Why Sandy Snakenberg Organizes Naked Skates

In June of 2001, forty skaters gathered in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park for a nude inline skating photography session organized by sports photographer Jack Gescheidt and 24 hour world record holder Sandy Snakenberg. When I first heard about this event I had many questions for Sandy. Here is how he responded:

AN INTERVIEW WITH SANDY SNAKENBERG by Kathie Fry
Kathie Fry: Sandy, was the June 2001 naked skating event in San Francisco the first group naked skating event you ever organized?

Sandy Snakenberg: No, it isn't. My first San Francisco nude skate was in 1996. Jack Gescheidt took a photo of me skating naked up California Street behind a cable car. A lot of my friends saw that photo and thought it looked like fun, so I invited them to share the experience with me the next time. I was quite surprised to find out how many people were interested. Since 1996 we have done several nude photo shoots in landmark locations around San Francisco, including Lombard Street and the Golden Gate Bridge. The 2001 skate was the seventh nude photo shoot we have done in San Francisco and there have been other nude skates in New York City, Boston, and several other cities.

Kathie: Why did you organize the San Francisco skate?

Sandy: I'm always looking for something new and interesting to do. These nude skates have been more fun for me than anything else I have ever instigated. It had been two years since the last skate, so I decided it was time to have a really big one. I put out the word about two months before the skate, and there was a lot of interest, from skaters who were totally into doing it and from others who were interested but feeling timid. We ended up with forty skaters, and I believe we might have set a world's record for "the largest number of people skating naked at the same time".

Kathie: When did you skate naked for the first time?

Sandy: The first time I tried it was back in 1984, with the Rad City Rollers Skating Club in San Diego. I was living in a skating commune at the time. It was a 13-room boarding house and 11 of those rooms were filled with skaters, 2 or 3 to a room. It was a fun and carefree time, and that first naked skate was a spontaneous event that was done for the pure joy it.

Kathie: Are you planning to organize another naked skate?

Sandy: We are now doing naked skates every month in San Francisco and everyone is invited to join us. They are just fun rolls and they are not necessarily meant to be photography shoots. The first two naked fun rolls were scheduled for July 4th and August 19th , 2001, and they will take place monthly after that. These events will be short nude skates followed by breakfast with the group. Skaters who would like to join us can email me.

Kathie: Won't I be arrested by the police if I skate naked in public?

Sandy: No. At the very most you will receive a citation and be required to pay a fine. During our naked skates no one has ever been cited or fined. The cops have approached us, but all they have done is ask us to put on our clothes. The last comment made by a cop during one of our photo shoots was "You KNOW that was your last photo". Whenever we have had encounters with law enforcement authorities, they have always been very friendly and good-natured when they ask us to put on our clothes.

Kathie: Why should I skate naked?

Sandy: Skating naked is fun. It brings out a sense of child-like glee in everyone. It feels good to skate naked and it's fun to do it with like-minded souls. There are no snobs in a group of naked people!

Kathie: Do I have to be completely naked to join one of your events?

Sandy: The entire rear side of your body must be nude, but you can wear pasties or other cover-ups in front if it makes you feel more comfortable. You should bring a blanket to use as a cover-up when you're not actually skating. Sometimes it can be cold out there!

Kathie: Will I always be photographed if I join one of your events?

Sandy: Not every naked skate is organized as a photo shoot but you always COULD be photographed.

Copyright � by Kathie Fry of SkateLog.com

What The Naked Skate Was Like -->

Related Links
Golden Gate Park Naked Skate - Main Article
More About Skating Naked

From Other Web Sites
FaSST Magazine Version of This Article
Sk8Around.com (Organizer Sandy Snakenberg)
JackPhoto.com (Photographer Jack Gescheidt)

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