Blue Tile Obsession

Brad Bowman, deathbox- in San Fernando valley pool-78

I saw this photographic image of Brad Bowman & immediately was reminded of the ‘tunnel vision’ we all seem to experience. I have tunnel vision when I skate, and generally in my life. Do you want to know something about skateboarding? For me, when I am doing most anything, I am thinking about skating, but when I am skating, I can think of nothing else. Perfection. True obsessive thought. Tunnel vision. Thanks to Jim Goodrich & Brad Bowman for giving us the deathbox tunnel vision. Skate-Ozzie

Sam Haines- Fontana2

Sam with his new pump.

Sam-'Ridiculous' hip action.

Sam @ the 'big round church.'

Sam Haines, popped onto the grid, back in the summer. He sort-of followed Mark Partain home from the skatepark & we have kept him around ever since. Just kidding! He has been a great big, helpful addition to Peter Kings ‘Ridiculous’ crew. Sam bought a new pump for heavy draining action, scouts constantly for new pools & is always down for a session. Sam knows the value of hard work as well. He arrives early; prepared for our pool draining/cleaning missions. Sam doesn’t make petty excuses & has always done exactly what he says he’ll do! Reliability.We are glad Sam is here! Thanks to Brian Walnum & Chris Tietz  for the images. Skate long. Support & respect those that get the job done!-Ozzie

The sweetness.

refreshing sweetness.

wounded...

the agony of defeat...

tears.

fini

There are times when we lose. We know that all skate spots fall by the wayside & are lost to us. Its only a matter of time. This one was of the ‘epic’ variety. A true ‘Ten-minute miracle’ pool. We would stealth & ride it for ten minutes only, then be ghosts & disappear into the shadows. If you didn’t spend those ten minutes wisely…you lost. We sat on it, periodically tasting of its perfect sweetness. One day, it was filled; a swimmer. The house was watched by realtors.  Finally, about 9 months later, it was gutted. The house reduced to only studs & framework. The coping was man-handled & off in most places. We were -collectively-appalled. We pumped it out & Salba got a few turns in it, but it went the way of the dinosaur. This week, Sam & I found her in ruin. Fini. Skate & appreciate …it might be gone the next time you visit. Ozzie

Gator @ 'Ratbowl'. At this time, he's probably pretty hopeful inside.

Uncharachteristically, I was watching some news today. I try to be hopeful, but it waxes & wanes. Peering at the TV, I wasn’t really that optimistic in hoping to find something new, beyond the horror that regularly wastes our planet & speeds humanity towards oblivion. I’m reminded of ‘The Samples’ song, where Sean Kelly sings, “…and the world goes half the speed, of what it takes.”

The media tried to pawn some feel-good, gobbleygook our way…but I saw behind it. Seeing old Christian women feeding soup to LA homeless amid tinsel, decorations & beaming politicians does little, to make me feel like we live in a better world. I think we need to end our pride & selfishness. That would certainly be a start.

I gave away old skate stuff to a few  kids in a nearby town. I’m broke, but they have less, it seems. They looked lost. They seemed ‘driven out’.  It was cold & windy. They were wandering the graffiti -spattered streets; cheerless. It seemed as though they lost all hope. Hope is never a bad thing to instill. A small amount of hope, can do a great deal of good.

I saw few decorations & lights in their neighborhood. I saw grime, poverty & discarded alcohol bottles. I saw refuse & reeking puddles. I saw ignorance, squallor & apathy. Concerning those kids; I hope they can move ahead. I hope a loving presence instills good in them. I hope they see the future & smile. I hope they dream good things. I hope. Thanks to Jim Goodrich, for the image & The Fixx, for the inspiration. Skate-Ozzie

“So now I’m driving in my car, I used to be able to walk this far. Now I turn on the light, I used to be able to sleep at night. I’m cooking with microwaves, to warm up food, thats not seen the soil, I’m plugged into my TV, I’m used to the lies they’re telling me…telling me…”   The Fixx.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJDCAlg83_o&feature=PlayList&p=72FA44EDD0D34FCD&index=14

Clayton Howell @ Ridiculous.

Jim & Clayton Howell. The Badlands.

Jim & Clayton -worshipping at the big round church.

I remember waking up one cold, snow-filled, Christmas morning. I believe it was 1977. The smell of hot chocolate & bacon, filled the air. Bach or Vivaldi was playing on the big stereo in the corner. The pine tree smelled amazing & glittered like a prize in the front window; spangled in silvery tinsel, colored glass balls & festive decorations. I opened a package that my dad handed me. He had a grin on his face. It turned out to be a set of new skateboard trucks. Suregrip trucks, to be exact. I was so stoked. However, I bet my dad wasn’t though. After breakfast & for the entire duration of Christmas day, I was down in the basement, riding my quarter-pipes. FRUMP,CLANK, FRUMP,CLANK, FRUMP… My best pal, Jim Howell, has a son–Clayton. Jim makes sure of one thing always. Wherever they live, they have a place to ride.They have always had a ramp on their property. Clayton & Jim ride together regularly. Clayton…make sure you thank your dad! I want to thank mine as well. Thanks! Treat your family well today. Thank you to Brian Walnum for the images. Skate-Ozzie

keeping it real...

Priorities. This Christmas eve, I thought I had it all in order. Dawn patrol.  I started with a 5am wakeup, including coffee & warm fleece.  Bundled up, I hit the dark dawn highway. The backseat was stuffed with a pool pump, hoses, extension cords, generator, brooms, buckets, turkey baster (for getting in the drain), and other assorted tools & towels. One day,(back in 03) in the San Fernando valley, Steve Olson called me the “Martha Stewart of pool skating.” He had seen the assortment of stuff I carry. None of which is my original idea. Salba has been doing this much longer than I! Anyway, By 7am, I was in the deep end of a bent square nearby. I slipped down the waterfall & fell in. OMG! It was so cold! Then, I laughed at my stupidity & drove back home to change. I returned to the pool & the generator wouldn’t start. So, I took it by a repair shop that opened at 9am. The worker told me it was “iffy”, that it would be repaired today. I drove back to another pool & ended up with a real estate agent & the police department visiting me, on this fine Christmas eve. The law enforcement officer just wanted to be sure that I was not involved in the misappropriation of anothers property. He told me to”scram”, which I did. I decided to drive home & end the day by running 5 miles & doing crunches until I thought I’d puke up my spleen! Nice. Masochism. I did end up getting the generator repaired & draining a few today. I saw the sunset, as I drove back to the ‘highlands’. Christmas eve. Keeping it real. Skate-Ozzie

Neil Blender @ Pete Finlans ramp in Oceanside 85'

Christmas 1985.  Tears for Fears, Til Tuesday, Billy Idol, Prince & Dire Straits were played incessantly on the radio. I kept cassette tapes recorded, full of old punk bands & metal, so I wouldn’t be throwing up on my shoes every ten minutes, when a song came on the radio. (funny thing, I like those bands now!) I was stationed at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base. I was a medic with the infantry. When we weren’t running with full combat loads, cleaning M-16s, scrubbing the squad bay, or being shipped off & deployed to some fucking armpit of the world…I would take the bus from 53 area out to Oceanside.

I would try to ride Del Mar Skate Ranch, ‘The Shell Bowl’, or the strand, in search of some fun.  The Marine Corps frowns on troopers that ride skateboards (toys). It was that way back then, anyway. So, I would venture out on my own. One evening, I had finished skating the Del Mar park, and I was walking out. I saw a Porsche pull in. Stacy Peralta got out & sauntered into the park with some younger guy. The young guy was all padded up & started riding…really well. Stacy was telling him this & that, the whole time; just non-stop talking. I was watching from a fence so I couldn’t quite hear them.

The young guy started doing inverts & stalling them as long as possible. It was so sick! His arm would tremble….then he would just fall back into the pool. It turned out to be, Billy ‘Center of the Universe’ Ruff. He was a ripper, that one! I always wondered what Stacy had been telling him. In 2000, when I worked on the Z-boys documentary with Stacy, I asked him. He couldn’t even recall being at Del Mar with Billy Ruff. Strangeness. Time can get behind you quick, I suppose. Hell, sometimes I can’t remember what I did this morning!

Anyway, right after Thanksgiving of 85, I moved into an Oceanside apartment, with a young couple that I knew from the military. It was cheaper to share expenses & I was just back from a deployment to Korea. I needed some time, ‘off base’. We lived in a nice apartment complex off Sherbourne Ave. One day, I was out skating a red -painted curb in front of the building. I heard some yelling. I walked about a block down the street & through the trees, I saw vert,  PVC coping & skaters! I was dumbfounded. It turned out to be Pete Finlans halfpipe. Pete was cool & welcomed me.

I rode there with Britt Parrot, Brian Ridgeway, Tony Hawk & others, over the next few months. I remember spending Christmas day 1985, skating, drinking Budweiser & making out with a girl in a polkadot dress.  She kept wanting to listen to the new’ Madonna’ album, on her stereo…so I excused myself to use the bathroom. Then, I bailed on her & bought more Budweiser. It seemed the better option. After all, a man must have standards! Those were great times & skating Pete Finlans ramp, helped me squelch my hostility toward the world. These are some of my memories of 1985. The good memories, I might add. Thanks to Jim Goodrich for the image. Go skate-Ozzie

I'm just sitting & singing on someones lawn ornaments...

I’m not much for holiday festivities. It’s not really my thing. I know that most people are though, so Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope that you all relax & spend time with people that you care about. Skate-Ozzie

There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.”
~ Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), American author and humorist.

Scott Cooper

Bill Rennie

Chris Kasey

Chris, Shae, Brandon & Nathan- ready to feast!

Session is getting heavy.

Bad Billy-FS Christmas Crusher.

Kevin Burke-fs grind over side stairs.

Salba

Sam Haines

Art Miranda

early crew

This year, I figured that gathering a  Honeybaked ham, some goodies, and a few pool pals together, would be a perfect way to celebrate Xmas. I tossed the idea out there, and several people enthusiastically joined in to bring food & drinks as well. A bunch of regulars were invited & the session went off on Sunday. Lance Mountain stopped by briefly, and we sat together to watch 11 year old, Tristan Rennie work his magic on the pool. Lance leaned over to me and commented, “I wonder just how many sessions like this, are going on right now? You know?” I nodded & agreed. There had to be other skaters out there, that- simply -love the idea of getting a few friends together & skating during the holidays. I remember, back in Pennsylvania, we had sessions in Busters barn, Cheapskates, the Slug ramp & Woodward. It was pretty common, actually. It was a great day of feasting, skateboarding, and friends. Thanks to everyone that came & those that brought food. Merry Christmas to everyone. Thank you to Scott Ward for being a super friend. Special thanks to Christopher Tietz, Brandon Wong & Sam Haines for the images. Go skate with your friends-Ozzie

Tony Alva- in Uplands 'Pipeline'

Ritz Carlton Hotel- across the street from 'ground zero'.

tributes around World Trade Center area.

'Missing' posters on wall around 'ground zero'.

NYC-It's not ever going to be the same.

On December 20, 1978, Tony Alva was photographed deep in the blowhole of Uplands ‘Pipeline’ skatepark. Everything after, has been a roller coaster ride of vertical & over-vertical mayhem, for us skateboarders. Meanwhile, on December 20, 1990, the Pentagon warned Saddam Hussein that U.S. air power was ready to strike; starting the Gulf War.  On December 20, 1991, Osama Bin Laden was -reportedly-in  Dubai…he was taking notes & excessively unhappy with American involvement in the Persian Gulf. He banded with others in a small dusty hut, and bent their heads together over a darksome plot. Everything after, has been a nightmare of death, bloodshed & destruction. All of that ignorance & calamity led up to the current debacle in the Middle East.

9-11, was a direct result of American meddling in the Holy Lands. According to them, we are ‘infidels’ & don’t belong there. In the Koran, I found it written, that we-infidels- should be killed. From the Koran-(Qur’an: 9:5) “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.” Interesting, I would think. However, such thoughts should remain inside the empty head they originated from, lest someone decide to act upon them.

But—as they say, “Live & let live”. I read a book recently about the 9-11 hijackers, called, ‘Perfect Soldiers’. I recommend it highly. I went to New York City in December 2001. I met & interviewed the iconic photographer, Glenn E. Friedman, and while there, I stayed in the area around ‘Ground Zero’. I walked around all night & cried openly. New York City groaned under its burden of grief. Among the unending towers of concrete, glass, chrome & hubris, I saw tributes on the fences…numbering in the thousands. The dirty sidewalks were drowning in crowds of saddened onlookers & the disbelieving. The overpowering smell of flowers left for the dead, was cloying & heavy. Gaunt trees waved their branches in the wind; seemingly in a sad farewell to the deceased below.

I noticed pictures, childrens messages to their missing parents, abject sorrow. I saw a question repeatedly asked in huge letters. WHY?! I know of no polite response. I love my country, but am scared of my government. Please remember where we came from as skateboarders, yet -more importantly-as human beings. I don’t know the answer to the situation, but I do know that what we are doing, isn’t working well. Lets not be a part of the problem. Lets be a part of the solution. We can start by being  much nicer, right now. Thank you to Jim Goodrich for the image & the inspiration. Skate Long/Hate Less.- Ozzie