Initially, skating was a rolling stand-in for surfing. A next best thing. Asphalt slants, concrete curbs, and stormwater drains were all places to rehearse surf moves and simulate the wave-riding zen. But like any lovechild, skating was determined to go its own way, carve a different path, and soar beyond expectations. And so it did, spawning a distinctive culture and new moves, giving rise to a rebellious cast of heroes who dared to reclaim the streets, drain the pool, and mine the skies. Concrete playgrounds around the world were ripe for the picking; just add wheels, no saltwater required. Skateboarding flourished; maybe surfing even felt a little left behind; the lovechild had grown into a radical, self-aware adult with lofty ambitions. The two cultures were always intertwined, but at some point, surfing figured it had to borrow a little back. It’s said imitation is the highest form of flattery, and so it was that surfing embarked on its own aerial odyssey, looking sideways at skateboarding for its cues. Curiously, it was an empty pool that accelerated the evolution of skating’s reach for the sky, and now it’s wave pools that are fast-tracking surfers as they learn how to fly. The lines are blurring, with crossover riders straddling both worlds. ‘Surf then skate.’ ‘Skate then surf.’ The mantra has never been more real.

Scott Oster carving off the coping with body language that borrows heavily from his surfing roots. Photo: Arto Saari. Greyson Fletcher – bare feet and board shorts at the Banzai skate park on the North Shore.
Photo: Tim Aguilar. Mid-70s Stacy Peralta leans into a Larry Bertlemann inspired ‘Bert Slide’ and soul-arches around the rim. Greyson hits a crook tailgrab as he grinds away at the North Shore surrounds. Photo: Tim Aguilar. If you leave it there, they’ll try and ride it. ...