BOB BINIAK MEMORIAL SUNSET SKATE SESSION
VENICE SKATEPARK, VENICE, CA
FEB. 28, 2010
PHOTOS BY DAN LEVY AND RAY RAE GOLDMAN
WORDS BY TERRI CRAFT
Today, we pay tribute to one of the greatest skateboarders of all time, Bob “The Bullet” Biniak. Most of you were lucky enough to know Biniak, but for those that didn’t, here’s what you should know.
In the early days of the original Dog Bowl, when everyone was carving backside over the light or hitting tiles, Biniak was the first skateboarder to do a frontside grind in a backyard pool. He was a powerful surfer and skater and he just saw things in a different and unique way.
From the early contest days at Del Mar, Biniak and the Z-Boys changed the face of skateboarding with revolutionary aggression and surf/sk8 style. In Bob’s own words, “More talent came out of the Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu and Palisades area than anywhere in the world.”
When bombing down hills, Biniak wanted to be first and he wanted to be the fastest. He raced down Signal HIll and held a stand up downhill speed record of 63mph at La Costa.
When the giant cement pipes in the desert became a skateboarding playground, Biniak was one of the first to go over vert with slashing frontside lines.
Bob Biniak was also the very first pro skater for Dogtown Skateboards and the first skateboarder to have a pro model skateboard on Dogtown. Biniak was Dogtown. 100%.
When sponsorships and money came into play in skateboarding, Biniak was one of the first skateboarders to set up his own deal for photo incentive. He was the consummate hustler and, for him, there was never a rule that couldn’t be broken.
He lived in Venice for over 40 years and he carried the radical Dogtown attitude with him throughout the world. With his sense of humor and endless pranks and jokes, Biniak could make you laugh even on the darkest of days.
Biniak’s legacy will carry on with his wife Charlene and his daughter, Brie, and with YOU. In Bob’s last interview in Juice, he said, “My hope is that the skatepark in Venice gives kids a great place to hone their skills, so that some of the next generations of great skaters will be coming out of the Dogtown/Venice area.” Now it’s your mission to go fast, go big and push the limits.
Today, we remember the fallen soldiers, Dennis “Polar Bear” Agnew, Baby Paul Cullen, William “Uhuru” Hightower, Danny Bearer, Andy Kessler and Bob Biniak and many others. Here’s to one of the toughest, hardest, fastest skateboarders that ever lived. Please smack some coping for Bob “The Bullet” Biniak.
On Sunday, March 27th, 2010, there will be a Bob Biniak Family Memorial at the Venice Skatepark at sunset. Share your art, written words and favorite Bobby B stories with the community. Memorials are also being planned for April 10th in Benicia, CA. and for June in Jacksonville Beach, FL. If you wish to donate to the Brianna Biniak Fund please Paypal to bulletbiniak@yahoo.com.
