DAY ONE
THRASHER
SUMMER
TOUR B
This day started earlier than I wanted. The drive ahead was going to
be long and boring, only 650 miles or so to go today. The cast of characters
for this part of the trip are myself, John Gibson, Craig Johnson and Dan
Wilkes. Ahl to drive. It sort of relaxes me, in other words, it puts me to sleep.
Nothing much happening today. We pull in for lunch in Shreveport, La
at McDonalds and find some boozer puking in the drive thru lane. "Long
nite guy?" I don't think he heard me 'cause he kept heaving. 6 hours later
we pull into G-Town Mississippi and the home of Dana Buck. After a little
clean-up, we cruise to Ocean Springs and the first stop of the tour, a 16
wide 1/2 pipe with channel owned by Lindsey Kuhn. Good ramp, lots of
skaters hangin' out. After a sweat session we head back to the Buck
household for the full grub out. Got to hit the sack semi early for the haul
to JAX tomorrow.
DAY TWO
It goes without saying that we didn't get up on time for the drive today
but we didn't do too bad. At least it was before noon. Only 8 hours to
go today.
Some waste-O guy at a gas station sees our THRASHER Tour trailer
and asks us if we are a band-we say, "Yeal we've got a week long gig in
Jacksonville."
A few hours later we pull up at KONA. Nobody came out to greet us
and ask for autographs so check-in time at the hotel was in order.
DAY THREE
We catch up on what has happened before we showed up. 'Goat-Man'
Gerald, Theresa and Tim from South Texas drove to Florida naked.
Sounds comfortable as long as the seats aren't vinyl, ya know how it sticks.
Also what is this about 'Gator' stealing a car from the Thunderbird Lounge.
Nah, he wouldn't do that, he's just a kid!
The hotel at nite is blazing, quarters are flying everywhere. The
Educational videos are happen'n in 227, also Pee Wee Herman video. The
sun rises and we go to sleep.
DAY FOUR
Things are still blurry, today it's so hot, some people attempt to skate
the park, heavy sweat pouring everywhere. How can they skate in
this heat?
Lindsey Kuhn's, Ocean Springs, Miss. halfpipe.
The hotel is happening again tonite as more and more skaters are
showing up and checking in. Gator tests the manhood of Smith by
tatooing his chest with a freshly unscrewed flood light-if you looked
closely you could read "Sylvania 150 watts' backwards on his smouldering
flesh.
We again watch the sun come up and decide it's time to go to sleep.
DAY FIVE
The days are getting more and more blurry. 'Gator,' Christ and Smith
got thrown out of their room today. The 'geek' manager thinks some kid
was sliced with a knife so out they go. The police show up to make it official.
People again try and skate the park. Well I guess it's time to get
serious about practicing. Scheduled sessions start today and people are
scamming to get a time when the weather is less deadly.
Tonite is the famed "Ramos' Skater Dinner Party!!" Yea!! free food.
How mellow these guys are. It was like walking into a church. Burgers and
fries and chickens were flowing everywhere courtesy of the Ramos'. This
church turns out to be an intense video watching party of last year's
contest. It was insane watching John Grigley, flipping to his back on the
flat of the ramp. He still gets the beef award, ouch!!!
Meanwhile back at the motel things still cookin', people are still
restless, looking for something to do. The A/C in Caballero and Losi's room
goes on the blink and they try to get their Z's by the pool 'til they get thrown
out. Room 222 Johnson and Smith decide to go wake somebody up by
banging on the window. They sure don't make glass like they used to.
Smith called to see if the coast was clear, from the gas station that was at
least ½ mile away. Nothing like late nite jogging. Trying to avoid trouble,
Mike?
DAY SIX
Today's highlight came during a practice session, Scott Moser tries
the coolest pick up line so far: "If I do a high air, will you have sex with me?"
I heard him ask her this and I guess she was too shy 'cause she didn't
answer. Scott figured it was 'thumbs up' so he gave it all he had. Sorry guy.
if you pull 'em high you have to land 'em.
As the sun fell practice sessions picked up, except for those of us who
were going to the Thunderbird Lounge for "New Wave" nite. I can hardly
wait. Whatta dive-I've never seen so many "pretty people" in all my life!
To make a long story (or long nite) short, the fun began and ended when
Johnson and Dana Buck were thrown out for bumping into some guy's
girlfriend on the dance floor. It must be that 'Punk Rock Attitude.' It breeds
Caballero felt right at home blasting airs over Atlanta bricks.
22
Christian Hosoi's lien airs at Kona were too high. Where's the ramp?