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Dave Tourje Surf Skate Style

SURF SKATE STYLE WITH DAVE TOURJE.
INTERVIEW BY JUICE MAGAZINE.
PHOTO BY KEVIN REGAN.

 

When did you first hear of SurfSkate style?

I heard it first in the early ‘70s, when the Cadillac Wheel was invented. Once the quantum leap occurred with the Caddie, we could more approximate the fluid style acquired through surfing. At that time, it was understood that skating was an outgrowth of surfing and that a “SurfSkate style” was what we were going for.

What does SurfSkate style mean to you and who has the best surf skate style?

SurfSkate style is the union of the surfer’s response to the fluid energy of surf, and the concrete reality of skate. I always thought that Jay Adams epitomized the SurfSkate style.

How has surfing influenced skateboarding, and skateboarding influenced surfing?

Early on, surfing influenced skating only. We were trying to resemble what we saw in the surf flicks of the day, like Super Session and Five Summer Stories, etc. There were no champion skaters then – only surfers like Larry Bertlemann, Shaun Tomson, Gerry Lopez, etc. You were at your best if you could grind coping with the relaxed style of Gerry Lopez, or do a rad cutback in a drainage ditch like Bertlemann. That’s what we went for. Nowadays, skating has fed surfing in a big way. The “student became the master” with aerials and other moves. Now the two are on even planes, influence-wise.

Is SurfSkate style important today?

To me, it’s everything, but that is my era. I see the urban skater now and I can see the lack of connection to surf in the style. But, that isn’t bad, as skate is now an embracive, inland, urban experience, and not as connected to its roots in surf. It’s just the evolution of things.

Dave Tourje backside carve grinds the fruit bowl 1977. Photo © Kevin Regan

JUICE MAGAZINE SURF SKATE STYLE STORY:

The influence of surfing on skateboarding has been discussed since the beginning of both, yet we have now entered a new era, where skateboarding has returned the favor with its own unique influence on the surfing world. In order to get to the core of this cross over and to try to define the origins and current state and status of surf skate style, we’ve interviewed some of the most innovative skateboarders, surfers, artists, documentarians, photographers, filmmakers and musicians on the planet. In honor of the great, Shogo Kubo, who once said, “To me, style is everything…” welcome to our exploration of Surf Skate Style featuring interviews with Aaron Murray, Aaron Astorga, Abraham Paskowitz, Art Brewer, Bennett Harada, Brad Bowman, Brandon Cruz, Brian Brannon, Carter Slade, Chris Miller, Chris Strople, Christian Fletcher, Christian Hosoi, Craig Stecyk III, Darren Ho, Dave Tourje, David Hackett, Dennis Martinez, Dibi Fletcher, Don Redondo, Eric Britton, Garrett McNamara, Gerry Lopez, Glen E. Friedman, Greg Falk, Greg Galbraith, Greyson Fletcher, Herbie Fletcher, James O’Mahoney, Jef Hartsel, Jeff Ament, Jeff Divine, Jeff Ho, Jim Fitzpatrick, Jim Gray, John Van Hamersveld, Jonathan Paskowitz, Josh “Bagel” Klassman, Kalani David, Keith Morris, Kirra Kehoe, Larry Bertlemann, Laura Thornhill, Lizzie Armanto, Marc Emond, Michael Denicola, Michael Early, Nano Nobrega, Nathan Fletcher, Nathan Florence, Neil Stratton, Norton Wisdom, Pat Bareis, Randy Katen, Ray Flores, Rob Nelson, Robert Trujillo, Scott Oster, Shane Allen, Shaun Tomson, Shota Kubo, Solo Scott, Stacy Peralta, Steve Alba, Steve Olson, Takuji Masuda, Terry Nails, Tim Curran, Tim Hendricks, Tim Kerr, Tom Groholski, Tony Alva, Wes Humpston and Zach Miller.

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY, ORDER ISSUE #75 AT THE JUICE SHOP…

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