The title isn't 100% accurate. However, Transworld Skateboarding has now ended 35 years of print and home media by moving to digital and online media. Although I haven't bought a mag since January 2012, Transworld has been such a major part of my teen-to-young-adulthood when I first picked up skateboarding back in 2000. Downloading vids [sadly] and saving as much as I could to buy a mag that was as thick as a phone book, re-reading interviews and studying sequences and trick tips, and hoping I'd someday have a Check Out, a 9 Frames per Second spread, or even a Pro Spotlight. It's what helped me broaden my artistic outlet when it came to class projects and presentations and assist me in talking with other people and have real conversations because of their excellent interviews. I've known the whereabouts of cities and countries from their travel articles and the details of how to capture skateboarding through a lens. Lastly, it's given me a much wider perspective about my favourite skaters from their setups to their daily routines. Unfortunately, moving has taken a toll on my collection and only saved up a short stack of issues. Below are the four Transworld mags that stick out and a description as to why they do.
March 2002, Josh Kalis.
Has there ever been a bad photo of DGKalis? The early-00s are the best times in skating because of the gear. This looked like the tallest frontside noseblunt and it was done in some of the best looking DC Shoes of all time. The article titled "Where in the World is Ali Boulala" written by Atiba Jefferson was really interesting too and that's where I caught my first glimpse of him before Flip Skateboards' first video; Sorry.
May 2002, Brian Wenning.
Before knowing how sleazy LOVE Park was, it was a goal for my brother, Tim, and I to skate the plaza. Upon hearing about the renovations, we were fully bummed. However, the amount of tricks that went down before its closure was insane. This cover looked too good to be true until the footage was released in The DC Video. Furthermore, the article about Toronto made this a must-have and a must-keep.
January 2003, Jamie Thomas.
My brother [pictured on the left below], came home one day with this issue that he stole off his teacher's desk. If you look closely on the "DIN," there's a number 23 written. But the whole magazine is intact. Not sure why the teacher had it in the first place unless she confiscated it, but nonetheless was stoked he gave it to me. An added bonus is that it's their 20th Ann'y Issue. Almost 10 years later, Jamie Thomas rolled through Toronto and blessed it with his autograph.
September 2003, Mark Appleyard.
I was 100% amped when I heard Mark Appleyard, a Canadian from Ontario, received the 2003 TWS Street Skater of the Year Award. It gave me [a 16-year old at the time] hope that if I try hard enough, I could also earn that. Obviously, it never panned out. However, any article with one of the most influential skaters of all time will never let you down.
Not only were the magazines an important part of my life, but the videos they released in the 2000s were amazing. At a time when video magazines were as important as board and shoe sponsors, Transworld released some of the best video parts of well established pros and start the careers of newer faces.
It's hard to share which TWS video part is my favourite because they all are. But if I were to show aliens on another planet what skateboarding should look like, Mike Carroll in Modus Operandi [2000] is what they have to see.
I've forgotten every book I've read from high school and every subject I have learned in post-secondary. But TWS has always been there for educating and entertaining me in ways no teacher could. It showed me that it's not about skaters travelling to other countries to skateboard, but the skateboard itself has taken that skater around the world. A magazine has made road trips, public transit, and generally waiting much faster than expected. Thank you Transworld Skateboarding for the inspiration and keeping my passion for skateboarding inflamed after all these years. I very much look forward to what the future holds and hope to see what they release in the coming years.
I'd love to hear how Transworld Skateboard Magazine has influenced or impacted you over the years. Please find me on social media, e-mail, or even comment. "Skate and Create" and support your local skate shops and skater owned brands.
