Skate and Destroy Book
3/03/2009

SKATE AND DESTROY
The First 25 Years of Thrasher Magazine

From the skaters who brought you Insane Terrain comes Skate and Destroy: The First 25 years of Thrasher Magazine, a jam-packed retrospective that illustrates and recounts all of skateboarding’s milestones, twists, and turns of the last 25 years.
In January of 1981, a group of skateboarders in San Francisco put together the first issue of Thrasher magazine. Today, Thrasher is bigger and better than ever—its name synonymous with both skateboarding’s roots and constant evolution. International corporate bigwigs try to buy Thrasher’s credibility, while kids tattoo the magazine’s mantra, “Skate and Destroy,” into their skin.
Skate and Destroy: The First 25 years of Thrasher Magazine, is more than just a 288 page retrospective of Thrasher’s first quarter century. The magazine’s staff past and present left no file cabinet unturned or old pro unearthed in seeking out the lost photos, the covers that never were, outtakes from interviews that defined the mag, never-been-told stories of secret skate missions, and accounts from skateboarding’s top riders of what Thrasher has meant to them. Like those tattoos carved into the arms of skaters world-wide, Thrasher is forever. This one’s gonna be gnarly!
Easy-to-read chapters break down Thrasher’s history, year by year, and are interspersed with “Best Of” sections, profiling the departments and columns that have made up the magazine over the years:
Mail Drop
Comix
Photograffiti
Hall of Meat
Trash
Somethin’ Else
’Zine Thing
Featuring skateboarding, interviews, and stories with:
Duane Peters on Tony Alva
Tony Hawk on Christian Hosoi
Mark Gonzales on Neil Blender
Jeff Grosso on Lance Mountain
Mike Carroll on Wade Speyer
Julien Stranger on John Cardiel
Rick Howard on Eric Koston
Neil Heddings on Tony Trujillo
...plus tons more!!!
288 pages, 9-1/2" x 11"
Color photos throughout
PURCHASE THIS BOOK HERE
-
3/06/2025
ROUGH CUT: DEEDZ "Uneven" Part
From rail rips to the crustiest cobblestones, Deedz’ extraordinary 2024 spectacle was paid in blood and sweat. This cut is TOUGH. -
3/06/2025
Day Rip: Tulare 2025
GT, Rowan, Cody, Lady, Elijah, and TNT pack in with an all-time roster to explore the Central Valley's four-pit crown jewel in Tulare. -
3/06/2025
The Belco Jam 2025 Photos
The Belco Jam ain't just about the skating. It's the characters and chaos that make it a must-see spectacle. Get an extended look at all the action from 2025. -
3/06/2025
Alexey Krasniy's "Limbo" Part
Forced to leave his home in Russia when the war broke out, Alexey spent the time in “Limbo” unleashing his third eye and unlocking spots across Europe. This part is top-tier. -
3/06/2025
SOAP AND DESTROY: Foy's Cover Story
From a Soap shoe post to the front of the mag, Jamie’s quest to conquer a German gem was a global effort. Hit the ground with our SOTY as he investigates this once-in-a-lifetime pin. -
3/06/2025
Thrasher Valentine's Day Cards 2025
These Valentine's Day cards contain love, romance, and mediocre Photoshop skills! The cards do NOT contain any advance notice or permission from the skaters featured. -
3/06/2025
ROUGH CUT: Blake Norris' "Full Volume" Part
Blake’s full-commitment approach leaves little room for error, but he’ll take a beating and serve one back to the City’s most formidable spots. Respect the process. -
3/06/2025
Roman Pabich's "Sponsor Me" 2025 Part
Roman’s on the market and hittin’ harder than ever, tearing lines through Channel Street and notching a top-shelf ender with a lil’ love from the HOMIES. -
3/06/2025
STILL WATCHIN: Omar Hassan
Who gave Omar’s signature contest winner the “money grab”? Of course it was the Old Man! Promar himself recounts Jake’s influence and how we got the first-ever padless 540 in a pool. -
3/06/2025
The Follow Up: Alexey Krasniy
Given the choice between a military draft and a life on the road, Alexey thankfully took the latter. On the heels of his new Vans part, we caught up with him to rap on his adopted home in Barcelona, sketchy ride-on grinds and what the hell’s up with that spooky cello.