Fifty photos from the 50 years of Santa Cruz festival.
Running a skateboarding company is no mean feat, let alone for 50 years. This year marks that massive milestone for Santa Cruz Skateboards, and to celebrate, they held one hell of a shindig in their place of origin, Santa Cruz, California. A three-day long skateboarding bender involving a Jim Phillips documentary premiere in an old school theatre; grungy pub gigs with the likes of Salba and Bob Denike; ribbon cutting bowl sesh at NHS HQ with a BBQ ;and presentations for employee achievements and for the brand from the city of Santa Cruz. To cap it off, a huge Saturday skateboarding festival including two skatepark demos before heading to the boardwalk for a bump to rail session like no other, finishing off with a Dinosaur Jr concert on the beach. All of that doesn’t seem real, but you can peep at the photos below for proof.
Photography and words by Wade Mclaughlin. Additional photos by Eric Palozzolo.
Grand opening of the newly built NHS bowl.
Devin Flynn kicking things off, launching all the way out and back in for this wallride.
Zarosh! Roll in from the roof.
Keet Oldenbeuving skates it all.
Signing frenzy.
Dusted Angel gig in the warehouse, why not?
Richard Novak and Jeff Kendall.
The following day, first stop, Seacliff skatepark, Emmanuel Guzman fires it up.
Devin, Barley grind on a custom install.
Devin takes it back and flares it out.
Mark Scott.
Cookie, back Smith jammin’.
It wouldn’t be an SC demo without one of Jake Wooten’s iconic frontside ollies.
Maurio McCoy shuts down the demo with this lengthy kickflip over the reaper.
Only one thing left to do.
Proddy toss.
“I came up with this signature when I was trying to be Cholo” – Eric Dressen
Dressen, getting up there on one of many obstacles built purely for the day.
SC's newest pro, Rob Pace dips a back Smith.
Emmanuel with another nosegrind.
Peter Raffin is one of my new favourite skaters. Kickflip back tail.
Devin was on fire all weekend. Back d.
It’s about to be his time, watch this space.
Brandon Turner in the house.
The legendary Judi Oyama, one of Santa Cruz’s original team riders.
Screaming Hand!
I missed a lot of the bowl jam but made it in time to see Zarosh roll into this.
I made it in time for the highest air comp. Minna Stess kicking it off.
Then JD Sanchez shut it down.
Six foot five.
Before a quick stroll to the boardwalk, is that Andrew Cannon bombing my photo?
Santa Cruz flying high in Santa Cruz.
The mega rail lived up to the hype, Cookie cuts to the chase.
It’s loooong! Rob Pace.
SC OG, Ron Whaley was hyped.
Devin Flynn held a five-o for a decent length before popping out to bomb the bank.
Rocky.
It’s a long way to the top.
Devin with a back Smith pop out.
How’s the serenity?
Rob went the whole thang on a feeble grind, before he shut shit down with a 50-50 to back lip off the end. Big crowd pleaser this guy.
Dolly and Jim Phillips with Bob Denike. (Credit: Paul Merrell).
JIM PHILLIPS! (Credit: Paul Merrell).
Done. Off to see Dinosaur Jr!
Show time.
Legendary.
That’s a wrap.
