Whitley Bay Skate Club

As a kid growing up in the mid-’80s, all Paul Morales wanted to do was skate and surf. Every morning, he’d leave his home in Cullercoats, a small fishing village around eight miles from Newcastle, and ride down to the beach, where he’d survey the mood of the sea. If it was favorable, he’d promptly swap one board for another and spend the rest of the morning riding waves until he had to depart for school.

Back then, the local surf community was small but solid. In Tynemouth, the closest town, Paul would spend weekends at a little surf shop. He’d lose hours there, checking out all of the stuff he read about in magazines. However, when it came to skateboarding, there was less of a tangible scene… read more >