8 from the '80s 01: Robb Blackaby ⋆ AZPX

Call for Submissions!

8 from the ’80s is an AZPX Blog series showcasing up to eight skate or skate-related photos submitted by local Arizona skate rats from the era 1984-1989. Just a photo and a brief description.

The goal of 8 from the ’80s is to create a super rad archive of the amazing Arizona skate scene in the 1890’s, mainly ’84-’89. This will be part of our Higher Rollers Series. If you want to be part of the archive, send up-to eight photos and a brief description of each to rob@azpx.com

Robb Blackaby

Robb is a local Arizona skate rat who now travels the world with his physical therapy business Medicine in Motion. He now works on extreme athletes to keep them competing at the X-Games and other large sporting events. Robb also a partner at Urban Roots Farms in Scottsdale, AZ

Robb & Rune Glifberg at the Park World Championship in Rome, Italy Oct 2023>>

#1

Frontside Air at Roth’s ramp Phx 1985. I loved Jeff Phillips and rode his boards early on.

#2

Frontside Boneless 1986. Not sure where these banks were. Wearing my High Roller shirt re-issued by the Butler brothers. Mini-JFA board that Michael Cornelius flowed me. He graciously allowed us to skate his ramp in Phoenix on the regular.

#3

Backside Air at Wichtermans, Downtown Phx 1986. Malba board that he flowed me. Kevin Zacher, Chris Livingston, Mike Butler in the background.

#4

Dowtown Phx Full Pipes: 1987. Skated there until they shut down and had the thrill to see adults like SAlba and Brian Brannon shred there.

#5

Invert at Martensons in downtown Phx 1987. Rode for Sessions skateboards for a bit and this pic somehow made the high school yearbook. All of us skaters were asked not to return to that school the following year.

#6

Eggplant roto rooter style (kind of alley ooped them) on a ramp when I took a trip to Tucson 1987. Bo’s ramp? Loved egg plants.

#7

Frontside Handplant Roetkins Ramp in Phx 1988. Unfortunately this pic was below the lip but I loved doing them. Steve Schneer complimented me on them when skating a contest in Tucson.