Issue 8 — Available Now

With Tom Karangelov on the cover and Jahmal Williams on the back, Issue 8 of Closer Skateboarding marks our second anniversary and features Tony Hawk, Tommy Guerrero and more.

Tom Karangelov, jam over the rainbow in Anaheim, CA by Jaime Owens and Jahmal Williams, pivot-to-fakie in New York, NY by Cole Giordana for Closer Skateboarding Issue 8.

Closer Skateboarding Issue 8 marks our magazine’s second anniversary. On August 10th we’re throwing a photo and art show at 212 W 12th Street in Los Angeles, featuring the work Matt Price, J. Grant Brittain, Jaime Owens, Tom Karangelov and Jason Adams. We hope to see you there to raise a glass to two years of Closer. In the meantime, here’s a preview of what’s inside the mag which now landing with subscribers, skate shops and is up on our web store. 

Tom Karangelov: The Search for the Origami Unicorn

Tom Karangelov in Japan for Closer Skateboarding Issue 8. Artwork by Tom K, photography by Jaime Owens, design by Sammy Spiteri.

“Do skateboarders dream of angled iron?” Inspired by Blade Runner, our cover star Tom Karangelov journeys from LA to Tokyo in search of his personal “origami unicorn”: the perfect pole jam to handrail spot.

Special Bar: Tony Hawk and 900

Story by Farran Golding, opening photography by Whitey Mcconnaughy, illustrations by Ben Colen, design by Sammy Spiteri.

Twenty five years since landing the 900, @TonyHawk talks about video games, ‘Special Tricks’, and his favourite instances of pulling off the 900 from day one until the last one.

Jahmal Williams

Jahmal Williams, backside tailslide | Queens, NY | Cole Giordano • portraits by Ben Colen

Jahmal Williams, the East Coaster who defines ‘longevity’, sits down with Tim Anderson (Bobshirt) to talk artwork and everything from Eastern Exposure to Static VI. Jahmal also lands on the back cover of Issue 8 shot by Cole Giordano.

Tommy Guerrero: The Chrome Ball Interview

Tommy Guerrero tickles a kerb with his tail in 1987 shot by J. Grant Brittain.

From Powell days to being the head-honcho of DLXSF, Tommy Guerrero gets Chrome Ball’d with a special introduction by Julien Stranger.

CONTROL: A collection of photographs

Cyrus Bennet, noseslide transfer | Miami, Florida | Joel Meinholz (left) • Allan Potter, backside lipslide pole jam | New Haven, CT | Mike Heikkila (right)

As always, our ‘CONTROL’ photo feature is packed with best contemporary skateboarding photography. Issue 8‘s gallery features the work of Joel Meinholz, Mike Heikkila, Matt Price, James Collins, Reece Leung, Jon Coulthard, Anthony Acosta and more.

R.aD. — The Book of The Magazine, and more

A young Tom Penny takes to an Oxford kicker in 1991 courtesy of the R.a.D. archive.

We’ve also got columns on the Read and Destroy book with Dan Adams of the R.a.D. archive, a tribute to Skateboarder Magazine’s ‘Skate Anatomy’ with renowned team manager, Mike Sinclair, alternative incomes with Clyde Singleton and more.