Jason Oliva Mute Air Matt Klein’s Ramp New Jersey circa 1987

photo Michael Pruskowski

Jason Oliva Mute air Matt Klein’s Ramp New Jersey 1987

Matt Klein, Watchung Hills regional skate academy graduate and current brother in law to Team Steam’s Rocky Vertone. His ramp wasn’t the biggest but it had vert , a nice layer and the Klein’s hospitality.

Ben Cornish captured this brief session at Kleins in 1987-88. Trolling through his super 8 video clips it looks like we all left McDowalls (it needed a new layer at the time I think) and went to Matt’s. We were a homeless (Barn was done with I think) crew of Steam riders. A bunch of pasty skinned vampires spoiled from year round indoor skating never seeing daylight.

I do remember The Captain John Ballon sitting this session out in protest of the ramps size. In Johns defense…he was huge and skated fast and big he was probably concerned the ramp itself would run for the hills the second he dropped in. Bernie sat out as well in some kind of solidarity with The Cap but mostly to get us to move on quicker(although I later rode Klein’s with Bernie and he killed the place)

I also believe that Steve Mannion didn’t have a board or pads with him and may be skating with Corn’s stuff ( I could be wrong about this one) I think he is wearing his stage pants for lord’s sake! Regardless lookit Starvin Eddie go!!!

Oh yeah…Nice run Jimmy.

Thanks Corn!!!

Jason Oliva

Bernie O’Dowd and Chris WEEP Blank Dorkin Around circa 1987
Super 8 footage by Ben Cornish

Team Steam at Matt Klein’s New jersey Circa 1987
Super 8 from Ben Cornish

jason oliva