Nostalgic 1970s skateboard stickers

9292Steven has 1970s skateboard stickers for sale on eBay and a fantastic vintage skateboard collection. I first got in touch with him when I saw his ad for reproduction1970s skateboard stickers for sale on eBay. He sent me the photos and this message in response: “I’m still skating at the age of 54 with a

Vintage skateboard restoration

Denham Hill just got in touch with a question about vintage skateboard restoration: “I collect vintage boards and I’ve recently got into restoring a few. So far, most have been going fairly well but it’s trial and error for the most part! I was wondering if you were aware of anyone in the U.K. who

1977 skateboard pricelist from Bristol Skate Centre

Steve Boddy got in touch to say “Hi all , I am just about to list the Bristol Skateboard Centre Autumn Price List from 1977 on eBay . It features their entire stock and prices . Some interesting “ old school “ equipment. Good Luck . My username on eBay is quirkyvintageandbooks.” Source: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Bristol-Skateboard-Centre-Autumn-1977-Price-List-Vintage-Skateboarding/143581453093?hash=item216e1f1b25:g:sXEAAOSw5uZel0EU (accessed

Brighton South Coast Skateboard Association

Here’s a story for vintage skateboard lovers about the 1970s  Brighton South Coast Skateboard Association. As skateboarding became increasingly recognised as a genuine sport in the UK in the mid 1970s, more and more clubs started springing up all over the country. One of the first skateboarding clubs in the UK and probably the biggest

Guilford Skatestar, Gillingham, Skate City, South Bank, Southsea and other UK vintage skateboard locations

This video of UK Old School Skateboard, shared by r3d3 There’s some useful info in the comments… Tojan Records: 03:18 Gillingham skate park riding “The Snake”. Half pipe in the background, spent many many days there skating then BMX’ing early 80’s. 23skullhead: These clips are from all sorts of sources, a cutdown of sections compiled

Skateboard Escape skatepark Weymouth – 1970s UK skateparks

Skateboard Escape spatepark Weymouth was built when Weymouth succumbed early on to the thrills of the 1970s UK skateboarding craze. It was built with the help and encouragement of a local co-ordinator at the Youth Activities Centre, who was a keen skater himself. In winter the kids practised on the promenade, but in summer, with

Skate City London – 1970s UK skateparks

You’ll find the 3.5 acres of landscaped concrete that is Skate City London near Tower Bridge. Parts are open now, and there are ambitious plans for the site: it will be open from 10am to 9pm, with floodlighting for darker evenings; there will be a shop and cafe on site, plus seating and walkways for

Vintage skateboard star John Sablosky profiled in 1977

Vintage skateboard star John Sablosky was profiled in Issue 1 of Skateboard Scene, in the Winter 1977 edition. Here’s a transcript: John Sablosky is only 14, yet he’s one of the hottest skateboatders in Britain today. The funny thing about John is that two years ago he hadn’t even seen a skateboard. “It was only

Watergate Bay skatepark Newquay – 1970s UK skateparks

Watergate Bay skatepark Newquay was opened on 29th May 1977, overlooking the beach north of Newquay, Cornwall, and later that year the Watergate Bay Skateboard Contest was held there, attracting many competitors from the UK, and from America and Australia as well. Watergate started out as a surfing centre, but when the people in charge

Jock Paterson

Jock Paterson believes in an eye-catching start to his freestyle routine. He launches himself and his board into the air and as soon as he hits the ground moves immediately into his first sequence. Jock Paterson was a UK Nationwide Champion of skateboarding at the Skatecity venue in December 1977. He ‘s a keep-fit fanatic

Barry Walsh interviewed in issue 1 of the 1977 magazine Skateboard Scene

Barry Walsh as interviewed in issue 1 of the magazine “SKATEBOARD SCENE” – the radical read for radical riders (45p) – by Willie Samson. We kick off our first issue with Barry Walsh’s interview. Barry isn’t the slalom champ of Bexhill. Nor did he invent a new hydrolastic nylon bearing to revolutionise the world’s wheel

The £15 Coyote precision engineering vintage skateboard ad

This ad for the budget Coyote complete skateboard from 1977 shows a board that many who had saved their pocket money for a skateboard, but couldn’t afford to build one from individual components, would end up buying. This model probably shifted a few units during the 1970s UK skateboard craze because of its low price.

Outasight Benjyboards decks

This Benjyboards decks signposts two new ones: the improved White Lightning and the Lolipop 7-ply.  

Hobie Skateboards

Hobart “Hobie” Alter   was a surf and sailing entrepreneur / pioneer. He created the Hobie Cat catamarans, and founded the Hobie Skateboards company. Alter began making skateboards in 1962. Working with Bill Richards at Val Surf, Hobie Alter introduces the Hobie Super Surfer skateboard. Surf legend, Charles “Corky” Carroll III is also involved with Hobie

Alpine Sports

Alpine Sports took to the 1970s skateboard craze like a fish to water. They had three London branches and one in Brighton. This ad highlights their range of risers, bearings, bushes, axels and other accessories:

Bristol Skateboard Centre

I’d say there’s a graphic design influence of Roger Dean in this ad for the Bristol Skateboard Centre. West country skaters are sure to remember this store:  

G&S Fibreflex Bowlrider

Coupled with Phoenixes and yellow YoYos, this is a skatepark bowlriding classic:

Fireball Hotwheels classic skateboarding wheels

Fireball Hotwheels were available via their south-west London distributor Looner Land Skates in SW6. I love the warning next to the 95mm ones that they’re for downhill only with no cornering ability. £5 each without bearings or £6 with:  

All I want for Christmas is this?

After 36 bids, this combo sold for USD1,691.66 on ebay. Vintage 70’s Jay Adams Z-Flex skateboard with Gold Gullwing & OJ Zephyr (SOLD)

Stacey Peralta deck

Endorsed by Stacey Peralta, this laminated kicktail deck was a bomb!

Pro-Am truck and wheels

Recently I posted an ad for Pro-Am skateboard pads and helmets. Now here are their gold trucks ad wheels:  

A classic skateboard deck to lust after

Here’s an ad from the early days of skateboarding for the Sims Taperkick. And it’s fitted with trucks and wheels to die for: Gullwing Phoenix and blue Kryptonics. It cost £73.80 back in the day…      

Marbot Skateboarder SpeedRites footwear

Specialised sports footwear was limited to the traditional sports like tennis (Dunlop Stan Smiths), baseball (Converse All Star) and rock climbing (blue and white EBs bought from Ellis Brigham’s). When skateboarding first began in mid 1970s, shoe manufactures began catering for a new market. Here’s an ad for Marbot SpeedRites:

Jay Adams at Marina Del Rey Skatepark 1978

Here’s another gem from the fab Selvedge Yard blog. It’s a 1978 photo of Jay Adams at Marina Del Rey Skatepark taken by and copyright held by David Scott. On this page, there are some more great photos of Jay, the Z-flex team (Marty Grimes, Jimmy Davies, Eric Andersen (Froggy), Solo Scott, Jimmy Plummer, George

Tiger Oak and Tiger Birch 27″ skateboard decks

These Tiger Oak and Tiger Birch 27″ skateboard decks came out around 1977. The oak was advertised as being suitable for bowlriding and freestyle and cost £35 with ACS trucks and “The New Tunnel Holland Wheels”/ The Birch came with narrower ACS trucks and Grentec GT wheels, were about a fiver less.

TRUX comic strip by Paul Sample

Remember the TRUX cartoon strip that used to appear every month in Skateboard? Here’s one to help jog your memory. Paul Sample was the artist. His illustrations were seen in many other magazines of the time.  

Venice Beach 1970s style

I love the old photos of Venice Beach in the 70s on this Selvedge Yard blog post.

Skateboards of choice store review

I’ve just been browsing the online store of  Skateboards of Choice . Based in Poole, Dorset, UK,  it looks like a store with a good choice of old school gear: They’ve got OJs and Sims wheels in stock. Trucks by Bennett and Tracker. Alva, Z-Flex and Sims decks. Complete boards from the £120-170 range, with free

Jed Stone

Jed Stone lives  in Plymouth Age: 24 (in 1977 when this interview appeared in Skateboard mag) Number of years skating: 2 approx. Other hobbies: surfing in the summer Team: Rob Ward’s West Country Team Favourite skate places: bowls — also likes the Bristol ramp and half-pipe Preferred skating: bowlriding Equipment: West Country rocker deck, 651’s

Brian Kellner

Brian Kellner Country of origin: South Africa Living now: in Brighton Age: 15 (in 1977, when this interview appeared in Skateboard magazine) Normal skate place: Brighton’s Marina Wall Equipment: Bennett and Tracker trucks, Simms Comp 2’s self-made freestyle board. For slalom, green Kryps, Henry Hesters, Park- riders, Logan 4&5‘s G&S Cutaway deck with Full Tracks.

Paul Conibear

Skateboarder Paul  Conibear lives: in Swansea Age: 23 (1977) Team: rides for the Dave Friar Team Equipment: Highway board with 65mrn reds and small Lazers Other hobbies: some surfing Recent contest success: over-all winner at the Bristol Skate Fest ’77 Admires in the UK: Mark Sinclair, Jeremy Henderson, Jock Paterson, Si Napper, Alex Turnbull. Admires

Paul Nelson

Skateboarder Paul Nelson lives: in Brighton Age: 12 (1977) Team: Skateboard City, Brighton Equipment: Skuda L-A, Half Tracks, Road Rider 2’s for freestyle and for slalom, Lazers, Parkrider 4’s and a self-made deck. Prefers to skate: slalom, freestyle, banks and speed Other hobbies: occasional diving Admires in the UK: Steve Kellner, John Mitchell Admires in the States:

Si Napper

Here’s an interview with London skateboarder Simon Napper from 1977 Skateboard magazine 1977 has thrown up a multitude of promising  UK skateboard stars. Some have shown   tremendous footwork skill, a few have   displayed brilliant bowl-busting technique   and others have ‘gone for it’ so hard you’ve   wondered if they really are totally fearless. One rider straddling

Sims Taperkick skateboard

Coming with Gullwing Phoenix trucks and blue Kryptonics, this Sims Purejuice Taperkick was a dream combo.