Thrasher Sep 2021

This issue delivers a dense mix of personality, chaos, and reflection, with departments that swing from absurd humor to hard-earned perspective. Recurring sections like People I’ve Known, Lunatic Fringe, Photo-G, and Trash capture the strange, often unfiltered edges of skate life, while Anatomy and My War dig into the physical and mental toll behind the tricks. There’s a strong undercurrent of individuality throughout, reinforced by voices like Craig Johnson, framing skating as something instinctual rather than competitive.

The feature lineup expands outward into scenes, icons, and cultural crossover, with Convergence in Seattle grounding the issue in place, and the Heads series spotlighting distinct styles and personalities. Kowalski vs Lockwood adds a raw, confrontational edge, while pieces on Descendents and The Mountain Goats tie skating back to its musical roots. Anchored by Evan Smith’s rebellious cover moment and Roman Pabich’s high-impact skating in the contents, the issue captures a balance of risk, expression, and lived-in authenticity.