hold on to what you’ve got

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

They gathered on the horizon like a black plague. Leprous. The end of all good in this world. The buildings had turned to dust. The stars burned out. I shivered. I lit a small fire and checked the shotgun. I had five shells in and nine extra. If they came again, I’d have to be careful. This would probably be it. The last attack had been brutal. They fell back and watched as I hacked one to pieces with a shovel, lit his head on fire and stuck it on a stick as a warning. I shrieked at the godless sky in primitive fury. I don’t think they liked that too much but I didn’t really care what they thought. They pushed and now I was pushing back. I pitied them. Outside the house, I could hear them gathering… grunting, shouts, screams of the dying. Those that have escaped told stories of mind-bending horror. “They were peeling the skin off…” I stopped such thoughts and prepared myself. I took my long Gerber Mark II knife and slit my forearm lengthwise. Rivulets of blood ran onto the floor. I was surprised at the color. In the dim light it was black. “Well, one of my past lovers had called me a black-hearted bastard… I guess she was right.” I mumbled to myself and chuckled. Taking two fingers, I smeared blood across my cheeks and face. I put on my war paint as it was time to take a stand. Picking up the shotgun, I heard the rush of approaching feet as the door burst inward in a shower of wood and violence…

Grant caressing some lady finger under the glare of a San Burn wilderness

I woke up with a start… my phone was buzzing. A truck rumbled through the intersection outside. Clawing at my phone, silence soon reigned again at Ridiculous. I peered at the time. 5:53 am. I pulled myself from the bed and made coffee. I shook my head to clear away the remnants of a nightmare world. What dreams I sometimes have! I mumbled and stretched as I looked at the pool in the backyard. Pool pals were coming to visit. Devin Scott, Theo Van Bruggen, Grant, Jen, Josh Nelson, Brandon, MRZ, Chelsea and Al would be over at around nine am. Ridiculous resident and all around ruler- Bunk- was getting up and ready as well. I drank coffee and listened to Massive Attack – Angel… memories of apocalyptic battle faded with the growing dawn.

Josh Nelson- rock-n-roll

Bunk- light box

Chelsea Castro- first grinds in a backyard!

Al Brunelle- killing it!

The crew arrived and everyone was really stoked to be going out and skating. We wanted to get an early start as the temperature was already in the nineties. By noon it was going to be a brain burner. We loaded up and headed out. First pool. Fire pool. Everyone jumped in and swept and cleaned. The girls surprised everyone and quickly put lines down. Chelsea pulled her first grinds in a backyard pool. Devin, Theo and Grant threw down light box and Al hammered disasters and other insanity. Josh Nelson pulled rock-n-rolls and Bunk crushed light box. MRZ took some amazing photographs but the heat was already beginning to take its toll.

Devin Scott mauled the Triple Bubble…

Brandon Wong- deathbox… all day long.

Theo giving up some High Fivage

We headed out and stopped for refreshments. Cool beverages. Life. The next pool was going to be the Triple Bubble. Theo had been wanting to get into the Bubble since he saw us drain it last summer on the BTO. It was his turn and after a sweep and a quick cleaning, he didn’t disappoint. Side cup grinds, deathbox lappers and all around ripping were put in under the heat. The Triple Bubble has a big tree that provides welcome shade and we were all posted up trying to take advantage of this fact. Brandon Wong decided that he wasn’t going to stay on his BS deathbox attempt. The promise of a “High Five Parade” from everyone changed his mind. Minutes later, that ghost was slaughtered. Good stuff! Regardless, the heat was intense and after everyone had a good session, we headed out again… San Burn Gnar Dino. It lived up to its name.

Theo punched the shallow end silly… FS 5-0

Josh Nelson wasn’t playing around at all… BS Ollie

Jen dropped her brew just long enough to put the drop on this BS Gnarler

Big Al with a big Heelamonster- Yikes!

friends- hold on to what you’ve got… it could be much worse.

I had to leave and deal with some things but Bunk took the crew over to a nearby pool for a ten minute quickie but by then, the heat had really become unbearable. The entire day made me think of a few things. My dream had been fresh in my mind. It was of a bleak world. A world of no happiness, no love, no friends… only despair and violence. I have been around the world. I have seen things. People live in a violent world right now! War. Conflict. Catastrophe. It made me think that we might want to hold on to what we have. What we have is far better than what is brooding on the horizon. Fini. Thanks to the crew and to MRZ for the images. Skate- Ozzie

Daniel Cuervo- The Black Crow In Flight

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

Daniel- high flight above the DC complex

Daniel Cuervo has been skating extremely well lately. He has been spending a great deal of time under the capable direction of Legendary vert ripper David Hackett. Daniel has been applying his talented skateboarding skills to the DC and Encinitas vert ramps, bowls and recently was seen in a few private Malibu bowl sessions. It wasn’t difficult to notice Daniel as he usually was going about four feet higher than anyone else! Currently, Daniel is practicing his lines and insane trick combinations for the upcoming Tim Brauch Memorial Contest. He will be there and is prepared to launch himself into orbit on his new ztuntz board. I will be shooting some new photographs with Daniel and filming video over the next week. Thanks to Brian Fick for his assistance with the image. Skate- Ozzie

Al Brunelle. CCC

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

Al Brunelle – ripping at the CCC

Aerial / ztuntz team rider Al Brunelle was chosen as an alternate at the Converse Coastal Carnage. The week was one of anxiety and nail-biting as Al found himself practicing daily but wasn’t told his contest status. Would he be in or out? We were on the deck everyday and Al rode hard, perfecting his lines, drawing more than a little applause from the crowd and basically ripping it up in typical Al Brunelle fashion. As contest day approached, Al kept his composure though it was difficult. The night before the contest, I talked with him regarding the outcomes. We need not have worried. At 3:00 pm, they announced that Al was officially in. We suited him up in the new Aerial /ztuntz Dr. Zombie shirt that Randy had made and showed up on the deck looking good.

Al rode hard and made a statement. Stalefish reverts, Heelamonsters, finger flip disasters and Sugarcanes were a part of his arsenal. The crowd was fully into it and Al ended at a respectable 13th place. He just missed the top twelve cutoff. All-in-all, it was a great showing by a great rider. We are proud to have Al Brunelle in our house and representing the Aerial  / ztuntz team. Thanks to Randy, John and David for everything. Next time? Top 5. Skate- Ozzie

Al Brunelle at Converse Coastal Carnage

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

Big Al- breaking things off at Converse Coastal Carnage practice.

Al Brunelle was slated as an alternate for the upcoming Coastal Carnage event. We showed up, received the ‘go ahead’ and Al has been on a tear. Today is practice all day and I will be working with Al on lines and trick combinations. Hoping and wishing for good luck… we’ll do our part. Thanks to MRZ for the image. Skate- Ozzie

Logan Earth Ski Day

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

Brian Logan, Laura Thornhill, Robin Logan, Kim Cespedes, Brad Logan, Bruce Logan and Denis Schufelt

The day was a long awaited one. The sun shone and the sky was clear and bright. We drank coffee and headed over to Aura Skate Park in Vista. Our heavily laden vehicles were a caravan of skateboarding goodness. On arrival, we began to set up the event that has been several long months in preparation.

Rebecca Hackett on point

why we are here

The Logan family was on hand and the morning soon became a Who’s Who of 1970′s OG skateboarding talent. Denis Schufelt, Eddie Katz, Laura Thornhill, Dennis Martinez, Steve Cathey, Jim Goodrich, Vicki Vickers, John Hughes, Gunnar Haugo, E.R. Gilmore, Cindy Whitehead, Kim Cespedes and many others joined Dave Hackett and all were soon rolling about the place. Logan completes were on hand for everyone to try out and a slalom course was set up and quickly put into heavy use.

Laura Thornhill and Kim Cespedes

Jonny Miller and Denis Schufelt

Cindy Whitehead

There was a great feeling of camaraderie and old fashioned fun going on. I heard a few hecklers calling people out and overheard a couple of zingers. “Hey! I remember when you used to be good!”. There was quite a bit of laughter overheard on this day. The Logan family were treated with love and respect. It was good to see. In a skateboard world of knockoff companies, carpetbaggers and never-have-beens, it was nice to see respect given and received. Humility. Grace. Longevity.

Bruce Logan in the bonanza booth giving TA a run for his money.

Denis Schufelt digging on the Bull Taco feasties

1970′s vert pioneers- Dennis Martinez and Vicki Vickers… yeah! I said Vicki Vickers! Awesome!

Dave Hackett, Randy, John and the Aerial Action Sports crew had put together a fine event. With the help of Aura Skate Park and Bull Taco, things fell into place quite nicely. Everyone was fed and the Logan family signed posters and boards. Completes were sold along with hats and T-shirts. A 360 event and a nose wheelie contest were held as a 1970′s soundtrack of music floated over the entire event.

Dennis Martinez spinning 360′s

360 paparazzi

Laura Thornhill- classic style

E.R. Gilmore nose wheelie

Hackett leading the way

All in all, it was a great day of fun, sunshine, good food, great music and a slice of 1970′s skateboarding ripped from the past and thrust into the present. There is a sense of timelessness and style that oozes from the Logan era of skateboarding. Palm trees and sun-splashed afternoons with friends. Surf roots from a more carefree time. Thank you to all who attended. Thank you to the Logans for being who you are. Thank you to Aura and Bull Taco. Thank you to all the sponsors. Thank you to Randy, John and David. Without you, this would not have happened. Special thanks to Chad Thomas for the wonderful images. Skate- Ozzie

Logan Earth Ski line unveiled

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

Tony Alva goes back to Revere and his roots on the Logan Earth Ski Torger model.

Saturday. I stopped in Hollywood and met up with TA, Wesley and Arto. We had things to do. TA grew up skating at the Paul Revere schoolyard banks and it was where we were headed. Aerial Action Sports is releasing the Logan Earth Ski line this coming Sunday. The Logan family has been involved since the beginning and Bruce, Brian, Brad and Robin Logan are really excited about the upcoming release. Back in the 1970′s, the Logan name was synonymous with radical skateboarding and quality products. Aerial has reproduced the Bruce Logan, Torger Johnson and the slalom models. I gave one of the Torger completes to Tony and asked if could get a few photographs of him. “Revere” was all he said. I smiled. I knew exactly what he meant.

Revere

After meeting together in Hollywood, we drove over to Revere. It was a mythical place. A long wire fence wrapped the place tight and within the fences, the descending black ribbon of banked asphalt looked inviting. It cried out… “Come and ride.” TA walked up tight along the fence line. We followed. He kept up a running dialogue on past missions, sessions and dodging authority. We smiled. At one end, we pushed on a chained gate and slipped inside between the wires.

stories and memories

TA quickly flowed like water through the place. Berts, high-speed drifters and cut backs proved that he’d been here before. We took a few photographs and were soon gone into the afternoon sun. The schoolyard fell silent once again. The trees looked on. Quiet sentinels to a stylish start and an enduring classic spot. This Sunday, we will gather in Vista and the Logan family will be there to sign posters and visit with old friends. We ask that you come by and see us. Thank you to TA and thank you to Arto Saari for the images. Skate- Ozzie