SKATE CITY
WHITTIER
PRO-AM
Duane Peters and Steve Caballero battle
it out in the first contest of the 1981 PRO
SEASON. Lance Mountain takes top AM honors.
Fence high backside-air for a stoked audience Duane Peters, White Pro winner
Contest promoter Gerry "Potato Hurtado poses
Steve Olson judged and carved
The first Annual Skate City Pro/Am
was the opening shot of skate-
board competition for 1981. Pro-
moted by Gerry "Potato Hurtado
and Dan "O", this two-day event
showcased some
new talent as
well as new maneuvers. In the Pro
ranks several newcomers proved
to be
worthy
additions to the
division. Among the new Pros were
Billy Rutt, David Zakrzewski, aka.
David Z or Mr. Bio, Neil Blender
and Jim Gray who showed that in
the future they would be powers
to be reckoned with
Not all the veteran Pros were
available for the competition. The
necessity of continually practicing
moves and trying to develop new
ones is a hazardous task. The pro-
Tessional skater of the 80's is a wel
trained athlete who must continu-
aly stay in top form if he intends
to be competitive. Unfortunately,
several Pros were recuperating
from injuries suffered previous to
Whittier, and thus, were unable to
compete. Among the missing
were David Andrecht, Steve and
Micko Alba and due to a car
accident Jay Smith Burt Lamar
and John Harris, All
nursing
minor injuries and should return to
action for the Colton Pro/Am
Saturday was reserved for Ama-
teur competition and Pro quality-
to
amateurs continue
improve to the point that they are
the levels of the Pros.
ing. The e
fast pushing t
were r
At Whittier the dominant amateurs
wure Lance Mountain, Tex Gibson,
Bob Serafin and Tony Hawk These
four squared off in the finals and
put on a great show. Lance Moun
tain came out on top by absolutely
pushing the limits showing he is
probably the most aggressive
skater in the division, Tex Gibson
again showed that he can adapt
to new terrain in a matter of hours
and be competitive with relatively
ime practice. Tex managed to
capture second spot. Bob Serafin
once again proved that he is Mr.
Consistency Steady routines and
varied Iruns eamed him third. To
some Tony Hawk may have been
riso, but not to those who
a surprise,
follow the competition scene.
Tony is an avant garde skater who
will s
sat
surely emerge as a top ama-
tourin
in 1981 and to him went a
voll deserved fourth
Saturday's Pro qualifying show
cased what was to come on
Sunday. Duane Peters qualified
with the most insane run ever
witnessed, as he fully hooked up
his front truck during a backside
NorCal heavyweight Steve Caballero gracefully executing his patented Caballeral