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