All good things must come to an end, and sadly in this first week of 2009, the Club Old Man Ramp Compound (or “The COMpound” as it was called) has come to its final, flaming days. After four years of harsh South Alabama sun and sporadic barbecue sessions, proprietor Greg Siegfried put the torch to the beast’s big belly.
But let’s not dwell on the end. Here are some photos from a few of the past year’s sessions at the COMpound.
Greg gets flappy with a frontside grind (Yes, he pulled it). March 29, 2008. [photo by Chris Solomon]
Stevie gets flippy with a fakie at a hectic session on March 29, 2008. [photo by Chris Solomon]
Greg executes one of his region-renowned frontside grinds while Brian and I look on, July 20th, 2008. [photo by Cynthia Hutto]
Greg with a frontside rock on the short-deck side while I lurk under the stairs at the last session on the COM mini, January 1st, 2009. [photo by Jessy Helms]
The smoldering remains of the COM vert ramp.
The mini is moving to Brian’s Skateshop in Ozark, so it’ll still be around, but the vert ramp is gone.
It’s really gone. [photo by Greg]
A recent resurgence in backyard ramp magazine coverage prompted Greg to say that “they’re four years too late.” When asked if he had plans to build another ramp, he told me, “My next ramp? A wheelchair ramp so I can get into my new house.”
Happy 40th, Greg.
COMpound R.I.P.