Salba usually has a birthday gig somewhere…its a yearly event. We watch the band, listen to great music, then skate some roundwall the next day. This year, we headed over to Fullerton. It was a Friday night & the rain flooded the freeways. It took Sam & I, over an hour and a half to drive from ‘Ridiculous’. Peter King, Chuck Hults, Sean Mazza, & Ray Zimmerman were there. Chuck Hults was summoned to the stage & proceeded to slay everyone with a few really awesome DEVO tunes. When I looked around, all I saw were happy faces. Brian Brannon made the journey up onto the stage & played with Powerflex5 as well. They performed an old John Lee Hooker blues tune. It was a stellar night & I cannot wait to see Powerflex5 the next time out. Happy Birthday to Salba! Thank you to Peter King & Ray Zimmerman for the images. Skate-Ozzie

Salbas birthday gig

Sam, Peter King & me

Salba & Chuck with Brian Brannon.

Salba- 47th birthday bash.

Powerflex5 with Chuck Hults

Chuck Hults- Devo!

Salba

Powerflex5 & Ruby.

the crowded haus.

‘Aesthetics’- concerning the appreciation for beauty or good taste. I have a strange fascination with pool hunting. I always look for pools that are pleasing to the eye. I seek out quiet cul-de-sacs, hiding right-hand kidney pools. I love huge green palm trees hanging overhead, rustling their fronds in the hot sun. I love pools without graffiti. I love the white plaster & glimmering blue-green tiles that march around the top curving lip. I love the shallow stairs ‘wedding cake’. I love the deathbox with all its inherent danger & pure absolute bliss. I love the aesthetics of backyard pools. I know that I am not alone. There is something that calls out to us when we see a mid- cup in the shadows of a palm tree. It calls to us…aesthetics. Thanks to MRZ for the images. Skate-Ozzie

fish with a big lip & a tight box

ahhhhh…

bart….clocking.

nemo

I sat on the stairs…and stared.

‘pretty in pink’

purrrfect

“Find it, drain it, grind it, claim it.”

I moved to San Diego in 1997. I had already visited California several times a year & ridden with Salba & friends for quite some time. I was in California less than a month, when one day, I drove up to Ontario/Upland to visit Salba. He was watching his two sons, Jesse & Riley. Riley was a tiny guy at the time. Salba asked me if I wanted to go drive the grid awhile with one of his friends until he could get away. I -of course- readily agreed.

A guy showed up to Salbas house a bit later. He was driving a huge white tow truck. He gave me a quick glance & told me, “I’m Bunk. Climb in.” We drove the neighborhoods & alleys of Upland, Montclair & Ontario. The entire time, Bunk informed me of tips to spot pools, what to look for & the rules of the game. He nosed the big truck into a narrow alley in a shithole neighborhood just north of the I-10. Broken, rusting automobiles, tires, beer cans, glass & discarded furniture lay everywhere. Spray painted gang signs called out to trespassers, “Stay the hell away!”

Bunk grinned & told me to get out & climb up on the back. “Get up there dude.” He directed me up on the big black boom arm that usually tows cars. I squatted on the thing & Bunk dropped the truck into low gear. We oozed up the alleyway, the big tires crunching over refuse & trash, while I spotted for pools from my lofty perch. We saw eight or nine, if I recall, and Bunk had me shoot images for Salbas review later, He noted street names, cross streets & landmarks. It was one of my first pool hunting lessons & I will never forget my pool hunt with Bunk…in his tow truck.

Awhile into the search, his CB radio squawked & he motioned that it was time to go. A stranded motorist needed help. Bunk proved a big help to me as well. What I learned that day, has led me to find many pools on my own. This image that Ray Zimmerman shot, is of Bunk at one of my pool finds. Good vibes always come back. Bunk sent one out & there we are. Skate-Ozzie

Bunk- BS deathbox

La dolce vita’ means ‘The sweet life’. We have it. We fortunate few skateboarders. We found a way out of the mundane & a place to escape mediocrity. We destroy fear & better ourselves everytime we skate. We have ‘the sweet life’. Today is my 2 year anniversary CLEAN & SOBER. I made it two years & my life has become sooooo much better. I may not have many possessions, but I have enough & I am finally living. Stoked! Thanks to MRZ, Geoff Graham & Seb Carayol for the sweet images. Skate-Ozzie

The sweet life.

Geoff Graham.

explore your world.

Jim Goodrich told me that he believes this image was taken on opening day at ‘Big-O’ skate park. He also said that he remembers it being really cold outside. I think that the ski parka & long sleeve makes it pretty clear. I love looking at images from the 1970s, because of the gear. Check out the ‘Sims’ cap he is wearing …or the ‘Jay Adams Flyaway’ helmet.It even appears that Dennis has a beanie hanging out of his left shorts pocket… Good stuff! A while back, I posted something called, ‘Cold-is the wait for nothing’. It was bleak & I wallowed in melancholy. No longer! I may not have much, for the average 46 year old man, but I am doing a cool interview with Lance Mountain, one with Dave Hackett & have started to make arrangements for a ‘Steve Olson’ post. The web site, ‘Typical Culture’ asked me to do the ‘Olson’ interview…I am stoked! I have all I need. I wish everyone  a great start to February. Remember, the cold will soon give way to springtime & warm skate weather will become the norm shortly. Thanks to Jim Goodrich for the image. Skate & stay warm. -Ozzie

Jim Goodrich-shooting Dennis Martinez @Big O.