Still Grinding: Steve Alba Skates Pools at 62

The sound of urethane wheels grinding pool coping is timeless. And for Steve “Salba” Alba, it’s a daily ritual, not a memory. At 62 years old, Salba isn’t reminiscing about his glory days—he’s living them. On a crisp California morning, we met up with the skateboarding legend and rising young ripper Phoenix Sinnerton to film a session in one of Southern California’s rawest backyard bowls.

What followed was more than just a skate edit. It was a conversation between generations, a reflection on skateboarding’s gritty heritage, and a living reminder that age is only a number when your heart’s still in the deep end.

Filmed and edited by Brian Peacock, this poolside hangout turned into a study in endurance, style, and shared passion. Here’s how it went down—and why we all left hoping we’ll be skating pools when we’re 62.

Chapter One: Meet the Man Who Helped Define Pool Skating

Steve Alba isn’t just a skater. He’s a walking archive of the culture itself. Coming up in the 1970s, Salba was among the pioneers who took skateboarding into the pools of Southern California—draining backyard basins to carve transitions, invent tricks, and redefine the sport.

As a member of the original Skateboarder Magazine elite, Salba made his name bombing ditches, slashing tiles, and turning empty swimming pools into canvases for rebellion. Alongside fellow Dogtown and Upland Pool Lords like Tony Alva and Jay Adams, he helped solidify a raw, aggressive aesthetic that’s still influencing skateboarding today.

And he never stopped.

Chapter Two: The Session Starts—Wheels Hit Waterline

The morning air had that dry Santa Ana crackle to it—perfect for fast lines and grippy coping. We met Salba and Phoenix in a suburban backyard where a deep peanut-shaped pool sat behind weathered fences and avocado trees. It wasn’t some polished skatepark replica. This was the real thing—paint-chipped, rough-tiled, graffiti-splashed. The kind of place that echoes with the history of punk shows and sunset sessions.

As Salba dropped in, it was immediately clear: the style was still there. The lines were tight. The grinds were loud. Every carve was a story.

Phoenix, a skater less than a third of Salba’s age, followed with explosive pop and effortless flicks. Watching them take turns was like watching punk meet postmodern—two voices in harmony, each speaking the same language of speed and respect.

Chapter Three: Why Pools Matter

In an era of indoor skate plazas, LED-lit mega parks, and virtual reality trick simulations, there’s something deeply raw about skating an actual swimming pool. Pools don’t care about your style points. They’re unforgiving, unpredictable, and full of quirks. No two are the same.

And that’s the point.

“I like that you have to read it,” Salba tells us mid-session. “You gotta learn the curve, the pitch, the coping. You can’t just plug in a trick and land it like a robot. A pool talks back.”

His deck—thick, wide, old-school—echoes this philosophy. Salba’s boards aren’t designed for social media bangers. They’re built for flow, friction, and fearlessness.

Chapter Four: Phoenix Brings the Fire

While Salba brought the wisdom, Phoenix Sinnerton brought sheer dynamism. At just 19, Phoenix represents the next wave of pool riders—those who value the heritage but aren’t afraid to add something new.

His lines were higher. His lip tricks had a flair that hinted at street roots. A boneless into the deep end nearly ended in disaster, but he rolled away clean with a grin and a nod to Salba.

Watching them skate together was like seeing two eras trade punches—without competition, only admiration. Phoenix grew up watching clips of Salba, but now they were sharing transitions. It was magic.

Chapter Five: The Gear That Keeps Them Going

Salba’s setup is a relic—but not in the outdated sense. It’s refined for the pools he skates: Indy 215 trucks, 60mm wheels, a board with a deep concave and long wheelbase. He tunes it like a blues guitarist tunes a vintage Stratocaster—he knows every crack and creak.

Phoenix rolls lighter. His board’s closer to modern street dimensions, but with softer wheels for bowl sessions. The juxtaposition is beautiful—proof that there’s no “right way” to skate, only your way.

Both of them wore scuffed pads. No fashion flexes here. Just helmets, elbow guards, knee caps, and raw dedication. Safety’s not soft. It’s smart when you’re dropping headfirst into a concrete pit at speed.

Chapter Six: Culture Runs Deep

Between runs, the conversation shifted from skating to life—punk shows in the ’80s, art projects, photography, family. Salba talked about his love of jazz and custom cars. Phoenix riffed on growing up in a digital skate age but wanting to unplug and find real terrain.

What united them, besides their boards, was a mindset: Skateboarding isn’t something you do. It’s something you are. And when you meet someone who speaks that same language, no age gap matters.

Salba said it best: “We’re all lifers.”

Chapter Seven: The Session Winds Down

After a few hours of loops, slashes, and high fives, the sun began to dip. The shadows in the pool stretched long. Salba landed a perfect frontside grind, popped out, and smiled like a kid. Phoenix followed with a tweaked out lien air that scraped just enough coping to rattle the deck.

Brian packed up his camera gear. We sat on the pool steps and cracked a few sodas. No one wanted to leave. The pool wasn’t just a skate spot. It was a temple, and we had just finished worshipping.

Epilogue: Still Rolling

Skateboarding has often been branded as a young man’s game. But that’s changing. Salba proves that passion outlasts age, and that concrete doesn’t discriminate—it welcomes anyone brave enough to drop in.

At 62, Salba doesn’t need to prove anything. But his presence in that pool—the power in his carves, the patience in his lines—says everything. He’s still pushing, still evolving, still inspiring.

And as for Phoenix? He’s got the fire, the flair, and now, the mentorship. He’s part of a lineage now—a living bridge between what was and what will be.

Skateboarding isn’t about age. It’s about obsession. About defiance. About showing up and doing the thing you love, regardless of who’s watching or how old you are. If Salba’s still doing it at 62, there’s hope for all of us.