PRESS RELEASE 7-15-2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Hall of Fame Announces Inaugural Induction Ceremony in Ocean City, Maryland – A Nexus of East Coast Skateboarding

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND – [July 15, 2025] – The Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Hall of Fame (MA-SHOF), a non-profit, 501C3 organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the rich history of skateboarding in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, and New Jersey, proudly announces its inaugural induction ceremony. The event will take place on Saturday, September 20th, in Ocean City, Maryland, honoring individuals, locations, and entities that have significantly shaped the Mid-Atlantic skateboarding scene.

Ocean City holds a particularly special place in Mid-Atlantic skateboarding history, boasting the Ocean Bowl, widely regarded as the world's oldest municipal skatepark. Its genesis in 1976 was spearheaded by local mother Dorothy "Haystack" Marlowe, whose tireless efforts provided a dedicated space for skateboarders at a time when the sport was facing public bans. The Ocean Bowl has since become a landmark, attracting skaters and hosting events for decades, contributing significantly to the culture and community of skateboarding on the East Coast.

The MA-SHOF's mission is to recognize the passion, dedication, and vital contributions of historical skateboarders, cultural icons and locations, and business leaders and entities, ensuring their stories and impacts on skateboarding are preserved for future generations.

The 2025 Inaugural Induction Class includes a remarkable group of individuals and contributors:

• Mike "Micro" Mapp: a dedicated skateboarder and ramp builder, significantly shaped East Coast skateboarding. As CEO of Ramptech, a Northern Virginia-based ramp building company, Mapp introduced innovations like "Phenolic" ramp surfaces and patented ramp designs. He was instrumental in building the iconic Cedar Crest Ramp, a global destination for skaters and music fans. Mapp's work, including his role as producer of the "Blood and Steel" documentary, has influenced generations of skaters and the terrain they ride.
• Denny Riordon: an iconic East Coast skateboarder, embodies the spirit of the scene since its inception. A long-time professional skater across various styles, including vert, freestyle, and bowl riding, he competed at high levels with sponsors like Kryptonics and Toxic. Riordon also built local skate terrain, including the park in Lutherville, and owned multiple skate shops. He continues to skate in his 60s, currently owning the Assateague Island Surf Shop in Ocean City, Maryland, and inspiring new generations
• Chuck Treece: a Philadelphia-based icon in both skateboarding and music. In 1984, he became the first African-American featured on the Thrasher Magazine cover. He's the driving force behind the skate punk band McRad and a prolific session musician, working with artists from Billy Joel to Pearl Jam. Treece continues to skate and perform, influencing both worlds since the 1980s. His impact includes breaking barriers and merging skate and music cultures
• Lapper Magazine: A Virginia-based skate fan magazine founded by Bruce Adams and Wade Herren in 1984, that began as a photocopied zine. Lapper documented and represented the East Coast skateboarding scene, featuring local skaters, spots, and contests, becoming a significant voice in the community and spreading across the country before stopping publication in 1988.  Lapper is run today as an online magazine by one of its early contributors, Andy Bittner
• Marc Emond: a Maryland coast native, is celebrated for his smooth, surf-influenced skate style and his pivotal role at Ocean Bowl. He managed the park throughout the 1980s, championing its significance as a pioneering municipal skatepark. Emond also channels his passion into art, creating works that embody and celebrate the skate culture of the region, including cartoons for local publications and murals at the Ocean Bowl. His contributions span skating, management, and artistic expression.
• Tom Groholski: "The New Jersey Devil," quietly shaped vert and pool skating with his raw style and innovative tricks like the "groh-plant". A pioneer of East Coast skateboarding and a 2022 California Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee, his authentic approach and technical prowess, including mastering lip tricks like the "Hurricane," influenced generations who valued skateboarding's integrity. Groholski's impact stems from his love for skateboarding, not fame.
• Cedar Crest Ramp: Located at the Cedar Crest Country Club in Centreville, Virginia, and owned by Mark Hooper, this steel halfpipe ramp, known as "The Crest", was a major mecca for skaters and music fans in the 1980s, attracting visitors from every corner of the world.  The Crest was one of the most amazing vert ramps in existence at the time also a true cultural hot-spot, hosting epic weekend-long “Ramp Jam’s” that are featured in the documentary movie, “Blood and Steel”.
• Dorsey Truitt: The Hall of Fame’s first ICON, Dorsey Truitt was a true business mastermind, whose impact revolutionized Mid-Atlantic skateboarding.  Dorsey was a successful race car driver and owner of the Holiday House Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland in 1974 when he founded the world’s first skateboard distribution company.  Truitt also founded and manufactured for numerous major brands, such as Toxic, Brand-X, and Kryptonics.  He was instrumental in nurturing East Coast talent, fostering early skateboarders and industry professionals. The Truitt family continues his pioneering legacy through Truitt Skates, run by his son, Patrick (truittskates.com)
• Josh "Bomb King" Marlowe: son of Ocean Bowl pioneer Haystack Marlowe, was an Ocean City local and a legendary East Coast skater. A daily fixture at the Ocean Bowl and best friend of Patrick Truitt, his powerful style and towering inverts defined his skating. Josh's aggressive style and audacious personality inspired countless skaters, young and old, to push their own boundaries. Though he passed away in March 2025, Josh's legacy as a "force of nature" endures
• Reggie Barnes: is a North Carolina based retired professional freestyle skater and founder of Eastern Skateboard Supply. A pioneer of East Coast skateboarding, Barnes was ranked among the top five American freestyle skaters in 1986. Through his skating career and business ventures, Barnes has significantly contributed to the growth and development of the skateboarding industry, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region
• Henry Gutierrez: a Virginia Beach native and vert skating legend, is celebrated for his consistent dedication and ability to push the limits of vert skating. Known for blasting impressive airs and 540s, he's been a formidable presence for over 30 years, notably competing in the Renegade Vert Series. His early years skating the Mt. Trashmore vert ramp in Virginia Beach, alongside the influential "Fork Crew," solidified his East Coast roots and fueled his passion. Gutierrez continues to inspire, representing brands like Embassy Skateboards

"These pioneers, who have left an indelible mark on skateboarding in the region, are incredibly proud to be recognized," according to a Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Hall of Fame spokesperson. "Their dedication and contributions have built the foundation for the thriving skateboard community today."

The induction ceremony will be a celebration and reflection, uniting skateboarders and their supporters from all generations. You can find tickets for the event, along with details on membership and sponsorship/donation opportunities, at the official MA-SHOF website: www.ma-shof.com.

About the Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Hall of Fame:

The Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of skateboarding in the Mid-Atlantic region. The mission is to honor the individuals, places, and things that have significantly contributed to the development and culture of skateboarding in the region.

 

Contact:
Amy McConnaughy

Founder and Chair of the Board

Mid-Atlantic Skateboard Hall of Fame

808-652-1618

info@ma-shof.com