Vol. 14 No. 1 Summer 2015

VOL.14 NO.1 SUMMER 2015

ADAM STOKOWSKI BRINGS ON THE NIGHT

$5.95

landyachtz.com #skateandexplore @landyachtzlongboards photo: jacob lambert

The

CYPHER

D O W N H I L L

S E R I E S

DROP THROUGH | GAS PEDALS | SYMMETRICAL SHAPE

R : Ed Garner

P : Dustin Damron

SUMMER 2015 REGULARS: 18 24 30

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THE FINE PRINT Chris Dyer returns to the magazine with some epic artwork.

EDITORIAL Unknown opportunities vs future connections.

NOTEWORTHY This issue features a number of intriguing European-based companies.

LONGBOARDING FOR PEACE Betty Esperanza is a force of nature and has done a huge amount for the youth in Cuba.

ARTIST PROFILE Caleigh Illerbrun has created some stunning graphics for Rayne Longboards.

FEATURES: 38 MFG PROFILE Moonshine Manufacturing reboots the skate deck.

46 A SECRET HISTORY OF THE OLLIE Here’s a taste of just some of the 912 pages in this incredible new book.

54 BRING ON THE NIGHT A portfolio of images that celebrate riding in the dark.

62 RETURN TO PARADISE The Catalina Island Classic is simply a phenomenal skate event.

72 RIDER SETUPS - PART 3 A wide range of riders from the Dominican Republic to Mexico and beyond.

78 THE BRIDGE – STEVE CABALLERO Cab embodies the true spirit of skateboarding and his role in shaping skate history is truly monumental.

84 A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF LOUIS PILLONI Welcome to a new feature here at CW. It’s astounding how much Mr. Pilloni packs in one week!

88 THE ART OF LIVING SIDEWAYS Sophie Friedel’s new book looks at ways that skateboarding can promote peace.

92 SLALOM UPDATE With over 16 races on the horizon, the cone head nation is gearing up for a fantastic season.

ON THE COVER: Adam Stokowski self portrait.

CONTENTS PHOTO: William Stephen was the longest air winner at the 2015 Downhill Disco.

Photo: Dan Bourqui

photos: budro

THE FINE PRINT The Fine Print

T

o say that it’s been quite an incredible two months is an understatement. Come to think of it, a lot of extraordinary things have been happening this past year. This issue marks my 16th year in publishing and I have never been so fired up as I am right now.

I started skateboarding in 1975.

That was 40 years ago. The mind boggles at where we’ll be in 2055.

One thing is for sure, if I am still able to ride, I will be.

May started out with quite an adventure on actual waves – you know, the one’s you find on water.

You’ll read about the Catalina Classic later on in the issue. What you will only learn here in the fine print is my experience on a yacht to the island. There were 10 in our crew including Patrick Switzer and Buddy Carr of Metro Wheels. The ship was expertly steered by Mike Bornstein of Edge Board Shop. To say that Mike loves sailing would be an understatement. The voyage started out fairly smoothly, but as the hours passed, things turned pretty ugly. Mike kept his cool while a few of us ate peppermints and tried desperately to avoid getting seasick. The peppermints didn’t work for a few of us (including yours truly) and both the starboard and port sides were dripping in barf. As the waves got progressively bigger, the yacht occasionally dipped to a 35 degree angle. We were truly sailing, according to Mike! For someone like me who spends most of his time on concrete waves along with preaching a life in balance, it was certainly a white-knuckle ride.

When we eventually got to the dock at Catalina Island eight hours later, I was relieved. But I also took the voyage as an incredible learning experience. Some folks love wild waves and the challenge of the seas. Me? I don’t need to be reminded twice. On the way back, I, along with most of the crew took the 1 hour ferry ride back to Dana Point. I can proudly say it was a vomit-free voyage.

As for Buddy and Mike, well, they headed out on Sunday evening into what eventually turned into a raging storm with 15 foot waves. Life jackets were mandatory and they faced the sea strapped into the yacht. At one point Mike tells me he was seriously thinking about turning back. Buddy seemed to go with the flow and finds the intensity of the ocean to be a calming effect.

18 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

Illustration by Chris Dyer/positivecreations.ca

The story of our initial voyage made the rounds pretty quickly. At one point Brandon Stewart from Caliber asked me about my 18 hour ordeal in shark infested waters. I know I’ll be able to dine off this story for quite some time.

But it got me thinking. Do people think we’re reckless on our longboards? Do we take risks whipping thru traffic? I think the answer is yes on both counts.

However I balance it with the following statement from Captain Mike Bornstein: “I’m not a reckless person, but putting yourself in a bit of a vulnerable situation is life changing and causes one to reflect on the meaning of life and your place in it. Why do people skate? Why do they push the limits? What are we left with after that accomplishment?”

As we enter Vol 15 No. 1 know that I will continue to push things forward. You will see additional coverage on women skaters and I am hoping that by Vol. 16 No. 1 we will be at 50/50 balance of male and female editorial coverage. That will probably rock a few people’s boats. But hey, if you’ve read this far, you know that’s why I called the magazine Concrete Wave in the first place. Land ho!

PICTURED: DADDIES WAREHOUSE WORKER KEOLA LEE

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DADDIESBOARDSHOP.COM

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503.281.5123

UNKNOWN OPPORTUNITIES VS FUTURE CONNECTIONS

A

few months ago, I received some photos from Simone Mondino. The images were of a freeride contest held in Osilnica, Slovenia. Simone has a brilliant eye and the photo that you’re looking at is my favorite. There’s something truly magical about all that lush forestry in mountains. I quickly learned where Osilnica was located and was quite surprised I had previously been near it – here is my story.

In 1986, I was backpacking through Europe and found myself in what is now the former Yugoslavia. I happened to be traveling through a city called Ljubljana. I didn’t have my skateboard with me back then. Little did I know that Osilnica was only 90 minutes south. It was an opportunity to ride that I never knew existed. The event is now in its fifth year and it is organized by two passionate Slovenian longboarders: Mihael Zadravec and Nadim Burkan.

I decided to see how much more I could connect with this photo. I emailed Simone to get his perspective on the event.

“It’s an incredible dangerous race - no paws down!” he wrote.

“Osilnica is like another world because you’re completely inside nature. Now, there is a mini-market and a great hotel with a swimming pool, but nothing more because you’re in the heart of their mountain. If you have problems during the freeride, it’s particularly dangerous.” Simone added that there were opportunities to see brown bears in the forests, and he raved about a special drink called Slivo. “I think that Slovenia is incredible,” he wrote, “very cool beer, an awesome landscape and the Slovenians are very friendly. It’s a great place to organize a longboard tour that is completely into the wild. It was my first time in Slovenia but I’m sure I’ll be back this summer for the next Knk because the atmosphere was wonderful!”

Simone’s passionate email stoked the hell out of me and I decided to contact Mihael, one the event organizers. He wrote me back and explained that he and Nadim organized the KnK Longboard Camp on the Bear’s Guts track. “The event actually started in 2009 as a small meet-up for 18 stoked friends and has grown to become a family holiday for almost 400 skaters from around the world. We can’t wait to meet our friends again and skate the hell out of the Bear’s Guts with them.”

So there you have it. This is not just a photo of an event; it’s an opportunity to be part of an event that you would enjoy! Thankfully, you’ve got a few months to plan. The KnK Longboard camp, Red Bull No Paws Down and Cult Single Set Survivors all take place in late July and early August.

24 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

-Michael Brooke Editor

PUBLISHER/EDITOR MICHAEL BROOKE | mbrooke@interlog.com

ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Stacy Lowery

I.T. DEPARTMENT HEAD Rick Tetz of CalStreets.com

CONTRIBUTORS Adam Stokowski, Dan Bourqui, Simone Mondino, Christian Black, Craig Snyder, Alban Pernet, Gautier Ory, Matt MacDonald, Simone Mondino, Stefano Cencio, Mark Nisbet, Mark Roberts, Juan Carlos Paulino, Kenny Alamilla, Ben Gozdowski, Khaleeq Alfred, Joel Shame, Nicole Fleck, Kurt Hurley, Heidi Lemmon, Jim Goodrich, Scott Starr, Jennifer Mahon, Jon Huey, Caliphotography, Jeff Budro, Emily Pross, Brendan Davidson, Betty Esperanza, Anya Mielniczek, Caleigh Illerbrun, Craig Jackman, Maria Carrasco

HEAD OFFICE 1136-3 Center Street, Suite 293, Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 3M8 Ph: 905.738.0804

SKATESHOP DISTRIBUTION Buddy Carr Designs PO Box 1895, Carlsbad, CA 92018 Buddycarrdesign@gmail.com

CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Inward Supply 514-996-7138 Landyachtz 778-785-6855

Concrete Wave is published by North of La Jolla Inc. Subscriptions (6 issues) are US$26 FIRST CLASS or CAN$26. Address change? Mag not arriving? Contact us - don’t go postal. We can sort it out. mbrooke@interlog.com.

Publisher’s permission is required before reproducing any part of this magazine. The views and opinions expressed in Concrete Wave are not necessarily those of the publisher. Printed in the USA.

The KnK race, Osilnica, Slovenia.

Photo: Simone Mondino

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 25

The KODIAK is Dusters first true downhill attacker, featuring a solid directional shape with W-Concave, a slight rocker, and multiple truck mounting options to switch the position of its wheelbase according to rider’s preference. With routered wheel wells and double barrel bushings in the 180MM 50° Slant reverse kingpin trucks, leave your worries in the wind as you enjoy the steady ride in style with wood burned art and a hand sprayed sunburst fade finish.

DUSTERSCALIFORNIA.COM /dusterscalifornia @dusterscalifornia

#DUSTERSKODIAK Sunburst | 36” x 9.75” Wheelbase Options: 26”/26.5”/27”/27.5”

DEALER INQUIRIES: dwindle.com | +1.800.500.5015 easternskatesupply.com | +1.910.791.8240 oceanavenuesk8.com | +1.321.777.9494 skatenet.com | +1.713.926.3295

NOTEWORTHY

- THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

SECTOR 9

GRIDBOARD

Jackson Shapiera’s new pro model is called the Hijack. This deck is the culmination of several different iterations of prototypes that have been tested at S9 headquarters. Apart from the shape, Jackson also explored several concave molds. He finally landed on one with humps at the front for your toes to push against and keep you locked in, a non-intrusive W in the middle for added strength, and smaller humps at the back to help with board feel. Jacko tested. Jacko approved.

Sector9.com Based in Munich, Germany, Gridboard is made completely from carbon-fiber. The grid patterns are inspired by nature’s bone, leaf and wing structures. The construction simultaneously provides stiffness and flexibility. The boards’ unique look and extremely light weight make them truly unique. The company has won one design award and has been nominated for another.

Gridboard.com

CALIBER

DTC WHEELS

Completely redesigned from the hanger down to the baseplate, Caliber Standard hangers now have added reinforcement. The hangers are designed to take the daily abuse that skaters inflict upon them. A reinforced grinding surface adds to the truck’s lifespan. Maximum kingpin clearance allows for an easier truck lock-in while grinding, and tighter bushing seats enable precise turning and a quicker response.

Calibertruckco.com

DTC Wheels have gained a reputation for producing long-lasting wheels. Their M Series of wheels now features the FF (Fast Freeride)Model. These wheel lasts up to five times longer than comparable wheels.

The FF is a good mix of grip and drift with controlled sliding.

Dtc-wheels.com

FLYING WHEELS

Flying Wheels’ Mustang Sally is available in two models: 38.5” and 41.5.” It’s a twinboard with an in-molded wheelbase, instead of dropthrough and a slight drop-down, combined with a double concave in the deck for sliding, carving and going fast. Quadrant- shaped rails easily allow for direct turns. flyingwheelskateboards.com

CARVER

Carver has always been about surfing, so it was only natural that they’d make a surfboard/skateboard combo. Now you can work on your surfing technique on land and directly transfer those skills to the waves on a matched set of boards. The Proteus Surf/Skate feature a squared-off nose, which on the surfboard creates a straighter rail for faster lines while keeping the board short, with less swing weight for snappier turns. The surfboard is 5’ 11” with a 5 fin set up, and the surfskate is 30 1/2” long, 9 7/8” wide and comes with 69mm/78a Roundhouse Concave wheels. Recommended with the CX truck set for that snappy thruster/quad fin performance.

Carverskateboards.com

RAYNE

The Rayne Slide series returns with some updated sizing and shapes, and a killer new graphic series courtesy of the Grominator (@thegromniator). Now sized at 32.5”, 35.5”, and 38.5”, the Catalyst, Phantom, and Homewrecker sport a shin-friendly rounded top edge. The bamboo and fiberglass sandwich construction feels great whether poaching park lines, cruising for cold ones, or bombing burly roads.

Raynelongboards.com

The need for grip has never been more important than in surfskate, where you rely on the traction of the wheels to fully lean into carves and cutbacks. This feature gives you extra projection out of your turns so you can complete maneuvers you’d otherwise slide out on. The key to this design is the concave riding surface which, when under weight, produces an hourglass-shaped contact patch. This increases the surface area and pushes the lip into the ground, creating more grip than ever before while maintaining consistent roll speed. They’re 69mm x 52mm, and are a soft 78a.

Carverskateboards.com

FS BOARDS

MINDLESS

Fs Boards Inc. is a homegrown, skater-owned, handmade board company based in New York. After years of hard work, prototyping, and plenty of support from friends, family and suppliers, they are proud to release their lineup of boards. Fs Boards offers boards to fit every riding style, from bombing hills to hitting the park, and have plenty more products to come fsboardsinc.com

Arriving this summer from Mindless are three decks: Double-kick, Single-kick and a No-kick (DH), all using Mindless’ new mold. A mellow W-concave stretches right up to the truck mounts. Medium-sized wheel flares ensure that no matter where you put your feet, you can always feel where they are and where they should be. A variety of constructions and outer shaping between models focus each board to its specific discipline. mindlesslongboards.com

BRAKER BOARDS

RONIN

The affinity towards Google’s brand has created a growing destination for Bay area tourists to visit Google’s on-campus store. Google chose Southern California-based Braker Longboards to represent their brand in the longboard industry. Dyed maple stringers are used as piping throughout the top deck design, matching the iconic colors of Google. brakerboards.com

2015 marks the fourth generation of Ronin Precision Trucks. The company continues to evolve, offering a lighter, stronger and smoother ride than ever before. The trucks feature partially hollow kingpins and axles. The new axle widths are 164mm, 174mm and adjustable 164-174mm. There are new urethane 96a Black Licorice pivot tubes with highly tunable Mixed Beverage bushings. ronintrucks.com

NOW YOU KNOW -

NOTEWORTHY

SEISMIC

QUINBOARDS

The Cry Babys grew up and went to college! Molded around Seismic’s advanced Speed Vent hub, the new 68 x 43mm and 72 x 45mm Tantrums are the lightest, most functional freeride wheels of their size on the market. The big, airy, fiber-reinforced hub combines with Seismic’s buttery Elixir™ formula for a truly progressive freeride experience. The 68mm Tantrums are available in 79A yellow and 82A green Elixir. The 72mm comes in 78A yellow, 81A green Elixir and 80A blue BlackOps race formula for aggressive downhill freeride. seismicskate.com

Cologne, Germany is gaining influence in the longboard world. quinboards was founded in 2010 by two students from the German Sports University. The slideberry is the ultimate freeride and freestyle board in their line-up. The massive wheel-flares combined with a perfectly placed drop make this board a hardcore sliding machine and suitable for high-speed downhill runs. quinboards.com

FREE SOUL TRUCKS

OWL

The Free Soul is a 180mm, 50° truck. The 92a double barrel bushings have the perfect balance for speed and slides. The trucks are durable and come with a lifetime warranty in case they get run over by a tank or a steam roller. The baseplate is made with old and new school hole mount options.

Ehlerslongboards.com

Hailing from Italy, Sandro Sotira’s founded his company when he was studying at university in Turin and working on various longboard projects. “I was building decks and testing them on my own during the night after work, and that’s how I got the name Owl.” After two years, he introduced the Flammeus model. It’s a handmade dancer 8.8” wide by 48”long, consisting of beech, fiberglass, Kevlar, and carbon. This summer, Owl plans to release a Mini Flammeus theowllongboards.weebly.com

THIRD KIND

HIGH HEAVEN

Third Kind™ is a skater owned brand based in NE Florida that specializes in designing light kits specifically for action sports equipment. Third Kind’s latest skateboard light model features 7 selectable colors with a flash option and can be easily recharged with the provided micro USB cable. Third Kind’s skater designed kit uses a virtually weightless military grade casing and is very water-resistant.

The lights can be seen up to a mile away and last 10 hours per charge. thirdkindbeyond.com

High Heaven is building a digital meet-up for women in action and extreme sports. The site’s first feature is a worldwide event-mapping tool. It’s a place where users can find and post their next adrenaline adventure. High Heaven is completely open and free for anyone to use, but the community is for females only. Users can add events and spots to the map, and organizations can choose either a “freemium” or premium model for adding content.

Highheaven.com

CORRECTION On the Longboarding for Peace story about Viet Shred, we mistakenly left out RipTide Bushings as one of the sponsors. We apologize for the omission.

MFG. PROFILE

HOMEGROWN INNOVATION

Moonshine Manufacturing Reboots the Skate Deck

O

By Michael Brooke

ne of the great things about the world of longboarding is the way people in it continually develop new ideas; innovation drives things forward. This is evident at Moonshine Manufacturing, a manufacturer of skate decks which I recently visited. Their product line-up is generating an enormous amount of interest from skaters worldwide.

Moonshine sales and marketing director, Greg Kish.

Photo: Michael Brooke

38 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

The location of their offices couldn’t be more idyllic. Situated by the side of the magnificent Columbia River, the view is simply spectacular. Their manufacturing facility is based in North Bonneville, Washington and relies on locally sourced materials. The factory is a welloiled machine but has a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

One unusual feature of the decks is that they are 100% waterproof. As this piece was coming together, I was forwarded an email from a very happy Moonshine customer. It read, in part “You saved me from quitting longboarding!

I have had a rough past year with boards.

I live in Portland and unfortunately the boards don’t usually agree with all the rain activities that I enjoy. So I went through almost 12 boards last year.” In addition to being waterproof, Moonshine’s decks contain vertically laminated cores with impact resistant urethane rails. Not only do these rails increase durability, they give the boards a wonderfully unique look.

has an intense energy and focus. “We either commit to a project or we don’t,” says Jeff. As he recalls, the initial pitch of one of their products did not go as planned. “It went down in flames, but we loved the concept so much that we realigned everything and stepped up the process.”

“My main job is to ensure the right resources are getting to the right people,” says Jeff. “This means empowering people on the floor to use CAD

(Computer Assisted Design), to create sample boards and to develop a feedback loop where we can continuously refine the product.” Moonshine works closely with their team riders to ensure the most exacting standards are met. “We know that after spending considerable amounts of time testing, receiving feedback and tweaking, we have a legitimate product.”

Rider Max Watson looks over some unfinished pieces.

Photo: Christian Black

It’s taken about four years for Moonshine to develop their decks. The company has a thorough understanding of the manufacturing process. Employees had actually designed and tested prototypes on their own time. Only when they felt they had something truly valuable did they approach the operations manager, Bryan Trullinger, with their ideas.

I discovered another important thing on my visit to Moonshine. Their business is not just about having a domestic production process, which Moonshine is very proud of; it’s also about their willingness to work together and move the process and products forward. The company is very open to new ideas and ways to continually improve. At the beginning of the tour, Greg Kish, Sales and Marketing Director for North America, proudly showed me an open bulletin board that tracks manufacturing suggestions. Dozens of ideas written on cards were dutifully tracked with comments. There is the sense that workers have an essential say in the manufacturing process, so everyone pulls together to create something extraordinary.

Jeff Logosz is one of Moonshine’s founders. He grew up skateboarding and CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 39

As Greg sees it, the longboarding market is ready for a new category of highend products for the dedicated rider.

“We are offering a product that is not simply stacked maple ply or bamboo.

Moonshine represents a fundamental and dramatic shift in deck construction.”

Jeff’s brother Tony was another founding member of the company. “The passion Jeff and Tony Logosz have for producing innovative products that lead to rider progression means that they are never happy with the status quo,” explains Greg. “It’s really cool to see standard lumber pieces magically transformed into a high quality product.”

Another important part of Moonshine’s manufacturing process is their commitment to continual improvement.

This is based on the Japanese term kaizen, which literally means “change for better.” As Greg explains, “we took the feedback that we received from riders and shops; by the third iteration, we were

40 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

hearing that we had made some serious improvements.”

Max Watson, a Hood River local, was brought in to test the product. He’s proud of what the company has achieved.

“Many people tell me that these decks have the best construction for the price,” adding, “riders are very stoked; they love the clean look of the decks.” Max says the waterproof feature is critical. “People who ride in soggy conditions during the winter need to know their deck will be durable. I’ve thrown a ton of abuse at the product and seen that it can take a serious beating.”

Over the next few months, Moonshine will be adding more decks to their line-up. A Dancer model was being tested at the factory during my visit.

A long distance push board is also under development. As with everything Moonshine does, practicing continuous improvement by listening to their production staff and team riders leads to further enhancements.

Greg was enthusiastic about the future: “I feel this season is going to be very good for the longboard skate category in almost every market. Moonshine is already getting sponsorship requests for many grassroots events and the overall enthusiasm is strong.”

As the interest in Moonshine begins to rise and shops start to place orders, the company is gearing up its production.

While I was there, they received confirmation of a significant order from one of their overseas distributors. “It’s important to grow production with demand,” says Greg. “There’s not a glut of product; a high demand with a tight supply benefits the specialty retailer.”

The company has a deep background in action sports and distributes to over sixty countries. “We understand that reliable delivery is extremely important, but we’re in this for the long run - look for us at many upcoming events!”

Dave Berner puts the finishing touches on a freshly pressed deck.

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 41

hlers

PHOTO JORDAN TESOLIN

TEAM RIDER ADAM LIEBERMAN

CYCLONE SKATEBOARD CO. CYCLONESKATEBOARDS.COM 1(613) 216 8328

The Rapture 74mm x 66mm, 73a, Psychathane WWW.SKATECULTWHEELS.COM

46 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

BY CRAIG SNYDER

Over seven years in the making, A Secret History of the Ollie (Volume 1: The 1970s) is a massive 912 page history of skateboarding and skate culture illustrated in full color with over 1,200 images and photographs, many of which have never been seen before. It is a story about the origins of modern skating and the birth and evolution of the first aerials in both skating and surfing, including, of course, the no-handed aerial we know today as the Ollie.

Initially, I had thought I could wrap the project up in a year or two, just in time for the 30th anniversary of the Ollie, but it just kept going. Part of the reason for this was that this history had never been documented before, and part of it was that the story kept evolving. But I was committed to it, and probably should have been committed! I worked on it day and night, often seven days a week, without much of a life outside of the book.

The original manuscript for A Secret History of the Ollie became immense, over 1,400 pages long, and covered four decades, from the 1970s to the 2000s. My editor Gary Lee Miller and I then split the book up into volumes, with Volume One focusing exclusively on the 1970s. Jonathan Harms, my copy editor, also became another mission-critical part of the project.

A Secret History of the Ollie was published on February 2015.

It was a happy occasion, for many reasons, but also a forlorn one.

Forlorn, because Skitch Hitchcock had passed away a year or so earlier before getting to see the book, and also Curtis Hesselgrave, Shawn Peddie, Tom Sims, Mike Weed, Tom Fain, Waldo Autry,

Jay Adams, Chris Yandall, Shogo Kubo, and the person who truly made this happen in more ways than one, my father.

When Michael Brooke asked for an excerpt for Concrete Wave, I settled on Chapter 15, because it, like many of the chapters in the book, was a short, almost self-contained story, and it featured Scott Goodman, the South Florida skater who came up with the name “Ollie.” But it was more than that; it was to honor Scott, who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in March 2015, just several weeks after the book was released.

Scott was an incredibly humble, talented, and fun-loving guy who touched the life of everyone who knew him. He made everyone smile, making him very hard to forget. Skateboarding, however, had forgotten about Scott Goodman, or rather it never knew about his talent, role, and story - until now. The consolation, though, is that Scott did get to see the book, and attended the book release and first signing. For that, I will be forever grateful.

-Craig B. Snyder

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 47

BOOK EXCERPT – THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE OLLIE – by Craig Snyder

CHAPTER 15: The Ollie Pop I didn’t get a dime for that, or even one Ollie board from Alan, but I named him Ollie and I named the Ollie Pop. -Scott Goodman The “limit hunting” that Surfer magazine wrote about just months after the Cadillac wheel premiered in 1973 took on a whole new gloss by 1977. The advent of precision bearings, better trucks, and solid wood boards with kicktails allowed skaters to take the sport farther than ever before.

The game of limit hunting at Skateboard USA in Hollywood, Florida, also included a variety of fly-outs, popouts, freefalls, and fence rides. Dave Nicks, who often rode without shoes, was most certainly an instigator. His barefoot adventures included riding off the lip of the North Bowl onto the chain-link safety fence, only to kickturn on it and come back down again. It was a killer move that few could duplicate.

The low-lying areas in the skatepark were not exempt from the fun. Another popular maneuver among the concrete literati involved hauling across the freestyle area and popping off the curbhigh ledges to catch some no-handed air.

According to Bert Parkerson, “I know Jeff [Duerr] started it. He used to come in at this angle and just ‘ollie’ across the corner.

It was shaped just that way. He would ollie off the corner and come onto the other side.” It was minimal air, meaning just a few inches, and though not a true Ollie— the controlled no-handed maneuver had 48 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

yet to come—it was a thrill all the same.

In 1977, Jeff Duerr started to come into his own, and soon he was the most advanced rider at the park. Already an accomplished freestyle skater, the 16-year-old took on transition and vert as the next logical challenges. According to Parkerson, “Jeff was a natural; he’d see a maneuver in a magazine, and the next time you saw him he was doing it. He definitely stood out compared to the other skaters.”

At the same time, Alan Gelfand was also advancing. Instead of hanging around Bill Reilly and Bobby Summers, he spent an increasing amount of time in the company of Duerr, Parkerson,

Kevin Peterson, Scott Goodman, and Rick Furness. The Lipslides and Boardslides being performed by these skaters, still older than Gelfand but closer in age, became a critical influence on his skating.

Though smaller than the others and even small for his age, Gelfand skated as an equal—or at least tried to. The problem was that he just didn’t have the weight or height to throw around like the others.

Gelfand’s equipment compounded his difficulties. Most skaters took advantage of the recent advancements made in truck design. The Bennett truck, with its quick turning radius, was perfect for lipslides and surf-style moves. Gelfand,

however, chose to ride Trackers, which were wider, lower, and less responsive in turning. And instead of loosening his trucks like everyone else, Gelfand rode them so tightly cranked down that the advantages of this new-generation truck technology were almost lost.

But precisely because Gelfand’s small size and preferences for equipment did not allow him to ride in the exact manner others did, it led to the accidental discovery of a revolutionary new skating move.

The Lipslide had quickly become the most popular trick at Skateboard USA and by the summer of 1977 it was all the rage. But as much as Gelfand tried to emulate it, the Lipslide remained elusive.

One day while attempting a Lipslide, Gelfand instead caught some air, passively drifting just an inch or two over the lip before landing his board. It was not unlike the Lipslide aerials made earlier by others such as Reilly and Bert Parkerson. Or was it? In any case, skater Scott Goodman was ready with a name for the new maneuver, at literally the moment it happened.

“I was the first one who saw him do it besides Alan himself,” says Goodman.

“When I saw him do this little move I called it an ‘Ollie Pop.’ It was the first thing that came out of my mouth. I was just goofing on him. I had named him Ollie, so I named that move an Ollie Pop.” “Ollie” was a nickname that Gelfand initially found irritating. During the summer of 1977, he and Goodman had been spending nearly every day together at Skateboard USA. Most times, the park was nearly empty in the daytime because no one wanted to skate under the hot summer sun. Despite unlimited skating time and games of pinball, tedium inevitably set in.

“We got kind of bored and we didn’t have transportation,” remembers Goodman. “We both got dropped off there in the morning by our parents. If we wanted food, we’d have to skate all the way to Denny’s by Sheridan Street.

We’d order something, then skate all the way back. That was kind of an annoying ride on those lousy roads.”

When those moments of absolute restlessness came, Goodman would scratch his head and call Gelfand “Ollie,” with the same hapless inflection used by Stan Laurel toward his partner Oliver Hardy in their Laurel and Hardy comedy films of the 1930s.

Once he realized Gelfand didn’t appreciate the joke, Goodman maintained it, scratching the crown of

“When I saw him do this little move I called it an ‘Ollie Pop.’ It was the first thing that came out of my mouth...”

-Scott Goodman <<

Scott Goodman kickflip off wall, 1977 — Photo: Craig Snyder

<

Dave Nicks goes for broke with a fence ride on the east side of the North Bowl during a night session. Nicks is wearing one shoe on his back foot for traction and protection from the gunite, and uses the toes of his bare leading foot to grip the rail or edge of the board. Nicks’ signature technique gave him a much better advantage for kickturns on the flat, narrow boards of the day.

Photo: Craig Snyder

>

Miami skater and Fox team member Andy Campos slides the inside wall of the South Bowl at Skateboard USA, 1977. The Lipslide was the maneuver that led Alan Gelfand to create the Ollie Pop. Photo: Craig Snyder

his head with one finger and calling Gelfand “Ollie” at every opportunity.

“I would never say Alan and I were tight, tight friends, but for a short time we were together every day. It was a like a ‘love the one you’re with’ kind of thing. It was just the two of us. We put up with each other,” says Goodman.

“I think I used [“Ollie”] to provoke him— just to get a reaction or something. It’s not like he was hard-boiled or anything, it was just because of his lack of a sense of humor, or lack of being childish. I was just trying to stir him up a little bit, which didn’t work,” remarks Goodman. When Goodman blurted out “Ollie Pop!” after Gelfand caught an inch or two of unexpected air, it was just one more joke and another moment of instant gratification.

“It was all silliness. It was childish nonsense. That’s all it was,” says Goodman of the nickname that would one day dominate the world of skating.

“It was a big joke back then. It was nothing. It took on a life of its own, more than I could have ever imagined.

“One day someone said to me, ‘Oh, ollie,

that’s in the Oxford English Dictionary.’

And I was like, are you kidding me? Then the next thing I hear is this word being used all over the world. And every time I see a kid on a skateboard and say to them I used to skate, the first thing that comes out of their mouth is ‘Can you do an Ollie?’

And I’m thinking, this is just bizarre.”

The Ollie nickname might have easily died; Gelfand initially resisted it, or at the very least ignored it. But after the other Hollywood skaters heard Goodman say it enough times, the nickname stuck.

“You were the guys who kept that going,” says Goodman. “The reason that got on the map, the reason why Alan let that be acceptable, has to do with you, Kevin Peterson, Jeff Duerr, and Rick Furness.

Lums also might have been part of the reason, the thing that kept it going also.”

Lums (previously Lum’s) was a chain restaurant located at Young Circle on the east side of Hollywood. After Skateboard USA opened, it became a place for skaters to grab some food before or after a session. Lums’ menu featured a delicacy called an Ollieburger, a 1/3-lb. hamburger CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 49

>

Never before published, this is the first known image of the Ollie Pop. Alan Gelfand, lower end of the North Bowl snake run, Skateboard USA, Hollywood, Florida, summer 1977.

Photo: Craig Snyder

seasoned with an eclectic mix of 23 secret spices. Despite his irritation at his newly acquired nickname, the burger became Gelfand’s entrée of choice. In fact, he refused to order anything else.

With constant repetition, the Ollie nickname became irreversible, and Gelfand eventually grew to like it. At one point he even started writing “Ollie” on the bottom of his skateboard deck.

But the name also stayed with Gelfand because of the popularity of the Ollie Pop. After that maneuver appeared and everyone started doing it, it seemed like it couldn’t be called anything else. Gelfand, the trick’s inventor, just had to be Ollie.

If the first part of the Ollie Pop’s name came from cinema, the second part came straight from skating. “Popout” was a common term at the time for the primitive aerials that occurred between 1975 and 1977. The Bunny Hop was sometimes called a Pop-out when done on banked walls, as were other moves. “Fly-out” and “Fly-away” were two more terms used for maneuvers in which all four wheels left the ground.

Some of these moves were grabbed, some grabbed and planted, and others were no-handed—much in the fashion of freeform flying, with little control, but the desire to land without eating it.

The most advanced no-handed aerial at this time or later was probably the 50 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

vertical kickturn performed with speed. When this type of maneuver was performed with aggression, a skater sometimes became airborne.

Aerial lipslides in ways were similar to Off-the-Lips, performed on banks instead of on the vertical walls of pools.

The Ollie Pop, despite its name, was not an Ollie, but a form of no-handed air similar to other forms of no-handed air happening around this same time.

Like the Off-the-Lip, the Ollie Pop was unusual and new, but also a temporal wonder. In the beginning it was an unrefined move, but almost as soon as the Ollie Pop was invented, it began to evolve.

“Off-the-Lip,” largely because it was being done on vert. East Coast skaters were doing this type of pre-Ollie nohanded air, as were some West Coast skaters such as Jerry Valdez from the San Fernando Valley and David Hackett from Malibu. “It was a surf move that we emulated and transferred from the ocean into swimming pools,” says Hackett.

An Off-the-Lip was basically a

<

Alan Gelfand, riding a setup like the one pictured on this page, in the South Bowl at Skateboard USA, 1977.

Photo: Craig Snyder

>

Setup identical to the one on which Alan Gelfand accidentally created the first Ollie Pops.

It consists of a 27-inch Sims Taperkick deck, Tracker Fultrack trucks, and 3-inch-wide Sims Bowl Rider urethane wheels.

Super-wide wheels were believed to offer greater stability and were popular from 1975 to 1977 until wider trucks and skateboard decks appeared.

(Courtesy of Noel Forsyth/ Collection of Noel Forsyth)

WELCOME TO THE TEAM.

WE ARE STOKED TO OFFER NELSON & RESTLESS ALONGSIDE THE REST OF THE RADDEST BRANDS IN EXISTENCE:

By Michael Brooke

Riding at night can be both exhilarating and dangerous.

Darkness brings challenges that one does not face during the daylight. Risks like undetected obstacles are balanced with the rewards of a calmer night air with much fewer cars. There’s something about riding at night that makes the journey that much more intense.

We wanted to present a collection of photos that capture the spirit of longboarders who have ventured into this unique realm.

For some riders, night skating is when the adrenalin really starts to pump through their veins. For others, night remains an untapped mystery. No matter what your decision, if you do decide to work on your night moves, make sure you ride safe.

54 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

Pierre Hardillier Photo: Alban Pernet

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.

-Edgar Allan Poe

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 55

Raphael Taisne Photo: Gauthier Ory

Do not go gentle into that good night but rage, rage against the dying of the light.

-Dylan Thomas

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Whoever thinks of going to bed before twelve o’clock is a scoundrel.

-Samuel Johnson

Richard Doctor Photo: Matt MacDonald

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Alex Luciano, Piedmont, Italy Photo: Simone Mondino

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A good idea will keep you awake during the morning, but a great idea will keep you awake during the night.

-Marilyn vos Savant

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Things are as they are. Looking out into it the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.

-Alan Watts

San Sot, Alba Italy Photo by Stefano Cencio

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CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 61

the

Ca

a n i l ta

Isla

c i s s a l C nd

By M

ic

e ook r B l hae

Photo - Mark Nisbet

ocated a mere 26 miles from the California mainland, Catalina Island is a spectacular place to hold a skate event. In 1977, the original Catalina Classic downhill contest attracted a television audience of 30 million people. In 2012, Riviera Skateboards decided to bring back the contest, and each year, it has become even better. Although Concrete Wave has been a sponsor of the event since its beginning, I was never able to make it down to the island. However, this year, the stars aligned and I anxiously awaited for May to arrive

L

y Catalina experience started when I decide to forgo the usual ferry ride (which is about an hour long) and instead travel by yacht. The seas decided that they weren’t going to cooperate as they had done in previous years. (You can learn more about my eight-hour ordeal in The Fine Print.) After quickly disembarking from the yacht, I instantly felt Catalina’s mellow vibe gently flowing over me. The Island overflows with positive vibes and is very different than other California tourist spots. There’s very few cars on the island; most people get around by golf cart, and the slower pace resonates with both tourists and locals. The stunning scenery completes the experience - Catalina is simply amazing.

Justin Reynolds, Riviera brand and team manager, was the key individual responsible for resurrecting the contest.

“Catalina is pure treasure hidden in plain sight,” explained Justin. “It represents a lot of what we love about California:

M

64 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

> Justin Reynolds and Mike Girrard keeping the crowd entertained.

Photo - Michael Brooke < (opposite bottom) Carrie Coffin and Dubes motor around the island in style.

No time to take in the scenery when you’re racing.

Photo - Mark Nisbet v

the Pacific Ocean, coastal vistas, nearly year-round sunshine and a rich history of skateboarding. The original event in 1977 was the birth of downhill racing when it was presented to the public, but it only happened once, and I’ve always wanted to pick up the torch and pay respect to the event and the forefathers of downhill.”

Justin said he never thought about what the initial reaction would be. “I just knew it had to be done.” Justin enlisted Brent “Dubes” Dubendorff to help create the event. “With Dubes and his connection to the downhill race community, I trusted that the right people would come, and they did.”

“Catalina has its charms. Any destination-based event, specifically on an island, creates some magic,” remarks Justin. “The community of Avalon and all our island friends that make the event possible add to the magic and really make it worth all the hard work that goes into an event like this.”

The town of Avalon is easy to navigate, and because everything is centered on a small area, you end up running into all sorts of people all weekend long. A mini-ramp was set up in the center of town, which was also a gathering place

for racers. The restaurants range from reasonably priced to quite expensive.

Two Vons supermarkets did a booming business all weekend long.

The race course itself was challenging, with some fairly tight corners. Spectators saw more than their fair share of spills.

The folks at Riviera have things down to a science when it comes to setting up the equipment, so the event move along very smoothly. Mike Girard and Justin announced the race with a heavy dash of humorous quips. Most of the audience appreciated their wit, although one guy with enormous arms didn’t seem too amused!

The racing was fast and furious.

Downhill skateboarders continued to step up to the challenge, and the level of riding was outstanding. Many runs featured insane drafting and passing.

Kevin Reimer won the race, followed

by Dillon Stephens in second, and Troy Yardwaste placing third. In the women’s division, Emily Pross was the champion, followed by Spoky Woky, 66 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

and finally Victoria Waddington. The joyful camaraderie between racers was evident and contagious. This is something that we’ve documented many times in Concrete Wave. It was a pleasure meeting with and making new friends from many countries including Canada, Spain, France, Norway, and Sweden. Mark Nisbet, one of the best skate photographers I’ve ever worked with, captured the spirit of Catalina both from the ground and in a helicopter.

Mark loaded so many amazing photos at Dropbox, we had to extend this piece by two additional pages.

I was fortunate to be able to interview the mayor of Avalon, Anni Marshall, and get her views on the event. With her easy-going manner, Mayor Marshall (aka Anni) personifies Catalina Island. “We’re fortunate to live here,” explained Anni.

“Catalina is a step back in time. It’s not just the Island - it’s the getting here by boat. We’ve maintained a quaintness that has affected generations of visitors.”

Anni said that the event is well

“The community of Avalon and all our island friends that make the event possible add to the magic and really make it worth all the hard work that goes into an event like this.” -Justin Reynolds < Racer with Green helmet Emily Pross, first place winner, women’s division.

Photo Mike Roberts/SLO Stoked < (opposite bottom) Norwegian Ali Nas takes a moment to relax.

Photo - Mark Nisbet > Single File Photo - Mark Nisbet

received by almost 4,500 locals. “We know parents love having the race here because their kids enjoy skateboarding.”

Catalina Island is indeed a gracious host and the locals genuinely make you feel comfortable.

I was also able to meet three young skaters who made the trip not to race, but just to take in the event. “I came to Catalina during spring break,” said Finn, a 16 year-old longboarder. “I heard there were some great hills and very few cars. It was really fun to skate.” Finn brought two friends to the event. One of them, Noah, 18, said he was surprised at how nice everyone was. “Everyone is super-polite and there’s been no trouble at all. It’s been fun skating with everyone. When you skate past the sheriff, he throws you a shaka. Everyone is just so chill.”

David Hart runs the City of Avalon Recreation Department and said the event represents the California lifestyle on this iconic island very well. “We get to help make great events happen. These events benefit our community and are a blast to attend,” said David. He noted the contest was very well run and that many residents and visitors remember what happened years ago. “It’s exciting to be a part of making a new chapter in Catalina history, and one that we CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 67

^ Mr Tibbs Finger Flips Photo - Mark Nisbet ^ (above right) Anatomy of a corner as seen from a helicopter.

Photo Mark Nisbet < Hanging with the locals Photo - Michael Brooke (opposite top right) > Norman Plante takes the corner.

Photo: Mark Nisbet (opposite middle right) > Emily Pross took first, then Spoky Woky followed by Victoria Waddington Photo: Mark Nisbet (opposite bottom right) > First place, Kevin Reimer, then Dillon Stephens and in 3rd Troy Yardwaste Photo: Mark Nisbet.

68 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

hope keeps skating active for years to come. The setup support we provide is significant for such a small city crew, but is just a small part of everything the event organizers provide. Each year it gets smoother even as the event grows.”

The people at Riviera pour considerable resources into the event.

The residents also do their part to ensure that the event is successful. “We owe our hearts to Monica ‘Moe’ Seals and her father Randy,” said Justin. “‘Moe’ owns CSC Boardshop and is the Queen of the Island to us.” Additional islanders that Riviera thanked included Ed, Ed Junior and Chris Arnold of Straight Up Builders.

“Jen Monroe and the entire staff from the city of Avalon have always been great to us,” said Justin. “The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Steve and Brenda Hoefs from Three Palms always support us and show love.” “Finally,”

Justin explained, “Doug Feteroll and the entire sheriff’s department, along with Mike Krug and the Fire Department, have always been supportive and helpful.”

Catalina is indeed an enchanted place.

The Four Preps called it the island of romance. Adan Garcia, an employee over at Riviera, embraced this spirit when he proposed to his finance near the mini ramp. She accepted, and the crowd erupted in smiles.

Through the years, I’ve attended many events but none have gone by as quickly as the Catalina Classic. It truly was a magical event. A huge thanks to the hard working staff over at Riviera who did a truly magnificent job putting the event together. If you’re wondering how I got back to the mainland, I’m happy to say that I took the ferry this time and it was smooth sailing. See you at the fifth anniversary in 2016!

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LANDSURFING SINCE 1997

SUMMER 2015 ARRIVALS BOARDS | APPAREL | HAMBOARDS.COM

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RIDER SETUPS PART 3 We continue our feature on rider setups, presenting a wide range of riders from the Dominican Republic and Mexico to Canada and the USA.

RIDER:

SETUP: The Jet Skateboards Black Death model fits me fantastically. I ride it on a smaller wheelbase of 26.75.”

This makes it quick to manipulate and is also comfortable to lock in on a truck. I love this setup because it allows me ready to skate any kind of terrain. The Attack-Liquid Trucks (45 degrees) help me find my balance.

There’s so many options to mix and match to get the perfect lean in order to grip or pre-drift on my preferred Abec11 Classic thane: the 70mm ZigZags with a 78A durometer. The wheels are smooth and consistent.

PHOTO - JUAN CARLOS PAULINO

PAM DIAZ

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PHOTO - KENNY ALAMILLA

RIDER:

CESAR BERUMEN I’ve tried many different brands and setups and I always find something fun about them, although I do have my favorite. I ride the Antifashion Chimp because it’s a simple design with a fun concave to keep me locked in.

It’s a versatile board that I use for downhill and freeriding, but it’s still awesome for cruising in the city. For trucks, I love riding the 50 degree Paris 180mm with hard Project bushings. They’re super-responsive and long lasting. My wheel of choice for sliding is the Divine Street Slayers 72mm 82a because they offer me a comfortable slide that I can control at a good speed without them falling apart.

74 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

RIDER:

BRADY BROWN

SETUP: For the past year, I’ve been working with Bombora longboards on a board to fit my exact needs, and I’m stoked on how it’s turned out!

It gives me confidence I need while skating. I use Ronin Trucks with PNL Strummers, and Cult 80A Cerebrum wheels with Zealous Bearings.

Trusting your setup is a very big part of the downhill sport. I’m able to push my limits because I absolutely trust that my gear can handle it and respond the way I want it to.

PHOTO - BEN GOZDOWSKI

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 75

RIDER:

WILL ROYCE SETUP: When choosing what to put in a board, I have to be able to take it on skate trips and use it for all kinds of downhill skating. It’s also nice to be able to mount regular skate trucks for city skating. My Bustin Pro model has many wheelbase options, short for more control on mellow downhill, and also has the longest WB options for mountain bombs.

We also include a hollow core to make it light while keeping the board strong. My preferred downhill setup is Gullwing reverse trucks, Venom bushings and, depending on the road, any of the Five-0 wheels classic urethane. When cruising in the city, it’s fun to slap on some Gullwing Pro III’s and explore metropolitan areas, including slashing driveways, popping ollies, and my favorite, wall rides.

76 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

PHOTO - KHALEEQ ALFRED

GRANT KIESSLING

RIDER:

SETUP: I ride the Madrid Skateboards V3 Havoc prototype with Rogue Trucks (with a 50/30 split) and Cadillac Hot Pursuits or the Crushers prototype wheel. I use Flypaper Griptape with Gangster Grip under my back foot for grip on backside drifts. This setup works for me because it can masterfully handle any terrain and hill I may encounter. With a simple wheel change, I can go from crushing 50mph hill bombs to slashing alleys and throwing boneless’s across gaps. I created the shape and concave at the Madrid Skateboards factory in Huntington Beach, California.

PHOTO - MIKE ROBERTS/SLO STOKED

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THE BRIDGE

by Kurt Hurley As skate parks vanished across the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s, necessity (the mother of invention) would take over the minds of skateboarders.

Just as fast as the parks disappeared, new skate terrain emerged in the form of half pipes from California to the east coast. Along for the ride were a new breed of transition skaters who took the best of what the early legends cooked up, and made it even better. It was a rebirth for skating, and those involved would shake up the industry like never before. They would even affect the music and fashion worlds, and make skateboarding what it is today. The names are legendary and read like a who’s who of skateboard lore: Tony Hawk, Gator, McGill, Hosoi, Gonz, El Gato and a humble little dude from Nor Cal named Steve Caballero.

Steve Caballero and the 80s Ramp Revolution

S

teve Caballero was never chosen by the other kids when it came to team sports, but he never let that get in his way. Regardless of his size, he was a giant when it came to heart and competitiveness. It was this drive that pushed this icon of skating, and puts him at the top of most lists of all-time favorite skateboarders. I sat down with Steve and talked about the 1980s, the ramp revolution, Punk Rock, and his perspective on skateboarding today including the downhill and longboard genres.

78 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

Cab with a young fan.

Photo: Heidi Lemmon

Interview by Kurt Hurley KH: When you were younger, what were you into?

SC: I definitely was just a really little kid, and nobody ever picked me for anything. I was heavily influenced by Bruce Lee and Evel Knievel. I spent a lot of time reading comic books, and I was into superheroes. I really wanted to be a BMX racer, and was always trying to jump things on my bike or roller skates. Our family didn’t have much, and I definitely didn’t know what a skate shop was. The only stores we shopped at were the local department stores.

Japan air at Mount Trashmore. June 1985 Photo: Jim Goodrich

What happened in your life that led you to skateboarding?

I had a skateboard - it was a Hang Ten with steel wheels. My first pro board was a Ty Page Free Former that we got at some local store. I remember my family went to Disneyland, and that was when I learned about The Concrete Wave skate park in Anaheim.

I skated it, and remember that it was really hard for me.

Is that what pushed you to start skating more?

Yes, I started to go to Campbell skate park because it was pretty cheap to skate there compared to Winchester. Campbell was about community, and they always had contests there; I think I liked it better because of that. Winchester was a good park, but they didn’t have as many events. It seemed like they didn’t care as much about them and had about one

“People always say that their era is better, but I say that right now is the best era because there is so much to skate! “ event a year. I was very competitive, so going to as many contests as I could really helped me progress. I started winning contests and getting Ice Cream credits. Then I started winning free passes to skate, and after a while I moved up into more competitive events and started winning products. I fit into the competitions fairly well, and Campbell Skate Park gave me that opportunity.

How did you meet Stacy Peralta from Powell/Peralta?

I went down to Escondido for the year end National Amateur Competition. I was skating for the Campbell park team. I CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 79

Backside air circa 1980. Photo: Scott Starr

placed fifth in my division, and Stacy and Steve Cathey were the judges. This was 1979, and afterwards Stacy asked me to ride for Powell/Peralta.

Ramp was only up for four days and we were the only skaters that got to ride it. There were a few more that were lucky enough to experience it, but it was pretty much just the Bones Brigade.

What did you think the skateboarding world?

I had no idea what it was, but to me it was something new and exciting. In retrospect, I think the late 70s were the hay days of skateboarding. There were parks being built everywhere and magazines were coming out. It was an exciting time.

Back in the 1980s, how did you know what places to skate?

Word of mouth, and what we saw in the mags: Thrasher Spot Check, Action Now and Skateboarder Magazine. Also, zines that would acknowledge spots. We wouldn’t say exactly where they were, or give the real names though.

But not long after that, all the parks would disappear almost as fast as they were built. How did that affect you?

We started to search for backyard pools, ditches and even red painted curbs because we knew that the painted ones would be slippery. I think that’s when we were doing the first slappys. I remember when they bulldozed the Winchester key hole pool.

I still wanted to skate vert, so I asked my mom if I could build a ramp in my back yard. My friend Naman Poon’s dad funded us, and me, Gavin and Corey O’Brien built it.

How did you get into Punk Rock?

Before I got into skateboarding I didn’t care about rock and roll.

I was into soul, R&B and disco. When I went to skate parks, that was all I heard. Because I was an impressionable little kid, I said that I wanted to be like these guys. After that, I asked my mom to take me to a music store and I got AC/DC’s High Voltage album.

I thought listening to that music would make me a skateboarder.

Eventually I moved on to Gary Newman and The Police, and then Stacy turned me on to The Cars. A dude named Rat’s Ass got us into the Buzzcocks, 999, TSOL, Adolescents and The Dead Kennedys. After that, I just threw away the whole New Wave and Rock ‘n Roll thing. From then on it, was all about hard core Punk Rock.

Had you ever built ramps before?

Yes - we got the ideas for our ramp from the magazines articles that were coming out. It seemed like all the mags had “how to build” ramp plans. The parks closing wasn’t going to discourage me.

What was your favorite ramp?

The Chin Ramp. I wish they would rebuild it and have a onetime Legends and Pro event. It would be amazing! The Chin 80 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

How did “The Faction” come together?

The Faction was me, Gavin, and Corey O’Brien. We started the band because we were going to so many punk shows. We also created the first Skate Zines covering the whole downtown (San Jose) Punk scene.

What years were The Faction active?

Me, Gavin and Corey went from 1982-1985. Then we performed with Jeff Kendall in the band around 1989. We had another stint from 2001 to 2004. Since 2012, we have been doing some shows from time to time.

What do you think about it downhilling?

I don’t really think about it much. It’s not that interesting to me, but it does looks fun though. I wasn’t that Five-O grind at the El Gato Classic 2015. Photo: Heidi Lemmon interested in it then, and I’m not now. That’s not to say that they aren’t challenging themselves or that they aren’t ripping. I like Vert, street skating and parks. It’s not like we didn’t do that stuff. We did! When the parks all closed, we did skate everything and anything we could find. I used to do it in downtown San Jose. There’s actually a shot of me and Lance Mountain bombing downtown and flipping off the photographer.

What do you think about how some skaters talk bad about longboarders?

People are selfish regarding what they’re into. As soon as something blows up, then they say it sucks. I believe in choices, and our choices dictate how our lives go.

People always say that their era is better, but I say that right now is the best era because there is so much to skate!

Who is your greatest influence?

The most important person in my life today would be Jesus Christ! Because of what he brought into this world, we can barely understand through just common sense that which was meant to be understood on a spiritual level. An understanding of life and love that no man can comprehend without full surrendering of one’s pride, ego and limited intellect Invert at Mt. Trashmore thirty years ago! Photo: Jim Goodrich

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 81

LONG BOARDING FOR PEACE Local Hero Award – Betty Esperanza

Until recently, most Americans could not even imagine visiting Cuba. However, as a Canadian, Betty was able to travel there for years. She feels that there is something magical about Cuba, its people, the sweet smell of the sea breeze and the sounds of vintage cars bustling on the streets of Havana. “I discovered Cuba more than 15 years ago on a business trip and then returned faithfully for 12 years, 2 to 3 times annually to soak up the sun and the Cuban hospitality.”

On a family trip (Betty was married to a Cuban native at the time), her family, including her two young sons, stayed in a modest Cuban home in Buena Vista. “We had a dreamy long vacation with family, friends and local musicians,” recalls Betty.

“I had brought many items for my sons to play with, thinking at the time they might get bored. Was I ever wrong! My sons would wake up at the crack of dawn and disappear into the neighborhood to play with their new friends. They would come home at sunset when the street lights would start to flicker.”

Betty took the skateboard that she had brought with her and headed out to the streets. “There were so many potholes that I didn’t try to do anything daring. There were children watching me. One in particular had his eyes glued to my board.” Betty called him over and proceeded to teach him some skateboarding moves?. After a while, Betty thought “I’ll just give him my skateboard. It’s one less item to bring in my suitcase.” Betty never suspected that this act of giving would change her life and the lives of the kids in that remarkable Cuban neighborhood.

So began a pattern of Betty bringing two extra-large suitcases filled with gifts whenever she visited Cuba. She returned every 3 or 4 months with skateboards, chocolate and other sought after 82 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

Betty Esperanza Photo: Jennifer Mahon

ACE PE

LONGB

R

O

Longboarding for Peace is proud to feature Betty Esperanza as the first recipient of our Local Hero Award.

Hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Betty’s dedication to helping youth spans almost two decades. With her CUBA Skateboards for Hope charity, Betty has made an extraordinary impact on many communities. In particular, her work in Cuba has been truly remarkable.

DING FO AR

items for the children.

Each time she visited Cuba, she was subject to the wary eyes of the customs officials. “Every time I said to them that these were gifts, which they were. I knew I risked serious consequences if a customs agent thought otherwise. I was conscious of the fact that these gifts might be mistaken for black-market goods to be sold in Cuba. But I was convinced that the customs agents would understand that I was simply being a good humanitarian, and that my items were, in fact, gifts for a sport that ultimately has no borders.”

Betty flew under the radar for many years until a Facebook post shed a spotlight on her efforts. Skateboards For Hope was thereby introduced to the public. “At first, I was reserved about my role because I feared of losing the freedom to bring skateboards into Cuba. But all that disappeared when I realized that I was making a statement that donating skateboards could educate the masses about skateboarding and its culture,” says Betty.

She became the godmother of Skateboards For Hope when Cuban skater Yojani Perez declared her his “godmother”. Their relationship grew to the point where Betty mentored him about sustainable projects that would aim to break the cycle of poverty.

“Skateboarding has enabled me to express my creative outlet for sustainable development and community outreach.

It has bridged the gap between youth and elders, and, most importantly, has helped shred taboos and give hope to kids.

The ideas have spread to the point that Cuban youth are now

Anya Mielniczek

Photo: Betty Esperanza

Anya Mielniczek is a Torontobased artist who has been moved by the state of the environment and the treatment of resources and wildlife.

She is the artist behind For What it’s Worth, a series of nine skateboard decks inspired by the current circumstances of some of the world’s most well-known wild animals.

“With this series, I hope to shed light on the plight of these animals and am therefore donating 10% of the proceeds to organizations helping wild animals today.” anyamielniczek.com connected to youth in Uganda and recently to First Nations in Quebec. There are now at least 300 Cuban youth spreading peace and I am grateful to partner with LB4P and CW to help facilitate a worldwide dialogue.”

Yojani Perez played the major role as a Skateboards For Hope ambassador. His leadership and positive influence has united his community in support of skateboarding culture. In just short two years, Yojani has been at the forefront of building a skatepark, a school program and a community center.

Yojani and Betty have similar dreams: that one day Havana will host the World Cup of Skateboarding and that there will be no borders that separate skateboarders. Thanks to Betty’s courage and conviction, there could someday be a champion skateboarder from Cuba.

New LFP Divisions

DING FO AR

Photo: Betty Esperanza

ACE PE

LONGB

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O

Karit Johnson and Chris Jacobs of Ionic Flux have opened up a chapter of LFP in Estonia. They are planning a number of events this summer and fall.

We are also proud to announce that we have established a LFP in our second African country - Uganda.

UGANDA

TIO

C Y C L E.R E V O L U

E.

RE

NIZ E

SKATE

HOPE

REUS

DS BOAR FOR

For more information, please email: info@skateboardsforhope.com or visit skateboardsforhope.com.

Finally a huge thanks to Marius Pozan who has stepped up and founded LFP Poland. If you’d like to establish LFP in your country, email mbrooke@ interlog.com CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 83

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF:

LOUIS PILLONI Welcome to a brand new feature here at Concrete Wave. We want to give readers some insight as to what it’s like to work in the longboard world and are proud to kick things off with Louis’ adventures.

Photo - Jon Huey

Sunday - Morning Skate and Motorcycle Ride

What I Do Being the brand manager of R.A.D., marketing assistant at Sector 9, co-founder/manager of SkateHouseMedia, team rider at Gullwing Trucks and RDVX , there is always something to do. Each week changes but there are plenty of hours in the day to work hard and have fun. I have been blessed by opportunity, but not afraid to work hard to my achieve goals.

Photo - Jon Huey

Time to prepare for the week and ease the body and mind. Load up the bike and head to the hills.

It’s a nice motorcycle cruise into the mountains.

There’s a popular canyon to ride along the way to a local skate spot. After some runs on the bike, I meet up with the crew for skate runs till we are too tired to do more. We generally have the camera ready just in case we want to shoot. I head back home, do some SkateHouseMedia editing (or at least try to), and relax with my girlfriend.

Photo - CaliPhotography

Tuesday – Filming/Photos I wake up, grind some coffee, and I am off to the airport to pick up a team riders before heading to Sector 9. I slap some high fives to the S9 crew, check some emails, grab the camera gear and head off to the hills. Film/photo session intensity varies from project to project. Sometimes it’s filming a product guide video and other times a pro part where the riders are charging hard. It’s a fun challenge to try to capture the feeling of downhill.

Certain times it comes easier then others.

Photo - Jeff Budro

Monday – Back to the Grind I am usually up early and I pack SkateHouseMedia orders and back to the grind at work but I can’t complain. Working at Sector 9 is a dream job.

I went to school at Gonzaga University for Marketing. When I was freshman at school it was only a fantasy to work in the industry. The daily tasks vary from week to week but generally media production, team management, event planning, product line planning, and the fun world of marketing on social networks can consume a day. Luckily we have the Bread Bowl at Sector 9, so once 5 o’clock comes, it’s back to skateboarding.

Photo - Emily Pross

Photo - Brendan Davidson

Wednesday – Editing and the closest hill to work I download the footage from the film session and start to edit it down. The hardest part of editing for me is finding quality music. I’m notorious for picking a horrible song. After 50 videos a year for the last 6 years (between Sector 9, R.A.D., and SkateHouseMedia) my music library is running thin. Once it gets close to sunset it is off to an infamous San Diego run for some skateboarding before the sun goes down. I always bring the camera because you’re never quite sure if you want to take a hike for a different perspective.

Photo - Jeff Budro

Friday - Team Session and Prototype Friday is the calm before the storm. Generally a lot of weekends are skate events where team riders will get together to skate and test prototypes. Munkey will bring out various products to test. Some are a better then others but it always fun to experiment and learn more about what affects the performance skate gear.

Photo - Jeff Budro

Thursday – Golf/Work/Surfing/ Dinner I am up before the sun for a round of golf with some fellow 9’ers. I’m a bit of a gambler so we are usually playing a skins game. During summer we can squeeze 18 in before 9 o’clock and back in the office handling business. Depending on the swell, I can get a sunset surf session in, or just a relaxing evening with the girlfriend.

Photo - Mark Nizbet

Saturday - Skate Event The skate community gathers and good times are had. I’m a competitive person by nature but that not why I skateboard. There are too many things about the skate community that keeps drawing me in. The rush, challenge, the people, the destinations, variety of culture, and the memories are what keep me coming back.

An excerpt from the book by Sophie Friedel

The Art of Living Sideways I met Sophie Friedel at ISPO this year. I soon discovered that we both shared the same philosophy when it came to using skateboards as a way to foster peace. In the spring of this year, Sophie’s book came out. It explores the ways that skateboarding can help people escape the cycles of despair in war-torn countries. Much of the book is devoted to her work with Skateistan and it is a fascinating read. There was one chapter that featured her experiences with the downhill community - I knew right away that it was something to share with our readership. The Art of Living Sideways is published by Springer Publishing and is available on Amazon.com – Michael Brooke Teaching in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Joel Shame

[Excerpt] Speed will set you free. Speed is the crack between sketch and style. Catch it and then hang on for the glide. With speed, nothing is impossible.

(Brannon in Borden, 2001:107).

I rode into the deep mystery of skateboarding by accident in 2009 during the Kozakov Challenge in the Czech Republic, which is now home to the World Championship.

The racetrack then was a freshly paved 3 km long mountain road with several bends and corners where boarders are able to achieve an approximate speed of 80-105 kph (IDF, 2013).

It was during one of the qualifying time runs, where I had a kind of epiphany, an experience that took my understanding of skateboarding to a new level and broadened my horizon of awareness. Below I attempt to express this humbling experience in words, but I would like to remind the reader that it is a slippery thing to capture the magnificent feelings of skateboarding in words. Those feelings appear to be like art, such as the aura of paintings by Marc Chagall, the bodily experiences are difficult to render in language — they are best experienced to appreciate.

88 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

It is a hot summer day and I am wearing a tight red full body leather suit, a full-face helmet and it is my first major downhill race. I am nervous, thrilled excited and generally in an extreme joyful mood, honored to have met a community of inspirational people from all walks of life. Next to my tent camps a dentist, a carpenter, a postman, a lawyer, an architect, a graphic designer a biologist student, a skateboard shop owner, a warehouse manager, a masseur, a physiotherapist, a fulltime dad and many more boarders from across the globe. Young and old gather despite those labels outside the bubble of the championship, an event that seems to break down barriers between people and push aside the social conventions and norms. The only thing that counts now is ‘riding’.

It is a competitive race, and at the same time there is a communal spirit that unites us to enjoy the ride in the moment rather then competing for the podium. It is about having fun and improving our riding tactic, style and flow. We are stretching our bodies, focusing the mind and exchanging strategies and technical bits and bobs. There is bliss in the air, people are beaming with energy, excited, happy, relaxed, flowing and yet most are structured enough to make it to the racetrack on time. The vibes of the event are extraordinaire.

It is now my time run. I am ‘in tuck’ (a position on my board that gives the best possible aerodynamic stance). My back leg is tucked tight in the curve of my front knee, my back foot heel is somewhat in the air and most of my bodily weight is on the front leg. My spine is bent at the hip, laying straight with my chest slightly propped on my front leg. I am flying down the straight bit of road just before the last corner. I am hot, my breath steams up my slightly scratched visor and the environment around me rushes passed.

to my activity in case it goes not as planned. I am on the edge of my comfort zone for a minute. I am feeling an extreme rush of luck and appreciation that I can go so fast and an intoxicating lust for life rushes through my cells. My mind is focused, my muscle tense and I ride through the last corner, across the finish line and I am in a passionate overflow of all sorts of feelings.

Bucket loads of endorphins spread across my entire body and I feel sensual, sexy, honored and totally alive in the present moment with a glow of energy that radiates through the group of skateboarding bodies.

The above moment happened within seconds, yet it felt like an eternity and the smile on my face did not vanish for days. I was on a natural high and felt like drifting through life. I was no longer an individual skateboarder but dissolved in an intense feeling of Vienna underground. Photo: Nicole Fleck ‘stoke’. It might have been what Abraham Maslow calls a “peak experience” (Maslow, 1961).

Such an experience, according to Maslow (1970:164) includes: “feelings of limitless horizons opening up to the vision, the feeling of being. Simultaneously more powerful and also more helpless than one ever was before, the feeling of great ecstasy and wonder and awe, the loss of placing in time and space.”

He found that people reported themselves to be ‘lucky’ after having experienced such moments and that such experiences result in an increase of empathy, self-determination, creativity and free will — all recurring themes among skateboarding bodies (O’Connor, forthcoming). Maslow understands those experiences as moments in our life that come and go but resemble absolute wholeness.

Fast, fast fast fast fast like, as I am sitting on one of Germany’s Inter City Express speed trains. I have the entire road for myself and I am flying! It feels like the fastest I ever been (later on the timer, I learn it was 83.5 kph). I know that the faster I am going, the slower I have to act and I am careful to adjust my body slightly. Immediately I notice the front trucks wobbling so I make sure to stay still, and in full body tension. My position is not perfect, but I have a feeling that I am too fast to move my body parts. I surrender to whatever happens, but intuitively trusting that I will ride through the upcoming last corner. The speed wobbles stop, my heart is open and it feels as if the wind, despite my leather, manages to blow through all my pores. Never before did my board carry me so fast yet time appears to stand still for a moment.

I am in a paradoxical way feeling a sense of joyful silence, extreme stoke and a sense of the possible destruction inherent Skateface on in Kabul. Photo: Joel Shame

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 89

ARTIST PROFILE

CALEIGH ILLERBRUN

M

y story began over twenty ago in British Columbia. As a child, I loved nothing more than drawing and having my friends draw with me. I obtained a Fine Arts degree to further my drawing skills. After graduating, I moved to the U.K. and

began creating the art that I wanted with no restrictions. Being surrounded by a completely different landscape, many Canadian themes began to appear in my artwork. I realized how much one’s homeland can be ingrained into one’s soul.

I love exploring the various relationships between creatures without much human presence. I try not to delve into the reasons why I paint or draw the things I do. Instead, listening to a viewer’s interpretation of my work as they bring their own experience to it is much more interesting to me. caleigh-ill.com

P CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: - CREATURE HOARDER - NARWHAL PICKLER - I CAN’T HEAR YOU - JUST TO SAY HI - NONE SHALL PASS

SLALOM UPDATE: W

ith spring in full swing – racing season is off to a great start around the world. As of this writing there have already been three main status races in as many months – Cold Fusion Sizzler in Houston, Texas; Slalom Skateboard Conscience in Sao Paulo Brazil and Slalom St Louis in Missouri.

The world ranking stats have 5-time overall world champ Joe McLaren of USA in the #1

position again with Sweden’s Viking Hadestrand #2. In fact, it’s USA (3) and Sweden (2) for the top 5 pro spots. With sixteen or so races still on the horizon – there will be plenty of chances for racers to make their mark on the world circuit. Three of these main events also carry the possibility of winning a title or two for the season with extra bragging rights to boot.

Joe McLaren reigning US National Champ at the US Nationals Oceanside 2014 Photo: Craig Jackman

First up will be the Sk8Kings US National Slalom Championships in Oceanside California – featuring a gnarly steep hill venue situated in the heart of the slalom racing hotbed of the 1970’s. Hosted by local diehards So Cal Racing and La Costa Boys this 5th annual race will offer up national titles to the fastest USA racers and another great reason to plan a summer visit to So Cal. (July 11-12) 92 | CONCRETE WAVE - SUMMER 2015

Meanwhile across the pond, the Skateland European Championships in Gothenburg Sweden will be the go-to for high stakes racing with title honors as the summer heats up.

The Gothenburg crew has a thriving local racing scene and this top-ranked event will also feature boardercross and a megaramp record attempt. (August 28-30)

Eli Weisenbach left and Lucas Pauly right - both homegrown HOSS junior class racers Photo: Maria Carrasco

As the sun sets on summer – the racing world will switch focus to Ashland Kentucky for THE major event of the year – the Slalom World Championships. When plans fell through with the previously announced location in New Hampshire – the tristate crew known as HOSS – jumped at the chance to claim the hosting honor. HOSS which stands for “Hillbilly Outlaw Slalom Skateboarding” (aptly named with the regions Appalachian culture in mind) is headed by Lenny Poage. Worlds will be an official part of Ashland’s annual bash – Poage Landing Days Festival – with racing smack dab in the middle of town during the weekend event. Lenny is a descendant of the festival’s namesake and 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of his annual Conefest race. He’s proving his “If I build it – they will come” philosophy in a big way for sure. (Sept 18-20)

2015n d n a atel swede

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sk enburg -- . august h2i8ps-Goth sskogen mpions . slott pean Chad slalom Euroder -- X an boar

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2015-03-25 15:34

Check out all the latest racing news at slalomranking.com

CONCRETEWAVEMAGAZINE.COM | 93

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