Lee Ralph

Last updated

Lee Ralph
Born
Lee Ralph
Known for
Notable workTe Mau Mahara (1999)

Lee Ralph is an artist and former New Zealand professional skateboarder from Auckland. Active from the late 1970s and the 1980s, Ralph's sudden disappearance from the skateboarding scene in the early 1990s sparked several subsequent investigations and articles and in 2024 he became the subject of an upcoming television series 'Sk8 or Die'. [1]

Contents

Early life and skateboarding career

Te Mau Mahara, a 1999 sculpture by Ralph located at the skateboard park at Victoria Park, Auckland Te Mau Mahara G3C2632.jpg
Te Mau Mahara, a 1999 sculpture by Ralph located at the skateboard park at Victoria Park, Auckland

Ralph is Māori and affiliated with the iwi Te Rarawa. [2] Ralph began skateboarding around the age of seven in the late 1970s in Auckland before moving to Lower Hutt where he met Gregor Rankine, a skateboarder who mentored Ralph. [3] Ralph traveled to Australia in 1986, winning competitions, establishing a profile including appearing on a 60 Minutes special on skateboarding. Ralph went to the US later that year to compete in skateboarding. [4] Gaining sponsorship by Vision Skateboards, Ralph was deported from the US on immigration and work permit issues, effectively truncating his international career. [5]

In 1999, Ralph carved a pouwhenua, Te Mau Mahara, incorporated into the skateboard and BMX course built at Victoria Park, Auckland. Ralph's carving depicts a figure holding a skateboard. [6]

Recent appreciation

There have been various profiles on Ralph in the years since [7] [8] [9] and most recently, Alex Dyer and Lindsay Knight have produced an eight-episode documentary series on Lee's life and skateboarding career. [10] Ralph's story is now being developed for a new American New Zealand production for television. [11] [12]

References

  1. ↑ Scott Roxborough (2 October 2024). "Tony Hawk, Steve-O of 'Jackass' to Exec Produce Skating Anthology Series 'Sk8 or Die'". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "Lee Ralph". Lone Goat Gallery. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  3. ↑ Ben Stanley (6 May 2012). "Lee Ralph - the caveman-poet of skateboarding". Stuff. Stuff Digital Limited. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  4. ↑ Jake Phelps (25 September 2013). "Lee Ralph: Reno 1987". Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions, Inc. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  5. ↑ Kerryn Pollock (5 September 2013). "Roller skating and skateboarding - Skateboarding". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  6. ↑ Haddon, Olivia (2021). "Te Paparahi, Toi Māori: Walks in the City" (PDF). Auckland Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Don Rowe (18 March 2021). "'Take me to the ramp': The story of skateboarding legend Lee Ralph". The Spinoff. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  8. ↑ Ben Stanley (21 December 2016). "Barefoot Phantom: Remembering New Zealand's First Skateboarding Legend, Lee Ralph". VICE. Vice Digital Publishing, LLC. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  9. ↑ David Skipwith (14 November 2015). "Skateboarding: Kiwi filmmaker captures legend's pilgrimage to US circuit". The New Zealand Herald. NZME. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Blair Alley (22 March 2025). "Barefoot: The Lee Ralph Story, First Two Episodes Live". TransWorld SKATEboarding. The Arena Media Brands, LLC. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  11. ↑ Patrick Frater (19 September 2024). "Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe Directing 'Sk8 or Die: The Lee Ralph Story' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  12. ↑ Ricardo Simich (28 September 2024). "Vinnie Bennett set to bring NZ skate legend Lee Ralph to the screen". Spy, The New Zealand Herald. NZME Publishing Limited. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
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