Regardless of describing himself because the “C-Listing” employees photographer on the magazine, O’Dell’s been within the subject with the sport’s most enigmatic figures. Who talked shit on Jerry Hsu? Who slept whereas Heath rowed the Sea of Cortez? Learn on for the official accounts from the Epicly Later’d host. As seen in our January, ‘25 magazine.
Have you ever ever seen when somebody sends round a GoFundMe for a skater whose home burned down, or whose mother has most cancers, Atiba is at all times one of many high donations? There’s loads to admire about Atiba professionally, however that is the factor I love probably the most.
Earlier than I took this photograph of Kevin, I had spent the previous couple of months attempting to stop smoking. It was hell. I had the flu, stop ingesting and spent weeks strolling round in a foul temper. I feel I used to be even complaining to Kevin about it continually. Smoking is horrible for you, however the principle cause I stop was I used to be bored with bumming smokes out; they’re too costly. Anyway, Kevin determined to START smoking proper round this identical time, and he was undoubtedly sufficiently old to know higher. I actually needed to maintain him from going by way of what I went by way of so I took this photograph and was like, That is what you seem like if you smoke. I’m certain he smoked for an additional ten–15 years after this image, however now he’s undoubtedly off it.
Is Tony banned from Thrasher? Can I even point out him? There was an article as soon as referred to as “The 15 Most Hated Skaters in Historical past” and he was certainly one of them. Tony informed me Jake didn’t just like the reduce of his jib. I feel he had dreads within the ‘80s or one thing, who is aware of? However Tony was a pool god in an period when not very many individuals skated them. The primary
time I met him it was at a barbecue at his home. I went with both Sam or P-Stone. Often, the tunes are Sabbath or Misfits at all these issues, however I seen a Guided By Voices document, then a bunch of Morrissey stuff. We simply hit it off on music, and I don’t suppose I’ve ever talked to Tony about the rest to at the present time, definitely not a lot about skating. I hope this can be a Thrasher unbanning.
Filming Heath’s episode of Epicly Later’d was form of life altering. Ever since visiting him and Boosh within the Sea of Cortez, I simply felt like I wanted to get on some adventures myself. Life, after all, at all times will get in the way in which, however Heath and I did handle to spend a month boating down the Mississippi River and doing a few backpacking journeys. It’s wonderful seeing individuals who get probably the most out of life and aren’t consumed with the on a regular basis bullshit.
Boosh was a multitude on that boat journey with Heath, sleeping all day, drunk whereas Heath rowed and did the work. They went on rafting down the Colorado River—which I’d’ve given something to do if I’d had the time—and he did the identical factor: drank and slept, didn’t assist arrange camp or clear or something. He was a multitude, however not lengthy after he stop ingesting fully and is a modified man. It’s fairly unbelievable what being sober for 2 years will do. I wager he’d row at the very least 35 p.c of the time now.
Chaz lived close to the Dodge Skatepark in Columbus, Ohio, within the initiatives and he should be the single-most gifted skater I’ve ever recognized. His important strikes had been flyouts and bowl transfers, normally early seize. He may do 720s, perhaps even a 900 flyout. It was simply unreal. Phelps stated, “What occurred to Chaz McGee? Did he drop the ring?” Yeah, sadly.
Ben is for certain my favourite present professional skater. We are literally doing an episode of Epicly Later’d on him and it was an actual gamble after we requested as a result of I hadn’t a lot as heard the sound of his voice earlier than. Ben can have a look at you want he thinks you’re the lamest individual he’s ever met, but it surely solely took a couple of days for us to get previous it.
I referred to Andrew as Buzzkill Chick Salt Cop Magnet (quoting J Strickland) in a Baker tour article for Thrasher and I assumed he was gonna kill me. As an alternative, he informed me he cherished the story, which lined me up for a job as a semi-official Baker photographer for the subsequent few years—my all-time favourite period in skateboarding.
Sam lived within the laundry room at our late Nineties skate home in San Francisco, which was referred to as the Howard Home. He rode a Hazard deck by Schmitt Stix and skated swimming pools and bowls with a mode individuals referred to as “sloppy” however actually he simply hung onto tips when most would have kicked it away, which made for lots of pleasure. One time he acquired knocked out skating at Skatopia and, as a concussion protocol, I requested him who the president was. He distantly stated, “Uhhh, Jimmy Carter…” Sam stated his favourite part of Thrasher was Photograffiti, ‘trigger that’s the place the “actual skaters had been out performing some actual skateboarding.” So I made it a objective to get him in there—wrote a pretend letter and all the pieces, and mailed it in. Thrasher printed it.
Brian and I had been pals within the Howard Home days. Brian is a skater who I feel ought to have been professional for Habitat or some shit. As soon as I filmed him do a nostril handbook nollie 360 flip out which was one of many A-Staff skate challenges for a contest they had been doing, however we by no means bothered to ship it in. Brian can play any heavy steel tune on guitar and we used to drink forties all night time once I ought to have been specializing in my college work.
Ocean moved into our skate home, which on the time was fairly low within the San Francisco skate home hierarchy. We had been principally photographers and filmers, in addition to unsponsored rippers, just like the aforementioned. Effectively, Ocean moved in and he was absolutely the shit in avenue skating within the very early ’90s. His H-Avenue half with the Doorways tune was legendary, however then he disappeared. It was like having Tom Penny transfer in, or Jake Johnson if you’re youthful, or Kevin Rodrigues if you’re even youthful—like a complete enigma. Ocean is sensible, college-educated however form of a pile like us, so it was good. One time he was hungover and stated, “I feel I acquired sponsored final night time on the Kilowatt.” Some bolt model put him on and fairly quickly he filmed that Ipath half. It was a reasonably sick mini-comeback.
Imagine it or not, Jerry acquired hated on when he began out. Might it have been some SF-vs-San-Jose beef? Or his sponsors? I don’t know. I talked to professionals who had been like, He’s good, I suppose. Fortunately, that meant I may shoot images with him, since I used to be at all times the C-list skate photographer. The worst I keep in mind was some child coming as much as him and saying, “Whenever you first got here out, me and my pals all hated your fashion but it surely’s getting higher.” I can say all this now as a result of he’s confirmed himself as one of many best of all time.
My pal John Sims from Columbus, My pal John Sims from Columbus, Ohio has been within the scene a very long time. He’s acquired an Ohio skate-history Instagram web page referred to as @dudleyclips and I’m fairly certain he’s by no means had a photograph in a Thrasher, so he’s a man I actually need to shout out right here. This photograph is a half-Cab ollie within the ’90s at a parking storage we used to skate in downtown Columbus.
I don’t know this man in actual life, however he at all times writes encouraging feedback below my images or sends very nice DMs. He clothes like Tom Penny and he rips. I simply needed to indicate my appreciation again. I’ve this uncommon alternative to place whoever I need in Thrasher and I do know he’ll be stoked. There’s so many individuals trolling from the sidelines, or attempting to tear you down. I gotta shout out someone who’s at all times writing good stuff. Thanks, Doozer!
Donny labored daily at Dodge Skatepark in Ohio. He made a zine referred to as Smelly Curb Zine, which I copied by making my very own similar to it. It was referred to as Rye Zine, a reputation I’m embarrassed to disclose. Donny used to get free boards generally from small manufacturers like Small Room or Arsenal skateboards and I assumed that was unbelievable. He informed me as soon as, “Sometime you’ll get some free boards too; it’ll occur.” Not doable, I assumed, and each time I get a field or a board, I take into consideration that. By way of all of the ups and downs in a profession on this trade, getting a free deck is fairly heavy.
Tino was my finest pal when he checked IDs at Max Fish. This was as soon as I moved to New York Metropolis. We lived in an condominium with no electrical energy. I ran an extension wire into the hallway to cost my flip telephone. I talked about him a lot on one journey that Erik Ellington was certain I used to be making him up, my imaginary pal in NY. It’s best to see us in NY! Tino is the most well-liked individual I’ve ever met in my life and he likes virtually all people. Within the uncommon situations I’ve heard him say something dangerous about anybody I knew that they really will need to have fucked up.
I noticed Erik skating not too long ago and seen his shirt was value hundreds of {dollars}. It was like Prada or Gucci or one thing—means too costly to be skating in. Erik could make something look cool. He used to enter a mall and are available out with the freshest outfit. Right here is Erik on a tour we went on by way of Europe and he wore the attention masks he acquired free on the airplane for like per week straight.
I skated with Chad Knight loads in Columbus, Ohio. Regardless that he wasn’t professional after we had been in highschool, it appeared apparent he would change into one. So, indirectly, he was the primary professional I shot footage of truly avenue skating (I shot a number of footage of professionals at Dodge and Woodward, however which may not depend). Anyway, we acquired to tour collectively a couple of instances with Osiris. This pic was taken the day after he handed out on the street and acquired beat up and robbed in Puerto Rico. Chad is sober and doing nice now, and he’s nonetheless probably the most shredded skater I’ve ever met.
Take a look at these different “Folks I’ve Recognized”:
