Thats about the same time I skated my first pool.It was behind the jr.high school I attended.Thats also were it got its name the Fairgrove pool.I later convinced my dad to let me skate our pool while it was drained to be repainted.Then a friend,and I found the Sunset Pools show room in Covina.This was like a sign from the skate Gods.Seven different pool shapes to skate.Later Wilds Wheels skate park would be built right over the top of it(what a waste).
That led me,and a friend in to making our own boards from flat pieces of wood we could scrounge from the wood shop.That led to alot of yard sales to find old roller skates to get trucks from.Thats were we met another friend whos mom worked for Gorden & Smith.We could buy all the seconds she could find for five bucks a deck.I had about 5 or 10 under my bed at all times.
I moved to Hacienda Heights my jr.year in high school.Then all hell started breaking loose.They started building skateparks.I also met a bunch of new friends.Most were met while looking for pools in Haciedna Heights to skate.The pools were everywere in Hac. Heights.This Is were I met Frank Blood a Sims Pro rider(great skater).There were never a shortage of new products to check out with Frank around.Later I met Jerry Adams another Sims Pro along with a ton of good skaters from Hac.Heights.We skated some of the first parks built Skatopia,Pipeline,even Wild Wheels..Skatopia was the first park I skated.It was also were I tryed out for three different skate teams. Pepsi team,skatopias own skate patrol,and Sandy's surf & ski rentals.I made all three teams untill they found out I didn't drive yet.Sandys was a joke a 10% discount,and buy your own team shirt.That was pure hell,almost 17 no car or drivers liciense in California.At pipeline I met Stacy Peralta Pink helmet,and all.He was doing freestyle tricks,and keeping to himself.
Later I started making some of my own decks again.They were wider than most were using at the time.I even had my own logo (Top secret),and seldom scene Kamikazi Skates.Later I would sell a deck that wasn't finished to a young kid.I would see my lettering,and name used on a Sims skateboard some 3 or 4 years later.It was almost my exact same shape too.These things were going on all the time with Manufactures back then.Several sponcers used they're skaters,and ideas.To the companys gain,and the skaters lost out on everything.New companys showed up like weeds,and all had something new to sell you.
In the 80's I didn't skate much during the big fall of skate parks.I found myself working alot,and going to school.On a job I was doing I met Tony Hawk back when he was wearing a pink helmet,and going up.Did I leave out starting a family?
In the 90's it was all about watching the X games,and my daughter.With our second child on the way.1999 I found myself teaching my girls to skateboard.Just like that first lost love I misted skateboarding bad.Now I skate as much as work will let me.I will remain a Skater for life.
