Martin Broich, the inventor of the back-flip in 1981, was larger than life and always made the contest spectators scream!

Martin Broich skated parallel-stance, like most German skaters at this time. He was known for going big on all of his tricks. In 1981 he was blasting out backside airs that were eleven feet over the ramp. Martin was always the one to mark the ceiling with his skates during indoor contests where the ceiling would often be about ten feet above the coping.

He also skateboarded, rode bmx, surfed and was into rock 'n roll.

The photos shown here were fist published in Alley Oop Magazine in the '80s. Thanks to Thomas Kalak, publisher of Alley Oop Magazine, for digging up these treasures.

Click on the thumbnails to see the full size images.