Lasekland

A gleaming sun. Palm trees. Crowded decks. Bucky Lasek’s home sits out in the middle of the countryside. The neighborhood is affluent. Rolling hills and fenced estates. MRZ, Christian and I drive the meandering road that leads to his house. I look around in the midday sun. Horse stables sit in the middle distance before a long row of trees. A white fence wraps around the nearby property. Enclosed. Privacy. Colorful bougainvillea obscure the horse corral at the edge of the field. Contentment resides among the well-manicured lawns and shading trees. We drive past…

Bucky graciously has a BBQ and bowl session after the Clash at Claremont. He does this for the athletes and friends that give so much to Grind for Life. Bucky gives back. Sponsors provide delicious food and drinks. There are plenty of beverages, as skating the huge bowl is thirsty work. The crew gathers. It is a crowded, milling deck of lawn chairs, comfortable over-stuffed deck furniture, umbrellas and families. Pro skaters, friends and children all spill out across the property. Skateboarding takes center stage. It isn’t the skateboarding of the XGames. It isn’t the skateboarding of the professional. It isn’t a powerful display of vertical prowess. The skateboarding on this day centers around one thing only. Fun.

The bowl at Bucky’s is a canyon. There are some that ride and some that watch. I watched and took notes. Mike Owen, Paul Wisniewski, Mike Rogers, Owen Neider, Bucky, Daniel Cuervo, Scott Foss, Dan Sparagna, Adam Taylor, Kiko, Cam Dowse, Darren Jenkins, Tony Mag and a heavy crew of others, were putting it all on the line. Mixmaster Mike was spinning hard, music pulsed, happiness prevailed and another dream was fulfilled. Thanks to Bucky, BULL TACO, ROCKSTAR, GRIND FOR LIFE, MOVIE TICKETS, PUMA and thank you to MRZ for the images. Skate- Ozzie