Ashland

This is a picture of Ashland Ave and Main Street in Santa Monica just a couple of streets south of Horizons West Surf Shop (once the old Zephyr Shop).  This shop was originally opened by Santa Monica Dogtown skateboarder and surfer Nathan Pratt, who was a member of the Zephyr Surf/Skate team started by Surfer/Shaper Jeff Ho, and later passed on to former Horizons West team and local Venice surfer Randall Wright.  One of our riders couldn’t help but put an Ashland Sticker on the street sign as he cruised by one afternoon ride. 

The story of the “Z-Boys”, an influential group of skateboarders from Los Angeles in the 1970’s who are credited with popularizin skateboarding and revolutionizing the sport, is chronicled in the 2005 biographical film, Lords of Dog Town written by Stacy Peralta.  Their name is derived from the name of the team they competed with together, the Jeff Ho Zephyr team. 

If you are visiting Los Angeles, Horizons West Surf Shop is a must stop destination.   While you are in the neighborhood, take my advice and walk over to Cha Cha Chicken on the corner of Pico and Ocean.  For several decades, this has been a beach bum favorite serving Caribbean comfort food to the West Side masses. A block from the ocean, the festive shack serves up Cuban, Jamaican, and Mexican-influenced dishes to diners chilling in the sun at outdoor tables.

DL