Woodstock
The
This page, clockwise from left:
Evolutionary realities on the road to
Woodstock. Brick bank slashing
under the Brooklyn Bridge. Subway
skating in NYC. T.K. glides a long-
board backside air above the Ramp
Ranch II in Atlanta. Gerald Burris
Esteps into a 'creeper' at Joe Bower's
place. Photos by Newton
DAY SIXTEEN
Going to New Jersey today. A mere 750 miles. I don't remember any
thing about this day except that there's too many toll roads on the east
coast. Musta payed $20.00 in tolls, too much.
When we got to Murph's house in New Jersey and attempted to find
a corner to sleep in, his sister comes out in her underwear to see what's
going on.
DAY SEVENTEEN
We are the late sleepers today. When we do finally get up we go down
to Zodiac, the local surf and skate shop, to get much needed repairs on
our boards.
There was even a thought to go to the beach today, but who wants to
pay $2.50 to be able to set foot on the sand? Shine! I know, today let's do
something different-let's go skating.
Two spots were hit today, Murph's ramp and some fiberglass ramps.
Murph's needs some new plys on it bad and the glass ramp was set
up on a downhill, but both were rippable.
We hear about a show tonite, at the Brighton Bar. The bill was 'Child
Abuse, Genocide," Jersey's Finest' and 'Bad Posture."
Not a bad show except for the fact that the age is 21 for drinking and
it was a lot of trouble getting minors in.
DAY EIGHTEEN
It had to happen sooner or later, the old truck seems to be sick today.
A quick diagnosis shows that the alternator is dead and is easily fixed, for
a mere $100.00 dollars.
With that out of the way, today's destination is New York City. Land of
scum, dirt and Goat men. We are warned not to touch anything, this place
is so crazy, lots of impatient people and cabs. Too many spots for street
skating. The 1st was some sort of soft asphalt mounds in Washington
Square-some local shows up on a little plastic board and beets harder
than anyone I've ever seen.
We skate on and get so lost that we ask one of New York's finest for
directions. He points one way and his partner points the other. Thanks for
the help. While trying to get unlost a local turns us on to some banks under
the Brooklyn Bridge. He says it's close, but it's far, but worth it.
The shadows are getting longer so the consensus is: "Let's get the
hell outta here." The subway seems the way to go, so we go for it. They
looked just like they do in the movies, graffiti everywhere, so what harm
would there be in putting a few stickers here and there. After exiting the
subway station we happen upon some lady pullin' trash out of a can and
throwin' it all over the street yelling: "This is where I put the food for the
animals on planet Earth." The cops are lovin' it. One is calling her a bimbo
and the other carts her away.
The last stop before it gets too dark is a street where people sit on the
sidewalk and sell trash, well almost trash. For example there was a lady
sitting in a baby carriage selling bondage magazines. Let's bail now!
A beautifully executed inside railer at the Nashville ramp of Billy
Saunders. Ray Underhill skating
John Gibson during a blasting session at John Jones' fiberglass rampland
in Ocean Township, New Jersey.
DAY NINETEEN
Another typical late start today. That's O.K. Only one ramp to hit
today. This one is in Somer's Point, N.J. So far this is the best constructed
ramp we've seen. This guy's father built it when C.H. closed down so he'd
have a place to skate. The only drawback is that the transitions are 12 foot
(sorta large) and it's not cool to just come over and session at any
time-ask T.A.
We get back to Murph's in time to eat and go watch videos at Paul's
house. Good skate footage at the local ramp and some downhill. But the
best was 'Cafe Flesh' with Joanny Rico. Janet, who demanded to see the
entire film changed her mind after a couple of close-ups, but she endured
the whole thing.
DAY TWENTY
Splitting for Middletown, Ohio. Today we almost get up early, but not
quite early enough. It's sounding like a broken record by now. More toll
roads again today. I really enjoy paying $10.00 to drive thru Pennsylvania
to smell pig and cow excrement. What a bargain. The drive has taken
longer than anticipated due to heavy construction thru the Smokey Mtns.
So tonite's session seems to be in jeopardy.
When we do finally roll into town the first stop, naturally, is the
drive-thru beer store. As we are ordering the guy working there starts
talking like he knows us, and says that it's about time we got here. It turns
out that we're going to his house to skate. After checking out the ramp,
food scarfing is next on the list of things to do.
We follow the caravan of hungry skaters to 'White Castle,' this is the
funniest place I've ever seen, the burgers look like poker chips, on
crackers and almost taste like 'em. I'd say we gambled and lost.
DAY TWENTY-ONE
Three weeks? I don't believe it. Today we went back to the Middletown
ramp and skated for an hour or so. With locals Joe and John Downey.
They held their M.E.S.S. contest here the same weekend as Kona, with a
strong turnout, some 40 entrants. The scene is definitely alive in the
Midwest.
Next was to go to Dayton and skate Bret Martin's ramp. As soon as a
good session got going the rain began to fall. When the rain let up we
followed Squid to his house as if we were going to stay there. We'll get
cleaned up to go to see some bands tonite, MDC," "Rebel Truth' and Toxic
Reason' are in town.
When we finally get to the hall it is learned that MDC has been
detained or jailed or something in Canada. Well, the show must go on, and
on it did.
DAY TWENTY-TWO
One more stop before the tour is done, Nashville, home of Conway
Twitty and Dolly Parton and some rad skaters.
The lack of sleep is hitting harder and harder so as soon as we check
out the ramp and determine that it's rippable, a local motel is scoped out
and crashed in 'til night time as this ramp has better lights than some
skateparks I've seen. As soon as the sun set we eased our way from
A/Ced environment to skate for the last time 'til we get home.
This ramp was to have been the site of the recently canceled
THRASHER Pro Event, too bad, this ramp is too good. Billy Saunders, the
ramp owner, asked if we wanted to see some fotos, and thinking they were
skate photos, agreed. We thought wrong-they were of Billy in the hospital
after he broadsided a car doing 45 mph, while downhilling. He looked like
shark bait. But did he quit? Hell, no, he's still out there skating today.
DAY TWENTY-THREE
650 miles to home base. Finally I'll be able to sleep in my own bed.
Can't wait. The long drive got me thinking about the last 3 weeks or so on
this tour. The overriding feeling was that skating is happening and
happening big. It may not be the billion dollar industry that it once was, but
it is definitely growing steadily in the areas that we visited.
The trip sure was worth taking. I'd like to thank everyone who put us
up at their homes and let us eat their food. Maybe we'll see ya next
summer.
TER-NEWTRON