Deep in a Tempe neighborhood, where flood irrigation still occurs to this day, the Sonoran Desert is transformed into lush grass yards, tall trees, and for a brief moment in time, the evolution of a ramp.
When I moved to the East Valley shortly after the scenario of this article, I heard about a super ripper for G&S/Gullwing named Gavin Troy but I had only run into him a couple times. One time being at Julio’s ramp in Mesa when he showed up with Chris Bewsey and both put on a clinic! Fast forward a couple years and we both ended up in the same studio art classes at ASU and started a life-long friendship. Gavin is now an amazing fine-artist, living and skateboarding in Tucson, AZ.
-Rob Locker
This article is a first in a new web series we are calling ‘Higher Rollers‘, the next chapter of Arizona Skateboarding History focusing on the scene and people 1984-89. Enjoy…
In the early years of the 1980’s, the Valley of the Sun saw the closing of the Phoenix-Metro area skateparks; Mesa: Permanent Wave, Tempe: Skate in the Shade and Phoenix: High Roller.
The legendary Ameron pipes were placed underground and ready to deliver water to the dry desert from the Colorado river. Skateboarder magazine was morphing into Action Now and eventually ended. The spirit of Skateboarding was still alive in the valley, though. Many empty pools, great ditches, spots like downtown Phoenix, The Wedge in Scottsdale and the campus of ASU were the skateparks for the next generation. Along with this new freshness came Hardcore Punk Rock, amping up and connecting skaters, thus creating an awesome scene. Thrasher magazine became the new news from the outside world and inspired young skateboarders to build ramps, bail pools, ride ditches and whatever we could find. The scene grew hand-in-hand with punk rock and skateboarding becoming one big desert underground.
During this time, in a lush Tempe neighborhood near Broadway Rd. & College Ave., Jeff Nienaber began his own skateboarding path. Jeff created a simple wedge ramp in the front yard. This little wedge is the beginning of an evolution that ending up becoming a solid 16’ wide 9.5’ tall vert ramp in the back yard. Once word got out, this ramp eventually lured skateboarders like Kevin Staab, Tony Hawk, Tony Alva and Christian Hosoi all randomly showing up to ride.
From the wedge ramp in the front yard, the next phase was the halfpipe in the side yard. I remember skating one day and out of nowhere Transworld Skateboarding’s photographer, Grant Brittain showed up with Billy Ruff and Jim Gray skating and taking photos for the fairly new magazine. When this session came into print we were stoked! It was like a whole new world opened up, skating with the pros we saw in the magazine!
The Next Phase
The next phase was moving into the backyard from the side yard. There was a steady evolution of mini-ramp building, installing pool coping, building extensions and making it wider. This era of ‘Nabors Ramp was a fun and experimental time. We, like many in the Valley were honing-in on our ramp building skills, while also evolving our skateboarding progression. We documented everything with photos and video cameras thanks to Tempe High School photo classes and video classes.
Jeff’s ramp was our spot for a few years and was host to an epic contest. This contest, like many during the mid-80’s, attracted skateboarders from all over the state as well as California, a true underground scene. Skateboarders coming together to rip and celebrate, to have a product toss, to push ourselves to new levels! As you can see from the photos, the backyard was packed. The level of ripping was epic for sure.
Heavy Sessions
Roll-in ‘Zine Coverage of the Naborhood Ramp Jam Contest
BONUS!: Robin Ballard Photos of the ‘Naborhood Ramp Jam Contest
The Demise
After the contest, things waned a bit as Patty Sellers Perfect Ramp in Mesa became the new spot for many (that’s another story). The ramp was eventually taken down and thrown into the trash. The wood is now disintegrating back into the earth in one of the landfills of the valley.
Left: Chris Bewsey inverts at the Perfect Ramp Photo: Troy
I drove by the house a few years ago, the lawn still thick, the irrigation still flows, the trees a bit taller. The lush neighborhood that contained a moment in time providing an oasis for us enjoying the thing we love so much, that pushed us into new levels of creative expression.
Thank you Jeff, Larry and Sheila (RIP) for hosting us all in your backyard. Final shout-out to Verdell the dog and the desert tortoises who still live in the backyard to this day.
This story is dedicated to Mike Jankowski and David Sansone; they both were instrumental in the whole process of building and creating the ramp. RIP both of you rippers!!!
<<the author took this photo of Mike and David at a public pool in Phoenix, he sandwiched the negatives for a Tempe High School photo assignment.
The Jeff Nienabor Interview by Gavin Troy
GT: When did you first skating? What year ? JN: I started skating in the early 80’s GT: First board? JN: I had a few no name boards when I first started but the first real skateboard I remember was a Ray Rodriguez. GT: Who did you skate with? JN: I started out skating around the neighborhood with neighborhood friends. As time went on we started to build ramps. The first one was a wedge ramp in front of my house. We then built an 8 foot wide, 3 foot high ramp in one of my friends back yard, Richard Kerr’s. After that we built another half pipe at Chris Widmer's house. It was 6 foot high, 8 foot wide in his driveway out front of his house. Then it all started back at my house. We built a 4 foot high, 8 foot wide half pipe on the side of my house. After I started high school there were several more on the side of the house where I started skating with Mike Jankowski, Gavin Troy, David Sansone, Chris Bewsey, too many to name. I also started street skating at ASU almost every day with my friends and you would never know who you would run into to skate with. We then decided it was time to go wider to 12 foot and built the first ramp in the main back yard. There was so many different versions its hard to remember them all. We ended with a 10 foot high, 16 foot wide for the final ramp which the 'Naberhood Ramp Jam contest was held. Over the years I have skated with so many people it was an awesome time to grow up. GT: How did the side yard ramp happen and how did Transworld (Grant Brittain, Billy Ruff, Jim Gray) guys hear about the ramp? JN: One day we were skating on the 6 foot ramp on the side of the house when Billy Ruff, Jim Gray and Grant Brittain of Transworld Skateboarding Magazine showed up to skate. It was amazing the tricks those guys could do on such a little ramp. I believe some of the photos did make in Transworld. GT: The contest, what year was that? JN: I'm not really sure what year the contest was it was a long time ago. GT: The life of the ramp lasted a few years after the contest then it was torn down. How long did it last? JN: The big ramp was up for several years. GT: Who took it down? JN: If I remember right we started to take it down but my Dad had to finish it. GT: Did it go anywhere or just the trash? JN: The ramp was just trashed GT: Any standout moments and or memories? JN: There were so many stand out moments. Some that stick in my head are when Kevin Staab and Tony Hawk would come to skate. Also, one time Christian Hosoi came to skate and did the biggest airs I had ever seen on a ramp that size. There where so many people that would come to skate it was amazing to see all of them skate and have fun. Some of the best years of my life growing up.
Other AZ Spots Through Gavin’s Lens
Connect with Gavin
Thank you Grant!
Check out J. Grant Brittain’s website and own a piece of skateboard history (left). Grant recently shared a rad Gavin Troy photo at Hohokam Banks, Tempe. (top)
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