1.21.2013

chrome ball incident #858: no dogs allowed





















 

A landmark spots that has been around forever and will hopefully stick around forever.

From early TG and Arco's Sick Boys blue sweatpants to Spiderman Dan, Phil Shao and Joe Valdez...
these are the China Banks.

One of those rare spots that doesn't seem to get any less gnarly as years pass by.

Not actually built for skateboarding... though I wonder what else they could possibly be good for.

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18 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 22, 2013 at 1:53 AM

    Travelled the world to skate these and other landmarks. They were so hard to skate and I appreciate now what has been done on them. Love Ethan Fowlers frontside ollie photo. Cheers chops.

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  2. RoyceJanuary 22, 2013 at 6:13 AM

    Matt Obrien Nollie Tailslide! Amen. 1up chops!

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  3. RosserkiJanuary 22, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    Sargent's hurricane is stylin out!!!

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  4. The ChezJanuary 22, 2013 at 9:24 AM

    Stayed at that very hotel for Christmas. It was so rad to look out the window and see China Banks. GNARLY spot. Made me really respect what's been done there. Especially top block grinders. The drop from the top is certain death.
    Whiteley summed it up perfectly in that ode to the blocks though.

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  5. KeithJanuary 22, 2013 at 11:44 AM

    I like that Ethan shot as well. Chinabanks always looked so gnarly to me. Never got a chance to skate it. Has there ever been a published photo of Carroll or Henry on it?

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  6. Chrome Ball Super FanJanuary 22, 2013 at 1:35 PM

    So sick.

    Got to skate them in early 2001. Such a rad spot.

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  7. LUGRJanuary 22, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    "The drop from the top is certain death."

    BMXer fell off before (maybe not from the highest point)...he survived. Footage is gnarly.

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2013 at 3:29 PM

    wheres the footage

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  9. Chip Van SlamJanuary 22, 2013 at 6:40 PM

    I may be biased, but yeah Mat O'Brien's nollie tailslide is the sickest thing-so impossible, and impeccable style.

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  10. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2013 at 7:05 PM

    Sean Young AND Brian Chung...ATL all over the China Banks!

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  11. RayJanuary 22, 2013 at 10:09 PM

    always room for a re-run of this classic!

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4OE2LlxxWrc/SXzzpODZpQI/AAAAAAAADJo/eSe5LqzyDxk/s1600/mickewallchrome.jpg

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2013 at 10:19 PM

    forgot the willy akers fs tail photo

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  13. White NinjaJanuary 23, 2013 at 3:20 AM

    julien does it without socks. check the pics.

    and updog! love that kid.

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  14. Punk Business ManagerJanuary 23, 2013 at 4:21 AM

    I will never forget seeing Think's "Damage" video when it came out in 1996 and seeing Phil Shao destroy the China Banks. If I am remembering it right, it was not during his part but near the end of the video. Nearly 15 full years after his death he is still sorely missed. He would have been one of those guys ripping into his 40's and beyond had he made it to that age. RIP

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2013 at 4:33 AM

    "ray said:

    always room for a re-run of this classic!

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4OE2LlxxWrc/SXzzpODZpQI/AAAAAAAADJo/eSe5LqzyDxk/s1600/mickewallchrome.jpg"

    ...NOT china banks.

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  16. rayJanuary 24, 2013 at 10:58 PM

    re: mic-e pic link arrgh! thought it was, apols

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  17. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    thanks chops, youda man.

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  18. dan supkoFebruary 8, 2013 at 4:54 AM

    Man, I went there one night in like 1999 with Gonz, Joe Pino, and my old roommate Rodent. I gained a total appreciation for all the footage I'd ever seen from that place, and for how gnarly all these skaters were, especially Drehobl.

    If it were daytime, I maybe could have carved over one of the benches, and maybe could get a rock n roll, but anything more than that would be out of my league.

    And having met Gonz for the first time that night, I was just watching him really. We didn't stay at the banks very long, cause there was very little you could see there at night.

    It's rough and it's super tight right at the bottom so your almost doing a slappy to get to the tranny.

    And if that's not bad enough, you could also fall to your death if you somehow lose your balance near the top.

    My favorite pic has to be Strangers frontside ollie. Just so cool. And Pat Duffys backside tail is bananas.

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