Blue Tile Obsession

Mike McGill & Jim Goodrich- Florida 1979

I’ve heard it said that, “The only thing that should be separated by color…is laundry.” The world is too convoluted & diverse to remain the way it is. People are fighting over race, gods & ideologies; frightened of each other because we are different. Its sad. If there are alien beings out there in space, I am sure that they are smart enough to keep their distance. All we seem to do is kill, maim & brutalize each other. Humanity seems parasitical. We destroy everything & each other. Fear–it seems–is the mind-killer.

Everyone is so scared & jealous. “WE are right & YOU are wrong.” There are these ‘cliques’ & those ‘groups’. Technology isn’t really helping either. People text & peer intently at screens;  keeping their faces & attention buried in wires & microprocessors. Humans don’t speak to each other. They seem to be looking –anywhere–for a distraction; a way out of their mundane lives. I am no different. I feel the urge to ‘escape’ on a regular basis. If I didn’t have those urges, I wouldn’t be a ‘recovering’ alcoholic & drug addict.

Its simple. Life is difficult, frenetic & dangerous. It can be very trying. Some of us have pretty poor coping skills. The world can kick the hell out of us at times. However, there are perfect moments periodically, which make life wonderful. These differ from person to person. For some, its the peacefulness of their kids sleeping. For others, its the gratification of a painting, poem or task– well done. For me, its finding, draining & grinding a pool with my friends. These moments may vary, but the results are the same. They give our lives meaning.

Escape & fear are a part of life. But, by channeling those escape urges & fears into something positive, I think we grow as human beings and are the better for it. All humanity is shared. We are not here to–only– operate out the limbic system in our brains. We are not here to –simply–eat, sleep & propagate. There is a higher purpose. Only you can know what that is. It comes, not from hate or control over others. It comes from no god or guru…it only comes from inside of you. We need to stop fearing others because they are different than us. Live better & smarter. Be kind. Thanks to the Floridian that provided the Mike Mcgill/Jim Goodrich image. It may be in ‘black& white’, but its flooded with color in my eyes. Skate-Ozzie

Shogo Kubo-taking a shot...

Sometimes in life, there is no going back. Did you ever notice that? There are some things that you can never take back. Words we say, things we do, people we lose….you can’t go back. Luckily, we have skateboarding. Some things remain timeless. Like this image of Shogo Kubo. Look closely at the banners in the background. Look at the style. Look at the pool, tiles & coping. Look at the times. Shogo Kubo is timeless. When I see images like this, it takes me back to a better time. A time of no responsibility, no worry, no headaches, no money or girl issues. It was a time of skateboarding & pure fun. Thanks to Jim Goodrich for providing the image at ‘Skatepark Victoria’ in Milpitas, Ca. Skate-Ozzie

Jay Adams- Hawaii

I think that Jay Adams is awesome. From the earliest images of him at ‘Teardrop’ pool by Glen E. Friedman, one could see that Jay always pushed the boundaries & limitations all around him. Stacy Peralta wrote about Jay & called him an ‘archetype’. I must agree. In ‘Fuck You Heroes’ book, by Friedman, you can see Jay at ‘Adolphs’ pool trying handplants –out the top–in like 1976  or 1977….just amazing. His personal life has been chaotic all along as well. He struggles with his inner dragons. Sometimes, the monster wins…I hope Jay always gains the better sword stroke with that one. Long live Jay Boy Adams. Thank you to Peter King for the image. Skate-Ozzie

Stevie Cab- Ansels ramp with- a very young -Colin McKay watching.

Cab- blunt at Ansels

Steve Caballero at 'Hagbowl' in Pennsylvania. Colin McKay in foreground.

Pennsylvania. In the late 1980′s & into the 1990′s, Jim Howell & I rode -more than- a few ramps. There was an occasional time each year, when we tried to get a few sessions in at the ‘Hagbowl’. The ‘Hagbowl’ was a roman- end backyard pool that overlooked a huge golf course & country club near our homes. Rumor had it found by ‘Doug Mayer’ & ‘Booger Brown’ in the mid 1980s. An old deaf lady owned the house & lived there alone. You need to understand that concrete backyard pools hardly exist in Pennsylvania because of the winter freezing temperatures & all. They are very scarce.

The only time it could be ridden, was late at night after she went to sleep. We would stealth across the golf course, dodge trees & street lights to climb higher up into the neighborhood. We would reach the top cul-de-sac, and pull ourselves over the fence & green hedges. It lay there, in the moonlight. A real backyard concrete pool! The pool hadn’t been filled or used in –what appeared like –decades. The coping was all loose & missing in spots. The tiles clattered into the pool as you rode over them. Vines of ivy, festooned the edges & draped into the deep end. It was heaven.

The pool was tight & gnarly though. Jim & I would ride it as best we could. We would quietly take turns carving across the deep cup, grinding & breathless in the moonlit shadows. We were busted by the police there, March  24, 1988. The police came & we hid under a big fir tree. His spotlight caught us & we came out rather sheepishly. The cop actually seemed amused by our antics. He couldn’t quite understand what we were doing. He asked if I had any knives, guns or weapons. I responded, “Why, do I need any?” He finally let us leave with a terse warning, “Go! Don’t let me see you guys again.” I smirked & thought, “Don’t bet on that, buddy.”

Steve Caballero, Colin McKay & Tommy Guerrero came to do a strip mall demo in the summer of 1990 or 1991. Afterwards, we took them to our spots. ‘Ansels’ ramp, the ‘Hagbowl’ & ‘Busters’ barn ramp. When we saw Stevie Cab skate the ‘Hagbowl’, we were speechless! He pulled slider to fakies in the roman corner & grinded everywhere. It was a lesson in poolriding by a master. Somehow, we took them there that afternoon & its the only time that I recall being there during the day.

We had fun & I wish that I had better images to share with everyone, but these are it. It was a great day & the crew stoked. The ‘Hagbowl’ has since become history. The old lady died, the house sold & refurbished. Its a swimmer now, but its past emptiness lives on in our minds. It was one of our only backyard pools in central Pennsylvania. Jim & I still have a blue tile from the pool. Both have black magic marker writing on them.  ‘Jim & Ozzie mania. March 24, 1988′. Skate-Ozzie

Don Hoffman & Jim Goodrich watch Doug Schneider @ Spring Valley contest 1978.

It was very cold that winter. Pennsylvania was a barren land of gaunt trees, ice & frozen roads. The field’s stretched away to the horizon; rolling & empty. Farms shouldered the hillsides & cattle plodded- aimlessly-in mud & snow, nosing the hard earth for anything green. The earth slept and–like me– dreamt of springtime. I jumped puddles & slush to cross the road and get to the mailbox. My breath hung in the air. The cold bit at my lungs. We lived out on a rural road & it was that time of the month when ‘Skateboarder’ magazine arrived in my dreary corner of the world.

I had a ritual. I would feel my heart pound, as I saw it inside the mailbox. I fingered its glossy edges & peered intently at the cover. I saw the image, the stickers on the board and the riders helmet. I saw the skaters style, the trick, the grab, the pool, its tiles and coping. I looked at everything. I was like a scientist in a white sterile laboratory. Scrutiny was my occupation & ‘Skateboarder’ my lab manual. My ritual was followed monthly. I would run into the house, tripping over my own wet sneakers. Grabbing a quick snack, I would careen down the hallway & take the stairs two-at-a-time in my haste.

I would hibernate behind my big wooden door & open the cover. I read the advertisements. I read the editor comments, letters to the magazine & small print within the staff listings. When I say that I read every word, I mean it. ‘Skateboarder’ was the biblical fountain from which I drank. It was where I went to drink &  quench the thirst in my soul. I care little of the opinion of those out there thinking I am a kook.

Think what you will. I have skated ramps, pools & vert for over 35 years of my life & probably will continue doing so for awhile longer. I know in my heart that there are those out there, just like me. There are those of you out there….that remember. Do you? Thanks to Craig Fineman (R.I.P.) for the image. Skate & remember what it was like to be a kid, before the weed, booze, girls & egos. Remember- skating, rolling & loving your skateboard. -Ozzie

I am from Pennsylvania. I consider myself an East coast rider. However, I moved here a long time back & have been in California- permanently- since 97′. My best pal– Jim Howell –comes to visit & ride pools every so often, but not enough, I might add. I have met many great East coast riders & periodically a few show up out here to sample the backyard Blue Havens that abound here in Southern California. There is no place like it in the entire world. When my pals visit & we go out to ride pools, we are certainly in a small minority that particular day. Sometimes, we will ride 6 or 7 pools in one day. We know that of the billions of people on this planet of ours, we might have been the only ones riding 6-7 empty swimming pools that day. We feel special…because we are special. Millions golf, play ball, & do other things, because those ‘things’ are everywhere! Backyard pools are not. Viktor Frankl wrote that he believed mans higher purpose wasn’t merely the pursuit of pleasure, but to give meaning to ones life. Find something that gives your life meaning & share it with others. I find, drain & skate pools with my friends. Its what I love & it gives my life meaning. I think that the great Viennese psychologist meant something a bit more….altruistic, when he said, “meaning.” However, I am sharing my pools with others & cleaning up the neighborhoods! I also get the raddest feeling, when I see someone do something new for the first time in a pool. Its why we do what we do. Here are two pool pals from the East. Geoff Graham & Bulldog. My pools are their pools. Skate & be cool- Ozzie

Tony Hawk- Arizona-1980s

'Succulent & cactus garden' that Scott Ward designed & we planted.

Tony Hawk is truly a household name. He has made millions of dollars on contest winnings, product endorsement, lucrative financial investments & game sales. In every skate park that you visit, one can see Tony Hawks name on a poster, sticker, t-shirt or other item of merchandise. Tony Hawk and his name are ubiquitous within the skateboarding culture.

I met Tony at Woodward skate camp in 1992. He came with the first ‘Birdhouse’ tour. I believe he had Willy Santos & Steve Berra with him. I hired Tony to come back to Woodward often & he visited many times over the ensuing summers. When I moved to San Diego, Andy Macdonald & I, would drive to ‘Birdland’ & skate the vert ramp in the warehouse there. Tony was filming ‘The End’ video with Jamie Mosburg. I recall there were countless rolls of wasted film lying in loops on the concrete beside the flat bottom, from failed or wasted attempts at tricks.

Eventually, I went on to start helping my friend Scott Ward in his landscaping business. Scott had moved out to California a few years after I did. He studied plants & began his own company in landscaping & design. Scott also rides vert & pools, as he grew up riding the ‘Buster Halterman’ barn ramp in PA. When Scott was a grommet, he would emulate Tony Hawk as did many skaters out there. Once he moved to California, Scott started hanging out with his pal Sean Mortimer, who is best friends with Tony. Tony Hawk took Scott & about a dozen of Sean’s friends to Las Vegas for Sean’s bachelor party a few years back. Scott said “It was rock star.”

Scott received a phone call one day a few weeks ago. It was Erin Hawk. She wanted Scott to come back & redesign the courtyard he had completed for them about two years ago. We went down & completed the job. The results were amazing. Scott is  very knowledgeable about plants and his eye for design is stellar. Driving home after the second long day of work, Scott & I looked at each other & laughed.

Here we were, three skateboarders who -basically- knew one another. I was working for Scott, who was working for Erin, who was -previously-married to Tony, who is- basically-skateboarding personified; Tony Hawk. Life works mysteriously. At one time, I hired Tony to come to Woodward & now his money -basically- pays for my boss & I to come plant cactus at his ex-wifes house. I am one of Erin Hawks gardeners…..Funny!  Thank you to Jim Goodrich for the image. Skate-Ozzie

http://whitesagegardening.wordpress.com/

some things just aren't right....

'sweetness' under the covers

samwise gamgee.

butterbean

draining & raining.

stop #2

first find…

I have been out of the loop for nearly 3 weeks after the demise of my laptop. My elbow is still a bit gnarly from the ‘Pedlow’ incident with TA. Mike Early of ‘Pool King’ skateboards, gave me a laptop & I must thank him right here & now. Thank You! Thank You! Friday night, as I drove home from working, I phoned my pool pal- Sam, who has been hurt since the ‘Lances pool’ session of early January. Sam told me that he hopes his new doctor practices ‘medicine’ & not ‘greed’ like his last physician….funny. He can’t seem to get his knee healed. Get well brother. He agreed to meet me early Saturday morning, to hunt & drain. I awoke early-as usual- and started driving the grid at first light. I found some new ‘possibles’. Sam met me at ‘Ridiculous’ with a full scale downpour, making things unbearable. We said ‘the hell with it’ & drove the grid anyway. We found a few that were tiny in trannies, but big on pain….four-finger Anthonys & elliptical squares. We saw rain & puddles. We saw cars slipping off the freeway. We saw people huddled under bus stop roofs, sharing cigarettes & misery. We saw garbage, gutters running & more rain. However, we found more than most could hope for, when we cut through a boarded up ghetto near Riverside. We found a sweet little ‘butterbean’ with a plywood cover. Removing this was difficult, but we prevailed. We were soaked & cold but overcame the storm. With the rain pounding down, we finished just as the clouds let loose a ‘hailstorm’ on us. We gathered our gear & headed back to the house to warm up & dry out. In the ‘Badlands’, we do all that is necessary…do you? What did you do today?. Skate-Ozzie

Bob Biniak- Mt. Baldy -1976.

The other day, Mike Early brought me a laptop & gave it to me. I have been in the process of retrieving  my old files & archives from my damaged computer. I checked my email tonight & Glen Friedman gave me the terribly sad news of Bob Biniak passing away. I felt a lump in my throat. I felt cold. Quickly, I sat down & sent out emails across the web….”How could it be!?”  Dave Hackett directly got back to me. “Gone bro. Huge loss! Lame!” Bob Biniak photographs adorned my walls & I rode a ‘Logan Earth Ski’  ‘Bob Biniak’ model for awhile, during 1977. This amazing image was shot by the late Warren Bolster. It captures everything  that I –and others– aspired to be. There will only ever be one Bob Biniak. Dominus Vobiscum. God go with you, Bob. Skate & pray for the family of Bob Biniak. -Ozzie

For more on Biniak, go to Glen Friedmans blog- http://idealistpropaganda.blogspot.com/2010/02/bob-bullet-biniak-original-z-boy-bad.html

One of the things that brings me happiness is over…for now. ‘Blue Tile Obsession’ is done. My laptop crashed this morning. I lost my files, archives, images, stories, fragments…everything. Until I get a new laptop or can afford one, I am at a loss. Thank you all for reading. I wrote this ‘Dogbowl’ post over a three week period & had it completed , so I am posting it from a friends computer. I will be able to check my email once a day on his computer. All is not lost & I will -hopefully- overcome. Stay positive….I am. Skate-Ozzie