#throwback:
Skateboarding’s beginnings
with Dogtown & Z-Boys
B
y the start of the
twenty-first century,
skateboarding had
survived several
swings in and out of fashion,
and was finally starting to carve
out a somewhat consistent
place on the cultural landscape.
With X Games well established
and the proliferation of cable
channels and the internet, skate
took advantage of the growing
number of platforms for more
niche sports.
But even as the sport became
a commercial monster, it’s less-
than-conventional rise meant that
newer riders seldom had much
idea of its origins outside of the
Ninja Turtles and Bart Simpson.
Sadly the pioneers of the
seventies didn’t have Instagram
accounts.
Californian skate OG and TV
director, Stacy Peralta, saw a
chance to change this. Having
114 | FreestyleXtreme.com
Essential viewing for anyone who’s ever
hopped on a board, Stacy Peralta’s seminal
2001 documentary took a close look at the
history and cultural significance of a sport
many still weren’t prepared to call a sport.
been on the front-lines of the
sport’s growth in the early days,
Peralta had the knowledge and
contacts to tell the story well,
honestly and with footage few
people would have access to.
The movie focuses on Southern
California, and how the
influences of surf culture saw
skate evolve around Santa
Monica (nicknamed ‘Dogtown’),
and the surrounding areas of
Venice and Los Angeles.
Three surf-shop owners saw
the chance to help out local
‘problem’ kids - starting the
Zephyr Skateboard Team, known
as the Z-Boys.
Peralta was amongst those kids.
And alongside Jay Adams, Tony
Alva, Peggy Oki and the rest of
the team, he helped introduce a
west-coast style to the technique
and culture of the sport that
shaped its personality and
reputation.
The team’s development to the
point of participating in national
championships happened as
the sport was starting to gain
respect as being more than just
something for kids. The Z-Boys
were amongst the first skaters to
be seen as ‘athletes’ by the wider
world of sport.
The finished film saw success
at the Sundance Film Festival
and an extremely positive critical
response. But most importantly,
it was embraced by skate-culture
at large, and is utterly essential
viewing if you have even a
passing interest in the sport. With
over two million physical copies
sold and literally countless
views online, Peralta not only
succeeded in telling his story
but also provided influence and
inspiration to skaters at the start
of the internet-video age. t