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What was this Chocolate Skateboard artist’s favourite board-graphic series? Read on and see.

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Best know in the skate world as the man behind the bulk of Chocolate’s graphics Mr. Hecox has had his work exhibited in places near, far and in between this continent and the others. His scenes of buildings, objects, people and the ephemera of everyday life have delighted and inspired a multitude of bipedal creatures from Tokyo to Paris. Skaters and gallery goers alike find common themes in his images, colors and use of specific media to convey ideas. His work appear on just about every type of printable surface you could think of and a couple you might not, from wonderfully screened prints to lampshades. His style is instantly recognizable but he’s no one trick pony as even a cursory look at his website proves. As versatile as he is in working with different styles he is equally proficient with different mediums from block printing to illustration. Over the years he’s been copied by those who lack what he has. Respected by his contemporaries in both words and by act of purchasing his gallery work he has earned respect from those who matter most, his fans.

No Age have been familiar to indie rock fans, regulars at The Smell and subscribers to the DIY, punk/hardcore ethos for years now. But it wasn’t until Los Angeles natives Randy Randall and Dean Spunt began collaborating with Andrew Reynolds’ Altamont Apparel brand that they caught the eyes and ears of an entirely new audience in the formerly bleak “skate rock” circles. Since being shepherded by Reynolds, No Age have travelled to France, scored Altamont’s “The Foreigners” video, collaborated on a line of clothing, toured with “The Goat” and even designed a custom colourway for Emerica’s Archer shoe.

Hopefully, the skateboard industry will continue to embrace these two because despite skate rock’s sordid past, No Age is perhaps a ray of hope for the mainstream, showing that the two terms need not be mutually exclusive.

What happens when you mix one part skate rat, one part artist, one part do-it-yourself maniac and a dozen patches? You get Mark “Fos” Foster. As the guiding art (and business) hand of both Heroin and Landscape board companies out of England, his plate is overflowing with responsibilities, from team management to ordering boards. Recently he added a side order of garnish by taking the job as head chef (art director) of Andrew Reynold’s Altamont clothing. His artwork has appeared on every type of skate product from shirt to shoe. The talents of this well-traveled man about town have taken him from the comforts of England to the stained streets of San Francisco, Shanghai and beyond.

Julien Stranger just may be the quintessential skateboarder’s skateboarder Heavily dodging the limelight and staying true to his own view of what skateboarding should shouldn’t be without standing on a soapbox to do it. Julien started Anti-Hero in the mid 90s and it remains one of the most respected and revered skateboard companies to date. There have been many discussions over the years about who the worst person in skateboarding is and Julien is so far on the other side of the argument that his name almost always comes up, if only to remind ourselves what the criteria is for a good skateboarder. Who better to check in with for our tour issue than the man whose team is responsible for inspiring the Girl team to rough it?

Next/Best

Find out what kinds of things former Stereo pro and filmmaker Greg Hunt thinks are best and what kinds of things you should be looking out for next.

STEVIE WILLIAMS

wordsby rhianon bader

Of all the pro skateboarders that have come and gone, there are only a few from every era that really stand out from the others as something lasting. These few are the type that any skateboarder will look to with respect, regardless of how much they like their skating or their style. Stevie Williams has made an imprint on the skate industry in decade-plus that he’s been in the game, and he says himself: “I just want to see the next generation, to stay consistent, and finish with what I brought to the table for them.” Inspired by the likes of Michael Jordan and Jay-Z, who showed Williams how important it is to keep an overall vision of what you’re trying to do, the veteran pro and businessman is planning on maintaining his presence in the skateboard world for some time yet. The ethos that has got him this far and will carry him further is simple: “I just try to be me and be as creative as possible.”

Notables weigh in on the best of the past and predict what the future holds.

introsby jay revelle

featuring BRAD SHEPPARD, ELISSA STEAMER, ALEX OLSON, RYAN SMITH, HEATH KIRCHART, JULIANA NEUFELD, POROUS WALKER, MATT IRVING, MIC-E REYES, MIKE BLABAC, HUGO BALEK, BARRY WALSH, ANDREW POMMIER, ANDREW W.K., BRIAN LOTTI

NEXT/BEST:

with Danny Garcia

words and photos by mikendo stanfield