Thrasher is a monthly skateboarding magazine, founded in January 1981 by Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello, and published by High Speed Productions, Inc. of San Francisco, USA. The publication consists primarily of skateboard- and music-related articles, photography, interviews and skatepark reviews. The magazine also maintains a website, which includes segments with names such as "Firing Line" and "Hall of Meat", an online store, a video collection, a radio show, and a forum for registered users. The company also owns and operates the Double Rock indoor skateboarding facility.
In 1999, the magazine sponsored a PlayStation game called Thrasher: Skate and Destroy.
The magazine's website features regularly updated episodes of segments and hosts a forum in which registered users can engage in online discussion.
"Burnout" (long-term photographic blog, operated by senior staff photographer, Michael Burnett)"Double Rock""Firing Line""Hall of Meat""Skateline" (hosted by Gary Rogers)"Bru-Ray" ( some tour edits by Thrasher's filmer P-Stone)The title of "Skater of the Year" is awarded annually by Thrasher magazine. The tradition was started in 1990, and the accolade remains one of the most respected awards in global skateboarding culture. The title is bestowed to one skater annually, based on a public vote, and announced by thrasher's editor, Jake Phelps. Chris Cole, and Danny Way are the only double recipients.
1990: Tony Hawk1991: Danny Way1992: John Cardiel1993: Salman Agah1994: Mike Carroll1995: Chris Senn1996: Eric Koston1997: Bob Burnquist1998: Andrew Reynolds1999: Brian Anderson2000: Geoff Rowley2001: Arto Saari2002: Tony Trujillo2003: Mark Appleyard2004: Danny Way2005: Chris Cole2006: Daewon Song2007: Marc Johnson2008: Silas Baxter-Neal2009: Chris Cole2010: Leo Romero2011: Grant Taylor2012: David Gonzalez2013: Ishod Wair2014: Wes Kremer2015: Anthony van Engelen2016: Kyle WalkerBake And Destroy (2012)Prevent This Tragedy (2009)Brutality (2008)Beer Slave (2007)Shotgun (2006)Keg Killer (2006)Beer Helmet (2005)Beers, Bowls & Barneys (2004)Rocket Science (2004)S.O.T.Y. Video (2003)Playing In Traffic (2002)Jaded (2002)Go for Broke (2001)Timebomb (2001)Firing Squad (2000)Scorchin' Summer (1999)Hall of Meat (1999)Hillbilly Roadkill (1998)Vidiot (1998)How to Skateboard Better (1998)How To Skateboard (1998)Skate and Destroy (1996)Raw (1996)Hitting the Streets (1996)Donut Duty (1995)911 Emergency (1995)Feats (1994)On The Road (1994)Sponsor Me (1994)Need For Speed (1993)The Truth Hurts (1993)Savannah Slamma II (1988)Savannah Slamma (1988)Thrasher has also released an annual, King of the Road, video since 2003.
In 2003, Thrasher started the King of the Road (KOTR) skateboarding competition. In the KOTR contest, a group of pre-invited teams of professional skaters are each given a booklet containing a series of challenges. Points are awarded at the completion of each challenge. The teams compete at the same time over a two-week period, in which they travel across the U.S. to complete as many challenges as possible.
KOTR has been held annually since its inception, with the exceptions of 2008 and 2009. In 2011, Thrasher and Converse hosted the competition in China, with the participation of the four biggest Chinese skateboard deck companies.
Deluxe (winner)Tum YetoéS FootwearVolcomDannon yogurtZero (winner)Girl SkateboardsAlmostRealZero (winner)HabitatFlipElementZero (winner)DarkstarBakerBlind (winner)FoundationBlack LabelZoo YorkNike (winner)CircaConverseEtniesLakai (Winners)VansNikeDeklineLeo RomeroSalman AgahAndrew ReynoldsArto SaariAlien Workshop (Winners)Toy MachineCreatureAnti HeroAustyn GilletteDavid GonzálezAaron HomokiRyan DecenzoBirdhouse (Winners)Real SkateboardsChocolateEnjoiDavid GravetteTaylor SmithTJ RogersAdam TaylorBirdhouse (Winners)ElementFlipPeter SmolikTyrone OlsonChad KnightBirdhouse (Winners)Toy MachineChocolateJereme RogersHeath KirchartForrest EdwardsDeathwishEnjoiCreatureThrasher released a music compilation series titled "Skate Rock" under the High Speed Productions label. The first release was in 1983, with Volume One, and continued until Volume Seven in 1989. The series started out featuring Californian punk rock bands, including bands fronted by skateboarders, such as Steve Caballero, Tony Alva, and Klaus Grabke under the name Eight Dayz.
Of the seven volumes of Skate Rock, all volumes were produced as a cassette available through Thrasher Magazine. Some volumes were also available as vinyl records.
Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1983
Format: Cassette
Los Olvidados - "Listen To You"The Big Boys - "Red/Green"Riot .303 - "Murder The Prime Minister"Minus One - "Bored Of It"The Faction - "A.U.K."Skoundrelz - "Exterminator"Drunk Injuns - "Program"J.F.A. - "Great Equalizer"Riot .303 - "Skate Punx"Minus One - "I Remember John"Los Olvidados - "Don't Cry"Minus One - "The Kids Don't Skate Here"Skoundrelz - "Jimmy Closet"Riot .303 - "Depression Session"Drunk Injuns - "Your Mama"Black Athletes - "Die Laughing"The Faction - "Boredom Awaits"Los Olvidados - "You're Dull"Minus One - "Nick of Time"Riot .303 - "Nightmares of Another Kind"Drunk Injuns - "Pumpshank"Volume Two: Blazing Wheels And Barking Trucks
Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1984
Format: Cassette/LP
McRad - Prevent This TragedyT.S.O.L. - Other SideBig Boys - LessonAnvil Chorus - Blue FlamesThe Faction - Friends And EnemiesKingpins - Ready To FlipLos Olvidados - Something NewBorscht - Bye-ByeFree Beer - Pigs In SpaceJ.F.A. - Beach Blanket BongoutJ.F.A. - Johnny DT.S.O.L. - In TimeFree Beer - Start the ArkTales of Terror - Gods from Outer SpaceAncestors: Gods Of Sound - Treasures of MankindBig Boys - AssaultMcRad - Tomorrow's HeadlinesBorscht - EnemyDrunk Injuns - She Gots a GunLabel: High Speed Productions
Released: 1985
Format: Cassette/LP
Slam - Wild Riders of BoardsBoneless Ones - The Keg Kept A FlowinChrist On Parade - Don't Draft MeSeptic Death - Thaw (Cold War)Slam - Jorden Den Ar VarNo Rules - The FallChrist On Parade - My LifeBeyond Possession - Skater's LifeSeptic Death - BurialCorrosion Of Conformity - What?Accused - Take No PrisonersBeyond Possession - My DiseaseCorrosion Of Conformity - Not For MeCorrosion Of Conformity - CitizenAccused - Splatter RockAccused - W.C.A.L.T.Gang Green - Skate To HellLabel: High Speed Productions
Released: 1986
Format: Cassette/LP
Skate Master Tate - "Skaterock Rap"Steve Caballero - "You Will Go"McSHRED - "McShred"Tupelo Chain Sex - "America"Skip Engblom - "The Other Side"Scram - "Fear"Shredded Steale - "Unsolved Mysteries"McSHRED - "Taz"Cargo Cult - "Amusement Park Disasters"CARGO CULT - "Cargo Cult"SCREAMIN' SIRENS - "Heartbreak Train"Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1987
Format: Cassette/LP
S.N.F.U. - "Visiting The Bad Again"Racer X-AZ - "Happy Go Happy"Stupids - "Born To Built To Grind"Eight Days A Week - "What's So Strange About Me?"Condemned Attitude? -"Homeless Crew"No Mercy - "Die Or Be Killed"Naked Lady Wrestlers - "Scraping The Top Of The Barrel"J.F.A. "1-10"Excel - "Insecurity"Dehumanizers - "Shu Du Vwa"The D.I.'s - "Pray For Surf"Condemned Attitude? - "When World's Collide"Racer X-AZ - "Blarin' In The Chair"Eight Days A Week - "Different Worlds"J.F.A. "Turkeys Carved By UFO's"S.N.F.U. "Time To Buy A Futon"Stupids - "Wipeout"Beowulf - "Hussy"Dehumanizers - "Halfpipe"Screamin' Lord & His Heavy Friends - "Kings Of Trash"Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1988
Format: Cassette/LP
Thee Forgiven - "I Want My Own Highway"Skatemaster Tate - "Jolt Skate Mix"Ungh! - "Funky Joe" and "Falling Tinker Bell"Iveys Vine - "Coming On Down"House Of Wheels - "No Matter"Odd Man Out - "Trial By Fire"Hells Kitchen - "Ain't No Beer"Hells Kitchen - "Bloody Knees"Fratricide - "Dangerous Class"Septic Death - "Disinfect"Six Feet Under - "Unearthly Fate"Six Feet Under -"Love And Hisses"Drunk Injuns - "Not Forever Yours"Label: High Speed Productions
Released: 1989
Format: Cassette/LP
Mass Appeal - "Fun Again"Instead - "Tell Me"Instead - "Be Someone"SNFU - "Appraise the Lord"Subvert - "Atrocities"Subvert - "A Turn Away"Exit Condition - "Blood from a Stone"Exit Condition - "Fear for Tomorrow"Unity - "Roses For You"Unity - "Blood Days"Brotherhood - "Breaking the Ice"Brotherhood - "Get Involved"Half-off "On Your Own"Underdog - "Frontside Grind"Underdog - "Reach Out"Hellmenn - "So Bad"Wrecking Crew - "Confusion"Wrecking Crew - "My Mind's Diseased"Uniform Choice - "Indian Eyes"Uniform Choice - "Cut of a Different Cause"Ghoul Squad - "Chamber Of Horrors"Head First - "We Have Changed"Head First - "When It's Over"Malicious Grind - "Polyester Paranoia"