Wild In The Streets is an unconventional skateboarding event born on the streets of New York City in 2004, and continued in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Vancouver, Tampa, Montreal, London, and Madrid over the last six years. Pedestrian jaws drop at the sight of thousands of skateboarders invading downtown districts in masse. The premise was simple: meet up with the Emerica team at a local skate spot and go street skating, literally, throughout the cities, eventually ending up at a block party barbecue, where the skating continued.
We arrived at Hollenbeck Skate Plaza a little before noon.
There were around a hundred skaters having a session as more skaters slowly trickled in from all sides of the park. After spectating and shooting a fresh skate session. We started to get hungry and found this restaurant called Guisados. This place is SLAMMIN! If your ever in the area you must grab a few tacos!
Right when we got back to Hollenbeck Skate Plaza, the park was filled with hundreds of skaters. We attacked the streets on our first attempt to skate to the next location. Little did we know, the LAPD set up a road block and started handing out citations for skating in the street. So this caused the hundreds of skaters to run in the opposite direction hoping to escape the chance of getting a citation. So we all gathered at Hollenbeck Park again waiting to see what was next.
We were surrounded by all kinds of cops. Cops in cars, motorcycles and on bicycles. They even had the ghetto bird out to peep the scene. Since the LAPD spoiled our first attempt we had to take a different route. So we were handed a map with the new route.
We were instructed by the LAPD to skate only on the sidewalk and if we rode on the street we would be ticketed. I looked around and was surrounded by hundreds of skaters. Then looked at the 3 foot wide sidewalk. How the hell were we all suppose to skate on the sidewalk?!? Hellooo... We all knew that wasn't possible. So we did what all skaters know best... and that was too CHARRRGE!!! We hit the streets hard in hopes that we wouldnt get cited.
We skated a grueling 5 miles to Lafayette Park. Yes, 5 MILES! I would just like to state that that was the longest distance I have ever skated in my life. Would I do it again? Not no 5 miles! That skate felt like a marathon! LOL! We finally arrived at Lafayette Park. Team Emerica was there signing autographs and taking pictures.
After another fat skate session with some of the pros. Emerica provided pizza from Toddy G’s Pizza for all of the skaters that made it to Lafayette Park. Wild in the Streets 2011 was definitely a great experience that I am proud to have been part of. Be sure to check out the video!
Check out the VIDEO:
Author: Eric Eusebio
Project Manager / Sales of Eat.Sleep.Work. I take the train and skate to work. I love the Lakers and snowboarding in the winter. Follow on Twitter @whatuperic