Why PDX, Pt. 1: Willis Kimbel Came For The Skateboard Culture
Words by Skyler Wilder
For obvious and great reasons, the Rockstar Energy Open is set to debut August 23, 2024 in Portland, Oregon–affectionately known as the City of Roses, and Bridge City… and actually a host of other names, so we are going to keep it short and sweet with PDX.
PDX is awesome (and weird), but in case you didn’t already know that we wanted to break it down for you. From food trucks and fine dining, to world class camping and all-time outdoor adventures, to a tiny city that feels more like a bunch of neighborhoods each with their own personality in the shape of bars, live entertainment and, of course, skateparks.
“You’ll get exposed to more than you thought you could,” says Willis Kimbel, professional skateboarder.
Willis moved to PDX “by choice” when he was 17, “because of the amount of skateparks and the culture that came with that. It was less of a competitive, comparing yourself mentality. It was very different from Southern California. But also, it had this wonderful freedom where you could drive in any direction to skate the top cement parks, for free and without pads.”
Now, 19 years later, Willis is still holding it down in PDX (in more ways than one) for the same reasons.
We asked our skateboard judge for the 2024 Rockstar Energy Open (yeah, Willis is on the panel!) to help us tell you all the things that PDX has to offer. We actually dove into a full conversation and this write-up had to split into two, so in Part 2 about PDX stuff to know (nicknames, food & people cultural + great outdoors) click through.
If you are still doubting this Pacific Northwest gem of a host city…you won’t be for much longer.
SKATE HISTORY (Parks, Contests + Community)
Home of the original DIY skatepark, if for nothing else, PDX is absolutely legendary for its place in skate history because of Burnside. If you don’t know about Burnside, this is not the place to learn about it. But know this: In 1990 a couple of skateboarders started a movement with some quick-crete and a desire to skateboard.
What came out of a necessity to escape the rainy months by utilizing overlooked space under a city bridge, the creation of Burnside kickstarted a movement that is now worldwide. It also spawned two of the biggest and best businesses that build skateparks, Dreamland (based a couple hours outside of PDX near the ocean) and Grindline (based in Seattle). Both of the founders of those companies had their hands in the crete at Burnside and went on to build more parks together as well as under their own businesses, effectively turning the Pacific Northwest into the ultimate haven for cement skateparks ever since. There’s literally a movie about this you can enjoy thanks to Thrasher’s YouTube channel.
“The ability to make DIYs–for an established city–ours don’t get torn down immediately. They watch and see how it affects the community,” says Willis, who thinks it can’t be said enough as it is SO normal to the local community that it often gets taken for granted. “Because Burnside started the DIY culture, if you build it and hold it down, the city will grant you that land even though you did it like a vigilante and that is still happening.”
“You’ll see a DIY take over an entire recreational tennis court and build ramps, and those places are still here. They don’t just tear it down. There is an acceptance, you don’t have to be rebellious because people are not going to judge the fact you are doing what you want to do.”
“Even if they do tear our shit out, we don’t just show up the next day and it is gone,” willis continues. “There is a full communication between our army of skateboarding and our government. If there is an issue because we took over some plot, we know to stop building and to start cherishing it before it gets torn out. Versus pluck it from us, piss us off and make us break their windows.”
These parks naturally attracted more skateboarders. Summer camping trips to skate the parks across Oregon and beyond has become a staple for small crews of friends and professionals alike. It also has spawned a premiere contest series, The Oregon Trifecta, where different parks are toured in a three-stop event series. Other one-off events like the Rip Ride Rally near the coast or even international marquee events like the Dew Tour have also looked to PDX on multiple occasions to further tap in and support the skateboard community.
Which brings us to the most important aspect of it all, the community. In PDX there has been a serious presence of skateboarders since the beginning. In fact, Cal Skate claims the record for the world’s oldest skateshop when they opened doors in PDX in 1976. The city has since seen numerous others come and stake their own claims to impact the community and culture of skateboarding.
The newest one set to join the party, Willis’ own Rip’s Co. Skateshop. The name comes from a character Willis has created inspired by the legendary Animal Chin movie. “Rip is never here, he’s always out killing it somewhere,” says Willis of Rip. The logo is a graphic remake of the classic 1970’s logo for Bad Co. Skates (which turned Willis’ dad, Curt, professional).
“It’s definitely not anything I ever dreamt of doing. It’s not profitable and it is a lot of work, but there is a vacancy and the community needs it,” said Willis, a man on a new mission. “I felt the heat and void of losing a core shop. There’s not a place where people can walk in, have a conversation about skating and not feel like they are at a mall.”
“Shrunken Head is a big reason I got the chance to follow my dreams,” says a forever grateful Willis of the shop that supported him for so many years. “After 17 years the building (home to a book shop, bar, plant shop, social disability office) is now under new ownership and the landlord has raised rent 400%.”
Willis says the See See Motor Cafe Co. that has supported him over the years has a space in the back that he has begun reconstruction on and will ultimately become home to Rip’s Co. Skateshop. At the moment, it is a lot of sweat and hard work ahead for Willis, as he is completely gutting and remaking the space into his own. But he sees the end game and knows of the impact it will make for future generations, like Shrunken Head did for him.
Recapping a moment recently where he ate shit falling off a ladder while remodeling the shop, Willis thought how easy it would have been to leave and go skate (something he has been admittedly lacking since taking on this endeavor), but instead he thought of the rainy season to come and the kid stumbling in sometime in February—this is going to be great for the community.
Set for a soft opening around the same weekend the Rockstar Energy Open will come to town, follow Willis and Rip’s for the full details on when you can stop in yourself.
Still with us? Great, click through to Part 2 about PDX stuff to know (nicknames, food & people cultural + great outdoors).