Brandon (Woody) Woodward took nearly everyone by surprise when he won the Class A division (10 under) at the 1965 International Skateboarding Championships in Anaheim, CA. The 10-year old Woody swept the three disciplines—flatland slalom, downhill, and freestyle (tricks). For his efforts he was awarded a college scholarship” from Skateboarder Magazine (Woody never attended college). His longtime friend and fellow teammate, John Freis was crowned the AA Class (15 under) overall champion by amassing more points than Bruce Logan, Torger Johnson, and Dave and Steve Hilton.
Highlights of the contest were broadcast on ABC’s Wide World of Sports several days after the event took place, however, Woody has no recollection of every seeing himself skating in the contest on television.
Woody’s boyhood at Topanga Beach was greatly enhanced in 1961 when his father decided to install a Paddle Tennis court on the street side of their beachfront home. Talking with Woody last week he remembers, “Those days…surfing and skateboarding with everyone. Our tennis court, my dad would freak out sometimes, but he knew how skateboarding was keeping me occupied. The characters involved, George Trafton, Joey, Juan and Michael Saenz, Danny Bearer, you, and the Hiltons, we were always trying to outdo each other. And our treks up to Sunset Mesa! Those streets before all the houses were built…goofing on Getty’s zebras and cape buffaloes. We really had an amazing life at the beach.”
Living in Santa Barbara for the past three decades, Woody at one point was coaching and giving lessons to young skateboarders who, often times, had no idea of Woody’s cred as one of skateboarding’s earliest world champions.
Today’s youth brigade with young teens having such success at the Olympics and other venues may not realize the heritage Woody and the other young skaters established in the early 1960s.
written by Jim Fitzpatrick in the SHoF Transition Newsletter No.1 Vol.1 January 2025
