Who Is Your Favorite Dogtown Boy? Tony Alva has got to be the guy for this writer. He has come along way from slinging rocks at territorial invaders on top of the pier at Pacific Ocean Park with Jay Adams. Who would have thought that working Rat Patrol (what they called it) as pre-teens just to be allowed time in the water to surf the breaks would lead to international fame and recognition? Out of all the Dogtown boys that came on the scene, Tony's life seems the most praiseworthy. Coming from a broken family (his parents split up while he was still a kid) where his father worked most of the time, Tony spent most of his childhood away from parental supervision. He would hang out at the Pacific Coast Park surfing the breaks and later applied that skill to his skateboarding.

In 1977, he won the World Professional Skateboarding title. At age 19, he started his own business (Alva Skateboarding Co.) which he still leads to this day. From surfing to skateboarding, from business to film (two movies released, more about that below), Tony seems to have the Midas touch; not bad for a poor wise-ass kid from Venice.

There are two movies available presently that will give you the 411 on all the activities and history of the Dogtown phenomena:

Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)
This documentary directed and written by Stacy Peralta goes through the whole history of the Zemphir skating team (Z-Boys for short). With great footage and interviews of all the major players, Stacy makes documentary dramatic and entertaining. She gives the appropriate background information about how skateboarding was before, during, and after the Z-boys revolutionized the sport.

Lords of Dogtown (2005)
This Catherine Hardwicke directed drama is in theatres now. It covers the same material as the documentary but adds those interesting touches that Hollywood loves in its dramatic movies. You will see all the squabbles and in-fighting that goes with the territory when something recreational and fun turns into big business. It stars Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger, John Robinson and Johnny Knoxville.