Tony Hawk over Chris Black - Ramona, California

During 1986, the best skateboard ramps in the U.S. tended to be on the east coast. So, in December of that year, as much of the east coast's best vert skaters descended on southern California for the national championship, we easterners were stunned to find some of the world's top skaters still skating on sub-standard, often even rickety and twisted ramps, like this backyard ramp in Ramona. This particular session included Tony Hawk, Billy Ruff, Gator, Joe Johnson, Steve Steadham, Reese Simpson, Ned "Peanut" Brown, Dan "Booger" Brown, Chris Black and Pat Clark. Despite the condition of the ramp (there were actually places on the deck where one couldn't stand or the deck would collapse!), the session was great, and ended with some incredible Doubles action. Here, a young, but already legendary, Tony Hawk crosses his channel lien-to-tail over Chris Black doing the same trick in the other direction. December, 1986