This is the bank skating part of my part from the 2nd Neverwas Skateboarding video, from a few years ago. We just did #6. I thought this one turned out well. I actually love skating banks. They are my preferred terrrain. That, and flat ground. You may notice I don’t really seek out obstacles. If there is a parking block or curb I’ll hit it, but I really don’t go for ledges, rails, or even coping. In my early 20s I was into obstacles. These days I find that I always get hurt on obstacles. I’ve been doing this a long time. I have nothing to prove. I just like to roll, and spin, and slide, and flow. That’s what I’m into. I’m into movement and fluidity.

This particular spot is old. I started skating here when I was about 14 years old, so that was 44 years ago. A couple of years ago they did some work on the alleys one either side of the ditch, and really messed on side up. Still skateable, but just not as good. The remaining “good” side has some telephone pole support wires that are right there kind of in the way. I’m always afraid I’m going to run into one with my head or neck, even though they are really not close enough.

Anyway, this is where I learned to pump transitions, thus retaining my speed. It’s a small spot, but was close to my house. I could put my board on the handlebars of my 10-speed and get there easily. I still love to skate there, and it is pretty amazing that after 2 rebuilds/renovations of parts of the ditch it is still skateable. That’s unheard of, really. Usually if a spot is changed at all they just fuck it up.

There’s a real sense of home at spots like these. That is one nice thing about living where I grew up. Even in skating here there is continuity in my life. Spots like this are part of it. No one else is ever skating there. Like – never. I go there, skate quietly for an hour or two, then go home. The neighbors have changed, but over all these years they have always been cool. Of course, I’m just skating. Same with all my spots. Yes, I’m skating, but there’s a real sense of tranquilty.

When I submitted these clips to our video editor, @neverwas, I had him use the song “Fly Like an Eagle” for my video part. I wanted something from the era that was most formative in my skating. For most people I know that would be the 1980s. For me it is the late 1970s. 1976-1980.

There are still tricks on my list for this spot that I haven’t even tried yet. I’ll get to them eventually. Maybe for next year’s video.