When Skating Got Gritty, Fast, and Real

The ’90s didn’t just change skateboarding—they blew it wide open. Street skating took over, vert slowed down, and skate videos got raw, fast, and personal. No more clean cuts and cheesy intros. This era was all about crusty spots, heavy style, and doing things your own way.

If the ’80s lit the fuse, the ’90s was the explosion. Here are the essential tapes that defined a generation.


📼 1. Plan B – Questionable (1992)

Straight up iconic. The Plan B super team—Danny Way, Mike Carroll, Rodney Mullen, Pat Duffy—put out one of the most influential skate videos ever made. Duffy’s handrail section still hits.

Why it matters:
Pushed skating to the next level. First real modern skate video.


📼 2. Girl – Goldfish (1993)

When Girl Skateboards launched, they dropped Goldfish. It was stylish, weird, and full of skaters that would define the next decade: Carroll, Koston, Howard, Mariano.

Why it matters:
Skateboarding with personality. Music, editing, and crew vibes on point.


📼 3. Toy Machine – Welcome to Hell (1996)

Ed Templeton’s masterpiece. Dark, gnarly, and heavy. Jamie Thomas' ender was a statement. Brian Anderson’s part still feels fresh.

Why it matters:
Set the bar for raw, heavy street skating. VHS gold.


📼 4. Zero – Thrill of It All (1997)

Jamie Thomas flips the switch and launches Zero. Brutal rails, fast editing, and a full DIY vibe. Zero didn’t just skate—it attacked.

Why it matters:
Laid the groundwork for the hardcore edge skateboarding took into the 2000s.


📼 5. Alien Workshop – Timecode (1997)

Gritty as hell. Shot mostly on 16mm, it felt like a band documentary—dark music, Ohio spots, and alien vibes. Rob Dyrdek and Josh Kalis putting in work.

Why it matters:
Changed how a skate video could feel. More art film than promo.


📼 6. 411VM – Video Magazine (1993–late 2000s)

Not a single vid—more like a monthly Bible. 411VM brought you everything: park footage, tour edits, pro profiles, and industry gossip. Essential.

Why it matters:
It was Instagram before Instagram. Every skater had stacks of 411s.


🎬 Final Word

The ’90s were rough, raw, and real. These videos didn’t just show skating—they showed how to live it. If you missed this era, go back and soak it in. If you were there, you already know: there’s nothing like VHS-era street skating.

1. Plan B – Questionable

2. Girl – Goldfish

3. Toy Machine – Welcome to Hell

4. Zero – Thrill of It All

5. Alien Workshop – Timecode

6. 411VM – Video Magazine

 

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