My Favorite Covers: July 2008 Skateboarder

I was still in my first year of my Skateboarder subscription when I got this issue in the mail during the summer of 2008, and this cover was the first time that I really consciously thought about the aesthetics of a photo layout (credit to art director Chris Bywater). It was one of the first images I posted to my Instagram account, back when I was just using my phone for scanning. Chris was nice enough to message me after I posted it to share his appreciation that I liked the cover, which was so awesome to me because it validated what I was doing. This image has since been reposted to my Instagram a couple of more times since 2021, and once before on this blog - another testament to how much I like it. 

According to the photographer John Bradford, Jose had to try this nosebonk on the McKee Street Bridge in Houston while an out-of-tune Christian rock band jammed a block away. Chris also believes that the color of Jose's shirt text was intentionally selected by Jose and/or Bradford.

You can see the clip of the trick in Jose's 2009 Bonus Round part.

Jose Rojo - Hubba Hideout

The sequence of Jose Rojo's backside flip fakie nosegrind on Hubba Hideout. Photo by John Bradford. You can see the clip here.

Enjoi trip to China - September 2008

An article documenting a trip the Enjoi team took to China in 2008, published in the September 2008 issue of Skateboarder. Words and skate photos by Louie Barletta, and other incidental photos by Matt Eversole and the Enjoi team. 

Jose Rojo - October 2008 interviews

Two brief interviews with Jose Rojo, his first for Skateboarder. The first one was performed by Adam Salo and the second one was by Matt Eversole. Photos by John Bradford, Kyle Camarillo, Gaston Francisco and Dan Z. Printed in the October 2008 issue.

Enjoi tour to Costa Rica and Panama - 2001

This short feature, published in the September 2001 issue of Skateboarder, covers a trip the enjoi team took to Costa Rica and Panama in April 2001. They didn't bring a skate photographer with them (unheard of nowadays), so the only photos are the ones that the skaters took. Intro by Marc Johnson.

Jumping Someone Else's Train: Rodent's European Rail Experience

This March 2007 The Skateboard Mag article is comprised of photos that Rodent took during a train trip through Europe during the summer of 2006. Some photos are at well-known spot, others are at spots I've never seen before or since. Very cool stuff.

¡Guadalajara Guey!

A short-but-sweet article by Jonathan Mehring about a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. He and Rob G, Danny Montoya, Raymond Molinar and Jose Rojo (and later Steve Nesser, who had been visiting Mazatlan at the same time) stayed at Rob's grandfather's house for a bit, skating the city and eating some of the delicious local cuisine. Mehring ends the article by saying it was "one of the best trips any of us had ever experienced".

Hostel Life: Insight in Australia

This article covers an Insight 51 tour to Australia, published in the December 2007 issue of Skateboarder. The "Hostel Life" title comes from the team's hotel accommodations being downgraded to a communal hostel upon arrival. Words and photos by John Bradford. This article also features a photo of a young Nick Boserio.

Who is the Tiltmode Army?

I believe that this August 2001 Skateboarder article was the first time that there was a feature in a magazine about the popular San Jose crew. It includes Jose Rojo's first photo in a magazine, Matt Eversole going big, Paul Sharpe setting the record for most skateboards ollied over, and Chris Avery getting a taste of his own medicine with a giant VX death lens. Words by Tito Ramsey and photos by Jai Tanju.

March 2002 Interview issue of Skateboarder

Below are all of the interviews from Skateboarder's third Interview issue. Photo credit can be found within the scans. Lots of good ones in this issue, including Koston, Rattray, and a 16-year-old Paul Rodriguez, as well as Lance Dawes and Dimitry Elyashkevich.