indeed. His name and work are both very familiar to me, but I'm really glad to see these pieces gracing the Internet and the FW forum. Thanks very much for the links, Francois!
 

[Francois]

It's a bit funny because when I did a bit of googling to find this stuff and watched it all, it definitely struck some existential string in me.
Here's a guy who at some point decided to just have fun creating stuff and not care about becoming a serious person desperately searching for money and fame... And somehow it made me feel like so many of us have somehow missed something in life... The seriousness part of it is definitely the biggest thing for me.

[charles binns]

There's still time for you Francois - you're still young and life hasn't yet ground all the enthusiasm out of you yet.  Go out build a skateboard, lark about and take some photos.  Then we'll watch videos of you and think:  F**k, where did it all go wrong.

Just for the record I'm still young and enthusiastic.

[Late Developer]

As I don't possess a centre of balance, even trying to mount and stand upright on a skateboard fills me with dread.  I did have a go on one many years (and about six stone) ago.  I damned near broke both ankles, one wrist  and suffered from a severe bout of gravel rash up both arms.

Part of me has a great respect for those who can do the tricks on these things but there's another, more cynical, part of me that enjoys the slapstick moments when it all goes very wrong.

I am still young and enthusiastic (at least inside my head).  The rest of me seems to be ageing faster by the week.....

[Francois]

The rest of me seems to be ageing faster by the week.....

Some days, I feel like that too... especially these days with my pretty busted shoulder (ouch!)

I guess I've come to the age where you can hurt yourself while sleeping! 

[mcduff]

Thanks Francois! 

[Ed Wenn]

As I don't possess a centre of balance

I'd like to nominate this as 'Forum Quote of the Week'. Who's with me 

Also, bonus photo of me skating in Australia in 1988 with a t-shirt on my head....y'know, just because.

Photo credit: Dave Ross. Deck: Gonz Flowers.

[Francois]

Sadly, I can't compete with that...
Nobody ever took any picture of me skating!

That means that those obviously sketchy Ollies, fabulous boneless and not so bad manuals are forever consigned to my memory...

Let me guess, you were riding a vision deck?

[Sandeha Lynch]

Not my skateboard, not my cat, not my Mary Poppins soundtrack album ... but it is my shot from 1988.   

[Adam Doe]

...bonus photo of me skating in Australia in 1988 with a t-shirt on my head....y'know, just because.

Photo credit: Dave Ross. Deck: Gonz Flowers.

Back when you could tell the front of a deck from the back! Bonus points to Ed for the proper Chucks and the shirt-hat.