Witness a running dialoge leading up to a
demo/party/benefit at a frat house on the UCSD
campus in San Diego.
March 15
"Hey, we're having another skate jam at the
Frat House." "Killer, when?" "May 15.***Well,
don't you think we should get started?"
March 25 To lawyer: "I need à contract."
"O.K. $200.00." To Ro-bo: "I need a ramp."
"O.K. $3,000.00." To friend at Lumberyard:
"Can you get me wood cheap? "Yeah, but it'll
cost ya.
April 7th "Four bands is a lot. What kind of
noise permit do you have?" "We don't have
one yet." "I'll call some sponsors."
$300.00 in phone calls later: Most spon-
sors have no money. Sponsors who do have
money want to know what kind of insurance
we have.
April 28th "Well, our house has been taken
over by the alumni and they won't give us the
check unless we pay the rent." "Pay the rent."
May 14th
Posters and flyers circulated. Ad
is out. Fence company in to measure grounds.
Truck rented for stage. Bands arguing over
who's playing first. Security hired. Beer on
net-15. More skaters expected than invited.
Delta Epsilon frat boys don't want to pay the
four dollars to get in their own house. Noise
permit: 80 decibels from 4:30-7:30.
May 15 (Demo Day) "Hope the rain stops."
Skaters: Micke Alba, Steve Alba, Kevin Staab,
Joe Johnson, Joe Lopes, Jim Gray, Tony
Magnusson, Dave Craab, Mike Smith, Gary.
Sanderson, Jamie Affoumado, Chris Robison,
Ken Park, Fab, Ffej, Mouse, Paul Schmitt, Fish,
Adrian Demain, Owen Neider, Bod. Bands: Lap
of Luxury, Tremors, Charms, Cardiff Reefers
Total cost of party: $7,506.00. Door money:
$3,200.00. Fraternity money: $1,500.00.
Sponsor money: $3,700.00. American Heart
Association: $894.
1987 is the year of the demo as many pro
and spo-am skaters take to the trail in-
between contests. The standard skate
shop/parking lot circuit can be pretty
repetitive weekend after week, but now and
then a demo opportunity arises that is dif-
ferent than the rest. Surf contests, night
club shows, skate-a-thons, etc. are the types
of events that showcase skating to a mostly
non-skate crowd. We recently covered two
gigs, a frat house jam near the UC campus
in San Diego and a wild exhibition at the
Golden Gate Bridge's 50th birthday bash in
S.F., that were more like skate
parties than anything
else.
May 5th Porta Potties have been ordered.
Everything is on credit. Bills are coming but
no money from sponsors, yet.
May 10th "We need to borrow $1,000. I'll
give you $1,100 next week." "Here you go: 20,
40, 60..."
May 13th "Did you get the insurance proof
from A.H.A.?" "Don't worry, we'll get it."
"When? After the demo?"
A bulging street party closes in on the skate
arena set up for the GGB 50th anniversary
demo. Above: Camden Scott twirls into the
wind off a launch. Below: Jim Thiebaud
sweeps up with a four-wheel drift at ground
level. Photos: Kevin J. Thatcher.
A party situation can get fast, furious and
festive. Above: Salba slashes lip on the
grounds of Delta Upsilon. Left: College coeds
delight. Photos Dave Omer. Right: Nowhere
to go but up. A skate is held aloft over the
packed crowd of bridge walkers on GGB