Tom Penny’s Never Seen 7-Flat-6 Kickflip: MX Plaza, Bordeaux, France (2001)
Star Maps Feature x TWS Witness x @cultoftom x @mxequipement94 x uba-uba.com x Amrit Jain x Theo Hand x Serge de Freitas
As most of you know, Tom Penny arrived in California with the Flip crew in 1995—quickly put a hurting on a host of iconic spots (Carlsbad Gap, Chain-to-Bank, San Deguito Rails, etc…) before linking up with the Muska to become the two most marketable pros in skateboarding. At the peak of his powers and fame—Penny departed the United States in ‘96 to live in Europe. At that exact moment, a stream of far-fetched sounding rumors of things Tom had done all over the EU (mostly without footage or photos) opened up like a folkloric flood. You could hardly visit a spot or skatepark on the continent without some insane sounding tale like; “Penny drank seven tall boys, ate a bag of shrooms, then nollie bs flipped into this vert ramp from the deck with a spliff in his hand.” Every town had one. One such tale from Bordeaux—near where Tom lived with his mother, ran something like; “Tom kickflipped one of the biggest sets of stairs in France—in the rain with a sprained ankle—and didn’t even bother telling the filmer flown out to film him or call a photographer.” 24 years later, we can actually prove that this specific myth was absolutely true, down to every last detail. Read on.
This began with Ciaran McCarthy who helps run the @cultoftom Instagram handle. Building off the TWS Witness article I worked on with Theo Hand back in July ‘17 where we covered Tom’s “Invisible Shove-it” at a plaza in Bordeaux called Malraux or MX—Ciaran uncovered this second Penny gem there. During the interview with Theo, as he talked about Penny’s clip of the mystical BS 5-0 shove-it he also mentioned a massive kickflip Tom had done.
Here’s Theo: “Tom did a lot of great stuff there (MX). Everything was spontaneous. Nothing was planned. I can remember one rainy day when I was over at a friend's house, (Tom was at his girlfriend's place) and I found out that he had gone to MX (the weather cleared just enough so the ground was half-dry) and he kickflipped the double-set there, which is/was really big (See present day photos above courtesy Amrit Jain). No footage, no photo, except some random person shot a shitty Kodak throwaway photo! Somewhere that exists.”
Welcome to ‘Somewhere’—Tom Penny’s kickflip, MX 7-flat-6, May 1, 2001. Photo shot on disposable camera by Nathas Kraus.
Well, 24 years later I’m glad to say Ciaran found that Kodak throwaway photo. I wouldn’t even call it “shitty”. It’s actually pretty good for an instamatic print (see above). He also found the person who shot it—a French skater/photographer named Nathas Kraus. This is the story of how it came to be, compiled by Ciaran and with assists from Amrit Jain, Nathas, Serge De Freitas, and Theo Hand.
The MX plaza was since redeveloped and much of it was grassed over. So this is also a tribute to the spot, the MX locals (they even have an Insta @mxequipement94) and a present day look for the Star Maps. The 7-flat-6 is still standing, and still huge, although the rollaway is almost non-existent. To give some context, this set was switch ollied by Geoff Rowley early in his Sorry part. So you know it’s no joke. Geoff also tried a few nollies that day as seen in the behind the scenes footage (check at 7:07) from French Fred. Meanwhile, Tom ollies the first 7 stairs onto a piece of wood on the 6 in his Sorry part so I can safely assume a kickflip down the whole thing would have been prominently featured in his part.
Geoff Rowley’s switch ollie sequence (Photos: Jim the “Skin” which I assume was Skin Phillips) TWS April 2000, Vol. 18, No. 4.
The bulk of this story is told by Nathas, who detailed his road trip to MX on May 1, 2001 and witnessing Penny’s kickflip in a blog post on the website UBA-UBA.com. Nathas shot the disposable camera shot only after he realized he had forgotten the battery to his pro level camera at home. He regrets that to this very day. Here was Ciaran’s summary, including Nathas’ blogpost translated from French and lightly edited by me.
Text by Ciaran: South Bank, Pulaski, Le Dôme, EMB, Love Park, Courthouse, and MACBA are just some of the infamous street plazas in skate lore—each providing a rich history for the both the locals and those who migrated to skate them. In the south of France, located in the city of Bordeaux there was Malraux, to the locals MX.
Consisting of ledges, gaps and stairs MX was "an incredible place for skaters, a plaza we could skate whenever we wanted" explains local pro, Serge De Freitas. To the side of the plaza was the big set—a seven-flat-six. The six could be skated solo as it had an off set run up. Vincent Cassaranjue was the first to Ollie the full double-set in the late ‘80s—opening it up to anyone willing to battle.
In 2001, photographer Nathas Kraus and a crew of skaters travelled from St. Gilles to MX to skate. The day they arrived it was overcast and rain had been forecast. As they rolled up, they spotted someone skating the other end of the plaza—it was Tom Penny, who was living in Bordeaux at the time, with Ali Boulala.
Tom’s ollie into a wood bank, and Rowley’s switch ollie from Sorry (2001 by Flip and French Fred.)
Nathas remembers: "Tom was there just doing manuals on the other side of the plaza, but skated over to us within a few minutes. We were sipping on some cider and Tom joined in. After a while, there was a small session beginning down the six, so Tom picked up his board and joined in. Tom started putting down a few perfect nollie backside flips. I went to grab my camera to shoot the session that was going off, but It was at this point I realized I had forgotten my camera battery at home. Right then, Tom walks up the seven, looks down at the whole set. I scrambled to find anything to shoot with and all I had was this disposable camera.
Tom starts going for it, he throws down a shifty ollie that makes us all throw our boards in celebration. Then he goes back to the top and talks to my friend Nicolas. Nicolas runs down within a few seconds, saying to get prepared as Tom is going to kickflip the stairs. Tom then starts throwing down huge kickflips. After about the third try of feeling it out Tom shows us his very swollen ankle from a previous spot days before. I tell him not to kill himself for a crappy disposable camera, but by now I understand this was not for any media—just Tom’s own pride and pleasure.
Unfortunately by this time the rain drops start falling—it was those big drops that soak the ground quickly. Tom doesn't seem bothered and goes for it again. On the 4th or 5th try he pops, flicks, catches and rides away. I still remember the flip as monstrous, slow, mastered, violent and smooth all at the same time. Tom rides about 10 or 12 feet and then slips out from the ground now being drenched from the drops. Everyone watching is now in complete utter madness, yelling and celebrating.
We packed up, said our goodbyes to Tom and went to find a place to get the camera developed—still in disbelief at what we had just witnessed. The development wouldn’t be ready until the next day, as I missed the cut-off for 1 hour development. I was wondering the whole time if the photo turned out at all. I finally got the photo back the next day. The contrast was off, but it was ok. We head back to MX and Tom was there (drinking Baileys). I gave him some copies, and he seemed genuinely happy.
Still, 24 years later—I'm still mad at myself. I'm always super thorough and can't believe I forgot my battery knowing the better photo that I could have captured.”
—Nathas Kraus
Meanwhile, Theo Hand, who was on a mission with Tom and Ali to capture footage looks back and shares: " I was bummed that he didn't let me know or wait till I got down there. But I also knew that if Tom felt like doing something, he was going to do it."
There you have it. An amazing first hand witness account of this historic moment so many years ago. I can pretty safely say that had Nathas remembered his batteries and shot a pro quality photo of this kickflip in ’01—it would almost certainly been the cover of any magazine—EU or in the US. I think at Skateboarder Magazine where I worked at that time we might even have considered running the disposable version—that’s how sought after any coverage of Penny was then.
When Ciaran emailed over all the bits and pieces for this story, he also shared that Amrit had spoken to Tom about it recently. Amrit shared that Tom is happy that this story is finally coming out. A huge thanks to Ciaran, Amrit, Theo, and Serge for putting this all together. Also huge thanks to Nathas Kraus for even capturing the disposable camera shot that day. In some ways it seems almost more Pennyesque the way it all worked out. And of course, a huge salute to Tom for so many decades of pure and legendary skateboarding—always doing it for himself, never for media fame or for anyone else. Dedicated to MX Locals past, present, and future.
More Tom Penny fandom:
• Church of Penny article - From TWS Dec. 2009.
• Tom Penny INTV, Skateboarder Magazine, Oct. 2003 Page 1, Page 2, Audio of the INTV tape.
• TWS Witness 1, Magnus Gyllenberg on Tom Penny, 1998.
• TWS Witness: Penny Part 2, The Invisible Shove-It w/ Theo Hand.
Tom Penny and Serge de Freitas hanging out in Bordeaux, present day. Photo: Amrit Jain.
Bordeaux local Serge de Freitas ollies the 7-flat-6 in 1993. Photo courtesy Serge and Ciaran.
Aaron Harrison on Encinitas Civic Center Banks, Wade Burkitt’s Pole Jam and more —Thrill of it All, Zero (‘97)
Aaron Harrison on putting the the Encinitas Civic Center Banks on the map, Wade Burkitt’s pole jam, Thrill of it All (97) and more. New spot photos of the recently altered banks.
A few weeks back I received some photos of an abandoned looking parking lot via DM from @hairball1974 on Instagram. @hairball1974 is Aaron Harrison’s account and that name is best known to me as one of the founding members of Zero – partially unveiled in Welcome to Hell (’96) then cemented in their first video, Thrill of it All. The lot in question was the former location in Vista, CA of the bent pole famously grinded by Wade Burkitt to close out his own part in that same video.
When I started messing with Instagram a decade ago I often wondered if it was a waste of time and a distraction from my “real” skate journalism. In some ways it probably has been. However, in this instance, receiving spot photos and firsthand memories from skaters who were actually in the videos and at the session the spot was featured in—the Instagram aspect was a perfect conduit to some “real” journalism. The fish had jumped right into the boat.
Rather than simply post Aaron’s spot submission with Wade’s golden pole jam clip I reached out to Aaron to get a short interview about that special place and time. I am a big fan of the first Zero video and the early artwork, music and vibes. In that ‘97 heyday of swishy pants ledge-tech, Flameboy and Wet Willy—wearing all black and doing early grab 360s and pole jams felt like a much needed breath of fresh air. For the first time since the ‘80s, even skulls felt right. While Jamie Thomas, the Leap of Faith, Mumford, Lopez, and Ellington sometimes get most of the spotlight, I genuinely wanted to give some love to Aaron, Wade, and Scotty Copalman. All three were off Zero by the turn of Misled Youth (‘98) but made their mark in that first offering.
Aside from Burkitt’s now legendary exploits, I also received a heads up in October from @what.about.brian in Encinitas of remodeling/skatestopping going on at the iconic City Hall (previously Civic Center) bank. As far as I understand it, Aaron Harrison was the first skater to get a trick into the big mountain of a bank when he ollied in (from the parking lot) for the opening clip of the Zero commercial in Welcome to Hell (‘96). It was literally the first Zero footage ever seen. He then redid the ollie in a line for his part in Thrill of it All. He even tried a few kickflips in almost 30 years back.
Bam Margera famously dropped in from the sign in the next Toy Machine video, Jump Off a Building (’98), Omar Salazar dropped into the other side of the bank (and threads the needle between the electrical boxes) for his Aug. ’05 TWS cover and last trick in First Love (’05). All the way to Zane Timpson (RIP) yanking in a noseblunt from that same spot in ’16, Brandon Turner giving the sign a switch drop in ’21, Ryan Sheckler’s three-year battle to KF drop-in for his Red Bull Lifer part in ’23, Ace Pelka rolling in (with a fs grab) during the same session, and Chris Russell’s ollie in from the sign only a few months back.
To thicken the plot further, I was already booked to be in Encinitas for my 20th wedding anniversary on the very weekend (Nov. 9-11) after Aaron had agreed to answer some questions. I could document the newly altered bank he first made famous firsthand for this article. Below is the sum total of it all. Maybe I need to spend more time on Instagram.
ME: How did you end up on Zero?
Aaron Harrison: I met Jamie (Thomas) in 1995. I was working at Andy Howell’s clothing company Zero Sophisto. Jamie rode for it and used to come get packages at the warehouse. It was pretty obvious I skated, from swell bows, scabs, and the smell I was emitting. By 1996 I was working at Tum Yeto screen printing boards. I guess there was little local buzz about stuff I was doing, and I had a few tricks on film. He put the Encinitas bank footage in Toy Machine’s Welcome to Hell video. Then he started getting me out of work to skate, and it went from there.
When did you meet Wade/find out he was on the team? Did you guys click?
I met Wade around that same time in ‘96. Yeah I think we clicked right away, similar personalities.
Can you break down the day of Wade’s pole jam?
Definitely. It’s the best trick in the video for me. Jamie (Thomas) went to film at that gap in Vista and Wade just saw that sign bent over and handled it in a few tries. Unscripted, not on a to-do list—just raw skateboarding. Wade had the best “I don’t give a fuck” attitude. The real spirit of skateboarding for me in my little world.
The intro to Thrill of it All with Wade’s pole jam in slow motion (00:39) 1997 by Zero Skateboards / Jaime Thomas.
Who was driving the van pulling him in? Did he take any slams?
I think it was (Matt) Mumford driving the van. That was the last few weeks of filming that video. I don’t remember him slamming, of even looking sketched on it.
Looks like the pole was on the edge of that patch of brambles. Is the cement he was riding on gone or just off to the side there?
Looks like it’s gone, or covered with the same gravel that’s covering the rest of the lot. Even in 1997 the cement was in such bad shape it was almost unrideable.
Jaime also got his trick that day?
Yeah. Probably got 10 tricks in multiple angles.
From left: Jamie Thomas gets a line with a BS 180 at the now fenced off Vista, CA gap while Wade finds the perfect pole ready and waiting in the lot next door. Stills from Thrill of it All (‘97) and 2024 spot photos by Aaron Harrison.
What else did you witness Wade do during that time?
I guess just being a natural talent, Nothing he did looked like he was trying that hard. Wade is actually a really good artist too. Really creative. A lot of that early black and white Zero image stuff he was doing in Australia before Zero started. I think the eagle logo he was doing already. The last couple days of the 1997 Zero summer tour, Erik (Ellington) and I were giving ourselves tattoos in the hotel. I did one of Wade’s drawings of a little man on my foot.
His footage seems to be mostly from Australia with a few clips from CA. Had he already filmed the Oz stuff?
Yeah, he wasn’t really in CA that long. By the time I got on the team, those guys were already starting to edit footage together. On that first Zero tour he was fucking ripping, video camera was stolen, footage lost forever.
Whoa. Any idea if he picked “Highway to Hell” or was that JT?
Wade probably. I picked my song, I know Erik (Ellington) and Matt (Mumford) picked theirs.
Favorite trick you filmed for your own part?
Hmmm…50-50 finger flip out. Kind of like Wade’s pole jam, Jamie was filming something, and I just started skating around. First time I’d ever done it, haven’t done one since.
I always loved how your part started with the waves and The Who song (“Can You See the Real Me?”) coming in. Did you get to have any say on that stuff?
Jamie put the waves in there. The song and a lot of the lay out of the part I had a hand in. I remember him and I driving to buy the CD for that song, and me describing how I wanted it with all the slams on the Pacific Beach container. I hadn’t even made the trick yet. I destroyed myself on it over and over that day. Then went back I couple weeks later and made it in 6 or 7 tries.
I believe you were first to put the Encinitas Civic Center bank on the map with your ollie in (’96). Bam (Margera) dropped in from the sign in ’98, Omar Salazar had a cover in ’05, Zane had the noseblunt yank-in all the way to Sheckler KF drop-in. I recently saw they were putting some stoppers at the bottom after it obviously became a proving ground. How did you end up deciding to ollie in?
My friends Stefan and Ped had a 2nd floor apartment in The Danforth Building, on Pacific Coast Highway in Encinitas. You can see the bank from their living room window. We’d drink beers and I would claim I was going to do it. One day I was feeling it and got it. My friend Scott shot a picture of me doing it from that apartment window on a 110 film camera.
The first footage of a trick into Encinitas Civic Center Bank. Aaron ollies in to open the Zero commercial in Welcome to Hell (‘96).
Wow. Would love to see that photo. I also heard somewhere that you tried to kickflip in right after you ollied in? That’s crazy if so.
Yeah, I did try to kickflip into it. I kept just getting my back foot on, but not my front foot. I couldn’t get my shoulders in line with my nose and tail because I knew I had to run down the bank. Skating it the way I did is basically a closet door size opening and all you can see is blue sky.
It sounds terrifying. As the first person to put the spot on the map, do you have a favorite trick that went down since you ollied in?
I think all those dudes who handled that are fucking gnarly. But I have to say Brandon Turner is the sickest. To envision that’s possible (switchstance drop-in from the sign) and do it, is beyond.
Aaron’s line with a KF into the first bank, ollie into the corner and November 2024 spot photos.
How did Zero wind down for yourself and Wade? I believe by Misled Youth, half the Zero team was gone (Scott Copalman, yourself, and Wade).
For me I could just see was it was going to become, and became. That’s great, but not what I was interested in doing. When I got on it seemed like this underground thing. The art looked like ‘80s punk zines. It was a really fun time, but I could see it beginning to be less fun, and that is what skateboarding is about for me. Fun, friendships, and freedom. Not sure about Scott and Wade, I prefer the mystery.
Last time you saw or spoke to Wade?
A few years ago. Talked to him online. Was trying to figure out a way to visit him in Australia. Unfortunately didn’t happen. I do hope to see him again one day and cheers some VB’s.
Last time you spoke to Jamie?
We met up maybe two years ago. He said to come by and get some boards at the warehouse, which I really appreciate, but it was a little awkward for me to be in that environment. I love skateboarding. I skate regularly and still try and push myself when I’m feeling it, but I don’t pay much attention to the skate world. The industry of skateboarding and actual skateboarding are two hugely separate things to me and at this point I’m really only interested in one of them.
Last time you watched Thrill of it All?
Maybe 10 or 12 years ago? I found a VHS copy at a thrift store.
Aaron’s part from Thrill of it All (97 By Zero). Song: “Can You See The Real Me”. The Who.
November 2024 Encinitas Civic Center (City Hall) Bank Photos:
Civic Center Hip 1992 aka Flower Shop Hip
The current structures at the Civic Center were built in 1965, however city employees moved into the buildings after redevelopment in 1992 as per the San Diego Union-Tribune. I believe the banks as we know them were added in ‘92 and skaters first began skating the hip on the southern end of the long banks along Vulcan Ave. that year. According to Blair Alley locals called it the Flower Shop Hip as there was a flower shop there then. Below was the present state of the old hip along with Kris Markovich BS 360 kickflip from the 101 Promo (‘92).
Big thanks to Aaron for taking the time to cover Wade’s spot, sharing his insights from 27 years back filming his own historic part for Zero’s first video, and for opening up the iconic Civic Center Banks for future daredevils. Thanks to @what.about.brian for the heads up on the modifications. Big salute to Wade, Jamie, the Thrill of It All vets and anyone who has stepped to this spot. Almost three decades later—check Zero’s latest video Heaven’s Gate (Nov. 2024)—where the very first clip is of Vinny Dalfio shredding his buns with a layback roll-in attempt at—you guessed it—Civic Center Banks.
Rest in Peace Zane Timpson.
Noseblunt yank-in 2016 photo reposted from @surfysurfy.
Related #skatenerdstarmaps Posts:
Dec. 2018 - Maps 933: 🌴🌊🌴 Can you see the real me? @juicyhikes sent up this spot from Aaron Harrison (@hairball_1974)’s cult classic Thrill Of It All (1997) opener. Huge fan of this part and Aaron’s attack style. Need that bank with the dumpster next. Encinitas, CA. Thanks Kellen and salute to Aaron and @jamiethomas. #thrillofitallmaps#encintasmaps#skatenerdstarmaps#sdstarmaps@officialthewho@zeroskateboards
July 23, 2020 - Maps 1297: from @juicyhikes - this hefty drop they used to call ‘Jenny Craig gap’ in Del Mar. Video is @hairball_1974 attempt from the beginning of his part in Thrill of it All (1997 by @zeroskateboards) and Heath snapping his tail in the credits of @transworldskate Sight Unseen (2001 by TWS / @huntfilmwork / @jon__holland). Thanks to Juicyhikes. Marine View Ave. Del Mar, CA. #thrillofitallmaps#sightunseenmaps#skatenerdstarmaps#delmarstarmaps#jennycraigapmaps#iconicgapmaps
Nov. 21, 2018 - Maps 923: @apexdaddy135 reshot the hill from the @zeroskateboards Thrill Of It All (1997) box cover. From Apex, “ The perspective the Zero team shot from 21 years ago was from the I-805 northbound lane traveling towards the Sorrento Valley Road exit. I shot from the southbound lane coming from Sorrento Valley Road.” This Video was short and sweet with some of my favorite song picks from that decade, plus obviously the leap of faith. Big ups @jamiethomas and all the Zero OGs and thanks to Apexdaddy for the reshoot. I-805 freeway, CA. #skatenerdstarmaps#sdstarmaps#pickahilltodieon
Related Scans/Images:
Omar Salazar drops in from the parking lot terrace. Photo: Klien. TWS Aug. 2005, Vol. 23, No. 8.
Sequence by Dan Sturt of Kris Markovich’s 360 kickflip on the Flower Shop Hip from Kris’ Pro Spotlight, TWS July 1992, Vol. 10, No. 7.
Nov. 2024
The original post from @what.about.brian alerting me to the modifications/skatestopping at the Civic Center Banks (Oct.24, 2024) and the current state of the finished work (Nov. 10, 2024). A pole was added to the middle, along with a new curb and blind bumps. Counting down the days until we see someone hit this with the new stoppers there.
Nov. 2024
The photo that led to this article: 2024 location of Wade Burkitt’s 1997 pole jam. Photo: Aaron Harrison. Vista, CA.
Star Maps - Dead Spots Feature 1 - Great Western Black Marble, Westwood, CA
Dead Spots Feature: A look at the Great Western ‘Black Marble’ ledges in Westwood, CA.
Since I began this project in January of 2014, many of the cherished spots covered have sadly been remodeled, further skate-stopped, or outright demolished. Having collected photos of them before they disappeared forever I thought it would be worth posting them here posthumously so that future generations of skateboarders and old heads like myself might still enjoy seeing them in their prime.
Our first ‘Dead Spot’ is the since removed black marble ledges aka ‘Great Western Black Marble’ surrounding the Great Western Bank (Now Chase) that used to sit at the corner of Wilshire and Westwood Blvd. at the entrance to Westwood Village. When I arrived in Westwood to attend UCLA in the summer of ‘94, I first recognized the hydrant and taller ledge along Wilshire from Eric Koston’s line in his 411 Profiles part (93).
JANUARY 2014 SPOT PHOTOS
Aside from the ledge getting some minimal stick-on stoppers and the hydrant getting blocked it looked pretty much the same as it did in ‘94.
These ledges were always a quick bust as the security for the bank and the Westwood Medical Plaza building were right inside that lobby. But the ledges just looked so good it was one of those spots you always kept an eye on even if you never skated them. It just felt good knowing they were there. The spot took on new meaning in ‘97, when my friends and I watched Mark Gonzales run and rainy-day shoe-slide (holding what I’ve been told was a slice of pizza from our favorite spot Don Antonio’s) across the smallest ledge around the corner on Westwood Blvd. in his Kicked Out of Everywhere (By Real Skateboards) part. Mark lived in Westwood at the time and we would see him pop up around UCLA campus and Westwood like Bigfoot sightings. Suffice to say we tried to shoe slide this thing whenever we walked by.
JANUARY 2014 SPOT PHOTOS
The Gonz ledge was still hanging in there in ‘14. It also had some minimal stoppers. But would still catch your skate eye, if you drove or walked past.
A final piece of this puzzle came as I was casually flipping through a classic Oct. 1987 TWS mag not long after posting the Gonz Maps post I stumbled on this classic Tod Swank photo of Julien Stranger doing a powerslide. I had probably flipped past the photo many times but with the Gonz shoe-slide fresh in my mind I quickly realized this was the same Great Western Bank sign on the corner of Westwood and Wilshire. Right there in the Julien photo was the black marble Gonz ledge.
OCTOBER 2024 STATUS: Today the famous black marble is gone. So are the sidewalks that are being remodeled as they continue building the rail link from Downtown to the beach in Santa Monica. I will update this article with whatever this looks like in its finished state. Who knows, perhaps an even better spot will spring up, although for the most part, modern designs and materials do not favor skateboarders these days (at least here in the US).
Just to show the nature of urban evolution, here was a 1938 look at Westwood Village with Wilshire Blvd. along the bottom. Photo: LAexplained.
REST IN PEACE : GREAT WESTERN BLACK MARBLE
Related Hashtags: #westwoodstarmaps #kostonmaps #gonzmaps #julienmaps #deadspotsmaps #skatenerdstarmaps #wilshirestarmaps
Star Maps - Post 2 - Glass-ride spot at Wilshire and Stoner
The second unofficial Star Maps post. This spot on Wilshire is a few blocks from the apartment we have lived in since around ‘99. The year after we moved in Donny lived with PJ Ladd on Brockton Ave, a block over. After Donny’s Eastern Exposure 3 part dropped in early ‘96 and he got on Toy Machine, he moved out to West LA (Brian Anderson would also be around visiting Donny) and joined up with the Hot Rod Skateshop and Crust House/Dust House crews near UCLA. Prior to moving to Brockton, Donny lived on Goshen and Westgate and would be around Westwood, West LA and Brentwood filming for Welcome to Hell with Tim Dowling. At our Westwood Landfair apartment where we lived prior to West LA, he ollied the roof gap into our carport for a separate trick in the part. His line with a wallride on this glass window on Wilshire ended up starting out the part as the Black Sabbath ‘Megalomania’ lyrics “Suck me!” chime in. This spot remains untouched in 2024 and I was able to skate it when they boarded up the windows with plywood during the Covid-era civil unrest and protests after George Floyd was killed by police.
Original Caption: Glass-ride spot from @donnybarley’s Welcome to Hell opening line. Wilshire and Stoner.
Date: Jan. 16, 2014
Related Hashtags: #welcometohellmaps #barleymaps #papajohnswallridemaps
Star Maps - Post 1 - Jan. 2014; The Ponds, Santa Monica, CA
This was the first crude split screen #skatenerdstarmaps post from Jan. 2014. This precedes the numbering system and the hashtag so technically it is Post -4 (Maps -4 BH aka Before Hashtag). I began shooting photos of old skate spots to pass time while taking my baby daughter Luca around West LA and Santa Monica. Building the posts began as something to do while she napped. Photo of Guy Mariano ollieing the rock gap at The Ponds aka Douglas Park in Santa Monica shot by Spike Jonze in 1991. The Duck Ponds or bottom portion of Douglas (the top portion has the small oval plaza with the low ledges featured in Love Child [‘92] and Tim n’ Henry’s Pack of Lies [‘92]) stayed empty from around 1990 through ’96 and the spot was featured in videos like Santa Cruz’s Troops of Tomorrow (‘91 Eric Dressen’s part), the New School video, and later even had a spot check in 411 Video Magazine. I first got to skate there in ’94 when a fellow UCLA student named Meter (Dimitri) brought me there.
Original Caption: Then/Now. #theduckponds #91to14 #pondsmaps
Date: Jan. 9, 2014
Related Hashtags: #pondsmaps #guymaps #cultofspike #wilshirestarmaps #santamonicastarmaps #lovechildmaps #timandhenrymaps #troopsoftomorrowmaps
