The Camaraderie and Esoteric Path of Skateboarding

The brotherhood of skateboarding is a funny thing at times. The other day I was on route to the new Oceanside, CA skate park to shred. When I got there it was closed down for landscaping


and the dudes were not down to let anybody skate. These guys were big, burly, landscape grass laying, sprinkler installing humans. Anyway, as I was staring at the park in sadness about how I wasted about 3 bucks in gas to get there and that I could not skate, I see these two dudes jump the fence in full punk rock fashion and they start to skate around the landscape dudes. The landscape guys chased them out and gave them the wag of the finger and I pulled out my Canon PowerShot to document the radness at hand.




I went to the parking lot where there was a fun flat ground zone and a cone to ollie over and I decided to skate it. As I was warming up the same two dudes came up and and we started talking. I gave them props on there balls to jump the fence and they said thanks. We exchanged names, the one who is tall with brown hair is Garrett and the blonde dude is Mark. They're both rulers on the skateboard and after a few minutes of talking about skating and how lame the landscape dudes were we hear this giant truck pull in. It was a City of Oceanside truck with a dude who looked like Agent Smith in it with a cell phone to his ear starring at us. Garrett and Mark and I all agreed we needed to get out of there before this guy got the real cops there to kick us out. He was some lame city worker who no doubt was on the phone about to snitch on us.




So I was about to say goodbye to my new friends as they said, "Come skate with us today man." I was stoked so I grabbed an extra memory card for the Canon PowerShot and my skate key and my hoodie and I jumped I their Benz and off to the great wide open we went.




Our first stop was this rad metal park in Libby Lake, turbo ghetto, mad bums talking to themselves, gangstered out samoans with chips on their shoulders walking by giving hard looks. It was fun though. Mark busted this fat f/s 5.0 grind to drop off the quarter pipe and Garrett got some ill 50 50 grinds going on the box. I filmed the whole day on the PowerShot and all three of us got clips, it was dope. Check out the video of this great day here.




Then we went to this wild ditch and it ruled. Then after that we checked the east side O-side park that is still being built by Grindline and then we went to church. No joke, a church to skate this Jesus thing but we got the boot in 4 seconds. No joke, as soon as I put my board down a dude came out with a garden hoe and chased us out, it was scary as fuck. All in all it was an epic day. We went to one more ditch but it had sand in it and we had to skate 1 mile down this bike path, it rocked. I guess what I am saying is one of the best things about skating is the adventure and how you can meet new humans in it and instantly become close friends just because you both love the same thing. Whatever the sport, art or pastime, strangers see to all feel comfortable jumping in cars with other strangers and rolling around town or going all city just skating all day. We got back to the west side park and it was almost 5'clock, time to pick my lady up from work and to jam out. I said goodbye to Garrett and Mark and I must say, it was one of the most fun days I have had in years. Skate 4 life.




It is so funny how so many things in other sports or art forms are so regimented but in skateboarding you can just flow all day and not have to fallow any lame guide lines like in golf or art class.
































Comments (6)

NATE SHERWOOD
Posted on December 15, 2008 10:57 AM
heck yes man i feel u on dat one mine is the lil pile of crap but i wish i had a mount on it. i need an SLR real bad...
mattieb
Posted on December 15, 2008 05:15 AM
I love my "Power Shot" it has a ring to add a fisheye.
NATE SHERWOOD
Posted on December 14, 2008 08:51 PM
word up andrew i feel u bro 4 sure...
Andrew 360°presssureflip
Posted on December 14, 2008 02:57 PM
yeah Nate sounds like you had an awesome day,it is fun to meet new skaters because most of the time I meet somebody that skates and we are automatically cool and that's whats great about skateboarding how most anybody can get along with a total stranger
NATE SHERWOOD
Posted on December 14, 2008 12:21 PM
heck yes 760 , dude i miss that day already
760 cyco
Posted on December 14, 2008 11:21 AM
Thats what skateboarding is all about... having fun and no rules just doing what ever and if you could make new friends too, thats a great sport.

VIDEOS

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He remains an active member of the Screen Actor's Guild. Tom "The Ripper" Spano, co-host of the The HOLLYWOOD Summit Show's "BATTLE OF THE SUMMIT", is driven by his competitive nature. Tom "The Ripper" Spano has a long, versatile extreme sports history. Professionally snowboarding and mountain biking for years forged his will to excel. He also surfs, skateboards, wakeboards, plays volleyball and soccer, boats, and scuba dives. His energy, quick wit and infectious good nature are the perfect complement to the production. Tom "the Ripper" Spano also is an active actor. The "No Name Rippers" are out there, millions of them, only dreaming of someday having that chance to emerge. The HOLLYWOOD Summit Show's "BATTLE OF THE SUMMIT" gives them the platform to do just that. We have all watched both the extreme sports and reality-type shows gain in popularity. Morgan "HOLLYWOOD" Monroe has spent years developing a formula to fuse both extreme sports and a reality show into a proven experimental entertainment production, the first being completed May 18th, 2009 at Stirling Skatepark in sunny Dunedin, Florida. The HOLLYWOOD Summit Show's "BATTLE OF THE SUMMIT" lets the chips fall where they may, and in Dunedin, the chips fell in such a way that it shook the tradition of conventional contests. Three high energy commentators and an involved crowd, made for great performances, with contestants from 8 to 48. The trophies and prizes were big.The HOLLYWOOD Summit Show's "BATTLE OF THE SUMMIT" 12 City 1 Island 2010 Series' prizes will rival or exceed current professional events. Here's the hook: We pitt the placewinners of the three age divisions against each other... NO PROS ALLOWED. In the case of the Dunedin's "BATTLE OF THE SUMMIT", the first place winner was 11, second place was 10, and third went to a 14 year old girl. Scoring was a points system based on trick variety and level of difficulty...highest score won.The HOLLYWOOD Summit Show's "BATTLE OF THE SUMMIT" 12 City 1 Island 2010 Series is the breakout skateboard entertainment production beginning in late spring/summer. "HOLLYWOOD" has always supported industry specific charities. In Dunedin, Grind for Life and The Ian Tillman Foundation were the recipients. He also involves the local chambers of commerce and presents the mayors with a large trophy and plaque to display in the city hall. Vigorous co-operation was achieved from the Dunedin Mayor's office, who had previously recommended closure of the skatepark; Mayor Eggers saw firsthand the positive response of families and the value of having a safe and challenging skatepark for the community. Twelve top winners from the 12 skateboarding-rich metropolitan cities compete at the Hawaiian "Battle of the Summit". The reality format of hit shows such as American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance have proven that the country loves to follow unknown, talented contestants as they achieve greatness. The HOLLYWOOD Summit Show's "BATTLE OF THE SUMMIT" 12 City 1 Island 2010 Series will "try out" the bevy of contestants in the same manner. So, what about the reality? When the Hollywood Summit Show rolls into a city near you, there will be no mistaking their presence. There will be a tour bus and support vehicles wrapped in the Hollywood Summit Show logo, as well as the various logos of all "Battle of the Summit" sponsors and supporters. Morgan "Hollywood" Monroe and Tom "the Ripper" Spano draw plenty of attention, ask anyone who has met them. A four month tour with Morgan "HOLLYWOOD" Monroe, Tom "the Ripper" Spano, cast, crew, bands, celebrity/ professional cameos and friends will present many opportunities for comedic entertainment. Fun and adventure/misadventure. The parties will consist of local locations, our house band, local live bands, local talent, and community spirit/ involvement. There will be "feel good" stories on all the competitors, especially those that continue on to Hawaii. The show will cover the athletes, their stories, families, local shops, team members, background on the local scenes/ hot spots. There will be professional skaters and Buttons Kaluhiokalani has agreed to play part in the Hawaiian segment of the show. He will take part in teaching the 12 winners to surf, and then Buttons and friends will judge them in a surf contest.Show Layout: The Battle of the Summit will consist of: 2-hour Season opener, television formatted episode. Eleven 1-hour television formatted episodes. 2-hour Battle of the Summit Finale television formatted episode
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