Back In The Day / Mondo's Pool

In 2012, William Sharp and I began working on a book project together. It was difficult from the beginning. Thousands of slides were assembled, all out of order, randomly stored in sleeves… it took awhile just to separate and categorize everything. We both have full time work, so it was a labor of love. Passion. I decided to interview everyone I could and include anecdotes with the images. We did three major photograph selections. Only the best of the best. Then, we spread the love around. For example, I found only one photograph of Lee Gahimer and one photograph of Charlie Ransom… they went in. We both felt that it was important to give as many skaters as we could, the recognition and respect they deserve. We did exactly that.

About a year into the process, I was doing the section on Mondo’s pool. I never could pinpoint where Mondo’s pool actually was. Some of the best images from Skateboard World magazine were shot there. The iconic Jay Smith lapover photograph comes immediately to mind. It was Scotch taped to my bedroom door in Pennsylvania.

 

The Sharp archive was filled with great photographs from Mondo’s. Eventually, I found the pool. I drove out in the summer of 2013. The house was in pretty good shape. A high wall surrounded the property. I had to go in via the front door. I knocked on the security gate. A woman’s voice answered, “Yes?” My reply… “I know that this is going to sound crazy…” With laptop in hand, I began telling her about the pool’s history. Silence. A metal clank. The gate opened. The owner introduced herself and looked at the photographs. Fascination. “Whoa…  it actually is this house.” She was intrigued by the whole thing. I asked if there was any way I could see the pool. “It doesn’t look like that anymore.” She replied, pointing at my computer screen. My heart sank. I followed her into the yard.

A slate top deck had replaced the famous Blue Haven bullnose coping and there was a huge jacuzzi in the shallow end cup. It didn’t matter. I walked around in awe anyway. I was standing at Mondo’s. I ran my hands along the top of the pool just below the tiles of the hip. Jay Smith’s spot. The owner just looked at me in amusement. The transitions could still be seen under the water. Amazing. Mellow. It was a very wide bowl. No wonder so much was done here. I thanked them and went on my way. I’m grateful to have been there. The William Sharp book  ’Back In The Day’ is completed. We are getting ready to shop it around and put it out. Mondo’s is just one of many pools that are included. I’ll keep you updated as to its release. Thank you to William Sharp for the Jay Smith image. Skate- Ozzie