Concrete 119: Windsor & Detroit - Border Cities

Windsor AND

Detroit T h e

B o r d e r

C i t i e s

G u i d e

Windsor AND

Detroit T h e

B o r d e r

C i t i e s

G u i d e

words and photos by Will Jivcoff design by Kelly Litzenberger

O

ver the course of my journey through the Windsor-Detroit border cities it became evident that skating here is different from the rest of Southern Ontario. Not only are both cities difficult to skate, but the vibe and attitudes from the locals are unique. It’s no secret that through the eyes of a skateboarder, the grey concrete jungle becomes a playground and this new world was no exception.

What is it about the grime and ruggedness of a city that causes us to fall in love with it though? If a city is considered so dangerous, so sketchy, why is it that we only see freedom and opportunity? Enter the Windsor-Detroit border cities where, after weaving through the various hoods and sifting through the dirt and grime, lie two cities full of adventure and uncharted skate territory. Here you’ll find locals whose skating is ever changing, and to whom the sponsor list need not apply. Even for the well-traveled, the “Armpit” and the “Dirty D” always seem to reel them back home to their warm-hearted locals and tight-knit scenes. I’ve been making steady skate adventures to the two border cities for about four years and, while I can’t quite put my finger on the charisma that is Windsor and Detroit, I’ve enlisted the help of Windsor originals Lee Saunders, Hill Sulpher, Jamie Jeffery and Detroit inhabitant Jim Tumey to make sure you understand why.

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Hill Sulpher Backside Kickflip Windsor

This is a perfect example of a grimy Windsor spot that also happens to be one of Hill’s favourites. Prostitute and junkie sightings are the regular around these parts and on this day Jim Tumey watched a meth’d out chick crash her bike into his parked car.

Windsor, Ontario Changing landscapes on the drive into Windsor reveal flat farmland and the roughness of the city begins to show itself well before you jump on your board. Be it the worn, blue collar attitudes of the citizens or the different styles in the way each skater attacks a spot, the ruggedness permeates through the streets, the buildings and the people. Of all the skaters in the area, Jamie Jeffery would know best.

“I’ve lived in Windsor my whole life and have been skating the area for almost 22 years. Windsor isn’t the biggest city so you have to get creative and adapt your skating with the spots.”

Having been skating the same spots for so long, Jamie learned to take a more positive approach. “It’s good when things get boring, it forces you to look at things a bit differently. It challenges you to approach your skating

and your spots in new ways. When all else fails, we have Detroit at our fingertips to go mess around with, too.”

We know it doesn’t matter whether you’re in your small town or southern California, your hometown spots can go stale. How does one maintain stoke while staying within the confines of Windsor? As Jamie says, “It comes down to the scene, man. I’ve seen people come and go around here but in the end it’s about whoever’s sticking around because they’re out there for the love and the fun. It’s not hard to go skate, to push and progress yourself as long as you’re with friends and having a good time. Skateboarding is always changing whether it’s the tricks or the spot, so I think that’s why I’ve been able to skate here for so damn long. I feel like the longer you keep skating the more creative you prove yourself to be too.”

Jamie Jeffery Crook fakie into bank Windsor

Originally we were checking out the other end of this spot when Jamie’s wild mind started clicking and working a different way. After a little wax, some leaps and some bounds he was handing out high fives to the crew 15 minutes later.

Taking a different approach to skateboarding than his friend, Hill Sulpher has bounced around the Canadian skate scene from living in the nicest of cities then moving back to a somewhat scummier, cozier Windsor. “I’ve lived and had fun in Vancouver and Toronto, but in the end, I came back to Windsor for the family and friends. From the people, the scene, the skateboarding—everything here is a more tightly knit and we all stick together because of that.”

It appears that because the skaters are so detached from the big city scene that sponsors really have no care for Windsor. If you’re in the area take a mental note of the gear everyone is pushing around on. “Dude, we don’t even have a legit local shop, everyone just skates hand-me-downs,” says Hill.

For some of the kids who show up at the park, seeing Hill can be kind of like Christmas. “I saw a kid riding one of my hand-me-down boards after it had been passed down through three other people. It’s awesome, man. The Windsor skate scene is one giant crew; everyone is a homie and everyone looks out for each other.”

Citing his past big city experiences, “You don’t really feel the same type of love in those areas like you do down here. Sometimes it seems like those dudes will get their sponsors, get their monthly photo in a magazine and be done with it. That shit doesn’t happen here, dude. If you’re skating around these parts it’s because you love it, not because a team manager is telling you to. Everyone here just builds off each other and that’s what makes the Windsor scene so tight.”

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Lee Saunders Ollie Detroit

As we all know, when a sick spot is beckoning you, whether it be in a sketchy hood or not, you just can’t ignore its call. As the light was dimming and there was a little pressure, Lee blasted just as the fiends started making their way into the streets.

Justin Bohl Backside 180 Nosegrind Detroit

Justin hails from Birmingham, Michigan and will go to the scummiest depths of Detroit to skate something awesome. If you’re wondering how the hell the combo of a skateboard and a boat even happens, you’ll have to check out the abandoned 3.5 million square foot Packard Automotive Plant to find out for yourself.

Detroit, Michigan Heading over Stateside and venturing into Detroit, the amount of decay can be startling. “Man, Detroit is so underrated, it gets nothing but a bad rap.”

Lee Saunders tells me as we spoke on the phone one night. “People think of it as one giant slum. All you hear about is how ghetto it is and how it’s the murder capital, and they instantly assume it’s the worst place on Earth.”

He’s right. The reactions I’ve seen from people when I first tell them I’m exploring the Detroit area are nothing but pure disgust. Lee carries on, “Once you go though, you get it. You meet the locals that are on the street level, you feel the warmth from them and you instantly fall in love with the city.”

If you’re skating a spot you’ll notice how fast someone walking by on the street whips out their phone and starts filming you. Why? Because everyone is stoked on skateboarders. Even when that blacked-out Escalade on 22

inchers pulls up looking really ominous, the only intention of the girl inside is to heckle you a little bit and ask when it’s going to be on YouTube.

Lee continues, “The architecture downtown is something else too, man. All those buildings are super old and rich in history. You don’t even need to be a Detroit citizen to know that it’s all about the roots for them. It’s not like Toronto or Vancouver where they look at an old building and say, ‘Hey, let’s bulldoze this history piece so we can modernize our city with more condos!’

Nah, man. Detroit is really adamant about preserving their history and it gives the city so much character.”

While you’re skating through the streets of The D you can’t help but wonder how a city so big is so desolate. I talked to Jim Tumey, a resident filmer and skater in Detroit to get an idea of what life is like in Detroit.

Mike Krok Nollie Nosegrind Detroit

Being from a city called Wolverine Lake, Michigan, Mike is no stranger being versatile under harsher skate conditions. While warming up at this rail he broke his board then hopped on mine and went straight to business, no modifications necessary.

Going on what Lee said about the love in Detroit, “Everyone is really supportive of people doing their own thing, and they want them to succeed.

I feel like if you’re in a larger city, you don’t really get that. Here, as long as you’re doing your thing for Detroit, locals will back it 110 per cent.”

There’s something to be said about skateboarders and what they’re willing to put up with just for the chance to skate something new and exciting. Jim continues, “The freedom in the streets of Detroit is great. The city itself is huge—bigger than San Francisco and New York City—so if you’re willing to look around you’ll find that there’s always something new to discover.”

Jim speaks the truth. Each time I come down there’s always a handful of new spots to check out and skate. “Venturing out of your typical skate routine is definitely necessary,” he continues. “When you find an insane spot, which does happen pretty often, it makes you want to try that much harder next time because you know there’s something better waiting for you out there.”

Unlike some of the big city spot-blocking attitudes that you run into from time to time, Jim encourages coming to skate Detroit. “For the first timers, they’ll be blown away, you know?”

With collapsed storefronts, burnt out houses and the rest of the old city that’s been left to rot, it’s hard not to think that you’ve suddenly stepped into another world. Jim is no stranger to this mentality, “In a lot of ways, Detroit is totally misunderstood. It’s hard to think otherwise, unless you have somebody around to help you understand it. Skating or not, I love showing people just how much our city has to offer.”

Fellow skate rats, there you have it. Next time you’re looking for an adventure, take a trip off the beaten path to check out the Armpit and Dirty Detroit. It’s a playground waiting to be discovered and shralped, and I hope you now know what it is about these charismatic border cities that’ll have you planning your next trip.

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Some

Wo rds

A dv i c e. . .

If you’re at a Detroit spot and the situation appears to be getting sketchy, leave. Keep an eye out for lurkers or anyone that’s hanging around the spot. Just remember: anything goes in the streets, especially if you’re in a bad area.

Windsor nightlife is a sure bet for anyone trying to get loose. From casinos, strip clubs and the bars downtown, your night isn’t going to be a mellow one. A must-see is the strip club Slivers, they’ve got wooden poles.

Due to huge budget cuts, the Detroit police force has been cut down a considerable size. Take it as you will but this can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you know they won’t be showing up to kick skaters out of a spot. On the other, robberies are somewhat common so they won’t exactly be rushing to your rescue.

Detroit’s Mexican district is essential to filling your stomach on the cheaps with amazing food. If you’re in a rush, the taco booth at the La Mexicana grocery store on 3923 West Vernor is the best bang for your buck, or you can keep it classy at the sit down spot called El Zocalo on 3400 Bagley Street.

Windsor is a pizza connoisseur’s heaven. Bullseye Pizza is a definite spot to hit with the whole crew after a long day of skating. Check them out at 214 Lauzon Road.

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Concrete skateboarding

Jamie Jeffery Ollie over to lipslide, frontside flip out Windsor

This is one of Windsor’s newest spots on the waterfront. After a couple beers and some messing around at sunset, Jamie had a new one in the bag. The saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” does not apply to this man.

Jeff Srnec Backside 50-50 Detroit

Jeff is a really quiet, unsuspecting dude who barges spots. With a wood roll-in, duct tape over dirt and a sign for the crack, this hungry Windsor local went full bore on the basement 15 rail at Hart Plaza that’s often been passed off as impossible by Detroiters.