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Posted on 06/06/2026 5:04:27 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Raised in the rural Montana community of Big Sandy, Jeff Ament got hooked as a teenager on skateboarding at a time when not much more than only a handful of ramps were available in the state. Ament's first love was a “terrible” clay wheel skateboard and his passion blossomed on a family trip to California, where he skateboarded and felt the g-forces on urethane wheels on paved asphalt streets and then poured through the pages of Skateboarder magazine on the 20-hour drive home to Montana.
Ament found pictures of decks and ramps that he used as inspiration for designs that his dad, George, would help him build — like how to craft a kick tail and create the perfect tail radius — and took his skateboard to compete in larger contests around the state. “I think the idea that he was helping me build something was the most important thing to him,” Ament said. “He gave me a life skill.”
Ament's other major life skill, as bassist for the Pearl Jam band he co-founded, also has served him well and provided him with the means to help fund the creation of world-class skateboard parks in Montana. Many are in small, isolated communities, including at least one on every state Native American reservation by the end of the year. Construction starts in two weeks for one on the last reservation on the list, Northern Cheyenne..
(Excerpt) Read more at clickondetroit.com ...
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Aspiring wrapper?
Eddie Veder had this to say: Freeeeeen zippy whole a dayssss of skboarding. Ohhhhhh yah.
Somehow I can hear that in my head now. Thanks.
Belgian Malinois Dog Has The Most Incredible Skateboarding Skills
Every few months I loooove watching the 2016 Election Night Meltdown of The Young Turks.
I now also watch this incredible dog on the skateboard. And, of course, the dog’s name is Lucky.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gRbR5MusuP4
Just try not to smile.
That takes me back. In 1963 or so, we started hearing about "skateboards" as a new thing from California. Every boy immediately stole one of his sister's roller skates, took it apart, and nailed the halves onto a board. Then some stores started selling ready-made skateboards with metal wheels, and before long with clay wheels. Clay was better, but would still slide out easily, or stop dead if you hit even a small pebble on the street. Plenty of us bought wheels and trucks and made our own boards. We all rode in the street, and nobody wore helmets or pads. Lots of road rash, but surprisingly few broken bones.
Polyurethane wheels didn't show up for about 10 more years, by which time just about all of the guys my age had quit riding skateboards. It was basically seen as a pastime for little kids.
Skateboards, I’ve almost made them respectable
You see, I can’t always get through to you, so I go for your son
-Joe Jackson (I’m The Man)
Never owned that album. By an odd coincidence, though, I was listening to Jumpin’ Jive less than a week ago.
Yeah - my first skateboards were steel wheel’s.
Hit a pebble and eat sh!t.
All that practice falling helped later in life. I try not to fall down these days, but I bet I could still get my shoulder under and roll.
You’re welcome. 😎
This man is doing GRERAT things here in tribal Montana.
There is less meth usage and the children are getting more active.
It great work at the local level! (which is especially HARD to do on the reservations).
That sounds great. What exactly is accomplishing that? If it works, it should be replicated elsewhere?
Interesting story of how urethane skateboard wheels came to be:
That was interesting, thanks.
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