Editor’s Note: The majority of this article is removed temporarily, beginning July 1, as it’s in the process of being considered for a book publication. It is available in a hard copy at Point Loma Nazarene University and will be accessible online again in the coming months.
Mikey and MJ are the oldies at Ocean Beach Skate Park, or as the locals call it, Shockus SkatePark. “93 to infinity,” Mikey shouts, before taking a swig of his canned Modelo. I approached the oddly dressed pair, sitting on the edge of the bowl, to find out what kind of music they listened to when they skated. “Real skateboarders don’t listen to anything at all,” Mikey snaps, his eyes concealed by his black bucket hat, “You have to be in it.”
As he says this, a young man with airpods does a frontside tailslide on the rim of our bowl, to a smattering of applause from Mikey and MJ. “Well,” Mikey continues, “Whatever it takes to be in the session man,” and sips down more of his Modelo. I turn to MJ, a tall man in camo cargo pants and aviators, “What music do you listen to? Anything to get you fired up for skating?” MJ takes his time answering, letting the roach burn between his thick fingers before he replies, “Everything.”
*The rest of this article has been temporarily removed. See Editor’s Note.
Abbey Wicks 
Nick Hancock