Return to Buddha

Bill Sharp and I met up with a publisher today. On the way back, I pointed up into the hills and said, “You know, the Buddha pool is right up that street.” Bill nodded and smiled. He knew where it was… generally. After all, he’d been there in the summer of 1976 and 1977 when it was first skated. He had shot photographs of Kent Senatore, Jerry Valdez, Ralph Valencia and Marc Smith. I phoned the owners granddaughter and asked if I could bring Bill by the house to look at the pool and say “Hello”. She agreed and we were soon standing beside the pool. Bill hadn’t been in this backyard in over thirty five years. I made the introductions with the granddaughter and then she showed us a copy of Skateboard World magazine with the Buddha Pool article from 1977. She still had it in the house. She said her uncle had brought it by. “I guess he thought that it was pretty cool.”

The granddaughter went on to tell us that the skateboarders trespassing in the pool all those years ago, had been a real issue for the family back then. Things had been stolen and there was vandalism. She quickly pointed out that this may have been done by people other than the skaters… but who knew?

We looked through the magazine and it was remarkable to see all the changes in the landscape and the trees over the ensuing thirty five years. She then asked Bill to sign the magazine for her. Bill was humble and did so. I was stoked. It was cool to look on such a scene and know that at one time, this family may have felt ill will towards skateboarders, but things have come full circle and all ended well. Thank you to Bill Sharp for the photographs, the family at the Buddha for taking the time and thank you for reading. Skate - Ozzie

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