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Having paid respect to all the undisputed international athletes of skateboarding through a process of recognized methods, and considering its establishment economically in the United States as well as the rest of the world, Dogtown has helped construct a huge skateboard system that has created trends and bred several generations of the world's most influential skaters. It has also cursed us with a virus that seems to be latent in every skateboard character—the thrasher attitude has tainted the minds of all skateboarders, past and present. With humble gratefulness, the spirit of Dogtown is concrete in the image of all skateboarding we see today. Dogtown follows a simple guideline: the gratification received through the expression of abstract skateboarding, which provides stimulus by either physically performing it or mentally creating and comprehending it. Venice is the right side of Dogtown's brain, Santa Monica the left; one radical, the other conservative. You decide which is which. This contrast provided an equal balance that helped us understand the rest of the world. Reality mixed with fantasy made up our skateboard lifestyles. Rich or poor, you took life for what it was. This view was passed down through every new generation. |
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Jesse Martinez |
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Jesse Martinez |
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Skateboarding morphed into many different fingers within our society, grasping attention at every possible outlet. From clothing companies to the surfing industry, from music to the entertainment business, and throughout the entire spectrum of "action sports." I can recall when society's impressions of skateboarding were negative, with most American adults considering skateboards childish toys. Whether in backyard pools, on ramps, or on the street, the noise was too much for most people. Public aggravation had begun. Understanding that despite the negative stereotypes we had marketable products, a fellow skater and C.E.O. of World Industries created a bumper sticker that carried the slogan, "Skateboarding is not a crime." In fact, it was a huge business about to blossom into the mainstream. Take Jay Adams, a world-class skateboarder and professional surfer. Jay was known for sparking trends and being the first to try radical daredevil maneuvers. When Jay Adams emerged on the punk/skate scene, he brought with him his own style, one influenced by the Mexican lowriders, or cholos. Jay would turn up at parties and punk rock shows in full vato gear, complete with a blue bandanna around his head, khaki pants, a white T-shirt, and flannels. The blue-eyed, blonde-haired California skater image was gone forever. Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir was another Dogtown resident, and the younger brother of Jim Muir, who owned Dogtown Skates. Not long after, Ice Cube and Easy-E brought out the so-called gangster look. |
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Cesario "Block" Montano |
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Eric Britton |
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