The Return of Skateboarding

BY HUGH MCCORMICK  Hugh graduated from UCSC - magna cum laude- with a BA in sociology and a focus on global information and social enterprise studies. If you need to get a hold of him or his chiweenie Groot, check 26th Avenue beach or De La Veaga disc golf course.

Rocking a black and yellow Huff sweatshirt, a well-loved pair of Levi’s, and a sweet pair of Nike SB’s, 38-year-old Ralph Mendoza rings up (and talks up) a steady stream of customers on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon.

Laughter echoes off the board-coveredwalls of Santa Cruz’s iconic skating emporium, Bill’s Wheels. Throngs of groms (lil’ skaters) peruse racks of carefully curated textiles and ogle over the shop’s brilliant rainbow of wheels, decks, and skating accessories.

Business, at Bill’s, is booming.

“Business has been beyond good,” admits Mendoza. “And skating is becoming super popular right now. Just because of COVID. It gives antsy kids an outlet to release some of that pent-up energy."

The moment that COVID-19 forced the United States into quarantine and lock-down-mode, the popularity of skateboarding shot through the roof. Suddenly, everyone wanted to be a skater!

Almost immediately, equipment started to sell out in skate shops across the country, and retailers like Bill’s Wheels had to scramble to get their hands on product. Complete set ups — board, trucks, tape, and wheels — were the hottest sellers, but many skate shops had to wait for months to stock certain boards and accessories.

Even before the days of oh-so-precious hand sanitizer, toilet paper hoarding and face masks, skateboarding was a sport on the rise. Some folks go so far as to call the past five years skateboarding’s “golden age.” Skating’s impact on fashion, music, social media, and entertainment in general has been astounding. Researchers say the skateboard market will be worth a cool $2.4 billion by 2025 —but that was before the recent COVID-19 insanity.

Skateboarding is going mainstream — heck, this year it’s going to be an actual Olympic sport! — and the days where “punks,” “outcasts”, and “misfits” were the only dudes out there streetshredding are looooong gone. There has been a significant — industry shaking —change in the mentalities regarding skateboarding in general.

The fact that many cities now have dedicated skate parks has certainly helped things along and allowed skating to spruce up its image. No more scary punks raising hell, destroying private property, smoking doobies and drinking in the dark corners and fringes of society.

Today’s skating community is stronger, and many say far more welcoming, than at any point in the sport’s storied history. It’s why, especially during the coronavirus, we’ve experienced a sizable shift in skating’s audience. There are more lady shredders than ever! And an older generation is finding new, or renewed, love for the art form.

“There’s been a lot of girls just starting to skate. And it’s awesome! They’re getting really good. It’s pretty rad to watch,” says Mendoza. “I’m 38 and I started as a munchkin. All these groms are the older dudes now. They’re getting back into skating when their kids pick it up. Two generations.”

Girl skaters — they number around 10 percent — bring a new and renewed energy the ever-swelling skating community. And it’s pretty rad how some of these chicks ride, breaking gender stereotypes along the way. As of now, there’s a rather healthy contingent of progirl-skaters who make a living doing what they love. Just a decade ago, no one could have dreamed that would be possible

Increasingly, an older generation, who skated passionately in their youth, are dusting off their rigs and hitting up skate parks —alone or with their kids. 10 years ago, teens represented a majority — over 55%percent — of all skaters out there. That figure continues to drop, and teens represent just 44% of the world’s 80 million skaters today.

“For sure skating is becoming mainstream. It’s not uncool like it was in the early 1990’s. With the X-Games and it being on TV, people are starting to make money skating. That made it much cooler,” Mendoza explains.

Social media has done wonders to globalize the sport of skateboarding— bringing eyes to some amazing skaters who would otherwise remain anonymous. When skaters started to post content on video sharing websites like Instagram and YouTube, the sport began to rapidly evolve. The internet gave skateboarding a wider, and instantly global audience.

Two decades ago, skate videos took months and even years to edit and produce. Now there are hundreds of hours of absolutely amazing skating available at our fingertips.

“Social media helps kids get noticed. You can be from nowhere USA and get picked up and sponsored. It’s become a huge way for kids to promote themselves. It’s truly making skating accessible to more people,” says Mendoza.

Skating is now considered cool. Nope, not that countercultural, subversive, slightly dangerous, punk-rock cool. Just cool. Everyone wants to be, or at least look like a skater.

Millions of non-skaters choose to rock skate brands like Element, Independent, Thrasher, Santa Cruz, and Vans every day. And Infamous NYC streetwear brand Supreme went from underground skate shop to doing over a cool billion in sales in less than a decade.

Rap stars like Logic, Little Wayne, and Tyler the Creator sing about skating and actively identify with skate culture. And Lupe Fiasco’s “kick, push” (So he kick push kick push kick push kick push coast —And away he rolled jus’ a rebel to the world with no place to go) — went from underground tune to skating’s anthem.

Since its start, skateboarding has gone through many ups and downs. The sport’s first downfall came in the 1980’s when all of skateboarding’s top magazines went out of business, tons of skateparks closed, and overall participation in skateboarding dropped precipitously. Skating went through another depressing phase.in the early 1990’s, but the sport quickly bounced back with the rising popularity of street skating, and the introduction of televised events like the X-Games. Skating has endured.

Call it the COVID-effect, but skating’s popularity and skating culture itself is stronger today than it has ever been. There is an estimated 80 million people worldwide who skate — at least occasionally—and more are picking up the sport every day.

“The coolest thing about skateboarding is the community,” says Mendoza. “It’s like a big family. If you skate and you are somewhat decent you are always welcome to spots where others are skating.”

Over the years, Santa Cruz has become somewhat synonymous with skateboarding. Millions of riders (and everyday Joes) around the globe proudly sport local (and legendary) skate brand NHS’ signature “red dot” logo.

We are more-than blessed with a ton of fantastic skateparks and a solid collection of local skate shops who are more-than-eager to get you hooked up and rolling like a champ. Our vibrant, and actively growing skating community in Santa Cruz County has something truly special.

BY KEVIN PAINCHAUD | PHOTOS BY KEVIN PAINCHAUD

KP: Hey Marco, mind if I ask you some questions? MC: Sure, go ahead KP: What's your name and age? MC: My name is Marco Chavez, I’m 16 years old and I go to Santa Cruz High. KP: When did you start skating? MC: I started skating when I was 9. I would skate at Scotts Valley Skate Park. KP: Are your parents supportive of you skating? MC: My parents are very supportive. Both my parents skate with me. My dad takes me skating every day after school and he keeps all my gear in top shape. KP: Why do you like skating so much? MC: Because it’s fun and I can do basically whatever I want. I can tweak an air how I please and there is an endless combination of lines you can create as well as it’s an art form and a way to express my self KP: Do you ever compete? MC: Ya. I compete in a contest series called CASL and do pretty well. I won most of them except for one. I missed a couple of them because of school. KP: Who are you sponsored by? MC: I’m sponsored by Dogtown Skateboards, independent trucks, k9 wheels, Bills Wheels Skate Shop, Meekster Brau, Lakai shoes, Pardon Designs and of course my parents KP: Think you’ll ever want to go pro? MC: I would like to, but my main goal is to go to college and get an education. I would like to be a mechanical engineer because I like to build and tinker KP: What do you recommend to kids that are just getting started skating? MC: Just have fun. Don’t focus on trying to go pro or do big gnarly tricks. Start slow and make sure you’re always having fun. KP: Thanks so much Marco. Is there anything else that you want to add? MC: Skateboarding to me is another way to express my self, exercise and a sport. I push myself cause I want to do tricks a certain way and proper and also because my dad puts in so much work for me to keep me skating that I want to try and put as much effort as he puts in for me.

Jim Keefe Skate Park (Formerly Highland Skate Park) 8500 Highway 9 Ben Lomond 9AM-Sunset A lil’ bit in the boonies, tucked in a shady area off of Highway 9 past Scotts Valley, Jim Keefe Skate Park (formerly Highland Skate Park) is a well-balanced skate land for intermediate and advanced riders. At the end of the day, it’s really about the park’s bowl. That’s why many skaters choose to spurn always-crowded spots like Skypark and take the meandering drive to the 8,500 square foot concrete structure. Jim Keefe is rarely crowded so you’re sure to have first crack at the bowl and solid mix of street features. There’s a cool little fenced off area for beginner’s with a long and low flat rail and a few low-to-the- ground ledges perfect to practice grinds and other basic tricks. Jim Keefe is an under-utilized skatepark, and well worth the trip for an afternoon of free and unencumbered shredding.

Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park at Mike Fox Park 299 San Lorenzo Blvd, Santa Cruz 9AM-7PM Monday-Sunday Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park at Mike Fox Park’s boasts a divine mix of street skating, pipes, and bowls that make it a must-shreddestination for locals and Valley-folk alike. Prior to the grand opening of local-legend Zach Wormhoudt’s impeccably designed 15,000 square foot skatepark– he’s designed over 100 skateparks around the globe! – Mike Fox’s picnic area and 4 tennis courts were rarely used. The park itself was hardly visited; save for the occasional transient. Today, the $1.3 million facility, hugging a gentle and picturesque curve of the San Lorenzo River, is packed by newbies and vicious shredders every single day. Many skaters, some from as far away as Europe, make the pilgrimage to downtown Santa Cruz, just to ride the park’s rails, bowls, and stairs, and try to conquer the first full pipe in Northern California. The park is named after Zach Wormhoudt’s dad Ken, who designed and built the world’s first public skate park – legendary Derby Park— in Santa Cruz County in 1974. Zach took over the Mike Fox Park project when Ken passed away. Ultimately, the biggest challenge Zach faced was constructing the 16-foot-tall full pipe. It was an engineering feat and a true work of art, crafted it in a way that mimics an ocean wave. It’s not just about the pipe though. The wellmaintained and carefully cared for bowls and a wide array of street skating features elevate Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park into the upper echelon of skating destinations.

Live Oak Skatepark (Jose Avenue Skatepark) Jose Ave, Santa Cruz, Sunrise to Sunset 831-454-7501 At 4000 square feet, Jose Avenue Skatepark is far from the largest park in Santa Cruz County. But it’s still a fun, and popular destination for skaters in the Live Oak area. There are no vertical elements to be had here, just a ton of great street features. The concrete is always super smooth and the skatepark, just like Jose Avenue County Park, is well maintained and carefully cared for. Built in 2000, Jose Avenue Skatepark boasts a ton of clean lines and a sweet collection of innovative skateable elements. The County Park itself is family oriented and feels safe. BBQ pits and covered picnic seating are available, and many families like to spend entire days here — skating, playing in the slide/climbing gym area, letting Fido loose in the dog park, and tending to public vegetable gardens. Parking can get tight, so if you decide to skate Jose Avenue try to arrive early in the day.

Ramsay Park 1301 Main Street, Watsonville6 Sunrise to Sunset For 10 years, Ramsay Park was the home of a humble, somewhat dilapidated temporary skatepark. It just didn’t cut the mustard for Watsonville’s and South County’s growing contingent of skateboarders. Ramsay Park’s new $600,000 in-ground and permanent skatepark officially opened in May of 2016 and has been a popular and muchloved skate spot ever since. Santa Cruz’s Wormhoudt Landscape Architecture designed the park – that features a sweet centrally located bowl, extensive street features, rails galore, a wall ride, and a massive quarter pipe. The old temporary skate park was tucked into a dark semisketchy corner of Ramsay Park. It offered a rudimentary experience and developed a bit of a bad reputation over time. The new, bright and shiny skatepark is located at Ramsay Park’s main entrance to increase visibility, address safety concerns, and attract skaters of all ages and skill levels. For years, Watsonville lacked an adequate skating facility, so kids took to the streets, skating on private property and school campuses. Ramsay’s 10,000 square feet of concrete bliss features a wide range of options perfect for novice skaters and experts alike. Skating is getting huge in South County, and Ramsay Skatepark has become the vibrant community’s epicenter.

Seacliff Skatepark McGregor Dr, Aptos The gleaming, brand spanking new Seacliff Skatepark is a dream come true for the long-neglected skaters in mid and South Santa Cruz County. With views of the Monterey Bay and “skateable art” the pristine $300,000 skate land is jam packed with skaters of all levels each and every day. Dreamland Skate Parks, working in concert with local firm Bredy Construction, designed Seacliff Skatepark. After years of debate and waiting, construction of the long-awaited skate spot was relatively speedy, taking seven weeks and coming in under budget. Over 500 people attended the park’s unveiling in February 2020. It was a wild joyous occasion with skate demos, dancing, live music by local band The Cement Ships, and of course, copious shredding. Located just off of Highway 1 along McGregor Drive, the park is in a perfect spot,—just steps away from Seacliff State Park. Local artists provide swaths of vibrant color and intricate design features in the skatepark, picnic areas, and along the park’s snaking walking paths. You’ll find subtle (and skateable!) references to local monuments like the S.S. Palo Alto (Aptos’ famous cement ship). Seacliff Skatepark provides a long awaited, and important, recreational opportunity for mid-County skaters long used to skating school grounds, local churches, and other private property. Local skaters can thank lifelong Capitola resident, and founder of the legendary skateboard company NHS, Richard Novak for footing most of the bill — for what is now one of the hottest skate spots in the County.

Sergeant Derby Park 508 Woodland Way, Santa Cruz Sunup to Sundown 831-420-5270 The legend. The Icon. Derby. Originally designed by Wormhoudt Inc. in the 1970’s, Derby Park is one of the oldest public skate parks in the world. The skate spot is located on the Westside of Santa Cruz County and is a true landmark of skateboarding history. The park is a survivor, weathering numerous dips and rises in skateboarding’s popularity and some ultra-dark periods of widespread skate park closures. Many parks closed permanently in the 1980’s due to skyrocketing insurance costs. Long known for its wall to wall graffiti and rough rides, Derby Skatepark recently received a much needed (but somewhat controversial) facelift. Santa Cruz County public officials believed the historic park to be too dangerous to skate and demanded that significant changes be made. Some nostalgic skaters fought hard against the proposals, but in the end acquiesced. The County turned to the park’s original creators, Wormhoudt Inc. to make all of the alternations and to add new (and smooth!) concrete and four inches of rebar. Some of the changes to Derby include a “rocket pocket” at the start of the snake run and a 40-foot section of original style double-sided lip at the top of the snake run. Wormhoudt Inc. took extra care to keep the original form of the legendary park. Most of the firm’s work focused on fixing surfaces and dangerous tripping hazards. Much of the park’s famous graffiti is gone, and Derby feels safer – and cleaner- today than at any time in its storied history. Derby is a bucket list destination for all skaters. No doubt about it.

Tim Brauch Memorial Skate Park — Skypark in Scotts Valley 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley 8AM-7PM svSkatePark.com At 22,000 square feet, Tim Brauch Memorial Skate Park in Scotts Valley’s Skypark is the largest skate mecca in Santa Cruz County. With buttery smooth concrete and impeccable craftmanship, the park offers a wide variety of terrain for skaters of all levels. After years of planning, Tim Brauch Memorial Skate Park finally broke ground in April of 2004, and opened to much fanfare on September 21st. Over 500 people turned out to the unveiling. Most were blown away by the park’s sheer vastness and superb collection of skateable features. Wormhoudt Inc., the architects of over 70 skate parks around the globe designed the skating playground. The park’s wide and varied selection of bowls – of all varieties and sizes – is unmatched. Conquer the 2-foot-deep micro bowl and then skate on over to the super-speedy and kidney shaped 4-foot-deep mini bowl. Once you’ve had enough with the mini’s metal coping and fun lines, take the dive into the 8-foot-deep clover shaped big bowl. The bowl’s ultra-smooth and perfectly maintained concrete and slick metal coping make it one of the park’s most popular features. Tim Brauch is all about space, and you’ll have plenty in the park’s fun and extensive street course. A selection of quarter pipes border the street zone — containing a collection of stairs, steps with rails, and yet another oval bowl. The skate park is named in honor of American professional skater Timothy Brauch, who died of cardiac arrest at the age of 25. Each year, friends gather at Tim Brauch Memorial Skate Park for the annual Timothy Brauch Memorial Contest. Dozens of skaters show up to shred Tim Brauch Skate Park each day. The park can get crowded, but with over 20,000 square feet of skateable terrain it hardly feels like it. Don’t show up to the park without a helmet unless you want to get a ticket from the always hovering Scotts Valley coppers. And watch out for the swarming army of grommets on their razor scooters.

Bill's Wheels 1240 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz2 10AM-6PM Monday-Sunday 831-690-9045 BillsWheeels.com It’s been a good 44 years for Bill’s Wheels. When industry OG Bill Ackerman opened the first incarnation of his legendary skating emporium on East Lake Avenue in Watsonville in 1977 he was just starting to get into skateboarding seriously. He had always intended on following in his dad’s footsteps and becoming a cop, but the stars aligned and Ackerman dove fully into the skating industry. The demos in the parking lot of Bill’s Wheels (Watsonville) – which he called “Skate Jams” attracted 400-500 kids each month. Ramps were set up and bands played music as groms and skating adults shredded in the afternoon sun. Ackerman brought out walls of sheet rock and allowed local graffiti artists to flex their graffiti muscles. In 1995, Bill’s Wheels opened its current Santa Cruz location, and the Watsonville store shut its doors after 20 good years. Bill’s Wheels has played an important role in Santa Cruz skateboarding culture from the beginning. Just look at the rows and rows of priceless old school rigs that cover its walls. If you’re a skateboarder in Santa Cruz, you have to check out Bill’s. There is an ever-rotating wall of amazing graffiti on the walls outside, and inside you’ll find a passionate crew just waiting to meet any and all of your skating needs. Unmatched selection. Period.

Cali Style 222 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley 11AM-5PM Monday-Sunday 831-440-1088 Skate in style! Boasting one of the widest arrays of dope skate clothing and boards on the Central Coast, Cali Style has exactly what you’ll need for a dope day at the park, or in the streets. Hit up the family-owned skating-hot-spot before you head to Tim Brauch Memorial Skatepark (located in Scotts Valley’s Skypark). You’ll find a devoted staff - straight up cool, chill, and ultra-patient – who are happy to dispense advice and guide you to your skating sweet spot. Cali Style carries a healthy selection of boards and all things skate – including a nice little stock of some hard to find items. The shop is straight up homie - packed with lil’ skate rats each and every day. It’s become the vibrant epicenter of skating in Scotts Valley. If you need threads, or require a board or other equipment to shred, Cali Style has got you covered.

Foreverfly Skate and Apparel 442 Main Street, Watsonville 11AM-7PM Monday-Sunday 831-228-9819 ForeverFly.com Those living in Santa Cruz’s South County will be stoked to know that there is finally a beautiful little gem of a skate shop in their backyard. If you’re heading to Ramsay Park for an afternoon session, make sure you pop.by Foreverfly on Main Street in Watsonville. Established in 2017, Foreverfly is locally owned and operated and fully stocked with a huge selection of boards and apparel. The humble shop is nicely designed, sparkling clean, and its devoted staff are patient and super friendly.

Free to Ride Surf Shop 110 Capitola Avenue, Capitola 831-475-2401 11AM-6PM Monday -Sunday Not your typical skate shop at all, Free to Ride really caters to the beachy, touristy crowd that flock to the cool waters and white sand of Capitola Village during the summer. Most of the stores in Capitola look like, feel like, and are tourist traps – looking to gouge out-of-towners on chochkies and basic beach necessities. Free to Ride really isn’t one of these joints though, and if you’re near the village and need a new setup, it’s worth stopping by. There’s not a super wide selection ala Bill’s Wheel’s or Skateworks, but there’s a pretty nice selection of long boards, banana boards, and other skates to take a look at. Free to Ride has established itself as the premier surf shop in Capitola Village, but it also carries a nice array of skating goodies too.

Zumiez 1855 41st Ave, Ave. 8, Capitola 11AM-7PM Monday-Saturday, 10AM-6PM Sunday 831-465-1752 Most diehard skaters have a love hate relationship with Zumiez. Some call Zumiez, a colossus with 698 retail locations spread across all 50 states and 3 continents, the “Walmart of Skating.” Others are just stoked they have one more place to go when in desperate need of a new deck, grip tape, or bearings. When Zumiez fully burst onto the scene it was just straight up cool. Large cushy leather couches and Xbox’s (Tony Hawk baby!) encouraged shoppers (and skaters) to stay, play, listen to music, and just chill. Today, the couches and game terminals are gone and the chain stores that were once featured walls with impressive collections of decks, wheels, and gear, are mostly full of clothes. Zumiez sold over $927 million worth of merchandise last year, and many skaters criticize the corporation for not giving back to local skating communities (like local mom and pop shops do). Skating is blowing up and going mainstream, and many skaters argue about whether Zumiez is helping or hurting things. Yes, Zumiez does actively bolster the financial stability of many skate brands, but is the publicly traded company really adding anything to skateboarding culture? Buy your next set-up at Zumiez if you want, but I’m heading to Bills for better service, competitive prices, and to support my community.

Pacific Wave 1502 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz 10AM-8PM Monday-Sundy 831-458-9283 PacWave.com When the surf isn’t pumping, the pavement comes calling. And it’s time to head to family owned and operated Pacific Wave. Pac-Wave opened up shop on Pacific Avenue in 1993, renovating a cavernous, empty and damaged historical building in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz. Its employees like to say that they take the local surf shop mentality to a whole new level. You’ll find every surf-type product imaginable, but the store also boats one of the best skating selections in the County. The shop’s vibe is fresh and so so Santa Cruz, and the always smiling staff all seem to really like working there. And they’re happy to spend the time and energy to get you exactly what you need… so you leave so stoked you’ll want to pop a kickflip.

Santa Cruz Boardroom 825 41st Avenue, Santa Cruz 11AM-5PM Monday – Sunday 831-464-2500 SantaCruzBoardroom.com Serving Santa Cruz County at the site of the original NHS factory on 41st Avenue since 2008, Santa Cruz Boardroom is one of the largest (and busiest) skateboard shops in the State. Clothes, socks, bags, protective gear, boards (the shop is proud to be “home to 2000 skateboards) …. even dog food dishes made from recycled/retired decks, the retailer has established itself as a monument to all things skateboarding. Check out the Boardroom’s in-house museum teeming with an out of this world collection of rare skateboards and super cool art. Those on a budget should make a bee line to the clearance section, where a gorgeous collection of colorful boards, usually discounted around 30%, awaits.

Skateworks Santa Cruz 131 Center Street, Santa Cruz Monday 12PM-6PM, Closed Tuesday, Wednesday to Friday 12PM-6PM, Saturday 11AM-6PM, Sunday 11AM-5PM 831-427-4292 SkateWorks.com Established way back in 1988, familyowned-and-operated Skateworks has a long and storied history of serving all members - regardless of age, gender, and skill level - of the Santa Cruz County skating community. Skateboards are the shop’s bread and butter - the cornerstone of what it does. The store’s knowledgeable (and highly experienced) staff are happy to help you navigate through an always-impressive inventory and wide array of sizes and styles to accommodate any skater’s budget and taste. Once you’ve picked out your deck, wheels, and trucks they’ll carefully assemble your rocking setup gratis - during the same visit. And when the cash register dings, you’re ready to take your new bright and shiny toy out into the world. Make sure to give it its first scrape on the array of obstacles Skateworks team has carefully installed outside the shop. Skateworks also features a full-service quad roller skate department and proudly supports roller derby leagues in Santa Cruz and the greater Bay Area. But in the end, really, this place is about REAL skating.

Surf City 41 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz 9AM-8PM Monday-Sunday 831-426-9699 SurfCitySantaCruz.com Formerly “Ports of Call), Surf City is located in the center of the Santa Cruz municipal wharf. It’s not really a skate shop but carries a pretty healthy selection of boards and other gear. Worth a trip just to scope out their selection and to see if you can find any gems. Surf City has been in its current location since 1971, carrying a nice array of skate and surf gifts and apparel.