The Era That Lit the Fuse on Modern Skateboarding

Before Instagram clips, before YouTube—there were VHS tapes. And if you were skating in the ’80s, you know those tapes got worn out from rewinding the same tricks over and over. These vids weren’t just entertainment—they were the blueprint for how to skate, what to wear, and what it meant to be part of the culture.

Here’s our list of the heaviest hitters from the golden age of skateboarding videos.

📼 1. Powell Peralta – The Bones Brigade Video Show (1984)

This is where it all started.
Stacy Peralta’s first full-length featuring a crew of soon-to-be legends: Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Steve Caballero, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain. It’s cheesy in all the right ways and historic for a reason.

Why it matters:
The first true skate video with editing, music, and a team vibe. Pure time capsule.

📼 2. Powell Peralta – Future Primitive (1985)

The Bones Brigade strikes again—more skating, tighter filming, and full street sessions that pushed things forward.
This is when Lance Mountain really started standing out with his goofy style and street creativity.

Why it matters:
First video to really show how to have fun on a skateboard.

📼 3. Powell Peralta – The Search for Animal Chin (1987)

Skateboarding meets Hollywood. This one had a plot (kind of), costumes, and some of the most iconic ramps ever filmed—including the Animal Chin ramp built just for the movie. Hawk’s vert part and Mullen’s flatground are next level.

Why it matters:
The most legendary skate vid of the decade. Full cult status.

📼 4. Santa Cruz – Wheels of Fire (1987)

Raw, fast, and full of attitude. This one introduced the world to Natas Kaupas and included a wild street section from Tommy Guerrero. Not as polished as Powell stuff—more grit, more speed.

Why it matters:
The video that helped define street skating as its own thing.

📼 5. Vision – Psycho Skate (1988)

Straight chaos. Skating, punk, backyard pools, fire, and lots of slams. The soundtrack alone makes it a classic. Featuring Mark Gonzales in full early-Gonz mode.

Why it matters:
Total VHS gold. Pure 80s energy. Shows how weird and awesome skateboarding really was.

📼 6. H-Street – Shackle Me Not (1988)

Coming in hot at the end of the decade, this one changed everything. Big tricks, fast editing, and a new crop of skaters like Matt Hensley. Filmed rough but packed with impact.

Why it matters:
Set the tone for what skate videos would become in the '90s. Ahead of its time.

🎬 Final Word

The ’80s laid the foundation. These vids weren’t just entertainment—they were how skating spread. If you’ve never seen these, grab a six-pack and binge ’em. If you grew up on ’em? Time to dust off that old deck and relive the glory days.

1. Powell Peralta – The Bones Brigade Video Show

2. Powell Peralta – Future Primitive

3. Powell Peralta – The Search for Animal Chin

4. Santa Cruz – Wheels of Fire

5. Vision – Psycho Skate

6. H-Street – Shackle Me Not

 

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