Skating in the hood

[crailtapsill]

2 days ago there was a 3 against 1 stabbing/beatdown at the Paul Rodriguez park in Pacoima; over a cellphone. I always keep an eye on my surroundings when I skate places like that, but you kinda don't expect these things to happen. Anybody ever run into trouble skating in bad areas?

[sprayTAN101]

i wore a hood yesterday.

[MuchasGracias]

Nah, yeah there's the occasional fight but it doesn't escalate to stabbing. I remember there was this comp going down at my local and my buddy that doesn't skate was just watching, and this dude dressed in fucking rags tried standing him over for his hat. The guy that owns/looks after the park chased the dude out though.

[fulfillthedream]

2 days ago there was a 3 against 1 stabbing/beatdown at the Paul Rodriguez park in Pacoima; over a cellphone. I always keep an eye on my surroundings when I skate places like that, but you kinda don't expect these things to happen. Anybody ever run into trouble skating in bad areas?

Surprisingly this has never happened to me. I've been living in different parts of Oakland for the past two years and will often trek to other parts that are considered more "sketchy". Things like getting jacked or confronted have never happened to me. The most i get is people yelling at you to do a trick or something.

 I just skated the Richmond Plaza in Richmond,CA earlier today which has a gnarly reputation to it and nothing happened today as well as the many other time's I have skated there. I got family in the San Fernando Valley and I visit them time to time and will skate that plaza and have never had any shady encounters.

If anything in my experience I have had the most negative encounters in middle/upper class neighborhoods, retail plazas, schools, churches, etc where people will come at you in such a negative and aggressive manner because their area doesn't tolerate shit like that.

[Jive Turkey]

I had bottles thrown at me skating through my neighborhood back in Chicago. Another time some dude started flexing at a spot but luckily there were other people there willing to back me up even though they didn't know me, so nothing happened.

[IskateBaker]

only trouble i usually get is a bunch of kids coming to watch, and the older dudes start yelling at me and my friends to "tony hawk that shit"

[MuchasGracias]

I had bottles thrown at me skating through my neighborhood back in Chicago. Another time some dude started flexing at a spot but luckily there were other people there willing to back me up even though they didn't know me, so nothing happened.

Fuck that, did you get hit?

[trannies and mannies]

In philly I saw the craziest brawl in the middle of the street. It was about 30 dudes all fighting each other, gunshots, cops everywhere. There was even a naked dude running around.

[yeahmmm]

I've skated a ton of times in Oakland and Richmond in areas I probably shouldn't have yet never got messed with.  I know some people that went to that skate plaza/park in Oakland next to the boys and girls club and ended up getting carjacked at knifepoint though.  The only real altercations i've ever had skating was in nicer areas actually.

[happenstance]

I grew up skating all over Los Angeles and have been in the bay for the last 5 years. I have ventured into the worst parts of Oakland and haven't had any real problems. On the other hand, in Mexico City I had a sketchy situation and was my closest call. We were skating this plaza that is surrounded by a freeway traffic circle (yes they have those and they are crazy!). The walls around the plaza are at least 30 feet tall with only 5 tunnels into the plaza. We decided to light the spot up... first mistake. We went with about 20 dudes. The guys that usually rob you in Mexico City are called 'chacales' and have a distinct look. Basically cracked out people that wear dirty baggy clothes. One of them was at the edge of the plaza and we didn't worry. Strength in numbers. But then another showed up. And another... then there were 6... 7... 8. By the time there were 10 we decided it was time to book it. Every time I thought I was in a sketchy situation in Mexico, my Mexican friends would tell me to chill. The panic in their faces let me know this was a real situation. We starting breaking down the lights frantically and all ran out full speed as a group. It was sketchy. Thank god they didn't have guns.

[Jive Turkey]

I had bottles thrown at me skating through my neighborhood back in Chicago. Another time some dude started flexing at a spot but luckily there were other people there willing to back me up even though they didn't know me, so nothing happened.

Fuck that, did you get hit?

Thankfully no. It was weird because usually people yell some shit, but I didn't even notice until I heard the first bottle crash down behind me. I turned around and saw 2 or 3 kids hucking shit my way so I broke the fuck out. My bad really, because I knew that was a street I shouldn't go down. Since it was a diagonal street it cuts out 4 blocks of pushing, so I took it. Needless to say that was the last time.

[cookieboy]

I use to skate an Elementary school by my house. It wasn't a great spot but had some benches, a small bank, and I stashed a flat bar. Well I went to have my normal sesh. Skating and having fun when some kid comes from behind and grabs me. He scared the crap out of me and right away 3 of his friends come along. They start asking me questions and stuff. I knew one of them (use to skate with him and even gave him a board) and at first he says, "oh he's cool." They see my backpack and grab it and toss it to me. Ask me if I smoked and what not. Told them no( I do occasionally but was in such shock that I just wanted to leave) so the tallest dude comes up to me and grabs my wallet and pushes me. Didn't really know what to do. Dude stole my money and told me that he'll keep an eye out if I plan to do anything stupid. They end up smoking by the cafeteria and I just grab my stuff. Stupid lame gangs man. Saw the guy I knew a few weeks later and he asked if I knew anyone who sole a "piece" thought he meant something to smoke but he wanted a gun. Haven't gone back to skate there.

A few weeks back got my phone and camera stolen by some punk high school kids. I was the only one at the park and the kids hid behind the no deck half pipe. While I was just skating they ran to where I hid my bag and took it.

[bumptobar]

Ive only had one real gnarly situation skating in the hood.  To make a long story short i was threatened for skating a rail by a thug who shortly after wondered around the corner out of site.  I was stressing and Some guy across the street, gnarliest looking dude ever, you had to see this dude.  Yellow eyes, yellow teeth, ripped wife beater drinking white wine on ice out of a quart container came up to me.  He basically told me to keep going for it, so i booked it and did it like 5 tries after. My friend had the car running near by and we just left right after.  Extended version with photo of the trick: http://catchinair.tumblr.com/post/1678271960/heres-a-photo-of-a-trick-i-got-one-day-in

Also one time in brooklyn we got eggs thrown at us at 2 seperate court yards in this one project complex.  I got an odd enjoyment out of that one.

[cav]

when i was 12 years old walking home from a session, this douchebag at a school playground started throwing coin-sized rocks at me from like 60 feet away . i gave him the 'wtf shrug' and continued walking by. He seemed flustered or something. it was a good thing he missed....

[cookieboy]

I had bottles thrown at me skating through my neighborhood back in Chicago. Another time some dude started flexing at a spot but luckily there were other people there willing to back me up even though they didn't know me, so nothing happened.

Fuck that, did you get hit?

Thankfully no. It was weird because usually people yell some shit, but I didn't even notice until I heard the first bottle crash down behind me. I turned around and saw 2 or 3 kids hucking shit my way so I broke the fuck out. My bad really, because I knew that was a street I shouldn't go down. Since it was a diagonal street it cuts out 4 blocks of pushing, so I took it. Needless to say that was the last time.

Reminds me of a time we threw a party at my old house. I was skating outside with my best bud. Some cholo guys came up to some guys heading to the ice cream truck. The guys were pretty drunk and had a 40 on them. Started talking some smack and wanted to get the guys phone or some shit. Bud told me to head back inside and all I heard were bottles being thrown. Sucks how people can be such pricks.

[chillout]

I had bottles thrown at me skating through my neighborhood back in Chicago. Another time some dude started flexing at a spot but luckily there were other people there willing to back me up even though they didn't know me, so nothing happened.

ive had bottles and full cans of pop thrown at me from cars skating through my neighborhood in chicago aswell.

and at my local park, thats not in the hood, but near a "hood", there was full on gang fights for like a month until the police starting sitting in the parking lot. they would just come to the middle of the park and start talking shit and then fighting. the fights were often followed by trying to pick fights and steal from skaters at the park

[Joe Pesci]

In philly I saw the craziest brawl in the middle of the street. It was about 30 dudes all fighting each other, gunshots, cops everywhere. There was even a naked dude running around.

reminds me of this

fred gall 360 flip	Small | Large

[Jive Turkey]

I had bottles thrown at me skating through my neighborhood back in Chicago. Another time some dude started flexing at a spot but luckily there were other people there willing to back me up even though they didn't know me, so nothing happened.

ive had bottles and full cans of pop thrown at me from cars skating through my neighborhood in chicago aswell.

and at my local park, thats not in the hood, but near a "hood", there was full on gang fights for like a month until the police starting sitting in the parking lot. they would just come to the middle of the park and start talking shit and then fighting. the fights were often followed by trying to pick fights and steal from skaters at the park

This was in Humboldt Park back when that place used to be real ghetto. I went back home maybe 3 years ago and shit has really mellowed out.

Is your local park the one on the Southside near Jackson Park?

[Ronald Wilson Reagan]

I had bottles thrown at me in Chicago as well, but I was in the loop at the time. Weird about chicago and bottle throwing. I used to skate Clemente all the time and the only interaction I had with gangsters was hitting their blunt. The dudes there always seemed interested in skating when I went.

I used to live in a pretty sketchy part of Oakland, and a kid who couldn't have been older than like 6 or 7 chased after me with a kitchen knife screaming "give me your skateboard!" one time. I wasn't in real danger, but it was interesting.

I also had some guy try to corner me against a wall when I was skating down 24th street in the mission in SF. One dude I knew was drunk in the mission one night, ran into some sketchy dudes, and woke up naked with his head bleeding on top of potrero hill.

In terms of the pacoima situation, bet he wouldn't have gotten stabbed if he just gave his shit up.

[Jive Turkey]

I had bottles thrown at me in Chicago as well, but I was in the loop at the time. Weird about chicago and bottle throwing. I used to skate Clemente all the time and the only interaction I had with gangsters was hitting their blunt. The dudes there always seemed interested in skating when I went.

Yeah, I've never been fucked with at Clemente either and that's really kind of the heart of that area. The dudes we skated with were from the hood anyway.
I honestly don't think the dudes that threw the bottles gave a fuck about us skating, they just didn't want us on their block. The only people I can ever recall actually fucking with me for skating were drunk jocks. Sober ones just yell shit from their Jeep Wrangler.

[Mr. Faggot]

Ive only had one real gnarly situation skating in the hood.  To make a long story short i was threatened for skating a rail by a thug who shortly after wondered around the corner out of site.  I was stressing and Some guy across the street, gnarliest looking dude ever, you had to see this dude.  Yellow eyes, yellow teeth, ripped wife beater drinking white wine on ice out of a quart container came up to me.  He basically told me to keep going for it, so i booked it and did it like 5 tries after. My friend had the car running near by and we just left right after.  Extended version with photo of the trick: http://catchinair.tumblr.com/post/1678271960/heres-a-photo-of-a-trick-i-got-one-day-in

Also one time in brooklyn we got eggs thrown at us at 2 seperate court yards in this one project complex.  I got an odd enjoyment out of that one.

No wonder you got fucked with, you look like screech's bitch little brother.

[Lenny the Fatface]

Hood pedestrians actually think random skating is fun to watch, unlike everyone else.

[chillout]

I had bottles thrown at me in Chicago as well, but I was in the loop at the time. Weird about chicago and bottle throwing. I used to skate Clemente all the time and the only interaction I had with gangsters was hitting their blunt. The dudes there always seemed interested in skating when I went.

Yeah, I've never been fucked with at Clemente either and that's really kind of the heart of that area. The dudes we skated with were from the hood anyway.
I honestly don't think the dudes that threw the bottles gave a fuck about us skating, they just didn't want us on their block. The only people I can ever recall actually fucking with me for skating were drunk jocks. Sober ones just yell shit from their Jeep Wrangler.

had a guy who im pretty sure was coked out watch me and my friends skate clemente for like two hours a couple weeks ago. he was super into it and talked to us about street league

[pile]

while skating past the native reserve once, someone yelled tony hawk rules. i was hyped.

[crailtapsill]

In terms of the pacoima situation, bet he wouldn't have gotten stabbed if he just gave his shit up.

Well I guess the dude was on his phone and the 3 guys walked up to him and one of them asked to use his phone. so he let him use it and the guy said "thanks for the phone.." and pretty much those dudes fought and the guy whos phone it was was winning the fight so the other guys jumped in and fucked him up bad. It was either try to get the phone back or get punked... I guess Nugget was there too, stunned out of his mind

[Bagger Vance]

I live in the hood. I drive to the suburbs to skate

[Ronald Wilson Reagan]

I had bottles thrown at me in Chicago as well, but I was in the loop at the time. Weird about chicago and bottle throwing. I used to skate Clemente all the time and the only interaction I had with gangsters was hitting their blunt. The dudes there always seemed interested in skating when I went.

Yeah, I've never been fucked with at Clemente either and that's really kind of the heart of that area. The dudes we skated with were from the hood anyway.
I honestly don't think the dudes that threw the bottles gave a fuck about us skating, they just didn't want us on their block. The only people I can ever recall actually fucking with me for skating were drunk jocks. Sober ones just yell shit from their Jeep Wrangler.

homies who threw the bottles at me in the loop were drunk jocks. I actually did want to fight them, but my friend kind of talked me down with the whole "its not worth it, just keep skating and we'll be at another fun spot soon" deal.

Hood pedestrians actually think random skating is fun to watch, unlike everyone else.

They do, though often times the entertainment to them is the fact that a crazy white boy (at least in my case) is about to bust his ass.

had a guy who im pretty sure was coked out watch me and my friends skate clemente for like two hours a couple weeks ago. he was super into it and talked to us about street league

That's the clemente I know and love. I feel like those kids just know that you can watch skateboarders down there and its better than most other shit to do on a random afternoon.

[Jive Turkey]

They do, though often times the entertainment to them is the fact that a crazy white boy (at least in my case) is about to bust his ass.

Oh holy shit, yes. This^
You ever get one of those little smart ass kids that just sits there and talks shit everytime you bail?
I think it was the 5boros trailer that had the kid say something like "Shit, you aint Tony Hawk"; that kid.

[L33Tg33k]

I love it when homeless people feel the need to talk to my group of people when we're skating a spot. They're always entertaining and most of them seem to know how to sing or rap.

There's a public park in my neighborhood that some of you guys might recognize because some sponsored types come around to videolog their stunt stickery every now and then. One day I was there and some rollerbooters showed up to get radical on the handrail. I chatted them up and one of the guys told me, "Yeah, I gotta get this fakie fish nougat to porn star slide down ghetto rail right now because the deadline for the video is tonight." I'm paraphrasing, of course, but the important bit is that he called the rail in my neighborhood "ghetto rail". In fact, the entire aggressive inline scene in San Diego calls it "ghetto rail" as it turns out. There's no real point to this story. This thread just reminded me of the event and I found it pretty funny. In the end, the blade skaters were pretty cool guys. One of them even did a board slide/boot slide doubles routine with one of my friends down the rail. My friend put the footage in his video part and I hope the roller skater did the same.

[HATE!]

I'm from SIlver Spring, MD which is basically northern Washington DC and now it's super gentrified, but back in the 90s it had some hood elements in the downtown part of town.  I never really had anything happen to me, but I've seen a whole bunch of gnarly shit happen just because it's the area.  There used to be a skatepark right behind the City Place mall and I saw a dude back out of his parking spot and hit a dude on his bike and he just got out of the car and shot the guy.  That was pretty crazy.  We used to walk through the mall sometimes to get drinks and this one time a dude had smashed the glass front out of a Foot Locker and he had this huge shard of glass sticking out of his neck and an armful of shoes and he was just screaming.  The cops were there too, and we got ushered away so we didn't get to see what happened.  There was an empty lot across the street from the skatepark and it was pretty common to see dudes getting blowjobs or just passed out in the grass or whatever.

Shit used to go down with the homeless lurkers at MLK plaza too.  Nothing bad, they'd just always wanna hang out and be crazy, and to be honest, they had every right to be there that we did, but yeah, it was pretty common to see dudes smoking crack or whatever.  We saw this one dude just full on fuck this cracked out chick behind a planter.  That's burned into my brain.

I used to live in this really sketchy part of Little Rock, AR and I had a dude pull a gun on me at a bus stop for my skateboard.  Fuck that, he can have the shit.  After that though, my house got robbed and all my neighbors showed up and were really cool about everything.  One dude beat the shit out of another dude who was lurking around my basement and shit because he looked like he was trying to break in.

If you're respectful and don't act like you're afraid, skating in sketchier spots is usually alright and like others are saying, people are usually pretty hyped on seeing you skate.