Blue Tile Obsession

Eddie Reategui- Obstacle pool. 1980s.

Life continues to throw roadblocks & obstacles in my way. Sometimes, I want to get a ‘rocket launcher’ and have a ‘clarification’ session! I guess I shouldn’t try to do the wrong thing. I haven’t had the practice –lately. Regardless, I just wish things would go right for a change. My cell phone was caught by a flying board on New Years day & the screen was cracked. I cannot get texts or see anything…but it receives calls. Today, it stopped functioning altogether after I dropped it in water….imagine that! Currently, I’m too broke to purchase a new one. I need to pay rent, buy food and– basically– keep a pulse in my body…ugh! To quote Bruce Lee– again– “Turn a stumbling block, into a stepping stone.” So it goes, on & on… Thanks to Jim Goodrich for the image of Eddie @ the ‘Obstacle’ pool. It seems that Eddie found a way around things, so I guess I will too. I’m done whining. Skate & overcome. Ozzie

I am working with Lance Mountain on a retrospective of his skating years -thus far-& memories from touring with the Bones Brigade.  Lance has great stories from the history of our sport. He has led an extraordinary life & has a colorful, influential career in skateboarding. Many people out there, consider Lance an all-time favorite, myself included. I am trying to do this thing right. I will be posting it soon, as well as a David Hackett interview covering his life in skating.  Thank you everyone, for reading & checking in. Thanks to Peter King for the Lance image.Skate-Ozzie

Beverly Hills- where those 'other' people live.

Beverly Hills square.

Tony Alva, Jeff Tatum, Ozzie, Mike Early.

Tony Alva- side wall grind.

A year or so ago, I drove up to Los Angeles & met with TA to go hang out and skate. He told me that Mike Early was coming along with Jeff Tatum. I asked, “Jeff Tatum of the Kona Bowl in San Diego?” TA nodded in the affirmative. Awhile later, we drove through Los Angeles from the Alva shop in Little Ethiopia, over through Beverly Hills.

We drove alleys and side streets, with TA keeping up a running dialogue on past pools he had ridden throughout the area. He told me that the huge ‘Keyhole’ pool, many OG Dogtown skaters rode in the 1970s, was located here. “The last time I rode the ‘Keyhole’, Dave Hackett & I rode our bikes up the alley & climbed over the back wall. It was in the mid 80s. Back then, you could get away with climbing over a wall. Now, they have armed response & you go straight to jail. Ozzie, that pool was perfect!”

There is a famous photograph of TA doing a BS micro edger in a pool. He is looking straight at the camera & holding up his middle finger. TA told me that the pool was in Beverly Hills as well.  He said, “The estates here had huge yards & the pools were all built in the 1940s & 1950s. Almost all the pools we found in Beverly Hills, during the drought, were great.” TA was referring to the drought of the early 1970s, when pool skating really started for him & the Z boys.

I just grinned & imagined finding a huge keyhole pool someday. If you are going to dream…dream big! We pulled off at a side street & sat in his truck listening to reggae music. Mike Early pulled in behind us shortly, and we climbed out, grabbed our gear,  and quickly cut down an alley nearby. We couldn’t see in any yards. The walls were 15 feet in height. TA stopped at a gate. We pushed our way through the wooden door.

Inside, there was a huge square pool, bone dry & glittering in the sun. We swept it down & rode -undisturbed-for an hour. It was great to be riding with all these guys. We grinded, pulled edgers & a few airs…everyone was stoked & smiling. We were ‘in the moment’. Sunshine, skating, rolling & weightlessness. Some days you remember forever. Perfect days. This was one of them. Skate & be ‘in the moment’.-Ozzie

Ray Flores- found the Gonzales pool- 1977.

Gonzales pool. October 3, 2000

Gonzales. October 10, 2000.

Mr. Jose Gonzales & Tony Alva- July 1999

The Gonzales pool was found by Ray Flores in 1977. He kept it under wraps until Mr. G gave them permission to ride it on a regular basis. The Z boys kept it to themselves & the Gonzales  pool history was assured. Many amazing things were done there & barriers broken during its time. This is a dedication to Mr. Jose Gonzales, Ray Flores & Tony Alva. Thank you from all of us. Remember your skate history. It is truly important. Thank you to Bryce Kanights for the Ray Flores image. (notice the hand-drawn, Wes Humpston ‘Bulldog’ deck, Ray is riding) Skate Long-Ozzie

TA & me... on the set at 'Dogbowl'

TA- FS grind in 'Dogbowl'. note sound boom mic

Back in 2004, Tony Alva kept me in the loop as they were filming the ‘Lords of Dogtown’ movie. On June 1st, I met him in Pasadena, Ca. where the ‘Dogbowl re-issue’ was being used for filming. I was told that the house belonged to a producer who agreed that the pool could be built for the film, as long as it was replaced with a long narrow ‘lap’ pool after filming wrapped. The pool was amazing. It was huge, smooth & fast. I rode several old Stacy Peralta boards & helped with the sound during some of the final shooting. It was great to meet some of those working on the film & to skate there with TA. The pool was destroyed & replaced after filming….much to my  dismay. Regardless, I had an amazing time & am grateful to have been there. Thank you to TA for the invitation. Skate-Ozzie

Neil Blender- Sadlands.

Happy-

Skreech.

proper.

all of the elements...

Kobi Yamada stated, “Every now & then, bite off more than you can chew.”  I like the sound of that. Being defeated is only temporary…unless you give up. Jump a fence, drain a pool, try the deathbox….or the door at Pier Park; you never know. Do you? It could be the start of something. It could plant the seed of motivation to try something new– somewhere else. Where will you start? Thanks to Ray Zimmerman for the images-Skate-Ozzie

Chris Miller- Pier Park door. GULP!

As you are already aware, I posted a Chris Miller interview last week. Given the topic, it was greeted with enthusiasm. Thank you for reading. I received a few extra images from JGrant Brittain & this was one of them. Its hard for me to understand, how someone can get over that door! I see the image…but I’m still in disbelief. Maybe, I am not supposed to know. Its enough that Chris Miller & others like him can do it. I felt the same way after seeing Bob Burnquist wheel marks, in the dust, at 12 o’clock, on the ceiling of Baldy pipe…I stood there & stared. It was like skating with Salba, Tony Farmer, Sean Mazzo, Rick Charnoski & Buddy Nichols today. What a ‘wrecking crew’ of pool skaters! I wasn’t feeling it, so I grinded a few, then sat back & watched. I enjoy watching a heavy session just as much as skating in one. Sometimes, I have to know my place. Today was epic. Amazing things occurred. Some skaters simply operate at an entirely different level. Watching others re-establish the lines of what is possible on a skateboard, lifts everyone up…even if only for a moment. I cannot get that, sitting at home in front of a television. Anyway, enjoy. Chris Miller rules. Thanks to JGrant Brittain for the image.Skate- Ozzie

enjoying a beautiful day at the pool.

blue haven rocket pocket

tools of the trade.

'peanuts' work...

Michael Serna Jr. & I , drove to Orange County the other day. We met up with Josh Borden, Salba & Billy, to ride the Combi pool. It rained in a torrent. On the way home, we never went faster than 55mph. Cars were spinning out. It was a flood & it made me think. “Apres moi, le deluge.”  This quote has been attributed to the King of France- Louis XV. It means, “After me, catastrophe.” In 1997, San Diego resident, Andrew Cunanan, went on a cross-country murder binge…a ‘three month fever’. In this short span, he took the lives of five wonderful people before taking his own, to avoid accountability. Why do I tell you this? Well, a few years before, Andrew had written in his high school yearbook, the very quote, written above.  It seems he lived up to it. In his self-centered & ego-maniacal fashion, he was a catastrophe. His life was of a destructive nature. Conversely, when this quote is applied to me, it can be translated as, “After me, the flood.” However, mine is of a constructive nature. I drain pools. Although I flood the streets & gutters, I help make the air safe from smells & mosquitoes, and create a place where we can express ourselves…honestly. Bruce Lee stated that,  ”…the true self is discovered in honestly expressing ourselves & our nature.”  I think that I believe that very thing. It is only in self-expression, that we are who we really are. Thanks to Mark ‘Peanut’ Phillips for a few of the  images.Skate long & just be yourself! -Ozzie

For more on Andrew Cunanan & the FBIs ineptitude- please read–

Vulgar Favors by Maureen Orth – Paperback – Random House

Three Month Fever: The Andrew Cunanan Story by Gary Indiana

San Onofre. March 1978.

“Poverty- Having too much month left at the end of the money.” I found myself counting change tonight. I assure you, that I hold no shame in admitting to this or my own culpability, if I have a part in something. This however…was weather induced! The rain fell everyday this week & I cannot work in the rain. So, I found myself counting change. I have a total worth of $27.26. I have gas in the car, rice & beans and a few cans of tuna. I’m not really complaining though. I am not bummed or scared, and -actually-I am  pretty content. I want no sympathy. I want nothing. In AA, they told me, “Surrender, to win.” I think that I– now– know exactly what they meant by that. I am going to dream of huge full pipes to ride. Besides, I am wealthy in the things that truly matter. I have my sobriety, my health, my happiness & I can always bum a meal from my pool pals….Thanks to Jim Goodrich for the image. Skate & stay dry. Ozzie