In 1997, Jeremy Wray did one of the greatest tricks ever done on a skateboard – a 16-foot ollie from one water tower to the next.
Yes, you read that correctly, we’re claiming that an ollie – the first trick every skater learns – is the greatest ever. We claim it as the greatest because in the 23 years since Wray did it no other skater has had the nerve to charge at the gap. A lot of the mind-blowing trick we see, like a kickflip into a bank or a 25-stair ollie, allows the skater to take as many run-ups as they need. For Wray, at the speed he was going, if he jumped off the board it would’ve meant falling from the top of the tower to flat.
For years, we’ve wanted to talk to Wray about his water tower ollie, so while we were out in California we tracked him down and convinced him to meet us close to the towers, about an hour outside of LA. And if it wasn’t nostalgic enough, we even had to hop the fence to stand in between the towers and soak in the madness. Not only should you check out our video, but go back and watch all of Wray’s parts because he is criminally underrated when it comes to ’90s and early ’00s skating.
Related Posts
Comments
Popular
-
A CHAT WITH LUDVIG HAKANSSON, THE OLDEST SOUL IN SKATEBOARDING
The man loves to read Nietzche, skates in some expensive vintage gear, and paints in his own neoclassical-meets-abstract-expressionist style.
-
WE TOOK PROFESSIONAL POGO STICKERS TO FAMOUS NYC SKATE SPOTS
Enjoy, write a scathing review, laugh, cry, feel something!
-
JENKEM PRESENTS: THE 8TH ANNUAL SKATEBOARDING SUPERLATIVES
To properly highlight the good and bad of 2024 we sat down for like 30 minutes and decided to come up with this list.
-
LOUIE BARLETTA ON LEAVING ENJOI AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
"When I quit last week, my thought was that I was gonna just chill and not do anything."
-
CHEERS TO ANOTHER YEAR
Some small talk, some 2024 highlights and plenty of links to keep you busy.
January 22, 2020 9:50 am
Great story Jenk Mob. That water tower gap is true board confidence and old school, balls out, death trap, bravery. I never knew Jeremy Wray was “criminally underrated”. That sucks. Jeremy Wray was an inspirational skater throughout the 90s. Huge pop, gigantic 360s over legendary gaps, and a Hubba Hideout destroyer. What more can you say?
Leave a reply
January 22, 2020 10:10 am
Can you guys do a feature like this with Geoff Rowley and the container gap?
I always wanted to see more footage of it, outtakes whatever
Leave a reply
January 22, 2020 4:53 pm
thanks!
will hit him up!
Leave a reply
January 22, 2020 10:15 am
Which lapel mic do you use? I have tried a couple and the quality always seems shitty, but this one seems to do the job! Also, loving all the content you are coming back from the west coast with!
Leave a reply
January 22, 2020 4:53 pm
sennheiser lavalier ew 100 g3
very good mics.
pretty pricey
(worth it tho)
Leave a reply
January 22, 2020 11:09 am
Did Wray ever get into rock climbing as well? He’s got the mindset (and Jackie Chan moves) to be hella gnarly there too.
Leave a reply