After being asked to write the article
about Houston, Texas, many thoughts
went through my head. When I think of
the Gulf Coast, I believe, myself, that this
is my home, remembering to that day two
years ago when my mother asked me if I
I wanted to move to Houston, Texas. My
father had moved down a year previously.
The thought had been up in the air for a
couple of months, but the day for a final
decision had come. I got my board and
my clothes and flew there that day.
Moving into a larger city from Huntington,
West Virginia, was the only thing on my
mind, knowing that the fourth largest city
in the United States had to be filled with
several paths in which I could take. Living
here two years, I feel that Houston's
upcoming skaters are stronger than ever.
As for the city's skateparks,
there are two now open. The first
is the Skatepark of Houston
which has been open since '84.
This park has been the
feeding ground for many
contests. From pro vert to
pro street, the outdoor
has been sessioned and
resessioned for over a
decade. The locals at
the SOH,
or the Dirts, as they like to be called, are
the kids who have watched the city grow
and become what it is today. Having the
skills for any sponsor or video is some-
thing they look at as mere fun. The
respect of these individuals is next to
none when it comes to publicity and
plentiful when it comes from their peers.
Chris Bryars, one of the craziest Dirts, is
among the first of the skaters I've met.
When it comes down to just getting
"loaded," Chris will be high on the ladder.
Travis Sailes, also holding stock with
Busch, is one of the best mini-ramp
skaters I have ever seen. The household
consists of Smitty, Finely, Nielsen and
Hubba, and holds some of the most
talented vert skaters in Houston history. If
these four get a little upset because
Robbie Hershom will not quit playing
music, it's only out of respect for
their own home. After
Robbie refuses
to keep mixing,
you can find
these individuals
sessioning a
couch in the
living room.
Mike Kelly,
a true
skateboarder, will definitely show you
how it's kept real in the Lone Star State.
It's hard to put into words how to explain
P-Dub. Whether he's doing commercials,
getting buck wild or ripping on vert, you
will always find him at the party. If the
Dirts aren't showing their skills on vert,
street or any skatepark in Houston, they
are definitely at a party, whether it's a
bottle breaking contest, keg stands or
just making some tapes we might not
I want to talk
about. The
Dirts have
much love for the city, skaters and
especially for drinking beer.
As for the Southside Indoor Skatepark,
enough words cannot explain how rad
this park is. The owner, Thomas Mixon,
sold nearly everything he had and went
out on a limb. From its ups, downs and
break-ins, the park is growing by the day.
Southside now has a well-stocked pro
shop, a vert ramp, a mini-ramp and a
street course. With over 15,000
members, the park's employee,
"Buck" William Miller, helps
Tommy out. Buck has been
seen sleeping under a ramp
and doing nothing but twenty-
hour days of work for the past
month. The locals of Southside
are by far the biggest group of
talented kids I've ever been
involved with or seen in such
a city. These kids are always
to be found at the Indoor by
night. Jason Womak will rip
on whatever you put him
on. This guy
grew up in
Houston
and will
CROP NO SE
BOULITIES
continue to do nothing but good for many
years to come. Rumor has it he finally
flew from his nest and is residing in an
unknown far off island of skateboard
paradise. When it comes to Philip
Vaughn, his street skills are as raw as they
come. Growing up and representing the
Gulf Coast is what Philip lives day to day
for. His house is the safest and raddest
place for all of us to chill in. Just don't
wake up Jasper! The goat in the.
backyard may bite your leg
off, but I think Philip's
grandmother has some
ointment for that. The goat
has moved away and is
heard telling goat stories
throughout various cities in
the US. Tattoos? I must be
thinking of a kid who came
out of nowhere. Wayne
Patrick, who actually rode a
bike many miles to the
skatepark once, is a master
of the wood. Mike Holloway
and Anthony Correa are
definitely two of the
most tech kids in the
city. Mike might be
wearing a robo-cop
knee brace, but it
has yet to slow him
down. When visiting
Mike, just don't
make any kids eat
cigars in his back-
yard. As for Anthony Correa, have the
words, "I can't do that trick" ever been
said? I don't think so. Style King Award
goes to Sean Williams, the only kid I've
seen make a cast from his hand to his
shoulder look good. His close friend, Matt
Fuller, can also be seen skating by day
and breakdancing by night. As for myself,
skating is what I do.
When talking about the locals of
Southside, you might as well say the
locals of downtown also. After sessioning
downtown Houston, Texas, we all reside
back to the Indoor. From Tranquility Park,
Tinker Toy, HL
& P, Jones
Plaza, One
Allen Center,
Courthouse
ledges, Tranny
ledges and the
Exxon
Building, who
can ask for
much more
from a city?
The raw
streets of
ledges,
stairs,
handrails,
56 THRASHER
Houshen
Story by Nate McGlone Photos by Jesse De Martino
Below: The Dirts like to skate and drink. Life is that simple.
HY H
Above: Still skating after all these years, Dave Nielsen mutes to fakie on the hurricane at SOH.