Building stuff is hard – it takes time, commitment, money and there’s always the risk of fucking up or your creation being torn down the next day. And at a time in skateboarding when Street League plazas and pre-fab ramps are popping up more quickly than ever, D.I.Y. ethos and creating your own spots is becoming more and more scarce. Metropolitan areas such as SF & NY make it even more challenging, with escalating rent costs and rapid gentrification – space is never safe or vacant long.
With that in mind, we drove over to New Jersey to continue our Locals series with Levi’s skateboarding and talked to one of the builders behind Shorty’s – one of the biggest and most recognizable D.I.Y. spots on the east coast. Created by a bunch of skateboarders and friends that live in a bootleg skate house nearby, what started as a couple of obstacles in a empty warehouse down the street in 2011 has since become a full blown park.
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April 14, 2015 8:14 am
The homies Andrew and Tommy Cuba are two of the most solid homies in NJ. Positive vibes every time I link with either on of them. Andrew can build any skate obstacle it’s a known fact.
April 14, 2015 11:50 am
What town is this dump in?
April 25, 2015 8:40 pm
Newark brick city… Please be advised shit pops off their these dudes know what going on…think Detroit w/ better heroin
April 16, 2015 9:18 pm
The reason more people don’t do it is cause its really expensive, plus they don’t want to get caught building on someone else’s land. Maybe thats not a good enough reason. My reason is cause it cost a lot. Even if you live in the City. I don’t know? But DIY spots are respectable, thats for sure.
May 26, 2016 8:34 pm
I would like to help build more even donate some funds to get something similar to the walls and banks at the chelsea pier or venice beach skate park. Hit me up if i can help please!