Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions
"Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions" was a surfboard manufacturing facility and surf shop located in Santa Monica, California that opened in 1973 and closed in 1976. The building was designated as a City Landmark in 2007.
In 1971, Jeff Ho, Craig Stecyk, and Skip Engblom opened Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions, a surf shop in the Venice Beach area of Santa Monica, and also used the south wing of the facility for manufacturing their surfboards. The building is located at 2001-2011 Main Street.[1] The surf shop closed in 1976, and was reopened in 1977 by Nathan Pratt as Horizons West Surf Shop. That shop remains in operation in the same location to this date.[2]
[edit]Significance
Ho and Engblom formed the Zephyr Surf Team, made up of local surfers who frequented Pacific Ocean Park in the run down area of Dogtown. They later formed the Zephyr Skate Team, which became widely know as Z-Boys and is legendary for popularizing the sport. The Z-Boys are famous for bringing an aggressive new style to the sport, involving a surf style and skating pools. The Z-boys were based in Zephyr Productions, and it was a regular hang-out for the members. Several members were also employed part-time at the surf shop. Several now-famous members of the team included Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva, and Jay Adams. The team was the subject of a 2001 documentary film "Dogtown and Z-Boys" and a 2005 Biographical film "Lords of Dogtown", both feature the Zephyr Productions Surf Shop.
[edit]City Landmark Designation
In 2007, the building housing Horisons West Surf Shop (formerly Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions) was designated to be demolished in order to construct condominiums.[3] Local skaters and surfers, lead by Jacob Samuel[4] began fighting to protect the building.[5] On April 9, 2007, an application was filed to designate the building as a City Landmark. On May 14, 2007, the Planning and Community Development Department of Santa Monica ruled that the building met the minimum of 4 eligable criteria, and was officially designated as a City Landmark.[6]
Sunday, June 7, 2009
jay "jayboy" adams maybe the best skater ever,by my opinion!
Skateboarding
He was born in Santa Monica, California. As a teenager in the mid-1970s, he was a member of the original Zephyr skateboard team and of the Zephyr surf team along with Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. According to fellow Zephyr skateboard team member and Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade founder Stacy Peralta Adams "is probably not the greatest skater of all time, but I can say without fear of being wrong that he is clearly the archetype of modern-day skateboarding.[1] The Godfather of modern day skateboarding, Craig Stecyk, dubbed Adams "the original 'seed.'"[2] Stecyk also wrote, "Having known Adams over the years I really can't say he's changed much. He remains one of the most spontaneous, unpredictable persons I've ever encountered... Everything you've ever heard about him is probably true, or should be anyway. Mere words could never come close to accurately describing him."[3].
He currently rides for Z-Flex skateboards and has had many guest boards throughout the years for many different companies, including companies such as Rayner's Skates.
[edit]In Popular Culture
Adams is featured prominently in the award winning documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and in the dramatized film account of the Z-Boys origins, Lords of Dogtown in which he made a cameo as a party guest.
The character Iggy Van Zandt from Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is based on Jay Adams.
[edit]Legal problems
In 1982, Adams was involved in the beating death of the gay man Timothy Withers. He was convicted of assault in that case and sentenced to six months in prison. [4]. He was also in and out of prisons through the next two decades as he struggled with drug addiction. [4]
He served two and a half years of a four year sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan, Oregon, after being caught on a wiretap acting as a go-between for a buyer and seller of crystal methamphetamine. He was released to a halfway house on July 8, 2008 for the remainder of his sentence.[4]
[edit]Personal life
He is married to Sonya Gharsallah, with whom he has a daughter, Venice. He also has a son, Seven, from a prior relationship. [4]
[edit]Further reading
DOGTOWN-The Legend of the Z-Boys, C.R. Stecyk III & Glen E. Friedman, Burning Flags Press, 2000, ISBN 0-9641916-4-4
JAY-BOY - Classic photographs by Jay Adams stepfather, Kent Sherwood, Concrete Wave Editions, 2006, ISBN 0973528664 *[1]
Scarred for Life - Eleven Stories About Skateboarders by Keith Hamm, Chronicle Books, 2004, ISBN 0811840530
He was born in Santa Monica, California. As a teenager in the mid-1970s, he was a member of the original Zephyr skateboard team and of the Zephyr surf team along with Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. According to fellow Zephyr skateboard team member and Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade founder Stacy Peralta Adams "is probably not the greatest skater of all time, but I can say without fear of being wrong that he is clearly the archetype of modern-day skateboarding.[1] The Godfather of modern day skateboarding, Craig Stecyk, dubbed Adams "the original 'seed.'"[2] Stecyk also wrote, "Having known Adams over the years I really can't say he's changed much. He remains one of the most spontaneous, unpredictable persons I've ever encountered... Everything you've ever heard about him is probably true, or should be anyway. Mere words could never come close to accurately describing him."[3].
He currently rides for Z-Flex skateboards and has had many guest boards throughout the years for many different companies, including companies such as Rayner's Skates.
[edit]In Popular Culture
Adams is featured prominently in the award winning documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and in the dramatized film account of the Z-Boys origins, Lords of Dogtown in which he made a cameo as a party guest.
The character Iggy Van Zandt from Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is based on Jay Adams.
[edit]Legal problems
In 1982, Adams was involved in the beating death of the gay man Timothy Withers. He was convicted of assault in that case and sentenced to six months in prison. [4]. He was also in and out of prisons through the next two decades as he struggled with drug addiction. [4]
He served two and a half years of a four year sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan, Oregon, after being caught on a wiretap acting as a go-between for a buyer and seller of crystal methamphetamine. He was released to a halfway house on July 8, 2008 for the remainder of his sentence.[4]
[edit]Personal life
He is married to Sonya Gharsallah, with whom he has a daughter, Venice. He also has a son, Seven, from a prior relationship. [4]
[edit]Further reading
DOGTOWN-The Legend of the Z-Boys, C.R. Stecyk III & Glen E. Friedman, Burning Flags Press, 2000, ISBN 0-9641916-4-4
JAY-BOY - Classic photographs by Jay Adams stepfather, Kent Sherwood, Concrete Wave Editions, 2006, ISBN 0973528664 *[1]
Scarred for Life - Eleven Stories About Skateboarders by Keith Hamm, Chronicle Books, 2004, ISBN 0811840530
history of powell peralta american skateboard company
Powell Peralta, originally founded by George Powell, is an American skateboard company.
George Powell studied engineering at Stanford University and started making homemade skateboards in 1957. In 1974, Powell's son came and asked for a skateboard. When Powell pulled an old one out of the garage, his son complained it did not have urethane wheels. Powell became interested in skateboarding again, as he realized urethane wheels improved a skateboard's ride. With this prompting, Powell started making his own skateboards and wheels. He bought urethane and baked his own wheels. He also used some of new materials like aluminum and fiberglass to fabricate his own composite boards. One of the test riders of one of his flexible slalom boards was Stacy Peralta.
When Powell was laid off from his job in the aerospace industry, he packed up and moved from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to start his own skateboard manufacturing business. In 1976, George built the Quicksilver ProSlalom deck which he marketed through Sims. This was followed by the Quicktail.
George started to make wheels too. He developed wheels named Bones because of their white color.
Skateboarding changed and George Powell moved into wood laminates.
In 1978 George teamed up with Stacy Peralta. Peralta was a big name in skateboarding and took over team management and advertising. In 1979 they created a skateboarding team called the Bones Brigade, which included many of the best skateboarders of the era. Powell Peralta developed a signature art style with a skeleton motif and their artwork stood out in the market. Arguably, they were the most popular skateboarding company in terms of deck and wheel sales throughout the 1980s, producing the now famous Tony Hawk Iron Cross deck as well as the McGill Skull and Snake; Caballero Dragon; Lance Mountain Future Primitive graphics and the Ray Underhill cross graphic along with continuing to produce Bones wheels. Powell Peralta went on to produce the Bones Brigade videos which became some of the most influential skateboarding videos of the era.
In the late 1980s, smaller skater run companies like World Industries appeared and took market share from the bigger companies. Powell Peralta suffered as many of their riders defected and either set up or rode for those new independent companies. At the end of 1991 Stacy Peralta left Powell Peralta.
The company was re-branded as Powell Corporation, and despite severe financial problems initially, Powell continues to make skateboard products today, including Bones bearings and wheels, which are very popular with pros and amateurs alike. Powell has also revisited their enormous market success of the 1980s with their new line of re-issue decks under the new brand, Powell Classic. These have proven to be widely popular with the generation of 70s and 80s skaters who remember and esteem the intricate pop art style graphics of the classic decks.
In 2005, George Powell and Stacy Peralta teamed up once again to re-issue some of the original pro models under the Powell-Peralta brand. New reissues include models from Alan "Ollie" Gelfand, Jay Smith, Steve Caballero, Ray "Bones" Rodriguez, Frankie Hill and Ray Underhill. Some of Powells am team has looked promising recently. Such as Mark Suchu who placed high in E.s skate.
George Powell studied engineering at Stanford University and started making homemade skateboards in 1957. In 1974, Powell's son came and asked for a skateboard. When Powell pulled an old one out of the garage, his son complained it did not have urethane wheels. Powell became interested in skateboarding again, as he realized urethane wheels improved a skateboard's ride. With this prompting, Powell started making his own skateboards and wheels. He bought urethane and baked his own wheels. He also used some of new materials like aluminum and fiberglass to fabricate his own composite boards. One of the test riders of one of his flexible slalom boards was Stacy Peralta.
When Powell was laid off from his job in the aerospace industry, he packed up and moved from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to start his own skateboard manufacturing business. In 1976, George built the Quicksilver ProSlalom deck which he marketed through Sims. This was followed by the Quicktail.
George started to make wheels too. He developed wheels named Bones because of their white color.
Skateboarding changed and George Powell moved into wood laminates.
In 1978 George teamed up with Stacy Peralta. Peralta was a big name in skateboarding and took over team management and advertising. In 1979 they created a skateboarding team called the Bones Brigade, which included many of the best skateboarders of the era. Powell Peralta developed a signature art style with a skeleton motif and their artwork stood out in the market. Arguably, they were the most popular skateboarding company in terms of deck and wheel sales throughout the 1980s, producing the now famous Tony Hawk Iron Cross deck as well as the McGill Skull and Snake; Caballero Dragon; Lance Mountain Future Primitive graphics and the Ray Underhill cross graphic along with continuing to produce Bones wheels. Powell Peralta went on to produce the Bones Brigade videos which became some of the most influential skateboarding videos of the era.
In the late 1980s, smaller skater run companies like World Industries appeared and took market share from the bigger companies. Powell Peralta suffered as many of their riders defected and either set up or rode for those new independent companies. At the end of 1991 Stacy Peralta left Powell Peralta.
The company was re-branded as Powell Corporation, and despite severe financial problems initially, Powell continues to make skateboard products today, including Bones bearings and wheels, which are very popular with pros and amateurs alike. Powell has also revisited their enormous market success of the 1980s with their new line of re-issue decks under the new brand, Powell Classic. These have proven to be widely popular with the generation of 70s and 80s skaters who remember and esteem the intricate pop art style graphics of the classic decks.
In 2005, George Powell and Stacy Peralta teamed up once again to re-issue some of the original pro models under the Powell-Peralta brand. New reissues include models from Alan "Ollie" Gelfand, Jay Smith, Steve Caballero, Ray "Bones" Rodriguez, Frankie Hill and Ray Underhill. Some of Powells am team has looked promising recently. Such as Mark Suchu who placed high in E.s skate.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Z-boys of dogtown Zephyr team
The Zephyr Team (or Z-Boys)
The Zephyr team had 12 members:
Shogo Kubo
Bob Biniak
Nathan Pratt
Stacey Peralta
Jim Muir
Allen Sarlo
Chris Cahill
Tony Alva
Paul Constantineau
Jay Adams
Peggy Oki
Wentzle Ruml
While surfing is what pulled the Zephyr team together, skateboarding would be what would pull them apart. But not before they changed the world forever.
Skateboarding's Rebirth
Skateboarding was a hobby that had a short lived flash of excitement in the late 50's. However, in 1965 skateboarding's popularity fell off the face of the Earth. At that time, skateboarders would ride using dangerous clay wheels, and anyone who wanted to skate had to build their own skateboard from scratch.
However, in 1972, the same year that the Jeff Ho and Zephyr Surfboard Productions shop opened, urethane skateboard wheels were invented. These wheels made skateboarding smoother, safer, and more reasonable. Today we still use urethane skateboarding wheels.
From Pastime to Passion
The Z-boys enjoyed skateboarding as something to do after surfing. The activity grew from a hobby for the Zephyr team into a new way to express themselves, and to show what they were made of. Style was the most important aspect of skateboarding to the Zephyr team, and they pulled all their inspiration from surfing. They would bend their knees deep, and enjoyed riding the concrete like they were riding a wave, dragging their hands on the pavement like Larry Burtleman. Burtleman would touch the wave as he was surfing, dragging his fingers across it. This move in skateboarding became known as a Burt and is still in skateboarding language today to refer to dragging fingers, or planting a hand on the ground and turning around it.
The skateboarding of the Zephyr team was unique and powerful. At the same time that they were sidewalk surfing, skateboarding was growing in popularity in other areas of the US. For the rest of the country, skateboarding was slalom (riding down a hill back and forth between cones) and freestyle. Freestyle skateboarding is mostly dead today, but back then it was a huge part of the sport. Imagine ballet on a skateboard, or mixing ice skating with skateboarding. Freestyle was supposed to be graceful and artistic.
While the Zephyr team had nothing to do with freestyle skateboarding, they were familiar with slalom. Bicknell Hill ran down from the Jeff Ho and Zephyr Surfboard Productions shop, and the Z-boys loved to set up cones and practice Burts and slalom on the hill. The Zephyr team also had four grade schools in the Dogtown area that they would skate at. These schools all had sloping concrete banks in their playgrounds, usually because the school was built into a hill, or had water drainage issues. For the Z-boys, it was a great place to skate. It was in these places that each skater developed his or her own style. But they still had further to go - in the hands of the Zephyr team, skateboarding would be changed forever.
The Zephyr team had 12 members:
Shogo Kubo
Bob Biniak
Nathan Pratt
Stacey Peralta
Jim Muir
Allen Sarlo
Chris Cahill
Tony Alva
Paul Constantineau
Jay Adams
Peggy Oki
Wentzle Ruml
While surfing is what pulled the Zephyr team together, skateboarding would be what would pull them apart. But not before they changed the world forever.
Skateboarding's Rebirth
Skateboarding was a hobby that had a short lived flash of excitement in the late 50's. However, in 1965 skateboarding's popularity fell off the face of the Earth. At that time, skateboarders would ride using dangerous clay wheels, and anyone who wanted to skate had to build their own skateboard from scratch.
However, in 1972, the same year that the Jeff Ho and Zephyr Surfboard Productions shop opened, urethane skateboard wheels were invented. These wheels made skateboarding smoother, safer, and more reasonable. Today we still use urethane skateboarding wheels.
From Pastime to Passion
The Z-boys enjoyed skateboarding as something to do after surfing. The activity grew from a hobby for the Zephyr team into a new way to express themselves, and to show what they were made of. Style was the most important aspect of skateboarding to the Zephyr team, and they pulled all their inspiration from surfing. They would bend their knees deep, and enjoyed riding the concrete like they were riding a wave, dragging their hands on the pavement like Larry Burtleman. Burtleman would touch the wave as he was surfing, dragging his fingers across it. This move in skateboarding became known as a Burt and is still in skateboarding language today to refer to dragging fingers, or planting a hand on the ground and turning around it.
The skateboarding of the Zephyr team was unique and powerful. At the same time that they were sidewalk surfing, skateboarding was growing in popularity in other areas of the US. For the rest of the country, skateboarding was slalom (riding down a hill back and forth between cones) and freestyle. Freestyle skateboarding is mostly dead today, but back then it was a huge part of the sport. Imagine ballet on a skateboard, or mixing ice skating with skateboarding. Freestyle was supposed to be graceful and artistic.
While the Zephyr team had nothing to do with freestyle skateboarding, they were familiar with slalom. Bicknell Hill ran down from the Jeff Ho and Zephyr Surfboard Productions shop, and the Z-boys loved to set up cones and practice Burts and slalom on the hill. The Zephyr team also had four grade schools in the Dogtown area that they would skate at. These schools all had sloping concrete banks in their playgrounds, usually because the school was built into a hill, or had water drainage issues. For the Z-boys, it was a great place to skate. It was in these places that each skater developed his or her own style. But they still had further to go - in the hands of the Zephyr team, skateboarding would be changed forever.
how to become a pro skateboarder
Question: What Makes a Pro Skateboarder a Pro?
What Makes a Pro Skateboarder a Pro? How do you become a Professional Skateboarder? What's the difference between pro skaters and ams? A reader named Pat asks - "I've seen many good skaters. They have their own names on boards and shoes, and even have parts in skate videos. But I read on Wikipedia and Transworld skateboarding that they are amateur. Not pro. So i was like...wow, if they cant get pro's yet even with their talent, how good do you have to be to turn pro???"
Answer: Good question, robb! The designation “pro” is kinda tricky and sticky, especially since it can mean more than one thing.
Basically, a skater is pro when he or she lives off of skateboarding. So, if a skater is young, then it’s tricky to call them “pro”, because they are still in school, live with their parents, etc. But, on a very basic level, someone is a pro skater when they can live off of it – so really, it’s up to that skater. This type of "pro" is the same as in any other kind of sport. Usually this type of pro will have a few sponsors, and travel around to competitions, living off of the money generated from sponsors and competitions (sponsors like their pros to do well in competitions too, so the system feeds itself, as long as the pro keeps doing well).
However, there is a system among skateboarding companies where certain sponsors will not call a skater they sponsor “pro” until they decide that that certain skater is good enough. This type of “pro” labeling often comes with products with his or her name on them. With this kind of pro labeling, skateboarding teams will have a certain number of pro skaters, and a certain number of am (amateur) skaters. This is used more for teams who travel and do demos, and film videos.
And how much do pro skateboarders get paid for pro endorsements? That’s TOTALLY up in the air. Some guys get loads of money to use their name, and other guys – the less known pros – can get hardly anything. It all depends on how they perform, how the sales go, and how much they are valued by that sponsor. You’ll notice at events like the X Games, when a skater does really well and the cameras are on him or her, sometimes they hold up their skateboards to show off sponsor stickers – or they make sure that certain sponsor stickers on their helmets are always seen. That’s because that sponsor pays them well, and they want to keep them happy and make sure the sponsor gets their money’s worth! It's not all bad, when you think it through - if no one was sponsoring most of these guys, they wouldn't be able to afford to travel and skate, and we would never see them. Sponsorships and endorsements can make things ugly, but they also open a lot of doors. There's a lot of room to argue on this topic, and I think arguing can be healthy (if you want to voice your opinion, visit the Skateboarding Forum).
The world of pro skaters is strange. The top pros do get a lot of money, but the top of the mountain is a small place, and while they are all usually friendly (more so than in a lot of sports), some elbowing does happen. And sometimes, guys just fall right off…
What Makes a Pro Skateboarder a Pro? How do you become a Professional Skateboarder? What's the difference between pro skaters and ams? A reader named Pat asks - "I've seen many good skaters. They have their own names on boards and shoes, and even have parts in skate videos. But I read on Wikipedia and Transworld skateboarding that they are amateur. Not pro. So i was like...wow, if they cant get pro's yet even with their talent, how good do you have to be to turn pro???"
Answer: Good question, robb! The designation “pro” is kinda tricky and sticky, especially since it can mean more than one thing.
Basically, a skater is pro when he or she lives off of skateboarding. So, if a skater is young, then it’s tricky to call them “pro”, because they are still in school, live with their parents, etc. But, on a very basic level, someone is a pro skater when they can live off of it – so really, it’s up to that skater. This type of "pro" is the same as in any other kind of sport. Usually this type of pro will have a few sponsors, and travel around to competitions, living off of the money generated from sponsors and competitions (sponsors like their pros to do well in competitions too, so the system feeds itself, as long as the pro keeps doing well).
However, there is a system among skateboarding companies where certain sponsors will not call a skater they sponsor “pro” until they decide that that certain skater is good enough. This type of “pro” labeling often comes with products with his or her name on them. With this kind of pro labeling, skateboarding teams will have a certain number of pro skaters, and a certain number of am (amateur) skaters. This is used more for teams who travel and do demos, and film videos.
And how much do pro skateboarders get paid for pro endorsements? That’s TOTALLY up in the air. Some guys get loads of money to use their name, and other guys – the less known pros – can get hardly anything. It all depends on how they perform, how the sales go, and how much they are valued by that sponsor. You’ll notice at events like the X Games, when a skater does really well and the cameras are on him or her, sometimes they hold up their skateboards to show off sponsor stickers – or they make sure that certain sponsor stickers on their helmets are always seen. That’s because that sponsor pays them well, and they want to keep them happy and make sure the sponsor gets their money’s worth! It's not all bad, when you think it through - if no one was sponsoring most of these guys, they wouldn't be able to afford to travel and skate, and we would never see them. Sponsorships and endorsements can make things ugly, but they also open a lot of doors. There's a lot of room to argue on this topic, and I think arguing can be healthy (if you want to voice your opinion, visit the Skateboarding Forum).
The world of pro skaters is strange. The top pros do get a lot of money, but the top of the mountain is a small place, and while they are all usually friendly (more so than in a lot of sports), some elbowing does happen. And sometimes, guys just fall right off…
why learn to skateboard
Looking for some reasons for picking up skateboarding? Whether you need to convince your parents that skateboarding is a respectable and valuable activity, or a parent trying to convince your kid to pick up a skateboard, or if you are just thinking about skateboarding but want to know if the pain is worth it - here are the top 6 reasons to give skateboarding a shot.
1. Skateboard to Try Something New
If you haven't given skateboarding a shot, and you are looking for something to challenge yourself with, then skateboarding is a perfect choice. It's unique, and while skateboarding has grown a ton in popularity over the last few years, there are still piles of people out there who haven't tried it. Skateboarding will challenge you in new ways and teach you a new skill set. Trying new things and gaining new experiences is what keeps your brain alive and active, which in turn gives you new insights into the world and makes you a better, more interesting person!
2. Skateboard for Fitness
This might seem weird at first, because of the dangers that go along with skateboarding. It's true, sometimes you will fall and scrape your knee or elbow. But, skateboarding trains your body in unique ways. A huge part of skateboarding is balance, so your core will gain strength as you skate. Plus, your legs will get a good workout as well. Skateboarding is also very aerobic, and you can easily work up a sweat while skating. It's pretty easy to loose weight when you are out pumping your board around all afternoon. If you really dig into skateboarding, you'll end up lean and tough.
3. Skateboard to Make Friends
This is true no matter your age. If you are a teenager, then there should be groups of skaters at school, and if you choose to skate, you should have several groups of instant friends if you want. Now, teenagers can be weird and mean, so who knows how that will work out, but picking a hobby other than watching TV on your couch will always make it easier to make friends. You'll be more interesting. This works for adults, too. Plus, it's easy to run into people at skateparks and make friends, or you can check at your local skate shop for local groups and clubs.
4. Skateboarding Teaches Perseverance
Sometimes you learn a trick one day, and then the next day you just can't land it. Sometimes you're doing great, and suddenly you find yourself smashing into the pavement and it hurts. Sometimes you practice the same trick for a month - or several months - and you just can't seem to get it. But you stick with it. You keep trying. You lean the value of staying with something, even when it's not easy, even when people make fun of you or don't understand you, and even when you have no one pushing you but yourself. Life is tough, and learning to push through because the payoff is worth it will help in every way.
5. Skateboard to Build Confidence
When you've been practicing a trick for a long, long time, and you finally get it, you realize something. You realize that you can do something that only a small handful of people on the planet can even do. You learn that if you try hard, you can defy gravity. So you move on to a harder trick, and then a harder one yet. You start to learn that you can skate, no matter what other people say. Sometimes this gets tied into rebellion and breaking the law, but it's also building confidence, which is key to success. It sounds cheesy, but believing in yourself and understanding how powerful you really are is important!
6. Skateboard for Fun!
All of these other reasons are good, and if you add them up by themselves you can see that there are plenty of reasons to skateboard. But, the great news is that skateboarding is also fun! And not fun like playing a video game is fun - skateboarding is that deep kind of fun that gets down into your gut. Maybe it's because of all of these other reasons chipping in, plus learning and landing a new trick, feeling the burn and the wind as you fly down the sidewalk, the click-clack sounds and crack of the tail as you olly, the pull of gravity and you bend your knees and push up a ramp or around a corner - skating rocks
1. Skateboard to Try Something New
If you haven't given skateboarding a shot, and you are looking for something to challenge yourself with, then skateboarding is a perfect choice. It's unique, and while skateboarding has grown a ton in popularity over the last few years, there are still piles of people out there who haven't tried it. Skateboarding will challenge you in new ways and teach you a new skill set. Trying new things and gaining new experiences is what keeps your brain alive and active, which in turn gives you new insights into the world and makes you a better, more interesting person!
2. Skateboard for Fitness
This might seem weird at first, because of the dangers that go along with skateboarding. It's true, sometimes you will fall and scrape your knee or elbow. But, skateboarding trains your body in unique ways. A huge part of skateboarding is balance, so your core will gain strength as you skate. Plus, your legs will get a good workout as well. Skateboarding is also very aerobic, and you can easily work up a sweat while skating. It's pretty easy to loose weight when you are out pumping your board around all afternoon. If you really dig into skateboarding, you'll end up lean and tough.
3. Skateboard to Make Friends
This is true no matter your age. If you are a teenager, then there should be groups of skaters at school, and if you choose to skate, you should have several groups of instant friends if you want. Now, teenagers can be weird and mean, so who knows how that will work out, but picking a hobby other than watching TV on your couch will always make it easier to make friends. You'll be more interesting. This works for adults, too. Plus, it's easy to run into people at skateparks and make friends, or you can check at your local skate shop for local groups and clubs.
4. Skateboarding Teaches Perseverance
Sometimes you learn a trick one day, and then the next day you just can't land it. Sometimes you're doing great, and suddenly you find yourself smashing into the pavement and it hurts. Sometimes you practice the same trick for a month - or several months - and you just can't seem to get it. But you stick with it. You keep trying. You lean the value of staying with something, even when it's not easy, even when people make fun of you or don't understand you, and even when you have no one pushing you but yourself. Life is tough, and learning to push through because the payoff is worth it will help in every way.
5. Skateboard to Build Confidence
When you've been practicing a trick for a long, long time, and you finally get it, you realize something. You realize that you can do something that only a small handful of people on the planet can even do. You learn that if you try hard, you can defy gravity. So you move on to a harder trick, and then a harder one yet. You start to learn that you can skate, no matter what other people say. Sometimes this gets tied into rebellion and breaking the law, but it's also building confidence, which is key to success. It sounds cheesy, but believing in yourself and understanding how powerful you really are is important!
6. Skateboard for Fun!
All of these other reasons are good, and if you add them up by themselves you can see that there are plenty of reasons to skateboard. But, the great news is that skateboarding is also fun! And not fun like playing a video game is fun - skateboarding is that deep kind of fun that gets down into your gut. Maybe it's because of all of these other reasons chipping in, plus learning and landing a new trick, feeling the burn and the wind as you fly down the sidewalk, the click-clack sounds and crack of the tail as you olly, the pull of gravity and you bend your knees and push up a ramp or around a corner - skating rocks
skateboard riser or shockpad
Definition: A riser or shock pad is a flat pad that can be mounted between the truck and the deck. Risers come in all kinds of shapes, colors and thicknesses, as well as varying degrees of stiffness. Ususaly, a riser is plastic and a shock pad is more rubbery, but the names get swapped around a lot. They do very similar things.
Riser and shock pads do two things -- first, they help prevent wheel-bite. This is where, when turning, your wheel touches the bottom of your board and gets stopped suddenly. As you can imagine, having a wheel on your skateboard stop suddenly is is a bad bad thing to have happen.
Shock pads and riser pads also prolong the life of the skateboard deck by reducing the strain that the deck gets from the abuse put on the trucks. Skateboards without riser pads usually get small stress cracks where the trucks meet the skateboard deck. Riser pads reduce this problem.
Many skateboarders do not like to use risers, however, because they make the skateboard taller. A taller skateboard is harder to do technical street tricks on, and even the fraction of an inch that a riser pad adds can make a difference
Riser and shock pads do two things -- first, they help prevent wheel-bite. This is where, when turning, your wheel touches the bottom of your board and gets stopped suddenly. As you can imagine, having a wheel on your skateboard stop suddenly is is a bad bad thing to have happen.
Shock pads and riser pads also prolong the life of the skateboard deck by reducing the strain that the deck gets from the abuse put on the trucks. Skateboards without riser pads usually get small stress cracks where the trucks meet the skateboard deck. Riser pads reduce this problem.
Many skateboarders do not like to use risers, however, because they make the skateboard taller. A taller skateboard is harder to do technical street tricks on, and even the fraction of an inch that a riser pad adds can make a difference
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