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1970's Male Skater
Dave Adams
Dave Adams moved from California to Dunedin just before Clearwater Skatepark opened. Basically he showed ‘us' how to ride ‘our' park. That was 1976(?) and he’s still one of the most stylish flowing and fun skaters to watch traverse the concrete that I’ve ever seen. He falls into a pure surf style coupled with some serious skills. I will always remember trying new tricks with Dave there. He would always say 'Be Carefool’ when we went for it… if you weren’t committed that would stop you in your tracks! And I remember being proud when he came to see me skate The Basin. He was a terrific influence and cool dude today. And he still rips Dunedin up pretty damn good!
David Narducci
Skated for Brewer, Road Rider, Independent trucks, and Santa Cruz. Powerful skater in pools , pipes and slalom . Cover shot on Skate Rider magazine. Many trips to California skating Skatopia and Winchester parks. He was a fantastic powerful fast skater.
Bruce Mason
Bruce Mason
Veteran of Sensation Basin and Ed Womble's doubles partner. Still ripping after all these years out of Jacksonville now.
1980's Male Skater
Bill Procko
Bill began skateboarding in 1976, at the age of 12, in Port Richey Florida. He skated Clearwater and then Rainbow Wave, towards the very end of their heyday. After they closed he became a local at the half pipe in St. Petersburg at John Grigley’s house. It was then that Paul assembled his first ever, “Schmitt Stix” team, and he was part of it. He compete in various contests including the Florida Backyard Ramp Series and eventually appearing in the first ever, “Schmitt Stix”, Thrasher ads. In 1983-84, he was sponsored by Gullwing Trucks, and shortly thereafter, by Vision Skateboards, appearing in Thrasher and TransWorld Magazine product ads.
His backyard halfpipe in Branford, Florida has hosted the annual “Suwannee River Skate and Camp Jams”, which attracted skaters far and wide. He opened a Health Club and skate shop, and was the key figure in getting new 10,000 square foot concrete skatepark. He organized a grand opening contest, and at ribbon cutting, the Mayor named the park, “Procko Skatepark”.
He organized a large contest as a fundraiser for the non profit, “Cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy”. Duchenne is a fatal muscle wasting disease, and affects his younger son, Evan. Skateboarding has made him who he is today at 58, and will always be the love of his life.
Mark Wilson
Mark was well known from being published in magazines, newspapers, appearing in Gullwing’s 1988 “Inside Out” VHS Video but mostly for over 100 daily demos promoting skateboarding across Florida, Georgia, and the Bahamas and helped to build Rock Island ramp, Suntree Ramp and the first mobile metal vert demo ramp. Mark was sponsored by Walker Skateboards, Lake Skateboards, Gullwing Trucks, Santa Cruz OJ Wheels and Island Water Sports. In the late 80s, Mark placed in the NSA Eastern Regionals and Championships. He was interviewed in Transworld Magazine and Skateboard Magazine, showcased in Thrasher magazine, Eastern Vert magazine, product spec sheets, product advertisements, local TV and newspapers
Todd Johnson
Todd Johnson
Todd Johnson
Todd started skating in 1977 at the age of 7 on my brothers Logan Earth Ski with Road Rider 4’s. His first time to Kona was for the Sundek in May of 84. He got a job at Sunrise Surf Shop in 1987 and thankfully, Dan Brooks took him into the family and got hooked up with G&S “flow” thru the local rep. He also got a sponsorship by Gullwing. After a trip to California in 1989 he realized he just wanted to skate his own terms wherever and whenever, with no pressures but to just enjoy it. In ’96 he had sold his story thus far, to Thrasher with drawn illustrations instead of photographs and it ran as a two page spread in the March ’97 collector’s edition.
In 2000 He secured a sponsorship with Sector 9 and was able to travel to California, Oregon, Texas, Colorado, NYC, Europe and Brazil.
2019 he got a Pro Model on Earth Skateboards, a non profit and our partnership continues raising money today. He no longer lives in Florida but can be found skating in western North Carolina. Be on the lookout for a new TOJO model in 2023.
Lenny Byrd
Todd Johnson
Todd Johnson
Keneth “Lenny” Byrd started his skateboarding journey in Marietta Georgia. He was one of the Rancheros of the ramp ranch which was a pioneering scene in ramp design. He then migrated to Florida with a brief sojourn in Colorado where he continued the push for terrain. He’s been a fixture in Florida skateboarding for decades and was instrumental in getting the skateboard park for Saint Augustine. As well as many others. He rips and has had photos in Thrasher as well as their calendar. Lenny is as skateboard as skateboarding gets. He deserves to be in multiple halls of fame.
1990's Male Skater
Andrew Reynolds
He began skateboarding at age nine. As a teen he competed in the Florida Amateur Skateboard League (FASL). Reynolds credits his mother for driving him all over Florida for the various amateur skating competitions. His first sponsor was G&S in 1991. From there he got sponsored by Tony Hawks newly formed Birdhouse Skateboards in 1992. He turned pro for Birdhouse in 1995. In 1998 Reynolds was featured in the fourth Birdhouse video The End, with a section of his footage from the Bro Bowl in Tampa. He was a character in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game series. He was Thrasher Magazine's Skater of the Year in 1998. He started Baker Skateboards in 2000 which is one of the best selling skateboard brands to this day.
John Montesi
John was a staple at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs which was a hotbed for skateboarding in the late 80's. He competed across Florida in the FASL series. He was at the forefront of modern "Street Skating". John was asked by Paul Schmitt to ride for Schmitt Stix after competing in the NSA Qualifiers in St. Pete. When Paul left Vision to start New Deal Skateboards in 1990, John was one of the few team riders to be asked to ride for Paul's new company as an amateur. John Turned turned pro in 1992 for New Deal and released his very successful alien board graphic. He was prominently featured in advertising for the New Deal from 1990-96 and had parts in six New Deal videos. He has inspired skateboarders across the globe, touring and doing demos. He started Westside Skateshop in Tarpon Springs in 1997 and continues to be a driving force in the Florida skate community. His shop was also featured in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game. He now has 2 locations of his shop in Tarpon Springs and Largo.
Kris Markovich
Turned pro for Dogtown in 1989 after taking 2nd at the NSA Am finals. His list of sponsors over the years is long G&S, 101, Color, Prime, Element, Foundation, Hollywood, Blind, Crimson, Given, Elephant & now Techne. Kris now resides in St. Petersburg, FL with his wife and child, pursuing his art and skates many times a week. He was recently on the Nine Club podcast, and has a new pro board out on Techne & a pro wheel on Acid Chemical Company
Phil Hajal
Phil started skating in 1986 and was a Local at Thrasher's in Ocala and later at Jonesville ramp in Gainesville. At 12 years old, Monty took him under his wing and started flowing him product. Monty got him on Lifes a Beach/Bad Boy Club when he was 13. He turned Pro after winning Tampa Am Vert and placing 5th in Street the same year. He has been featured in advertising and sponsored by Vans, Grind King Trucks, and had a pro model out on Chris Miller's Rhythm Skateboards. He owns Ocala Skate Shop and has a vert ramp on his property that is skated hard on a weekly basis by Mike Frazier, locals and traveling vert skaters from across the globe. He currently gets flow from Powell, Bones Wheels, Vans, and S1 Helmets.
FEMale Skater
Candy Kramer (Hiler)
Candy is one of the of the women that helped shape the Daytona / Valusia County Skate scene. As a young teenager she was a local at Stone Edge Skatepark and was one of the three female skaters that terrorized the place. her crew included Hall of Fame inductees Jodi MacDonald and Jenn O'Brien (both FLHoF members). She had a Pro model board on Crown Skateboards. She was one of the owners of The Property in Valusia county that had 2 vert ramps and an amazing concrete bowl. She now resides in Colorado and skates as often as she can.
Lifer
Bruce Whiteside
Certain people anchor a skateboard scene…
Bruce Whiteside is one of those people…
From localizing the skateboard parks of the late 70s to keeping the stoke alive after they closed… His driveway ramps then his help building “THE” St. Pete ramp and scene were key in keeping skateboarding vital not only in Florida but nationally with the St.Pete Jams…
After Grigley moved away Bruce’s Nacho ramp became the new hub of Tampa Bay Area skateboarding…His mom welcomed many wayward skaters into her home…Bruce achieved all this while preforming skateboard maneuvers in the most proper way… All while listening to the best music on the coolest clothes…
Industry
Dave Bamdas
Dave Bamdas started rolling in 1977 at age 13. He was obsessed with the rapidly developing street skating movement. Dave was driven to invent new tricks incorporating his original and creative style that stood out from the crowd. His talent was recognized in 1986 by Bruce Walker when he brought him onboard the Walker Skateboards Team. Dave also rode for G&S Trucks and Vans. He competed heavily in street contests 1985-1991 including both NSA and ESA Series .
Dave launched and operated Lambretta Skateboard Center 1985-91. This was the go-to skate shop in South Florida but Lambretta was much more than a retail store. The contests attracted 100s of skateboarders from throughout the East Coast. It was a who’s who of Florida street skaters and served as a breeding and proving ground for the 80s generation of street skating.
In 2004 Dave partnered with longtime friend Vinton Pacetti to relaunch Vinton’s Florida based company 187 Killer Pads.
In 2010 Dave became a partner in Lake Skateboards. Dave used his biz skills and marketing background to take Lake to the next level. Dave currently serves on the Grind for Life Board of Directors. He contributes his time and resources to advance the great work of this nonprofit organization.
His many contributions over the years include building and managing 2 membership based warehouse ramps. Dave still skates regularly and hosts sessions and BBQs at his backyard mini ramp.
Ryan Clements & Rob Meronek (The Boardr)
These guy's had a long tenure at SPoT, where they created the platform to run modern skate contests. After proving their formula worked, they left SPoT to create The Boardr management corporation. These guys have had an amazing impact on skateboarding on a global scale.
Friends of florida
Bill Danforth
Originally from Detroit Michigan and affectionately known as the Nomad for his openness to relocate to where the skateboard action is. In addition to Bill’s time in Detroit the had several stints in California, Atlanta, and others but Bill has spent a considerable amount of time in Florida specifically Daytona with the building of Stone Edge SkatePark and now in his ‘retirement years’ he has resided in Deland Florida for the past 8 years or so.
Bill has always been a fan of Florida; of its skate scene and particularly its skaters. He has influenced many skateboarders in the sunshine state both young and old and remains a solid supporter of the sport and state. Perhaps he is not as much of a Nomad these days, but Bill remains the poster ‘child’ of the great American blue collar, go anywhere and skate anything skateboarder.
Pat Clark
Pat was a Virginia local and featured on the October 1983 cover of Thrasher Magazine. He transplanted to Florida and has been a staple of the Vert scene her ever since, but he skated EVERYTHING. He was a Walker Team Rider who traveled extensively to contests, demos, expos, and wherever a good sk8 session was about to go down. As an east coaster, Pat spent years residing and skating in Florida and contributed greatly to the Florida scene. He will be missed.