Lee Ralph, the skateboarder who vanished | Scratched: Aotearoa’s Lost Sporting Legends | The Spinoff 

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"Somebody stop me! I'm farming too hard!" hahaha what a legend

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.

after everything this man has been through he still finds a way to be happy, truly impressive Lee

‘It was so much fun, how could I complain?’ *Pure humility*

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.

Skated with him in France in 1991 . Wonderful guy, incredible talent. Forever woven into the fabric of skateboarding

"I was like YeeHow. This is it! I'm standing in the room. They're standing in the room. This is the room."

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. 🙏❤️🙏

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...

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 🙌

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.

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.

I loved watching this guy skate, I had just got on Powell and got a close look at him skating Vert! Ruler 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I remember as a 13-year-old watching lee tear up the ramp. A legend that inspired many of us young skaters.

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😀💪

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!

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'm standing in the room, they're standing in the room -- THIS is the room!" Love it, great story, thanks...

Did anybody else recognize the Jimi Hendrix song, “Little Wing” that he was playing on guitar?👍🎸🇨🇦

my mates made a zine in the 80s called Lee Ralphs Beard... the man is a legend

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

"He's standing in the room, I'm standing in the room, this is the room!" Dope stuff mane

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.

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.

Met him a few years ago. Boogying to my mates busking... He was an awesome character to hang out with.

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.

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. 👊🤜🤛

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

One of the nicest people in skateboarding

Absolute legend. Inspired generations. Respect to Lee Ralph from Waitara crew

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

Lee gave me his visionns white cut off sleeve tshirt when I was a youngster and still love skating, your a absolute legend

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!

I just pulled out my old autograph book and on the last page is Lee’s autograph. Legend.

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...

I was at Lance Mountains ramp one day and he was there...it only took a minute to realize the sheer power and talent.

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'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!

Just think if it werent for that Green Card we could have been playing Lee Ralphs Pro Skater in the late 90’s

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.

"Enough to sustain me through anything." Yeah Lee!

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!

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.

What a real guy. A breath of fresh air listening to him.

Can we just acknowledge he corrected himself to get the “no regurts” meme in. He’s a real one ☝️

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 💪

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 had pictures of Lee on my walls when i was growing up.. next to the team from Powell-Peralta and the other Vision Street Crew. Lee, you were and still are a fkn legend mate - SK8 or die

Skated many sessions in the Corio Bowls with Lee as a young teenager ,cheers for the inspiration legend !!!

A beautiful man. Thank you for a wonderful film.

Kia ora Lee, I remember watching you skate the Onehunga half pipe in the early 90s, kia kaha bro, love this doco!

love this guy from as a grom skateboarding in palmy mid 80s and till now inspirational brother!

I needed this Doc in my life. Thank you Lee Ralph for blessing us with your skating and story.

This is very well done! Kudos to the filmmaker, and the amazing story.

What a legend! He's got a smile that has lived a life man!

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!

Skateboarding has always had some crazy characters with crazy stories. This dude really is one of our funny-as-hell folk heroes. Cheers LEE!!!

I’m a old school sk8ter And growing up I never heard of Lee Ralph I’m glad I stumbled on this video .. He reminds me of all my Crazy white boy Homies from SF back in the days. Those where some of my solid homeboyz and that wer down for what ever. True brothers !!!!! 😎🍻

Big love from Canada, Lee! 🙏🏼

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.

Love his words... “No Regrets what so ever”. Good dude

Brilliant! real Life humble legend

legend. this needs to be longer

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!!

Digging this series

Same generation, glad to see him back 🤙

I've seen him skate when he came to our local skatepark in Belgium for a demonstration, as a member of the vision team. Ken Park was there and a few others i can't recall. Lee was def the most brutal skater of the pack, flying higher and riding way faster than the others. That's my impresson of Lee Ralph.

I remember having a Lee Ralph board when I was 12. Legend.

Thanks for sharing your story Lee 💯 🙌🏽

I love a person that can laugh at themselves. Lee has achieved what many would call "happiness". It doesn't take money.

Wow, soo cool to learn about Lee. Blessed is he!

Thank you for everything Lee. I had that pic of you at 5:58 on my bedroom wall for years!

To be authentic in life is the most greatest achievement that no reward surpasses. There is few that can see this sadly.

So incredible the internet that helps us learn about amazing people such as these

Thank you for doing this piece. Such a great dude

Damn him playing little wing made me smile 😊

"Somebody stop me." I can't stop skating.

Hey, I remember you at the Melliing skate ramp in the late 70s when Gregor introduced you to me. I was also skating with Craig Harris , and Ansolm Day. I lost touch with you when I went off to Otago University. Glad you had a good go at it. I still can skate but now 57. It never leaves you, cheers from John McCabe , ex-lower Hutt skater

that photo of lee at corio bowl, i was there that day skating that bowl in 88, skating with lee was an awsome experience i even got a few claps and a "yeah bro" out him...

Lee Ralph is a lengend!! He’s so real! Keep rolling forever Lee!

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

A legend in New Zealand and a pioneer for skateboarder chur video

Chur Lee was so good seeing you today. Massively humble

We missed him when he walked away, but his legend still endures.

Love this, long time coming, feels real

Thanks for this post. What a hero

Excellent! Thank you so much!

amazing!

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.

Thankyou Lee for your inspiration for all of us Aussie & NZ grommets. I had a burford blank cut out in a Lee Ralph shape. Good memories 🛹🤘🤙

Excellent work guys. The Spinoff is definitely one of the best media outlets in NZ for sure

Watched him tear up new lynn bowl as a kid !!! My Bro !!!

That was a great board. Good to know he's still out there.

Thanks for the upload. What a mint story this man has. Wishing you all the best for the future Lee.

This is an amazing story! So well produced too. Very happy to have stumbled across it.

That was heartbreaking. Good on ya' for keepin' on,Lee

Lee Ralf was my first board...❤️❤️❤️

My 3 boys always skated, every weekend my loving room floor was covered in at least 10 boys and their boards on the weekends. I love the spirit they have.. I will always cherish those times.