Here’s a detail from a shot I took circa 1989 in Rockford, Illinois at a roller skating rink turned skatepark called Rotation Station. I guess at this late of a date it might have been an Alva demo and not Zorlac. Full frame shot after the jump.
This was a run-and-gun situation, hence the tilted horizon and less than perfect framing. Still, thanks to the giant spiderweb disco lights on the ceiling, I think this shot works.
16 comments
Jordon Kelley
I remember skating Rotation around 91′ when I was about 9 years old. Freaking awesome experience. @tnjeff, I am pretty sure the Perryville pipeline was/is between Artvan furniture and Lou Bachrodt. I vaguely remember being out there around i8 or 89 shredding with some older dudes. I didn’t remember tut being called the pipeline, kind of a cool name. Rockford had a thriving street scene for box and skating back then. Man, what happened?
chris
one of the first skateparks i ever went to. the 8′ Bowl in the back was so much fun. now i own a skatepark in Florida(Eastwood Skatepark). skateboarding is the best!
Mr. Buttermaker
I was at the Gibson demo..he bitched and moaned the whole time skating the vert ramp..saying it was too hot, and too early to skate..people were brutal to him, and he gave shit back to the crowd..eventually it rained so he took it inside..it was a Alva demo..I am almost positive Hartsel was there as well..I also believe Team onion also skated that day..I’ll never forget skating the wooden bowl with no one else…you never get rich with a skatepark….goodtimes..wasn’t the owners name Sandy..and she had a son who killed it, but snaked everyone…
MIKIE
I have tons of pictures from Rotation Station as I used to go there pretty much every weekend and I lived on the Southside of Chicago ! I even skated in a street course contest there and placed like 4th or some shit. I recall a Plan B demo there with Duffy and Danny Way , who stayed with my shop sponsers owner ! He was crazy then , and then I’m talking , 89 ? or 90 91 ??? I remember too when Mike Vallely skated a demo there and people were mocking him and talkin shit about him and he was all shy and scared …. NOW look at the dude , he’ll eat you ! Ahhhh memories !
Cristina R Peacey
8157217567
Hey can I have some of those pictures please from rotation station???
Jeff Jackson
Man what a great day that was I remember that they had an all skate inside the rink before John Lucero started doing his thing there were some great ramps there. Who else was there? I just remember John “TEX” Gibson and John Lucero.
Randy
Hey, Rotation ruled. I broke my collar bone on that vert ramp back in ’94, that sucker was hard. The guy working that night was really nice, gave me a free hot dog and and ice pack while I waited an hour from my mom to pick me up to take me to the hospital. I have some old video from there somewhere, might dig it up.
jacknife
Thanks Eric!
JCK in H-Town
Gibson Rules! SUAS
Eric Fleming
Kilwag, I think you are right about the rain. Later on he skated the vert ramp. I remember him saying “It’s fucking hot”, and all I could think of was, ‘aren’t you from Texas, this should be tolerableable’.
Jackife- Powell Demo, Christ borst ripped it, then hung up hard. Barbee, Cab, Lance, and Frankie Hill too. I think Frankie got laid after that one.
Danimal, I remember a TV demo with Mike V, and Ed. Could be that? Anything you have I would greatly appreciate. Thank you.
Danimal
i may have some shots from a demo there too, i think it was the new deal team, vallely, templeton, pastras and some other dudes, i’ll look for em.
Kilwag
Eric Fleming – I think I have a few more Rotation Station shots, I’ll have to dig them up. I was only there a couple of times. My friend has some video too.
If I remember correctly, didn’t it rain on and off that day? I think that would explain why Gibson wasn’t outside on the vert ramp.
jacknife
Wasn’t there a powell demo at rotation too??? I have some video of me there when I was 9.
tnjeff
Did anyone out there ever hear/skate the place near Rockford called Perryville Pipeline? It was off Perryville road and was a series of drainage ditches. We just skated it once maybe back in 78 or 79. Banks were fairly tall as I remember it.
Eric Fleming
You have made my day. I was there that day, and most every other day, I guess. I believe Lucero may have been the other pro they brought in for this demo. I run the remnants of Rotation, which is now just a shop called The Station, still in Rockford. Do you happen to have any more photos from Rotation Station? I am trying to put something together. Thank you,
skaterhusseindave
Sometime that same year in that same park, I had a really entertaining conversation with Dan Gesmer. Looking back I’d have much preferred hanging out with Tex…