Low and tight, street dog Scott Oster slashes a hands-down backside
redirection at VSA ramp.
This 50/50 at the pavillon cost suicidal Jimbo a 75 buck citation.
34
Still gettin' upside down and dirty, 'Polar Bear.
ramps (that weren't always quite up to par) left something to
be desired. Basically, the community was spoiled after the
convenience of having Gonzo's right there in our backyard.
As things went, someone started complaining about the
lack of a local ramp. Imagine a place like Venice, with its
skate community, not having its own halfpipe. From one
skater talking to another skater action began to develop and
the locals started to organize themselves by establishing the
VS.A. (Venice Skateboard Association), with Suicidal Jimbo
becoming the President and Thomas the Treasurer. Member-
ships were then bought and donations for the necessary sup-
plies were solicited from the community.
The search went out for a yard to build it in with Jof's
house being selected. Venice surfer/carpenters donated their
time after work and with the help of the skaters, Suicidal Jim-
bo directing, and Thomas keeping a perfect tab on the funds,
the V.S.A. ramp was completed with three sheets of %" ply, a
"masonite skin, pool coping on one side, PVC on the other,
paint job, carpet to keep down dust, soundproofing and a new
fence in just less than two weeks. A solid masterpiece!
It was now ready for skating. A question of insurance was
posed, so a $10 a month membership fee (complete with a
V.S.A. membership card) was developed to pay for the
coverage. The need for rules came up quickly to quiet the
neighborhood squawks. These simple resolutions quickly
took care of all problems (don't you wish):
NO SKATING ON SUNDAYS (give the residents a
break)
NO SKATING BEFORE 2:30 pm and BETWEEN 5:30
and 7:00 pm (let the neighbors have a peaceful dinner)
NO SKATING WITHOUT PADS (Team Pain Insurance)
NO LOUD MUSIC (keep it down to a happy medium)
NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL (wait till after skating)
NO KOOKS (no coping-no skating)
The first two weeks of the ramp were sessions for locals:
only and the people who put in their time organizing and
building this community project. It was great to see the cops
show and sit there in the middle of the street for 15 minutes
trying to figure what was wrong, before finally realizing that it
was a good situation for 'the hood" (neighborhood). After the
first two weeks it was opened to anyone who wanted to pay
membership
Soon the V.S.A. ramp was another stop on the So. Califor-
nia skate tour as Roskopp, Johnee Kopp, Mike Crescini and
friends from Virginia Beach, skaters on summer vacation
from Arizona, Texas, even members from the Brazilian Na-
tional Team and some guys from Japan found their way
through the narrow streets of Venice to the V.S.A. ramp.
Together with the locals, including such notables as Suicidal
Jimbo, Jay Adams, Aaron Murray, Natas, Cesario, Paunch,
Thomas, George Wilson, Christ, Eric Dressen, James Muir,
Scott Oster, Mondo, Jof, Polar Bear, Julien Stranger. Chano,
Pat Berry and Jeff Hartsell, this created an almost inter-
national flavor to the harsh sessions.
It was almost the end of the summer when the bad news
struck. The authorities (a city inspector) showed up. It seems
a whining neighbor (who didn't think the skating regulations
were congenial enough for her convenience) had connections.
downtown. The inspector determined the ramp was built too
close to the property lines (it took the full width of the yard)
and proclaimed it would have to be removed within 30 days.
It now sits chained and locked, looking for a new home, its
life span-one full summer.
Seems ironic that the plans of a whole community of
skaters can be undermined by the complaint of one whining.
shibbling citizen." There is no moral to this story, the skating
arena has done a full 360° in one short summer.
The Venice boys were right back where they started early
last spring: The Venice Pavilion, a landmark in skateboarding.
It is where the majority of street tricks were developed, where
wall riding was conceived, practiced and perfected. A place
where someone always brings a jump ramp every weekend
and where, some weekdays, and crowds of 200 to 300 or
more people gather to watch the streetstylers perform. The
Venice Pavilion is a street skaters heaven-with curbs, walls,
benches, drop offs, docks, stairs-any surface imaginable.
The latest twist of fate is the worst news yet. The cops are
now writing tickets for skating the Pavilion. These lovely little
citations hit your pocket for $75 big ones. Not all the cops are
writing them yet (only the ones with a hair up their ass) but
one thing's for sure. they are not going to take this spot from
the boys. You can count on that one.