🔑 Interview, Intro & Edit by Farran Golding
📹 Principal Footage by Geoff Browne, Benny Maglinao, Logan Lara & Angel Saucedo
The inclusion of skatepark footage in a video part can be a dubious subject, but one with generally agreed upon parameters. For transition skaters, it’s a no-brainer: who would argue a John Cardiel part would be better without ramps? D.I.Y. spots often fly, provided that they’re rough enough around the edges, rather than unsanctioned versions of a conventional skatepark. Also, if a park is old enough, or has an unintentional route to be exploited, you’re usually good to go.
Aaron Loreth has popularized his local skatepark beyond those confines by frequenting the somewhat bank-to-wall / somewhat vert extension of Ventura’s West Park: an obstacle that appears so impractical and frightening to skate that its legitimacy in a video part has been unanimously unchallenged since the first Call Me 917 video.
Those who began skating with an 2000s-era skatepark as a local will likely know the feeling of making the best out of whatever sorry excuse of concrete (or pre-fab) landed in your neighborhood. Perhaps this contributes to why Aaron’s footage at West Park has resonated so strongly over the years. The other being the dissonance between what is, essentially, a few feet of vert sticking out of a crater in the ground and Aaron’s ability to skate it with pure grace.
Supported by Stüssy
Previous Favorite Spots: Stu Kirst on the Grey Wall, Dom Henry on Fairfield Halls, Lucien Clarke on Victoria Benches, Cyrus Bennett on The Sombrero, Andrew Allen on L.A. High, Max Palmer on the Canal Fountain, Dick Rizzo on Grants Tomb, Anthony Van Engelen on the Green Bench, Hjalte Halberg on Jarmers, Gilbert Crockett on Sun Trust & Downtown Richmond
Excellent Tribute. There was a time in the late 90’s where West Park (East End, and Pacific Park as well) alongside HB, were the only legal municipal concrete structures in Southern California.
The “moping” bank/bowl design reminds of both Benecia and Palo Alto’s 80’s parks.
Thanks!
Edit: “noping”
that style actually dates back to the very first generation of mid ’70s skateparks which at the time were meant to mimic the famous mini reservoir street spots (VC Bowl, Escondido Reservoir, etc) that were initially built for small private farms in mid 20th Century or earlier. So yeah, Aaron Loreth doing a wall bonk nollie f/s 360 kickflip on an obstacle Greg Weaver or someone would have skated 50 years ago, which barely even exist anymore, is really fucking cool.