Jim O’Mahoney, shown in a 1970s photo, is the subject of a documentary, “Signal Hill Speed Run,” about skateboard racing. The film screens tonight as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
“It was the X-Games of its day,” he says.
These days Jim O’Mahoney is best known to Santa Barbarans as the owner of the Surf Museum on Helena Avenue and its newer, but equally delightful, history museum next door.
But back when he was 30, Mr. O’Mahoney started a four-year event at the same time as the modern skateboard industry, resulting in some incredible speeds and dangerous accidents.