You know you're an oldtimeWinnipegskater if...

[Richie D]

you had a CAL240 (or some other ball bearing wheeled plastic skateboard)
you know who started SK8 skateboard shop (bonus if you know the original location)
you know which Winnipeg skater was the world 360 champ
you know who invented "The Mess"
Skywave vs. Paradise - you know who ruled
you've skated the Pepsi halfpipe

[rodel]

Dang, I only got one of those. Gues I've been in Calgary too long.
Sk8 started by: Gy (sp? RIP) Harry, and Alex, I think thats all of them?
Skate was my main transpo bak in the 80's.
Loving Millenium park now, as well as the Source park and the mini ramp in my garage.
Rodel

[Richie D]

Ok, I'm guessing most of the Winnipeg Old Time Skaters are not surfing this website, or at least they aren't  "old" enough to be able to answer these questions so I'll just give you the answers.

Original owners of SK8 are Klaus Hoffmann and Steve Harnish.  Bonus - original location was on Sherbrook.

Winnipeg ont-time world 360 champ?  Good friend of mine, Vic Ilg (I saw him spin well over 100 many times)

The mess was invented by Matt Groening (not sure I got the name right).  One of the coolest tricks I've ever seen, starts out on edge of board and then a pressure flip sends the board 180 with a couple of 360 spins and lands on wheels.

Skywave was a skatepark in an old theatre on St. Mary's road and Paradise was an indoor park on St. James street.  The Skywave ramps were rather poor although once you got to know the wobbles and weird transitions it was ok.  Paradise had well constructed ramps but the park didn't last too long.

I skated for Paradise and also for another skateshop on St. Mary's Road - Surf's Up.  My first "real" deck was a Hobie Skatepark Rider with Lazer trucks and Red Kryptonics,  I also had a Dogtown PC Tailtap with Trackers and Howell wheels for ramps.

I placed third in Freestyle at the first ever Winnipeg Skateboard Contest held at the St. James Civic Centre.   Russ Howell made an appearance at the contest.  If you have to ask who that is, you're not old enough to be an old time skater.

I also tied for third at the only other Freestyle contest I ever remember being held in Winnipeg at the Manitoba Legislature grounds.  I tied with Eric Santiago (who was a really good all around skater)

Other skaters I can remember that were really good at the time were Vic Ilg, Steve Harnish, Mat Groening, the Bent (spelling?) brothers, Curtis ? (he and his brother had a shop and manufactured boards for a while I think), Ed Loewen, Gord Winter, Klaus Hoffmann, and there are more I'm forgetting.

Haven't skated in about 20 years now.  Wow!  I really am an old time skater!

[rodel]

Thanks for the info. Is Curtis the guy who owned California Daze on Portage? Name sounds familliar.
Never rode tranny as a kid in the 80's. Didn't know about the ramps and parks, just rode the streets with my friends. Started riding ramps and parks about  3 years ago here in Calgary.
Good times.
Rodel

[Richie D]

That's right!  I can't remember his brother's name.  Never heard anything about them after that.

[mute skateboards]

I have been doing some research for the past 5 or 6 months on Winnipeg's skateboarding History. I started a website www.winnipegskateparks.com and I published my history article on the site. You can click on this link to read it
http://www.winnipegskateparks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=37

I know I'm missing alot of details so I need all  of your guys help filling in the gaps. I would also love to get more photos from the 70's. If anyone can give me a hand you can e-mail me at darren@winnipegskateparks.com

[mute skateboards]

I'm also looking for pics & info on the 80's and 90's skate scene in Winnipeg.  If you skated in Winnipeg prior to 1994 I need to hear from you

darren@winnipegskateparks.com

[veryoldSkool]

you had a CAL240 (or some other ball bearing wheeled plastic skateboard)
you know who started SK8 skateboard shop (bonus if you know the original location)
you know which Winnipeg skater was the world 360 champ
you know who invented "The Mess"
Skywave vs. Paradise - you know who ruled
you've skated the Pepsi halfpipe

I was lucky, cousins from the States left a wood board with super hard urethanes (could be clay) behind. I learned to do tic-tacs with that
Im so old I was done when sk8 started but I did meet some of the originals like Harry (the rest escapes me and no its not due to old age:P)
Who was the World 360 Champ? I got to see Russ Howell when he visited (now thats makes me feel old )
The Mess? Sounds like something them freaks in Windsor Park would name. Am I at least close?
I skated for both teams First was Paradise then for the Rose brothers at Skywave
And of course Ive skated that death trap:P I managed to tap back side almost 3 inches from the top. Ive dropped down on it and almost broke my neck during a show doing this stupid dual rider stunt the damn thing was only 8 feet wide for godsake!!
Only thing good about that ramo was I got to use the utility box a few times wink wink
LOL
So how old am I?
Haha.
Btw I just started skating again last year the day the Forks Plaza opened
Ill be there alot come say hi at the bowls