We bring skateboarding perspectives from the streets, sketchbooks, and studios. We work with some of the best around the world to dig up deep stories, amazing photography, artists you’ve never heard of—and some you already love.
Best way it’s been put? “This is the zine we wished we could of made as kids.”
What is Tails Of…?
Tails Of… is an independent, print magazine that documents skateboarding and the creatives it attracts. Half art zine, half skate mag, with a more mature perspective. No content calendar or trend research, just deep, handmade storytelling with the smell of ink still on it.
Each issue is led by an artist, designer, or photographer who sets the concept and tone. Then we let the skateboarders who are also artists, writers, photographers, historians, inventors, and madmen run wild with it. The goal is to make something timeless and culturally honest—evergreen stories, tied together by a theme.
Each issue is very different. This is on purpose.
Where We’ve Been So Far
We’ve published six issues so far. From our current issue, all the way back to Issue #0, here are the details…
Issue #5: Tails Of… Photographers
Led by Dave Swift, the legendary lensman. He curated an amazing set of interviews with some of the best to ever snap a shutter. The contributor list for this issue is heavy and includes Geoff Graham, Lance Dawes, Tobin Yelland, Mike O’Meally, Pete Thompson, Ryan Gee, Luke Ogden, Wig Worland, Ed Templeton, Adam Wallacavage, Wig Worland, Sean Cronan, J. Grant Brittain, and more.
Issue #4: Tails Of… Painting
Curated by Eric Merrell, this issue delivers a series of short interviews with fine art painters who skate. The contributor list for this issue is heavy and includes Joseph Hart, Ryan, Ed Templeton, Matt Curtius, Shelter Serra, Dave Aron, Rich Jacobs, Lia Halloran, Mike Perry, Kevin Christy, Ryan Bubnis, Dave the Chimp, Brian Lotti, Hannah Eddy, Justin Santora, Ben Horton, Andy Jenkins, and more.
Issue #3: Tails Of… Books
Issue 3, led by photographer and skateboard book enthusiast Jai Tanju attempts to cover every (we really tried) skateboard book ever published. It spawned our Skateboard Book Archive and includes photography, interviews and stories with J. Grant Brittain, Greg Hunt, Dennis McGrath, Jason Arnold, Thomas Campbell, Ed Templeton, Aaron Frisby (cover art), Norma Ibarra, Garry Scott Davis, Russ Howell, Lucas Beaufort, Mark Whiteley, Jocko Weyland, and more.
Issue #2: Tails Of… Outsiders
Outsiders started as an East Coast issue, but the theme opened up as John Freeborn found new connections. This issue features Brian Ralph (cover art), Jim Goodrich, Bobby Puleo, Sam Cunningham, Jim Houser, the return of Wrench Pilot by Andy Jenkins, Jason Farrell, Fernando Menezes Jr., skateboarding dogs illustrated by Travis Milliard, and more.
Issue #1: Tails Of… Visual Shapers
Rich Jacobs curated the concept of visual shapers (and the amazing cover art), which covers graphics, photography, zines, and much more. These pages included contributions and articles from J. Grant Brittain, Garry Scott Davis, Ed Templeton, Margaret Kilgallen, Norma Ibarra, Hagop Najarian, Tod Swank, Christy Karacas, Sergej Vutuc, Mat O’Brien, Aaron Draplin, and more.
Issue #0: Tails Of…
Issue zero, like the best comic books, was just us experimenting with an idea. Can we tell different skateboarding stories? We featured Jai Tanju, Adam Crawford, Norma Ibarra, Rich Jacobs, Will Owens, Akira Yonekawa, Justin Santora (who did the cover), Shan Reddy, and more.
Why It Matters
Skateboarding isn’t a sport, lifestyle, or hobby. Once committed, no matter what you do or how old you get, a simple red curb can still spike your dopamine. Tails Of… is an attempt to capture that depth, complexity, and randomness, along with the creative endeavors orbiting the people who participate in this activity.
This zine doesn’t run on ads. It’s a print project built on trust, a leap of faith between skaters, artists, and the folks who get what we’re trying to do.
Join Us
Subscribe to Tails Of… and you’ll get the next issues as they drop, along with some bonus items (depending on your level, or willingness to put in for this effort).
Standard subscription: 4 issues and stickers
Premium subscription: 6 issues, a limited edition print, a Tails Of… logo tee, and more stickers.
Ultimate subscription: 8 issues, a limited edition print with every issue, a Tails Of… logo tee, stickers, and our undying adoration
Tails Of… isn’t a monthly or quarterly. Books will come out when they are ready. You are purchasing a subscription with a set number of issues. We’ll do our best to keep you informed about the timing and your subscription status.
Specs: A5 Size (8 1/2″ tall x 6″ wide), Around 100 pages, full color, perfect bound.
What else can I tell you?
If you can’t subscribe, annoy your local shop and tell them to reach out. Tails Of… is free to all core skate shops. Then tend to disappear fast, but good stuff always goes quick.