NTAINS
lendale!
Highland Park
фоть
South Gate
So come on up and pick your pipe. First come first served-while supply
lasts. Sale ends Sunday. A rare opportunity... Pat Schmaljohn.
68
Pasadena
Arcadia
Temple
City
San Gabriel
Alhambi Rose
Monta
Monterey,
Park
El Monte
Ο
ver two years ago, a
small article in the
Idaho Statesman
mentioned that major
work would com-
mence at a reservoir
for the Idaho Power
Company. In so many
words, reading bet-
ween the lines, we
surmised that the
monstrosities of the skate world...giant
pipes would appear there soon. Many
drives were taken along the Boise River to
Lucky Peak searching for these culverts. Later
we found that the project had been delayed.
We waited. Much to my unfortunate luck, I
moved with no sighting of the pipes...yet.
One day the call came from the PR. man
informing me that the long-awaited pipes had
finally arrived. I hastened up to Boise, where
plans were laid to go and skate these 'dream-
ed of' structures. Late Saturdays and Sundays
were the only days to ride, since the workmen
were always there. An earlier run-in with the
law had only brought 'kick-out'; no fines or har-
rassment. Sitting on a half acre, entirely sur-
rounded by cyclone fencing topped with barb-
ed wire, stood more than two dozens pipes,
of all shapes and sizes. All the tubes were con-
structed of steel and when laid on their
sides would 'egg' out a bit. The insides had
been sandblasted, then painted white, mak-
ing for a perfect flow. A few kinks in couple of
the pipes along with small holes were the on-
ly drawbacks. A rough estimate with a tape.
measure found the majority of the barrels.
towering in at 24 feet in diameter, with some
up to 26 feet, due to the 'egging factor"
Yeeoooww!!
Our troops parked in an adjacent lot over-
looking the reservoir which was slowly drain-
ing so the pipes could be properly placed. A
few well-placed poles helped support the fence
bottom as we scooted under, ready to get high.
We agreed to do no pipe pasting as we didn't
want the workmen to know of our activities, and
that way we could keep the spot longer. Once
inside we found each pipe 'egged' in a different
way. Some pipes were nearly round, others
were oblong. We tested several to find the
perfect transition. A few half-spheres rested
Tubular dwellings...Brad Krommenhoek.
at the other end. but upside down, so they were
definitely not skateable. A glance around revealed
a skater's paradise with the gigantic structures loom-
ing high overhead.
After two hours of heated sessioning by Krommie.
Schmaljohn, Tullock. Ted. Wayne. Onj, Nick. Jerry.
Paulington and myself, a duo of workers drove by
checking out the action only to turn around and
welcome us with the sad notes., "Time to leave, guys"
Of course, followed by the kind words. "Looks like
fun, but I don't think the insurance company would
like it. So we scuttled back under the fence, yelling
our thanks to the workers for being so cool. During
the drive back to Boise, plans were made to hit 'em
again the next week and every weekend until they
were in the ground, which they probably are by now.
Like all skate spots, they only last awhile, but it's worth
the adventure to find and skate them
Story and photos by Pushead
69