For two weeks the two of us would make our way
towards the Quarter. Slowly we found other hips.
curb cuts, and obstacles en route to what I thought
would be desirable for most skaters. "Where is 'the
scene?" I thought. Had we come from the West
Coast only to be known as "those kids from Cali who
could do some tricks," as all happenstance audi-
ences would yell? If a skate scene even existed, it
must be far removed and underground.
I was beginning to miss the group participation of
a thriving session. Then, like the clear azure sky of
deepest midsummer, we started
seeing new faces with their
boards going off all over the
place, skating like it was their last
trick. Slowly we learned that all of
the bordering towns (mostly)
Metairie) were where they all
hung out in their packs, car pool-
ing to the best set of steps or
that low handrail. With introduc
tions abound, we got the tour of
the urban arenas. Soon the king-
pin (no pun intended) of the area
was setting up meetings with a
whole plethora of skaters from all
walks of life.
All these intense gatherings
soon came to a head when the
aforementioned middleman, with
the help of the Metairie-based
skateshop, Atomic Skates, put
together a word of mouth con-
test. The first choice of our little
festival was quickly upset by a
few patrol cars. Generally, most
skaters are courteous and polite
when patiently asked to leave.
but this day became a day of
monumental proportions as
mothers stood by their flustered
sons to defend their right to
skateboard. Eventually, the con
test was set in Kenner upon the
smooth foundation of a torn
down shop called Sun Basket.
Although I could not enter the
contest for reasons of poverty, 1
was able to take part in the
practice runs, which was excel-
lent for my crowd-shy persona. I
regard skateboarding as an indi-
vidual, self-expressive sport that
is an art in itself. Or, as a
friend put it. "Like dancers, the
way the body moves in unison
with the skateboard." As one of
these urban dancers, I shrink
away from the pressures of an audience and find
myself at odds with the ever present, implied
competitive aspect of skating.
On Sunday, April 14th, we had chosen an uptown
location for another contest. This was the infa-
mous sight on the corner of Magazine and
Washington. It consisted of a five foot wedge on
one side, a quarter-pipe on the other, and too
many skateboarders in between, attacking the
three funboxes, which were rectangular boxes
74 Тиклан
with
metal
edges
generally
NEW ORLEANS
used for
sliding.
grinding, and combination tricks
across the top. The actual contest was rained out,
but, for the next week, I skated with many skaters
of different styles and abilities. It was really
Inspiring to see this many skaters come together.
harmless.
fun-seekers park
Skateboarding is a lifestyle that has often
gathered spate and looming jail visits from the law
and property owners. Many
businesses in the French
Ouirter and surrounding New
Orleans areas look at skate
boarding as destruction of
property or quickly but usin
fear of lawsuits, Although
most skaters realize that get
ting hurt is all part of the fun
and don't plan to take lega
action against a business if
they get hurt. skating still has
that skate and destroy tag
attached to it.
If you keep making those faces, it'll stay that
way. Will Byers gets high at the Catfish Banks.
Some guys and even a few girls I hadn't seen in
months gathered in almost religious dedication
until sunset to pour out their sweat and blood all
over this temporarily borrowed skatepark. We did
get enthusiastic responses for our efforts from
many people who happened by this corner.
Pedestrians and motorists alike would stop for long
periods to ogle the hypnotic spectacle. I wondered
how long such a good thing could last with threats
from the police and landlord to break up this
The logical amendment to all
this would be for the city
help build a skatepark or
least grant skaters piece of
vacant property to build their
own park on. I've seen this
happen in many cities and it is
a solution to the aforemen
tioned outcast lifestyle.
Skateboarding really is a
bealthy alternative to the vio-
lent, drug-induced lifestyles of
many other anxious adoles
cents. This park would be run
like any other with a fenced in
area that required waiver
forms to be signed and all
rules to be obsered.
Recreational areas like soccer
fields, baseball diamonds, and
tennis courts are provided for
other sports, why not provide
skateboarders with a stable,
sequestered environment
where they can thrive and
enjoy themselves?
I have found the New Orleans i
skateboarding scene to be
ever growing The birth of two
local comparties proves that
necessity is the mother of
invention Messiah
Skateboards sells boards at
Atomic and out of the back of the owner's car.
Cajuh Skateboards are dedicated to keeping prices
affordable and therefore only sell blank decks (no
graphies) as cach-half the price of the aver
age shop deck in addition, Baton Rouge has taken
off with their fresh-on-the-scene company.
Torque, thaponsors Louisiana skaters. All these
companies, in sympathetic attention to New
Orleans talent would be supportive of a public
foundation for the flight of these dreams.
Down South
From the Louisiana swamp
lands and Bourbon Street blues
comes a raw skate talent that
brings out the taste of New
Orleans. These Dixie, drinkin',
coonass, bayou country rapscal
lions are more than just pond
fishin', jazz lovin', crawfish
suckin' beerheads. The fine cui-
sine of New Orleans skate
artists are raw with creativity in
a party-happy city that is fun to
wake up hung over in
The city of New Orleans is built
around the French Quarter and
along the Mississippi River. There
are many gift shops, restaurants,
cafes and very tightly-spaced
living quarters.
New Orleans is a twenty-four
hour city (the city that never
sleeps), which means that at any
time of day you can grab a bite
to eat, find a drink to sip, and
hear some of the funkiest jazz
anywhere.
If you are ever in Louisiana
looking for a good session, you
can always find people at the
local skate shop, Atomic. There
is always someone there eager
to skate. Skate spots around New
Orleans range from the city to
the hot fashion trends
come out of New Orleans
may look weird to you
now, but I bet you'll be
rockin' this style by this
time next year.
by James Lapuyade,
Adam Laudun &
Glenn Lapuyade
the suburbs. From the depths of
Poydras and the stretch of
Decatur lies a terrain that not
too many people get to ride. The
CBD is a paradise of concrete
fixtures and statues. Or. Just
cruising through the uptown
scene at some of the local col-
leges such as Tulane or Loyola
you will find some pretty cool
sessions and also some nice
sights to see. If you want to hit a
slightly different scene, just 60
miles away in Baton Rouge you
can hook up with some people at
the local skate shop there
called Urban 9. Urban 9 now has
a new indoor skatepark called
Gulf Coast Skatepark. Or, you
can hit quiet downtown Baton
Rouge. From the transitional
walls to the Catfish Town banks,
whenever you're in Baton Rouge,
there is always a session. So, if
you are ever cruising through
Louisiana, New Orleans and
Baton Rouge are two places you
should not pass up. In the big
easy city of drive-thru daiquiri
shops. French Quarter spirits, and
blistering music till dawn, the cul-
ture is for great food, great fun,
and great skating