Transworld Feb 2001

This issue of Transworld Skateboarding (Volume 19, Number 2, February 2001) captures a gritty and energetic snapshot of East Coast skateboarding at the turn of the century. The cover features Kevin Taylor locking into a backside noseblunt across a stacked picnic table setup in Philadelphia—a nod to the absurdly technical table-stacking trend of the era. Shot by Gee, it’s raw, powerful, and unapologetically street. Inside, the contents photo shows Brian Wenning caught mid-conflict—getting harassed while skating in Philly, underscoring the constant tension between skaters and authorities in the city's crusty core.

The feature lineup kicks off with Hawk Tour Unplugged, a behind-the-scenes look at Tony Hawk’s tour minus the gloss—likely more focused on road life, slammed tricks, and interactions with the crowd. Brain Floss spotlights Erik Olsen, while Tum Yeto Japan in B&W offers a gritty photo doc of the Tum Yeto crew (Foundation, Toy Machine, et al.) navigating Japan’s spots in stark monochrome tones.

Rubber Rob’s Habitat Tour provides a look at a road trip with one of skating’s most creative crews, while Good Stuff highlights Elissa Steamer and Vanessa Torres era standout Pluhowski. The NC Road Trip and Skater Island sections keep the travel stories flowing, with Status Tour and Da Aftermath likely delivering more chaos, contests, or team demo fallout.

A Dae in the Life is a day-in-the-life profile piece, probably playful or offbeat. Northern Exposure takes readers up north—either to Canada or the northern U.S.—while Depth-of-Yuri suggests a moody, visual-heavy section, likely centered on photographer Yuri Shibuya’s unique lens. Sightings closes out the book with a rapid-fire showcase of who’s doing what, and where.

Regular sections like Gasbag, Litterbox, Volume, Tangent, Trick Tip, and Check Outs round out the issue with humor, opinion, progression, and new faces. With Philly in the spotlight and a strong mix of road stories, travel, and attitude, this issue is a full-on time capsule of early 2000s skate culture.