ON THE
ROAD
Words & Photos
by Neil Wade
30 T
West of the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area there
is more than just cows and Amish people. Not much more,
granted, but if you look hard enough, you'll find some of the
most devoted skateboarders anywhere. In places like Lan-
caster, Reading, West Chester and Pottstown, they can be
found working the sparse, but sometimes good terrain.
People like Chad Kramer, Bam Margera, Dave Updegrove,
Dave Getzoff and Chris Drabouski, just to name a few. Some
of these names you may have heard of, some you never will
again, and a few I promise you will in the future (you go,
Gumbi). None of that's important though because I don't
think people here skate for fame. Most skate for lack of any
thing else to do. You see, if we weren't skaters, we'd most
likely be either ugly yellow Chevy Nova drivin', Motley Crüe
t-shirt wearin', redneck white trash. Or, cross color wearin',
Boys II Men listenin', African-American wannabe white trash.
(There's really a huge difference).
Pennsylvania
West of Love
SHIMERVILLE REC
If you can get over those guys, Pennsylvania really isn't a bad place to live. For
the most part, everyone is cool to one another and there is very little vibe. So if
you ever get lost looking for Love Park, smell some cows, and see a few skaters,
walk up and ask them what's going on. They'll probably be so happy to see a
new face that they'll give you a guided tour of the area (and if you're real nice,
show you where the local Taco Bells and Subways are).
Multiple images prove Chris Drabowski's kickflip to fakie (opposite top) at the Shimmerville
Skatepark is no fluke. A mean lien and a vert dog by the name of Chad Kramer (above left)
double up at Shimmerville. Mini-mite Bam Margera (above) can skate it all, as this alley oop
frontside floater will attest. Dave Updegrove (left) assaults some heavy ivy in the heart
of Amish country. Outside at the old Magic Skatepark, Brian Seber (opposite right) has all
the right parts to stick this 180 kickflip. Sweet. Over the main launching pad,
Pat E Smith (opposite left) looks down at the earth from the heavens.