| The site of the former Pacific Ocean | | | | with stunning results. Their acrobatic |
| Park in the beach district on the Venice | | | | maneuvers inspired generations of teens |
| and Santa Monica border is something of | | | | to join the skateboarding frenzy and |
| a sacred legend within the skateboarding | | | | catapulted them to fame and fortune; the |
| and surfing community. The area, which | | | | majority of the original Z-Boys went on |
| is nicknamed Dogtown, was immortalised | | | | to compete professionally. Bob "Bullet" |
| in the 2001 skateboarding documentary, | | | | Biniak retired from skating in 1980, but |
| Dogtown and Z-Boys, and later in the | | | | went on to play golf professionally, |
| 2005 feature film, Lords of Dogtown, | | | | while the only female member of the |
| which was based on the characters and | | | | Z-Boys, Peggy Oki, rejected skating in |
| events introduced in Dogtown and Z-Boys. | | | | favour of surfing, and has competed in |
| Dogtown and Z-Boys, directed by Stacy | | | | surf contests all over the world. Jim |
| Peralta (himself a member of the | | | | Muir and Tony Alva both rejected deals |
| original Z-Boys) and narrated by | | | | from major skate companies to set up on |
| Hollywood star Sean Penn, tells the | | | | their own, and were the first |
| history of skateboarding. The | | | | skateboarders to ever do so. |
| documentary charts the story of a group | | | | In 2005, Stacy Peralta wrote the |
| of teenage surfer/skateboarders in Santa | | | | screenplay for Lords of Dogtown, which |
| Monica, known as the Z-Boys, and their | | | | dramatically retold the Dogtown days. |
| influence on the history of | | | | Starring Heath Ledger and Rebecca De |
| skateboarding (and to a lesser extent | | | | Mornay, and featuring a cameo from |
| surfing) culture, using a mix of film of | | | | perhaps the world's most famous modern |
| the Z-Boys shot in the 1970s and more | | | | day skateboarder Tony Hawk, Lords of |
| recently conducted interviews. | | | | Dogtown focused more on the |
| The aerial and sliding skate moves that | | | | relationships between the Z-Boys, |
| the Z-Boys invented were the basis for | | | | looking at their friendships, how they |
| the aerial skateboarding and surfing | | | | coped with fame, and how they grew more |
| still popular today. These were just | | | | and more competitive towards one |
| twelve ordinary teenagers who hung out | | | | another. It also focused heavily on the |
| in the Santa Monica neighbourhood of | | | | tragic loss of Z-Boy associate Sid, who |
| Dogtown who just wanted to surf and | | | | lost a battle against brain cancer. |
| skate. They could never have known that | | | | Skateboarders or surfers keen to make a |
| they would start a revolution by turning | | | | pilgrimage to the legendary and iconic |
| what was a recreational past-time into | | | | Dogtown for themsleves can find a hotel |
| an extreme sport. | | | | in Santa Monica for their accomodation |
| Considered the most influential | | | | needs, and thankfully, the area has |
| skateboard team in history, the Z-Boy | | | | improved a lot since the Dogtown days. |
| movement continues to this day as an | | | | The story of the Dogtown and Z-Boys is |
| expression of performance, innovation | | | | an inspiring tale of determination, |
| and style. | | | | rebellion, and friendship, and even |
| Known officially as the Zephyr | | | | those who have no interest in |
| Skateboard Team, the Z-Boys began when | | | | skateboarding or surfing, and been won |
| they transferred their surf skills to | | | | over by this fascinating little piece of |
| drain pipes and empty swimming pools | | | | American sub-culture. |