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Why Side-Stance Matters Side-Stance is the #cibtrickofthemonth for August, but more than that, it has deep roots in the origins of Vertical Roller Skating. These days its common to see rollerskaters tearing up skateparks all over the globe, but what you are most likely seeing is all done 'prone'. Flashback to the '70s during the first boom of roller skating and the introduction of skateparks, skaters like Duke and Karen were hitting the transition for the first time, and most of it was all done in side-stance. We reached out to tell the tale of these two love birds and...

Part 2: Pay Attention To Your Dreams. By Duke Rennie Fred Blood and I skated at Skateboard World in Torrance, CA a few times together and became fast friends. He invited me to skate with him at the beach. One of Fred’s good friends at that time was Steve Rocco. I’d met Steve at school; we all went to Redondo Union High School. Steve Rocco was an amazing Freestyle Skateboarder. Fred and Steve both lived in Hermosa Beach. What I found was these guys would put on impromptu Skate Demos at the Hermosa Pier. These shows would gather huge crowds...

Part 1: Taking Giant Steps. By Duke Rennie Fred Blood and I became friends quickly after I watched him Rollerskate into 10th grade English class. I was a decent speed skater and had skated at a few meets in my youth. The point is, I love rollerskating and had to know everything about what he was doing.  Our English teachers name was Dr. Hoimy. I’m sure that’s not the correct spelling. Fred informed me that he was going to the Skateboard Park that had recently opened, “Skateboard World” in Torrance. I was familiar, as my brothers and I had been...

Don Piburn, a surfer, ’70s outlaw skateboarder is back with another series of stories to regale. This round he's sharing tales of his adventures with Sue Feldman in part 3 of his biographical accounts. Part 3: Little Sue Feldman Our mid- to late-1970’s Mission Beach (MB), California crew navigated an intersection in quad skating history.  Kenny Means out of San Pedro, California set the vertical quad skating baseline beginning in 1974. He inspired a considerable pool of vertical quad skating enthusiasts, many of their stories now posted as Veterans of Vert blogs on this very website.  Long discussions could ensue regarding...

Don Piburn, a surfer, ’70s outlaw skateboarder is back with another series of stories to regale. This round he's sharing tales of his adventures with Pete Stewart. Part 2: Pete Stewart Image: Pete Stewart. Death Bowl. 1977. Photo Credit: Don Piburn To understand the Pete Stewart I knew you have to understand the context. Mission Beach (MB) California was by most accounts pretty urban surf ghetto in the mid- to late-1970s.   Most MB homes were single story beach cottages that rented for cheap. Young people flocked there for the sand, sun, surf, and for the scene.  It was seriously...