Dave Ruels Birthday Bash @ Pink Motel
People started to get buzzed, and continued to push the level even further. Everyone was stoked! People were shaking hands, talking shit, and generally having a great time. No one wanted the night to end.
Words Dave Mollen
I was sitting at work a couple of Saturdays ago, and received a call from John “softy” Swope asking me if I wanted to go with him to Dave Ruels birthday party at the Pink Motel. This was very rare, because Swope never wants to go skate, let alone call someone to go skate. I was actually shocked. Anyway, when it came time for me to leave work, I tried paging Swope to no avail.
In typical fashion he never returned my pages. I decided to head down there anyway with no invite. I wasn’t even sure I could get in, not knowing who was throwing the party or who would be there. I had skated the Pink Motel years ago when me and a couple of friends rushed it, but we got booted after a couple of runs, so I was definitely looking forward to getting in a decent session in this legendary pool. Me and Kline pulled up to the Motel, and some toothless guy asked if we were there for the party. After we parked and paraded past the rooms of the white trash speed freak losers, we were in.
The pool was packed! There was probably 20 people skating in a heated snake session. Around the pool were all kinda photographers, chicks, a band, and various partiers. I was in heaven! Instantly, me and Kline saw a bunch of her friends, so we knew it was all good. After Mary handed me a beer, it was time to skate the pool.
If you can’t be stoked skating with the likes of Salba, Ricky Stiles, Lance, and Sam Hitz, then you probably don’t have a pulse. Everyone was ripping! Dudes were assaulting the death box, carve grinds were abundant, lip slides and 50/50s were being pulled with regularity. None of this new school kick flip fag shit, This party was all about old school charging and ripping! Every run was better than the last. The level was definitely being pushed upwards!
As the day went on, more and more heads showed up. Jeff and Mike from Raven showed up and were tearing. Steven Bailey and Steve Roche were fucking agro. Some of the Venice dudes made an appearance puffing herb and having a great time. Deron was slashing old school frontside grinds. Dave Ruel was simply tearing the pool apart, and he even jumped on the mike for a song or 2 with the band. Pretty amusing to say the least!
As night fell, the aggression didn’t. Someone set up some lights and the session was still in full force. People started to get buzzed, and continued to push the level even further. Everyone was stoked! People were shaking hands, talking shit, and generally having a great time. No one wanted the night to end.
I have only a few complaints. First off, the drain needs to be covered better. Only a sketchy piece of wood covered it. I wilsoned once or twice hitting that thing….damn! Secondly, why hasn’t this been done before? Apparently, it cost $1000 to rent it out for 8 hours, so splitting the cost between a group of people would be definitely worth it.
I’m still waiting for the sequel and for Swope to return my page.