Transworld Skateboarding 2011 Buyer’s Guide, editor-in- chief Skin Phillips, Bonnier Corporation, 2010.
ISSN: 0748-7401
Plot Summary
With a reader base that is 91% male and 68% teen, Transworld Skateboarding is a great addition to any library’s young adult collection (Transworld Skateboarding, 2011). It is the most widely read magazine of its type boasting a readership of over 721,000 people (Transworld Skateboarding, 2011). After reading the 2011 Buyer’s Guide it is easy to see why so many people prefer this magazine over its competitors. While it contains several ads, the 2011 Buyer’s Guide is not overwhelmed with them, instead focusing on famous skateboarders and their favorite products. In this issue readers learn about 191 new shoes, 312 new decks, and various new trucks, wheels, and apparel. Additionally, this issue includes nineteen mini interviews with skaters and focus articles on an additional five. Through the 2011 Buyer’s Guide readers will not only learn about new products but where to buy them as well. Certainly this issue serves as a valuable resource for skaters of all ages and should be included in libraries’ collections.
Transworld Skateboarding (2011). Transworld skateboarding 2011. Retrieved from http://transworldmediakit.com/pdfs/SkateEditCalendar11.pdf
Critical Evaluation
Transworld Skateboarding’s 2011 Buyer’s Guide is a visual feast for the skateboarder’s eye as it contains the perfect ratio of product to interview. All the spreads’ layouts are clean and colorful ensuring that readers do not feel overwhelmed or pressured to buy the products featured. Each product has its own section where rows of shoes, boards, and wheels lie side-by-side, their specifications directly under the images. For example, when browsing the shoe section, readers not only see pictures of shoes but learn their names, models, and prices. Interspersed throughout the shoe article are tips on what the editors of Transworld Skateboarding like as well as technical advice about the shoes. The deck section mirrors the shoe section, the only exception being the inclusion of the length and width of each board. Cameras, hats, trucks, and wheels each have their own smaller sections within the magazine. While this issue of Transworld Skateboarding focuses on skating products, the editors also chose to feature famous skateboarders and their opinions. Readers will find interviews with famous skateboarders throughout the issue, discovering what products their role models most enjoy. Transworld Skateboarding’s 2011 Buyer’s Guide is masterfully done as the issue focuses on the craft and technical aspects of the sport as well as on the aesthetics.
Reader’s Annotation
Transworld Skateboarding’s 2011 Buyer’s Guide features all the latest skating gear, wheels, and apparel along with dozens of interviews with famous skateboarders about their favorite products.
About the Editor-in-Chief
Sadly, after much searching, I cannot find any information on editor-in-chief, Skin Phillips. All that I can determine is that he is a photographer as well as the editor-in-chief for Transworld Skateboarding.
He also has a Facebook page so readers can friend him although I have not yet determined if he is selective in who he friends.
Genre
Extreme sports, Sports
Tags
Skateboarding, wheels, shoes, decks, apparel, bags, cameras, design
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalk Ideas
N/A
Reading Level/Interest Level
Reading Level: 9th grade
Interest Level: 6th grade + (12-35 yrs.)
The reading level is according to the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level tool found in Microsoft Word.
Challenge Issues
N/A
Why Was This Included?
I decided to include Transworld Skateboarding for two reasons—it is featured in my local library’s Young Adult collection and, X-Games aside, I only see teen boys and college students skateboarding. I picked the 2011 Buyer’s Guide because I felt it was the issue that readers would be most likely to pick up, wanting to learn about the latest gear and boards.
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