1980′s Old School Skateboarding

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:05:55 +0000

1980's Old School Skateboarding

This is the era when I first started Skating standing up properly, as in the late 70's I was just knee boarding down hills on my American Fyer. I think it was around 1984 a time just before Skating got big again. The was no Ramps or Skateparks near us in the East Midlands as they had all closed down in the late 1970's or early 80's. We just bombed around the streets making up stuff and having fun.

I first borrowed my sisters friend's 1970's skateboard which I later found out was a Jeremy Henderson Benjy Board setup. If only I still had it now !, but unfortunately my Dad took the Deck to the local Dump and I only have the Tracker Trucks, Yo Yo wheels and deep riser pads left. I wonder how many classic decks and skateboards have been buried in our Land fills over the years before the time of Ebay.

My first 1980's setup was a Sims Jeff Phillips deck, Independent trucks and Variflex Street Rage wheels. I later replaced my wheels with Powell Peralta Rat Bones 96A.

Places we use to ride:

Nottingham - Broadmarsh Banks - Behind the Bus Station.
Local Streets
Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol

Wanlip 1970's Skatepark.
Warrington Vert Ramp at the Roller Disco.
Went to Horncastle Vert Ramp, one day.
Manchester - A Vert Ramp in a Squash Court at a Leisure Centre.
Banbury Vert Ramp.
Birmingham Wheels Vert Ramp.

In the Summer of 1985, for some reason I decided to build a Half Pipe in my Dad's Transport Cafe back Garden during the Summer Holidays from reclaimed wood. The design was used from some Skate or BMX mag around that era and was the timber frame type and not the plywood transition template design which we later found out was far stronger and easier to produce a perfect Transition (name of some Aussie Skate Zine, which I had some where).

Here's Mk2 Six Hills /Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp, half finished!

Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp at Six Hills, waiting for more plywood

Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp Mark-II at Six Hills on the A46

: Six Hills Vert Ramp Mk2, at Broughton Lodge Cafe on the A46

This was the Mark 2 Ramp, however sadly we never put protective rails on the platforms (Sorry Rob).

Does anyone recongnize any of these Skaters, I think some were from the Mansfield area.

Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp at Six Hills in the Mid 1980's

Six-Hills-Cafe-Vert-Ramp---Old-School-Skate-Mid-1980's

We had a few trips down Bedminster Skatepark in Bristrol as there was, and is a great Skate Shop down there called ">Rollermania. I think this was one of the first times we saw anyone do a Handplant or Air in the flesh as no one up the Cafe Ramp had mastered these kind of tricks yet. Until later on when the word spread about the Ramp.

Big Air at Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol Mid-1980's - Hot Pants were the Rage !

Leopard Skin Hot Pants must have been in fashion in those good old days. This Guy was good on the Quarter Pipe, it must have been his local spot. I wonder if these lots are still having a roll about.

Handplant at Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol in Mid 1980's

They have refurbished this Skatepark now and it's good to hear it's still going strong.

Handplant at Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol in the Mid-1980's