RIP IT UP!
H
Lance Mountain slicing in on the Central Valley.
The Fresno Ark
The More Things Change...
A large portion of the present skate
population grew up as a park-bred
by-product of the late 70's-early 80's.
These skaters learned by waiting in
lines, using them as compasses to point
the way to where they "could" skate.
Skating, to them, ended at the chain link
fence. A popular attitude in the aftermath
now is, "If skating (ie., skateparks) can't
survive in LA, what could possibly be
happening East of I-5? Obviously many
must now learn to find their own way.
Future Passed
On the outskirts and backroads, the
song remains the same as it was when it
all started. These sparse lands, though,
can often lead the mind to one seemingly
logical conclusion, the farther you travel
away from the past, traditional skate
centers, the further you are from any
type of significant skate consciousness.
Living on the fringe does not mean being
over the edge and "making do with
what's been done" is a very active
catalyst. These skaters have been living
off the land, as it were, since the
beginning. Natural architecture and
structures of their own hand were all
most of them had to skate through the
"boom" years. These are now the only
alternatives to them as well as the
fortunate few who did benefit during
those times. All along, "backroad
skaters have been where many are
going now. Living close to the heart
makes it easy to feel the pulse and these
guys are more than aware of what must
be done to remain
Same As It Ever Was
A group of Fresno, CA skaters recently
pulled together a benefit to raise money
to rebuild the Ark, their local skate
habitat. Christian, Mr, Mountain, Gator,
Soaring over the Ark at sunset,
Mark Rogowski in a blur
Blender & Lucero all showed up and
showed the crowd of 2-400 that they
may have made their names in the parks
but they are still around because they
have adapted. Local shredders Rob
Linton, John Granado, Chris Rock, etc.
also displayed where they were
yesterday, and, more importantly, where
they will be tomorrow. Ramp builder and
jam organizer Chuck Gillette put in the
heavy hours needed to make it all
possible and also acted as the sacrificial
lamb always demanded by a large event,
while still managing some skate time.
Suzy Robertson, whose private land the
ramps sits on, was overly generous and
understanding amid the chaos. These
two, along with their families, also
opened their homes to visiting skaters,
typifying the selflessness now as vital to
skating's future as it has been lacking in
its past.
In The Beginning
The remaining details of the "Save the
Ark Ramp Jam are inconsequential and
shall remain anonymous. The scenario
has appeared 1000 times before. It is
significant only in the fact that it serves
as an example of something much
bigger than itself. It epitomized the
actions and attitudes small town skaters
have been taking all along. A way of life
many veteran skaters find themselves
returning to. A way of life the younger
skaters must now learn in order to
survive. Blenderism: "We thought they
were showing us new moves, but they
were just new words." Neil's insightful
observation lays open for all how to
differentiate past from future. The roots
lay deep in the urban sprawl and have
since spread to the rural areas. As the
path continues full circle, any confused
skater wondering where to go and what
to do, now, need only look back.
Scott Foss
Death Before Dishonor
A scant two miles up the fog en-
shrouded darkening coast, the sun, like
a pure silver white disc, was setting into
the ocean, simultaneously eclipsing a
perfect coffin-shaped pool and one of
California's premier big wave spots. Both
were unridden at that particular time, on
that particular day
The lone figure glided quietly through
the fog enshrouded aquatic park. It was
sunset. He walked past the dophins and
seemed to almost nod to the black eyes
staring from the water like they had met
before somewhere else. He continued
through a gate tucked behind a row of
fish-food vending machines back to a
door marked Employees Only for which
he quickly produced a key and entered a
room with a desk and chair.
Billy Ruff takes a frontside invert
approach to a low key
media event.