90s Vignettes
‘The participants of a pastime that stay the course through it’s low periods, only strengthen the bond within their community.’
Skateboarding was small in the early to mid 90s. To a Californian, it wasn’t a big deal to be skating the same parking lot with the likes of Guy Mariano or other such icons, but to a small handful of us from the UK, it was the equivalent to sharing a bed with Kate Moss.
The vignettes I’ve recently been writing were purely to preserve my withering memories of that golden era but nostalgic overdrive has sparked an interest for them, and stories I thought irrelevant to most, have helped evoke fond memories from many.
“Hey this is great man, I just read it and it took me back in time. Golden days my friend, feels like a lifetime ago. I appreciate this and glad we got to have a bite and chat that day. One love.”
- Gino Iannucci.
So what better and relevant way to start getting these out into the ether than through my good friends Leighton and Alex at Muckmouth. Two guys that love a good 90s story more than anyone, and one of who was actually here on this particular day....
Skateboarding was small in the early to mid 90s. To a Californian, it wasn’t a big deal to be skating the same parking lot with the likes of Guy Mariano or other such icons, but to a small handful of us from the UK, it was the equivalent to sharing a bed with Kate Moss.
The vignettes I’ve recently been writing were purely to preserve my withering memories of that golden era but nostalgic overdrive has sparked an interest for them, and stories I thought irrelevant to most, have helped evoke fond memories from many.
“Hey this is great man, I just read it and it took me back in time. Golden days my friend, feels like a lifetime ago. I appreciate this and glad we got to have a bite and chat that day. One love.”
- Gino Iannucci.
So what better and relevant way to start getting these out into the ether than through my good friends Leighton and Alex at Muckmouth. Two guys that love a good 90s story more than anyone, and one of who was actually here on this particular day....
THE GREEN BURRITO
By Darren Howman
The gradient of Beryl elementary school’s undulating banks were as legit as it gets. After Jeremy Klein’s part in World Industries’ Rubbish Heap video, they became a proving ground for the next decade. A double edged sword, you either came away triumphant or broken. Whatever the outcome, a destroyed nose and tail was a certainty. There was to be no middle ground.
If the bigger bank didn’t break your will to live, the smaller bank to curb around the corner would. Equally as steep but super quick, the moment your nose hit the incline, it pitched you up to a dead end, lumpy ‘ledge’ on top.
Laying against the larger bank defeated, Dave, Alex and I hear a board drop at the smaller bank around the corner and slowly push ourselves to our feet. A spectacled large guy fumbles in a camera bag while another in beige cargo pants and Fila tennis sneakers tries to find his line.
“Oh, it’s Gino and Kosick.” Dave casually remarks.
Working out the minutiae of a trick that could quite easily be the next 101 ad, is everybody’s hero of 1996. Balancing his board vertically, he spins it between his palm and the black top of the playground. It is literally minutes old, a brand new 101 Clyde Singleton deck with Indy 139’s and snow white wheels. The guy rummaging in the bag is Big Brother magazine’s Chief photographer, Rick Kosick. Alex and I stand frozen as Dave heads over. Team mates on Black Label during the ‘Crummy promo’ era, they reminisce the good old days. Dave, a seasoned Beryl veteran, points out the most forgiving entry and exit points before Gino’s ill fated beige cargo pants and white tee slowly stain with blacktop and bank crust as he navigates the abrupt wall, stabbing the lumpy curb with switch frontside tail slides. Three rolls of film later, sweaty bruised and exhausted, he admits defeat, but Kosick believes he has the shot and promises to tee up a filmer if Gino vows to return. Still keen for photos, but with slim spot pickings during the day, they follow us to a white picket fence driveway drop that Dave ollies for Kosick’s lens before heading to the Torrance beach double set. Gino takes a few punts at switch flipping the 5-flat-3 gap but the right hand turn on the approach proves too sharp and he calls it a day.
“I’m loving chewing again.” Gino peels the foil from his food at ‘The Green Burrito’ restaurant in Redondo where we eat dinner. He tells us about his jaw being wired shut for 6 weeks after a bar brawl. “Eating through a straw sucked.” He gratefully bites into his food.
We part ways, somewhat in disbelief of the last few hours, glad that another seemingly untouchable pro is just a normal human being that eats at the Green Burrito and goes through the same trick battles as we do.
Later that week we drive past Beryl. A filmer is awkwardly perched on the lumpy curb atop the bank and Gino has lived up to his word, continuing to battle for 2 seconds of what would become his Trilogy part.
If the bigger bank didn’t break your will to live, the smaller bank to curb around the corner would. Equally as steep but super quick, the moment your nose hit the incline, it pitched you up to a dead end, lumpy ‘ledge’ on top.
Laying against the larger bank defeated, Dave, Alex and I hear a board drop at the smaller bank around the corner and slowly push ourselves to our feet. A spectacled large guy fumbles in a camera bag while another in beige cargo pants and Fila tennis sneakers tries to find his line.
“Oh, it’s Gino and Kosick.” Dave casually remarks.
Working out the minutiae of a trick that could quite easily be the next 101 ad, is everybody’s hero of 1996. Balancing his board vertically, he spins it between his palm and the black top of the playground. It is literally minutes old, a brand new 101 Clyde Singleton deck with Indy 139’s and snow white wheels. The guy rummaging in the bag is Big Brother magazine’s Chief photographer, Rick Kosick. Alex and I stand frozen as Dave heads over. Team mates on Black Label during the ‘Crummy promo’ era, they reminisce the good old days. Dave, a seasoned Beryl veteran, points out the most forgiving entry and exit points before Gino’s ill fated beige cargo pants and white tee slowly stain with blacktop and bank crust as he navigates the abrupt wall, stabbing the lumpy curb with switch frontside tail slides. Three rolls of film later, sweaty bruised and exhausted, he admits defeat, but Kosick believes he has the shot and promises to tee up a filmer if Gino vows to return. Still keen for photos, but with slim spot pickings during the day, they follow us to a white picket fence driveway drop that Dave ollies for Kosick’s lens before heading to the Torrance beach double set. Gino takes a few punts at switch flipping the 5-flat-3 gap but the right hand turn on the approach proves too sharp and he calls it a day.
“I’m loving chewing again.” Gino peels the foil from his food at ‘The Green Burrito’ restaurant in Redondo where we eat dinner. He tells us about his jaw being wired shut for 6 weeks after a bar brawl. “Eating through a straw sucked.” He gratefully bites into his food.
We part ways, somewhat in disbelief of the last few hours, glad that another seemingly untouchable pro is just a normal human being that eats at the Green Burrito and goes through the same trick battles as we do.
Later that week we drive past Beryl. A filmer is awkwardly perched on the lumpy curb atop the bank and Gino has lived up to his word, continuing to battle for 2 seconds of what would become his Trilogy part.
Darren will be releasing more vignettes through various publications, to find out when and where, visit him at instagram.com/daz_dot_com