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GULLWING
TRUCKS
CAMP
SKATE
Visalia YMCA
YMCA
Working double time, Billy Ruff has dual duties as
a demoing camp Pro (shown here mid-frontside
invert) and longtime veteran teamrider for G&S.
By Fish
Having seen over 20 summers, I've been
to a few summer camps. Scout camps,
baseball camps, Marine Corp Camp, I even
revisited Jason on Friday the 13th, but a
Skate Camp? No, neverl, only in Sweden,
right? Until this year. Yes, a Skateboard
Summer Camp in the states. Valley skater,
Bob Goodsby, with a lot of help from Al
Gutierrez of the Visalia YMCA, made it a
reality.
The Camp was held in Reedley, Califor-
nia (right between Fresno and Visalia) at the
Community College there. A perfect loca-
tion with the exception of the heat. There
were dorm rooms (2 skaters per room), and
a cafeteria.
They have hosted small camps each
summer for two years previous, but this was
the first big camp program in America. The
YMCA had originally planned for only one
week with 75 kids. This session was filled
in a weeks' time. The response was so big
that in the end there were enough skaters
Natas Kaupas, amped on camp, street demoes.
YMCA
Tony Magnussen, kicking the sky in the face at
the YMCA Summer Camp.
to fill 5 sessions, 375 skaters in all. They
came from as far away as New York, Florida
and Maine. People even called from Europe.
Ages ranged from 8 years young to 22 years.
old.
The Camp was structured with both the
YMCA's requirements and skaters needs in
mind. A few of the campers didn't like this,
craving to skate when and where they
wanted. To be fair to everyone, rules were
made. There were 3 groups: beginners,
intermediate and advanced-all teaching
basic fundamentals as well as advanced
skating in street style (jump ramps, ollies,
wall rides etc.) and vertical.
The terrain consisted of a good halfpipe
(9' 8" transition, 20' wide, 16' flat bottom
with vertical and steel coping), which might
have been a little big for beginners; a large
number of jump ramps for street aerials; ver-
tical walls in abundance; and of course
plenty of flat ground with curbs everywhere
in sight. Throughout the week, many events.
were planned. Every morning the campers
bummed hard on the few minor calisthen-
ics, that loosened up muscles and got the
heart going. Every week there was at least
one street demo and a good ramp demo
with the pros showing their stuff and a lot
of Ams ripping it up. Local TV. crews show-
ed up a few times during the first session.
You might have seen the camp on CBS
news nationwide with Caballero ripping it
up. On Friday of each session, there was a
contest. Skaters could either enter street or
ramp, a few diehards entered both.
The staff was lead by Bob Goodsby and
Al Gutierrez. Al's brother Benji and some of
Al's wrestling teammates from Cal Poly. Jim
Thiebaud (Powell, Thunder), Ron "The Fly"
Allen (Hot Tuna, Steadham) and Don Fisher
(Schmitt Stix, Billabong. Thunder) were the
senior counselors each with 29-30 kids
under their belts every week. Karen Zapata
(S.M.A., Thunder), Eric "Spock" Uquillas
(Santa Cruz, Thunder), Chuck Gillete
(Madrid), Brent Fellows, Tom Knox, Todd
Mason, Jimmy Morales (All of Bobby G.
Skates) and Wes of Visalia were on also on
staff. Mike Ternanski cannot be forgotten.
either.
The Pros: Tommy Guerrero, Steve
Caballero, Natas Kaupas, Steve Steadham,
Ray Meyer, Billy Ruff, Christian Hosoi, Tony
Magnusson, Sean Goff and last but not
least Johnee Kopp. Highlights of the pros:
Guerrero, Cab and Natas street antics,
"Super Cool Tough Guys" born in a dorm
session. Cab on CBS news. Hosoi and
Magnusson battling for most time aloft.
Ruff, first ride 'till last put in, just a plain rip-
ping performance with a twist thrown in for
good measure and Sean Goff skating
powerful.
The visitors through the five weeks includ-
ed John Schultz, Chris Cook ripping street
and ramp, Shrewgy from Alva vía Nor Cal,
Scott the man, Chris Borscht ripping
McTwists and a lot of other lines on the ramp,
along with Bakersfield Brando's no-foot lein-
to-tails that must be witnessed. Chris Vay
showed up. Jimmy Scott blew minds with
his skates. The Gerber Bros. from Utah,
Fresno thrashers Matt and Joseph (thanks
for putting us up) and the Rager "Creature"
all showed up shralping street and ramp.
The ever necessary sponsors included
Miller's Outpost who donated enough
money to pay for the halfpipe and some
street ramps. Gullwing, Action Sports, Revo
Sunglasses and Losi donated money.
Schmitt Stix, Powell, G & S. Indy, Mag-
nusson, Steadham, Brand X, Transworld,
Sims, Santa Cruz, Thunder, Thrasher and
Vision donated badly needed equip-
ment.The Surf Shop of Fresno and Visalia
had a skate shop at the camp which was
open daily.
I would like to thank all the sponsors, the
staff, Al, the YMCA and lastly all the skaters
for coming to the camp. You guys made it
possible and a lot of fun. Hopefully I'll see
you next year.
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