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Skateboarding => USELESS WOODEN TOY BANTER => Topic started by: Tear Up a Trick on October 13, 2021, 09:42:07 AM

Title: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Tear Up a Trick on October 13, 2021, 09:42:07 AM
Haven't ever skated in California, only know what I read and see, and would love to hear from people what makes skateboarding in California wonderful / horrible / unique.

What are some of those "you know you're skating in California when" type things?

I somehow imagine some of these have extra relevancy in California?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiemJlT_ixA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiemJlT_ixA)
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Mean salto on October 13, 2021, 09:51:22 AM
Obviously not everyone but seems like people from California are kinda dumb. For skaters from the rest of the world it takes a ton of time and effort just to get there. You end up with a decent amount of life experience just saving up for the plane ticket.

People who just happen to be born there can stay as dumb as a suburban 13 year old well into their 40s (watch 9club experience) because they've never really had to work for anything.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lilboosie on October 13, 2021, 10:04:25 AM
below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate

Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SatanicPanic on October 13, 2021, 10:05:19 AM
It’s not considered weird for an adult to do it.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Chatbot on October 13, 2021, 10:06:24 AM
Alot of what was in that video applies to probably everywhere. If they based it in NYC, they'd have to add "This is a spot?" while pointing to a crusty 7 set rail where the runup is only 4 feet of bondo.

To answer the question though, California is unique due to perfect weather year round. What makes it bad is probably the abundance of skaters (local and visitors) which will blow up new spots 10x quicker than anywhere else.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SatanicPanic on October 13, 2021, 10:08:55 AM
Obviously not everyone but seems like people from California are kinda dumb. For skaters from the rest of the world it takes a ton of time and effort just to get there. You end up with a decent amount of life experience just saving up for the plane ticket.

People who just happen to be born there can stay as dumb as a suburban 13 year old well into their 40s (watch 9club experience) because they've never really had to work for anything.
Ah yes old pros from the 9 club are typical Californians.nothing about them is unique to their experience, life is just that easy here
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DanCorteseFromMTVSports on October 13, 2021, 10:11:23 AM
Boring footage. (Kidding...kind of...)
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lampshade on October 13, 2021, 10:13:41 AM
It’s not considered weird for an adult to do it.

This is true.  I've lived in San Diego and SF.  It is not considered weird for a 30 year old to Skate/Surf.  On the East Coast there isn't much surfing (Basically VA Beach area, NC, SC, and Florida), but surfing is seen as a cool guy at the beach thing, where skateboarding is seen as playing with a child's toy. 
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Mean salto on October 13, 2021, 10:14:37 AM
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Obviously not everyone but seems like people from California are kinda dumb. For skaters from the rest of the world it takes a ton of time and effort just to get there. You end up with a decent amount of life experience just saving up for the plane ticket.

People who just happen to be born there can stay as dumb as a suburban 13 year old well into their 40s (watch 9club experience) because they've never really had to work for anything.
[close]
Ah yes old pros from the 9 club are typical Californians.nothing about them is unique to their experience, life is just that easy here
Should of been clearer I meant as far as pro skateboarders. But yeah surf's up dude
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SatanicPanic on October 13, 2021, 10:19:10 AM
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Obviously not everyone but seems like people from California are kinda dumb. For skaters from the rest of the world it takes a ton of time and effort just to get there. You end up with a decent amount of life experience just saving up for the plane ticket.

People who just happen to be born there can stay as dumb as a suburban 13 year old well into their 40s (watch 9club experience) because they've never really had to work for anything.
[close]
Ah yes old pros from the 9 club are typical Californians.nothing about them is unique to their experience, life is just that easy here
[close]
Should of been clearer I meant as far as pro skateboarders. But yeah surf's up dude
Fair enough. Other than Hawk I agree the older set is a bunch of airheads who had it pretty easy.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lampshade on October 13, 2021, 10:20:52 AM
below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60. 
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SneakySecrets on October 13, 2021, 10:22:18 AM
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below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.
@Sizzla It’s under 70 degrees, what are you wearing?
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: ginz2 on October 13, 2021, 10:29:53 AM
insane wax usage at skateparks
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DarkPools on October 13, 2021, 10:34:33 AM
Having everything and nothing to skate at the same time.

There are so many spots around the urban hubs of CA. It is also overwhelming sometimes because it can be difficult to just pick one, a la "the best spot" instead of just taking what sounds good for the session. Being in CA longterm can make you take spot accessibility and volume for granted.
That may not be CA-specific but it's the most notable aspect of being out there.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: IpathCats on October 13, 2021, 10:37:00 AM
Obviously not everyone but seems like people from California are kinda dumb. For skaters from the rest of the world it takes a ton of time and effort just to get there. You end up with a decent amount of life experience just saving up for the plane ticket.

People who just happen to be born there can stay as dumb as a suburban 13 year old well into their 40s (watch 9club experience) because they've never really had to work for anything.

Obvious east coast bias on my part, but my experiences with the west coast have led me to believe this too. All my friends that have gone out there have had similar experiences too. We always kinda joke around about it. I think about it like this, if most people want to go to cali for whatever reason, to make it in hollywood, tech, skateboarding, whatever. And most people are stupid, then that's gonna make for a pretty high concentration of stupid people out there. Obviously not everyone is dumb on the west coast, just like everyone isn't mean on the east coast. But there are definitely trends....
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: shredder sequel on October 13, 2021, 11:09:39 AM
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below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.
[close]
@Sizzla It’s under 70 degrees, what are you wearing?

Probably a string vest and a beanie, man.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: TwisT on October 13, 2021, 11:13:41 AM
below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate

I see California dudes in hoodies and sweatshirts year round. It's like they want to die from heatstroke just for the swag.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Eric Dolphy on October 13, 2021, 11:25:53 AM
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below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.
[close]
@Sizzla It’s under 70 degrees, what are you wearing?
[close]

Probably a string vest and a beanie, man.
Probably two polo's, collar popped, with chino shorts and leather sandals, because his real name is Trent and he studies at Yale
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: shredder sequel on October 13, 2021, 11:38:39 AM
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.
[close]
@Sizzla It’s under 70 degrees, what are you wearing?
[close]

Probably a string vest and a beanie, man.
[close]
Probably two polo's, collar popped, with chino shorts and leather sandals, because his real name is Trent and he studies at Yale

It’s a shame he’s caught up in the TikTok “old money” aesthetic. 
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Blueabyssofthisss on October 13, 2021, 11:46:03 AM
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Expand Quote
Expand Quote
below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.
[close]
@Sizzla It’s under 70 degrees, what are you wearing?
[close]

Probably a string vest and a beanie, man.
[close]
Probably two polo's, collar popped, with chino shorts and leather sandals, because his real name is Trent and he studies at Yale
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SneakySecrets on October 13, 2021, 11:55:39 AM
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.
[close]
@Sizzla It’s under 70 degrees, what are you wearing?
[close]

Probably a string vest and a beanie, man.
[close]
Probably two polo's, collar popped, with chino shorts and leather sandals, because his real name is Trent and he studies at Yale
[close]

I want to meet whoever it is one day and shake their hand.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 13, 2021, 12:03:11 PM

Expand Quote
Obviously not everyone but seems like people from California are kinda dumb. For skaters from the rest of the world it takes a ton of time and effort just to get there. You end up with a decent amount of life experience just saving up for the plane ticket.

People who just happen to be born there can stay as dumb as a suburban 13 year old well into their 40s (watch 9club experience) because they've never really had to work for anything.
[close]

Obvious east coast bias on my part, but my experiences with the west coast have led me to believe this too. All my friends that have gone out there have had similar experiences too. We always kinda joke around about it. I think about it like this, if most people want to go to cali for whatever reason, to make it in hollywood, tech, skateboarding, whatever. And most people are stupid, then that's gonna make for a pretty high concentration of stupid people out there. Obviously not everyone is dumb on the west coast, just like everyone isn't mean on the east coast. But there are definitely trends....

I feel like this is definitely true especially in the entertainment areas of LA where it's just nothing but "I'm following my crazy dream"
Down here in sd there's lots of lifers, but also a lot of transplants that connect with the slightly slower pace of life than the LA hustle set.
I think the big thing about my area in Northern San Diego is that because it's perfect weather all year and there's a ton of parks, if you go to the park you will see a very diverse and wide set of skate archetypes. People will come here on vacation and you'll get to experience a microcosm of their scene and how they dress, there's a bunch of different types of local skaters as well (skeleton key vato dads, old man beach bums, "i knew Jay and Tony and was an OG Dogtown" stolen Valor types, surfer kids in trunks and vans, high Desert sand blasters, hypebeast supreme & FA kids, leftover Pissdrunx, old pros you looked up to who are just around all the time) there's a chance you'll see something different and weird every time you go skating or hit the park
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Dwyck on October 13, 2021, 12:13:23 PM
I lived in sf for a year and it truly is the worst winter weather ive ever experienced. Soaking through a hoodie at the beach on a windy 58 degree day cause relative humidity is 80% (I was also 20 pounds heavier last January which definitely had something to do with it lol). Also fire season is some real shit - going outside without a mask gives you cancer for a month or so out of the year

Interpersonally, skateboarding seems really popular and everyone I met seems to get it in a way I'd never experienced before. I'd explain that I spent pre-vaccine times on unemployment skating everyday and they totally understood. Roll up to the spot and even the kids say what's up.

In terms of public policy, skateboarders are like lower than dirt. That's just my anecdotal SF experience though
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lazer69 on October 13, 2021, 12:31:43 PM
insane wax usage at skateparks

I was going to say this. I never had to have wax with me when I was there..

Id say the average level of skating is higher then anywhere else I've been. Its not uncommon to see pros or street leagers at the parks. Also theres often locals or flow bros going harder at parks.

Also Some parks are basically a bar, like people show up everyday just to drink,smoke, and bullshit. Some of them dont ever have a board with them, some bring it but dont skate, some actually skate. Its a dichotomy, theres lot hustlers that work, and have like a brand or something their trying to take off, and then the opposite, people dont really do much and have no ambition. its interesting.

Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Tear Up a Trick on October 13, 2021, 12:49:31 PM

Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Obviously not everyone but seems like people from California are kinda dumb. For skaters from the rest of the world it takes a ton of time and effort just to get there. You end up with a decent amount of life experience just saving up for the plane ticket.

People who just happen to be born there can stay as dumb as a suburban 13 year old well into their 40s (watch 9club experience) because they've never really had to work for anything.
[close]

Obvious east coast bias on my part, but my experiences with the west coast have led me to believe this too. All my friends that have gone out there have had similar experiences too. We always kinda joke around about it. I think about it like this, if most people want to go to cali for whatever reason, to make it in hollywood, tech, skateboarding, whatever. And most people are stupid, then that's gonna make for a pretty high concentration of stupid people out there. Obviously not everyone is dumb on the west coast, just like everyone isn't mean on the east coast. But there are definitely trends....
[close]

I feel like this is definitely true especially in the entertainment areas of LA where it's just nothing but "I'm following my crazy dream"
Down here in sd there's lots of lifers, but also a lot of transplants that connect with the slightly slower pace of life than the LA hustle set.
I think the big thing about my area in Northern San Diego is that because it's perfect weather all year and there's a ton of parks, if you go to the park you will see a very diverse and wide set of skate archetypes. People will come here on vacation and you'll get to experience a microcosm of their scene and how they dress, there's a bunch of different types of local skaters as well (skeleton key vato dads, old man beach bums, "i knew Jay and Tony and was an OG Dogtown" stolen Valor types, surfer kids in trunks and vans, high Desert sand blasters, hypebeast supreme & FA kids, leftover Pissdrunx, old pros you looked up to who are just around all the time) there's a chance you'll see something different and weird every time you go skating or hit the park

in heaven.... everything is fine...

in heaven..... everything is fine.....

in heaven..... every thing is fine......

You got your good thing.... and i've got mine.....
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 13, 2021, 01:00:06 PM
Parks being ridiculously slippery because it never rains so they remain glossy smooth, but with an invisible layer of dust. I guess this may also exist in Arizona but I never noticed like I do at newer California parks.

Not having to worry if it's going to be dry tomorrow. I live in Vancouver and you have to take advantage of dry days because even in the summer you can get lots of rainy days. You end up skating on very gloomy and cold days just because it's the only dry day in the past 3 weeks. But in California you wake up to beautiful sun just about every day, and you don't mind when it actually does rain because they need it down there.

Favorite place on earth. Nothing feels like it. I end up looking at my surroundings when I'm there and just getting a huge, grateful smile on my face. I love a good skate day capped off with some great food while watching the amazing sun sets on the coast of southern California (should note all this is specific to SoCal. SF is great but I kind of stopped going there for more than a quick day trip once things got so expensive and gentrified. I like SD/LA far more these days).
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SatanicPanic on October 13, 2021, 01:11:02 PM
I can’t imagine looking around the nation right now and thinking California is where the dumb people are.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lampshade on October 13, 2021, 01:43:27 PM
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below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.
[close]
@Sizzla It’s under 70 degrees, what are you wearing?
[close]

Probably a string vest and a beanie, man.
[close]
Probably two polo's, collar popped, with chino shorts and leather sandals, because his real name is Trent and he studies at Yale

Excuse I.  Are you saying Sizzla and Ras Trent are the same person?  Trust me.  You no wan test me champion sound.  Ba-da-ding- whoa.  Me smoke from the chalace I fi made from a Sprite can. 
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: theotherguy on October 13, 2021, 01:47:11 PM
You know you're skating in California when...
You can skate outside almost every day.
Most of the time, people are friendly.
Adults, kids, boys, girls, dogs, and whatever elses skates.
You break for some water, tacos, burgers, sandwiches, thai, greek, middle eastern, or whatever other food you want to eat.
Weed everywhere.
Skateparks everywhere.
Skate spots everywhere.
The exact opposite of all this is also true. Who fucking cares, anyway?
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: mushroom slice on October 13, 2021, 01:47:50 PM
I can’t imagine looking around the nation right now and thinking California is where the dumb people are.
all the real dumbos left Cali for Texas with Joe RoGaIN and the smartest guy he knows, that con man Elon Mush. Good luck charging your Tesla’s when the power grid goes down again. Yehaw!

Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lampshade on October 13, 2021, 01:57:01 PM
I can’t imagine looking around the nation right now and thinking California is where the dumb people are.

California is just a huge state.  You can't really make generalites.  It's like if you made New England to Georgia one state.  There is all kinds of different stuff going on.  You can't really compare someone living in a trailer in Victorville to some Tech mogul in SF.  Just like you can't compare someone living in a penthouse on Central Park to a red neck from rural South Carolina. 
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SatanicPanic on October 13, 2021, 02:58:28 PM
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I can’t imagine looking around the nation right now and thinking California is where the dumb people are.
[close]

California is just a huge state.  You can't really make generalites.  It's like if you made New England to Georgia one state.  There is all kinds of different stuff going on.  You can't really compare someone living in a trailer in Victorville to some Tech mogul in SF.  Just like you can't compare someone living in a penthouse on Central Park to a red neck from rural South Carolina.
There are millions of dumb people here, because we’re a big state. But people are suggesting we’re dumber on average, which is nuts.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 13, 2021, 03:00:04 PM
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I can’t imagine looking around the nation right now and thinking California is where the dumb people are.
[close]

California is just a huge state.  You can't really make generalites.  It's like if you made New England to Georgia one state.  There is all kinds of different stuff going on.  You can't really compare someone living in a trailer in Victorville to some Tech mogul in SF.  Just like you can't compare someone living in a penthouse on Central Park to a red neck from rural South Carolina.

Absolutely. Every area is really distinct. But when most people think of California what they really are envisioning is Los Angeles or SF because it's easier to make generalities based off of those places.
And just like every other state, we're judged often times by the actions and policies of politicians that most of the state hates, similar to Texas
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: RichardBarkley on October 13, 2021, 03:02:10 PM
I fucking loved SF. The place ruled for skating.

There certainly a certain vibe when it comes to skating there.

Way too much suffering and poverty there though. Its hard to believe that people can let others exist like that. So sad.  I could never live there.

Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: TheLurper on October 13, 2021, 03:05:22 PM
My favorite place in America is Los Angeles (hopefully, moving back by August of next year).

But, one thing that always surprised me is how kooky the LA scene can be. When I first arrived I expected everyone to be super cool and know everything about everything, but I've met a ton of kooks there. I thought every shop would be amazing, but a lot of the shops are fucking terrible.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 13, 2021, 03:14:00 PM
My favorite place in America is Los Angeles (hopefully, moving back by August of next year).

But, one thing that always surprised me is how kooky the LA scene can be. When I first arrived I expected everyone to be super cool and know everything about everything, but I've met a ton of kooks there. I thought every shop would be amazing, but a lot of the shops are fucking terrible.

I've never dug LA's scene. I'm very biased because of where I'm from but even with the abundance of kookiness and Olympic skate coaches and rich kids who want to slum it but own a beamer, SD actually has a lot of good shops and our scene is pretty cool. Tons of people come from all over the country and world and end up finding a niche and a home in the scene here
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Frank and Fred on October 13, 2021, 03:17:15 PM
I fucking loved SF. The place ruled for skating.

There certainly a certain vibe when it comes to skating there.

Way too much suffering and poverty there though. Its hard to believe that people can let others exist like that. So sad.  I could never live there.

Some of that is because neighboring cities and states refuse to take care of their own. Like in Portland, we have had cities literally bus their destitute to our cities because they know we do care and try to help, hence more resources. I'm sure its similar in SF and LA. But the suffering and poverty that's so visible in SF is a nationwide issue. Other places just hide it, sweep it or criminalize homelessness  making it worse in places that do try to tackle it.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Cranberry Relish on October 13, 2021, 03:22:46 PM
Being at a skatepark in LA and having someone walk up to you with some stickers asking you to check out their brand on instagram (or does this happen everywhere now?)
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Mr. Stinky on October 13, 2021, 04:02:29 PM
I can’t imagine looking around the nation right now and thinking California is where the dumb people are.

You should spend a little time in LA or SF, expand your horizons. 
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Urtripping on October 13, 2021, 04:09:34 PM
I lived in sf for a year and it truly is the worst winter weather ive ever experienced. Soaking through a hoodie at the beach on a windy 58 degree day cause relative humidity is 80% (I was also 20 pounds heavier last January which definitely had something to do with it lol). Also fire season is some real shit - going outside without a mask gives you cancer for a month or so out of the year

Interpersonally, skateboarding seems really popular and everyone I met seems to get it in a way I'd never experienced before. I'd explain that I spent pre-vaccine times on unemployment skating everyday and they totally understood. Roll up to the spot and even the kids say what's up.

In terms of public policy, skateboarders are like lower than dirt. That's just my anecdotal SF experience though

I'd take Bay Area winter again over the Michigan Winter I've been getting the last few years, but fire season is truly awful and can be pretty harrowing if you've had to evacuate or relocate.

Absolutely agree that more skaters there "get it" than on average elsewhere. Big shout out to my friends out in Santa Rosa, miss you guys and that place.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SatanicPanic on October 13, 2021, 04:19:36 PM
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I can’t imagine looking around the nation right now and thinking California is where the dumb people are.
[close]
You should spend a little time in LA or SF, expand your horizons.
Uh I have dood
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Sifter on October 13, 2021, 05:05:01 PM
Always wanted to go to California one day on some solo skate rat trip. 

Will cook and clean
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: sus on October 13, 2021, 05:28:10 PM
Being at a skatepark in LA and having someone walk up to you with some stickers asking you to check out their brand on instagram (or does this happen everywhere now?)

along with LA, this happens to me in OC and SD too. This is ridiculously accurate haha
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Vomit Lust on October 13, 2021, 05:57:08 PM
A lot of Southern California isn’t meant to be inhabited. Grass doesn’t grow naturally and shit. So they wind up pouring concrete on everything and you get tons of sick ass banks and ditches and shit. That stuff doesn’t occur “naturally” as much in other parts of the country. CA has shit that you can only find in skateparks other places. I’ve always been super jealous of that living in the Midwest and South.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Jimmy The Saint on October 13, 2021, 06:07:32 PM
I've never been, but those red curbs look amazing. 
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Gab on October 13, 2021, 06:19:26 PM
Southern California is way different than Northern California, all the stereotypes that exist of California skating would probably be made about socal. SF is it’s own beast.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: augustmoon on October 13, 2021, 06:55:28 PM
Skaters and surfers are jocks, and you’re not special for being a skater like you were in whatever little town you came from.  High school 2.0.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: IUTSM on October 13, 2021, 07:02:43 PM
It's funny hearing people from different parts of the state talk about SF being Northern CA... it's 8 hours from the northern border.

I grew up in New England and moved about 2 hours south of Oregon 10 years ago. Never spent time in LA/SD, decent amount of time in the Bay area. Mostly just been in this nook of north coast paradise. Where I live isn't indicative of CA as a whole, but with the state being so vast, I don't think that anywhere is necessarily representative of anywhere else.

I see a greater abundance of decent/really nice concrete parks. Where I live, street skating is fairly non-existent. There are endless awesome parking lots with painted red curbs. The curb game is unparalleled compared to the east coast. Due to the general lack of snow and subsequent lack of salt on the roads, pavement is generally better than anywhere I've lived on the beast coast. Buildings in california, shit you might want to skate, is generally newer- fewer foundation spots and shit like that.

It's rarely gets warmer than 70 where I'm at on the coast and it rarely gets lower than freezing, and then only for a few days or at night. It's wet though. Even when it's dry and we're in drought, it's always wet.

Getting back into the skate world after a hiatus for the last 7 or so years has been pretty low key. It's not weird for a grey hair later 30s dude with mad tattoos to be skating and throwing tantrums in a parking lot. Old ladies walking their dogs talk to me like a respected community member.

That said, this is the only place in CA that I have any interest in living. All the homies I've met from down south, from what they describe, the suburban sprawl, the speed of things, as well as the high cost of living, I'm all set regardless of weather and year round skate time. I'll be moving to upstate NY or VT before I live in SoCal :o

I think that skateboarding, as an image thing anyways, is more prevalent and accepted in CA too, but I'm not totally sold on there being more older dudes still skating. Whenever I get back east and hit a park, I'm seeing more dudes my age and up pushing around parks and shit.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Heywood Jeblowme on October 13, 2021, 07:05:24 PM
Can we answer you question for Nor Cal and Southern Cal separately? They are completely different worlds.

Lived in both for over a decade and the only thing they have in common is high housing prices, fake people, and great skating weather. The spots in SF, Santa Cruz area, Sac Town, San Jose etc etc are so much more fun than Inland Empire or Long Beach spots. But SD spots rule
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: fakie nollie on October 13, 2021, 07:10:02 PM
I think a very Californian thing is having a high concentration of skate shops that all carry a variety of stuff, depending upon who does the ordering. Where I live, within 15 miles of me there’s (7) skate shops. Another thing is FA/Hockey won’t sell to surf shops, which are common here, so you have to go to a shop without surfboards to buy their shit

There’s also 6 skateparks within the same 10 mile vicinity
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 13, 2021, 07:28:10 PM
It's funny hearing people from different parts of the state talk about SF being Northern CA... it's 8 hours from the northern border.

I grew up in New England and moved about 2 hours south of Oregon 10 years ago. Never spent time in LA/SD, decent amount of time in the Bay area. Mostly just been in this nook of north coast paradise. Where I live isn't indicative of CA as a whole, but with the state being so vast, I don't think that anywhere is necessarily representative of anywhere else.

I see a greater abundance of decent/really nice concrete parks. Where I live, street skating is fairly non-existent. There are endless awesome parking lots with painted red curbs. The curb game is unparalleled compared to the east coast. Due to the general lack of snow and subsequent lack of salt on the roads, pavement is generally better than anywhere I've lived on the beast coast. Buildings in california, shit you might want to skate, is generally newer- fewer foundation spots and shit like that.

It's rarely gets warmer than 70 where I'm at on the coast and it rarely gets lower than freezing, and then only for a few days or at night. It's wet though. Even when it's dry and we're in drought, it's always wet.

Getting back into the skate world after a hiatus for the last 7 or so years has been pretty low key. It's not weird for a grey hair later 30s dude with mad tattoos to be skating and throwing tantrums in a parking lot. Old ladies walking their dogs talk to me like a respected community member.

That said, this is the only place in CA that I have any interest in living. All the homies I've met from down south, from what they describe, the suburban sprawl, the speed of things, as well as the high cost of living, I'm all set regardless of weather and year round skate time. I'll be moving to upstate NY or VT before I live in SoCal :o

I think that skateboarding, as an image thing anyways, is more prevalent and accepted in CA too, but I'm not totally sold on there being more older dudes still skating. Whenever I get back east and hit a park, I'm seeing more dudes my age and up pushing around parks and shit.

I wouldn't be too dead-set against SoCal until you DO spend time there. I used to be all about SF in the 90's - it's the first place in California I went ... but once I travelled down south to San Diego, shit. It feels like being in a movie, or just paradise. North County SD is perfect, LA has so many spots people are constantly discovering new amazing gems, and the tacos ... oh the tacos! My life these days revolves around saving money and waiting to go back every winter ... covid has been hard. Cannot wait to get back. Kills me I can't just move there as a Canadian.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 13, 2021, 09:00:34 PM
It's funny hearing people from different parts of the state talk about SF being Northern CA... it's 8 hours from the northern border.

I grew up in New England and moved about 2 hours south of Oregon 10 years ago. Never spent time in LA/SD, decent amount of time in the Bay area. Mostly just been in this nook of north coast paradise. Where I live isn't indicative of CA as a whole, but with the state being so vast, I don't think that anywhere is necessarily representative of anywhere else.

I see a greater abundance of decent/really nice concrete parks. Where I live, street skating is fairly non-existent. There are endless awesome parking lots with painted red curbs. The curb game is unparalleled compared to the east coast. Due to the general lack of snow and subsequent lack of salt on the roads, pavement is generally better than anywhere I've lived on the beast coast. Buildings in california, shit you might want to skate, is generally newer- fewer foundation spots and shit like that.

It's rarely gets warmer than 70 where I'm at on the coast and it rarely gets lower than freezing, and then only for a few days or at night. It's wet though. Even when it's dry and we're in drought, it's always wet.

Getting back into the skate world after a hiatus for the last 7 or so years has been pretty low key. It's not weird for a grey hair later 30s dude with mad tattoos to be skating and throwing tantrums in a parking lot. Old ladies walking their dogs talk to me like a respected community member.

That said, this is the only place in CA that I have any interest in living. All the homies I've met from down south, from what they describe, the suburban sprawl, the speed of things, as well as the high cost of living, I'm all set regardless of weather and year round skate time. I'll be moving to upstate NY or VT before I live in SoCal :o

I think that skateboarding, as an image thing anyways, is more prevalent and accepted in CA too, but I'm not totally sold on there being more older dudes still skating. Whenever I get back east and hit a park, I'm seeing more dudes my age and up pushing around parks and shit.

Fuck i wanna check out your part of CA, i love all the mountain towns here too like Julian and Idyllwild.

Expand Quote
It's funny hearing people from different parts of the state talk about SF being Northern CA... it's 8 hours from the northern border.

I grew up in New England and moved about 2 hours south of Oregon 10 years ago. Never spent time in LA/SD, decent amount of time in the Bay area. Mostly just been in this nook of north coast paradise. Where I live isn't indicative of CA as a whole, but with the state being so vast, I don't think that anywhere is necessarily representative of anywhere else.

I see a greater abundance of decent/really nice concrete parks. Where I live, street skating is fairly non-existent. There are endless awesome parking lots with painted red curbs. The curb game is unparalleled compared to the east coast. Due to the general lack of snow and subsequent lack of salt on the roads, pavement is generally better than anywhere I've lived on the beast coast. Buildings in california, shit you might want to skate, is generally newer- fewer foundation spots and shit like that.

It's rarely gets warmer than 70 where I'm at on the coast and it rarely gets lower than freezing, and then only for a few days or at night. It's wet though. Even when it's dry and we're in drought, it's always wet.

Getting back into the skate world after a hiatus for the last 7 or so years has been pretty low key. It's not weird for a grey hair later 30s dude with mad tattoos to be skating and throwing tantrums in a parking lot. Old ladies walking their dogs talk to me like a respected community member.

That said, this is the only place in CA that I have any interest in living. All the homies I've met from down south, from what they describe, the suburban sprawl, the speed of things, as well as the high cost of living, I'm all set regardless of weather and year round skate time. I'll be moving to upstate NY or VT before I live in SoCal :o

I think that skateboarding, as an image thing anyways, is more prevalent and accepted in CA too, but I'm not totally sold on there being more older dudes still skating. Whenever I get back east and hit a park, I'm seeing more dudes my age and up pushing around parks and shit.
[close]

I wouldn't be too dead-set against SoCal until you DO spend time there. I used to be all about SF in the 90's - it's the first place in California I went ... but once I travelled down south to San Diego, shit. It feels like being in a movie, or just paradise. North County SD is perfect, LA has so many spots people are constantly discovering new amazing gems, and the tacos ... oh the tacos! My life these days revolves around saving money and waiting to go back every winter ... covid has been hard. Cannot wait to get back. Kills me I can't just move there as a Canadian.

Let's all meet in Oceanside when this is over
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: matty_c on October 14, 2021, 12:20:21 AM
Getting bashed by a copper?
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: FUBAR on October 14, 2021, 02:59:57 AM
In N Out burger at/after the session is pretty specific. And the soccer/scooter moms at the park watching little Timmy get in your way are fucking hot. I saw a mom at the park here in NJ and she looked like a foot and sounded like a 50 year old man with laryngitis. Not good.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: truthislie on October 14, 2021, 03:48:35 AM
Went to SF and LA from Europe with a friend back in 2010. It was a very cool trip and I´d go again in a hearbeat but as far as living there (cost of everything, homeless people, lots of very superficial people, driving form spot to spot in LA, being hassled by a policeman for drinking in public...) it also has shown me how good we have it here in Europe. However it was my first and only time in the US so my culture shock might not be that CA specific.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: ok boomer on October 14, 2021, 06:25:30 AM
Going to Benihana's after 600 tries of that 75 foot handrail
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: j....soy..... on October 14, 2021, 06:41:17 AM
I've never been, but those red curbs look amazing.

The other one I noticed was the sidewalks....

Pretty much Cali sidewalks are smoother than a pacnorthwest skatepark.  You don't realize you've been listening to that noise for decades....then you feel it through your feet.  It's pretty sick....

Barcy is one step beyond that.....
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: cky enthusiast on October 14, 2021, 06:47:03 AM
talking but never listening is pretty cali sk8 in my experience

also screaming needlessly at spots is a very west coast thing in general
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Letsfilmavideo on October 14, 2021, 08:54:16 AM
Being at a skatepark in LA and having someone walk up to you with some stickers asking you to check out their brand on instagram (or does this happen everywhere now?)
This shit happens to me in iowa, I’m sure it’s happening all over the world
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: somefucker on October 14, 2021, 09:37:56 AM
parks are close together and for the most part perfect regarding the ground/variety of obstacles.
spots have that same 'smooth' feeling - literal decades of grinds/slides on everything.
imagine having everything you ever wanted for skating...it kind of sucks how perfect everything is. you don't have to struggle (as hard) to find/skate a spot, not as much shittiness in the spots (cracks, stop rocks, cold weather in general)
and i also don't miss the 405 one bit.

after living in noho and pasadena i can safely say i cherish having started skating in NYC/NJ. puts some hair on ya
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lou dawg on October 14, 2021, 09:40:36 AM
Hot take:

I feel like much of skating has moved on from big rails and stairs except for California.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Eric Dolphy on October 14, 2021, 01:40:57 PM
Landing in LA after a lifetime of living and skating in NZ, was like, ok i see how this city launched skateboarding, defined it. The weather, the attitude of people you run into, the endless semi flat sprawl of streets and carparks you can get lost in. The biggest thing i noticed was the concrete, like everything is made of this super shiny, rock hard concrete that's just begging to be skated. The curbs are a wet dream.
Out here, most of our concrete is brittle and just turns to dust when you try to grind it. The curbs and concrete that we have at our parks, are inspired by what's right outside your house in LA.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: mj23 on October 14, 2021, 04:08:55 PM
Disclaimer: I'm just talking about SoCal in this post, and really just LA more specifically.

To everyone who says that Californians come off as "dumb," I have an alternate theory: Californians aren't dumb, they're just not especially verbal.

Growing up out east I thought Californians were dumb too. I went to a fancy college full of Californians who all seemed unable or unwilling to communicate any kind of complex idea. Then I spent some time actually living in LA, and now I'm in Texas. Something I've noticed is that although the cultures in TX and NYC are really different, they have something in common: a real culture of just gabbing incessantly. Talking, a lot. In California I found that people are plenty perceptive and intelligent, they just aren't as prone to expressing it verbally. This can lead to the stereotypical "passive aggression" that Californians are associated with as well.

And also skating is straight up just easier in SoCal. It's basically cheating.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Brguy on October 14, 2021, 04:26:48 PM
Expand Quote
Being at a skatepark in LA and having someone walk up to you with some stickers asking you to check out their brand on instagram (or does this happen everywhere now?)
[close]

along with LA, this happens to me in OC and SD too. This is ridiculously accurate haha
I've seen in Brazil too, skaters just love stickers, no matter the place.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 14, 2021, 04:39:54 PM
Expand Quote
I've never been, but those red curbs look amazing.
[close]

The other one I noticed was the sidewalks....

Pretty much Cali sidewalks are smoother than a pacnorthwest skatepark.  You don't realize you've been listening to that noise for decades....then you feel it through your feet.  It's pretty sick....

Barcy is one step beyond that.....

OK, so this one ... I feel like I went to a different Barcelona, haha. Aside from the route we took from Paralel to the area around Macba (and even the first stage of that route actually), just about every sidewalk I saw had that horrible square tile ground with massive cracks between each piece. I don't know how people skate on that stuff, it's like, 1000 times worse than the interlock brick spots we have here in Canada. It drove me nuts. I felt like I had been lied to. I remember people specifically telling me that the streets and sidewalks were endless granite/marble and you could just coast for miles, but when I visited we walked everywhere because of that damn tile ground being the most prominent surface.

I need a Barcelona re-do, but honestly, I'll take California over it any day.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: work_lurker on October 14, 2021, 05:33:08 PM
Born and raised in a small town pretty much right in the middle of SD and LA and can honestly say they are different worlds. Don’t go to LA, unless it’s your first time here and you want to do some skate spot tourism, LA blows. Be prepared to sit in traffic for an hour and a half to travel maybe 5 miles away, everything is close relatively speaking, but there’s no fast way of getting to anything. Public transportation sucks in this state. Also, everyone in LA generally just seems angry, and if they’re not angry then they seem very superficial. It’s also extremely expensive. You’ll pay $3,000 for a one bedroom apartment and right outside there’ll be a skid row full of people living on the sidewalk in tents and just drugged out of their minds. Not that uncommon to literally step in human shit, or watch a tweaker yell at a light pole and square up to it.

SD is the fucking place to be though! All the good things you’d imagine in LA (perfect weather, cities with SkateSpots all over, your favorite skater just chilling at the dog park) and the people are just way more laid back and friendly.
Do have to admit you can get vibed out by certain people, but that’s universal. You’ll get vibed out way more in LA then you would in SD.

Also would like to address the posts saying we’re all dumb. You’re not wrong, there’s a lot of idiots here. But also would like to point out that a lot of people emigrate here, so I think our idiot ratio is about on point with the rest of America, it’s just that so much more of America is here than in other states.  :-*
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 14, 2021, 05:54:29 PM
Born and raised in a small town pretty much right in the middle of SD and LA and can honestly say they are different worlds. Don’t go to LA, unless it’s your first time here and you want to do some skate spot tourism, LA blows. Be prepared to sit in traffic for an hour and a half to travel maybe 5 miles away, everything is close relatively speaking, but there’s no fast way of getting to anything. Public transportation sucks in this state. Also, everyone in LA generally just seems angry, and if they’re not angry then they seem very superficial. It’s also extremely expensive. You’ll pay $3,000 for a one bedroom apartment and right outside there’ll be a skid row full of people living on the sidewalk in tents and just drugged out of their minds. Not that uncommon to literally step in human shit, or watch a tweaker yell at a light pole and square up to it.

SD is the fucking place to be though! All the good things you’d imagine in LA (perfect weather, cities with SkateSpots all over, your favorite skater just chilling at the dog park) and the people are just way more laid back and friendly.
Do have to admit you can get vibed out by certain people, but that’s universal. You’ll get vibed out way more in LA then you would in SD.

Also would like to address the posts saying we’re all dumb. You’re not wrong, there’s a lot of idiots here. But also would like to point out that a lot of people emigrate here, so I think our idiot ratio is about on point with the rest of America, it’s just that so much more of America is here than in other states.  :-*

What part of sd are you from brother? Fuck LA forever
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: work_lurker on October 14, 2021, 05:58:05 PM
Expand Quote
Born and raised in a small town pretty much right in the middle of SD and LA and can honestly say they are different worlds. Don’t go to LA, unless it’s your first time here and you want to do some skate spot tourism, LA blows. Be prepared to sit in traffic for an hour and a half to travel maybe 5 miles away, everything is close relatively speaking, but there’s no fast way of getting to anything. Public transportation sucks in this state. Also, everyone in LA generally just seems angry, and if they’re not angry then they seem very superficial. It’s also extremely expensive. You’ll pay $3,000 for a one bedroom apartment and right outside there’ll be a skid row full of people living on the sidewalk in tents and just drugged out of their minds. Not that uncommon to literally step in human shit, or watch a tweaker yell at a light pole and square up to it.

SD is the fucking place to be though! All the good things you’d imagine in LA (perfect weather, cities with SkateSpots all over, your favorite skater just chilling at the dog park) and the people are just way more laid back and friendly.
Do have to admit you can get vibed out by certain people, but that’s universal. You’ll get vibed out way more in LA then you would in SD.

Also would like to address the posts saying we’re all dumb. You’re not wrong, there’s a lot of idiots here. But also would like to point out that a lot of people emigrate here, so I think our idiot ratio is about on point with the rest of America, it’s just that so much more of America is here than in other states.  :-*
[close]

What part of sd are you from brother? Fuck LA forever

Oceanside for the last couple of years! Riverside county before hand.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 14, 2021, 06:00:09 PM
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Born and raised in a small town pretty much right in the middle of SD and LA and can honestly say they are different worlds. Don’t go to LA, unless it’s your first time here and you want to do some skate spot tourism, LA blows. Be prepared to sit in traffic for an hour and a half to travel maybe 5 miles away, everything is close relatively speaking, but there’s no fast way of getting to anything. Public transportation sucks in this state. Also, everyone in LA generally just seems angry, and if they’re not angry then they seem very superficial. It’s also extremely expensive. You’ll pay $3,000 for a one bedroom apartment and right outside there’ll be a skid row full of people living on the sidewalk in tents and just drugged out of their minds. Not that uncommon to literally step in human shit, or watch a tweaker yell at a light pole and square up to it.

SD is the fucking place to be though! All the good things you’d imagine in LA (perfect weather, cities with SkateSpots all over, your favorite skater just chilling at the dog park) and the people are just way more laid back and friendly.
Do have to admit you can get vibed out by certain people, but that’s universal. You’ll get vibed out way more in LA then you would in SD.

Also would like to address the posts saying we’re all dumb. You’re not wrong, there’s a lot of idiots here. But also would like to point out that a lot of people emigrate here, so I think our idiot ratio is about on point with the rest of America, it’s just that so much more of America is here than in other states.  :-*
[close]

What part of sd are you from brother? Fuck LA forever
[close]

Oceanside for the last couple of years! Riverside county before hand.

Hell yes dude. Born at tri city, spent most of my life in Vista, North County sd is the best place on earth. Do you live more in the valley of closer to the coast
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: PapaSquat on October 14, 2021, 06:10:05 PM
Expand Quote
below 70 means its cold so bundle up to skate
[close]

So true.  Weather tolerance can be very regional.  My wife and I were at a resort in Jamaica for vacation.  It was unseasonably cold (Low 70s).  Us whiteys were still going to the beach and laying out by the pool.  The staff (Jamacians) we wearing puffy jackets, beanies, etc.  and complaining how it was freezing, mon.  My wife is from the south.  Around here I'll wear basketball shorts and a hoodie to walk our dogs well into the 50s, my wife busts out sweaters and jackets when it gets around 60.

As a Californian male, I bust out my jackets as soon as it dips below 70 but mostly just so I get to wear a jacket for once.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: MadeYouLook on October 14, 2021, 06:35:23 PM
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I've never been, but those red curbs look amazing.
[close]

The other one I noticed was the sidewalks....

Pretty much Cali sidewalks are smoother than a pacnorthwest skatepark.  You don't realize you've been listening to that noise for decades....then you feel it through your feet.  It's pretty sick....

Barcy is one step beyond that.....
[close]

OK, so this one ... I feel like I went to a different Barcelona, haha. Aside from the route we took from Paralel to the area around Macba (and even the first stage of that route actually), just about every sidewalk I saw had that horrible square tile ground with massive cracks between each piece. I don't know how people skate on that stuff, it's like, 1000 times worse than the interlock brick spots we have here in Canada. It drove me nuts. I felt like I had been lied to. I remember people specifically telling me that the streets and sidewalks were endless granite/marble and you could just coast for miles, but when I visited we walked everywhere because of that damn tile ground being the most prominent surface.

I need a Barcelona re-do, but honestly, I'll take California over it any day.

Maybe a local can chime in because I don’t know the neighborhood names that well… but I am in Barcelona right now and it feels like there are spots and smooth ground most places I’ve been.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 14, 2021, 07:34:05 PM
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
I've never been, but those red curbs look amazing.
[close]

The other one I noticed was the sidewalks....

Pretty much Cali sidewalks are smoother than a pacnorthwest skatepark.  You don't realize you've been listening to that noise for decades....then you feel it through your feet.  It's pretty sick....

Barcy is one step beyond that.....
[close]

OK, so this one ... I feel like I went to a different Barcelona, haha. Aside from the route we took from Paralel to the area around Macba (and even the first stage of that route actually), just about every sidewalk I saw had that horrible square tile ground with massive cracks between each piece. I don't know how people skate on that stuff, it's like, 1000 times worse than the interlock brick spots we have here in Canada. It drove me nuts. I felt like I had been lied to. I remember people specifically telling me that the streets and sidewalks were endless granite/marble and you could just coast for miles, but when I visited we walked everywhere because of that damn tile ground being the most prominent surface.

I need a Barcelona re-do, but honestly, I'll take California over it any day.
[close]

Maybe a local can chime in because I don’t know the neighborhood names that well… but I am in Barcelona right now and it feels like there are spots and smooth ground most places I’ve been.

Although there are some spots that are made up of that tile (the bank to curb spot that Gustav and a lot of people somehow skate), I'm speaking more specifically about sidewalks. We were staying right next to Paralel, and as soon as you go out the door it's that tile, even as soon as you leave the confines of the Paralel spot. I was surprised to find that was the most common sidewalk material in Barcelona, as no one ever mentioned it.

But yeah, back on topic - California sidewalks are ridiculously smooth, it's so nice. Sometimes the cracks between each piece are big, but the overall smoothness makes up for it.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: RossDailey on October 14, 2021, 08:29:00 PM
It’s not considered weird for an adult to do it.

I'm in my late 30's & can mention that I skate for fun in job interviews & the interviewers are hyped.

And this is for professional / office setting type career.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Krooked antihero on October 14, 2021, 09:29:43 PM
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I've never been, but those red curbs look amazing.
[close]

The other one I noticed was the sidewalks....

Pretty much Cali sidewalks are smoother than a pacnorthwest skatepark.  You don't realize you've been listening to that noise for decades....then you feel it through your feet.  It's pretty sick....

Barcy is one step beyond that.....
[close]

OK, so this one ... I feel like I went to a different Barcelona, haha. Aside from the route we took from Paralel to the area around Macba (and even the first stage of that route actually), just about every sidewalk I saw had that horrible square tile ground with massive cracks between each piece. I don't know how people skate on that stuff, it's like, 1000 times worse than the interlock brick spots we have here in Canada. It drove me nuts. I felt like I had been lied to. I remember people specifically telling me that the streets and sidewalks were endless granite/marble and you could just coast for miles, but when I visited we walked everywhere because of that damn tile ground being the most prominent surface.

I need a Barcelona re-do, but honestly, I'll take California over it any day.
[close]

Maybe a local can chime in because I don’t know the neighborhood names that well… but I am in Barcelona right now and it feels like there are spots and smooth ground most places I’ve been.
[close]

Although there are some spots that are made up of that tile (the bank to curb spot that Gustav and a lot of people somehow skate), I'm speaking more specifically about sidewalks. We were staying right next to Paralel, and as soon as you go out the door it's that tile, even as soon as you leave the confines of the Paralel spot. I was surprised to find that was the most common sidewalk material in Barcelona, as no one ever mentioned it.

But yeah, back on topic - California sidewalks are ridiculously smooth, it's so nice. Sometimes the cracks between each piece are big, but the overall smoothness makes up for it.
It depends in what barrio you are, like Raval has the smoothest sidewalks ever.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 14, 2021, 09:42:35 PM
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I've never been, but those red curbs look amazing.
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The other one I noticed was the sidewalks....

Pretty much Cali sidewalks are smoother than a pacnorthwest skatepark.  You don't realize you've been listening to that noise for decades....then you feel it through your feet.  It's pretty sick....

Barcy is one step beyond that.....
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OK, so this one ... I feel like I went to a different Barcelona, haha. Aside from the route we took from Paralel to the area around Macba (and even the first stage of that route actually), just about every sidewalk I saw had that horrible square tile ground with massive cracks between each piece. I don't know how people skate on that stuff, it's like, 1000 times worse than the interlock brick spots we have here in Canada. It drove me nuts. I felt like I had been lied to. I remember people specifically telling me that the streets and sidewalks were endless granite/marble and you could just coast for miles, but when I visited we walked everywhere because of that damn tile ground being the most prominent surface.

I need a Barcelona re-do, but honestly, I'll take California over it any day.
[close]

Maybe a local can chime in because I don’t know the neighborhood names that well… but I am in Barcelona right now and it feels like there are spots and smooth ground most places I’ve been.
[close]

Although there are some spots that are made up of that tile (the bank to curb spot that Gustav and a lot of people somehow skate), I'm speaking more specifically about sidewalks. We were staying right next to Paralel, and as soon as you go out the door it's that tile, even as soon as you leave the confines of the Paralel spot. I was surprised to find that was the most common sidewalk material in Barcelona, as no one ever mentioned it.

But yeah, back on topic - California sidewalks are ridiculously smooth, it's so nice. Sometimes the cracks between each piece are big, but the overall smoothness makes up for it.
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It depends in what barrio you are, like Raval has the smoothest sidewalks ever.

True - and that's what I was referring to when I mentioned the route to Macba from Paralel. As soon as you cross the street and head diagonally up to Macba, great sidewalks there. Even more fun coming back home cause it was slightly downhill. Fuck those damn helicopter pods tho, lol. So hyped the Gustav board I grabbed while there had one of those as the graphic.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: newguy on October 15, 2021, 03:15:59 AM
Regarding those tiles pavements, a lot of European cities use them, you get used to it over time but I can understand why someone would hate it haha  :D
Coming over from California where every surface is smooth as hell to a rugged tile pavement in Europe must be somewhat hard to adapt to I imagine. I could only dream having the kind of surfaces Barcelona has though, my city has that horrible grainy irregular shit, halfway between cement and asphalt and it eats through wheels in no time and kills your speed.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: roastbeef on October 15, 2021, 11:20:04 AM
I literally have like 50 skateparks I can go to within an hours drive.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: j....soy..... on October 15, 2021, 01:14:09 PM
Re: sidewalks.....barcy just uses granite which is next level, but yes, it's Europe, it can be rough too.  Cali uses concrete and it never rains.....so it's some beautiful skatepark type shit.  The light layer of dust makes things feel even smoother....
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: ndsr on October 15, 2021, 01:19:34 PM
Boats and hoes!  Also everything else that is in the world, except glaciers and rain forests.  You have to travel to the PNW to get everything
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BillTetley on October 15, 2021, 01:36:35 PM
When I was in my early teens my mom would send me to live with my aunt in Temecula for the summers, which is about an hour north of San Diego. Everything was like brand new and polished. First thing I thought was crazy is the Skateshop in a strip mall (Active?) that was so nice and new and big and modern. TVHS campus was like a beautifully manicured garden skate park. By contrast when I got back home my 90 year old roach infested middle school was in the process of being condemned.   

Outside Philly the only skateshops were also record stores, or was just the corner of an Army Navy Store or maybe at an indoor skatepark (and those never seemed to have anyone working in them). The lack of Punk Rock type elements was weird to me, the only skateboarders/shops I knew of always had a heavy Youth Crew 90's Hardcore Punk guys running the place. Out west it felt so mainstream and established and accepted.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Hefe43 on October 15, 2021, 02:10:21 PM
Fuck LA forever
Where on the map did Los Angeles touch you poosey?
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 15, 2021, 02:12:31 PM
When I was in my early teens my mom would send me to live with my aunt in Temecula for the summers, which is about an hour north of San Diego. Everything was like brand new and polished. First thing I thought was crazy is the Skateshop in a strip mall (Active?) that was so nice and new and big and modern. TVHS campus was like a beautifully manicured garden skate park. By contrast when I got back home my 90 year old roach infested middle school was in the process of being condemned.   

Outside Philly the only skateshops were also record stores, or was just the corner of an Army Navy Store or maybe at an indoor skatepark (and those never seemed to have anyone working in them). The lack of Punk Rock type elements was weird to me, the only skateboarders/shops I knew of always had a heavy Youth Crew 90's Hardcore Punk guys running the place. Out west it felt so mainstream and established and accepted.

Shout out Temecula! I've spent a lot of time out there growing up because of family who lives out there. That active is still there, plenty of cool spots in Temecula too, it's just hot as fuck. Hopefully they get a new skatepark although it seems unlikely with the three they just built in Lake elsinore, pala and the Fallbrook park incoming. Ronald Reagan park is extremely cursed
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 15, 2021, 02:13:33 PM
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Fuck LA forever
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Where on the map did Los Angeles touch you poosey?

Just a life long San Diegan son. Don't dig the vibes, don't dig the city, and fuck the Lakers and Dodgers.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: ziggy on October 15, 2021, 03:28:44 PM
reason #8,406 why i will never be popular here

I love California

I can’t stand NY/NJ, I hate 90’s rap, people who say ‘nahmean’ etc, etc

oh, and Pops’ part in Fully Flared sucks too. Give me a Cali handrail part over that any day
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 15, 2021, 04:06:52 PM
reason #8,406 why i will never be popular here

I love California

I can’t stand NY/NJ, I hate 90’s rap, people who say ‘nahmean’ etc, etc

oh, and Pops’ part in Fully Flared sucks too. Give me a Cali handrail part over that any day

I like you, you can fuck my sister
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Xen on October 15, 2021, 04:22:15 PM
...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 15, 2021, 04:24:50 PM
It's raining so much in Vancouver right now, I want to punch the weather. Haha. God I miss Oceanside. I'd probably be getting back from a mid day session about now, maybe grabbing tacos from Primo off coast hwy, or getting the massive chicken tenders plate from Angelo's, or maybe heading inland to Habit off the 76. Waaaaaaaaaa! Lol.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 15, 2021, 04:25:54 PM
...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....

Vista is land of the bump over hydrants. I was so hyped to skate all the infamous ones from Hokus Pokus etc.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BillTetley on October 15, 2021, 05:11:30 PM
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When I was in my early teens my mom would send me to live with my aunt in Temecula for the summers, which is about an hour north of San Diego. Everything was like brand new and polished. First thing I thought was crazy is the Skateshop in a strip mall (Active?) that was so nice and new and big and modern. TVHS campus was like a beautifully manicured garden skate park. By contrast when I got back home my 90 year old roach infested middle school was in the process of being condemned.   

Outside Philly the only skateshops were also record stores, or was just the corner of an Army Navy Store or maybe at an indoor skatepark (and those never seemed to have anyone working in them). The lack of Punk Rock type elements was weird to me, the only skateboarders/shops I knew of always had a heavy Youth Crew 90's Hardcore Punk guys running the place. Out west it felt so mainstream and established and accepted.
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Shout out Temecula! I've spent a lot of time out there growing up because of family who lives out there. That active is still there, plenty of cool spots in Temecula too, it's just hot as fuck. Hopefully they get a new skatepark although it seems unlikely with the three they just built in Lake elsinore, pala and the Fallbrook park incoming. Ronald Reagan park is extremely cursed

That park is so bad!
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 15, 2021, 05:53:30 PM
It's raining so much in Vancouver right now, I want to punch the weather. Haha. God I miss Oceanside. I'd probably be getting back from a mid day session about now, maybe grabbing tacos from Primo off coast hwy, or getting the massive chicken tenders plate from Angelo's, or maybe heading inland to Habit off the 76. Waaaaaaaaaa! Lol.

Primos is the best cheap taco spot
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BugleBites on October 15, 2021, 05:57:17 PM
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It's raining so much in Vancouver right now, I want to punch the weather. Haha. God I miss Oceanside. I'd probably be getting back from a mid day session about now, maybe grabbing tacos from Primo off coast hwy, or getting the massive chicken tenders plate from Angelo's, or maybe heading inland to Habit off the 76. Waaaaaaaaaa! Lol.
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Primos is the best cheap taco spot

*Limit 1000 tacos per order. Haha. I like to daydream about how they came to that number ...
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 15, 2021, 06:24:46 PM
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It's raining so much in Vancouver right now, I want to punch the weather. Haha. God I miss Oceanside. I'd probably be getting back from a mid day session about now, maybe grabbing tacos from Primo off coast hwy, or getting the massive chicken tenders plate from Angelo's, or maybe heading inland to Habit off the 76. Waaaaaaaaaa! Lol.
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Primos is the best cheap taco spot
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*Limit 1000 tacos per order. Haha. I like to daydream about how they came to that number ...

South O wanted to party homes
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: GollyIamGully on October 16, 2021, 08:37:41 AM
...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....

Handrails seem a lot lower too.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lampshade on October 16, 2021, 10:52:38 AM
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...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....
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Handrails seem a lot lower too.

Is Califonia just full of little people?
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: DaleSr on October 16, 2021, 11:02:06 AM
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...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....
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Handrails seem a lot lower too.
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Is Califonia just full of little people?

Yes. People don't talk about this but Eric Dressen is the tallest man in the state
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: whorific on October 16, 2021, 02:10:28 PM
insane wax usage at skateparks

true bring a comb/scraper the wax levels are whack
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: warmonke on October 16, 2021, 03:56:20 PM
Being really good at skating and nobody caring
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SHEEM on October 16, 2021, 05:15:37 PM
Kinda the opposite of the thread but is skating school yards/school benches purely a cali/west coast thing? Why were Cali school yards so sought after back in the day?
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Shrinedescender on October 16, 2021, 07:09:53 PM
Kinda the opposite of the thread but is skating school yards/school benches purely a cali/west coast thing? Why were Cali school yards so sought after back in the day?

I think in AVE’s Loveletters With Jeff Grosso he mentions that one guy designed all the schoolyards for a number of schools in Cali. That’s why they all have those banks by the fences and the benches are all certain dimensions.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Tear Up a Trick on October 16, 2021, 07:39:09 PM
I remember seeing one of the California school yards in a mag, maybe tws, and maybe it was "school W"?  and it had banks and a flat bar (this was a long time ago) and I was like, "whaaaaat the heck?  they build the school yards to basically be skateparks?"  And then there was another school yard and another school yard and another, all paved with perfect banks and hips and everything.  Sure seems nice from over here.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: FUBAR on October 17, 2021, 05:33:37 AM
When I was in my early teens my mom would send me to live with my aunt in Temecula for the summers, which is about an hour north of San Diego. Everything was like brand new and polished. First thing I thought was crazy is the Skateshop in a strip mall (Active?) that was so nice and new and big and modern. TVHS campus was like a beautifully manicured garden skate park. By contrast when I got back home my 90 year old roach infested middle school was in the process of being condemned.   

Outside Philly the only skateshops were also record stores, or was just the corner of an Army Navy Store or maybe at an indoor skatepark (and those never seemed to have anyone working in them). The lack of Punk Rock type elements was weird to me, the only skateboarders/shops I knew of always had a heavy Youth Crew 90's Hardcore Punk guys running the place. Out west it felt so mainstream and established and accepted.
Grew up in the town over (Murrieta) and a trip to skate Temecula was always fun. I ollied the 7 stair at the high school and felt awesome. This was early-90s tho.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: OldieButFrenchie on October 17, 2021, 08:53:27 AM
I stayed in SD for 4 or 5 months back in 94-95 and traveled around California a bit. LA, SF, the big cities. The skate culture was so deep and rich, it was a shock. I mean I grew up in the Paris area, there were practically no skaters left from the 70's generation, so we did not have much in the way of examples. I pushed mongo for over 10 years before I realized it's looked down upon and looks like shit! whereas in SD or SF, it's common to see pros skating, or just real good skaters.
Also, like many have said: perfect PERFECT weather, millions of good spots....and tacos haha yes!!   :P

the negatives: you need a car to get around. In Paris, kind of like NY, we were always just skating from spot to spot and using public transport. And the bust factor. I never once got a fine for skating in France but I actually ended up in cuffs in SD, for skating on the SDSU campus.

and I'll gladly argue Paris sidewalks are way smoother than California sidewalks!
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Hinna on October 17, 2021, 09:01:52 AM
...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....
barely any space between the seat and the tabletop. seeing pros everywhere would be kinda annoying
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: lampshade on October 17, 2021, 09:25:32 AM
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...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....
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Handrails seem a lot lower too.
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Is Califonia just full of little people?
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Yes. People don't talk about this but Eric Dressen is the tallest man in the state

I heard he dunked on Shaq.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: BillTetley on October 17, 2021, 10:28:57 AM
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When I was in my early teens my mom would send me to live with my aunt in Temecula for the summers, which is about an hour north of San Diego. Everything was like brand new and polished. First thing I thought was crazy is the Skateshop in a strip mall (Active?) that was so nice and new and big and modern. TVHS campus was like a beautifully manicured garden skate park. By contrast when I got back home my 90 year old roach infested middle school was in the process of being condemned.   

Outside Philly the only skateshops were also record stores, or was just the corner of an Army Navy Store or maybe at an indoor skatepark (and those never seemed to have anyone working in them). The lack of Punk Rock type elements was weird to me, the only skateboarders/shops I knew of always had a heavy Youth Crew 90's Hardcore Punk guys running the place. Out west it felt so mainstream and established and accepted.
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Grew up in the town over (Murrieta) and a trip to skate Temecula was always fun. I ollied the 7 stair at the high school and felt awesome. This was early-90s tho.

Ollies are all I could really do, so I totally understand how rad that felt. Logged a few thousand noseslides on a perfect knee high bench near what I believe was the outdoor cafeteria. Eating lunch outside was an insane thought considering 3/4 of my schoolyear back home outside was covered in ice or at least tons of rock salt.

One thing I forgot was how surprised I was that a lot of kids could do a lot of tricks, but couldn't really skate. Back home I knew how to get all over town with the least effort, which side of which block had smoothest ground, which potholes were fun to ollie. 90% of skating back home was just to get to my friends houses and then to the playground to skate the curbs and manual the lines on the basketball court.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: SatanicPanic on October 17, 2021, 11:32:32 AM
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It’s not considered weird for an adult to do it.
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I'm in my late 30's & can mention that I skate for fun in job interviews & the interviewers are hyped.

And this is for professional / office setting type career.
For sure. I’ve also noticed doctors don’t really give me a hard time either. Last time I went in for something the doctor was stoked I’m skating
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: theradone on October 17, 2021, 06:47:31 PM
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...where Picnic tables and fire hydrants don't go past your knees....
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barely any space between the seat and the tabletop. seeing pros everywhere would be kinda annoying


Yeah, it's super weird how all those elementary school tables are so small....it must be some kind of conspiracy.
Title: Re: Things That Are Specific to Skating in California
Post by: Hinna on October 17, 2021, 08:32:31 PM
where are the fat kids gonna sit. probably by the vending machines but nah shit just looks wrong