by Bryce Kanights
FOOT
UNDER
Above: Gavin O'Brien powers across the edge of
Reeps' ramp during an evening session.
Below: Rick "Reeps" Moodey descends a fakie
ollie to hang-up above his own creation.
The winter season was pure hell. Two rain soaked months without wooden skate
terrain. Inside a suburban household Raymond and Eddie lounged on a frail couch,
solemnly watching television. Thoughts of the harsh downpour outside came often to
these two avid skaters.
Eddie's ramp in the backyard resembled a deteriorating shipwreck as a result of
the series of storms Old Man Winter had dumped on the Midwest. The ramp's masonite
and roll-out decks were cashed. It was a sad sight.
"I'm sick to death of watching these skate videos. Let's go skate the parking garage!"
Eddie blared.
"No doubt," Raymond promptly replied.
Although these two hardcore skaters spent many of their winter days snowboarding,
they often took to the skateable shelter of a curb-lined parking structure downtown.
Their street skating abilities had improved a great deal, however the feeling of ascend-
ing a curved transition remained a top priority in their souls.
After about a half-hour of skating the curbs and walls of the garage, Eddie and
Raymond were approached by another skater. He was a stranger to them. "You guys
wanna skate a ramp?" the tall thin visitor asked.
"Whadda ya mean? It's pouring buckets outside!" said Raymond.
"Well, first of all my name is Butch. I just finished building a mini-ramp inside my
father's warehouse. Seeing that you guys rip and all...
"Let's go!"
"What are the dimensions?"
"Dude, you're stoking me!"
Excitement had overcome both Ray and Eddie. They climbed into Butch's ▷
Above: Stuntwood craftsman Chuck Hults drifts
frontside across Jinx's backyard mini.
Below: Steve Caballero continues to lash out burly
aerials on his backyard ramp. Here, he methods a
lien above his chopped-down structure.
CGHTS