Aaron Harrison on Encinitas Civic Center Banks, Wade Burkitt’s Pole Jam and more —Thrill of it All, Zero (‘97)

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.  

Wade’s part with the OG song. I uploaded this to my Youtube page in hopes the acoustic version of Highway to Hell would stay up without getting blocked. It seems somebody from the AC/DC camp is vehemently against their songs playing on that platform.

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