n
othing needs to be said
about the intermittent bouts
of crapola weather that are a dis-
tinguishing quality of the East Coast. Every
skater dreads the time when the sky gets dark, the
heavens open up, and the heavy rain comes down. It
challenges our motivation to skateboard, but the idea of
not skateboarding is positively unreasonable. On the days
we can't summon the courage to go skate on the rainy
Philadelphia streets, for fear that the dreadlocks will turn
into moisture-soaked mops upon our heads, we pile into
the car of whoever is driving this week, and go indoors. A
pretty tight skateboard community makes it fun.
Showing up at one of the three most frequented parks
outside of the city will guarantee a run-in with some
good friends who will help you push yourself fur-
ther than you would like to go each and every
time. Ride up, bail, try again, eat shit, try again, ride
away, and you are hyped. When it's time to limp back
to the car, you feel a silent pride inside that comes
from landing the raddest trick you ever tried, while
Iron Maiden's Somewhere In Time plays on a beat car
stereo. Praise Jah.
-Mike Manidis and Shawn Brodsky
Clockwise from left:
Helmets must be worn at all times inside the park.
Texas Adam frontside 5-0s to fakie over the channel,
322 park. The integration of modern street spots within
a traditional skatepark setting has become a common
sight in parks these days. But it still feels just as good
when you hang up and fall on your face. Mike Manidis,
full hell commitment. Lipslide at the 322 skatepark in
Westchester. Hey, Kerry Getz, backside nollie 360°
heelflip right in your face. Fogettaboutit! West End.
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