Shutting Down The 405 Freeway on a Skateboard, Here's How It Happened

Originally posted on TransWorld SKATEboarding
By Blair Alley | Last updated Oct 4, 2024 4:07 PM ET

It was a risky way to celebrate and promote Go Skateboarding Day back in 2012, but leave it to Don Brown to always roll the dice. Don, with the help of several vehicular accomplices, stopped traffic on SoCal's busiest freeway so Don could push the wide, six-lane road by himself. Our own Editor in Chief, Skin Phillips, was on the overpass and captured the epic image. Check the mini doc, many years later:

"In Southern California, the 405 Freeway is notorious as the busiest freeway in America. So what better way to capture attention than to bring traffic to a halt and skate down the middle lane? That’s exactly what one of the original creators of éS Footwear and Go Skateboarding Day, Don Brown, did—turning a bold idea into an unforgettable moment.

With photographer Skin Phillips, they created a now-legendary image that left people questioning whether it was real or fake. The stunt didn’t just stop traffic—it went viral, putting skateboarding and Go Skateboarding Day at the forefront of global conversation.

To honor this iconic moment, éS Skateboarding has released a limited edition ACCEL OG featuring the legendary 405 freeway photo on the insole and a 405 logo on the heel tab. Also, available is a TShirt with the photograph on the front.

Additionally, legendary skate filmmaker Mike Manzoori, who captured the original footage, has produced a short documentary showcasing the planning and execution of the stunt that left the world in awe."

This article first appeared on TransWorld Skateboarding and was syndicated with permission.

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