| Title | : | Dogtown: The Legend Of The Z Boys |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0964191644 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780964191648 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 228 |
| Publication | : | First published April 1, 2002 |
In the early 1970s, the sport of skateboarding had so waned from its popularity in the 1960s that it was virtually nonexistent. In the DogTown area of west Los Angeles, a group of young surfers known as the Zephyr Team (Z-Boys) was experimenting with new and radical moves and styles in the water, which they translated to the street. When competition skateboarding returned in 1975, the Z-Boys turned the skating world on its head. DogTown: The Legend of the Z-Boys is a truly fascinating case study of how an underground sport ascended in the world. These are the stories and images of a time that not only inspired a generation but changed the face of the sport forever.
This volume has been described as “the DogTown textbook” and an indispensable companion piece to the Sony Pictures Classics film Dogtown and Z-Boys. Now spanning 1975–1985 and beyond, the first section of the book includes the best of the DogTown articles written and photographed by C.R. Stecyk III as they originally appeared in SkateBoarder Magazine. The second half compiles hundreds of skate images from the archives of Glen E. Friedman—many of which appear in the movie. (Stecyk and Friedman acted as executive producers and advisors for the film.)
Dogtown: The Legend Of The Z Boys Reviews
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I’ve been facinated by everything surrounding skateboarding and it’s history since I began to push wood myself,circa 04. I remember asking my best friend at the time if I could have a go on his incredibly weird shaped 7.5 element board with bones reds, world industry wheels, independent trucks and red grip tape. He said go for it and we thought rolling down his steep hill was a good start.
Well in hindsight it wasn’t because it scared the shit out of me but then again it was good because getting thrown in the deep end made me want more and you need an experience like that to show you that it’s not so bad, you get the hang of this. And I did get that hang of it, never really any good though and I still am not but I do it for the love and friendship and I found photography and videography more suited mean. Some people are fearless on the board or can overcome it, the rest of us struggle to turn off our brains, screaming at us that you will die if you/we try this trick! It turns out millions of years of evolution is hard to ignore.
Kids that were obviously fearless were the The Z-Boys. They had a raw surf style that resonated with me on and off for years. I would emulate their style and could see why they loved to focus on how everything looked, it’s an amazing feeling to surf on concrete and treat it like an artform. Their skating was still dangerous as hell though, thinking about the hills they bombed, usually bare footed, on homemade boards with crap wheels, it’s amazing they all lived to tell the tale.
Their crazy and amazing experiences are all here in this beautiful collection by Stecyk. Loads of great pictures and articles, interviews, there is so much here to consume and enjoy. A perfect companion piece to some of my favourites like the Dogtown documentary. A must read for anyone that loves skateboard history. -
Read the whole thing on a day trip to the clinic. A piece of subcultural Americana covering the legendary Z-Boys crew who skated the Santa Monica area in the mid- to late-70s. The writings are all from that era and written by the same visionary who saw an underground Zeitgeist approaching that influenced generations and brought aggressive skateboard culture to the forefront. Paired with self-made punk photographer Glen Ellyn. Friedman's images, the book covers a documentary aspect that is both informative and visually stunning as the reader quickly realizes that the subjects of this new wave of extreme living was built by kids. Filled with interviews and profiles on some of skateboarding's biggest names from the 1970s and extensive pieces on the folklore and legends surrounding the DogTown area, this book is a winner on all fronts.
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Great photography and insightful interviews of the founding fathers of skateboarding skills and attitude.
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A book of great interest for any skateboarder from that decade.
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The articles seemed like they were written by someone who was really, really high and kept losing their train of thought. I was also disappointed in the pictures because so many of them seemed the same. It would have been nice to throw in more non-skateboarding pictures of the skater boys just to mix things up a little. Finally, it was disappointing that Peggy Oki and Shogo Kubo were in the pictures but not mentioned in the articles at all.
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great collection of work here.
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The photo quality is extraordinary. If you skate, you will feel it. The writing is Right On. If you skate, you will feel it.
