3.22.2010

chrome ball incident #447: reading, writing and arithmetic










Despite being down with some real monster crews throughout the 90's, I still don't think Ronnie Bertino ever got his proper due.

Dude could even make backfoot-heels look solid.

Chrome Ball will return on Thursday. Sorry guys... life stuff.

12 comments:

Keith said...

One of the best bs shifty ollies in the game. Always been a fan. I'm surprised you dug up that many Think ads of him. I don't remember him being on that team for very long.

His ollie back foot heel in Carroll's questionable part was awesome.

Cheaps said...

Dope!

sprntrl said...

Another amazing post. Totally agree he really didn't get his due respect. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Way ahead of his time. How long ago was that switch 360 heel!

K said...

dope memory - seeing this dude's part in "Second Hand Smoke" and then searching for nearly 4 years to find a copy of "Hiero Oldies Vol 1." to get a tape hissed-out copy of "Me O Mi (Remix).

JRog said...

Sick. Ronnie B.! He came and stayed with me once in a while. The first time he was doing nollie heels going a million. At that point I had never seen one. And had never seen a 15 year old chainsmoke. Raddest dude though. Definitely underrated...good to see him "Chromeballed."

Keith said...

He was also one of the first guys I remember having bs nose blunt slides on lock on actual ledges. Amazing...

I said it in an earlier post but I'll say it again... I was surpised how pudgy and short he was the first time I saw him in person.

ODG said...

Aw man. I had such high hopes for 23 skateboards...

Henry said...

Keith, that reminds me of seeing Mike Daher at a Deluxe demo, only in the opposite way. I knew he wasn't a big guy, but I was surprised at how small and thin he was.

Keith said...

I had high hopes for 23 as well. I had the Clyde Steadham ace board. So amazing. It felt short but damn did that thing work when I got used to it.

chops said...

thanks fellas.

Keith, he skated for think for a good bit... from at least late-91 (partners in crime) to around '93 I believe...

keep them birds chirpin, sprntrl

anon1, I want to say late '92/early '93. Ridiculously sick.

K, I remember the day I got the o.g. heiro oldies tape version off their site in like '95. I had that, cabfare, and tony fergusson's virtual realty SOM joint. My crew never felt so cool driving around, bumping that shit in a beater ford escort. haha

big up, jrog

had huge hopes for 23 as well... saw a demo of theirs way back with sal, clyde, dill skating and drake jones just sitting around. still was sick. can't believe they faded like that but aesthetics was not a bad consolation prize. haha.

Keith said...

"chops said...


Keith, he skated for think for a good bit... from at least late-91 (partners in crime) to around '93 I believe..."

I had his Mr. Butts Blind board as soon as it hit the shelves (pretty sure it was one of his first Blind models) and that was early Spring 1993 (Disposable says it's from 92. If it was 92, it must have been late 92).

Late 91 to late 92 is only a year! 4 ads for Think in a year seems like a lot.