Figured this was the only proper way to follow-up Friday's interview... and the numerous requests I got over the weekend only confirmed that.
While still able to get down on the tech side of things, the guy was one of the first dudes to go really really big. And he juggled a lot. Laban Phedias.
(and yes, the steve olson union commercial makes that 411 profile link a double win)
Tracker ad with Duane and the ollie impossible grabs blew my mind the first time i saw it.
Does anyone still do Sal flips anymore?
Since we're already talking about Blockhead, I totally forgot how sick this Mark Wyndham part was during his brief tenure there.
And as a little sidenote, your friend and humble narrator has a small piece in the Canvas section of Thrasher's August issue featuring friend of the site, Mr. Don Pendleton. Very stoked on this. Thank guys!
Iguana'zine represent!
Sending good vibes to Murray.
Thanks Chops!
ReplyDeleteWow, That was my local skate shop as a kid.Iguana zines were the shit! Chops You're not from that area are you???
ReplyDeleteI remember he skated to Steve Miller Band in the "First" Transworld video "The Dreams of Children." How many of you remember that video. Tons of pros, no titles for each skater as they came on screen (in the montage section), and pretty awesome music.
ReplyDeleteWonder if dude is still juggling. Speaking of Invisible, where's John Reeves? I remember seeing footage of him hollerin' at a couple of girls in "Troublershooters" and laughing my ass. Remember tryna spit game as a skate rat? Shit was HARD.
About time, Choppers! Glad to see Laban finally up here!
ReplyDeleteIs The Dreams of Children not online?
ReplyDeleteThat varial heelflip in the contract negotiation ad seemed advanced when it came out. Late '91, right? The TWS it's from was probably dated, like, May 1992, though. It's funny that not six months after that ad came out, 51-mm wheels were the stuff of dinosaurs.
I also like how almost every company had a different name for ever-slick boards: Blockhead called them Superglides, Black Label ran Grease Bellies, Acme had Slip n' Slide, etc.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend from high school named his first born after Laban, True story.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Sal flip question, there was an Axion clip somewhere with Kevin Taylor doing one. And I want to say Chris Cole's done 'em too. If not, I'm sure he could. Great post, Laban seemed good at everything.
ReplyDeleteLouie throws some great Sal flips as well as Gersh.
ReplyDeleteMarcus Blockhead part was super good!
ReplyDeleteAs for Laban... he looked good in the mags. Lots of interesting photos. Sort of like imo Damien Carbajal. Sometimes things don't translate well in videos. Can't say I've ever seen either skate in person.
Thanks for this post. Laban was awesome! Skills to pay the bills!
ReplyDeleteI thought laban had the worst style ever even though he used to do some crazy tricks,what i would define as a circus skater! Did he actually metamorphosize into simon woodstock?
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