STOTIN
FRO
BOYS CLUB
Skate contest benefits African Relief
Fund for Ethiopia...
JOHN
GIBSON
Sasha Steinbonz
hurls tarpward before
landing in a "pogo" sock n ro
BOYS' CLUB RAMP CONTEST
Saturday, Jan. 26, 1985
Well I guess it all started in Sam
Dorsey's backyard with a small half
pipe that quickly became the focal
point of the local skate scene in the
Haight St. district of S.F. The area
has always boasted a healthy
number of skaters and is serviced by
two well-stocked skate boutiques,
the long-established Skates on
Haight emporium and the newer
kids on the block, Fogtown. It's not
unusual to see every type of skater
known during one pass down Haight
Street, from the barefooted hippie
pushin' down the flats to the curb
grinding street rats.
Before long Sam's ramp was
ground to a pulp and in need of re-
pair. To make a long story short, the
local kids approached the Boys Club
of S.F. branch, next door to Sam's,
about the possibility of restructuring
the ramp on the premises. Sam's
yard had been declared off limits
due to noise complaints
Jeff Westner, the woodshop
teacher and projects coordinator at
the Boys Club welcomed the idea
with open arms and soon the kids
were ripping it up on a small quarter
pipe that they built themselves. As
more skaters began to gather the
ideas began to flow. Sam donated
his old transitions and Bryce.
Kanights threw in enough plywood
to get a good start on a healthy half
pipe. Every day after school 10-15
skaters would gather at the pipe site.
which is actually located on the roof
of the Boys Club facility, to partici-
pate in the construction task. Some
going to the store to get hardware
while others scrounged donated
wood scraps from supporters within I
H
Now, the Boys Club situation is
rather unique as far as skate ramps I
go. The Boys Club is a work-
oriented, service organization for
boys and girls designed to help build I
the community.
character and skills that are useful to
the individual and the community at
large. Jeff's intention with the ramp
was to focus energy on a building
project while teaching basic carpen-
try skills. The project has been, for
the most part, highly successful with
many skaters who've joined just for
the skating now taking advantage of
other club facilities like the olympic
pool, full gym and woodshop.
There has been some problem
with the work first, skate second"
policy as far as some skaters are
concerned, but, that's how the Boys
Club works All Jeff has asked of the
kids is cooperation and if you don't
dig it you don't skate.
All fotalled, the ramp cost $200.00
plus the help and donations from the
community. The contest was held as
a thankful gesture to all those who
have helped out. Prizes were do-
nated by Fogtown and Skates on
Haight (who also donated equip-
ment such as pads and helmets to
the cause) and Thrasher. Next on
the construction agenda for the club
is a small wave of cement. It's up to
the skaters to write their own ticket
on that one, but, many are too busy
skating to think about building for
their own future.
BOYS CLUB RESULTS
1. Tim Lawson
2. Jason Airhart
3. Mike Johnson
4. Tory McDonald
5. Jeff Hill
2A
1. Brooke Preston
2. Keith Cochran
3JR.
4. Luke Ogden
5. Mike Reyes
3A
1. Mike Archimedes
2 Eric (Spock) Uquilas
3. Bob Nob (Tod Wesloh)
4. Sasha Steinhorst
5. Troy Takai
Traveller, Todd Weslah, managed a third se finjen
In the 3A division, pretty swank
KT