COMPETITION
TEXAS FALL SERIES
PLUGERVILLE DITCH
As the weekend approached for the
1st contest in the Fall Series I watch-
ed the T.V. weather reports with
disgust. Some sort of tropical depres
sion or some other meteoroligical
phenomenon was lingering over most
of the state of Texas. Rain was falling
everywhere. We left for Austin and
hoped for the best. To conserve cash
(with gas being what it is) the car was
equipped with enough generic beer for
the trip (Hey, you can save a buck per
six).
Saturday came with no rain, but lots
of fog, and we drove to the ditch to
get things underway. As we pulled up
we found what looked like a Cuban
refugee camp-with Andrew Lopez in
charge. Being the leader of the group
he got the choice sleeping accomoda-
tions-inside the drainage pipe.
Practice was scheduled to begin at
10:00, and eventually did when
everyone finally showed up at 12:00.
The notorious Big Boys showed up
to handle the judging duties, as they
had for the last Plugerville event dur-
ing the Spring. The contest began at
2:00 after a typical snake warm-up ses-
sion.
Wheels were worn before your eyes
as clouds of urethane swirled about
the ditch. The skaters were attempt-1
ing and making almost every variation
of the slide known to skatable man. In
the 18 and under division, local skater
John Nau took first with his smooth
speed lines. Andrew Lopez, doing slide
'n rolls over his sleeping quarters,
wake up in second place. Third went
to Craig Johnson for doing well
adapted vertical moves on the banks.
In the 19 and over division the same
formula of fast slides and pool type
moves were used to win. Brad Perkins
of San Antonio took 1st. Nathan Gates.
(a last second entry) grabbed 2nd and
local Tom Barrow received a 3rd place
judgement.
After the contest we went to check.
out the hill that was to be used for the
slalom portion of the contest on Sun-
day. The street was steep and long
and peppered with rocks. When the
boys decided to take a run they found
that a wheel coming in contact with a
rock would pulverize it into a puff of
smoke. Kind of fun for a while but it
didn't make the prospect of holding a
slalom event on the hill any more pro-
mising.
With Sunday came more rain, and
we went home.
JEFF NEWTON
Andrew Lopez combines street and pool instincts to pull off this slide 'n roll over the drainage pipe
PHOTOS BY JEFF NEWTON
IN THE TRENCHES
at Plugerville Ditch.
Vertical and pool-type maneuvers are adapted
to the mellow walls of a ditch with interesting
results. Dan Wilkes, Plugerville footplant.
Scott Squit' Sloane powers a layback during Alabama Ditch Contest.
NORTH ALABAMA
DITCH CONTEST
Inspired by the Texas ditch con-
tests, Florence, Al. skaters decided to
throw a local ditch event of their own.
Over a dozen skate dogs competed un-
der blue skies and 70° temps at the
TVA Reservation ditch. The govern-
ment facility consists of one 30° bank
opposing a 40° bank with 10 feet of
flat in between. Incorporated into the
terrain was a railroad tie along the top
of the 40° side, providing rock 'n rolls
and maximum board slides. The locals.
dug out a stretch of dirt along the top
of the wall creating an 8 foot grindable
edge.
During the warm-ups a bunch of
rowdies ran off would be spectators.
by wiping out their suds stash. The
contest got under way with the Pube
division (17 & under). Tim Burnett was
looking like the one to beat. The
camaflouge kid skated with the ex-
perience that he had gained in the
Alabama Mini Series last summer. But,
without missing a trick, Doug Flippo
pulled off a clean routine and a big
upset over Tim. Frenchie Spencer, a
little black kid, gave the boys a big
surprise though, cranking mean berts,
grinds and Jay Boy Adams influenced
maneuvers off the railroad tie. The
street skater smiled heavily as he
toted away 4th place honors in his
first contest of any kind.
After a few celebration doobs for
the pubes, it was the oldtimers' turn.
Steve Hobbie (a.k.a. bug man) opened
with original tricks and plenty of bite
in one of the best routines the ditch
has witnessed so far. This back to
basics contest really brought out the
old guard. Ray Johnson, who had not
seen competition in three years, was
displaying surf style moves and up to
date railroad tie techniques.
Playing the role, Squit Sloan (arriv
ing dressed in coat and tie), blazed
high-speed grinds, super extendo
laybacks, and railroad tie sweepers in-
to a respectable 2nd place. The
oldsters proved to the pubes that old
dogs can learn new tricks. Each skater
was given two one minute runs. The
two scores were added to achieve a
winner. Simple and sweet.
Appreciation is extended to the
Chromatics for providing a great tape
for the contest. Most of all, this ditch
contest proved that the local hard-
cores don't care that Get-A-Way
Skatepark (Huntsville) went up for sale
last week. They're gonna THRASH
regardless.
PATRICK WACHTER
39