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'Pure Fun' Skate Zine to hold release party with photo exhibit, giveaways on July 26

by jmaloni
Mon, Jul 16th 2012 10:15 am

Larry Ransom, a Lockport native and a key figure in the Lockport skateboarding scene, has announced that Pure Fun, the grassroots skate zine he started in 1990 with fellow Lockport skater Eric Shugats, will release a massive 10th issue on July 26 for the publication's 22nd anniversary.

A zine, (pronounced zeen,) is an abbreviation of fanzine or magazine, and zines are a genre of self-published, minority interest publications that are usually produced in small batches and do not have profit as the primary intent. Taking its name from some graffiti Ransom saw spray painted in an empty swimming pool, Pure Fun is a true zine born out of a deep desire to support the skate scene at a local level. It documents the skate scene of Lockport and its surrounding cities through photographs, interviews and articles, and it is the voice of skaters who skate for pure fun - not for fame, or sponsorships or money. 

The anniversary issue, which will debut at the free, open-to-the-public, July 26 release party at Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises, has been titled the best of issue for good reason. It features 112 bound pages, more than 200 photos (many of which have been previously unpublished) featuring local Lockport skaters and world-famous skaters alike, a foldout centerfold, reprints of highlights from past issues, vintage unpublished pieces, current write-ups, and insights from influential skaters who have graced the cover of the zine. This issue has been created in dedication to the memories of three uniquely-talented, irreplaceable skaters whose passion for skateboarding inspired all those in the Lockport skate scene and beyond: Kevin Marriott, Matt Torrey and Tim Taylor.

"To me being a skateboarder is more than just the act of skateboarding - it's finding the one thing that makes you feel completely ignited with purpose and passion and fully living it," Ransom said. "We started this zine because there weren't enough resources to feed our insatiable drive to live and breathe all that is skateboarding, and I can't think of a better way to mark our 22nd anniversary than by putting out our best issue ever in honor of three skaters who exemplified the heart and soul of skateboarding and meant so much to so many of us. The release party is truly going to be a celebration, and we're inviting all of Lockport and the surrounding cities to come out for free and help us celebrate."

The release party is an all-ages, free-of-charge event that will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 26 at Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises, located at 210 Market St. There will be an exhibit showcasing 25 photos that capture the core essence of skateboarding and there will also be plenty of copies of Pure Fun's new issue (http://ow.ly/cfUBe), along with T-shirts and a limited edition, letter-pressed, hand-screened poster created by Chris Fritton.

There will be limited quantities of free hors d'oeuvres and finger foods (first come, first served), a cash bar for those 21 and over, and product giveaways from Elephant Brand Skateboards and Nike Skateboarding. Also - and perhaps most exciting of all - in keeping with the do-it-yourself spirit of Pure Fun, Ransom and Lockport's Lake Effect Ice Cream company owners Jason Wolf and Erik Bernardi will make a huge batch of "exclusive to the Pure Fun release party" ice cream flavor, "Pure Fun Crunch" (rainbow sherbet reminiscent of fluorescent 1980s skate fashions, with Nerds mixed in to add crunch), and giving away free scoops to all who attend the release party (until the supply runs out).

Click here to view the Pure Fun release party event page on Facebook.

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