For the last 40 years, Kona Skatepark in Jacksonville, Florida, has remained a lighthouse for generations of skateboarders to test their mettle on its legendary concrete terrain. Kona stands alone in its status as the oldest, privately owned, skatepark in North America, making it a historical landmark for skateboarding and also an American treasure. The ironically titled tombstone that sits dead center in the park stands tall as a reminder of the enormous amounts of blood and sweat, poured over a timeline of progression over the last four decades of skateboarding.
Since 1977, skateboarding has constantly challenged all possibilities and Kona has remained a veritable proving ground for the most famous and infamous names in skateboarding to showcase their skills. The Ramos family has weathered many a storm over the years and their unwavering passion and dedication to keeping skateboarding alive is inspirational and unequivocally appreciated by those who show up to ride on a daily basis.
The 40 year celebration of this magical concrete wonderland was nothing short of astonishing. A major tip of the hat to the Ramos family for keeping skateboarding alive and well on the Right Coast for the last four decades and a raise of the glass to many more decades of ripping to come. Thank you to the City of Jacksonville for all of the superb hospitality and much love to all of our skateboard family and friends for an unparalleled weekend of non-stop fun.
Words, photos and filming by Dan Levy
Editing by David Kelly
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Stay tuned for an interview with Marty Ramos and more coverage of the Jacksonville, Florida, skateboarding scene at www.juicemagazine.com.
Kona rolled out the red carpet to commemorate its birthday with skate legends, bands, BBQ and skate contests June 22-26th! Congrats Kona! Visit Jax. Skate Jax. See for yourself…
Kona Skatepark 40 Years Deep. Photo by Dan LevyKona Skatepark since 1977. Photo by Dan LevyChristian Hosoi. Photo by Dan LevyMike McGill. Photo by Dan LevyDan Sparagna. Photo by Dan LevyDaniel Cuervo. Photo by Dan LevyMike McGill. Photo by Dan LevyTony Alva. Photo by Dan LevyJimmy “The Greek” Marcus. Photo by Dan LevyShannon Smith. Photo by Dan LevyFirewater Tent Revival. Photo by Dan LevyMark “Otis” Smith, Jeff “Load” Stephenson and Shannon Smith. Photo by Dan LevyGrace Marhoeffer. Photo by Dan LevyJordan Santana. Photo by Dan LevyGrace Marhoffer. Photo Dan LevyAutumn Tust. Photo Dan LevyJack Winburn. Photo by Dan LevyRodney Mead. Photo by Dan LevyDonnie Griffin. Photo by Dan LevyJimmy “The Greek” Marcus. Photo by Dan LevyDarren Navarrette. Photo by Dan LevyJimmy “The Greek” Marcus. Photo by Dan LevyMike McGill. Photo by Dan LevyTony Alva. Photo by Dan LevyChristian Hosoi & Marty Ramos and his daughter, Cassidy Ramos, and Steve Van Doren of Vans. Photo by Dan LevyMarty Ramos, Christian Hosoi, Cassidy Ramos and Steve Van Doren with Navs photo bomb. Photo by Dan LevyLiam Pace. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Photo by Dan LevyJimmy “The Greek” Marcus. Photo by Dan LevyEli Reams. Photo by Dan LevyGabe Dale. Photo Dan LevyTony Alva, Steve Van Doren, Christian Hosoi. Photo by Dan LevyRonnie O’Neal. Photo by Dan LevyAudrey Indigo Smith. Photo by Dan LevyAutumn Tust. Photo Dan LevyJordan Santana. Photo by Dan LevyBuck Smith. Photo Dan LevyTodd Johnson. Photo by Dan LevyJimmy “The Greek” Marcus. Photo by Dan LevyRodney Mead. Photo by Dan LevyTodd Johnson. Photo by Dan LevyTony Alva. Photo by Dan LevyTodd Johnson. Photo by Dan LevyDonnie Griffin. Photo by Dan LevyJimmy “The Greek” Marcus. Photo by Dan LevyDarren Navarrette. Photo by Dan LevyTony Alva. Photo by Dan LevyCassidy Ramos and Ronnie Griffin. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Photo by Dan LevyMcRad. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Photo by Dan LevySnake run racers! Photo Dan LevyBuck Smith. Photo by Dan LevyLenny Byrd. Photo by Dan LevyDavid Hackett. Photo by Dan LevyDavid Hackett, Lenny Byrd, Steve Olson. Photo Dan LevyBuck Smith. Photo by Dan LevyPaul Schmitt. Photo by Dan LevyBuck Smith. Photo by Dan LevyBuck Smith, Will Fogel, Ethan White, Dave Duncan, Spencer Steelman and David Hackett. Photo by Dan LevyBuck Smith and Steve Olson. Photo by Dan LevyEthan White, Cassidy Ramos, David Hackett, Bill Danforth, Will Fogel, Spencer Steelman, Steve Olson and Dave Duncan. Photo by Dan LevyCollin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyThanks to all the sponsors. Photo by Dan LevyShannon Smith, Alisha, Villyn Mae, and Venice. Photo Dan LevyIvan Rodriguez. Photo by Dan LevyKona Skatepark and Museum. Photo by Dan LevyThe Kona battlefield. Photo by Dan LevyJuice Dan, Alisha, Villyn Mae, Venice, Jay Adams daughter.Load and Shannon. Photo by Dan LevyCollin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Mikee Zion O’Friel, Collin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyRonnie O’Neal. Photo by Dan LevyShannon Smith and Tim Mott. Photo by Dan LevyVenice, Villyn Mae, Alisha, and Christian Hosoi. Photo by Dan LevyLiam Pace. Photo by Dan LevyDave Duncan, Bill Danforth and Lenny Byrd. Photo by Dan LevyCharlie Martin. Photo by Dan LevyMikee Zion O’Friel. Photo by Dan LevyCharlie Martin. Photo by Dan LevyDalton Dern. Photo by Dan LevyCollin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyDalton Dern. Photo by Dan LevyMikee Zion O’Friel, Darren Navarrette and Buck Smith. Photo by Dan LevyJack Winburn. Photo by Dan LevyJimmy “The Greek” Marcus. Photo by Dan LevyMikee Zion O’Friel. Photo by Dan Levy
Steve Olson, Jimmy Plumer, George Wilson, Ethan White, Alicia and Venice. Photo by Dan LevyIvan Rodriguez. Photo by Dan LevyTim Johnson and his son, Levi. Photo by Dan LevyCharlie Martin. Photo by Dan LevyRonnie O’Neal. Photo by Dan LevyDalton Dern. Photo by Dan LevyRonnie Griffin, Paul Schmitt and Mike McGill and the crew. Photo by Dan LevyNick Wallace. Photo by Dan LevyJake Yanko. Photo by Dan LevyJake Yanko. Photo by Dan LevyNick Wallace. Photo by Dan LevyTrevor Brice. Photo by Dan LevyEli Reams. Photo by Dan LevyEli Reams. Photo by Dan LevyJeremiah Bell. Photo by Dan LevyNick Wallace. Photo by Dan LevySchedule of Fun. Photo by Dan LevySkateboarding Heritage Foundation. Photo by Dan LevyTim Mott – Florida Skateboarding Hall of Fame 2017 Inductee. Photo by Dan LevyGeorge Wilson, Mitch Kaufman, Steve Olson and Jimmy Plumer. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Photo by Dan LevyDalton Dern. Photo by Dan LevyCharlie Martin. Photo by Dan LevyJack Winburn. Photo by Dan LevyCollin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyJack Winburn. Photo by Dan LevyWinners Circle. Photo by Dan LevyWinners Circle. Photo by Dan LevyWinners Circle. Photo by Dan LevyLiam Pace. Photo by Dan LevyDalton Dern. Photo by Dan LevyAtlanta Pat. Photo by Dan LevyLiam Pace. Photo by Dan LevyAtlanta Pat. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Photo by Dan LevyLiam Pace. Photo by Dan LevyCollin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyMikee Zion O’Friel. Photo by Dan LevyDalton Dern. Photo by Dan LevyMikee Zion O’Friel. Photo by Dan LevyLiam Pace. Photo by Dan LevyDalton Dern. Photo by Dan LevyRonnie O’Neal. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Photo by Dan LevyCollin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyRonnie O’Neal. Photo Dan LevyCollin Graham. Photo by Dan LevyJake Wooten. Photo by Dan LevyAtlanta Pat. Photo by Dan LevyTrevor Brice. Photo by Dan LevyRick Morgan. Photo by Dan LevyTyler Coffman. Photo by Dan LevyLiam Pace. Photo by Dan LevyTyler Coffman. Photo by Dan LevyTrevor Brice. Photo by Dan LevyRick Morgan. Photo by Dan LevyTrevor Brice. Photo by Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo by Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyGuttermouth. Photo Dan LevyThank you to Kona Skatepark and all the 40 year celebration sponsors! Photo by Dan Levy
Kona Skatepark, the oldest privately-owned skatepark in the world celebrates 40 Years with a week-long event, June 21-25, 2017 and Juice Magazine would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Ramos family for their perseverance and dedication to the core. Thanks to Marty Ramos, the entire Ramos family and the Jacksonville skateboarding community for keeping it going all these years, and cheers to 40 more!
To celebrate, Kona Skatepark and the city of Jacksonville threw a massive 40th Anniversary Festival. The Kona 40th Anniversary Festival was a celebration of the Jacksonville, Florida, skateboarding culture, featuring a blend of music, art, culture, and a ton of skateboarding, along with some of the giants of skateboarding: Tony “TA” Alva, Christian Hosoi, David Hackett, Steve Olson and Dave Duncan, along with special guest Steve Van Doren of Vans Shoes.
The event hosted a Bowl Riders Cup Pool Contest, Banked Slalom Racing, Tombstone Jam, and best trick contests, and featured live music from bands such as Firewater Tent Revival, McRad and Guttermouth.
Kona’s owner, Martin Ramos III’s family purchased Kona Skatepark in 1979 and since then, the Ramos Family has been recognized in Florida’s Skateboard Hall of Fame in 2002, as pioneers of skateparks in the USA. Kona has also been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the Longest Surviving Skatepark in the world, having survived three economic recessions and all the ups and downs of the skate industry.
A few words of tribute....
"It's a classic, old dinosaur
that's still not extinct."
– TONY ALVA
“East Coast Heritage… Kona…
Don’t cha know ya…
They just don’t last like that…
When it was built, they came…
40 years later, still standing...
and being ripped…
Kona Skatepark…
East Coast Pride…
And now…
The Standing Ovation!”
– STEVE OLSON
"I can't wait to rip, tear and slash
at Kona Skatepark's 40th Anniversary
along with Alva, Olson and Hosoi.
It will be one of the sickest sessions
to go down in skateboarding history!
Bring It!!!
– DAVID HACKETT
Kona Skate Park
40th Anniversary Festival
June 21-25, 2017
Check out footage from just a few of the Kona contests over the years.
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