rocket
jon spooner
morning breakfast
I don’t really know why I called this what I did….I just did. I don’t know why I do half the things I do….I just do. Like Richard Ashcroft stated, “I’m a million different people from one day to the next…” Anyway, I figured you would need a fresh shot to scope out, so here is a few. I am working on a ‘Gonzales’ pool article & a ‘Shrelp’ posting as well for the weekend. See you Friday. Thanks to Kyle Lightner & MRZ for the photographs. Skate- Ozzie
Andy Mac- FS blunt @ Nude Bowl
Grant & Andy
I met Andy @ the Bricktown, New Jersey Pro/Am skate contest in 1991 or 1992. I was a judge for the contest & later learned that he had been getting ‘ripped off’ in his last few contests …as usual. He was tearing the spine ramp into small easily-digestible pieces & ruling it over Tony Hawk & several other notables. To the consternation of the ‘image-conscious’, he was wearing a Jay Adams Flyaway helmet & had flat-spotted wheels. Every time he landed an air over the spine it would make that loud peculiar sound- frump! frump! as he pumped up the opposite ramp trannies.
We became fast friends & over the ensuing years, spent many summers together at Woodward camp in Pennsylvania. He helped me as my assistant one summer after he fractured his leg. I still have vivid memories of him hobbling around on crutches trying to keep up with me…Andy moved to San Diego in 1992 – I think it was. He took a job wearing a Shamu suit at Seaworld, lived in cockroach -infested apartments & ate free food samples at the grocery stores just to get by.
Andy always had time to be a good friend. He is the most positive person that I have ever met. When I moved to California in October 1997, Andy flew to Pennsylvania to ride out with me. We threw all my books, a few clothes, and some skate gear into my 1971 BMW 2002, then cruised our way to San Diego. The next year, Andy won the X-games vert contest & just about every other major contest out there. He accumulated substantial monetary compensation as well and bought a great house where a bunch of his pool pals moved with him.
Powell had the insight to put him on the pro team & it has remained a great decision for them. When Andy wasn’t travelling, we would head out to the Badlands to ride backyard pools with Salba. Preston & Rhino, Bacon, Steve Roche & others, would all make the long drive up the I-15 from Pt. Loma to ride backyards. In 1998, JGrant Brittain, Andy & myself, drove out to Joshua Tree and the Nude Bowl to shoot photographs. It was a stellar weekend. The photographs are from that time. Andy took me to my first backyard pools in California & I owe him a debt that I cannot possibly repay. We had a falling out a few years back. I lost a really good friend. Thanks to JGrant Brittain for the great photographs. Treat your friends well. Skate-Ozzie
I’ve been working. I must admit that seeking out the blue-tiled beauties is a much better use of my time than working…but…such is life. See you Friday- Ozzie
Its hard to figure out what musicians are doing these days. It seems to me that half the band is playing one song, and the other guys are off in La-La land somewhere. It sounds like the most convoluted mess I have ever heard. Then there is ‘ hip- hop’. I am sure you can guess what I think of it. Like I said before, when I hear the words ‘hip-hop’, I reach for my revolver. I heard Cds of some rad eighties bands this weekend. The Exploited & The Buzzcocks. It was intense…bringing back stellar memories of backyard sessions with my pals & other things best never to be repeated & yet not forgotten. Jimmy Zs, Swatch watches, bleached hair, and peg-leg pants. Fucking funny stuff. Here is a sick picture Grant Brittain sent me. It encompasses all the feelings, memories & nostalgia of that time. Thanks to JGrant Brittain for the photograph & the trip into the past. Skate-Ozzie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAgdwXtb92Y
I am planning on writing a few things this weekend so that we can indulge next week. I like to post on Friday, so that everyone can have a pool shot to send you out on the weekend. For lack of anything better, here’s a clip of ‘Ridiculous’ back in the day. Mich found it & sent it to me, so I have her to thank! I have included a pool pic from JGrant Brittain, Thanks Grant!. You have a rad one! I am skating with some great pool pals Saturday & Sunday. You all go out & get some too! SKATE-Ozzie
craig johnson
http://revistatrip.uol.com.br/revista/177/reportagens/nao-enche/page-2.html
Dan Bourqui, Nilton Neves, Bruno Passos, Salba & I rode together back in March or early April in the Badlands. It was epic. The Brazilian magazine ‘Trip’ was posting an article on pool skating and the foreclosure mess. Shameless self-promotion aside, this is the resulting article. Its in portuguese so….you know— good luck. Thanks to Dan Bourqui for shooting the images. -Skate- Ozzie
Most people live their lives as spectators. Dave ‘Shaggy’ Palmer stated to me that, “Most people participate in life visually, and skaters participate viscerally.” Well, here is a classic dichotomy for you. I found the following pools viscerally, & you will participate visually. Interesting. Thanks Zach Petschek for the great photographs-Skate-Ozzie
Joseph Campbell wrote, “Nothing is exciting, when you know the outcome.” Ride something different today. Do something completely out of the norm. Try a trick that you never thought you would be able to do. Work on Smith grinds…yeah, lets work on Smith grinds. Skate. It’s Sunday. -Thanks Brandon Wong for the photograph. _Ozzie
Chris
Come out this weekend and help skateboarding remain the cool, anarchist, punk rock thing it has always been! Skate Strong Skate Long-Ozzie
Tom Knox
