terrain Phoenicians have frolicked upon
throughout the ages. It is a good represen-
tation of the smooth, fast, burly spots that
skaters from these parts have come to
know and keep close to their heart
POOL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Phoenix, Arizona, a natural in
cinerator, has long contained more
pools than an iguana could stick his
tongue out at. The harsh and
unrelenting heat, the rich and
elderly winter visitors and
the burning and bur-
geoning population all
combine to make "the
Valley of the Sun" a
true pool Mecca.
BEANS
The Bean Bowl, a kidney-styled motel
pool on the shady side of town, was an
early proving ground for many. Its inner-
city setting, along a main prostitution
lane, gave it a variety of onlookers.
Besides stoking ladies of the night, the
Bean crew also stood as targets for knee
high neighborhood' hoodlums. Tony
Simon can remember being pelted with
stones from a local laddie who was even-
tually coaxed into attempting a ride. When
the whipper-snapper accomplished
carves after just a few runs, the skaters
knew they had a potential protege on their
hands. Eventually, all chipped in and
bought him a stick.
THE AXE MAN COMETH
Once upon a time, there was a pool call-
ed Howard's Bowl. Legend has it
that a man named Howard
mysteriously saw the sur-
rounding house
go up
in
flames only to later collect on insurance
claims. The swimming pool sat abandon-
ed beneath beams of 2x4s and plywood
until it was cleared by famished riders.
Though the deep end was a little tight,
and the sidewalls could not be worked, the
facewall sat clean and the shallow end was
of the da kine caliber. This made it possi-
ble to ride the pool back and forth, from
shallow to deep, "like a halfpipe,"
remembers one Evan Jones, "but it was
ever so much better, because there were
carve lines."
Besides Jones, John Saichin, Paul
Seroka, Ron Theobald and a hefty host of
others regularly sessioned Howard's.
One day, the axe fell. Chris Camano
claims he was carving the pool as per
usual when he looked up to see a wide-
eyed madman sprinting his way, with axe
in hand. The man swung his axe directly
at Camano's head and Chris quickly
blocked it with his board. The impact split
the deck in half and Camano was glad to
come away with his skin.
Tony Cholewa tells of recognizing the
hatchet man later, and hearing
his Side.
"He just got pissed,"
recites Tony.
Above: Doug Perry flips out on the
Cowabunga banks. Spread: Four stout-
hearted adventurers face the perils of
Mummy Mountain. Photos by M.Fo
HANDS
OURE
A
BLACKHAWK
YOU ARE
WHAT I
VAS
IAM
WHAT U
WILL BE
From Top: Roadside art on the way to the Gila
reservation. Catshit pool inviting a grind.
Another message to the motorists. Photos
M.Fo. Ron Theobald copes with a real
wheeler after dark, the only time shade was
actually available at Skate in the Shade.
Photo: Glen Buckles. More eerie etchings.
Photo: M.Fo.
THE BEST CAT IS A DEAD ONE
Few pools can claim comparison to the
glory and majesty that was Dead Cat. In
1977, long before the first ollie was pop-
ped, Dead Cat was stumbled upon by
skaters returning from pipe sessions on
the other side of town.
Though he does not claim to be the first
to find Dead Cat, Tony Simon has
references who will not refute that he was
the first to remove its namesake.
"There was some scum in the bottom.
and a funky green cat covered with moss,
Simon says. "I threw it over the fence.
Then someone threw it back onto the
loveseat. It was there for a long time."
Measuring in at 11' deep, 50' wide and
200' long, Dead Cat was no frail feline.
Early shots show a huge, clean pool with
thick, proud, virgin coping jutting out a
few inches from the wall. Later shots
record layers of graffiti and well hammered
coping remnants on the face wall.
Dead cat boasted a round face wall
extruding past square corners. It had two
death boxes and four long loveseats. Ses-
sions got so crowded there that the
skaters would split themselves into two
groups so one could skate while the other
watched and partied in the shade.
At one time or another, D.C. was com-
pletely filled with dirt, then emptied,
covered with oil, then cleaned, and
violated by a Cadillac, which was then
dragged out of the deep end via tow truck.
Nowadays, the walls remain intact but.
the belly is filled with dirt.
Of all who rode there, Steve Shelton is
best remembered as king. A man of tall
stature, Shelton would blast.three-to four
foot frontside airs, at speed, that would
cover the whole facewall and then gouge,
fast and standing grind lines atop the
rough and rocky coping.
IGNORE ALL OBSTACLES
Not all pools were as popular as Dead
Cat. The Obstacle Bowl got its name.
because of the many protrusions it con-
tained. Ridden mostly by "East Siders,"
it too saw changes.