Skate zine or not, the tone of this zine is something every personal zine should try toachieve. I was never a skater. In grade four, my parents bought me a skate board from Zeller’s because they were cool at the time and it was basically like trying to be a ballerina wearing clogs. I soon gave up. I had friends who were skaters but for the most part, and judging by random snippets of magazines and music videos I would catch, it seemed to me that skaters and skateboarding was a subculture adrift in a sea of stupidity. Skatedork (how ironic) really spun my opinion around. Stephen, in his largely contributor based zine, has captured all the best parts of skater culture. From people who have returned to skating after many years like Jim Withington in To Skate, to being caught by the cops in Busted by Gustavo Basto, to the spiritual connection of gliding down the street in Salvation by Andrew Sobstory, each recollection is done with fondness, sadness and a true adoration for the sport. Even more encouraging were the contribution by women, including Wings by Anna Schall, a beautiful account of a relationship forged in griptape and wood. All these memories are raw in their description and true in their sincerity. Extra props go to Steve’s keen eye for aesthetics. A pleasant surprise that can be enjoyed by skaters and non-skaters alike. (KJ)
skater zine, #4, 34 pages, free in skate shops/$2, Stephen Voss, 221 Spring Ridge Drive, Berkeley Heights, NJ, 07922