The year is 1970. The streets of Santa Monica and Venice are buzzing with a new kind of rebellion. In this era of counterculture, a group of young skaters, dubbed the Z-Boys, were pioneering a new, aggressive style of skateboarding, fueled by the drained backyard pools and urban terrain of their “Dogtown.”
Society viewed them with a mix of disdain and curiosity, but these pioneers were creating an art form, a blend of surfing and street-level anarchy. Their raw, fearless spirit laid the foundation for the punk and skate subcultures that continue to reverberate through the sport today.
Welcome to the New Generation of Skateboarding
Skateboarder Jason Vanportpal photo by Keri Freeman
From September 5th to 7th, Red Bull Origins took over the sands of Venice. This three-day event brought together different generations of skaters to honor the past while defining the future of skateboarding, inviting a new-age legends like Jason Vanportpal, known for skating across America and Japan.
Venice knew something gnarly was coming when artist Brighton Denevan sculpted and painted a giant Red Bull Origins visual into the sand at the edge of the shore, just in time for Red Bull to set up a skate park, a challenge-focused event set against a backdrop of Venice spots made famous by the Dogtown crew.
Photo courtesy Brighton Deneven
The main event presented various challenges for skaters, with a lineup featuring a mix of pioneers, icons, and rising stars.
Notable Red Bull athletes participating included Ryan Sheckler, listed in Fox Weekly’s “15 Most Influential Skateboarders of All-Time”; Jamie Foy, crowned 2017 and 2024 “Skater of the Year” by Thrasher Magazine; Torey Pudwill, named “Street Skater of the Year” from Transworld Skateboarding Magazine; Jake Wooten, and the visionary behind Red Bull Terminal Takeover.
Wall challenge pop-up on Venice Beach
Ryan Decenzo, a Canadian skateboarder taking skateboarding into natural environments; Sky Brown, a skater helping to move the needle for women in a male-dominated sport; and skateboarding legend Mark Gonzales, often called the “Godfather of Modern Street Skateboarding,” who was also in attendance.
Happy Birthday Tony Alva!!!
Tony Alva birthday celebration at Waterfront Venice
Behind the scenes, family and friends celebrated Tony Alva’s 68th birthday at brunch at the Waterfront Venice with special guests, followed by skateboard painting, allowing all to decorate their own boards with stencils donated by artist/activist Shepard Fairey.
Experiences the Activities
In addition to the competition, Red Bull Origins featured several interactive experiences that tapped into Venice’s creative energy. Elements from the recently released Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game were incorporated into the event.
On Sunday morning, there were a couple of public sessions for those who wanted to join in, including a female-only workshop led by Briana King.
From this gritty origin, the culture has evolved dramatically, from a fringe activity to a global phenomenon, with a new generation of skaters pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Red Bull Origins is drawing the next generation of skaters to its storied shores in the very place where it all began. www.redbull.com
