Tag: skatepark

Posted on

Kristy Volcom Skatepark Session 2018

Kristy Volcom Skatepark Session 2018 On the night of November 16, 2018, Krisy invited me out to Volcom Skatepark for a night session. I usually shoot during the day, but I welcomed the challenge of working under mixed light. I always use flashes—because flashes give me control over my narrative.

This is Krisy’s home park, and you could feel it. There was a great energy between all the skaters. And when you bring a camera to a skatepark—let alone with flashes and stands—the session always heats up. People push a little harder, go a little bigger. That night was no different.

Kristy is one of my favorite skaters to shoot. She’s the kind of skater who rides whenever she can. And anyone who skates regularly knows the hardcore skaters. Kristy is one of those. She’s got amazing style and lands her tricks nearly every time.

We moved between the bowls and the street section. The ambient lighting at a skatepark always brings interesting color shifts.

 It was a fun session.

Kristy Volcom Skatepark Session 2018

Posted on

old skateboarders passing on the baton, Skatelab RIP

I read on facebook that Skatelab skate park in Simi Valley is going to be shut down.

The first thing I want to say is that I have only visited this park a few times. And during my first visit  to Skatelab I felt that unmistakable old school skatepark feeling. If you never hung out at one of the old school skateparks you wouldn’t understand. As a matter of fact I used to get the same feeling when I localized and worked at Skatopia Skatepark (in Buena Park California back in the late 1970’s). And as im writing this post I realize that the old school feeling has nothing to do with the skateboard museum or even the park itself. Interstingly I cannot really pinpoint why the place made me feel like I was in a old school skatepark. Maybe its the person or people who made that place?

Mixed feelings about Skatelabs closure

Surprisingly, I am both sad and happy that Skatelab is closing. The reasons I am sad are probably obvious. Whereas the  reason I am happy is less obvious. It has a little to do with old skateboarders passing on the baton.

Why i’m happy about the closure

So I am happy about the closure in more of a changing of the guard sense. Which is to say  (in my opinion) old skaters and old skater culture have hindered skateboarding to some level. Look around, old skate dudes run a lot of the companies and events and in my opinion it drag them down. I for one am curious to see what things new skateboarders will come up with. For me skateboard events, products and skateparks could use a fresh perspective. I believe the younger generation will find something exciting or interesting for skateboarding. So will the old skateboarding generation hand down control to the young? My guess would be no.

Skatelab is an important part of skateboarding history

In closing, to be clear I do not think that Skatelab has held back the progression of skateboarding. I mean what I say in more of a symbolic sense. And in a perfect world the place would be preserved in an even more museum like environment. But sadly old school skateboarding history like Jazz (another American invention) will probably slip into a slumber and ultimately fade away, And maybe thats the natural way of things?







Posted on

“Aloha” Hunter Long, a bail shot story

Ken Hada photography hunter long aloha skateboarding-1
Ken Hada photography hunter long aloha skateboarding

“Aloha” Hunter Long, a bail shot story. Hunter asked me if we could hit Pedlow skateboard park. And just a few hours after the session ended, Hunter was on plane bound for Hawaii.

The next day I edited the photos. And I felt she might like this “bail shot”. So I text her this photo along with some “makes”. And Hunter immediately text back that she thought this image was funny.

Posted on

Amelia Brodka, am session at Vans Off The Wall Skateboard Park

Ken Hada Amelia Brodka front d vans off the wall skateboard park-1
Ken Hada Amelia Brodka front d vans off the wall skateboard park-1

Ken Hada Sarah Kate vans hb back disaster-1
Ken Hada Sarah Kate vans hb back disaster-

Back in the day when change seemed like nothing but a fantasy, instead of giving into the way things were going she believed in women skateboarding and even built a refuge for it thrive in.

These images are from a skateboarding session Amelia Brodka invited me and my camera to on the morning of the Girls Global Qualifier Huntington Beach. Amelia has been a heroic figure for me ever since I heard about her movie and annual skateboarding event Exposure. You see when I throw a Skatopia reunion its me cooking chili dogs over a old coleman stove at Chino skatepark. When Amelia throws a event it is somewhat larger. So I am always honored to photograph her and always happy to pick her brain on things like Women’s skateboarding.