A marionette is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette’s puppeteer is called a manipulator. No strings needed with these Santa Cruz Skateboards Marionette Series. No need to manipulate strings when you could manipulate a skateboard with your feet. Bang! Everybody happy.
Emmanuel Guzman Marionette 8.0
Sid Melvin Marionette 8.2
Nilton Neves Marionette 8.26
Justin Strubing Marionette 7.9
Available at cooler skate shops world wide this very moment.
You know, sometimes you just wake up early for a 4th of July parade in Santa Cruz and start drinking Bloody Marys, man.
Sometimes, even when said parade is touted as the World’s Shortest 4th of July Parade, it’s not, so you drink a few more Bloody Marys. That’s life. Selah.
When confronted by passionate politicos brandishing flags, signs and bad breath, it’s not a bad idea to just nod, lest be lulled into some false sense of security by the soothsayers. It’s like the good doctor once told me: “Buy the ticket, take the ride.”
Sometimes, though, it’s just best to sit back and enjoy yourself, allow the surroundings to wash over like a warm summer breeze.
Drink it in. This is your Independence Day in Santa Cruz.
Murder City USA,Surf City North- call it what you will, but in a magical place where the redwood forests meet the cold waters of the Pacific, bizarre and innovative shit will go down, especially when it comes to surfing. This is the story about the Westside of Santa Cruz and the unique individuals who would change the history of Santa Cruz surfing and alter the course of surfing history forever.
We tried to think of anyone taller than Ron who has skateboarded professionally, but we couldn’t. Towering at a mere 6’7″, Ron Whaley is a veteran skateboard industry executive (Krux CEO) who dabbles part-time as a professional skateboarder. Or is it the other way around? A professional skateboarder who dabbles part time as a skateboard executive? Just look at the photo above for proof. Either way, he’s a fucking 6’7″ skateboarding renaissance man. The Whalebone has been a pro skater since the early 1990s. In the span of that twenty years, we are still waiting to see a taller pro skateboarder emerge. Where is he? Will someone please call John Walsh over at America’s Most Wanted and see if he can drag the river and find anything for us. Tony Hawk? Brian Anderson? Shit, those fellas don’t quite make the tallboy cut. Hell, the birdman is only 6’3″. Whaley makes the birdman look like a goddamn pussy when it comes to the height advantage! He has ridden for seminal Santa Cruz skateshop, Skateworks since 1989. He can still can crush kids twenty years his junior in a game of skate. He had a guest pro model onCreature last year. Did I mention he’s 6’7″? He makes trucks that have rainbows on them. He still gets 4-5 photos a year published in the skateboard mags and he finds time to write in these same magazines too, about whatever ills of the industry might be bugging him – overzealous skateboard parents, x-games tomfoolery, getting knifed at Santa Cruz High School for a piner joint.
With Ron’s appearance in the latest issue of Transworld Skateboarding (April ’09) We thought it would be a fantastic time to catch up with Ron for our first in-depth, no holds barred interview, ala Barbara Walters style of journalism, we hold so dear over here at Snurfer. Thanks, Ron. The skateboard world needs more Ron Whaley’s so listen up.
Seriously, liftee or tanning salon attendant?
Wow. That’s a serious query. I guess my answer would be both… part time. You know there’s gotta be some happening tanning salons in resort towns. The question is would I want to work in a snobby Vail salon or a slightly trashy Truckee style salon?
I guess a big factor would be clientele. Would I prefer to be surrounded by semi ancient, rich, ex snow bunnies (with husbands) from the 80′s? I won’t be making too much dough with these jobs so a sugar mama might be just what the landlord ordered. Dinner and drinks? What can I say? I have expensive tastes.
Or do I go the route of some slightly skanky “sno bro” chicks in their early 20′s that are just moving into their first home away from home? On the one hand you could shred with them but at the same time that might kill the deal as well. A good thing is if they’re hitting up the salon they might be a little more into vanity than actual shredding, so ‘I’ll meet you in the lodge… grab me a tanq and tonic.’ Totally depends on that trust fund. Wow. What a catch I am.
Either way I think the two jobs would really work well together. Tanning salons are always nice and warm inside. Got to even out that goggle tan. I won’t lie to ya. I’d be using the beds as well from time to time. Sparingly of course, a little color is one thing and we all need that vitamin d but nothing says ‘I over did it.’ like a nice tangerine complexion with white eyelids.
Krux will dominate the skateboard truck market in 2009. Keys to success?
SOTY SOTY SOTY.
Krux has the world’s best cushions. Could you describe the secret Chinese formula in laymen terms?
Only the longest and luckiest mole hairs in the batter.
Colorways/Ideas that make you laugh and the pro’s that suggest them?
You’ve been skateboarding for 20+ years. What keeps the stoke alive?
Man, I don’t know. Skating is just fun. I’d say lately its been all about just screwing around with my friend Owen and doing everything to body varial. I feel lucky that I love something so much, especially after all the years being pro and all the injuries. Seems like a person could be over it after 26 years but I’m not at all. Its still my favorite thing in the world. Nothing makes me happier than skateboard tricks. Such a silly thing and yet it means so much.
Whalebone’s words of wisdom?
You gotta want it.
It’s your last concert you’ll see alive. Which 3 bands will play?
Prince, Tom Petty and Sade. Seen the first 2 live already. Amazing.
Sorry Weezy, couldn’t squeeze you in there.
You seem to have taken a liking to the NHS team Van. It’s not rare to see you ghost riding the whip in that fine, fine white machinery, all over Santa Cruz. Pluses and minuses of having the team van as a mode of transportation?
+’s:
-my cruiser fits in the back
-10 cylinders gets that heater pumpin in no time.
-roomy. #1 prerequisite for a Whaley.
-tidiness is non ish.
-anatomically correct artwork
-’s
smells “buttery” with an emphasis on the first 4 letters
no radio. i love my k.o.c.n.
i don’t think the babes are feeling it.
