Ask the
Doctor
Blackhart
COPS AND SPOTS
with Rick Blackhart
About a year ago we had a hot, Saturday
afternoon session at the local public pool
(drained 9 months out of the year) when
all of a sudden a cop pulls up. We split to
a nearby friend's house, hung out for a
while, then I started for home. As I was
skating home a cop pulls up right in front
of me, takes my board, throws me in the
car and asks me the usual "get busted"
questions. He wanted the names of the
others but I refused. Then the cop hits me
with this J.D. card, saying if I get caught
again I'll be fined, two more and I'll go to
one of those centers to get "straightened
out". Well, I was way pissed, so were my
parents. The cop called my house just to
make sure I told them. I haven't been there
in a year until recently. I didn't get caught
but it's been damn close. My parents keep
telling me I shouldn't go but it's been behind
their backs. My question is should I keep
going and risk the chance of gotting heavily
screwed, or not go and miss out on all the
rad skating? This also applies to a ditch
here that's illegal to skate also. What should
I do? I know other skaters have the same
troubles with cops.
Tony Ormond
Garden City, NY
Yeah, cops and skate spots can be
bad news. All I can say is to use your
own judgement. If you think this spot is
so cool that it surpasses the chance of
going to jail, then go ahead and skate;
just don't get caught. As with most
pools, you should be glad you skated it
at all. Maybe you should just write it off
and spend more time finding other
spots. If that pool was there, so are
others. I feel if there's a way to avoid
cops at any time, by all means do it. Get
busted enough times and you'll learn.
DIRT BAG
Ok Rick, here are a few questions to be
answered: A). Do people still sandboard?
I have seen a few photos of people
sandboarding in an old mag B). Do you
think people dirtboard? In this old
skateboard mag they show a dirtboard with
huge clay wheels. C). The company that
made the dirtboards also made this wheel
that looks coned and they say is fast. What
do you think?
It runs on dirt and rocks.
J.B.
Austin, TX
THE DIRT
BOARD
It originatos dirt cross competition racing-It converts
ski aroas to dirt cross areas in the summor - It's much
faster and more fun in bowls it's the easiest board in
the world to ride-it originates dirt board parks - 11
runs on most any surface, making cross country skating
possible you'll just have to ride it to believe it!
The Go For It dirt board
ian't much different than
any skateboard except
It has 5 inch poly-durati
wheels
The crt board comes in 30 and 36 inch lengths
with O whs and aerial sindngs we
nurlace Speis Introdutary offer $150.00
Order how they won't stay at the pric
A). Of course, that mag is several
years old and sandboarding gets about
as old as that mag did. B). Actually 1
don't think people really ever bought the
'dirtboard'. I can't recall ever seeing the
actual product in question (see ad).
I'm sure everybody at some
point has ridden the dirt though, so I
guess I'm partially wrong. C). I think it's
a joke, what do you think?
TRANNY TO VERT RATIOS
I need some info here. I'm planning on
building a halfpipe in my yard. It's gonna
be 12 feet wide, 8 foot of flat and 6 foot
trannys. My question is this: Is it possible
to put a roll-in on a ramp that small? If so
could you let me know how big (or small)
it should be? One more question: How
much vert would you suggest for 6 foot
trannys? Thanx for your help.
Randy Farrow
Long Beach, CA
PS. I've had your wheels for 2 years and
they still kick ass.
Roll-in decks are great no matter how
big the ramp, no matter if there's vertical
or not. On a ramp with 6 foot transitions
any vertical is going to be extremely
tight. I'd go with an 8-9 foot tranny and
about one foot of vert.
JONESING FOR AIR
Although they're still illegal here in V.B..
I have an 8 ft. tall halfpipe with 12 ft. of flat.
My problem is that I can't figure out how to
go up for an air. I think my method of learn-
ing is okay. I just master one trick at a time,
but these airs have got me. Could you
please explain to me how to pull off airs.
Thanx for your killer column, keep it up.
Tracy Brinkley
VA Beach, VA
Airs are definitely one of the hardest
moves to learn and pull off. Took me
several weeks and then some to do airs
with confidence. Practice is the bottom
line. Once you get past that initial phase
the rest will follow. One of the most un-
usual feelings to overcome is bending
your knees enough to grab your board.
Then you have to kind of float away from
the wall while grabbing or pulling your
board with you and re-enter without
hanging up. Just start low, keep at it and
I'm sure you'll have it sussed in no time.
DEAD ISSUE
I was kinda reminiscing, going through
old mags and stuff and I came across this
I thought it was pretty funny! Are you still
hated in the Winchester area?
Brent Martin
New Carlisle, Ohio
Well if I ever was I guess the joke's on
them. Now there's no such thing as the
Winchester area.
Rick Blackhart has not madel
many friends recently in the
Winchester area and I don't
think he will, if he conti-
inues his aggressions: like
trying to break a glass win-
dow at Winchester Park, by
throwing a football from the
parking lot.
Real hot stuff babe!
SKATER EDDIE REATEQUI
THE NEW TRADITION
VENTURE