We talked at length about our own personal skateboarding history and we clicked right from the get-go. Realizing at an early point of his skateboarding that he probably wasn't going to go pro or get sponsored, Greg found a way that he can keep being involved with skateboarding as well as keeping it strong and thriving in at-risk communities. The LOP was started and Greg was able to keep skateboarding in his life with a goal of keeping skateboarding in other people's lives.
Greg holding up board art by Steve Olson
Lakai LOP Colorway (not for production): LOP interns Han Su Kim, Alex Greening, and Danny Ugolick w/ Scott Johnston
Art by Rob Meinhardt (www.downtoride.com)
A genuine Geoff Mcfetridge.
I got to see some great artwork that some successful artists have submitted to LOP as well as special collaborations with Lakai Footwear and Girl Skateboards.
At the time of my visit, Greg had already shipped out dozens of donated boards to needy communities and is already getting some things in the works for 2010.
The conversation was so fluid and genuine that I didn't even really get a chance to write anything down.
Rosamond Rice photos from Apache Skate Blast 2007 San Carlos, AZ
One thing that Greg touched on was that the point of the Board exchanges and other events that LOP does is to simply keep kids skating. The reality is that it is easy to get in to bad things when you don't have a board to ride. For a lot of kids, skateboarding keeps them from drug habits, joining a gang, or just out doing destructive things. Foundations like the LOP keep these kids rolling and as Greg hopes, keeps them out of some bad situations.
The Land of Plenty website has been updated regularly and are always accepting donations of any amount so if you haven't had a chance to see it yet, be sure to stop by.
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