Venice, California. Skateboarding. Three simple words conjuring a vision of one of the most vibrant and unique cultures in the world. Skaters. The foundation of concrete, poured into the very sands of Venice Beach, to build the Dennis "Polar Bear" Agnew Memorial Skatepark (a.k.a. "Venice Beach Skatepark"), is truly rooted within the birthplace of skateboarding. This first of 3 episodes tells their story.
Venice is the mecca of skateboarding. Second to none. This is where it began. These spectacular waves of cement didn't appear spontaneously from the shoreline - every curve within the skatepark exists, and remains maintained, thanks to tireless dedication from a passionate community organization of skateboarders and surfers called the Venice Surf & Skateboard Association (VSA). This second of 3 episodes tells their story.
Skateboarding is synonymous with Venice, California and the organization responsible for the skatepark on Venice beach is known as the Venice Surf & Skateboard Association (VSA). Learn how the organization came to be and what they did to create the skatepark and what they do now, to maintain and care for the park. This third of 3 episodes concludes their story.
The girls of the Silly Girl Skate Posse spend a day in Dogtown and talk about what the joys of skateboarding mean to them. Witness girls showing an attitude which is a refreshing change-of-pace, that shall renew your faith in the existence of skateboarders who are motivated by pure fun and happiness. Featuring Julie Westfall, Ashley Espinoza, Sarah Thompson, Jordan Abraham, Bryce Wettstein, and Abby Zsarnay.
Skateboarding Instructional Camp Founded By Eric "Tuma" Britton
14 March 2010
Featured in the movie "Lords Of Dogtown" in the role of Marty Grimes, Tuma is a professional skateboarder who grew up in the infamous Dogtown of Los Angeles. A father himself, Tuma founded Roll Model Skate as a positive and supportive environment to help teach the youth (and the young-at-heart) to become better skateboarders. This episode features Tuma, the parents, and the children who are students of Roll Model Skate. Everything in this episode of Skateboarding California was shot at the Venice Beach Skatepark and at The Cove Skatepark in Santa Monica, California.
Part 1 Of 2 Teaching How To Put A Skateboard Together
29 March 2010
Why would something as simple as a skateboard take two 10 minute videos to explain? This video teaches a lot more that the process of putting a board together. This first episode actually covers the whole history of where Vision got this deck and the whole origin of where the board came from and why. Yes, there's a fun story behind it and that is all part of the "how" and "why" of assembling the board. We start with the day Vision got the board from Melissa "Lizard" OG at Venice Beach Skatepark to the tools you need to put the board together.
Part 2 Of 2 Teaching How To Put A Skateboard Together
25 April 2010
How could anyone need two 10 minute videos on Skateboarding California to talk about assembling a skateboard? Because these two clips explain whole lot more! The first episode talked mainly about the origins of the deck. This second episode actually covers more of the actual physical process of putting all the pieces together and making it work. There's even a quick little bonus clip at the end in Venice, featuring the very first run ever taken on the new deck.
Part 1 Of 2 Teaching The Components Of Skateboards
24 April 2010
Seems crazy to have 2 episodes of Skateboarding California dedicated to talking about the parts of a skateboard. However, we go into a lot of detail teaching everything from truck types to wheels sizes to board options. It's one of the more detailed videos you'll ever find to educate yourself on what kind of components are used and why. If you're new to skateboarding and don't know a kingpin from a riser pad, this episode will teach you so much, you'll know more than your friends as soon as you're done watching it.
Part 2 Of 2 Teaching The Components Of Skateboards
24 April 2010
This latest Skateboarding California episode concludes covering all the parts of a board from wheel durometers to wheelbase to bearing components. You'll be hard pressed to find any other videos that give this much detail about the pieces of a board and what they are all about. Be sure to watch the first episode too - they go together and detail everything you could possibly want to learn about skateboard components.
Vision & Julie Westfall Talk About The "Lizard OG" Deck From Santa Monica Airlines
3 April 2010
Video coverage at Venice Beach Skatepark of Vision and Julie Westfall giving their opinions on the "Lizard OG" skateboard from Santa Monica Airlines. This episode talks about everything from the deck to the wheels and showcases a number of runs in the pool and bowl and snakerun.
Vision & Julie Westfall Ride The "VSA" Deck From Santa Monica Airlines
3 April 2010
Filmed at Venice Beach Skatepark, this episode features Julie Westfall and Vision reviewing the Venice Surf & Skate Association board from Santa Monica Airlines. Of the multiple boards reviewed this day, Julie cited this deck as her favorite and found it to be the best shape she rode. Based upon the Bennett Harada model from Santa Monica Airlines, the Venice Surf & Skate Association deck undergoes a session on all the transitions in the skatepark.
Vision & Julie Westfall Skate The "Aggressor II" Deck From Vision
3 April 2010
An early morning session captured at Venice Beach Skatepark on the Vision Aggressor II with Julie Westfall and Vision. This is the board that gave "Vision" his nickname. Be sure to check out this episode and watch Julie skate an '80s-style deck for the very first time!
Julie Westfall Skates Three Decks From California Girls Skateboards
3 April 2010
Shot at The Cove Skatepark in Santa Monica, California, this episode gives a review of decks from California Girls Skateboards. Covered exclusively by Julie Westfall, the boards are all photographed by Vision, so he sits this review out!
Why let surfers have all the fun of stand-up-paddleboarding? Experience stand-up-paddlesurfing on a longboard skateboard with the Kahuna Big Stick. If you're an avid skateboarder, this is a great way to incorporate skateboarding into your workout routine. The Kahuna Big Stick is the only way to combine an upper-body strengthening workout and a cardiovascular workout with skateboarding!
Covering The "Nautilus 40" Custom Hardwood Board Designed By Vision
6 May 2010
Designed by Vision, this board was made by Soul Ryde. The deck is constructed from a beautiful African hardwood called sapele and features laser-etched graphics on the top and bottom of the board with black walnut stringers. Julie Westfall and Vision ride this deck around the beach from Santa Monica to Ocean Park to Venice and talk about the craftsmanship of the board and the manuverability of the Original trucks.
Carving The Bikepath On The Torpedo 40 From Original Skateboards
6 May 2010
This board provided Vision with his introduction to Original Skateboards and was so much fun he ended up owning half-a-dozen longboards with Original trucks. The Torpedo 40 started it all and is a fun, fast, highly surfable skateboard which moves like nothing else. Reviewed along the beaches of Los Angeles, come take a spin with Julie Westfall and Vision on the awesome Original Torpedo 40.
Julie Westfall & Vision Riding The Landyatchz Urban Assault
6 May 2010
The Landyachtz Urban Assault was never intended to use trucks like the Original S8's which Vision mounted on the deck. Much to his surprise, it turned out to create one of the most fun and unique longboards one could imagine. Highly versatile and carvable, yet easy to push and generate speed, this Landyachtz Urban Assault was a favorite of Julie Westfall and a pleasure to all who ride it.
Brief Instructional Video Explaining The Proper Way To Use A Skateboard Bearing Press
6 February 2010
Learn to use a professional skateboard bearing press for installing and removing bearings from a skateboard wheel. At the time this video was posted, it was actually the first and only video on YouTube to show how a skateboard bearing press works. Featuring both a Powerdyne and a FKD bearing press. The video starts and ends with Julie Westfall and Vision at Venice Beach Skatepark.
First Of Two-Part Documentary Learning The Basics Of Pool Skating
22 September 2009
Learn the basics of skateboarding a pool. Explains the proper techniques for carving a pool and reaching tile. This video is an Internet-only addendum to the FREE "Learn To Ride A Skateboard" DVD and is the first video in a 2-part series.
Second Of Two-Part Documentary Learning The Basics Of Pool Skating
22 September 2009
Learn the basics of skateboarding a pool. Explains the proper techniques for carving a pool and reaching tile. This video is an Internet-only addendum to the FREE "Learn To Ride A Skateboard" DVD and is the second video in a 2-part series.
