NICE
VENUMMer
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A man who needs no further introduction Gonzalez gework
By the Venice Tattoo Love Boy
O.M.S.A. captain Muir. Thirteen years of vertical experience make for precision edgers. Venice ramp.
As the Spring of '86 came into swing, the action at the
Venice Beach Skate arena had fallen into a basic routine.
Every weekend you could count on certain dedicated sorts to
have the jump ramps set-up and impromptu wall sessions in
progress. Some weekends would even find freestyle teams
putting down the hat and entertaining the flocks of tourists
who make the boardwalk a world renowed event.
It was shaping up to be a typical 'Streets of Venice' sum-
mer of sun, skating and surf, when a rumor Jose Gon-
circulated that
the Gonzalez pool was open. The pool, ned by Jo
zalez Gonzalez (the character actor who played the little Mex-
ican cowboy in the John Wayne movies) was first sessioned
in the late seventies, and later, opened briefly for a Bones
Brigade Video. The rumor brought back fond memories of a
perfect right kidney, slightly off-set walls, perfect hip and
shallow end. This is possibly the backyard pool with the
longest and most colorful history.
The thought of Gonzo's empty put the mind into overdrive.
The ol' pool board was dusted off and pads were purchased.
Driving into the alley and pulling up alongside the wall to
hear the telltale sounds of grinds and hoots from inside set
the adrenalin pumping.
It was turning into a great summer as Jose's grandchildren
sold Cokes and hot dogs at pool-side and anyone could skate
for $2.00 a session. Street skating at the beach virtually came
to a halt as all attention focused on fine transitions and
coping.
This turn of events also brought out skating's finest mix of
backgrounds. Along with the modern pros, a number of
skateboarding's first generation pool pioneers turned out. You
could find Hosoi, Dressen, Martinez, with their avant garde
moves, giving respect to the O.M.S.A. (Old Man Skateboard
Association) which included the likes of Dave Hackett,
George Wilson, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, James Muir, Chano
and Ray Flores, all laying down hard lines unkown to newer
generations, developed from over 13 years of pool riding.
Then there were the streetstylers who had no idea these old
farts had so much jam.
The O.M.S.A. had the last laugh as they watched the street.
boys try to adapt to the vertical, the 'ramp-only' riders trying
to learn how to carve, ride between offset walls and employ a
shallow end/hip combo into their skating repertoire.
All was going great until Jose's grandson did a face-plant,
taking off part of his forehead. This maneuver sent Jose run-
ning for his hose and, before long, the pool had water in it.
This left a large void in the skate drive but the appetite was
still there for the vertical realm. Ramp excursions became the
menu. The distance involved in driving such lengths to skate
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