The nameless bastard who christened St. Louis, Missouri as “The Gateway to the West,” sold the city a little short. Maybe he didn’t live here. Or maybe he lived here and hated it. After all, doesn’t “The Gateway to the West” imply that St. Louis is merely a stopping point on a voyage elsewhere, perhaps to bigger and better things?
***Sequence: Jeff Pulliam, Frontside air at Wet Willy's Waterslide. This and Omar's line were the raddest things ever done at this most epic spot. If you were lucky enough to get a chance to skate it, then you know. Sadly, it has been bulldozed recently. RIP.
***Director John Carpenter chose to shoot "Escape From New York" in St. Louis because of all the seedy urban decay. He'd probably eat this photo up because Matt Minton is drifting this frontside wallride like Snake Plissken in his glider.
While the remnants of Manifest Destiny are still engrained in Midwestern culture, and plenty of people feel the urge to move to other places in pursuit of their dreams, St. Louis is not a bad place in which to stay put, and from a skateboarder’s perspective, it’s actually pretty good. The cost of living is cheap, the pace is laid-back, and there are plenty of spots—crusty and weathered ones, but fun none-the-less. Searing summers, shitty winters and a lackluster Midwest economy don’t make for unrivaled marble ledge spots or perfectly smooth pavement. Instead, expect to end up at some decaying locale—perhaps a blacktop hip, a smelly ditch, a downhill alley, or a hidden quick-creted obstacle in an area that might pass for a war zone. It may take some coaxing to get a trick out of such spots, but it’s often worth it. As long as you keep your eyes peeled and your mind open, you’ll find there’s plenty to be had here.
***Joe Jackson is Randy Ploesser's favorite skater, and a hometown favorite of many because he always comes up with something special: double no-comply.
***Scene vet, skater, photographer, videographer, writer, deep SLAP Pal and crusty-ass bank-to-ledge nose picker Guy Gray.
But other than spots, there are certain particulars that are good to know, things like will the po-po go easy on you for skating said spots? Can you get around without a car? Is the public transportation efficient? Is the nightlife world-famous? I take no pleasure in saying this, but the answer to those queries is a resounding NO. It’s the Midwest; you know what you’re getting into. Pack some bigger wheels and make the most of it.
***Ryan Sublette didn't find a pot of gold when he ollied over the rainbow, just a bucket of toasted ravioli instead.
***Recent footage from Drew Etzkorn, St.Louis native and OIAM alumni.
Regarding the STL skate scene, there are a few different pockets of skaters, all of them doing their own thing. There have been several local videos: the HOB series; Radical Dog Contest; Brief History of Time; Girl Talk;The Rad One; Do the Fun; and two yet to be released videos: Quite the Video and Skateway to the Midwest. Like most cities, there are people building or improving spots:The Tennis Courts , Hermann’s Hole, Perryville, The Tunnel, and Shitside. Others make art and music or put on art shows. The only local company is Deaf Skateboards, which has been selling boards for years; but Pretty—which is a loose group of individuals—also has boards pressed from time to time. In town this small, all of these endeavors end up cross-pollinating and representing the scene as a whole. If you visit, you’ll definitely need a guide, just stop by Infinity and ask.
Maybe that nameless bastard was right, perhaps there are bigger and better things elsewhere. Or maybe he didn’t give the city a chance. Whatever the case, he for damn sure didn’t skate. Because if he had, he might have realized that St. Louis is easily one of the better Midwestern cities for skateboarding.
***The coolest stuff is always ephemeral. This spot has gone the way of the dozer too. Jon Schwartz gets his while he can. Quick up to nose manual nollie flip out.
***Alleycats:Bobby Marksteiner,John Hood and Michael Worful.
***The troll that lives under this bridge tried to steal Drew Etzkorn's board but all he got was the mustache. Next time we're bringing the Billy Goats Gruff, b/s 5-0.
