TALKING ED
A telephone call from Columbus, Ohio the other
day brought the news that Apple Skatepark was
to be filled in to make way for a warehouse
(probably by the time you read this). Apple was
one of the finest vertical skating facilities in the
world and along with the closure of Cherry Hill in
New Jersey last month the situation on the east-
coast concerning skateparks is getting pretty dry.
What was once a dream has now gone full cycle
and is fast becoming just a dream ond
once again
too bad, yet the state- of t the skateparks does not
reflect where skateboarding is at in the 80's. The
parks will continue t to close but not l because e of a
lack of interest in skating. So much emphasis has
been put on vertical skating these past few years
It's
that many skaters don't
n't check other possibilities
Once a skater realizes how much fun he or she
can have just riding in the streets or parking lots,
then it doesn't matter that they don't have a
park in which to skate. Ramps have had a big ef
fect on the skateparks; not only are ramps a lot of
fun to build, the type of skating that can be done
on ramps is just as intense as any park. You can
session anytime you want and a ramp can be
made to order to your own specifications
Anyway, you won't find us crying about the loss
of skateparks because we realize that there is a
lot more to skating than being told when to skate
and where. In future issues we will be stepping up
our coverage of non-park skating environs such as
banks, ditches, pools, streets, and sidewalks. So
quit blubbering about the past and skate with us
into the future of skateboarding.
KT.
SUB
SCR
IBE
NTN
BALL
BEARINGS
0
NTN
NTN BEARING CORP. OF AMERICA
Kingwell Bros. Ltd. SF., CA 781-0513
MAIL DROP
PARK DEATH
THRASHER
I just heard that Chemy Hill closed
Is this true? I thrashed there last
Christmas and planned to this
summer. Got any info on it? Us
East Coasters crave perfect pools
as everyone does Your mag rips
Your name explains it totally. Apple
rips too. Go for it D. Bush
-Pat Nugent Rebel Skate Rats
Newport News Va
Yeah, it closed. And so did Apple
Con-Ed
THRASHER
Yesterday a few friends and I
skipped school to go to Apple
(skatepark, Ohio) for a couple of
days. The car we rode in was a
piece of st. It won't start without
a jump. But anyway, on the way
up we were caught speeding (70
to 80 mph in a 55 mph zone), we
were out of our state and the cop
charged the driver $46.00 for a
ticket. That about broke us, but we
went on, waiting to shred. You
know the good feeling you get as
you near a good spot to skate. We
pulled into Apple's parking lot at
about 3:30 pm. (from Charleston
it's a 3%-hour drive with a one-hour
delay for the ticket). Well we got
there and I was ready to jam out
we
The park was closed down UPS
bought the building and will fill in
all of its bowls. I can't explain the
blank feeling you get when your
park closes. The new owner, rd like
to wall on him, was in there.
bought some pads, boards and
trucks for good prices. While he
was selling the stuff, I grabbed my
board, ran into the park and
dropped into the L-Bowl I was the
last one to ever ride in that park
All I did was a grind or two before
that jerk told me to get out. I
should've stayed i anyway but I
didn't. I see the purpose in its
closing it has made me want to
ride even more, just to show people
or myself, skating will never die
A guy I have skated with was
there he lives in Columbus. I
don't know his name nor he mine.
but we are pretty good friends
never see him again. He shared
that feeling I had, I'm sure
We were going to go ride
another park Everyone left the
park it was closed, all locked up.
Two more locals drove up and
found out that it was closed
Locals man, they didn't even
know that it was closed. They must
be real loyal skaters. Whatever. We
tried to break in and skate but
couldn't. I'm really bummed about
it The "locals spit and we were all
alone. It was pouring the rain. We
just sat in the car in front of the
park, drank some beer and
smoked
It's such a letdown not having
that park Naturally, the car
wouldn't start, so we stayed in the
rain for about three hours. Ironically.
we didn't get lost on the way
back I think we'll build a half pipe
and thrash. Keep skating
Mort Taber
Cross Lanes, WV
PS. Skaters (are there any?) in WV.
give me a call. Help build the
ramp. Number's in the book
That's it-keep the skater spirit
And please accept our deepest
condolences on your great loss
ON THE TEE-VEE
Dear THRASHER
Con-Ed
Lately on the ABC TV channel 1
have seen a SPRITE soft drink com
mercial with, as you put in your
mag is James Robinson at Upland
But on Saturday, May 16th and
Sunday, May 17th (on Sunday
about 7:40) i saw the same com
mercial with surfing, but this time it
was Brad Bowman doing the
skating at Upland. I know that
Bowman shreds from contests and
seeing him at Cherry Hill, and now
the world can see him shred. I
can't explain how excited I was to
see this commercial. I missed the
1980 Gold Cup finals, if indeed it
was telecast over here in Ga. I
don't intend on missing anything
else of skating. With your help!
won't. I would greatly appreciate it
If you could inform of coming or
happening skating events by mail
Td really appreciate it
---Mike Harrington
Alpharetta Ga
We'll try and keep you well
informed through the mag. OK?
OK
Con-Ed
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