“This week I’d like to give a shout out to a person who changed skateboarding but never got the respect or much deserved credit from first rate mags like Transworld and Thrasher Magazine. Its takes a kick ass site like Jenkem to pay respects to people who’ve been overlooked. So with out further adieu… The person in mind in this weeks column is Dan Peterka.

He has single handedly changed skating and most people don’t even know it. With his innovated move, The Crooked Grind, he some how invented a trick that is so commonly copied, it’s up there with the ollie and the kickflip. Peterka took it even further with combination’s like half cab crook’s pop out, nollie crook’s pop out and nollie nose blunts slides. Peterka had such an impact on skating that not only have skaters come to love the Crooked Grind but top pro’s like Eric Koston have built their careers around this move. Unfortunately Eric gets the credit amongst youngsters cause, well you know…K grind, Koston Grind, but we know better. The inventor of the crooked grind deserves a second viewing. Watch his part and pay homage to style and innovation.” – Danny Gonzalez

Dan Peterka in “Next Generation” (1991):

Words: Danny Gonzalez
Original Illustration: Lauren Kolesinskas
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