Institute History
Description
In the 1980s, a gang of disenfranchised, but weirdly talented kids rejected mainstream American culture such as baseball, football and the traditional sports to follow a loser activity and redefined "winning" in the process.
Mentored by Stacy Peralta, a former world champion skateboarder, the "Bones Brigade" began in 1979 as commercial skateboarding was on the verge of dying off. But Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain, Mike McGill, Tommy Guerrero and Stevie Caballero had nowhere else to go. The anti-establishment world of skateboarding was the first comfortable environment many of them had ever known. Focusing their controlled desperation into a disrespected art form allowed them to overcome abusive homes, pulverizing lack of confidence, abandonment issues and social isolation.
They all continue to skate today and their cultural impact continues to reverberate with spheres of influence blasting far beyond skateboarding; inspiring NYT bestsellers, record setting video games and millions of kids who embrace skateboarding around the world.
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography chronicles the development of modern day skateboarding through the lives of six teenagers who, for most of the 1980s, headed by a 1970s ex-skateboard champion, blasted the industry with a mixture of art and raw talent becoming the most popular skateboarding team in history. Unmotivated by fame or popularity, they rejected mainstream American culture such as baseball, football and the traditional sports, and instead, they completely dedicated their lives to a disrespected art form. This misfit crew embraced a “loser” activity and redefined “winning” in the process.