East Vancouver’s China Creek skatepark, built in ’79, is where
Skate
Or Die began on Saturday, October 3rd. More of a
free-form skate jam/cruise than a contest, it placed an emphasis on ‘80s style
skating and attire, and while not everyone in attendance donned the gear of
yester-year – including Scotford Von Castlehousen (whose take on the day can be
found right
here) and myself – the trickery was definitely derived from decades
past. Boulevard Skateshop, Ultimate Distribution and Skull
Skates supported the event with prizes,
and a late afternoon start ensured the event lacked grogginess from the previous
evening’s full-moon debauch. The stench of re-moistened Rector elbow
pads wafted through China Creek after its classic teacup was slashed and its tub boosted early-grab fly-outs.
I requested that Kevin Kelly, Skate Or Die organizer and BLVD Skateshop owner, gave me an
on-the-spot event summary as if a time vortex had just planted us somewhere
between 1985-’89:
“Today was just so
radical, I don’t know what else to say. It was maximum amplitude all day, you
know? The pad smells were gnarly, man. But if you’re not shreddin’, you’re not
stinkin’ hard enough, right? It’s time to go scarf, knock back a few, and just
keep on partyin’, man.”
Steve Rempel took “The Dark Horse” award; Adam Hopkins (who
was born in 1990) took the “Max Shralpitude” category; Seb Templer won “Most
Mondo Rags”, and Mike McKinlay took “Style Master” honours.
“Style Master” winner
Mike McKinlay brings the Lone Star State to East Van with a Texas plant in the
teacup.
A ghetto blaster that
would only accept tapes was over-the-shouldered to each destination-sesh, and
it seemed to have the Beastie Boys’ 1986 album Licensed To Ill on rewind-repeat. Kevin Kelly and his
squeeb cue up “Brass Monkey”.
Dan “Alien” Nelson gives
this rando bank-to-block spot the front rock, and a priceless facial. It’s the
‘80s: attitude, not altitude, on the streets is everything.
Oddly enough, master
builder Seb Templer took a look into one of his closets and effortlessly built
this kit for the day’s themed shralps. “Most Mondo Rags” winner.
Kevin Kelly busts out
the Steve Saiz inspired fakie ankle bender in the Creek’s teacup.
Skate Or Die eventually cruised
its way over to Strathcona skatepark for a blast ramp sesh in the basketball court,
along with a freestyle demo featuring Kevin Harris dressed and ripping a la
Powell Peralta’s Ban This (1989).
The setting of the sun
at Strath marked the end of an ‘80s skate-vacay. Time for night moves, and
Pat’s Pub on East Hastings was the perfect dive bar for a skate rock show and
pints of swill. The Hoovers, China Creeps, and Sorcerers (from Skull Skates
Records) ran the stage while
Powell’s Future Primitive (1985) and
Santa Cruz’s Streets On Fire (1989)
blessed the surrounding screens. A new day dawned thereafter, and it was back
to reality – back to 2009, bro.