Lee Ralph, the skateboarder who vanished | Scratched: Aotearoa’s Lost Sporting Legends | The Spinoff
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ธ.ค. 2024
- In the late 1980s, New Zealand skateboarder Lee Ralph had the world at his feet. But right when he seemed poised to join the sport’s elite, he was kicked out of the US - and out of the limelight for good.
Season two of Scratched: Aotearoa's Lost Sporting Legends celebrates six New Zealand athletes whose incredible feats have been forgotten or gone unappreciated. Featuring Meda McKenzie, Tuariki Delamere, Jane Tehira, Angela Walker, Precious McKenzie and Lee Ralph. New episodes weekly.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.
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Latest episode of Scratched on Heath Davis here: th-cam.com/video/Bo_gOfj87SU/w-d-xo.html
"Somebody stop me! I'm farming too hard!" hahaha what a legend
Best line
hahahaha! wot a boss! 👍
Was about to write the same comment, chur.
@@roddas26 Such a crackup comment aye haha. Chur.
I'd buy that album.
I hate what alcoholism and addiction robs this world of. I wasted 30 years on that garbage. Out of all the things I regret losing, Time is the only thing I cannot get back. Please don't waste time on that shit, and whomever is reading this I know you know someone thats caught up, help them realize what theyre losing out on. Love to all and prayers for the sick and suffering.
💯 real talk man
@The right honourable Matty Mc Hoon I know that story as well my friend. Hope you're doing okay now. Stay strong. Remember one is too many and a thousand is never enough! 🙏
@The right honourable Matty Mc Hoon I know that feeling. I had bought myself a little Extended cab, step side, midnight blue Chevrolet S10 Extreme. Did a lot of upgrades to it like a 150 shot of nitrous, corvette solenoid, shift kit, 4.10 gears, ladder bars, drag shocks. I started doing pain medication and quickly went to Heroin once the pain medication got too expensive. By the time I started to do heroin, I only owed another $600 on the truck. It got repossessed and sold at auction, I managed to get a $2500 check for what it sold over at the auction. It went straight into my arm. I've been 10 years sober now, that shit is a life destroyer but you can come back from it.
Admire your strength, sincerely in my thoughts tonight.
Bad news booze...
Hearing them talking about how much of a waste it was that he didn’t get to go further because of some oversight..... just rips me apart. But even getting HALF the opportunity he got, being able to do HALF of the things he did.... that’s quite an accomplishment by itself because most of us never get anywhere passed a mundane life with a shitty job. To hear him be grateful for the things he’s achieved and gotten to be part of without being bitter or regretful is amazing.
That’s what the skate mentality is bro ,we RESILIENT 👊
Always remember the 1st B/ tail slide,blunt to fake ,not the slams... Lee Ralph Kenny Gibbons Tas & Ben pappas TRUE pioneers 💯👊
That's just what he's convinced himself is a good enough excuse for giving up, pure lip service for the camera. That guy is more stuck on the past than the deep South in America. His life has literally never progressed beyond that point.
That person Rock shadow blah must really be something or someone 🧐
@@Hitman99200 Considering I'm living my literal dream life on an island paradise, WAY beyond what I could have ever imagined possible, I can definitely speak from experience.
RoCk ShaDoW-WaLkEr Wos the latest trick in flip FLOPs?
after everything this man has been through he still finds a way to be happy, truly impressive Lee
I don't know the man but I know only the biggest can stay positive after big falls
Do aussies say
"Did you see that the same"
Or did he say something else
Pretty obvious this bloke got let down by his management that is signed up with his focus was skateboarding management should of taken care of the rest this bloke is a legend in a Pioneer
What is everything he's been through? He was a skateboarder and now he's not.
@@igdes1 oh and what exactly have you done have you gone semi pro? Or any sport? And I mean a all star #1. I have in baseball ⚾️ 😎
Skated with him in France in 1991 . Wonderful guy, incredible talent. Forever woven into the fabric of skateboarding
That's awesome. 💯
Yes Boyce!
Rob!
Real Legends admire Legends !
@@bolerkins Or it's the circular prop each other up...which is going on everywhere today.
‘It was so much fun, how could I complain?’ *Pure humility*
I loved watching this guy skate, I had just got on Powell and got a close look at him skating Vert! Ruler 🔥🔥🔥🔥
You're awesome too Frankie! \m/
O shit they Frankie hill no way lol I remember it’s jesus linear we skated back in the day lol
Yeah for sure a ripper, in the late '80's I skated the orange bowl 2 one time when he showed up, Lee tore it up.
Yo Frankie, I skate the indoor park in Green Bay once a week and some kid was riding on an original bulldog graphic, nose bone/ tail bone, rails..... the whole kit. He didn't know, he knows now. He said his neighbor gave him the board. Sick!
Used to love to watch Lee Ralph skate. Always thought he belonged on Alva
I met him briefly on boxing day 1989 at Corio bowls, Geelong Australia (the same place his Vision pro model photo was taken) and between me and my mates getting him to sign our boards and peppering him with questions he took it all in his stride then announced "I just came here to skate" upon which he proceeded to tear the 'paint tray' bowl up with all the power and finesse that he described in this interview. He was such an approachable pro skater that he re-aligned what I considered important in my life. I was 15 and this half an hour of seeing him do his thing (until his young friend knocked himself unconscious in a heavy slam) was instrumental in how I viewed myself in relation to what I was doing and what I wanted from it.
I'm 49 and I still skate to this very day and Lee Ralph is one of the stars I navigate by. 👊🤜🤛
I remember having a poster of lee ripping a smith grind ,in BARE FEET ...on my bedroom wall,that poster stayed up and motivated me for years ..all the best to ya mate...
Great video!👍. As a skateboarder in the 80's I remember Lee Ralph. Always thought he would be up there with Cab, Hawk, the Pappas brothers etc - the great's. As someone who has battled depression most of my life, I'm glad to see Lee is doing good! It's an illness that is no joke. Keep smiling Lee😀💪
Tas Pappas Pro Skater
Awesome piece guys!! I Somehow ended up at Lee's backyard mini ramp on the Gold Coast in 2008.....guy was so friendly and down to earth, great human being 🙌
Didn't expect to see this lol
Haha bless up Matthew! Small world :)
seen
I just finished watching the 'cow foot tea spliff chat' episode then stumbled upon this haha awesome vibes 🤙
To find you here haha. Bless xxx
"I'm standing in the room, they're standing in the room -- THIS is the room!" Love it, great story, thanks...
Lee has always been percieved as this mythical beast, one that soooo many people always mention but have no actual physical recollection of, he truly vanished and the scene still cared/craved for him! Both a testament to him and Skateboarder's unparalleled realness in general!
Yo!
Such a cool story.
He basically had zero coverage in New Zealand., what a national treasure.
I remember as a 13-year-old watching lee tear up the ramp. A legend that inspired many of us young skaters.
1st one of this series that I've watched, what a great portrait. I love the way Lee isn't stuck on what he missed, but is proud of what he achieved.
I remember seeing Lee skate back in the day, He was phenomenal!
I was lucky enough to skate with Lee in the 80s in Australia. A local Waun & Lee turned up at my neighbour Wills' mini 28ft wide 4-5ft ramp out in a Geelong West paddock unexpectedly. Lee was wearing only shorts. Nothing else no shoes, no bag full of pads, no shirt. Lee demolished us & that Ramp ripping 6ft tweaked airs & throwing down every grind known fast as fuck & full length of the coping every time. A true legend & a rad bloke to hang out & skate with. More power & style than anyone I've ever seen.
no shoes? 🤔 what did his feet look like after doin all that gnarly shit?
@@gh0stykins probably sandpaperd
That is no lie, I was a grommet and watched Lee (ugly bastard) Ralph skate in the 2nd bowl in Corio in late 80s nothing but shorts and shoes. Had to wear shoes there was always smashed bottles. Place had tightest transitions and stupid vert. And he shredded the place. Gnarly skater. There is an image of the bowl in this video.
G Town
@@imscruffy1244 Corio bowl was mental...I don't know which local kids it was meant to cater for. A bit like Ringwood Bowl as well. Just mental. A place where BMXérs died.
Damn. This was a terrific short doc... we missed out on a legit legend and it broke my damn heart... his talents are incredible and I hope he has found peace in his world 💪
This is very well done! Kudos to the filmmaker, and the amazing story.
My life just got a wee bit more awesome for learning of Lee Ralph. Legend. And I love the guitar jam at the end. Fun.
I needed this Doc in my life. Thank you Lee Ralph for blessing us with your skating and story.
"I was like YeeHow. This is it! I'm standing in the room. They're standing in the room. This is the room."
Met him a few years ago. Boogying to my mates busking...
He was an awesome character to hang out with.
Excellent! Thank you so much!
love this guy from as a grom skateboarding in palmy mid 80s and till now inspirational brother!
I rode for Hobie when they first started making skateboarding equipment. Of all places the Midwest USA, Chicago suburbs for 2 summers. Had a quarter pipe in my front yard 1975. I still rode until 2013 when I took a 25' dive onto concrete shattered my back crushed my spinal chord and am partially paralyzed. I've tried skating I keep buying longer boards so my brain thinks I'm stable. Apparently it's my brain that's not stable. Well tell your mate best wishes. Enjoyed the story.
Prove it
@@Bassmasterwitacaster s t f u.
LEE . Your poster lived on my wall as a kid in 1988. Mona Vale ramp air. You are still my hero. You're a gem.
I'm no skateboarder by any stretch of the imagination, but I do admire their amazing skill set. God speed to this underground hero and thanky much for sharing his story!
my mates made a zine in the 80s called Lee Ralphs Beard... the man is a legend
I idolised lee in the 90s legend ,inspiring ..had the board the gear loved the life and the magazines that came out at the time
One of the nicest people in skateboarding
Yea just so humble no ego he loved the sport not the fam that came with it, a very rare case indeed.
Absolute Legend, Aotearoa represent 🤙🤙🤙
Aaah!!! The legend is alive!!! I always wondered what happened to Lee. Glad to see he's happy in his own skin. Thanks for the memories bro!
What a real guy. A breath of fresh air listening to him.
I bet his breath reeeeeeks of crack rock.
bad breath u meen?
This was enlightening!! I grew up skating in NZ then moved to OZ, never knew of Lee Ralph. Such a great attitude to life, he could offer a lot to young NZ skaters as a coach. It's a shame but shit doesn't always work out and we could all learn a lesson of humility from that.
Lee gave me his visionns white cut off sleeve tshirt when I was a youngster and still love skating, your a absolute legend
Thanks for sharing this amazing story 🤙🏼🍀🐞🌈
This is what it looks like when someone doesn’t sell out. We love you man and we love that there’s somebody out there true to themselves.
Facts
Really, alcoholic and a farm hand.
Seems to be a big selling point to selling your soul
Getting a green card to avoid deportation is selling out? Riiiiight
"He's standing in the room, I'm standing in the room, this is the room!" Dope stuff mane
I literally read your quote as it was said in the video. Crazy shit. This is my first ever seeing this video, I may add.
Digging this series
I just pulled out my old autograph book and on the last page is Lee’s autograph. Legend.
Yes brother 🤘
My dad was one of his biggest fans. My room growing up is still filled up with posters. The guy was a legend that was definitely up there with the likes of tony hawk
My aunt said something to me a couple of years back that really stuck with me. She was fighting with her old man because of his careless attitude towards life. He would always have this attitude like “f*** it”. And she said that “f*** it” permeated every part of his life. That it affected everyone in it. And now I see it in other people. The shoulder shrug “who cares”. Or “oh well”. You have to care even if you don't think it matters. March 16th I'll be sober 5 years.
That song at the end was freakin epic!!! Someone get this man a record deal! That's what his new obsession and career needs to be! It just touched you deep in your soul. Plus he sings in an American accent which is just a cherry on top!
Did anybody else recognize the Jimi Hendrix song, “Little Wing” that he was playing on guitar?👍🎸🇨🇦
Instantly! One of my favourite from JH.
@@armoris66 mine too!🎸🇨🇦
That was so skateboarding of him. Everyone played that song back then. Took me back.
No. No one else noticed at all.
Love and peace to you brother! As a kid I worked my ass off for my first "real" deck, Lee Ralph pro model. Helped shape my path.. 43yo Adl Aust.
Excellent work guys. The Spinoff is definitely one of the best media outlets in NZ for sure
I was at Lance Mountains ramp one day and he was there...it only took a minute to realize the sheer power and talent.
Just think if it werent for that Green Card we could have been playing Lee Ralphs Pro Skater in the late 90’s
I dont get it. So him not having a green card made it so he couldnt skate anywhere even in new Zealand? So what would happen if he tried skating in new zealand? Would American green card police say no you cant skate because you were kicked out of america so now you cant skate anywhere? Damn i wasnt aware of that. Thats some fucked up shit. Are the American green card police still stoping skateboarders from skating?
...
@@turdferguson2 good name pal
@@keltar4071 i think its because the Skate scene and all the big tournaments were in the US and he wasnt able to compete, yes he could still skate in New Zealand but at the time skateboarding wasnt a big thing there so noone really got to see him skate......
and yet if no governments existed we could travel freely... wait thats the issue no freedom exist
Kia ora Lee, I remember watching you skate the Onehunga half pipe in the early 90s, kia kaha bro, love this doco!
This is an amazing story! So well produced too. Very happy to have stumbled across it.
Humble guy got introduced to him a few years ago & was struck by just how easy to get along with he is always smiling always chatty, mind you the first time it was Friday in summer at a bar on K'rd listening to Reggae!!
What a legend! Loved every single second of this video, all the best Lee!
I met Lee in London mid 90s. He dropped in and did a bottom turn in a 13ft half pipe, blew my mind. Fkn legend. 🙏❤️🙏
Skateboarding has always had some crazy characters with crazy stories. This dude really is one of our funny-as-hell folk heroes. Cheers LEE!!!
Thanks for sharing your story Lee 💯 🙌🏽
What a fantastic documentary. This guy is a inspiration and fine example of a good human being.
Love his words... “No Regrets what so ever”. Good dude
Wow so cool to see Lee again. I had his & Gregor's posters on my walls back in the day. Lee's style, power & grace were always the raddest to me!
"Enough to sustain me through anything." Yeah Lee!
The culture of skateboarding. No freedom quite like it. I LOVE how people are reminded about these guys, the foundation of the culture. Thank you!
Lee Ralph is a lengend!! He’s so real! Keep rolling forever Lee!
great story telling - love this
When I was 8 years old I saw Lee demo at Prahran vert ramp he has such a physical style and great energy!
I remember getting an autograph off him afterwards and being scared cause he looked like a wild animal, but he was so friendly.
What a legend! He's got a smile that has lived a life man!
The fucking bro! Hung out with him for a week or two around Bowl-a-rama in Wellies back in 2010, the dudes worth his weight in Gold. Nothing but good vibes and a true lover and pioneer of the stunt wood.
Long Live BareFoot Lee Ralph
R.I.P PHELPER
A beautiful man. Thank you for a wonderful film.
That was a great board. Good to know he's still out there.
Much love and respect to these legends
That was heartbreaking. Good on ya' for keepin' on,Lee
Awesome video. Shame it ended how it did, but his positive attitude is radiant and contagious. Seems like a great guy who's genuinely happy.
stoked to have been around while Lee Ralph was in the States.
my Brother,
wow i was 13/20 you guys were my IDOLS...... to see this now of you is just amazing man so many great memories just came flooding back, God bless brother thank you...
Thank you for everything Lee. I had that pic of you at 5:58 on my bedroom wall for years!
Big love from Canada, Lee! 🙏🏼
We missed him when he walked away, but his legend still endures.
I was lucky enough to be in Torquay, Australia and see Lee Ralph do his thing when I was 17. It's skaters like him that still keep me skating to this day. Awesome clip.
I remember having a Lee Ralph board when I was 12. Legend.
Legend! Love his attitude!
"Somebody stop me." I can't stop skating.
Lee, you've got a new fan in me. Your disposition on life now, something to admire. Well done documentary, Gents!
Awesome! I was at Melville Bowl in Hamilton one day in the mid 90s, the week before I had broken my board and a mate lent me an old school Vision Lee Ralph board, It was just me and a few kids there and a van pulled up and out hopped Lee and Jake from Thrasher Magazine, he took a photo of me with the board and it was featured in Thrasher a few months later! Literally my only claim to fame...and yes I smelt him before I saw him lol Now if we could only get that elusive feature length Barefoot doco that's been on the cards for so long!
That’s sick! There was a lee Ralph vision on facey market place not to long ago
Yes, still waiting Johnny!!!!
I moved to Hamilton in 1989,and the very first time I went to Melville Lee and spittles were killing. I was gutted when I saw Lee selling his shoes, I thought the demo was over,but he bought a box of kiss and carried on ripping. I had to leave when it was dark,so 6.30am the next morning, I grab my board and boosted down to Melville. And when I got there my jaw hit the ground when I realised it was Lee asleep in the bowl,using his board for a pillow. He woke up and said "hey kid, can u go get me some water" and ran up to the tap, and when I got back,he peeled a vision jinx sticker off his board and put it on mine............And I thought I had won fucking lotto,was fizzing for weeks. I'm lucky to have become good friends over the last 30 years
@@roycegeenty4252 that’s honestly amazing! Thanks for sharing dude 🙏
Thanks for this post.
What a hero
Soulriders never get the respect they deserve! Guys like you pushed the sport a lot further than 99% of us and you didn't even intend to... Cheers dude!
What an absolute sweetheart. He was soooo killer back in the day when I was a kid and I love him even more now! And his singing voice sounds like Keith Richards!
I remember skating with Lee at the snake pit in Fitzroy late 80’s dude was so humble
Real talk?
@@michaelwillams9619 💯
The snake pit - whoooa memories 🤘
Thanks for the upload. What a mint story this man has. Wishing you all the best for the future Lee.
To be authentic in life is the most greatest achievement that no reward surpasses. There is few that can see this sadly.
So true
Absolute Legend ...Big Respect !!🔥🔥🔥
Remember watching this guy skate at demos in Australia heaps in 80s, 90s.
- I like this man - he is so natural and authentic -
- greetings from germany -
I went to school with his cousin and he gave me a pair of his vision steer wear shorts that Lee had given him. I thought I was so cool aye, Lee was a legend on the board back in the day.
Thank you for doing this piece. Such a great dude
I come from Liverpool, UK and skated back in the late 80s and early 90s. It's funny how you remember mates by which football team they support. I also remember guys I skated with by which deck they had, and how they either kept it for 'years' or totalled it in some bizarre circumstance.
The guy who just vanished one time was a Lee Ralph rider and he was gnarly AF. First kid I ever saw land a kickflip. This is around the time that Brian Sumner and Geoff Rowley were still pre-teens, but killing it.
If there's a scene that's got more fuck ups and mental health problems than skating, please inform me.
It's almost like we were drawn together by some invisible force for weirdos, losers, freaks and lunatics.
Always made me laugh when Vans became a fashion statement, years after you'd be threatened with violence just for wearing them.
Non-skaters will never know the buzz we get/got from just BEING a skater. Never mind being the best, just rolling down a hill and doing drifts and little nollies on uneven pavements.
I totally agree with you. I skate in the mid-90s and stopped nearly 20 years. I still carry a skateboard in my car even tho i don't skate that often,and only in the summer. Once a skater, it's forever.
Amazing honesty, great job and touching.
There is a dark side to being extremely famous and making it big. Simplicity to life and enjoying the smaller things is where bliss is
According to you...
@@Doer231 try to chill.
Wow, soo cool to learn about Lee. Blessed is he!
"Somebody stop me, I'm farming too hard" great video!
Absolute legend. Was lucky enough to have a drink and some long conversations with Mr Lee Ralph and Aaron Hatton. Strange, when I was a young skater, I thought it was me and my friends against the world. We didn't talk with the snobs from Auckland, or the rippers at the out of town parks. We stuck to ourselves. Definitely the biggest regret I have. When talking to Lee Ralph, I realized that we are all one nation of skaters. Kind of sad because I think we would all be a lot better at skating if we all became friends.
such a free man. Loves his "whatever and move on" attitude!