Skitch Hitchcock and Salt Creek Beach
The OC Weekly has six (count ’em) pages on Skitch Hitchcock, past and present, which includes highlights of other members of the Salt Creek Beach crew which includes a lot of surprising names. In the shot above left are Dale Smith, Skitch, and his brother Garrison. Aside from the now customary gripes about the Dogtown film, there’s a lot of interesting stuff in there, assuming you are interested in the roots of skateboarding or surfing. Remember the recent Skitch Hitchcock model we profiled? Turns out Skitch is battling liver cancer, and proceeds from the sale go to help him out with his medical bills. Skitch did a lot more than invent the gorilla grip. He was the first guy to land a full loop, and he dealt acid straight from the labs of Timothy Leary. Interesting guy for sure, and a nice tip of the iceberg view of OC skateboarding history. Hey, I guess we are one of the top three carriers of the old school flame. I feel compelled to note that the article is lacking in the usual stereotypical bungling that most newspapers exhibit when covering skateboarding. So yes, check out the OC Weekly feature.
[Source: Boardistan]
I remember when they wouldn’t let Skitch skate a contest with his shoes off….He cut the soles out of the front of each shoe so he could still Gorilla Grip….definitely some sort of ancestral connection to the ollie (even if its missing a chromosome) – one of the first guys (if not thee first) to get the deck in the air without using his hands…..
That Lords of Acid article that is linked in that story is a good read.
http://www.ocweekly.com/2005-07-07/features/lords-of-acid/1
last time i saw Skitch was in 1978 when he was touring Germany with the Hobie Team. They were the first Pro skaters i saw and they had a video that showed skateboarding in California which changed my life. That was the first time i saw pool skating on video. I only watched the pics in skateboarder magazine till then…Not sure if Skitch was at the first OSSJ in Simi Valley where i been too. Would have been cool to talk to him.
Skitch shares space in our Surfers Retirement home in San Clemente, he is still a character! I enjoy listening to the stories or the early days of skateboarding with him and Brother Garrison. As much as he has abused himself through his 60 years of life this guy doesn’t forget anything! He is a very kind soul and makes me laugh every day…
Say a prayer for him as he will not be with us too much longer. I love the dirty little bastard! PeterPP.
We were friends in High School !
Hello good buddy Skitch great times
brother. Skate outside Healthfood store with Mr. Grace. fun times.
I remember Skitch came to do a demonstration at Wilson’s sporting goods at Roosevelt field shopping mall I was about 13 years old so it was probably 1975. My Mom drove me and my friend Dave to see him and that motivated us to pick up a board. We lived on our skate boards and I kept riding all the way through college. I still think that Skitch was one of the best free style riders I had ever seen.