In the mid ‘70s, skateboarding was still considered a fad by the vast majority of people. Little did they know that there was a subculture emerging for all time. A lifestyle that would evolve, take shape, and grow into a multi million dollar industry. It is well documented that a group of guys from the Venice, California, area changed the perception of skateboarding around the world. One particular character stood out as the game changer. The one whose style would still be prevalent, and compared to, after 40 years. That person is Tony Alva. Most people know that prior to the “Dogtown days”, most boards were solid wood with little shape. They had trucks that were narrow to fit the narrow boards, and the wheels were either clay or steel. Skateboarding at this time really was street surfing. Frank Nasworthy’s Cadillac wheels made of urethane were the game changers. The catalyst for the paradigm shift about to take place. Urethane wheels made it possible to go faster, grip better and to control slides. The results were created by the rippers of the mid to late ‘70s. Tony Alva was, for sure, one of the greats to come out of this time period. The following is Tony’s take on those days; and how they are connected to skateboarding today.
In the early days, skateboarding was all about going down hills, and just mobbing everywhere on your board. Was that true for you?
We all grew up in a pretty hilly neighborhood. We were surfers first, and if you wanted to get to the beach you had to know how to ride your skateboard down hills. You’d be embarrassed if you couldn’t make it down the hill to the beach. We would always try to time the lights so that we didn’t have to stop. As a result, how far you got dictated how fast you were going. Basically, we had to learn how to ride hills because it was part of our environment.
Where was this?
Marine Street in Santa Monica. All the way to Pacific Ocean Park. We would slalom the top, tuck the middle, and slowdown somehow at the bottom.
What kind of boards were you riding?
Wood boards, always wood, and as the wheels got better, we got better. We went through all the progression of trucks too, from roller skate trucks, to Bennett’s, to Trackers. Through all of this it is important to know that skateboarding came second. Surfing was our first love.
How did sliding figure into your style and approach to skating?
If we did slides, they were Bertleman’s, but I have to take the credit away from Bertleman and give it to Jay (Adams), cause he was doing ‘em first. Bertleman influenced us more after we knew he was a superstar, but we were light years ahead of surfing. We were way more aggressive, mostly because the stuff we were doing is harder to do in the water. But Jay’s style was functional, and he wasn’t trying to be fashionable. He had a different style and approach to riding down hills, and we got all of that from him. When we came out with the Z Boys style, hell, they didn’t even know how to judge us.
There have been many eras of skateboarding. Today longboarding and downhill skateboarding is experiencing huge growth and participation. What do you think about this?
What Joe Lehm is doing in New Mexico with the All Around Challenge and his competition where you have to skate pools, parks, slalom, street, and downhill, that Is progression. That is pushing the limits. The skaters there were good. They were core, they rode different boards, and they had a lot of stoke with a good vibe. Way better than the street and vert contests these days. I dig that.
It seems like there is a very real movement toward riding different kinds of boards and terrain. Do you see this as well?
The kids are ripping these days. Sure, they have funky styles and they’re stink buggin’, but they’re having so much fun that it doesn’t matter. The girls are too! Back in the day we skated places like Bel Air Reservoir, The Toilet Bowl, and the Viper Bowl on little boards. What I saw go down in New Mexico is a good example. They were riding all kinds of boards. It was insane. They have the best ditches in the world, and if you can find a 36” board that will work; something with length, width, and a nice concave, that’s where you’ll find progression in skateboarding. Skating that kind of terrain teaches you how to skate all ways. That’s what’s up. Also, quivers are important, everybody needs to have one. It’s always been that way in surfing, I just think a lot of skaters seem to be stuck in a “Quagmire of coolness”.
What about the segregation of different genre’s of skateboarding? Or maybe I should ask you if you think it exists?
Yes, people are opinionated, that’s human nature. But,what can you do? The best way to teach kids is to condition them into being open minded. It’s like Frank Zappa said, “Minds are like parachutes, they don’t work unless they’re open.” In New Mexico, what I saw was kids trying to ride different things. That’s where it’s at, that’s being open minded. You gotta ride everything. Back in the day, Hackett and I used to bomb hills, and at the bottom we would hit ramps. We would 5-0, or pivot the coping.
Of all of your homies, who do you think was the sickest at riding hills?
There is no question, it was Bob Biniak by far! He was the fastest, the most stylish. He was scary fast, and that’s why he got the nickname “Bullet”. I go to a lot of downhill races and freerides, parks, pools and ramps.
I still see a lot of skaters that emulate the classic “Alva” style. Do you see it, and how does it make you feel?
My style is surf style, I have a tuck knee style geared to upper body comfort. That
way my lower body is ready for anything. How does it make me feel? It makes me feel grateful! When I was younger I would be egotistical about it. Now, I’m grateful.
Photos by Warren Bolster