Skate History
Hard core skating started up in the mid 1970's. During this time a number of skaters set the tone and attitude for skating that still thrives today. Check out these photo's of some not so famous old school skaters.
The Coastside Crew
The
location I'm talking about here is located just south of San Francisco right
on the coast. Skating never really caught on here because we had mostly dirt
roads, no pools, and only the schools and a few asphalt parking lots to ride.
Never the less, we found away. We made our own ramps, traveled to pools and
drainage ditches, we even made trips down to Southern California to check
it out.
The crew members included Adrien Warren, Mark Center, Willie Wilson, Eric
Nelson, Bruce Baber, and a few surfers from the area. We also skated with
the San Mateo guys.
The Warren Half Pipe
Date:
March, 1978
Location: El Granada, CA
(S.F. Bay Area)
History: In 1978, Adrien Warren took matters
into his own hands, he and a few friends built what we think was the first
half pipe in the Bay Area. Something of a hometown skating legend, Ad made
a huge impression on the youth of the area. Mention his name to this day and
you'll hear nothing but praise and awe as skaters relate their impression
of the man and his skating abilities.
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Adrien
Warren ripping up his ramp!  
Mark Center pumping hard and getting... near the top.    |
Mark
Arnold back side magic!
The Cesspool
Date:
April, 1978
Location: San Mateo,
CA (S.F. Bay Area)
History: This was the first pool we skated and
most of us really couldn't hit the coping, but we learned alot and we had a
great time. It was located on a hill over looking San Carlos, CA. The house
burnt down and the pool was all that was left. We skated the pool on a number
of times, cranking Ted Nugent and doing the best we could. We got chased out
of this pool many occasions as well. All worth it though!
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Adrien Warren looks for coping and finds it!
Mark Center looks for coping and is denied! Check out my Alva hat! What a little dweeb I was (am)!
Willie Wilson
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The
San Mateo "Spillway"
( The Back Door)
Date:
March, 1978
Location: San Mateo, CA (S.F.
Bay Area)
History: At the bottom of the hill, below the College
of San Mateo, we had an awesome drainage ditch to ride. You had to walk through
a yard to get there but the owners were pretty cool about it. Near the end of
it's existence some guys built this huge take off ramp and the quarter ramp
seene below. To much noise and to many people spelled doom for this great spot.
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March,
1978
 March, 1978  |
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New Photos of the Spillway. I took these at the end of March, 2003. As you can see, they put a layer of asphalt over the concrete and then they embedded large gravel into that covering. It ain't ride able anymore, although with a bunch of work, you could clean it up...
Looking up the hill from behind the house.
Looking down from the West Bank.
Looking across from the East Bank. This is the bank where the quarter ramp was that you can see in the photos above from 1978.
Looking down from the East Bank. |
