In the mid 1970’s Southern California was hit with a serious drought that led to hot days, brown grass, dried up water hoses and drained pools. The streets were no longer flooded with kids running through sprinklers or lounging poolside on sunny summer days. Instead, you would catch a glimpse of kids hopping chain linked fences and heard the sound of wheels on asphalt. The empty pools created a new playground and served as a neighborhood gathering spot for one of California’s most iconic traditions – skateboarding. The drought, in many ways, served as a catalyst for the skateboarding culture and it’s rise in popularity.