‘Bastion’ – O.W.L in Gibraltar – Issue 42 Article

17/01/2025

Photo: Reece Leung

Words by: Al Hodgson

Photos by: Reece Leung

 

Truth be told, the first time I visited Gibraltar as a tourist it didn’t really do it for me. The air was thick with congestion and construction dust, there’s literally hundreds of tons of military regalia, pretty much all the beaches were made of fortified concrete and there were expats everywhere. Gib is a British Overseas Territory bordering the southern coast of Andalusia and overlooking Morocco, so the region has seen its fair share of turmoil throughout history. Post-Brexit, its relationship with the Spanish mainland has become even more complicated. Revisiting wasn’t necessarily top of my to do list. However, being known for projects which take in crusty British south coast spots, the more I mulled it over the more returning for a skate trip seemed like the perfect way to take that concept to the Nth degree. It doesn’t get much more South Coast British crust than Gibraltar…

Whilst researching the trip, pretty much everyone I spoke to told me there were no spots there. But, annoyingly, the more people tell me that the more I’m inclined to try to prove them wrong. I did, however, start getting a little worried when on the first day over 75% of my initial Google Maps finds weren’t even close to being spots. Fortunately this ended up just being teething pains, as by the second day we were already worrying about not having enough time to fit in all that we’d found.

Heading up the trip was most of the usual crew; Dougie George, Dan Fisher, Harrison Woolgar, Michael Tarry, plus wildcard special guest Magnus Bordewick who very much cemented himself as MVP early on. 

Despite being deeply exhausting, the trip was amazing and truly memorable. With it now complete, I can confidently say my initial perceptions of Gibraltar were very wrong. The people are some of the nicest and most amenable to skateboarding that I’ve come across and the living is good out there. Big up Graham for showing us around, Dionne at Cyberworld bar for the stellar tune selection on the last night, Sista Dee (look up her music!) for the impeccable vibes and teaching us that you’re supposed to dap with the left hand (right hand on the heart shows you are true), and, of course, cheers to Reece for all the shooting and for helping take on a lot of the trip organisation.

Bermuda trip next, boys…?

Photo by: Reece Leung

Magnus Bordewick – Ollie ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Dougie George – Backside Nosegrind Revert ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

The north gun at Devil’s Gap Battery was installed in 1902, making it 122 years old at time of writing. In August 1917, it fired upon and sank a German submarine travelling on the surface near Algeciras. This was the only action Gibraltar’s coastal defences saw during World War I.

Dougie George – Backside Nosegrind ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Photo by: Reece Leung

Magnus Bordewick – Wallie Melon Grab ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

The Gibraltar sovereignty referendum of 1967 took place on 10 September 1967, allowing Gibraltarian citizens to choose between transferring to Spanish sovereignty, with Gibraltarians retaining British citizenship and Gibraltar gaining a special status within Spain; or remaining under British sovereignty with self-governing institutions for Gibraltar. Gibraltar voted 99.98% for the latter, with a 96.54% voter turnout. This day has now become Gibraltar’s National Day.

Dan Fisher- Eustance – Switch Pole Jam ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

In 2016 Gibraltar voted 95.91% for the UK to remain a member of the European Union, with an 83.64% voter turnout.

Photo by: Reece Leung

Dougie George – Nosepick ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

John Lennon and Yoko Ono married on the Rock of Gibraltar in 1969.

Dan Fisher-Eustance – Pivot To Fakie ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Photo by: Reece Leung

There are around 300 Barbary macaques living on the rock of Gibraltar and they are the only free-living monkeys in Europe. They are, however, not strictly wild. Sir Winston Churchill is known to have imported a number of macaques from Morocco during WWII as the primate population was decreasing on the Rock, and today they are managed by the city’s wildlife authorities. Legend has it that, should the macaques ever leave Gibraltar, so will the British.

Magnus Bordewick – Ollie ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Photo by: Reece Leung

Magnus Bordewick – Wallride Nollie ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Photo by: Reece Leung

Michael Tarry – Kickflip ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Wellington Front was among the last of Gibraltar’s fortifications constructed by convict labour. Around 900 convicts participated in its building while being housed on the HMS Owen Glendower, a prison ship docked in Gibraltar Harbour. Later assessments found that local labour was more cost-effective, more productive and legally permitted to work longer hours than British convicts.

Photo by: Reece Leung

Michael Tarry – Taildrop To Frontside Smith Grind ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Photo by: Reece Leung

The Treaty of Utrecht, signed in 1713, was the treaty in which Gibraltar was ceded to the crown of Great Britain ‘in perpetuity.’

Harrison Woolgar – Ollie ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

English is the official language of Gibraltar, though Andalusian Spanish is also widely spoken. Gibraltar even has an unofficial local dialect known as ‘Yanito’, a unique blend of English, Spanish and a touch of Italian.

Photo by: Reece Leung

Photo by: Reece Leung

Dan Fisher-Eustance – Ollie ~ Photo by: Reece Leung

Filmed + Edited by: Al Hodgson

Additional Hi8 Filming by: Harrison Woolgar

Music: Barry Gray – ‘The Mysteron Theme’

LongDistanceDan – ‘Galaxy Flop’ 

Odd Nosdam – ‘FB1 24’