Mike from farnborough, Skate History

In 1976 when I was 10 years old, a friend of mine came gliding down the street on something magical his father had brought back from the US after a business trip.

I did not know it at the time but this first sight of a blue fiberglass skateboard with red translucent wheels would have a mystical effect on my psyche. From that day on it seemed as if my friend's dad had started the UK skateboard boom of the 70's as the magic boards started to appear everywhere. I had to have one, but could not afford one right away and made do with a plywood board nailed to roller skates. The rubber wheels were slow and wore down quickly but helped me learn the basics of 180's, tick tack, click clacks, and carving any hill I could find. the boards that were appearing on the market ranged from the homemade effort I had to beautiful gliding machines of glass fibre laminates with marine plywood decks (Fibre Flex), ACS trucks, and large red 70mm, silent mark 1 Kryptonic wheels.

One manufacturer, ‘Morris Vulcan', who must have made a fortune from ripping off newcomers like myself was selling a polished up version of the 'roller skateboard' with rubber wheels at every corner shop in the UK. There were two versions, one with trucks that allowed the board to tilt but carry on going in a straight line and the ‘deluxe' version that actually did turn! These monsters were ironically named ‘Skate flyers'. As a complete novice, who was amazed at ‘craze' that was sweeping the country I still used to dream of having one of these new boards.

Eventually my birthday came round (cold wet November) and my parents bought me what they could afford and what I had seen in a ‘Skateboard Special' mag advert; a red polypropylene board about 4 inches wide, with ‘real' trucks and what I thought were urethane wheels, like the ones in the magazines. As they were red and translucent, the trap was set and I fell for it. The board was also made by Morris, mentioned above and was named (sarcastically) the ‘Super Slalom'. The first time I tried to slalom a turn, the board slid away from me and I flew from the pavement and into the road, realising that I badly needed some pads and a helmet. I got a Jofa helmet for Christmas and ordered some pads from a Skateboard Special ad. The helmet was fine but the pads were a con, being half the size of my legs and arms and could be pinched so that your fingertips touched each other, thus affording no protection.

Despite these setbacks, my love for boarding grew and I would meet up with about 50 other kids at the local hill where we would cruise down avoiding cars, pedestrians, etc. The ‘catamaran' was a favorite, seeing how many people we could join up and make it down the hill and round the bend at the bottom.

I discovered bank riding with some friends outside a local school in Ascot , where the pavement dipped down. This little oasis allowed us to develop our riding skills and learn banked turns, carving, slides and the first taste of ‘air', with a jumped turn on the incline. One of my friends had made a ‘pro' set up from a homemade deck, some ACS 500's and Blue 70mm Kryptonic seconds that were more green than blue. His board was silent and silky smooth as it ate up the tarmac. I could only dream of this equipment at the time.

By the time the summer of 77 had com round, skate parks were opening up and I had progressed to reading ‘Skateboard' magazine which highlighted new heroes such as Tony ‘Mad Dog' Alva and Stacey Peralta in the US parks and pools. Vert riding seemed a paradise and also impossible as the gravity defying moves were depicted in the pictures I would spend hours pouring through.

My local park, ‘Skatewave' opened, which was an indoor park next to Billy Smarts Circus. It was made of wood, with banks and a unique run called the ‘Whiplash' that the older guys would ride with their pro boards, sporting Yellow and Red Yo Yo wheels and then later white versions that were softer and quieter. I realized that my red Vulcan had met its limit and had managed to save up for some second hand mark II 65mm red Kryptonics (radius edged, which I still have), ACS 580s, and a deck which I made with my father. This was a dream come true and took my riding to a new level. A real concrete park (Skateworld?) opened in Wokingham and I made 2 visits, when I had saved enough pocket money and ventured into a bowl for the first time, skinning my back in the process, but feeling great.

It was all getting better and better and then all of a sudden the parks shut, the magazines stopped and no one could be seen riding skateboards. It was as if I had woken up from this amazing dream and the real world was back, which was grey, dark and melancholy.

Somehow, I made it through the next 10 years of studying, University, being saved by another lifetime interest of Martial Arts and then wonderfully meeting the woman of my dreams who made me feel reborn.

Years later after marriage, a successful career, running a self defense club and having two beautiful daughters, we moved house and I discovered in 2001 a skate shop nearby. I popped in and did not recognize what was on sale; small hard wheels, what looked like tracker full tracks and decks that were identical apart from the logos. In a fit of nostalgia and now able to afford new gear without having to save or depend on others, I purchased a set up. My wife could not understand what had come over me. I soon discovered a local ‘free' skate park where I went and picked up where I had left off over 20 years earlier. I could not believe that parks were available, with no charge and I could afford equipment and drive to new spots. I dug out my old copies of Skateboard and Skateboard Special, that I had kept in various lofts over the years and re read them, recreating the magic that had remained dormant in my mind for an eternity. I found my old board with the Kryptonics and took it to the parks I had found. The local kids were amazed by the soft, fast and silent wheels and wanted to know where to get some. I felt strange; going to these haunts by myself when I was sure I was the only person of my age who had rediscovered this magic. The feeling was so good though, that I didn't care and the adrenalin rush of hitting qtr pipes and banks became like a drug I had missed for so long. I started to read about parks like, Harrow , meanwhile gardens etc that were still around and with my own car was now able to afford to travel to and use these museum pieces that I had only been able to read about as a boy.

My wife and kids have been very understanding of my lone ventures at the weekends to strange, pools bowls etc early in the mornings to have these places to myself before the crowds of kick flippers arrive and crowd my ‘oldskool' style.

I discovered a shop in Pool where I bought up old brand new stock of Belair Bolts, Yo Yos, Tunnel Rocks and Fish board decks, Sims Snakes, and much more stuff from my era. It was to me, like an archaeologist finding Atlantis! I have now built up a quiver of set ups with a mix of old skool combined with new skool and have merged to no skool, I guess.

I have learned to ride a half pipe, get air in a pool and am working slowly but surely to master a basic ollie. My book, video / CD collection has grown, with all nostalgic memorabilia. When Dog Town and Z Boys, came out, I realized I could not be the only one my age who felt like I did.

This weekend (Mid Nov 04), Thanks to discovering the Middle Age Shredders website I was checking out a bowl in Wattlington and I met two great middle age guys who were carving the bowls. I realized I was not alone and took them over to the pool in Botley I had found a week earlier. We cleared the leaves and worms and carved the tight pool for an hour when another old guy appeared, padded up and hit the pool followed by another old ‘skooler'. One of the guys, Pete, a cool dude from Northampton insisted on taking some pictures. My confidence progressed, now that I was with some like minded people and I managed to get some backside air above the coping, before eventually slamming and landing on my shoulder. (Injuries are always good evidence to show your wife, that you have really been skating, when you disappear for the day at the weekend, not really explaining where you are going!)

We all discussed the surreal nature of the scene; 5 Middle aged guys careering around a pool in the middle of nowhere in a field on a cold but sunny Winter's day. Try explaining it at work on Monday, when asked, did you have a good weekend?

Pete, Gary , great to meet you guys; please send me the photo of the air to: michael.karim@bsci.com just to back up my alibi of where I was this Saturday and maybe I can get it added to this skate history? (rick: I guess they sent it!)

I don't think I will stop skating now. The feeling, the balance the fitness, the high you get and now the knowledge that there are others that feel the same will keep me going and progressing.

Hope to see you guys again sometime as well as the Maidenhead guys I met in Watlington Bowl. Your spirit was inspiring!

Mike.