Photos by: @cornphoto
Adult Go Skateboarding Day started (2011) out as a way for a small group of New York friends to bring Don Brown’s vision back to its essence. Michael Cohen and I organized our skateboard community to help out and sponsor the day. It was our way to take back the streets and skate from spot to spot without permits, hitting up our favorite dive bars and DIY spots. As it evolved over the years, we incorporated art and music shows into the evening, and we also hooked up free skateboard lessons for adults in the morning.
This year was different, especially with COVID-19, B.L.M and Protests going on all over the world as we weren’t’ sure this was going to happen but after a few calls back and forth Cohen and I said it must. Let’s keep the positive energy going and show the world what it means to us on Go Skateboarding Day, which is a day of unity and freedom of pushing around the streets and breaking bread with old friends, new friends and just anyone that wants to enjoy this special day with us. Since Cohen now resides in Florida his company Life Valet partnered up with The Seller Door and hosted an On-line gallery in celebration of GSD featuring up to 50 skate photographers who donated their photos to sell. Proceeds will go directly to our non-profit partner, Boards for Bros.
The day started out great and ended fantastic, as Frank 151 and Life Valet teamed up and hosted this year’s A.G.S.D. Starting at 169 Bar passing around masks for everyone by VSTR to be safe, using at their own judgement as folks chowed down on some hot dogs and nachos to fuel up for the day as well some HIT! CBD ointment being passed around to start the day right. We then skated toward the Williamsburg Bridge to hit up the Monument (Continental Army Plaza) on the Brooklyn side but we always make a pit stop in the middle which we call Bridge Bar and hydrate on whatever quenches your thirst and have a Game of Skate for prizes. We shot down to the monument to see some amazing skating go down as the cops that hold it down by the bridge hung out, cheered us on and made sure everyone was safe while they were ripping it up and JZ (Josh Zickert) passed around prizes from Natural Koncept and Arizona for the raddest tricks.
Next stop we hit BK Wearhouse where the infamous DJ Smoke LES (Pete Rivera) opened up his spot in 2012 on Roebling St. carrying a little bit of old and new product curated with love from the street wear world he knows best. He held us down as we a parked there for some beverages to rehydrate and munch on some Grillo’s Pickles to ease any muscle cramps from skating in the heat. Skatenightnyc style games (Cee-Lo) went down to win some awesome prizes by our sponsors Shut, Girl and Chocolate, El Senor, Primitive, Trophy Grip and The Duct Tape Years.
Pumped up and ready to continue the day we rolled down the block to the Marcy Benches inside the playground where the posse took it back to our roots hitting the benches, a parking curb and a garbage can. By the time the session was over everyone was ready skate a bit more, getting ready to jam out and watch a rocking performance by the band Prostitution, thanks to Jesse from the Slashers for making the ending spot of Adult Go Skateboarding Day a wonderful experience and treat for all that joined us along our journey.
Next year is our 10-year anniversary. As the Shut family says- Don’t act like you don’t know…….
-ALEX CORPORAN
Big thank you to everyone who supported this year!
AGSD Michael Cohen & Alex Corporan.. Photo by: @nick_damiano