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DogTown: The Legend of the Z-Boys
The bigger, newly designed edition of an iconic skateboarding book, including additional never-before-seen Glen E. Friedman photos and a new C.R. Stecyk III postscript.
In the early 1970s, the sport of skateboarding had so waned from its popularity in the 1960s that it was virtually nonexistent. In the DogTown area of west Los Angeles, a group of young surfers known as the Zephyr Team (Z-Boys) was experimenting with new and radical moves and styles in the water, which they translated to the street. When competition skateboarding returned in 1975, the Z-Boys turned the skating world on its head. DogTown: The Legend of the Z-Boys is a truly fascinating case study of how an underground sport ascended in the world. These are the stories and images of a time that not only inspired a generation but changed the face of the sport forever.
This volume has been described as “the DogTown textbook” and an indispensable companion piece to the Sony Pictures Classics film Dogtown and Z-Boys. Now spanning 1975–1985 and beyond, the first section of the book includes the best of the DogTown articles written and photographed by C.R. Stecyk III as they originally appeared in SkateBoarder Magazine. The second half compiles hundreds of skate images from the archives of Glen E. Friedman—many of which appear in the movie. (Stecyk and Friedman acted as executive producers and advisors for the film.)
The bigger, newly designed edition of the book includes many never-before-seen Friedman photos, along with a new postscript by Stecyk.
In the early 1970s, the sport of skateboarding had so waned from its popularity in the 1960s that it was virtually nonexistent. In the DogTown area of west Los Angeles, a group of young surfers known as the Zephyr Team (Z-Boys) was experimenting with new and radical moves and styles in the water, which they translated to the street. When competition skateboarding returned in 1975, the Z-Boys turned the skating world on its head. DogTown: The Legend of the Z-Boys is a truly fascinating case study of how an underground sport ascended in the world. These are the stories and images of a time that not only inspired a generation but changed the face of the sport forever.
This volume has been described as “the DogTown textbook” and an indispensable companion piece to the Sony Pictures Classics film Dogtown and Z-Boys. Now spanning 1975–1985 and beyond, the first section of the book includes the best of the DogTown articles written and photographed by C.R. Stecyk III as they originally appeared in SkateBoarder Magazine. The second half compiles hundreds of skate images from the archives of Glen E. Friedman—many of which appear in the movie. (Stecyk and Friedman acted as executive producers and advisors for the film.)
The bigger, newly designed edition of the book includes many never-before-seen Friedman photos, along with a new postscript by Stecyk.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 14, 2018
I’ve been facinated by everything surrounding skateboarding and it’s history since I began to push wood myself,circa 04. I remember asking my best friend at the time if I could have a go on his incredibly weird shaped 7.5 element board with bones reds, world industry wheels, independent trucks and red grip tape. He said go for it and we thought rolling down his steep hill was a good start.
Well in hindsight it wasn’t because it scared the shit out of me but then again it was good because getting thrown in the deep end made me want more and you need an experience like that to show you that it’s not so bad, you get the hang of this. And I did get that hang of it, never really any good though and I still am not but I do it for the love and friendship and I found photography and videography more suited mean. Some people are fearless on the board or can overcome it, the rest of us struggle to turn off our brains, screaming at us that you will die if you/we try this trick! It turns out millions of years of evolution is hard to ignore.
Kids that were obviously fearless were the The Z-Boys. They had a raw surf style that resonated with me on and off for years. I would emulate their style and could see why they loved to focus on how everything looked, it’s an amazing feeling to surf on concrete and treat it like an artform. Their skating was still dangerous as hell though, thinking about the hills they bombed, usually bare footed, on homemade boards with crap wheels, it’s amazing they all lived to tell the tale.
Their crazy and amazing experiences are all here in this beautiful collection by Stecyk. Loads of great pictures and articles, interviews, there is so much here to consume and enjoy. A perfect companion piece to some of my favourites like the Dogtown documentary. A must read for anyone that loves skateboard history.
Well in hindsight it wasn’t because it scared the shit out of me but then again it was good because getting thrown in the deep end made me want more and you need an experience like that to show you that it’s not so bad, you get the hang of this. And I did get that hang of it, never really any good though and I still am not but I do it for the love and friendship and I found photography and videography more suited mean. Some people are fearless on the board or can overcome it, the rest of us struggle to turn off our brains, screaming at us that you will die if you/we try this trick! It turns out millions of years of evolution is hard to ignore.
Kids that were obviously fearless were the The Z-Boys. They had a raw surf style that resonated with me on and off for years. I would emulate their style and could see why they loved to focus on how everything looked, it’s an amazing feeling to surf on concrete and treat it like an artform. Their skating was still dangerous as hell though, thinking about the hills they bombed, usually bare footed, on homemade boards with crap wheels, it’s amazing they all lived to tell the tale.
Their crazy and amazing experiences are all here in this beautiful collection by Stecyk. Loads of great pictures and articles, interviews, there is so much here to consume and enjoy. A perfect companion piece to some of my favourites like the Dogtown documentary. A must read for anyone that loves skateboard history.
January 8, 2019
Read the whole thing on a day trip to the clinic. A piece of subcultural Americana covering the legendary Z-Boys crew who skated the Santa Monica area in the mid- to late-70s. The writings are all from that era and written by the same visionary who saw an underground Zeitgeist approaching that influenced generations and brought aggressive skateboard culture to the forefront. Paired with self-made punk photographer Glen Ellyn. Friedman's images, the book covers a documentary aspect that is both informative and visually stunning as the reader quickly realizes that the subjects of this new wave of extreme living was built by kids. Filled with interviews and profiles on some of skateboarding's biggest names from the 1970s and extensive pieces on the folklore and legends surrounding the DogTown area, this book is a winner on all fronts.
July 13, 2023
The information is a bit messy - it includes newspaper articles but doesn't feature who was the author, for example.
Also Kubo and Oki are barely mentioned as well other Z-boys members.
Second wave of Z-boys wasn't well explained.
The book explains a great history about a french photographer for VOGUE who took pictures of them but these aren't in the book.
Idk...Even we are talking of iconic pictures this could be done way better, the authors are no newbies.
Also Kubo and Oki are barely mentioned as well other Z-boys members.
Second wave of Z-boys wasn't well explained.
The book explains a great history about a french photographer for VOGUE who took pictures of them but these aren't in the book.
Idk...Even we are talking of iconic pictures this could be done way better, the authors are no newbies.
August 26, 2019
Great photography and insightful interviews of the founding fathers of skateboarding skills and attitude.
March 12, 2020
A book of great interest for any skateboarder from that decade.
Read
May 24, 2012This book is awesome, man. It tells about one of the best skate crews ever made - the Z-BOYS, the legendery Z-BOYS. They made skatebording!
When most peopel think of skate skatebording they think of Bob Burnquist or Danny Weigh, Tony Hawk. They don't think about Jay Adams. Marty Grimes or even Tony Alva, this guy made skatebording more than just a kid fad, he made it into a world wide sport.
The books tells about the evolution of skateboarding from a town in California on the Viennce Beach. Surfing started it all, the over crowdness of the beach made some kids put some roller skate wheeles on some 2x4 boards and they went to a the cement drainage tubes around their schools. There was a drought that summer and many people did not fill their pools, so they began skating the empty pools and jumping over the fences. One of the friends died and gave them his pool, they named it the dog pool because of all the good that he did.
Tony Alva was the first one to ever get air out of a pool and later he would start the company "Always Skateboards" and his words have stuck with me ever since I read them "Why should I be skating for them, I should be skating for me."
This book gives a lot of history on the Z-boys and the beginnings of this sport. Anyone who loves to skateboard should read this book.
When most peopel think of skate skatebording they think of Bob Burnquist or Danny Weigh, Tony Hawk. They don't think about Jay Adams. Marty Grimes or even Tony Alva, this guy made skatebording more than just a kid fad, he made it into a world wide sport.
The books tells about the evolution of skateboarding from a town in California on the Viennce Beach. Surfing started it all, the over crowdness of the beach made some kids put some roller skate wheeles on some 2x4 boards and they went to a the cement drainage tubes around their schools. There was a drought that summer and many people did not fill their pools, so they began skating the empty pools and jumping over the fences. One of the friends died and gave them his pool, they named it the dog pool because of all the good that he did.
Tony Alva was the first one to ever get air out of a pool and later he would start the company "Always Skateboards" and his words have stuck with me ever since I read them "Why should I be skating for them, I should be skating for me."
This book gives a lot of history on the Z-boys and the beginnings of this sport. Anyone who loves to skateboard should read this book.
February 9, 2022
The articles seemed like they were written by someone who was really, really high and kept losing their train of thought. I was also disappointed in the pictures because so many of them seemed the same. It would have been nice to throw in more non-skateboarding pictures of the skater boys just to mix things up a little. Finally, it was disappointing that Peggy Oki and Shogo Kubo were in the pictures but not mentioned in the articles at all.
July 12, 2009
great collection of work here.
April 21, 2012
The photo quality is extraordinary. If you skate, you will feel it. The writing is Right On. If you skate, you will feel it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews