1979. No stranger to skate speeds in
excess of 60 miles per hour, Mike
"Smiley" Goldman is well-suited for
a casual tuck down notorious
Rampart Hill near Buena Pool.
1981. Although it has had its share of
small, servicable half-pipes, the
Santa Cruz area has never boasted a
large ramp scene. You get the feeling
that kids here would become bored
with ping-pong action between PVC-
covered lips. The style is speed carve
slashback off the lip, in your face,
down the line charging. If you don't
like it, get out of town.
1982. Sessioning the Soquel freestyle
bowl became the rage after skate dog
Brett Bye moved himself into the
former pro shop. At times the skating
was so lax you could find Brett's
housemate, Rob Roskopp, bare-
footin' after a morning go-out at
Pleasure Point.
1988. The official historian, filmmaker
and documentalist of the Santa Cruz
lifestyle, Tony Roberts, skates and
surfs with and often better than the
rest, as demonstrated by this aggro-
rubbery, backside carve across the
battered lip at Derby Park.
1979. One of the founding fathers
skating In Santa Cruz and an
Influence who touched many in the
skate world, Jay Shulman, passed
away leaving a void that has never
been filled.
1980
Skateparks everywhere were going down. Skateboarder
Magazine went out of print. Skateboarding, on the surface,
died. Under the surface, however, the tough got going, and
a new scene was underway. Keith Meek moved over to Cruz
from S.J. and took up surfing, adding a fluid touch to his
already stylish approach. Brett Bye moved into Soquel's old
pro shop and possibly saved the bowl with much needed
policing. Shortly thereafter, Biohian, Rob Roskopp moved in
with Brett and inspired everyone to progress.
1981-1984
Ramps were popping up everywhere, with High Street, John
Street and La Selva among the most sessioned. Previously
neglected skate terrains such as Derby Park became heavily
sessioned. The enormous growth rate brought with it curbs
and sidewalks to replace neighborhood dirt bordering city
roads. The once quaint and funky little seaside burg where
Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to the West Coast was
ripe with skate activity. Keith Butterfield held court with daily
freestyle exhibitions on the boardwalk and the gnarly Main
Street pool was worked to rubble by hearty hard-cores.
1985-1987
Street skating exploded, and became illegal. Any skating
on city roads, or in business districts was against the law. The
local authorities enforced the new codes. Some of the world's
best joined several of Santa Cruz' best for the Soquel Bowl's
classic last session. Surf style carves went down and Cab and
Guerrero lofted off everything. It was a sad day indeed, as
the bowl was dozed days later.
Presently
Skating is everywhere in Santa Cruz foday. Skateboarding
is a crime, despite those bumper stickers. Derby Park is packed
on weekends, and is always being sessioned by a new genera-
tion who are laying down the laws of gravity and relativity.
Construction has started on a ramp for local vert enthusiasts.
Many talented hardcore skaters call Santa Cruz home. Many
are known, most are unknown. Regardless, they all deserve
mention, as they are the scene. John Insco, Kris Snibe, Keith
Meek, Kevin Soros, Rob Roskopp, Alex Acevedo, Mark
"Chief," Steve Keenan, Bio Bob Styles, Steve Cochran, Nathan,
Steve Yearsley, Lance Ripley, Mike Marquez, David
Willoughby, Ricky Styles, Dave Friel, Daniel Weaver, Sean
Quinn, Dave Nelson, Tony "Hospital" Howard, Guerren, Tosh,
lan Cuthberson, Art Hueso, Justin Forbes, Bennett Jordan,
Danny Love, Scott Horgman, Jim Ward, Bill Blong, Jason
Funch, Johnny Johnson, Tom Adecio, Bryan Keeler, lan
Chesko, Felix Alfaro, Steve Geisinger, Chris English, John
Mockus and more Cruz'ers.
Yeah, some kids will whip out ho ho's or launch a varial
off a jump ramp. What makes Santa Cruz different? Fun is
the name of the game, and you still see kids tuck into their
favorite hedge on the way to school. Isn't that how all of this
began?
1985. When the Capitola Downhill race
became a streetstyle event, all Keith Meek
had to do was wake up, push out of his Mom's
driveway at the top of the hill and he was in
the contest. Here, Meekster launches before
a mass throng of spectators, a crowd so large
it forced the termination of any future skate
events on Monterey Street.
1983. Surfers like Richard Schmitt,
shown annihilating a Shark cove
section, Marcel Sorros, Steve Price,
Anthony Ruffo, Chris Heinen and
Mark Taylor are an able new breed
who keep surfing in Santa Cruz
known and respected worldwide.
82
1988. Among the new corps of the
skate generation are young upstarts
who are still looking and finding
pools, ditches and reservoirs. This
shallow end grind by Alex Acevado at
the Peanut pool shows the new age
carrying on the traditions of the old.