CHINESE DEMOCRACY
I wrote to you a few months ago about the
sinicization (when cultures adopt Chinese
influences) of making skate magazines. Now I
have some new ideas. It’s not just about
magazines, it’s about your products. I hope we
can reach a cooperation. First of all, I have
some questions that haunt me all the time.
Does Thrasher have an agent in China? Maybe
I should talk about my plan. First, I want topromote skateboarding in China and be a
“bridge” between China and USA. Do you
know Yao Ming? He plays basketball in the
NBA. I want to be him. You and I are two
sides of the bridge. Second, I want to raise the
level of the Chinese skater. We’re reaching a
training agreement with you to send the best
Chinese skaters to your place for training.
I think it’s a win-win thing. Also, I’m fighting
for Jackie Chan’s son to be my partner and I’m
working on it. What is in it for you? Four
things. 1) We will set up a company in China.
You will own 30%. I can tell you all the
proportions. I’m sure Chan will be my partnerand make a very big profit. You don’t even
need to worry about the quality of the
product, we will make joint payments only.
2) You’re going to be famous in China. We’re
going to make a famous brand. I know you are
already very famous, but I believe that having
China can help you become another Supreme.
3) You will have the potential to become an
official partner and have designated training in
China. 4) In addition to Chinese companies,you can also make a profit from the training
agreement. There’s basically no loss for you,
whether it’s money or fame. So, if you don’t
have an agent in China, can I represent?
If you already have an agent, can you give
me a “joint right”? I don’t know if that’s the
right word. Thank you.
Y. Hyde
Every business plan needs a pie chart. —T-edROLL ON
I recently went to pay my respects at Pablo
Ramirez’ memorial at Twin Peaks in SF.
Afterwards, some friends and I bombed thebackside in his honor. A lot of my friends
knew him and skated with him. I didn’t know
him personally but everything Pablo did in his
life is so admirable and an inspiration to me
and clearly so many other people. It’s
incredible how one human being with so
much love and such a big heart can affect as
many people that he did. He left a positive
mark on the world. Pablo had so much life left
in him but his energy lives on through the kids
of the city and it is still radiating like crazy. It’s
like he laid out the blueprint for how to live life
and left it all behind for us to figure out how to
reach the level of Nirvana he had. The legend
will live on and on and on. All love.
Tyler Hinton
With every extra push, his spirit lives. —T-edTIME’S UP
I think we’re about four years away from
skaters acting exactly like other professional
athletes: Contract negotiations, cheating
scandals, performance enhancing drugs,
“training” in private facilities exclusively for
competitions. This skate evolution all started
in the early 2000s. I think the 1990s will be
regarded as the last pure era of skating.
Andre Howard
You should just watch every 411 on a loop. —T-ed22 ThrasherEnvelope of the Month winners receive a free shirt and stickers. Include shirt-size. Inmates must give a separate address for the prize to go to.ENVELOPE OF THE MONTH: TARA LAYER / Marlin, Texas
LEFT TO RIGHT: VINNIE HAGER, SEVERNA PARK, MD / RYAN BEAVERS, OAKLAND, CA“It’s like he laid out the blueprint for how
to live life and left it all behind for us”