I will share a few from my childhood since skateboarding sadly has become the more so about the business as of late for me.
When I was younger I would skate EMB, the old one, it was a great spot, but the ground was really rough. You'd hit the brick at times and slam, but it wasn't my favorite spot, but I would go there to see what was possible. I would buy nearly ever video, but in person things seemed more tangible. One of the pros who was very nice to me was Shamil Randle.
I remember a few times he would set a price (I forget how much) and I would buy his box from his sponsors, I remember my friends and I did that a few times split the cost and would be pretty hyped.
- Cairo Foster is a really nice guy, but would skate the greater East Bay Area and was known for going to spots locals had done a film-worthy trick and do the same thing. I remember seeing him skate the Walnut Creek J.C.C. gate gap as well as Northridge rail and feel odd seeing him doing tricks that other locals had shot photos with the same photog, a guy named Bruce who was tied to Think. Not to bury the guy, he always remembers me and if he sees me he'll give me shit for this, but it is just what he is known for.
- Sean Payne on one of these trips to the Northgate rail, a bunch of skaters went to the Northgate High School rail to shred. This was a staple for Corey Duffel in his prime and when Corey filmed everyone would come out since he was doing tricks on rails most hadn't thought at the time. Sean was a scrawny, tall kid, who talked sheepishly. He rolled up to the spot and tailslide it multiple times, everyone was pumped, Matt Field filmed a 50-50 down it in his real to reel part, most of us wanted to try a 5-0 that day down the rail so it was motivation. Sean then became a folklore legend as he landed on about 30 Tailslide kickflip outs snapping a board or two, all the while being humble a good guy.
- I use to see Trevor Prescott and Gary Smith when in I lived in the outer mission, I remember seeing them film a line that was beyond belief. I linked the clip below. I had seen Trevor around and we talked. He was a really good guy, he filmed me do a trick at a spot in the mission that day. I miss those days in which, it was all about making a few hundred dollars floating aimlessly, running into a fellow skater and pushing yourself, I guess that's why I enjoy watching some of the east coast videos a lot.
- I remember skating the 3-up, 3-down in the mission and Stevie parking a brand new Lexus or Benz, something fancy in the red. He went on to do some tech trick, I want to say something switch into a fakie manual in about three or four tries with some random filmer he brought. I never saw the footage, but he was really cool. The cops came after he left and we sat on the steps thinking they were going to talk to us, but they never approached us so we left while they lingered in front of the stair well.
- Mike York was and will always be in my opinion one of the nicest skaters. He was really fun to be around and in the hayday of the Yeah Right video would just be a good dude along with Karl Watson. They were like the nice people who protected the young skaters whereas Henry Sanchez and a few others would enforce rules such as "no wax", no getting in their way while filming, etc.
- I would skate with one guy from 510 back in the day since I thought it would help me turn pro, but it was always a bummer. He'd take me to odd spots that were the opposite of fun, play a bunch of boring jazz, complain about skateboarding (something I loved) and then post a lot on fecalface. I remember a few times going to bump to bars hoping to shot a photo and getting wrecked based off the sheer unenjoyment of the day.
I have more, but I am going to eat I hope this was enjoyable to some.
Topic: running into pros (Read 31524 times)