Hubba Hideout
Encyclopedia
Hubba Hideout was one of the most famous skateboarding
spots. It was located in San Francisco near the Justin Herman Plaza on The Embarcadero
. Its central features are two over-sized sets of 6 stairs with large concrete ledges on both sides. The spot is part of a pedestrian walkway but has been more commonly used by the local skateboarders and vagrants. As of Jan 22, 2011 it is being destroyed by employees of the city of San Francisco.
slang term for crack cocaine: "hubbas."
for advanced skateboarders visiting San Francisco.
The frequency of skateboarders eventually attracted the attention of the authorities and resulted in a full scale skate-stopper implementation (in the late part of the nineties). The ledges were capped (or knobbed) with skate-stopping devices which rendered them impossible to grind
.
Recently, skateboarders managed to remove the skate-stopping devices and use of the ledges had a resurgence
.
Eventually, in March 2007, the authorities had the brick landing taken out and covered it in sand
. However, this has not rendered the spot un-skateable. A rather simple impromptu set-up of wood or other material replacing the brick landing will suffice for the initial impact. A clean ride-away across the sand is indefintely possible after that initial landing.
37.795632°N 122.397826°W
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
spots. It was located in San Francisco near the Justin Herman Plaza on The Embarcadero
The Embarcadero (San Francisco)
The Embarcadero is the eastern waterfront and roadway of the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, along San Francisco Bay, constructed atop an engineered seawall on reclaimed land, and derives its name from the Spanish verb embarcar, meaning "to embark"...
. Its central features are two over-sized sets of 6 stairs with large concrete ledges on both sides. The spot is part of a pedestrian walkway but has been more commonly used by the local skateboarders and vagrants. As of Jan 22, 2011 it is being destroyed by employees of the city of San Francisco.
Etymology
Hubba Hideout got its handle because of the nefarious denizens that would frequent the skate spot looking for a hidden place to engage in illicit activity. The nickname was a nod to the Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
slang term for crack cocaine: "hubbas."
History
The first documented trick on the ledge at Hubba Hideout was Wade Speyer's crooked grind. Hubba Hideout gained fame through skateboarding magazines and videos and it became a meccaMecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
for advanced skateboarders visiting San Francisco.
The frequency of skateboarders eventually attracted the attention of the authorities and resulted in a full scale skate-stopper implementation (in the late part of the nineties). The ledges were capped (or knobbed) with skate-stopping devices which rendered them impossible to grind
Grinds (skateboarding)
Grinds are a form of skateboarding trick where the skateboarder slides on the side or on the trucks. Grinds are performed on any object that may fit between the space between the wheels where the truck meets...
.
Recently, skateboarders managed to remove the skate-stopping devices and use of the ledges had a resurgence
Resurgence
Resurgence is a British bi-monthly magazine which has been described as the artistic and spiritual voice of the green movement in Great Britain. Resurgence was founded in the 1960s by John Papworth....
.
Eventually, in March 2007, the authorities had the brick landing taken out and covered it in sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
. However, this has not rendered the spot un-skateable. A rather simple impromptu set-up of wood or other material replacing the brick landing will suffice for the initial impact. A clean ride-away across the sand is indefintely possible after that initial landing.
Trivia
- The skateboarding video ON documented the rise and demise of Hubba Hideout in a short piece entitled "Hubba Rocks."
External links
- Hubba Hideout Videos and Photos
- SF Gate
- Fun Not Fame Productions
- San Francisco State University
- Hubba Hideout at the Subpublic Community
37.795632°N 122.397826°W