Skatopia
 Skatopia Welcome Image |
|
| Type | Skatepark |
|---|---|
| Industry | Skateboarding |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Owner(s) | Brewce Martin |
| Website | http://www.skatopia.org |
Skatopia is an eighty-eight acre skatepark near Rutland, Ohio owned and operated by pro skater Brewce Martin. Skatopia is known for its anarchist atmosphere and annual music festivals Bowl Bash and Backwoods Blowout.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Facilities
Structures include: Lula Bowl, Epcot Bean, Church of Skatin', The Full Pipe, King Dong (1995–2009), the Amity Whitelight Amphitheatre, and the Skateboard Museum.
[edit] History
Brewce Martin says he built the original Skatopia in 1977 at his parents basement using closet doors, particle board, and other odds and ends. In 1979, he built his first quarter pipe. In the eighties, he continued building skate ramps until his move to Florida in 1988. Years following, Martin would tour the world skateboarding before revisiting his dream of Skatopia.[2]
[edit] Early Years | 1995-2003
Brewce Martin moved back to West Virginia in 1995 where he started work on the final Skatopia. During that October, Skatopia was forced out from West Virginia. Martin found an alternative location in Ohio and formed the CIA, or Citizens Investigating Anarchy, where fifty friends donated money to cover the down payment on the final resting place of Skatopia.[3]
During this time, Martin started holding annual work parties called Bowl Bash and Backwoods Blow Out.[4] Notably the Epcot Bean bowl and King Dong Ramp were constructed. In 2000, Real TV highlighted Skatopia as an extreme back yard party which increased attendance as a result. In 2002, the Full Pipe is completed and 2003 saw the Church of Skatin'.[5]
[edit] Punk Music Renaissance | 2004-2009
Martin befriended a then unknown anarchist called Foo, who took over direction of Skatopia's events. He transformed Bowl Bash and Backwoods Blow Out into large festivals which caught the attention Rolling Stone Magazine who called it, "88 Acres of Anarchy". Foo notably changed the genre of Bowl Bash from metal to punk. For this Martin jokingly nicknamed him the "Punk Prophet".[6]
Skatopia went on to be featured on Viva La Bam.[7] The popularity of the episode led Skatopia to become the final level of Tony Hawk Underground 2 later on in 2004[8] and a shoe line by Draven in 2005.[9] Headlamp Productions started filming "Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy" in 2006[10] during which, Duane Peters visited[11] and Brewce Martin served jail time.[12]
A week before Bowl Bash XIV, Brewce Martin was severely injured by an explosion at a local tire shop. Martin was in an extended coma where he missed Bowl Bash and the Skatopia movie premiere.[13]
[edit] Post Accident | 2010-Present
In early 2010, Skatopia announced American Skatefest and the filming of a MTV Series.[14] Foo left Skatopia claiming American Skatefest was purposefully scheduled against his other project NYC Punk Island.[15] American Skatefest and Bowl Bash both suffered poor attendance as a result. MTV cut Skatopia's reality show and instead made it an episode of MTV's True Life.[16]
Afterwards Skatopia collaborated with Bones to release a line of wheels.[17] The Skatopia Movie DVD was released June 2011.[18] Brewce Martin is still recovering from his injury and the future of Skatopia is uncertain.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "Skatopia - Official Home of the CIA", Skatopia, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ Olson, Steve "Brewce Martin Interview", Juice Magazine, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ Nieratko, Chris [1], Brewce Martin Interview, 10 March 2007
- ^ Sergent, Beth "Bowl Bash tradition continues", The Daily Sentinel, 20 June 2011
- ^ "History of Skatopia", Skatopia.us, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ Dove, Travis [2], Welcome to Skatopia: Eighty-Eight Acres of Anarchy in the USA, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ "Mardi Gras", Viva La Bam, 23 May 2004
- ^ "Tony Hawk Underground 2 Skatopia Walkthrough", Tony Hawk Guide, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ "Skatopia Footwear", Draven Shoes, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ "Skatopia the Movie Home Page", Skatopia the Movie, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ "Duane Peters and the Die Hunns at Skatopia", Pools N Pipes, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ "Jail Inmate Records 2006 L-Q", Washington County Sheriff, 1 January 2006
- ^ Salo, Adam "Brewce Martin Seriously Injured", ESPN.com, 18 June 2009
- ^ "2010 Interpunk American Skate Fest with Fishbone, 7 Seconds, Youth Brigade, Greg Ginn, Meat Puppets", Punk News, 15 April 2010
- ^ "Open Letter to Skatopia Fans", I Was Around, 15 April 2010
- ^ "Skatopia and ‘True Life’", The Daily Sentinel, Retrieved 2 April 2011
- ^ "Skatopia Collab Wheels", Bones Wheels, Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ "DVD mastering tips learned under duress!", Skatopia the Movie, 26 May 2011
Coordinates: 39°4′41.35″N 82°9′3.12″W / 39.0781528°N 82.1508667°W
