I have deep respect for Chris Renner!

This guy has our highest respect..Cancer has nothing on you Chris! ….Safe Journey my friend…

Chris Conway (Skate Escapes/ President) grew up skating in Ohio and Michigan and over the last few years has had the good fortune of attending our “Ann Arbor Crew” reunion. So its a natural fit that this year Skate Escapes has stepped up to assist in the planning and daily operations. Working with pro skater Andy Macdonald this years reunion will canvass the SoCal skate spots both public and private and this trip will feature a trip to Woodward West as well. And as usual the Ann Arbor boys will be treated to some great surprises!!..Look for a follow up piece soon!!

Below is an article written by Andy Macdonald..for more vids etc go to www.andymacdonald.com

Skateboarding History Session 101

Here’s a few names: Chris Strople, Brad Bowman, Dave Hackett, Steve Olson, Lance Mountain, Christian Hosoi, Buddy Car, Dave Swift, Josh Nelson, Paul Wisniewski, Andy Macdonald, and Zack Miller. If you’ve been skateboarding for a while or know much of it’s history, you no doubt recognize this list

as some of skateboarding’s heavy hitters from the 1970’s through today. Add in mini-shred Tristan Rennie in the ten and under category and you’ve got a heavy hitter of tomorrow. Together they represent over forty years of skateboarding.

One might think that it would be near impossible to get all these people together in the same room, never mind all skating together in one session. However, I live in Southern California and I’ve got a buddy named Chris Conway. He’s an events guy and runs “Skate Escapes” in his spare time. Let’s just say he’s used to this sort of thing. Conway started the emails flowing with the idea of getting a session together at the Fontana Park. Word spread, as it so easily does on the internet and two weeks later the trip had been dubbed April Poolz Day (it was April 1^st) and there was talk of getting tee-shirts made.

Dave Hackett rolled up in his fifteen-passenger van, supplies were loaded and the San Diego contingent of the session piled in. Upon arrival at the park we were all pleasantly surprised to see Chris Strople and Brad Bowman already skating. Over the next hour the rest of the heavies rolled in as well as the famous filming duo Buddy Nichols and Rick Charnoski.

Hackett and Olsen chased each other around the bowl while Josh quickly established the fastest line over the steps. Swift took his feeble grind through the mid-pocket and little Tristan skated the shallow end like it had ten-foot transitions. Paul posted up frontside inverts on the facewall, Buddy laid back his backside smiths and Brad did some of the first inverts he’d done in years. I’d never met Brad before but he certainly got the “I’m having the most fun” award for the day. If I’m skating that hard and having that much fun when I’m his age, I can’t wait to get “old”. Holmes styled through frontside ollies into the roman end and I set to work on fronside blunts into it. Lance battled with a Miller flip for most of the session but made it—tuck-kneed, tall and proud and it was well worth the effort. 

After a solid four hours, the session wound down. As I took off my pads I counted myself as one lucky dude. From the first “off the lips” with Strople and Bowman to the bad boy days of Hackett and Olsen to the 80’s boom with Lance and Hosoi to the TV skateboarding of myself and Zack Miller. To have been part of that session was to have literally skated through our sports history. Skateboarding has such a rich, living history and a vibrant future. I’m lucky to be a part of both.

www.andymacdonald.com

www.yerboy.com

Skate Escapes will also soon be opffering limited “Fantasy style’ Escapes for the younger generation so stay tuned as you won’t want to miss an opportunity to be involved!

For more information please email at:

info@skatescapes.com

Location: Southern California

Concept: Skate Escapes is proud to offer a limited opportunity to skateboard and meet with legendary and current skateboard professionals.

Hosted in Southern CA an opportunity for experienced skateboarders (30 and over) to meet, skate and party with selected professional and legendary skateboarders. A varied element of terrain to include skate parks, backyard pools, private ramps, slalom and downhill skateboarding will challenge the advanced and intermediate skater alike.

Limited spaces available, For more information, pricing, reservations or sponsorship opportunities please contact Info@skateescapes.com or call (561) 644 2245