Skateboard icons swarm Santa Monica to celebrate…
Pioneers of fashionable skateboarding gathered on the Santa Monica Pier Thursday evening to celebrate 50 years of the tradition that is now synonymous with California.
In the mid-70s, a group of younger males from Dogtown — a local nickname for Santa Monica, shaped the Z-Boys skate group at Jeff Ho’s Zephyr surf store. The legendary group, credited with redefining skateboarding, initially consisted of 12 members, including Tony Alva, who turned a mascot for the tradition.
Their story was immortalized in an acclaimed 2002 documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys’ and the 2006 film “Legends of Dogtown”, which was screened on the pier Thursday at Santa Monica’s ‘Locals’ Night.’
Skateboarding pioneers gathered for Locals’ Night on the Santa Monica Pier. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
The event celebrated 50 years of Dogtown’s Z-Boys, a legendary group of skate boarders that reworked the game. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
The event kicked off around 3:30pm when members of the Dogtown Car Club started pulling up to the pier in their impeccably-maintained classic automobiles. As followers gawked at the automobiles, skaters did ollies on a skate ramp close by.
Just after 6:30pm, Tony Alva himself appeared for a Dogtown trivia session and a live DJ set.
Though Tony is the face of the Z-Boys, he provides all the credit to Jeff, whose store began it all.
“Jeff gave me an opportunity at a very young age. I couldn’t be on the surf team, but there was something about skateboarding that I was a natural at,” said Alva at the event. “He basically led a few guys on the team that were just street kids, and one of them was Jay Adams, and the other one was me.”
Original Z-Boy Tony Alva spoke and DJ’d at the event. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
Jeff Ho, who shaped the Zephyr skate group at his surf ship, was in attendance. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
The Dogtown Car Club confirmed off their impeccably restored classic rides at the event. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
The Z-Boys story was captured in a 2001 documentary and a 2006 movie, ‘Legends of Dogtown.’ Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
Hundreds of attendees got here to Locals’ Night for the screening, and to skate. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
At 7:30pm, a screening of the movie “Legends of Dogtown” was shown, adopted by a live efficiency by local thrash steel punkband Cycotic Youth.
“Fifty years later, the influence of Dogtown and the Z-Boys can still be seen in skateboarding and Southern California culture around the world,” Jim Harris, Executive Director and Historian of the Santa Monica Pier said in a press release.
“Bringing Tony Alva to the Pier, putting a skate ramp on the deck and screening ‘Dogtown and Z-Boys’ under the stars gives us a special opportunity to celebrate that legacy right here on the Westside. It’s exactly the kind of history, culture and community that Locals’ Night was created to bring together.”
The event featured a live efficiency of local group Cycotic Youth after the screening. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
“Fifty years later, the influence of Dogtown and the Z-Boys can still be seen in skateboarding and Southern California culture around the world,” Jim Harris, Executive Director and Historian of the Santa Monica Pier said. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
For Jason Brown, a Santa Monica native and co-founder of Cycotic Youth and the Dogtown Car Club, the evening was a full circle second.
“I grew up on this pier. Now I’m playing on this pier. So it means a lot to me,” said Brown, who recollects browsing with his dad as a child, and growing up in the shadow of the legendary Z-Boys.
Brown operated a tattoo store in Venice for 25 years, which closed due him being priced out.
“Venice is now not how it used to be. Neither is Santa Monica,” said Brown. “They’re offering these old people that had these houses for 60 years millions of dollars, and their their young kids are biting at it to make the money.”
Jason Brown of the Dogtown Car Club says Venice and Santa Monica have modified over the a long time. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
“I grew up on this pier. Now I’m playing on this pier. So it means a lot to me,” said Santa Monica native Jason Brown. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
Tony Alva gave Jeff Ho credit for launching the motion that modified skateboarding. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post
Despite how a lot the realm has modified, it’s still attracting younger people keen to immerse themselves in skateboarding tradition.
“There’s so many people that want to monetize surfing and skating and whatever, but some of them aren’t surfers and some of them aren’t skaters. I surf, I skate, I love it, and I’ll be doing this until the day I die,” said Ho.
Jiggy Reed, who moved to LA 4 years in the past from Texas, said Santa Monica’s skating tradition is what is what made him keep.
“It’s just crazy. You can walk out your door, and like all this culture, like all these things are just going on, and it’s a beautiful life,” said Reed.
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