Ed Templeton resides within a mutant strain of pro skatesr for which a label does not exist. Fellow likeminded individuals include legends like Mark Gonzales and Neil Blender- individuals that pushed skateboarding into new directions of trickery through disinterest in the pursuit of pure progression. Instead of trying to do an air one foot higher than the next guy, they invented new genres of tricks and discovered new obstacles to skate. They simply looked at riding four wheels and a plank though a different set of lenses, and recognized limitless possibilities during times when skateboarding was in need of rejuvenation.

There is no doubt this approach to skating comes from the fact all of these people are proficient artists- they simply appreciate the creativity that can be put into skateboarding. Ed Templeton has been working in numerous mediums forever, ranging from extremely personal photography to the instantly recognizable (to skaters, at least) cartoon sketches of aliens. While one unfamiliar with Ed wouldn’t be too surprised that his art has graced the underside of many a skateboard deck, it may be news to this nameless, faceless person that his artwork is regularly featured in galleries in New York and Tokyo.

Ed Templeton is a man who has been a professional skateboarder for over ten years. For those foreign to skateboarding, here is a lesson for you: Most pro street skaters don’t hang around for more than two or three years before injuries hinder progression. A few manage a five or six year career. So let me restate: He was been a professional street skater for over a decade. He is the LL Cool J of skateboarding- in a form of entertainment that eats its own on a yearly basis, Ed stays at the forefront. You do not watch any of his video parts and comment on how he is good for being “old.” There is really no need to get into his contribution to skateboarding trick-wise, because if you skate, you know, and if you don’t, you will just get confused.