San Francisco: ”Up North, Down Hills“ Stop Two

The city of San Francisco is a skateboard Mecca, and has been for many, many years. One could go as far as to suggest that, for the true soul-skater, it is the best city to skateboard in that exists. This is doubly so if you ride your shredsled down hills. I mean, come on!—just thinking about the endless hills filled with banked driveways, myriad dips and contours is enough to get ya all riled up and ready to roll. Not to mention all of the people, cars, stop lights, architecture, huge trees, and about a hundred other features that change from block to block. Basically, SF is the shit and we were so very stoked to have had it as our second destination on the “Up North, Down Hills” road trip.

One of the greatest things that San Francisco has going on for it at the moment is it’s thriving longboard scene, particularly the emergence of the free-spirited skate crew called the “Sunset Sliders”. These dudes and dudettes are a close band of skaters that thrash all over the City, spreading urethane lines and good vibes everywhere they go. The Sunset Sliders are our close allies in this Fraternity Of Shred, so it’s no coincidence that they were our guides during our stay San Francisco.

To say that we skated heavily in SF would be a serious understatement. We woke up early on Sunday morning, grubbed a quick breakfast of Irish coffee and other delectable items, and were shredding by 10am. We skated all through the day, shuttling from spot to spot—the crew growing as the day progressed. We met up with at least 60 skaters or more throughout the day. Max Capps and a fully packed Gunmetal Van showed up for a bit at one spot, skated with us for a while, had some lunch, and then continued on their way up to Maryhill. Even our buddy Maxim Garant Rousseau from Orangatang came up from LA and shredded with us. Good times indeed!

After about our fifth pack run down an undisclosed road that starts somewhere at the top of the city and drops off on the shores of Ocean Beach, we decided to get our BBQ on at one of the Sunset Sliders house—Thanks Chad! We spent a few hours grubbing on some tasty hotdoggers and spicy mustard chicken legs. But the hunger to mob some hills was not yet filled, so we packed up our 16-passenger van with about 20 something skaters and headed out on a stealth-mode, night-mission. The Sunset Slider’s beloved Big Dave was our welcomed navigator; He took us to some of the most beautiful runs that we’d ever seen. From the top of a few of these roads you could see the endless lights and bewildering hugeness of the whole of what is called San Francisco. It was enough to force a collective pause, if only for a brief second, before we jumped on our boards again and rolled into the oily, spotted darkness of the streetlight-night. Shit was epic!

At about midnight we dropped the last of the skaters off at their cars, hugged it out, slapped some hands, and everyone promising to do this again real soon. Each of us knowing we’d be back, if not in the physical, at least in the dreamings and wanderings of our minds. We’d be back here for sure.

When we arrived back at Dave’s that night we passed the hell out, got up early, and hit the road to Portland. That morning, everyone’s grins Cheshire in size, and form. Memories logged and friendships vested. I believe I can speak for the entire crew when I say that the city of San Francisco will forever be a home away from home to all of us.

We’d like to thank all of the Sliders for showing us such a radical time and for their inspirational take on skateboarding. A special thanks goes out to Big Dave and his beautiful lady for letting us crash their pad for the weekend. So much Love! We’d like to, without a doubt, thank the sponsors of Up North, Down Hills: Paris Trucks, Divine Wheels, and S-One Helmets. And finally we’d like to thank skateboarding for being what it is: A vehicle for many of us to express ourselves and bare our souls though the fluidity of motion and the unique quality it has of dilating our earthly perspectives.

-Marcus