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The road to Skatopia is barely two lanes and often unmarked. It winds past a field of sheep, a white clapboard church (Page Free Will Baptist), a yellow highway-crossing sign showing an Amish buggy instead of a deer. A handmade warning at the top of a steep dirt drive — "Skatopia Enter at Own Risk!!!" — lets pilgrims know they have arrived. They come at all hours, most any time of year, from as far away as Argentina, Japan, Finland. The gates are always open.
Photograph by Travis Dove
I'll be the first on here to say that I'm glad that I don't associate myself with that sort of culture. And I think that those sorts of images really help enforce the negative attitudes that skateboarding/longboarding gets from the general population.
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Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely,in a well preserved body, but rather, to skid in sideways, totally worn out,shouting Holy Sh*t, what a ride!
I'll be the first on here to say that I'm glad that I don't associate myself with that sort of culture. And I think that those sorts of images really help enforce the negative attitudes that skateboarding/longboarding gets from the general population.
...and you wonder why nobody ever comes to your parties.
seriously, that looks like a pretty amazing (if a wee bit unsanitary) good time,
and 20 years or so ago, a sentence like: "If the mosh pit gets dull, Skatopians add fireworks."
would have had me digging through the couch cushions looking for gas-money.
The best/scariest photo in the group is the one of the 13 year old kid standing on the trunk of a car with a hatchet.
Hard to tell exactly what's up from a sensationalist group of photos like those published, but if Martin really compares himself to various cult leaders, Charles Manson and Steven Hawking, it's not too much of a stretch to say either he's delusional, or the feds will be visiting at some point in the future.
Wells: Did you go, when, and what are your thoughts? Harmless fun or post apocalyptic preview?
...and you wonder why nobody ever comes to your parties.
seriously, that looks like a pretty amazing (if a wee bit unsanitary) good time,
and 20 years or so ago, a sentence like: "If the mosh pit gets dull, Skatopians add fireworks."
would have had me digging through the couch cushions looking for gas-money.
thanks for the link, SG.
Gosh, I've never thought about it that way before...
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Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely,in a well preserved body, but rather, to skid in sideways, totally worn out,shouting Holy Sh*t, what a ride!
Read that article on the crapper last night. I have to agree the kid with the ax is gnar...but is it real? Or, did the photog ask him to look menacing to fuel the image for the story?
But ya I've always wanted to head out there...I just don't own any firearms.
I finallly know where to use my black market carpet bomb now!
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[Derv] 7:21 pm: jkp, did i mention one of the numbers is a girl, who is popular
A touching message about Bro Rape
[Longbord1] 5:37 pm: you were definitely on my ass dude
[Longbord1] 5:37 pm: your weight advantage was freaking me out
[Alpha06] 7:32 pm: we need to get it on then
[Ogre] 11:35 pm: orally and physically
[thedragun] 10:22 pm: do vendors have some sort of secret club?
[Mile_High_Mark] 10:22 pm: yeah, it's called poverty
Wow, that place looks amazing. I don't know about punk kids busting out the windows on my car or the probably sketchy music, but a huge farm full of hidden bowls and concrete -- that's friggen awesome!
I would have loved that place 20 years ago. I don't think I have the mental energy for it now, I still listen to the music but have not been to a punk show in a long time, and I like empty crowd-free skateparks. But 20 years ago that would have been great. I'd still like to go there and take photos though.
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Originally Posted by stringtheory
Or, did the photog ask him to look menacing to fuel the image for the story? .
There are cases where photographers do that sort of thing, but most adhere to journalistic ethics and do not. Problem is one guy our of 2,000 does it, it gets reported and nobody trust anymore. So it was probably a real situation, though the kid may have talked up a bit when asked questions.
Regardless of what you actually think of that place, it makes one thing very apparently clear:
It's WAY easier to ruin something by making it too organized, politically correct, and publicly acceptable...
...than it is to ruin it by making it too anarchistic, or too free.
Notice that in the face of anarchy - [no rules, no expectations, watch your back because no one else will] - that people band together and work together, and maintain an order that works. The park grows. Bands come and play. People gather to see them. People gather to skate. People eat. People drink. People have fun.
In fact, that "lack of system" system seems to work more smoothly than many companies I've worked for.
(and it explains why the "old style" system of management is dead, while empowerment and teamwork with a minimalistic management approach that simply establishes goals and expectations is the "new style" approach)
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FLAT EARTH MAKES PUSHING EASY
Anyone want to skate 3000 miles next summer PM me, lets have some safe, good old fashioned fun. It will be all flowers, sunshine and happy kittens. I promise.
LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/forum/100-skateboarding-concrete-wave-magazine/76119-skatopia-new-rolling-stone-magazine.html
skatopia in the new Rolling Stone Magazine...
Its still in progress... 
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