Stoked - The Rise and Fall of Gator 9/9

Stoked is a fascinating history of Southern California's skateboarding scene in the late 1980s, a profitable and exciting time for then-rising superstars such as Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, and Steve Caballero, but a far darker experience for the much-worshipped Mark "Gator" Rogowski. Helen Stickler's film begins with an entertaining overview of skateboarding's renaissance in the '80s, when Rogowski and other talented skaters in and around Los Angeles developed a massive following of boys, who in turn provided a market for flashy, Rogowski-endorsed designer boards and accouterments. For a time, the charismatic, handsome Gator became a wealthy sports celebrity in search of greater pop-star status. When the skating scene shifted from the half-pipe to the street, however, Rogowski's fortunes, sanity, and freedom tragically erode. Stickler's thorough research, smart pacing, and extensive interviews make this a compelling, cautionary tale; a jailhouse phone interview with the now-mid-30s Gator proves both enlightening and spooky.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Stoked
• The
• Rise
• and
• Fall
• of
• Gator

[Bhav341]

so many comments on this guy about how he was so mentally sick and deserves to get out on parole....I just see a kid whose huge ego couldn't handle the demise of his career.

[mrbooziebrews]

and I thought I was fucked up,...........

[lesterclaypool1]

@Bhav341

Totally agree, bro. Seems like the last hurrah of someone who knew that his star was going supernova, fast. Any press is good press and all the rest.

[DisasterCode]

For everyone talking about Ken Park, there's a movie called Ken Park you should all see. It's a skateboarding movie and it's really great.

[leewollenschlaeger]

@Bhav341 you couldnt have said it better man.

[Lavern4101]

@papertowelheadlock why did phillips kill himself

[papertowelheadlock]

Jeff Phillips told me that they used to call Ken Park Krap Nek. Phillips came out to Kauai on vacation in 1990 and hung out with me and my friends. He was a thousand times cooler than Mark.

[SeverFromWithin]

his face looks like one of a killer, and his voice even more

[kellandike]

Should of transitioned like Tony Hawk did.

[deadlychickenxop]

he was a dick, he should have died on that railing. But he sold out and then couldn't face it when selling out didnt work for him.

[fukinblowme]

@mrbooziebrews ROFLMAO.

[thebarrochannel]

DEFINITELY A CRIM EOF PASSION

BUT IT WAS THE WRONG GIRL, AND ANYWAYS, HE SHOULDA VE GOTTEN A REAL JOB AND GOTTEN A LIFE AND A NEW DESCENT GIRLFRIEND

LISTEN TO BARRO!