Transworld SKATEboarding

Transworld SKATEboarding

Published by The Enthusiast Network.

Monthly. Sports magazine.

ISSN: 0748-7401

Reading/Interest Level: Ages 13+

Curriculum ties: P.E., sports

Booktalk Ideas: Spin your wheels!: Talk about and show some of the columns/interviews about skaters that are the same age as the audience. Highlight this magazine with other skateboarding/sports books and materials at the library.

Challenge Issues: Language

Challenge Response: First Defense File

Reader’s Annotation:

The skateboarding community’s finest talents are easily accessible in every issue. Tips, tricks, interviews and stories direct from the top boarders.

Plot Summary:

Some of the main sections of Transworld SKATEboarding include a section that highlights some of the top social media posts, often videos that were posted and shared in the skateboarding world. Writers will interview major skateboarding figures, professionals in the sport, and get information about where they started, how they started, and what has driven them to continue skating. All things the readers will be interested in.

One of the goals of the magazine is to spot future professional skateboarders early, so there are many short, easily digestible interviews with skaters the magazine editor and writers feel should be reported on.

Interview formats vary and can range from listing the athlete’s top fives in various categories, to short answers, to detailed answers. Each interview is accompanied by a large photo or smaller photos of the athlete skating and/or doing tricks.

Critical Evaluation:

One of the biggest things I noticed about this magazine is the very casual voice nearly every writer uses, granted there are less articles and more interviews. Skateboarding lingo and slang terms such as “he’s been ripping over the past year…” are common. Profanity is also periodically used, which though often frowned upon, is the often the type of language used in skateboarding so having such language present in this magazine makes it feel more authentic.

When it comes to ads, this magazine has about a third more content than ads, though sometimes it was difficult to distinguish if a picture was meant to be an ad or just to accompany an article. That being said, the photographs were excellent. The colors were clear and vibrant while clearly capturing the athletes in motion.  There were a wide variety of picture sizes throughout the magazine, so it never felt boring. However, when pictures were split between pages so that three quarters of a picture was on one page, while that last quarter split over onto the second page with the magazines spine cutting through it. The main action of the photos was always clear, the skateboarder would be well placed within the photo and clearly visible, but having the photo carry over for just a quarter felt unnecessary. That being said, there were a few pictures that filled both pages, making it feel balanced. The photos were clear and high quality which really added to the interviews they accompanied.

About the Author:

TEN: The Enthusiast Network, formerly named Source Interlink Media (SIM), is the media division of Source Interlink.
In September 2012, it was announced that Source Interlink Media (SIM) made a strategic investment in San Francisco technology company CoverHound to power its insurance searches
Through its GrindMedia action sports division, SIM acquired the suite of TransWorld brands that includes popular titles such as TransWorld Skateboarding and TransWorld Business in late May 2013.
On August 19, 2013, GrindMedia announced that production of Skateboarder will cease on October 15, 2013. The Skateboarder announcement was followed by the closure of other publications, such as "Modified" ,"Mini Truckin", "Bound By Ink", "GEEK", and "Law of Attraction", in January 2014. Former Skateboarder editor-in-chief Jamie Owens was announced as the new editor-in-chief of TransWorld SKATEboarding in October 2013.
On May 29, 2014 Source Interlink Companies announced that it changed its name change to "TEN: The Enthusiast Network" and that it would cease production of numerous automotive titles as part of the company's name change. These titles include Popular Hot Rodding, Rod & Custom, High Performance Pontiac, Custom Classic Trucks, 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility, Mud Life, 5.0 Mustangs and Super Fords, Modified Mustangs & Fords, Camaro Performers, GM High-Tech Performance, Import Tuner, and Honda Tuning

-from Wikipedia.com publisher page-

Justification of Selection:

Many skateboarders used to come to the library to practice tricks on the rails and ramps available, but since the skate park was built they don’t come as often. To bring them back, the library needs to have material that appeals to the skateboarding community. The best part about this magazine is that the tone is casual and the style fits the community.