SKATE AND CREATE

*SKATE* AND CREATE



Because I spend the bulk of my week in front of a computer, I try to go skateboarding at a local ditch every weekend. When a storm blew through Southern California last weekend I did the next best things: I went to a skate party and checked out a skate art show.

NOVEMBER 8, 2002 - TWS 20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY

On Friday night, I defied the rain and traffic and ventured down to the Vans Skatepark in the city of Orange to attend Transworld Skateboarding Magazine's 20th Anniversary Party. If you've never been to the park, it's amazing--fully stocked with a huge halfpipe, a combi pool, a street course, tons of mini-ramps, and more real estate than a Target store. I felt like I was living out Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game except that I sucked!

Signing a disclaimer form (even though I wouldn't be skating, it was mandatory) and walking into the hangar-like building, I headed straightto the stage set atop a six-foot curved quarterpipe where Duane Peter's Hunns were rocking out in an early '80s punk style. The Amazonian bass player put down her instrument to walk into the crowd and breath flames like Gene Simmons. Yikes. Every time she blew fire, you could feel the temperature toasting your face like a marshmallow. Is that why she was only wearing a tight leather vest on top?

After a few songs, I went upstairs to inspect the massive display cases with vintage stapled-and-folded skate zines and Transworld paraphernalia. If you could get past the masses of drunks in line for free booze and Red Bulls, there was also a pretty amazing slide show with photography by Grant Brittain, O., Atiba Jefferson, Jon Humpries, and James Cassimus. Back on the main floor, I congratulated Grant and O, and they said, "Why are you congratulating us for?" It figured that with all the skating superstars wandering around, I would only know the photographers and behind-the-scenes guys.

Tony Alva, Brian Patch, and other old-school skaters were ripping up the combi pool and so was someone's grommet son. Not spotted skating, but clearly basking in the glow of skating celebration were Salman Agah, Ed Templeton, Eric Koston, Geoff Rowley, Steve Berra, and Steve Van Doren. There were probably tons of others who I didn't recognize.

I missed Steve Alba and Lance Mountain's bands, but I did get to see Steve Caballero in rock mode. His longtime band The Faction headlined the party, and after two decades they're still great. With vocals shouted by fellow old-school skater Gavin O'Brien and guitar ripped by Cabbie, the band has practically defined skate rock. They played all the hits, like "Skate and Destroy," "Spineless Majority," and "Let's Go Get Cokes."

Cab was on the cover of Transworld Skateboarding's very first issue as well as one of the four covers of the latest anniversary issue, and he's still an active part of skateboarding in addition to being a hardcore BMX rider, rabid toy collector, straight-edge punk musician, cool dad, and all-around good guy. He says that he's going to have an art show soon, and I wonder where he finds the time for everything.

The best thing about the party was that even if you weren't a hipster who new everyone, there was a lot of stuff to do. From the displays to the music to the skating to the drinks, there was a lot of entertainment value and no vibing. I even got my picture taken by Grant in a "prom photo" corner. What are we going to do when GR celebrates its 20th anniversary? We'll probably just have a potluck and then play Scrabble.



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