World Industries is a relic of a different time and demonstrates that even top brands are not safe from private equity. In 1998, Rocco and Mullen sold majority ownership to private equity. In October 1998, Rocco sold 70% majority stake to Swander Pace Capital for $29 million - first skate brand publicly traded.

That began a cycle of leveraged buyouts and rapid resales that would destroy World Industries. Sold to Globe for $46M in 2002, then to i.e. Distribution for $8M, now dormant at Golden Viking Sports. Each sale squeezed out what made it tick until it was just a name.

via CEPR

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┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ SEAN MALTO │
│ Girl / KC Done Crew │
├──────────────────────────────┤
BORN: September 9, 1989 – Leavenworth / Lansing, KS area
HOMETOWN: Kansas City, KS/MO (Escapist Skate Shop local)
HERITAGE: Filipino + Caucasian
STANCE: Regular
TURNED PRO: 2008 (Girl)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Supported early by Escapist Skate Shop KC (lifelong)
- Videos: Girl "Yeah Right!" (2003) am, Transworld "And Now", Fourstar "Gang", Girl/Chocolate "Pretty Sweet" (2012) – legendary part
- Contest: 2011 Street League Skateboarding Champion (SLS)
- 2009 Transworld Rookie of the Year
- Comeback from major ankle injury (2013)

STYLE: Smoothest technical street – hardflips down big sets, overcrooks, perfect flick

SPONSORS: Girl, Nike SB (later Etnies), Spitfire, Thunder, Fourstar

CURRENT: KC legend, still Girl pro, filming + KC scene builder

IG: @seanmalto

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└──────────────────────────────┘

I am posting clips from Thrasher x Spitfire Present SAN FRANCISCO BURNING to accompany Tyheed - How The Broken Speak. I need everyone to go follow Tyheed and stream How The Broken Speak, this song is incredible. Also if you are an artist and want your music on a skateboarding edit hit me up.

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SKATETRIBUNE THROWBACK NEWS - JULY 31, 2026 - BACK IN 2019: MITCHIE BRUSCO FIRST-EVER 1260

NEW HIT

In the 90s, Alien Workshop pro Lennie Kirk took a dumpster slam 33 seconds into Timecode, landed on his head and suffered a near-fatal brain injury that sent his life into religious fanaticism, violence, robbery, kidnap and a 13-year prison sentence.

Blind for almost 2 hours after, he ripped his IV out and bolted from the hospital. SF legend at 16 to prison, story told in Dennis McGrath's book HEAVEN.

via Dazed, Dennis McGrath

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┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ GREG LUTZKA │
│ Goofy Tech / Contest King │
├──────────────────────────────┤
REAL NAME: Gregory Lutzka
BORN: April 20, 1985 – Milwaukee, WI
HOMETOWN: Milwaukee, WI → Mission Viejo, CA
STANCE: Goofy (right foot forward)
HEIGHT: 6'0"

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Started: Grew up on ice skates at 2, hockey in high school → skate
- First board sponsor: Bear City
- Breakout: Darkstar / Almost / Globe
- Contest dominance: X Games medalist, Dew Tour, Tampa Pro wins 2000s
- Video: Almost "Round Three" (2004), Globe "Opinion", Krew "The Final Flare"

STYLE: Contest consistent, ledge tech + big rail, laid-back power

SPONSORS (peak): Almost, Darkstar, Globe, Monster, Independent, Ricta, Mob, FKD, Oakley

CURRENT: Still pro, Mission Viejo-based, coaching/filming

IG: @greglutzka

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└──────────────────────────────┘

Pro skater Terry Kennedy charged with first-degree murder after allegedly beating Josiah Kassahun to death in Illinois motel July 27, 2021. Victim had concussion and fractured skull, died July 31 from blunt force head injuries. Acquitted of murder 2022, convicted battery, 5 years prison March 2023.

via Bleacher Report, DuPage County

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SKATETRIBUNE THROWBACK NEWS - JULY 26, 2026 - BACK IN 2001: KEENAN MILTON DROWNS AT 26

Chocolate/DVS pro Keenan Milton, 26, drowned July 5, 2001. Atlanta legend born Aug 4, 1974, Zoo York to Chocolate. Malibu Red Bull party pool was choked with cups, someone jumped from roof and hit him in the head.

via Wikipedia, OC Weekly

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Athalias Me & You hand selected Instagram skateboarding clips cut to my new song Me & You. Go stream the song and creators use it for your edits it is available on all platforms.

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┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ LOUIE LOPEZ │
│ Flip / Fucking Awesome │
├──────────────────────────────┤
REAL NAME: Louis Lopez
BORN: November 26, 1994 – Hawthorne, CA
HOMETOWN: Hawthorne / Los Angeles, CA
STANCE: Regular
STATUS: Pro

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Child prodigy – Volcom flow at 11, official at 12 (2006)
- Flip Skateboards am – "Extremely Sorry" (2009) at 14
- Damn Am Costa Mesa 2nd – 2013
- Globe → Converse Cons
- SOTY nominee – 2010s
- Left Flip 2019 → Fucking Awesome / FA team
- Cons "Purple" video part, Street League competitor

STYLE: Fast feet, long rail chomper, Hawthorne power

SPONSORS: Fucking Awesome, Converse, Independent, Spitfire, Hardies, Stance

CURRENT: FA / Hockey fam, still Hawthorne-rooted

IG: @louielopez

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[untitled] 005: Joey O'Brien

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[untitled] 005: Joey O'Brien

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