When people talk about skateboarding, almost everyone has heard of Tony Hawk. If you mention the Bones Brigade…not so much.
The Bones Brigade is a legendary skateboarding team that emerged in the 1980s. They changed skateboarding, and skate culture forever. The team was formed by Stacy Peralta, a professional skateboarder formally of the famed Z-boys–the members of the Zephyr Competition Team of the mid-1970s from Santa Monica and Venice, California (team Tony Alva was also a Z-boy).
After Zephyr, Peralta also became a filmmaker, but he really wanted to start a skate team. Stacey put together some of the most talented and influential skateboarders of the era. The Bones Brigade not only achieved remarkable success in competitions but also revolutionized skateboarding through their innovative tricks and progressive style.
The crazy thing, they were all really young. Tony Hawk and Steve Caballero were only 14 when they joined the Powell-Peralta team.
The original members of the Bones Brigade included Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, Mike McGill, Rodney Mullen, and Stacy Peralta himself. Each member brought their unique skills and contributed to the team’s success and influence.
The Bones became famous through their appearances in Peralta’s skateboarding videos, particularly the iconic “Bones Brigade Video Show” released in 1984. The video showcased the team’s incredible talent, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible in skateboarding at the time.
Tony Hawk, arguably the most famous member, was a pioneer in pool vert skateboarding and is credited with popularizing the “900” (a 900-degree aerial spin) in 1999. If you only know one skater, it is probably Tony Hawk.
Steve Caballero was known for his smooth style and groundbreaking tricks on vert and street terrain. The Vans shoe the ‘Half Cab’ is Steve’s signature shoe, and is still in production (this writer is wearing them as he types this).
Lance Mountain was an all-around skater who excelled in both vert and freestyle disciplines. By not being super flashy or talented, and kind of goofy, he inspired many kids who said, “I can do this too!”
Mike McGill is known for the incredible “McTwist,” a trick that combined a 540-degree aerial spin with a backflip. The McTwist is one of the top tricks performed not only by skaters but also snowboarders.
Rodney Mullen, often referred to as the godfather of modern street skateboarding, revolutionized the sport with his technical flatground tricks and innovative use of obstacles. A hands-free aerial known as the ollie is one of the most important tricks in contemporary skateboarding. It was invented in 1978 by Alan (“Ollie”) Gelfand, but it was done on the ramp with velocity. Rodney Mullen changed the world by perfecting the stationary ollie. The skater pops the skateboard off the ground into the air without the use of any forward momentum. Unlike an ollie performed while moving, a stationary ollie is done from a stationary position. This changed the world of street skating forever.
The Bones Brigade also played a crucial role in the development of skateboarding equipment and apparel. Powell Peralta produced the Bones Brigade’s signature skateboard decks. The distinctive artwork on the decks, created by artist Vernon Courtlandt Johnson (VCJ) still defines street skating.
The Bones Brigade team disbanded in the late 1980s as the members went on to have successful careers as professional skateboarders, entrepreneurs, and ambassadors for the sport.
Skate or die.
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