If you’ve ever said to yourself “I wonder what Steve Caballero is up to,” wonder no more. Just go check out his blog Have you seen him? The “him” isn’t capitalized, so I assume it’s a reference to Animal Chin and not the Him. The first real skateboard I ever had was a Steve Caballero dragon on the bearing pig. I also saw The Faction play a show in a garage in suburban Illinois. There was a small half pipe in an adjacent field. Most people were there for the punk rock, but there were some skaters as well. Caballero was very accommodating and encouraging to those who weren’t in his league. It was amazing seeing him at a crappy little ramp in the Midwest. I don’t remember much from that day and I think he only took a handful of runs, but I have a recollection of looking up at him on the deck and thinking what a nice guy he was. He was one of the biggest names in skateboarding at that time, and he showed up with no attitude or sense of entitlement whatsoever. It was like anyone else dropping by for a session, except, well, he was massively better. Have you seen him?
– Thanks to Bryce for the tip.
38 comments
Marilyn Palmer
Steve Caballero,
Call Nancy Grace and let her know that you are the skateboarder who broke your neck that day…CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL!!
keith
I think Kilwag is confusing Doug’s ramp with our ramp – it was behind Keith Garage. Ours was, possibly, the first privately built halfpipe in a tri-state area – going up in 1977. Designed to Rampage Architectural plans, at twelve feet high, two feet of vert, eight feet wide, no flat and no coping (it was ‘before’ coping was invented!) and there was nothing shabby about it – unless you had some kind of time machine to see into the future. Of course it took us almost two years of not riding it to figure out that the plans were no good and then we added flat and took off some of the vert – that would have been around the time we got to know Tom and the Darien Crew. By 1985 it was old and had not been resurfaced or changed in 6 years.
Doug and Tom’s ramp was by all standards a monster – if I remember correctly it even had a roll-in channel.
A few years back I would see Cab at some trade shows, and as consistent with his known demeanor, he was friendly and sincere. Who cares if he is all Christian-nutty. He’s always been and will always be one of the greatest skaters to have ever rolled.
keith
Tom Kilroy
I’ve heard some people are heading out to Montana Memorial to sample the parks. I’m thinking about it.
Did you know a guy named Tim Phillips? He took me to the BMX ramps.
houseofneil
And you’re STILL wierded out when Timble calls you.
Hannah Montana?
Kilwag
Yeah, true. Summer of 85 for sure. My first summer break in college, I remember because I was wierded out that Timble called me to tell me about it and I had only met him like once in in Champaign. Somehow he remembered I lived in Naperville and looked it up and called me. Swiv was a Downers Grove local. Lived down the street from Randy the Macho Man Savage. And yes, would have been the year before I met you.
What’s going on in Montana on Memorial day?
houseofneil
86? Wouldn’t it have been earlier than that? Summer 85 perhaps. I came back to Champaign August 85, and Randy there’s no way I would have missed the faction in Westmont in 86, especially when Laura’s family are from Lagrange.
Tom Kilroy
I know what you meant, and no offense was taken. I just had to stand up for a ramp we built. It was kinda ramshackled. I think it’s great that ramp still comes up every five years or so.
My nose was broken at that Faction show.
Your write up about those two bmx ramps is a good read. I think I skated them once, and I do remember SMA Dave Smith. Wasn’t he Natas’s cousin or something?
Are you heading to Montana Memorial day?
Kilwag
I wondered if you were going to chime in. Yeah I skated it., barely. Poorly. I remember it seemed tall, possibly ramshackle, but that’s about all. Maybe it wasn’t crappy per se, but you get what I meant. No offense meant to your buddy’s ramp, sorry. My memory is vague, that’s all. You have any pictures of that ramp? I’d apologize better by posting a pictorial.
And the ramps in Naperville were built for bikes and a massive 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Both of them.
Tom Kilroy
That crappy LITTLE ramp in the midwest( Westmont Il.) across from the Faction garage show had 10′ trannys and a foot of vert. Crappy maybe? And it was only 16′ feet wide, but little it was not for 1986. My buddy Doug and I built it. Did you skate it? How big were the ramps in Naperville?
Jakeandannoy
and your kids will be retarded…
LP
i jacked off this morning, guess i’m off to hell in a jizz-encrusted handbasket.
JAKEANDANNOY
My granpa used to say; sk8 hard retard.
poopytrim.
Hateboard
i get what yer sayin jake. yer right, i have posted in seriousness before, but its a bit rare. long ago i learned that my brand of sarcasm doesnt translate on the web. nobodies really does. so i kinda gave up on clarifying it and began to revel in the turmoil it brought. its more fun that way anyway.
its hard to be insecure when you dont give two shits what people think, so i dont think thats it. maybe something to consider, though. but if you ask people who know me, im pretty kind in real life, yet my way of rolling through life makes me more enemies than friends. and both the friends and the enemies are lifelong. in 33 years i’ve learned that it doesnt matter what people think, so i just dont care. i just do what i do and it may be inconsistant as all hell..but thats how it goes. one day baked beans are the shit, but the next day they might be nasty, im not concerned with yesterday or tomorrow. all that matters is right now and right now is always full tilt boogie. my old lady calls me an extremist, she’s probably right. also i ramble incoherently. and also poopie.
Tom Miller
Cab can wear dickies or three-piece suits. He can be Christian or Satanic. He can preach or be mute. None of that affects our ability to enjoy quality skate terrain.
But don’t fuck with skateboarding. That’s bullshit. His endorsement lends credibility in the eyes of skate-ignorant city bureaucrats to decide in favor of plastic ramps instead of skater-designed/built concrete. There are repercussions for his actions that impact all of us. Respect the hand that feeds.
marek
hey jake, maybe you are one of those christians i can digest without any problem and actually have a respect for their faith. you know, the kind who never really talk about it and keep it personal for them self.
you talked about your faith for a bit and then you posted something without mentioning any gods. thats great and i applaud that. i wish all those high profile skaters would do the same. i mean, you can mention it once in a blue moon, but dont talk about it every time somebody from juice got nothing better to run. thats fucking repulsive to me
Jakeandannoy
Forgive me Lord for I have sinned. I littered my post with typos whenst I maketh my point.
Jakeandannoy
Immaturity can good or bad, positive or negative.
I hear ya, Hateboard. By all means have fun, and um, yeah, shake up those “squares”. But for those who differentiate between sarcasm and seriousness, the whole religon thing is kind of an interesting topic.Even though it has nothing to do with the “news” or “current affairs”. Or the news show, “A Current Affair”, I certainly think it relates to the general topic of “how fucked up the world is”.
I often act like a smart ass and then post in seriousness so noone is just clowning all the time. I’ve seen you comment in seriousness here before so lets not forget who we really are. And If you are a person who plays devils advocate for the purpose of avoiding a “serious” discussion or just to rile others up in a discussion. I’s maybe put some thought into whether or not it is a sign of constant insecurity.
Or not, but your right about having fun, and life is(unlike these posts)pretty short.
Hateboard
of course its immature..thats why its fun. those of us that say shit like that are trying to forever keep our tongue in our cheeks at the world. what seems a bit much is that our rants and trolls actually get reactions from so called “adult” skateboarders. its fucking skooterboarding and too many people think its some serious thing. i talk as much shit as i do, because i think serious discussion about anything other the current affairs and how fucked the world is, is simply a waste of time. so i say BOOOGIE BOOOOGIE BOOOOOOGIE BLAAAAAHHHHHHH to all that shit and will continue to be a smartass ribbing at the whole world until i become some grumpy ass old fart who thinks any of this matters in the grand scheme. which is not likely. devils advocate (i prefer devils acrobat due to skateboarding and such) is waaay too much fun to give up on so easy for the sake of “being taken seriously”…fuck that, who cares about that? i’m just tryin to have fun. 😛
oh, and poopie.
conahan
When I lecture about graphic design I often use skateboarding examples because the two things have been closely related in my life. I wonder if people find that as tiresome as I do when christianity is brought into discussions of skateboarding. Haw haw!
Hateboard
maybe he got that crooked neck from slamming on skatewave junk.
is that a better contribution?
i could give a shit about cab.
he was an idol kinda when i was a kid, but now…meh.
Jakeandannoy
Ok, but I never defended Christianity at all. That wasnt my point. I cant speak for other Christians, but I dont impose my will on others or evangelize.
Not my gig. That doesnt mean I dont love God. I just have enough faith not to force God on anyone.
Mark W
I enjoyed growing up watching him at Winchester Skatepark. I just remember how small he was back in the late 70’s and how he just ripped everything he skated. The forever rock and roll sides, canyon jumping the entrance at the Pink Key Hole pool and simply having that natural style that not everyone has. Cab rocks!
bobcat
my own problem with Christianity is that most people don’t exactly ‘find’ him the highest point of their lives.
Therefore, it saved them and GOD DAMNIT IT WILL SAVE YOU!
Jakeandannoy
I never noticed that(on Cab’s myspace),that does seem kinda weird. Im Christian/Catholic and I could care less who touches who’s weiner or if you have a thousand weiners.
I will say that my previous posts were sarcasm and really, Cab is is one my favorite pro’s and has obviously contributed positively to skateboarding. Plus he’s got style, he’s rad.
I dont really measure my appreciaton of ones’ style or “coolness” on their personal beliefs/religon as much as I do their skill(s). I think we covered that topic under the Benji Galloway post.
If you think Cab & Hosio, or any other veteran skate legend is suddenly lame for openly endorsing their religon, I kinda think thats suddenly lame,also seems like impulsive admiration.
They have done and are doing what they believe in. I think Duane Peters and Neil Heddings are fuckups. I also think its not really my place to care or bitch about it since I dont even know them personally.
And that regardless, they rip.
If you’re sick of hearing about Jesus, I would suggest you dont listen to others opinions about him or just move to an isolated province where he isnt acknowlegded or discussed. Or just dont use the current trends as a compass for what or who is cool. I
On a tanget, I know. But I guess what I think is a little much, is all these grown ass men sounding like dumb ass kids. “Oh I used to think Hosoi was cool too, till he got all into God” -To just dismiss someones accomplishments and who they really are for that. Seems immature.
Greg N
Hey hey hey!!! Skate Wave is one thing, but masturbation! Its just wrong to be against masturbation.
LP
cab is cool but all the jesus crap is getting to be a little much. same with hosoi. same with jay adams. same with gator. same with steve schneer. same with…
on cab’s myspace he talks about how masturbation is wrong. how can one turn down their fellow hand.
Jakeandannoy
Actually I might have been thinking of the Richard Ramirez, the Nightstalker. But whatever, they’re probably cousins.
marek
hey jake, you make him sound pretty awesome…
JAKEANDANNOY
Dont let him fool you. He broke into my house and raped my son and Granny in the 80’s.
And he smokes crack. And worhips the devil.
And listens to AC/DC during ritualistic killings.
He’s pure evil and he even got caught breaking into a car after he killed some old lady, and a bunch of cholo’s beat his ass. What a dick. After hearing that stuff I would never skate with him.
Prickly Pete
I’d like to give Cab the benefit of the doubt, he seems like a nice guy and no one can question his contribution to skating. BUUUUT I just got back from my lunchbreak (eating a rat in my soiled tent) to find a new Have you seen him post praising Christian rap! Love the sinner, hate the sin.
bobcat
but, but all skateboarders are supposed to live the scum life and eat dead rats, live in tents and wear dickies!!!!
Just because someone skates doesn’t mean they hold the same interests as the masses. Used to work that way in the 80s when only skaters wore skate shoes, but not anymore.
moe29
I would say that overall, Cab has had a positive effect on skateboarding.
duders
so skatewave promoter, bible quotes on his griptape, and PT Cruiser enthusiast. Strike three.
Kilwag
Yeah… I keep forgetting about that Skate Wave debacle. Is he still supporting it?
Tom Miller
I’m stoked he’s a nice guy. Unfortunately I have to share another tale. Cab unapologetically endorsed SkateWave, the remarkably overpriced and underperforming plastic skate ramp provider, itself a subsidiary of a huge Minnesota-based playground equipment company.
I say “unapologetic” because Dave Carnie, Cab, and I shared a few rounds of long emails about it. Carnie and I implored him to see the repercussions of his endorsement, e.g. plastic junk posing as legit skate terrain in lieu of concrete designed and built by skaters.
He didn’t care; he said he needed the money. (Speaking of money, it was interesting to see Andy Mac take a shot at Cab’s healthy cashflow in the Nieratko interview with Andy Mac linked on SkateDaily.)
I will forever respect Cab’s talent and longevity, but where’s the love for the kids that butter your bread? Granted, Randy is making millions with his Skate & Annoy/Cold War empire, and people like Conahan have paid themselves $100/hour for all their skatepark advocacy, but then there’s the rest of us. (That was sarcasm, kids.) No two ways about it: if you support plastic jumps you are hurting skateboarding. Towns don’t build plastic ramp parks and concrete parks. They build one or the other.
cskate
Here’s some shots from maybe the same tour. Cab skating at the Mtn. Ramp in Boise from like 83 or something ridiculous like that.
http://www.oldschoolskateboarding.com/history/boisearchives/cab/index.html
Kilwag
Nice contribution.
Hateboard
i seen his crooked ass neck!