Neil Blender
{{Short description|American skateboarder}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
Neil Blender (born 1963) is an American former professional skateboarder, skate company owner, and artist.{{Cite web|url=https://skateboarding.transworld.net/magazine-archive/neil-blender-interview/|title=Neil Blender Interview|date=December 21, 1999|website=TransWorld SKATEboarding|language=en-US|access-date=September 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.larrybalma.com/2016/06/01/neil-blender-complete-interview/|title=Neil Blender - Complete Interview|website=TRACKER - History of Skateboard Book|language=en-US|access-date=September 13, 2019}} His pro career began during his senior year of high school in 1981.{{Cite journal|last=Beyerbach|first=Chris|date=February 17, 1981|title=Saxon skates towards success|url=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QAK8spJc1mQ/UFmjbsHfyiI/AAAAAAAABLo/bGebdrHvEAo/s1600/neil+blender+2.17.81+Shield.jpg|journal=Saxon Shield}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/classic-graphics-neil-blender/|title=Classic Graphics: Neil Blender|website=thrashermagazine.com|language=en|access-date=September 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://skately.com/library/people/neil-blender|title=Neil Blender}} He is regular-footed. By 1986, Blender invented at least two tricks, the Wooly Mammoth and the Gay Twist.{{Cite journal |date=1986 |title=Interview: Neil Blender |url=https://archive.org/details/SocietyMenaceVolume1Issue2VirginiaBeachVA/page/n7/mode/2up |journal=Society Menace |issue=2 |pages=7–8 |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite journal |date=1986 |title=Interview: Neil Blender |url=https://archive.org/details/SocietyMenaceVolume1Issue2VirginiaBeachVA/page/n7/mode/2up |journal=Society Menace |issue=2 |quote=Interviewer: Tricks you have invented? Blender: Wolly [sic] Mammoth and Gay Twist. |via=Internet Archive}} Neil is also credited with naming and conceptualizing several tricks.{{Cite web|url=https://skateboardinghalloffame.org/shof-2015/neil-blender-2015/|title=Neil Blender - 2015 Skateboarding Hall of Fame Inductee|website=skateboardinghalloffame.org|language=en|access-date=January 1, 2015}}
Skateboarding
= Early life =
Blender skated for Powerflex for three years in his mid-teens. Brad Jackman introduced Blender to Gail Webb, team manager of Powerflex who signed Neil. After Powerflex went out of business, Blender skated a contest at the Big 'O' Skatepark in Orange, placing first. Steve Cathey from the G&S amateur skateboarding team appreciated Blender's skating and signed him to G&S.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}
In January 1981, Blender appeared on national television on the 'World of People' television program, which featured footage from a skate contest in San Francisco.
= Professional career =
In 1990 Chris Carter, Mike Hill, and Blender decided to form Alien Workshop, a company based in Dayton, Ohio, at a time when the skateboard industry's core was located in California.{{Cite web|url=https://thedarkslide.com/collections/alien-workshop|title=Alien Workshop|website=TheDarkSlide|language=en|access-date=October 3, 2019}}
Throughout his career, Blender often made cameos in other companies skate videos. In 2015, Blender was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.{{cite web | url=https://skateboardinghalloffame.org/2020/04/neil-blender-2015/ | title=Neil Blender – 2015 – Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum | date=April 21, 2020 }}
In the 30th Anniversary edition of Transworld Skateboarding, published on December 20, 2011, Blender was number 19 of the 30 most influential skaters of all time.{{Cite web|url=https://skateboarding.transworld.net/features/the-30-most-influential-skaters-of-all-time/|title=Best Skateboarders Of All Time|date=December 20, 2011|website=TransWorld SKATEboarding|language=en-US|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
= Skate video appearances =
- 1985 - Summer Sessions - Sure-Grip International{{Cite web|url=https://www.skatevideosite.com/skatevideos/summer-sessions/soundtrack|title=Summer Sessions skate video soundtrack {{!}} Skatevideosite|website=skatevideosite.com|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
- 1985-87 - NSA contest videos: Del Mar, Houston, Chicago
- 1988 - The Vision Pro Skate Escape{{Cite web|url=https://www.skatevideosite.com/skatevideos/the-vision-pro-skate-escape/soundtrack|title=The Vision Pro Skate Escape skate video soundtrack {{!}} Skatevideosite|website=skatevideosite.com|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
- 1988 - Thrasher - Savannah Slamma{{Cite web|url=https://www.skatevideosite.com/skatevideos/thrasher-savannah-slamma/soundtrack|title=Thrasher - Savannah Slamma skate video soundtrack {{!}} Skatevideosite|website=skatevideosite.com|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
- 1988 - Ohio Skateout{{Cite web|url=https://www.skatevideosite.com/skatevideos/ohio-skateout/soundtrack|title=Ohio Skateout skate video soundtrack {{!}} Skatevideosite|website=skatevideosite.com|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
- 1989 - Santa Cruz - Speed Freaks{{Cite web|url=https://www.skatevideosite.com/skatevideos/santa-cruz-speed-freaks/soundtrack|title=Santa Cruz - Speed Freaks skate video soundtrack {{!}} Skatevideosite|website=skatevideosite.com|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
- 1989 - Goin' Off!
- 1990 - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0lQovAvwkI Gordon & Smith]- Footage{{Cite web|url=https://www.skatevideosite.com/skatevideos/gordon-and-smith-footage/soundtrack|title=Gordon & Smith - Footage skate video soundtrack {{!}} Skatevideosite|website=skatevideosite.com|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
- 2004 - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvUszuZLe8c Destroy Everything Now - 88 Footwear]
Art
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/classic-graphics-neil-blender/ Classic Neil Blender board art - Thrasher Magazine]
- [https://www.azpx.com/shit-my-mom-threw-out3-happy-birthday-neil-blender/ Collection of photos of Neil Blender]
- [https://skateboardinghalloffame.org/shof-2015/neil-blender-2015/ Neil Blender - 2015 Skateboarding Hall of Fame Inductee]
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