Skater's Favorite Skater | Ray Barbee | Transworld Skateboarding

When a legend like Ray Barbee is going to tell you who one of his favorite skateboarders is, you listen. Enjoy. Thanks Ray!

[@CH-nz6ys]

Early days, we didn't have many street skaters to look to. There was Gonz, Natas, and Tommy Guerrero; then a little later Julien Stranger, Mike Archimedes, and Danny Sargent. The cool thing about street skating early on is that all of these guys had their own style and even their own bag of tricks. That continued with the next generation...Mike Vallely(my first demo when he was still Am for Powell in '86 or '87), Ray Barbee, and Matt Hensley. Gonz was straight visionary. That guy is such an original thinker. He was my favorite early on. Then, Ray Barbee came along and changed everything up for me. Ray is/was one of my favorite skaters of all time. It's cool to see that lineage, and how much Gonz influenced everything in the culture.

[@faunaflage]

"I do the tricks, not you!" -- Mark Gonzales, to his shoe.

[@greenbean1613]

Ray was the first demo I saw in 88' when I was 13. He was so smooth and the big smile never left his face, even as he was skating. It was surreal. I'll never forget it.

[@gooutsideasfollows9105]

One of the nicest humans I’ve ever meet

[@thoyo]

Did you meet Gonzales or Barbee?

[@Armourlego]

So true.. Natas, Tommy & Gonz we’re pretty much it street wise.. Then Barbee joined those ranks.

[@Nominay]

Those 3, then Vallely, followed by Barbee, Hensley, then the rest.

[@jasondashney]

It's funny because those guys are always talked about as GOATS, but they were about the only people doing it in the early days so of course they were "the guys".

[@candrelsrosa]

@@jasondashney, too many GOATs throughout the times in my humble opinion, when GOAT means "Greatest Of All Times", so, make up your mind already! There can be only one!

[@HemiMike]

Ray! Still have your signed Bones Brigade Shirt from your visit at the Big ' O (olympic stadium) in Montreal back in 1990...you are my favorite skater! 👍

[@vonslagle]

The first Transworld I got in 85’ had a sequence of Gonz doing an Ollie to axle on a bench. A week later I learned to Ollie to axle on a curb. I wasn’t the only one! This was Street Skating Ground 0

[@MartinKohoutekchannel]

I still can't wrap my mind around how ahead of his time Mar was / is. Crazy

[@ununseptium7961]

Gonz is still an inspiration. Think about what skating meant to you when you started. It was all about having fun and learning new tricks. Every time new Mark footage comes out, he is having fun at 51 years old.

[@bargerkenneth]

Best episode ever. One of my favorite dudes talking about one of my favorite dudes. Ray, when your first part came out, every guy I knew immediately wanted to skate around the neighborhood and do no-complies and shuv-it variations. Really great stuff.

[@johnsonactivity]

same and to this day is still some of the coolest flat ground work ive seen. Andy Anderson gives me the same feelings

[@alexanderbertallo1995]

Gonz again... Sweet pick... Much love from Switzerland...

[@emersoncardenas6899]

You're dope Ray Barbee.

[@dustinhyslip4972]

You're my favorite Ray

[@mastercatx]

Ray was/is my favorite skateboarder.

[@mc540flip]

I knew he was gonna say Mark Gonzales! Sick Ray! I love Mark and Ray’s skateboarding

[@ariekanibalie]

Every time I get bummed about the number of hateful idiots on the internet, let alone in political office, I like to think of Ray and the good vibes he's consistently spread throughout his time on earth. A truly inspiring individual.

[@GipsyKingXXL]

casual indy down wallenberg.

[@bargerkenneth]

First-ever Wallenberg move!

[@jacobpie4390]

The gonz makes most things look casual

[@therealwewin]

Very humble

[@schwinnbike18]

This lightened my day up! Thank you.

[@ezrhino100]

Natas Gonz Ray. The Trinity...

[@JaredGenesis444]

saw him give a skater some shoes out of the kindness of his heart at a zumiez event. incredible dude.

[@chrisjames5823]

im gonna get that card puppet tattoo before i die. one of my favorite skaters from the 80s 90s and hands down my favorite deck of all time is the shuffling card puppet. PROPS BARBEE!!!

[@p1rz666]

I agree Ray!! Gonz is the man!

[@walliegrab9746]

Two of my favourites

[@rhymezgalore]

Nice Ray.

[@joshuaguylancurtislegrange9778]

Ray Barbee yeah

[@someskaterdudenamedfreddy4909]

No way, he’s my fave too!!!

[@ItsMe-vg4vj]

Ray is the reason I fell in love with skatin. Thats it. He describes himself here😂 🛹

[@archivaldepot1684]

Finally someone said Gonz

[@Fountain_dawgs]

Love this guy

[@calvinturner2125]

Mark, Natas, tommy, lance, ray

[@recession81]

And Caballero

[@recession81]

@GMoorefan115 Rodney, Hosoi, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Mike V, Stacy Peralta, George Powell so many to name.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

@@recession81 Julien Stranger, Matt Hensley, Chris Miller.....

[@RollForever88]

If I recall, Ray Barbee is actually Elissa Steamers favorite skater. 👏

[@candrelsrosa]

So?

[@RollForever88]

@@candrelsrosa So it’s cool to see the progression and influence from one to another. Ray’s skills are worth recognizing as well and he’s not the typical go-to favorite of most riders. Just recognizing his talent, while he recognizes others. 🤝🏻

[@candrelsrosa]

@@RollForever88 ok, I got it

[@sebbityseb]

Would someone please write a book about abstract expressionism, free jazz, and street skating? Thanks!

[@Space.Pimpin]

Imagine only having three street skateboarders to look up to........kinda seems nice.

[@nobodysreview6137]

I thought the camera guy was gonna ask him how long he's been skateboarding?

[@masturdate]

Haha 😉

[@DeLaKleve]

Don’t get me wrong, all respect to Gonz, but I wanna see a random pick from someone eventually, like “my favorite skater is Karma Tschoeff”

[@mystymysty3667]

I guessed it! 😻👊

[@Creaturefiendyo]

Me too lol

[@nicholasmontoto9346]

His skating speaks for itself. I agree 100% that he’s one of the greatest . But personality/image wise he’s one of the most coddled and overly celebrated skaters as well . Gets a little annoying when people are losing their shit for anything he does no matter how silly. I know I’ll get destroyed for that but oh well . Still respect the dude for what he’s done .

[@rumpledxkn]

Nicholas Montoto .... you’re not the only one, don’t worry. 😂

[@nicholasmontoto9346]

Lemme_Smell_It Lmfaooo I’m glad I’m not the only one . But dude but no one says it !

[@RamManNo1]

He’s kind of obnoxious

[@Drivingformoney]

How much older is mark then you are? I thought you both came from the same skate scene.

[@DannyThomson]

Mark was not lacking that little bit of extra intensity

[@Unoriginal3]

Nice

[@Bruce516]

Gonz, Natas, Barbee, Cardial, J Worthit.

[@Soiceylukky]

well said

[@baytreeservices]

he still sounds the same that he did in BAN THIS

[@Hardbody94]

Stephen Burnett

[@respecttheface7152]

OHHHHHHH HELL NOOOOOOOO

[@Terriblegolfer16]

The music is terrible tho :/

[@daveharo9878]

Yup - I enjoy jazz and also think the soundtrack is toilet!

[@forrestfiyaa]

First