LA's Ocean Front Walk

IN 1973 LA BUILT A 22 MILE BIKE PATH THAT STRETCHES FROM THE PACIFIC PALISADES TO ALMOST PALOS VERDES. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT A LOT AND HAVE REALIZED THAT IT IS GROUND ZERO FOR A LOT OF MODERN DAY YOUTH CULTURE. IT IS WHERE SKATEBOARDING WAS INVENTED AS WE KNOW IT TODAY WITH THE Z-BOYS OF EARLY 80S GRITTY VENICE AND SANTA MONICA'S DOGTOWN. IT IS WHERE PUNK WAS FUSED WITH SKATING AND SURFING CULTURE WHICH NOW DEFINES THE AESTHETIC OF ALL "EXTREME SPORTS" FROM MOUNTAIN BIKING, TO SNOWBOARDING TO SURFING TO MOTOCROSS BIKES TO SO MUCH MORE. PUNK WAS BORN IN NY, BUT LET'S FACE IT THAT WAS A LAME SCENE WITH BLONDIE AND TALKIGN HEADS AND PATTI SMITH. IT WAS THE LA SCENE THAT DEFINED AND DID THE MOST TO HELP CULTIVATE THE AMERICAN UNDERGROUND ROCK SCENE. IT WAS WHERE ROLLER SKATING IN THE 70S BECAME TRENDY AND WHERE ROLLERBLADING TOOK OVER 10-15 YEARS LATER....AND TODAY IN TV AND PRINT ADS, IMAGES OF THE "STRAND" ARE USED TO CONVEY AN IMAGERY OF WONDERFUL COOL LIFE. I AM REMINDED OF THE RECENT SPRITE COMMERCIAL WHERE IT SHOWS ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE SKATING IN THE SUN DRINKING SPIRTE WITH "SEEING STARS" PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND. SO IT SEEMS LIKE LA'S OCEAN FRONT WALK IS WHERE AMERICAN YOUTH CULTURE IS CREATED AND SPREADS ALL OVER THE NATION AND WORLD.>