Alain Haggar & Steve Binks

Alain Haggar and Steve Binks started skating around 1975 when Steve came back from a few years in Australia and mentioned the strange concept of riding a plank on wheels, which was all the rage over there.

A few minutes with 2 roughly shaped planks, together with a pair of rollerskates bastardised for wheels and trucks, together with a few nails had the first 2 Yorkshire skaters falling on their arses around Roundhay in Leeds.

The nest few months saw our intrepid pair being regulars at Roundhay park and the center of Leeds, notably the Pig & Whistle pub (no mean feat for two 13 years olds) ripping the banks and entertaining the publics with 360s, bunny hops, high jumps (Steve beat the national record in '76) kickflips, handstands, speedskating and the Rhino (Yorkshire champs!)

After a brief flirtation with being part of the Centersport team (a local Skateboard shop, a champion of the art) they had to go it alone. Apparently, skating whilst under the influence was not the image the team wanted to promote. Their loss!

They went alone, and, with the financial support of Brian (old man) Binks, the carpentry skills of Steve, the shaping skills of Mark (Mac/pretty boy) MacFetridge, and the dubious design (hanger on) skills of Alain, some free wheels from Ulon and Yo-Yo (Yea!!) the Bonzi Rads were formed.

Skudas not allowed...

Various concept designs were explored including an impressive 8 wheeler, which only 2 people could ever ride and get 7 wheels out of a half pipe on. The result was a range of decks covering slalom, speed, freestyle (now called street) and bowlriding.

Steve excelled at freestyle and quarter pipe vert (I still can't touch his nose grab axle grinds)

Alain excelled bowlriding and aerials

Mac did a bit of most - but mainly was the babe magnet for the team!

Lots of sponsorship and demos followed until it all got a bit too serious with skating being banned in the Merrion Centre, best surface, steps and chairs to jump, too many security guards. The competitions got a bit too heavy with teams refusing to compete with a team wearing "Never mind the bollocks, heres the Bonzi Rads" teeshirts.

Even with sales being really good, we all called it a day.

Until.........

A bet for my 40 th birthday to see if I could pull an aerial again. I tried, fucked it up, and spent the next 3 months with a back injury. What an arse.

Still, the bug was back. Steve & I started skating again pretending to teach our kids and their friends. It's taken a while ( 2 years) but we're getting there, especially Steve.

The falls are spectacular and noisy, which attracts the young skaters to try new stuff. If these 2 relics can crash & burn, get up and try again, why no give it a go?

In the past 2 years, we've suffered more concussions, sprains, damaged joints and pain then in the previous 40. So why carry on? Because we can.

Regular parks are The Works in Leeds (every week) and the place in Burnley (can't remember the name) with the amazing bowl.

Here are a few newish photos (finally cracked the aerials last week for the first time in 27 years....). Retro ones can be sent if interested.

Keep up the good works guys. Excellent site!

Alain