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Local Skateboarding Book Needs Your Help!

Jake Skinner - Heelfip - Reflection. Taken by Paul Scott

Local Skateboarding Book Needs Your Help!

A NEW BOOK DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF SKATEBOARDING IN PORTSMOUTH

In association with Bored of Southsea and The Undercover Skatepark Project, we are seeking photographs, stories, anecdotes and memorabilia from Portsmouth’s skateboarding past and present. 

Portsmouth has always had a rich history of skateboarding and the scene has never been stronger. With Southsea Skatepark turning forty this year and Bored of Southsea recently hitting their twentieth year of trading, we thought it was an ideal time to create and publish a book to commemorate skateboarding in Portsmouth.

The plan is to spend the next few months collecting as much content, images, stories and interviews as possible before sending the book to print. The book will be available for pre-purchase just before, and a few extras goodies too, to raise funds to cover the costs of publishing.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Undercover Skatepark Project to improve the facilities available to the local skateboarding community and also to publish a second skateboarding book called Deathray (more details on that to be announced soon). On publication, we hope to host an exhibition and launch party to showcase the book, celebrate local skateboarding and thank everyone who contributed. With your help and support, we can make this happen. If anyone has suggestions or would like to offer help or advice, drop us a line.

Jak Tonge - Noseslide. Taken by Paul Scott.

Jak Tonge at Southsea Skate Park.

Leading this project is Angelo Tirotto, he has been involved in skateboarding since 1985. He describes that “By day I’m a graphic designer and American comic book writer, published by Image Comics, the folks who created The Walking Dead, and the co-founder of Room 237, the comic book store on Albert Road. After 18 years in Portsmouth, I thought it was time I put my skills to use and give a little back to local skateboarding.”

“As with many of you, skateboarding has been a lifelong passion and has played a major part in making me the person I am today. I love skateboarding and, while I’m not throwing myself down stairs and rails anymore, I hope to continue to contribute to skateboarding through projects like Locals Only.”

Got clips? Made a video? Whatever you have from any era, send it! The plan is to spend the next few months collecting as much content, images, stories,  and interviews as possible before sending the book to print.

Marcus Payne - FS FLIP. Taken by Paul Scott.

Marcus Payne at Milton Skate Park

You may think to yourself that you have nothing to offer but nothing would be considered too insignificant so please share any of the following.

Photos – I’m looking for photographs from all eras of local skateboarding, past and present as long as it’s local skateboarding or lifestyle shots, we want them. Also, don’t worry about picking a few photos, send them all!

Stories and Interviews – There will be written commentary on local skateboarding too, so if you have a story to tell please send it in as I want Locals Only to be a true and inclusive account of Portsmouth skateboarding through the decades. If you rather met me in person, that’s cool too, I can record the interview and get it written up.

Everything Else – I’m also after news cuttings, local skate-zines and any memorabilia you may have collected over the years for inclusion in the book, anything at all. If you have old skateboards you rode, some beat up wheels from the 80s or that Deathbox hoody you just cant throw away, I’d love photograph them. If you’ve got anything I can photograph, scan or include, please let me know.

Locals Only Poster

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