Neil Blender
Neil Blender (born 1963) is a former professional skateboarder, skate company owner, and artist.[1][2][3] Blender's pro career began in 1981 his senior year of high school.[4][5][6] He is regular-footed.
Skateboarding
Early life
Blender skated for Powerflex for three years in his mid-teens.[4] Brad Jackman introduced Blender to Gail Webb, team manager of Powerflex who signed Neil.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4]
Professional career
In 1990 Chris Carter, Mike Hill, and Blender decided to form Alien Workshop, a company based in Dayton, Ohio, United States (U.S.), at a time when the skateboard industry's core was located in California.[7]
Throughout his career, Blender often made cameo's in other company's skate video.
In the 30th Anniversary edition of Transworld Skateboarding Magazine published on December 20, 2011, Neil Blender was number 19 of the 30 most influential skaters of all time.[8]
Skate video appearances
- 1985 - Summer Sessions - Sure-Grip International[9]
- 1985-87 - NSA contest videos: Del Mar, Houston, Chicago
- 1988 - The Vision Pro Skate Escape[10]
- 1988 - Thrasher - Savannah Slamma[11]
- 1988 - Ohio Skateout[12]
- 1989 - Santa Cruz - Speed Freaks[13]
- 1989 - Goin' Off!
- 1990 - Gordon & Smith- Footage[14]
- 2004 - Destroy Everything Now - 88 Footwear
Art
In his teenage years, Blender enjoyed drawing cartoons and photography.[4] Blender was one of the first skaters to design his own board graphics.[8]
References
- ^ "Neil Blender Interview". TransWorld SKATEboarding. 1999-12-21. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- ^ "Neil Blender - Complete Interview". TRACKER - History of Skateboard Book. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- ^ "Neil Blender interview – Caught in the Crossfire". Retrieved 2020-03-19.
- ^ a b c d e f Beyerbach, Chris (Feb 17, 1981). "Saxon skates towards success". Saxon Shield.
- ^ "Classic Graphics: Neil Blender". www.thrashermagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- ^ "Neil Blender".
- ^ "Alien Workshop". TheDarkSlide. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
- ^ a b "Best Skateboarders Of All Time". TransWorld SKATEboarding. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ "Summer Sessions skate video soundtrack | Skatevideosite". www.skatevideosite.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ "The Vision Pro Skate Escape skate video soundtrack | Skatevideosite". www.skatevideosite.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ "Thrasher - Savannah Slamma skate video soundtrack | Skatevideosite". www.skatevideosite.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ "Ohio Skateout skate video soundtrack | Skatevideosite". www.skatevideosite.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ "Santa Cruz - Speed Freaks skate video soundtrack | Skatevideosite". www.skatevideosite.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ "Gordon & Smith - Footage skate video soundtrack | Skatevideosite". www.skatevideosite.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
