Graffiti Legend "RISK" talks to Jayme "Vision" Burtis, Jim "Red Dog" Muir, Josh "Bagel" Klassman, Nick "Tame" Bradley and DJ Dash talk about the early days of Venice Beach graffiti, skate and surf culture. From the roots of WCA to Dogtown Skateboards it's all here. Risk's @riskrock weekly Instagram Live "Happy Hour" feed.

The Cove Skate Park's staff has been laid off, because of the City Of Santa Monica's "budget cuts". A petition has been started to bring back the park's experienced administrators, Rick Boisdeau and Brian Adams.

We understand the seriousness of the budget shortage and still we are asking that the Santa Monica City Council reconsider their decision to lay off highly experienced administrators of the Cove, notably Rick Boisdeau and Brian Adams. If the skate-park is re-opened with reduced hours and inexperienced staff it will create a safety risk as well as a serious blow to the community. Fees are currently very affordable and if increased could perhaps prevent these damaging cuts. Attendance at the park has steadily increased in the past year. As parents, coaches and skaters we are concerned that with shortened hours and inexperienced staff, once re-opened the skate park will lack the safety and enjoyment it has been known for.

It is impossible to overstate the value that Rick and Brian bring to the Cove. From a risk management perspective, they are highly experienced, competent, and knowledgeable about the sport of skating and can maintain safety through peak hours with high numbers of kids and adults at completely different skill levels. When beginners and intermediate skaters swamp the park area, crashes and injuries become more likely. For the safety of local and visiting skaters, it is important to maintain the excellent staffing from which we have benefited to date.

From a community perspective, Rick and Brian have made the park into an extraordinary place, a second home for many of us - it is no coincidence that attendance has increased under their watch. Rick has been instrumental in the success of the Cove Girls program, a twice-monthly girls-only skate session that has positively impacted the lives of so many girls. Brian, who outside the Cove is a teacher trained in Special Ed, teaches the kids to play chess and is always reading books, though typically his desk is busy with kids who want to chat with him. Rick and Brian both model sportsmanship, fairness, patience, and leadership. Our kids learn so much from them, in fact we all do - they are truly beloved.

Skating was once a rogue activity with origins here in LA; it is now an Olympic sport and recognized as one of the healthiest ways to develop resilience and brain activity. A recent article by Chris Lawton is one study among many outlining how skate parks contribute to the revitalization of urban space and provide important social and cultural benefits. For these benefits to be realized it is vital to maintain the sense of community, respect for the sport and each other that has flourished thanks to Rick Boisdeau and Brian Adams.

Please consider the impact to the safety, health and well-being of our community and sign this petition to help bring them back.

The City Of Malibu announced that they are "making great progress on Malibu’s temporary skate park! It is expected to be completed this summer."



In 2019, the City Council approved the use of the Crummer/Case property adjacent to Malibu Bluffs Park as the location for a temporary skate park, and authorized staff to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design of a 12,500 square-foot permanent skate park on the same property.

The City Council approved the Final Conceptual Design for the Temporary Skate Park on Monday, February 24.

The Temporary Skate Park is expected to open on the west portion of the property in Mid-2020, while the Permanent Skate Park is designed and built on the east portion of the property.

Skateboarding, surfing, and dirt biking in Santa Monica, CA, captured by a pre-teen David Markey on 8mm film in 1976/ '77.

The dawning of the Dogtown era; Road Rider 4's, Bennett Trucks, Logan Earth Ski's, 2 colored Vans. Shot at Bay Street, Kenter Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Harvard Street, and the former vacant lots of Santa Monica. Skaters include Paul Hoffman and Paul Cullen.

The Venice Skate Park Section starts at the 1:41 mark.

"Venice Beach Skatepark was recently on the news because of what the city decided to do to try and stop skateboarders. I decided to go check it out and show you guys the damage they did. Please be smart and do not copy my actions in this video."

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

This run through the skate park was filmed two days after they stopped putting sand in it.



For full coverage of the skate park's burial, see this story: VENICE SKATE PARK GETS BURIED

*This story will be constantly updated with new info & photos as we get them.*
*New updates will always appear at the bottom.*
*LAST UPDATE: Sunday 12:30PM, 4-19-2020*




On Thursday morning, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks started pouring sand into the Venice Skate Park.

While out filming the morning surf for our daily Instagram Stories, our shooter noticed some bulldozers dumping sand on the skate park and started shooting it.



Several employees were shoveling sand into all areas of the park, while the bulldozer dumped sand along the skate park's rim walkway and into the street section. And of course, as seen in our Instagram Stories, they were getting all sorts of harassment from a handful of skaters and non-skaters.



This is temporary, the sand was put into the skate park to prevent people from skating it. The skate park has been closed for several weeks now due to the stay at home orders, but too many people have been skating it, and just plain hanging out in it. So the Department of Recreation and Parks decided to do more, since the caution tape and signs didn't work.

We asked Lance LeMond, someone who has been involved with the skate park since before it was built and now works for the Parks & Rec, about this and his reply was that they are just going to put enough sand in there that will keep people from skating it.

We saw that cardboard was placed over the all the park's drains with sandbags to hold them down. But the cardboard pieces were not taped down at the edges, so let's hope the method they chose works.



According to the Department of Recreation and Parks, the weight of the sand should not be an issue. They are not putting in an amount that will cause damage to the skate park.







We also noticed that the city is now taking notes on how people at the beaches are following the social distancing guidelines. They have been watching the numbers of people wearing face masks compared to those that do not. The news networks keep doing hit pieces on how people at Venice Beach are not following the guidelines, even though we keep catching all those same reporters and cameramen not following the orders themselves.





There is no info on how long the sand is going to be in place. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti did announce that "large gatherings" including sporting events may not be approved until 2021. With the large crowds that this skate park gets, it might be till then.









UPDATE: Friday 10:20AM, 4-17-2020
More sand being added on Friday, and @WahineKaii snapped this photo (below) of the bulldozer inside of the skate park moving sand around the street section.


Photo by @WahineKaii

The Venice Skate Park is not the only the park having this done, the same thing already happened to the San Clemente Skate park


Photo by Ryan Mata

The San Clemente Times reports: "On Monday, the City of San Clemente poured 37 tons of sand onto the concrete surface of the Ralphs Skate Court off Avenida La Pata as part of an effort to deter skaters from visiting the park during the coronavirus pandemic."

It is probably a god bet to say the Venice Skate park will end up looking like that.

UPDATE: Friday 5:30PM, 4-17-2020

Photo by Stu Munde

There's an aerial photo (above) of the skate park on Friday.

UPDATE: Friday 5:45PM, 4-17-2020

The Patch reports:
"Residents have complained that groups of people still gathered in Venice, and weren't taking the stay-home order and social distancing preventative measures serious."

We saw it almost daily, group just hanging out at the park, not keeping the six foot distance from each other, challenging the police when told to leave, etc...



UPDATE: Saturday 12:30PM, 4-18-2020


Photo by HUNTER W E ! S S

Rose Watson, the Director of Public Information at City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks made some statements on the dumping of sand in the Venice Skate Park.

Watson said Department of Recreation & Parks has filled skate parks with sand in the past in order to keep people from using them before construction has been completed.

She said so far, just the skate park in Venice has been laden with sand, but Department of Recreation & Parks will fill other skateboard facilities if people are seen gathering during the Safer at Home orders.

"We're doing this for our safety, their safety and the safety of others," Watson said. "When this is all over, trust me, we will open them, but right now it's important for them to not use the skate parks."

Meanwhile, the big network news stations are scrambling to get photos of the park:



And for now, the word we were given is that they are done adding sand to the skate park, but if people keep skating it, more will be added.


UPDATE: Sunday 12:30PM, 4-19-2020

More updates will be added as we get them. Working on saving all the Instagram Stories clips and creating one video for them all too.

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

Two surfers. One skateboarder.

One 1994 stretch limo.

120 cans of PBR.

One long road down the east coast of the US.

9 days of fucken good times.



"Last year we bought a ’94 stretch limo and headed down the East Coat of the USA making the film ‘This Way’. As soon as the trip was done we all wanted to do it again…so we did. This time we fired up the ol' girl and headed west. With Nora Vasconcellos, Laura Enever, Jaleesa Vincent and special guests Shanae Collins and Malibu's Frankie Harrer. We drove across dusty roads from Texas to California. Skateboarding and Surfing our way through small towns, snow capped mountains and desert plains."



March 5th 2020
All Ages
Doors open at 7pm

2027 E 7th St
Downtown Los Angeles 90021

RSVP HERE

Check out the Stoked LosAngeles Yard Sale this Saturday, 2/29 from 12-5pm. All items are $5** or less and proceeds benefit STOKED!

Items available: skate decks(Mark Gonzalez), hoodies, tote bags, t-shirts, shoes, apparel (random pants/shorts/bathing suits, but all loose one-offs), wheels, wetsuits, hats

Brands: Agenda, Rip Curl, LA Skate Movement, Straye, reef, WSL, RVCA, Stussy, O'Neill

Location: Loaded Boards parking lot at 10575 Virginia Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90232

*Parking available in back

**wetsuits are $20

“Where did skateboard graphics come from? How did they evolve? Meet the masters who changed the face of Art History and Skateboard Evolution. If you like grip tape, paint markers, pens, pencils, pools, curbs, ledges, concrete, plywood, power tools, sawdust, grinding, art, design, photography, music, film, video, xeroxes, silk screening, spray paint, urethane, sealed bearings, going fast, old school, new school, making stuff or skating stuff, you have arrived…”

Matt Bass’s feature documentary “SK8FACE”, about the history and evolution of skateboard art and culture, will hold its world premiere at Malibu Film Festival. The premiere is set for Saturday, Feb. 15 @ 2:30PM at the Malibu Civic Theater, located at 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd, in Malibu, CA.

Click Here for tickets.

Malibu's Frankie Seely and the Hamboards tribe let go on the waves and paves of Venice, from the iconic Windward Ave to the Pier.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be skating a fresh new board every other week like some of us. It’s time we as a community come together and help those out who can’t afford all the sick new gear that some of us just sit on and never even use!

Come out to Bay Street Boards at 3216 Santa Monica Blvd, and donate for a cause.

We would like to introduce you all to the first ALLOVE Skateboarding Foundation skate donation drive. We’re accepting all new and used skate equipment, boards, wheels, trucks, shoes etc through Christmas and New Years. All donations will go to Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA’s, and programs that involve skateboarding around Los Angles so every donation counts! Thank you and remember it’s ALLOVE

Bay Street Boards
🌴☀️Santa Monica ☀️🌴
Surf & Skate Shop
3216 Santa Monica Blvd
310.310.2485
Mon-Fri 10a-8p Sat 10a-7p Sun 10a-5p

The 14th annual Santa Monica Film Festival returns to Santa Monica on Saturday November 30 to showcase and premiere current award winning independent films from local, national and international filmmakers. A moderated filmmaker discussion accompanies each film screening that gives the audience an opportunity to interact with the filmmakers. Films screenings are hosted by AMC Broadway 4 including the Santa Monica premiere of The Tony Alva Story.

62-years-old Alva, the oldest professional, skateboarder in the world, is considered by many to be the godfather of modern day skateboarding. Alva’s brand of aggression and bravado in the 70’s set the stage for the way skateboarding would be forever defined.

Vans’ The Tony Alva Story chronicles T.A.’s humble beginnings on the streets of Santa Monica to his rise to super stardom as part of the legendary Z-Boys, his inevitable drug-induced implosion and his ultimate rise from the ashes to accept his rightful place as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations of skateboarders the world over.

Santa Monica Premiere Date Saturday November 30 ​

Special Guests Scheduled To Appear
Tony Alva
Ray Flores

Screening Time
@ 3:30P ​

Venue
AMC Broadway 4
1441 3rd Street Promenade
Santa Monica CA 90401 ​

Tickets
$20 General Admission includes VANS t-shirt while supplies last. Note that these $20 tickets are just for the Tony Alva Story showing, the tickets for the full Film Festival admission are separate, be sure to select the proper tickets when buying. ​

Santa Monica Film Festival Tickets

M+B is pleased to announce Silver. Skate. Seventies., an exhibition of black and white photographs by Hugh Holland on the occasion of the release of his latest monograph published by Chronicle Chroma Books. The exhibition includes never-before-seen photographs from Holland’s archives, including some of his earliest photographs documenting the rise of the Southern California skateboard revolution in the 70s. The exhibition runs from October 19 to November 9, 2019, with an opening reception and book signing on Saturday, October 19 from 4 to 7 pm.

Having spread from its roots as a small counter-culture activity, skateboarding has now permeated society, leaving its footprint on global culture. Initially considered an anarchic form of self-expression practiced by a small band of outcasts, skateboarding exploded on the west coast of America in the late 70s and 80s coinciding with the emergence of US punk rock. Beginning in 1975, photographer Hugh Holland masterfully captured the burgeoning culture of skateboarding against a sometimes harsh, but always sunny Southern California landscape. These iconic images were first inspired on a late afternoon when Holland drove up Laurel Canyon Boulevard and encountered skateboarders carving up the drainage ditches along the side of the canyon. From suburban backyard haunts to the asphalt streets that connected them, Los Angeles was the place the birthplace of the legendary Dogtown and Z-Boys skateboarders. With their requisite bleached-blond hair, tanned bodies, tube socks and Vans, these young outsiders evoke the sometimes reckless, but always exhilarating origins of skateboarding culture.

In Silver. Skate. Seventies., Hugh Holland presents a raw, spontaneous understanding to his well-known color photographs of the 1970’s skating scene. Holland shot these negatives while experimenting with new ideas, and often, for his own enjoyment. These early black and white images were in many ways the genesis for his later color works—providing us with a rare glimpse behind the creative curtain.

M+B.
612 North Almont Drive
Los Angeles, California 90069
T 310 550 0050

Want to buy the book?

Only 4 days left until Maui & Sons® Venice Beach is OFFICIALLY CLOSED!! Come buy a raffle ticket for $3 and enter to win a free deck!

The Tony Alva Story will be featured at the Other Venice Film Festival on Oct. 5th.

The OVFF is a nonprofit community event dedicated to screening full- length features, short and animated films that embody the spirit, energy and diversity of Venice, California. Filmmakers descended on Venice for two days of film screenings, premieres, sell out crowds, spirited Q&A sessions, panel discussions, local art on display and parties with live music.

The Tony Alva Story
61-years-old Alva, the oldest professional, skateboarder in the world, is considered by many to be the godfather of modern day skateboarding. Alva’s brand of aggression and bravado in the 70’s set the stage for the way skateboarding would be forever defined.

Vans’ The Tony Alva Story chronicles T.A.’s humble beginnings on the streets of Santa Monica to his rise to superstardom as part of the legendary Z-Boys, his inevitable drug-induced implosion and his ultimate rise from the ashes to accept his rightful place as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations of skateboarders the world over.

Also they will be showing:

Surfing With Sugar
His path to healing came in an unlikely form meeting and rescuing a street dog and future surfing partner Sugar. The two have since become local legends inspiring visitors and locals with their abilities in the waves and their special relationship.His path to healing came in an unlikely form meeting and rescuing a street dog and future surfing partner Sugar. The two have since become local legends inspiring visitors and locals with their abilities in the waves and their special relationship.

Tickets are $15 and available HERE.

Beyond Baroque
681 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90291

A few weeks ago, they listed some $4,000 Maui & Sons Surfboards for sale, it looks like that was because Maui & Sons® Venice Beach is actually closing shop for real this time. So head down there for their Closing Sale.

So far it appears only the Venice Beach store is closing down (the one on the Venice Boardwalk across from the skatepark), not the Marina Del Rey store (the one across from the Venice Pier).

B4BC's 12th Annual Skate the Coast
Presented by Suja
October 11th-12th, 2019
Santa Monica & Redondo Beach, CA

Boarding 4 Breast Cancer Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) is excited to announce its 12th Annual Skate the Coast, a 19-mile skate-bike-roll from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach along the iconic Southern California Strand.

Join us in our collective push for prevention as we honor those who are and have fought breast cancer by coming to our pre-party on October 11th and/or skating with us on October 12th.



This series attracts skaters of all ages and abilities. Please help us in reaching our $70K goal to benefit B4BC’s outreach, prevention, and survivorship programs by creating a fundraising page. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $50 to join in the fun, but the more you raise, the better the prizes!

**NEW THIS YEAR**

B4BC will be adding a drop in at Dockweiler State Beach for those who want to join later in the skate.

SCHEDULE:

Friday October 11th – Pre-Party

5PM–9PM | Arbor Venice

We're kicking off the weekend with a pre-party hosted by our friends at Arbor! Come by for live music, art auctions, food and drinks! You'll be able to meet your fellow skaters and the B4BC crew.

Arbor Venice
108 Washington Blvd
Venice, CA 90292

Saturday October 12th – Skate the Coast
8:00AM | Veteran's Park Redondo Beach

Veteran's Park
309 Esplanade, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

8:00AM SHARP Park and meet at Veterans Park in Redondo Beach, and get shuttled to the start at the north side of the Santa Monica Pier. Skate, Bike or Rollerskate 19-miles along the boardwalk from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach.

3 Hydration Stations along the way: 10:15AM Marina Del Rey Parking Lot 5
11:15AM Dockwieler State Beach/ South Bay Drop In
12:00PM Hermosa Beach Pier
1:00PM Finish Line and Awards Ceremony hosted by Dive N Surf!

Dive N Surf
504 N Broadway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Click here for more info & to register.

Arbor Venice, is looking to hire part time and full time employees to work in the retail showroom in Venice California (it's actually in Marnia Del Rey, but it's hipper to claim Venice).

Arbor Venice Store // 310.577.1131
102 Washington Blvd. Venice, CA 90292

AUGUST 9TH - 18TH

Vans presents BLACK RAINBOWS, a 10-day immersive experience in Venice Beach, California that transports fans back to 1976 to celebrate the energetic time period and place that Vans’ first skateboarding shoe was born.



In 1976, Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta worked with the Vans family and created a shoe designed specifically designed for skateboarding. What they did next with that shoe set off a cultural explosion that sent shockwaves around the globe. Vans will commemorate the history and origins of the Era in the neighborhood between Santa Monica and Venice Beach known as Dogtown where these events took shape.

BLACK RAINBOWS is aimed at reinforcing Vans' brand promise of enabling creative expression through action sports, art, music and street culture. Vans has partnered with Dogtown legend Jeff Ho, famed owner of the Zephyr Surf Shop and Jim Muir, original Z-Boy and skate Hall of Fame inductee, to bring forward an authentic depiction of the birth of a cultural icon; the Era. BLACK RAINBOWS’ interactive programming and highlights will include Vans skate demos, panel discussions with Vans Designers and skate legends, art and music workshops, film screenings and will culminate with live musical performances.

6 ROSE AVENUE VENICE BEACH, CALIFORNIA

EVENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
TALES OF THE ERA | 6 PM - 8 PM
History lesson with the original Z-Boys team
SOLD OUT

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES + FURY | 8 PM - 11 PM
Live music

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
LA PUNK THEN AND NOW | 7 PM - 8 PM
Live discussion panel
Click Here to RSVP

X + THE PARANOYDS | 8 PM - 11 PM
Live music

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM

FROM SOCAL TO SPACE - CHARACTER ILLUSTRATION W/ ROBIN EISENBERG | 4 PM - 5 PM
Art Workshop
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

JUXTAPOZ PRESENTS: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHAPED - ART OF A NEW SOCAL ERA | 7 PM - 8 PM
Art Workshop
Click Here to RSVP

DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS | 8 PM - 11 PM
Film Screening
SOLD OUT

MONDAY, AUGUST 12
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM

PEDAL TALK: THE ART OF EFFECTS w Randy Randall | 6 PM - 7 PM
Art Workshop
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

Decline of Western Civilization | 7 PM - 10 PM
Film Screening
Click Here to RSVP

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM

USELESS WOODEN KNOWLEDGE | 4 PM - 5 PM
Skate Trivia Night
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

USELESS WOODEN KNOWLEDGE | 6 PM - 7 PM
Skate Trivia Night
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

THE TONY ALVA STORY | 7 PM - 10 PM
Film Screening
SOLD OUT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM

FROM SOCAL TO SPACE - CHARACTER ILLUSTRATION W/ ROBIN EISENBERG | 4 PM - 5 PM
Art Workshop
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

FROM SOCAL TO SPACE - CHARACTER ILLUSTRATION W/ ROBIN EISENBERG | 6 PM - 7 PM
Art Workshop
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

LORDS OF DOGTOWN | 7 PM - 10 PM
Film Screening
SOLD OUT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM

THE ART OF PUNK FLYERS w Bryan Ray Turcotte | 4 PM - 5 PM
Art Workshop
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

THE ART OF PUNK FLYERS w Bryan Ray Turcotte | 6 PM - 7 PM
Art Workshop
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

Decline of Western Civilization | 7 PM - 10 PM
Film Screening
Click Here to RSVP

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM

USELESS WOODEN KNOWLEDGE | 4 PM - 5 PM
Skate Trivia Night
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

USELESS WOODEN KNOWLEDGE | 6 PM - 7 PM
Skate Trivia Night
RSVP NOT REQUIRED. First Come, First Served until we hit capacity. Entry to other events not guaranteed.

COLLABORATIONS THROUGH THE ERA - INSIGHTS INTO DESIGN | 7 PM - 8 PM
Panel Discussions
Click Here to RSVP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM

TALES OF THE ERA | 6 PM - 8 PM
History lesson with the original Z-Boys team
SOLD OUT

MIKAL CRONIN + SHANNON LAY | 8 PM - 11 PM
Live music

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18
WAFFLE BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE | 1 PM - 4 PM