Thrasher (USA) 1981

By 1981 the second wave was over, only the hard core remained. Many of the Skateparks had closed and skaters were going underground. Skateboarder had morphed into Action Now and was covering a range of what would become known as Extreme Sports. Fausto Vitello (co founder of Independent Trucks)  saw the need for a 'skateboard only' magazine, however the Skateboard Industry at the time saw things differently.  Fausto found investors from elsewhere and formed the publishing company High Speed Productions. With Kevin Thatcher as Editor, Thrasher first hit the streets in January 1981, it's philosophy from the start was for a magazine written by Skateboarders for Skateboarders. From the outset Thrasher set out to cover all aspects of Skateboarding.

The original Newspaper format was due to Fausto having a friend with a press set up to that paper size, later the magazine changed to a more standard size. As well as covering all aspects of Skating - Thrasher was instrumental in introducing readers to a range of different musical tastes from the burgeoning 'New Music' scene.

Many Skaters have contributed to it's pages and for many skaters around the world Thrasher was, and remains, the Skateboard magazine. As Fausto said; 'Thrasher is not about hypocrisy or selling out to corporate America. We are about skate and destroy'.

  No1 January 1981
   No2 February 1981
   No3 March 1981
   No4 April 1981
       
  No5 May 1981
   No6 June 1981
   No7 July 1981
   No8 August 1981
       
  No9 September 1981
   No10 October 1981
   No11 November 1981
   No12 December 1981
       

Vol 2

  January 1982   February 1982   March 1982
   April 1982
       
  May/June 1982
   July 1982
   August 1982
   September 1982
       
  October 1982
   November 1982
   December 1982