By Pat Maphis Abingdon, Maryland
(Re: “Dogtown forever,” May 16, page 1) I am 56 years old and am writing this with tears in my eyes. Growing up in Baltimore, MD, I was a frustrated “surfer wannabe.” I broke up a pair of metal-wheeled shoe skates and nailed the wheels to a chunk of 2” x 4” and rode down the sidewalk. I purchased my first “commercial” skateboard with hard, clay wheels a couple of years later. In the early ‘70s, the advent of the urethane wheel led to the skateboarding explosion. In my mid-20s, I worked part time as a skate guard in a local park and managed a skate-board shop as well as holding down my full-time “day job.”
Through all of these years, the kids riding for Jeff Ho’s Zephyr Team were the standard that I aspired to. They reflected the “surf style” of skateboarding that touched my “soul” more than any other skaters I saw in the media.
I was saddened to hear that the old shop was destined for demolition, but fully understand that real estate values and “progress” require these things to happen. I was shocked to read your article and moved to send you this little note. I can’t express my thanks to Ms. Doar and the Landmarks Commission for their consideration and compassion. In this day and age, there are seldom considerations other than monetary that are recognized.
I have never visited Southern California, but hope to within the next year or two. Santa Monica is high on my “to do” list. Thanks to Ms. Doar and the commission, I will get to visit my “Mecca.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 19, 2007. Read the original PDF.