Entertainment

Shoobies = The Worst

by Kristie Rohwedder

On the sixteenth day of the month of August in the year 1999, animated series Rocket Power kick flipped onto our TV screens (and into our hearts) for the very first time. The Nickelodeon show was created by Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó (Rugrats, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters), and it ran until 2004.

The series followed the coolarooni (I’ve got your back, Raymundo) shenanigans of a group of four friends: siblings Otto Rocket and Reggie Rocket, loose cannon Twister Rodriguez, and new guy Sam “Squid” Dullard. They skateboarded, street hockey’d, surfed, biked, rollerbladed, and caused general mayhem around the beachside town of Ocean Shores.

(One of my personal favorite details from Rocket Power: When Reggie wasn't shredding or popping wheelies with her buddies, she was working on her zine. Of course the late '90s/early '00s cool girl had a zine. It's perfect, right? Well, the perfection doesn't stop there. The zine's name: The 'Zine. PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT. Oh, zines. I miss zines. Can zines be a thing again? Are zines a thing again?)

To celebrate the totally wicked-awesome show's fifteenth anniversary, here are some rad nuggets of wisdom courtesy of Otto, Reggie, Twister, Squid (and grownups Ray Rocket and Tito Makani):

When in doubt, Woogity

Is your bro wigging out over a surf competition? Nothing says "I've got your back, bro" like hitting him with your group's secret handshake.

Woogity, woogity, woogity.

Don't Doubt Yourself

Before Sam moved to Ocean Shores, he steered clear of extreme sports. He assumed sports weren't his bag.

After befriending the Rockets and Twister, he discovered that though surfing didn't exactly come naturally, he had a knack for tending goal. He possessed the goalie power all along! And to think, had he not given street hockey a try, he would have never known that!

Never Forget Your Protective Gear

The Rocket Power kids are gnarly, but they aren't too gnarly to wear helmets and pads. Nobody wants scabby knees or busted wrists, doye.

Don't Write Off That Skateboard In The Trash

It could be the coolest, most fabulicious skateboard to come out of the '70s.

Be Patient, Dude

That tubular wave will come.

Go Ahead & Wear Your Bucket Hat While You Surf

Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done.

A True Friend Will Teach You How To Surf

Reggie rules.

Perfect An Intimidating Stink Eye

You never know when you'll need it.

It's Okay To Cry Over Sand In The Potato Salad

Let it out, Squid.

Shoobies Ruin Everything

Freakin' Shoobies, man.

Images: Nickelodeon; officialrocketpower, mckaykay,90skidsorgtfo, larvitarr, mirandapleeease, 90scartoons (2), kee-yaw-nah/tumblr