Z-Boys

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The Zephyr Competition Team (or Z-Boys) were a group of American skateboarders in the mid-1970s from Santa Monica and Venice, California. Originally consisting of 12 members, the Z-boys were originally sponsored by the Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions surf and skate shop. [1] Their innovative surfing-based style and aerial moves formed the foundations of contemporary vert and transition skateboarding. [2] The story of the Z-Boys and the Zephyr shop have been popularized in feature films such as Lords of Dogtown and Dogtown and Z-Boys. [3]

Contents

History

Initial beginnings

The Z-boys began as a surf team for the Zephyr surfboard shop at Santa Monica. Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom, and Craig Stecyk opened the shop, titled Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Production Team, in 1973, and they soon begin recruiting young locals to represent them in surfing competitions. 14 year old Nathan Pratt was the first member of the team; he originally had worked in the shop as an apprentice surfboard shaper under Ho, Engblom, and Stecyk. [2] In an interview with Juice Magazine, Pratt notes the following:

"Within our world, the surf team was primary and the skate team was secondary. Allen Sarlo, Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Stacy Peralta, Chris Cahill and myself were on the surf team before there was a skate team. We were junior members of the surf team along with John Baum, Jimmy and Ricky Tavarez and Brian Walker. Guys like Ronnie Jay, Wayne Inouye, Wayne Saunders, Pat Kaiser, Barry Amos, Jeff Sibley, Bill Urbany and Adrian Reif were the top dogs. The history, skill and accomplishments of all the team members was represented in those shirts. Then we added Bob Biniak, Wentzle Ruml, Paul Constantineau, Jim Muir, Shogo Kubo and Peggy Oki to the skate team so that a team shirt represented a decent number of people." [4]

In 1974, Allen Sarlo, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Chris Cahill, and Stacey Peralta joined the Zephyr team; these local youths exhibited street style and aggressive mannerisms both on and off the surfboard. The majority of the team lived in the "Dogtown" area of Santa Monica; their primary surfing spot was the Cove at Pacific Ocean Park. However, thanks to the invention of urethane wheels, the Z-boys began to transition their surfing style to skateboarding. [1]

Formation of the Zephyr Competition Team

In 1975, Cahill, Pratt, Adams, Sarlo, Peralta, and Alva became the first members of the official Zephyr skateboarding team. Soon after, the Zephyr shop gained the final members of their team, making the total number 12 in all. These additional members were: Bob Biniak, Paul Constantineau, Jim Muir, Peggy Oki, Shogo Kubo and Wentzle Ruml. [1] The team began to practice in the backs of four schools in the surrounding area; it was at these asphalt banks that the Z-boys showcased their ability to transition surfing style to skateboarding. Taking inspiration from surfer Larry Bertleman, the Z-boys would skate low to the ground, dragging their hands against the concrete as if they were riding a wave. [5]

The Del Mar Nationals

The Z-Boys' first appearance at a skateboard competition occurred at the 1975 Del Mar Nationals; the contest was the first major skateboarding competition since the mid 1960s. [2] Their low, aggressive style in the freestyle section of the competition, though innovative, was critiqued by the older establishment of skateboarding. However, half of the finalists at the end of the competition were members of the Zephyr Competition Team (Freestyle: Jay Adams 3rd, Tony Alva 4th, Slalom: Dennis Harney 2nd, Nathan Pratt 4th, Women’s Freestyle: Peggy Oki 1st). The performance of Z-Boys such as Jay Adams marked the beginning of a national change in the style of skateboarding. [5]

Backyard pool skating

From 1976 to 1977, Southern California experienced a major drought that contributed to the 1st and 4th driest years in Californian history. In an effort to conserve water, neighborhood homes were draining their backyard swimming pools, leaving empty bowls of smooth concrete. The Z-boys took advantage of the sloping walls of the pools to push the boundary of innovation when it came to aerial skateboarding. [6] Craig Stecyk's photographs of the Z-Boys' aerial maneuvers appeared in Skateboarder under a series titled "Dogtown Articles"; [7] Stecyk's collections aided in the spike of skateboarding popularity in the late 20th century. [1]

Later years

Following the success of the "Dogtown Articles", the Z-Boys witnessed an exponential rise in public popularity. Due to growing interest from rival companies, many Z-Boys left in favor of more lucrative sponsorships. [5] By the end of 1976, the Zephyr Competition Team had ceased to exist. While the existence of the Zephyr team was short-lived, the Z-Boys are still widely regarded as the most influential team in skateboarding history. [2]

Members

Original members [8]

Later members [9]

Skateboarding Hall of Fame Z-Boys

In 2009, Tony Alva was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [10] In 2010, Stacy Peralta was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [10] In 2012, Peggy Oki and Jay Adams were inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [11] [10] In 2014, Jim Muir was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [10] In 2017, Shogo Kubo was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [10] In 2019, Cris Dawson was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [10] In 2020, Bob Biniak was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [10] In 2023, Wentzle Ruml and Paul Constantineau were inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. [12]

Representation in media

Related Research Articles

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Skateboarding is an action sport that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation. Originating in the United States, skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2009 report found that the skateboarding market is worth an estimated $4.8 billion in annual revenue, with 11.08 million active skateboarders in the world. In 2016, it was announced that skateboarding would be represented at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, for both male and female teams.

<i>Dogtown and Z-Boys</i> 2001 film by Stacy Peralta

Dogtown and Z-Boys is a 2001 documentary film produced by Agi Orsi and directed by Stacy Peralta. The documentary explores the pioneering of the Zephyr skateboard team in the 1970s and the evolving sport of skateboarding. Using a mix of film of the Zephyr skateboard team (Z-Boys) shot in the 1970s by Craig Stecyk, along with contemporary interviews, the documentary tells the story of a group of teenage surfer/skateboarders and their influence on the history of skateboarding culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Hosoi</span> American skateboarder

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacy Peralta</span> American skateboarder, screenwriter, film director

Stacy Douglas Peralta is an American film director and entrepreneur. He was previously a professional skateboarder and surfer with the Zephyr Competition Team, also known as the Z-Boys, from Venice, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Alva</span> American skateboarder and entrepreneur (born 1957)

Tony Alva is an American skateboarder, entrepreneur, and musician. He was a pioneer of vertical skateboarding and one of the original members of the Zephyr Competition Skateboarding Team, also known as the Z-Boys. The Transworld Skateboarding Magazine ranked him eighth in its list of the "30 Most Influential skateboarders" of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Adams</span> American skateboarder (1961–2014)

Jay J. Adams was an American skateboarder. As a teen, he was the youngest member of the Zephyr Competition Skateboarding Team (Z-Boys). His spontaneous freestyle skateboarding style, inspired by ocean surfing, helped innovate and popularize modern skateboarding. His aggressive vertical tricks make him one of skateboarding's most influential stylists.

<i>Lords of Dogtown</i> 2005 American film

Lords of Dogtown is a 2005 American biographical drama film that captures the rise of skateboarding culture in 1970s Santa Monica and Venice, California. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke and written by Stacy Peralta, a key figure in the skateboarding community, the film chronicles the lives of the Z-Boys, a group of young skateboarders who revolutionized the sport with their aggressive style and innovative tricks. The story focuses on the lives of three of these skateboarders: Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and Jay Adams, as they navigate fame, rivalry, and personal challenges. The film explores the impact of commercialization on the sport and the lives of its practitioners. Despite mixed reviews and underperforming at the box office, it has gained a cult following and is recognized for its authentic portrayal of skateboarding culture and history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen E. Friedman</span> American photographer and artist

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Shogo Kubo was a Japanese American skateboarding pioneer and one of the original members of the Z-Boys that formed in Venice, California in 1975.

Craig R. Stecyk III is an American artist, writer, photojournalist, and filmmaker who has documented and influenced the surf, skate, and snowboarding cultures.

The Bones Brigade Video Show is a 1984 skateboarding video, produced by Stacy Peralta and Craig Stecyk.

Peggy E. Oki is an American skateboarder, surfer, artist, and environmental activist. She was an original member of the Z-Boys and competed with the Zephyr Competition Team in the 1970s. She was the only female member of the Z-Boys.

Skip Engblom is an American entrepreneur and one of the co-founders of the Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions Surf Shop in Santa Monica, California. He also helped to create the Zephyr Surf Team and the Zephyr Competition Team, a.k.a. Z-Boys. Engblom was never a remarkable skateboarder himself but was a big influence to the Zephyr team.

Ty Scott Page was a professional skateboarder and a leader in the skateboarding scene during "the golden era" of skateboarding in the early 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions</span> Historic site

Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions was a surfboard manufacturing facility and surf shop located in Santa Monica, California, that opened in 1971 and closed in 1976. The building was designated as a city landmark in 2007.

Juice Magazine, founded in 1993 in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a skateboarding, surfing and music publication, edited, owned and published by Terri Craft. It includes interviews by skate editor, Jim Murphy, and features editors: Steve Olson, Jay Adams, Dave Duncan, Christian Hosoi, Jim O'Mahoney, and surf editors Jeff Ho, Herbie Fletcher and Dibi Fletcher. The staff includes Terri Craft, editor and Dan Levy, assistant editor. Other interviewers include Jason Jessee, Jeff Ament, Chuck Dukowski, Bill Danforth and Chris Mearkle. There are currently 76 issues of the magazine. Juice Magazine headquarters is located in the birthplace of modern-day skateboarding, Venice, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Sarlo</span> American surfer

Allen Sarlo is an American surfer, most prominently known as one of the original members of the Z-Boys surf and skateboarding team. Surfing Magazine recognized him as the first to "kill" a wave. The aggressive and slashing style of surfing he pioneered during the 1970's earned him the nickname "Wave Killer". He is considered by many as "The King of Malibu".

Matt Warshaw is a former professional surfer, former writer and editor at Surfer magazine (1984-1990), and the author of dozens of feature articles and large-format books on surfing culture and history.

Dave “Hackman” Hackett is a professional skateboarder from Malibu, California.

Skateboarding Hall of Fame, founded in 1997, is a museum and hall of fame located in Simi Valley, California, United States. The museum documents the history of skateboarding and the skateboarders, photographers, and other notable figures, publications, and companies who have influenced its development.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cave, Steve. "What Is the Origin of Dogtown and the Zephyr Skateboarding Team?". LiveAbout. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The History of Dogtown and the Z-Boys". www.storeyourboard.com. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  3. ↑ "The boys of Dogtown". National Museum of American History. September 22, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  4. ↑ "DOGTOWN CHRONICLES: NATHAN PRATT". Juice Magazine. March 1, 2003. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Beato, G. (August 24, 2001). "When skateboarding shook the world". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  6. ↑ Stansbury, Mark (October 19, 2016). "How the 1970s California Drought Helped Invent Bowl Skating". The Inertia. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine". archive.org.
  8. ↑ "Z-Boy Company Homepage" . Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  9. ↑ Craft, Terri. "Zephyr – Jeff Ho Interview". Juice (skateboarding magazine) . Retrieved March 1, 2003.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The list of Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductees". surfertoday.com.
  11. ↑ Connelly, Laylan (August 21, 2014). "Original Z-Boy influenced skating, surfing worlds". Huntington Beach Wave. The Orange County Register. p. 8.
  12. ↑ "SHoF 2023". Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum.

Further reading

  1. ↑ "N-Men: The Untold Story (2023)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ "The N-Men: The Skaters Behind The Legend". www.boardistan.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  3. ↑ "N-Men Movie in the Works". Juice Magazine. January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Off the Deep End with the N-Men". Rust Magazine. December 5, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Sacto Street Damage | Midtown Monthly". September 11, 2014. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
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