Dynamic and explosive, Christian Hosoi headed straight for victory in the Amateur division.
wv
As always, the Amateurs started things
off. IMPORTANT NOTE: One sour point
of the day was the presence of several
BMX kooks who were holding a Comp. in
another portion of the park. Overheard
were several of the hardcore skaters,
expressing and entertaining the idea of
stomping a couple of the BMXers down.
The worst of what happened was sour
looks and rude comments between the
unparallels. Another thing, in the parking
lot two heavy metal posuers rolled around
on the pavement in what looked like
"mock combat" which was basically just a
hugging match. Nobody broke it up
because they weren't doing each other
any harm. I think they were hurt more
when I started laughing them. The
mindboggling fact that refused to be
ignored was the point that the Amateurs
were shredding outrageously. More than
once, during this portion of the day's
events, did I see worried expressions on
the faces of the Pro's, as Molina, Hosoi,
Tracy, Escobedo, Hawk and Mountain
raged through the motions necessary for
dominance and prowess.
Blatantly remembering the "Roots-Rock,
fixin' to die rag," field of thought and
informed-emotion consciousness, was
Lance Mountain. Skating head first and
Recently turning
full tilt. The crowd went nuts through one
of his runs, the hoots and howls flew.
After the run, he was stoked and
beaming, then was heard to say, "Did I
win?"
But NO. Lance didn't win. He came in
third. Behind him were Tony Hawk, who
pulled off some of the highest backside
airs that have been witnessed in this type
of competition. Raul Escobeda, whose
clincher move was a frontside nosegrab
air over the canyon, and Rick Tracy, who
can be best described as a "Rough
Rider." All of these guys had put in the
deadliest of performances. Vying for the
number two and one spots were Paul
Molina and Christian Hosoi.
They had to claw their way to the honor
spot in this one. Paul had to top score in
two rounds in order to claim victory, whilst
Christian needed but one overbearing
round in his favor to take the cake.
Molina's first of his final runs was
unbelievable. He hair-balled a hang-up
and went for more. It looked as though he
didn't even believe that he was ripping
this intensely.
Christian's run was as exacting as the
ones before, only his confidence overrode
his concentration, and he bailed.
Molina was now in the spotlight. He had
to crank out another good (near perfect)
run in order to cop this one. On his next
run, Paul looked like he was trying too
hard. The day's competition seemed to
have taken its toll on his weary little
frame. Nonetheless, he skated onward in
full trooper tradition. He was drained of
energy and looked as though he couldn't
pull off another move. Then he bailed.
All Christian had to do now was ride a
flawless run. Maybe even take it easy for
insurance of a decent score for the win.
But instead, he pulled out all stops and
reeled back with a violently aggressive
climax. He seats himself at Number One
for today.
There was to be a break in the action
while the Pros warmed up for their GO.
Everyone decided to ignore the BMXers
some more, adding to the displeasure of
supposed "two-wheeled-thrills." Vlaadimir
pretty much summed up the mood when
he said, "There is a nothing worse than
BMX, 'cept maybe BMX riders, thank
you."
Probably because of short warning or
maybe the intimidation of the Amateurs
(WHO KNOWS!!), but the Pros had a little
trouble in the showing up department. Ah,
but the pressures of near success are
always present. To elude them would be
self-illusion and a misconduct of faith
towards oneself. Enough capacity at least
to understand and not underestimate the
powers that be in the lower echelons of
"Lovetron."
Enough said on what is assumed to be
the general righteousness of things that
are said to be enough. The Pros are all
that matter now, RIGHT? O.K.? O.K.?
Of the few in the Pro ranks that showed
up, none was absent. Showing (not
giving) face today were Mike Smith, Neil
(not lean) Blender, Bill Ruff, Bob Serafin,
Steve Caballero and the only old-timer of
the day, Mike Folmer.
Motorcycle madman Mike Smith didn't
seem to fare too well on this day. Tony
Alva said it was probably because he
changed shirts midway through the
contest. To the superstitious, this means
"Rotten Luck." Nonetheless, his
performance was just short of superb,
cuminating in the Mike Smith tradition. His
efforts gaining him sixth.
Another Mike (Folmer) blazed and tore
his way to the fifth place spot. This
veteran (his appearance did nothing to
betray his age) skate monger put in such
an excellent performance that it was a
wonder why all of the girls present didn't
swarm him. His youthful air and lines did
Pro, Bob Serafin continues to skate with the authority that comes with experience. Lance Mountain, always a tough competitor.
PE