Above: Adam Laudin slaps his
hand to fakte. Below: Larry
Blossom frontside slides the rail at
church. Opposite: Todd Taylor bel-
lies up to the bar with a frontside
nosegrind. Spread: The gang
charges Bourbon Street
NEW ORLEANS
ON 17
LONG
YA SI
Story by Ehron Zech-Photos by Adam Wallacavage
The Search
The first time I arrived in New Orleans in the fall of
'94. I wondered where all the skateboarders were. Of
course not knowing where the favored spots were. I
was a complete tourist, gawking at all the grandiose
architecture framed by the dense vegetation. The
streets were all too rough, and I thought for
sure (judging by the reaction of the general
populous who gazed upon me and my friend
as if we were circus freaks from a sweat-
soaked apocalyptic nightmare) that we were a
dwindling breed in a city that's less than ideal
for skateboarding
Our playground began in the Garden District, as this was our home
base and immediate surroundings. Somehow we worked our way
towards the French Quarter as most visitors do. Then we found it. The
Rivergate was this large semi-abandoned building on the far edge (river
side) of Canal. Underneath the expansive domed roof, a ten foot wide
sidewalk stretched across the back edge. The sidewalk was bordered on
one side by an 18 inch curb, while the other side dropped off onto a
smooth driveway, which was twice as wide as the sidewalk
itself. Despite the slumbering bums in the little alcoves (
that drained rivers of stagnant, sticky urine, we
knew we had found the ultimate,
unintentionally constructed
street course.
BIG DADDY'S
BOTTOMLESS
TABLE
TOP
DANCING
NO COVER DRINKS 375