MADE
IN
CZ
AUSTRALIA 1983
OR STATE OF THE ART IN OZ
By Ken Achenback
When I landed at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, Australia in
May, the outlook for much skating looked grim, to say the least. Being
told, "Skating? Skateboarding is dead, haven't seen a board for
yonks (ages)," had me worried.
Driving from the airport to Melbourne and Geelong where I was to
stay for a while, the skater in me was getting desperate. As we toured
through the downtown core and some of the suburbs, Vermont,
Blackburn, Nunawading and such, they showed me the sights, the
Melbourne Entertainment Center, the Yarra River, the National
Gallery and two of Melbourne's universities, Monash and Melbourne.
Nice, but my sights were on all of the skateable terrain, gnarly curbs,
banks and a wave sculpture in front of the National Gallery that could
be ridden as a 4 pipe. Now that was art!
I still hadn't seen a soul on a skate, or heard the harsh bark of metal
grinding on concrete. This was depressing. I was envisioning skating
by myself for six or so months.
I went with the Nelsons to their house in Highton (a suburb of
Geelong), almost thinking of flying home that night. As we passed a
deserted gas station my senses were jerked from gloom to full alert,
as I was sure I had heard the familiar "thunk, thunk of wheels on
wood.
Then I saw it-a body projecting high into the stratosphere, pulling
off a flawless boneless air. Behind a fence near the gas station I knew
there was a skater. I could have cried with joy. A fellow skater! At last!
I could barely get out of the car fast enough, tripping over myself
throwing my pads on and rooting through my luggage for my skate. I
sprinted over to the fence and peered through a knothole and
gasped. Not only was there a perfect 16 foot long, 10 feet of flat and
9 foot walls with a channel halfpipe, but four skaters.
CIVILIZATION!!! I cried as I vaulted over the fence, the sounds of
skating assaulted my ears. I was sure that it was Black Flag, but a
skater changed the tape and now the tunes of Riot .303 were erupting
from the blaster on the ground. Now I knew I was on home ground,
skaters turf.
Quick introductions were made as I met Cameron Rae, Gavin,
Davo, 4B, and Julian. No time to waste as my body was crying out for
exercise after the nerve tearing, walkman blaring, stewardness
glaring, 20-hour flight from L.A. Unpacking could wait; I was
here to skate!
It was full on midnight when the session wound down with me hot
knowing who was more stoked, me to be skating with some Aussies
or the Aussies to be skating with a North American, something that
doesn't happen too often. As I gave out some of my precious stock
of THRASHER shirts and stickers (which I grabbed from my luggage
before it disappeared up the hill to the Nelson's house. They being
rather P.O.ed that I skated before I even said hello). I gathered that
there was a park in Corio (just outside Geelong) and a park in Melton
(outside Melb.) and that the Corio park was free. These guys were
the skating center of the Geelong area and they were H.C. No Duran
Duran for these Boys.
After a date was set to check out the local park the next day, I
figured I had better head home, as it was one in the morning.
As my totally thrashed body climbed slowly up Mt. Pleasant Road
(noting that it would be a killer downhill), I knew I was going to have
a great time in OZ.
Next day I met some more of the Highton locals and had another
session at the ramp with Davo clearly being the hottest, effortlessly
24
Travels in Australia
can prove to be
healthy to your
hazards...
somethin' like that
mate!!
Ken with hospitable local Shellas
Photo: Philipa Baulch
Mark Fagan ramp pops at West Melton Skatepark
Author, Ken Achenback, cliff jumping at Falls Creek. Photo: Charlie Brown
Davo gets a little help from the "Moke' on this plant. Hmmm!!
pulling 5'-6' backside airs, bio handplants, ollies, fake airs, every
trick in and out of the book. After the ramp session we all piled into
the moke (VW Thing' type vehicle) and cruised over to the park. My
first sight of the park was a bit of downer, it wasn't really a park. It was
only a keyhole bowl with no coping and a long wall shaped like a
stretched out U. As Davo, Cam and 4B drew some locals only lines
knew this place was definitely happening. We met a kid on a BMX
bike and Steve borrowed it and 'accidently' crashed it four or five
times from 10 ft. above the coping into the bottom of the pool,
muttering things like "Hmm, I usually land those." Anyway, after the
kid's bike was rendered destroyed and declared dead, we started
sessioning heavily, considering the bike as an offering to the
skate gods.
Everyone pushed their personal limits that day with Davo showing
a 'new to me' trick, a boneless air handswitch aerial. Bio. Also a
handplant in the Moke halfway up the wall before we rolled it.
Something I noticed most about skaters in OZ was the fact that
they usually cut down their boards to 28". One thing that disturbed
me, besides the fact that THRASHER was $3.95, was the price of
skate equipment. Wheels were $15 apiece, trucks were around $35
each, as in $75 a pair and hard to find. The price of decks, $75 without
tape. A complete board would run about $210. I don't know how the
Aussies afforded it. I couldn't. When my board finally passed away!
was lucky-Captain Barty flowed me a board so I didn't have to pay
those killer prices. They ride their stuff 'til it's beyond dead, in Davo's
Bones you could see the bearings through the urethane. UNREAL
Street skating in Melbourne is definitely the best I've ever skated.
Buskers (very, very, good street musicians) abounded, so there were
always tunes. Also the police were unbelievable, in fact they were
incredible, they didn't mind grinds on government curbs at all. Believe
it or not one sergeant even asked me if he could try my skate! I
reluctantly said yes, expecting something embarrassing as a few
people had gathered. Anyway, this cop hopped on my board and
puted off a gnarly rock and roll board slide! On a red curb no less!
This was my type of city.
Good places to skate and sketch were the paths on the Yarra, the
wave sculptured 4 pipe in front of the National Gallery, the Bourke
Street Mall, and underneath Flinders Street near train platform 14.
Anywhere, in fact, even in the Parliament Building's entrance when it
was raining.
Before I knew it a month had flown by and a friend invited me up to
Falls Creek for the ski season, or snoboarding session, whatever
you're into. Falls was definitely the spot to be. Three feet of snow on
opening weekend and Australian Crawl pumping out the tunes at
"The Man," a local pub. Thanks to Kareem Abdul Jabarf I had
snoboards for Nik Stafford, myself and Woz Fitzgerald, two hot local
lifties. Before long we had the place wired, with fresh snow nearly
every week. The summit was definitely where it was at. Cliffs,
comices and big rocks to sail off.
All season hot bands played at "The Man," acts like Australian
Crawl, The Metro Jets, Real Life, Mental As Anything, Mondo Rock,
Brave Men, and uncanny, X-Men. If you see any of these bands
albums definitely buy them.
Before long the session was over and I said goodbye or later to
Kaz, Dave, Nik, Woz, Tracy, Trudy, Rebecca, Yvonne, Micheal,
Kristen and some I've missed.
Back down the coast I missed the good winter surf but Spring surf
at Bell's Beach, Winkipop and my favorite, Jan Juc, was excellent.
The concert season was just starting to crank as killer bands like
Midnight Oil and Inxs played in Melbourne. If you see their albums
buy them. Even if it's your last 10 bucks, money well spent.
Back in Geelong I was met by a downhearted Cam Rae. It seems
some of the local pus and wogs had just wrecked the halfpipe, even
as the city council had OK'd a grant for new plywood on it. That was
the way it was in Highton. The city, locals, and parents liked skating
but a few of the mindless minority would wreck anything. One good
thing was that we knew who did it and now some of them are in jail.
Another blow for skater rights. Cam and crew are planning an indoor
wooden park and a concrete halfpipe. Anyone interested in helping
out with cash or wood or whatever write to Cam Rae at 155 Mt.
Pleasant Rd., Highton Geelong 3216 (052) 435625.
As my visa came to an end outdoor concerts got underway with
3 X Y throwing a freebie with "Men at Work" (tired), Mondo Rock
(excellent), Sharon O'Neill (excellent), the Expression (very good
Inxsish), Le Clube Foote (very good), and Kids in the Kitchen
(excellent), playing at the Myer Music Bowl on October 31st. After 1
scabbed a two-week extension to my visa from ethnic affairs I
managed to close out my stay with "The Models" opening for "Mr.
David Bowie." That was the best way to finish my trip-hot weather,
hot times, hot tunes, and most of all, hot skating!! People I've got to
thank for putting me up or putting up with me are: West Melton
Skatepark at P.O. Box 35 Melton, V. c. 3337 (on the ballarat Hiway,
Melton) for the free skating. The Nelsons, The Raes, The Baulches,
the Butts and Captain Barty for the skate and snoboards.
25