Created in 1997, this issue of Skunk Zine by Devin Lau was the first BMX zine I ever got my hands on. I was 13 and while I had already been introduced to Dig, arguably the most “core” magazine of the time, Skunk was nothing like it. Riding photos were blown out and ultimately besides the point and its attention-to-detail was no attention-to-detail. The zine included recipes, drawings of what seemed to be non-existent BMX parts for sale, lots of Pete Augustin references, recipes for chili, and insight into an early Austin BMX scene and an already thriving Austin music scene. It was the first time I realized BMX was a lifestyle beyond the marketing of Xtreme but also the “hardcore” lifestyle® championed by the prominent BMX magazines at the time. There are no rules to BMX. Skunk, like so many other independent BMX zines, made that abundantly clear.
I’m excited to share a piece of BMX history that was influential to me. Skunk Zine is being reissued with permission from Lance Palko. Half of all proceeds will be donated to to the POW * MIA, in honor of Devin. You can purchase Skunk in the Challenger web shop and you can read an interview that I did with Lance Palko for Issue #9 of Holeshot below.
To be honest, I still think that I’m confused about Skunk Bros. Can you elaborate on what it was? Was it a team, a company, or a glorified crew?
It started with a few friends who were down with BMX and partying and then it just grew from there. This was back in like 88 or so, we rode but didn’t really know about the whole BMX scene and the newest latest tricks and what not. We met Devin and he showed us what was up with The Dirt Bros, S&M/POW’s and Craig Grasso and it was pretty much on from there. I remember watchin Dorkin in York and the Trend video over and over.
What was the connection with Ells, Gonz, and Skunk Bros?
I would run into Gonz every now and again at the Wedge starting back in 89 or so. I remember he was always bustin the craziest street shit back then, orange dreaded mohawk and all! We became good friends after we stayed at the DBI house during the La Jolla street contest and the King of Dirt at Mission Trails. Pretty much been hanging with Gonz ever since, although not too much lately, what up Gonz? I met Ells through Gonz and we did some riding for some of his vids, stoked to be a part of On the Down Low, that video was the shit at the time.
What’s up with Ratboy, is he still riding?
Met Ratboy at the Wedge when he was nine, he was rockin the rollerblades then switched to BMX and was killin it in no time. I run into Ratboy every couple times a year, I think he sets up PGA tournaments now! I don’t know how much he is riding, but I know he can still rip it up!
One of the things that I always really liked about Skunk Bros, which there seems to be a little resurgence of lately with Good Feelin’ and ALYK, is the idea of just a crew. Like, you don’t really make anything except for say a zine or a website or a video, but people know who you are. Can you elaborate on this idea of a “crew”?
We had somewhat of a reputation back in the day, did some partying, we made tons of stickers and a few shirts and hats here and there and thats about it. We got sponsored by a local brewery and had jams there and had access to a lot of beer, so where ever we rolled we had a crew. We had huge BMX themed parties in the woods, 100’s of people, Gonz naked(he had a lifejacket on for safety!) 360 over the flaming jumps and just craziness. For me it just continues to be something that I love and I seem to gravitate towards people that are the same way. I have been riding with some of the same bros for over 20 years!
I noticed a running theme of Pete Augustin theme in the zine, as well as the website. Were Pete and the Dirt Bros crew friends or influences?
Yeah, the Dirt Bros were huge influences, we were in high school and looked up to their dirt bag style of riding, that was when riders were wearing neon and shit. We ended up hooking up with them at some Thrasherland BS contests and then made a couple of road trips out to the El Cajon Dirt Bros house, Devin and I slept in Petes broken down VW bus on the side of the house, we picked through their parts shed, it was cool! We hit up TJ skatepark and they took us on some crazy late night high speed street runs in some sketchy neighborhoods. I ran into Vic doing a demo last winter and we chatted for a bunch and awhile back we had a 40th B-day party for Pete.
By reading your blog, I feel like you really like wallrides. Can you elaborate?
I remember seeing Dave Voelker doing that wallride on the side of the semi trailer on the cover of GO back in the day and was just blown away. How could someone ride up and across a wall, it seemed crazy. It just seems like pure street. Ever since then I look for wallrides, just trying to tuck a table out of a smooth wall is the shit.
The Wedge is famous amongst BMXers and skateboarders alike. Skateboarder Erik Ellingston is even known to have a Wedge tattoo. Was The Wedge a big part of your life BMXing in the Scottsdale area?
The Wedge was it back then, there were no skateparks, it was right down the street, it was the place to ride/skate/rollerblade. The cool thing about The Wedge when I look back at it now was the unity, there was no skateboard/bike only bullshit and no attitudes between the two, everyone still hated on the rollerbladers though! I still hit the wedge on a regular basis and the skatepark next to it.
What is the status of Skunk Bros. these days?
Regular shit jobs to support the family life, injuries and getting old sucks! I still ride on a regular basis. We were talking about doing up a Facebook page, maybe throwing out some hats/shirts, it’s pretty much the 20 year anniversary, so it seems right.
Am I missing anything, do you have anything you’d like to add?
Our bro Devin Lau passed away almost ten years ago. He was one of those always upbeat inspirational types of person, very influential to me. I could only image the things he would have came up with in the past decade! If it was not for him, who knows, Ratboy and I may be shreddin the Wedge on our rollerblades, the Skunk Bros would not have been. Thanks Dev.
