back to Newtron's house for some sleep.
All I can remember about that night was that somebody kept
kicking the couch I was sleeping on, and screaming "Shu-u-u-t
U-u-u-u-p!!!! I can't even get a decent night's sleep with these
guys having junkfood inspired nightmares.
Newtron left for the ramp bright and early the next moming to
prepare for the contest. Still accompanied by the likes of Cab,
Lance, Dana and his buddy "Lyndsey, we proceeded to the
ramp.
When we got there, Newtron was bumming hard. The kid from
whom he was borrowing the P.A. had somehow gotten in trouble
with his parent types and was unable to have all of the freedom
that he is used to.
A survey of the situation revealed an already ensuing practice
session of the locals. All of the Pros however, were sitting in a
rental car, being pretentious and asking Neil the secrets and
wisdoms of cooking oatmeal, rice and chile con carne. Newtron
wanted to know why the Pros weren't skating.
They're getting their minds ready," I told him.
"How long have they been doing this?"
Just recently. They say it makes them skate better, but I think
that's a bunch of bullshit. They just want to create a suspenseful
atmosphere. Nope, can't fool me."
After about twenty minutes a serious practice session
exploded. By this time as it was still early, there weren't too many
people present. The eyes of the few who were present, dined on
a rare visual treat. The Pros who have got skating so wired, don't
look even slightly strained. Neil tried a one-handed hand stand
on the coping. In his other hand was his board. From this position
he leaned down and across the twelve feet or so of flat bottom,
then up the other ten foot high wall into a lien air, or whatever.
Caballero. When this guy rides, he looks like he's thinking of
something else. He might like to draw pictures of little skulls and
stuff sprawled out on the floor with Lance, who might be busy
writing a song called "Jeff Newtonized" (All
I wanted was a T-shirt!). I can forgive that
eccentric kind of behavior when the 19-year-
old kid absolutely defies gravity. Most people,
even those who don't know what they're seeing,
are absolutely astonished with his performance.
Dan Wilkes has a curious style and approach to
the vertical upshoots. His lumbering gait and line of attack
reveal his qualities as an aggressive skater. Grace and finesse
play no part in his routine. He merely powers his moves
through to the point of you 'either make it or you don't.'
A preliminary competition started to begin, but unfortunately it
got underway late and threw off the time-schedule for the rest of
the day. It gets dark out here early, and the lights for night skating
weren't too great, plus it gets real cold.
The preliminaries were broken up into three sections:
Eighteen and under, nineteen and over, and sponsored AM.
There seemed to be an endless flow of contestants, most of
them have never been seen skating outside of the state. Still,
they do Texas proud. The riders have surprisingly high levels of
ability, considering the lack of constant exposure to High-Tech
skating.
The winners in the first division were: Anthony Garcia, fourth;
Ricky Mapes, third; Todd Prince, second; and Tommy Harmel,
first. These riders skate with more heart than ability, showing
great promise for the future. The nineteen and over winners
were: Ken Fillion, fourth; Robert D., third, Tim Litzman, second;
and Allen Guimond took first.
From the sponsored AMs emerged the hottest action. Our
announcers, The Scarecrow' and Rasta-man Hubert,' filled the
air with a steady stream of humor. Some of it, to the dismay of
those present, but that's what made it good. But back to the
sponsored AMs and their bountiful lust for the stomach-turning
predicaments to be found at the tops of ramps. Art Godoy and
Steve Godoy came in fifth and fourth. Aggressive, Tommy
Koesel came in third. The big duel came down between that
epitomy of the Texas skater, Craig Johnson, and Dan Wilkes. It
was like two knights beating the shit out of each other with
two-fisted swords. The only thing missing was blood spattered
grass. Craig Johnson rides with the power of a large man. A man
who could lift a plano, with the delicacy of a gorilla. Wilkes has
an equally powerful style. Shooting across the 'Clown Ramp' the
almost heard above the clandestine roar of the low flying jets.
The final outcome of this mad duel was Wilkes in second place
enthusiasm of the, by now, growing number of spectators was
Mr. Dana Buck kept a steady stream of Bud flowing throughout
the day; this kept us from acquiring a thirst.
and Johnson in first. It was a drain just watching them.
Newtron announced that the Big Boys' had come up from
Austin and were going to play for free after the contest. I had
noticed that the 'Love Machine,' the Big Boys' tour van, was
positioned in the parking lot.
The PRO contest began immediately and was shortened to
half its length due to long interludes of radical activity. During
part of the proceedings, maybe it was during practice (I can't
remember), but this young guy with a camera comes up and
"Sure." Then the guy runs off towards the ramp. About a minute
passes by and I see some rider coming down from a backside
asks if he could submit some photos to THRASHER. So I say,
air, bailed at the transition, shooting his board. The board raced
on its dangerous path, veered off to one side, ricocheting off of
the air, finally clattering to the pavement. A crowd surrounded
the obstruction area.
an innocent obstruction and then twirled several yards through
It was the camera guy I had just talked to. The board had
smacked him in the head and he was bleeding on his camera.
Someone took him to the doctor and the kid was bummed about
getting blood on the camera.
The action on the ramp was escalating for the brief half hour
You can't get this type of stuff at a golf match or the Ice Capades.
or so of competition. This brand of entertainment is priceless.
their expectations this time around. Maybe it was the Texas food
or the air. Lance was cranking hard, paralleled only by Neil in
Tony Hawk and Lester Kasai didn't seem to be performing up to
EX45 FRY
some of the most impeccable
runs of the day. McGill was in
smooth manner of riding. McGill
simply rides like a fine tuned
finest form with his infallible,
machine.
The riders were just arriving at
a pinnacle of momentum, but the time
was running out. As it drew nearer the riders
Gibson fans, cheering on Houston's best. J.G. is himself an
armory of skate talent, bounding and lumbering through the
pitched towards feverish levels. There was a large crowd of John
crisply defined Dallas dusk with some bowel-moving moves.
But it was Caballero and Jeff Phillips who violated the previously
reached boundaries. Caballero was basically his usual, calm,
but radical self, tweaking his high backside airs in his now
-expected manner. But Jeff was on cue throughout the time of
competition. His frontside ollies and power handplants were
sensational.
After time was up, the judges tallied their scores per
Individual riders. The winners were to be announced just
before the 'Big Boys' were to play. To start off there was a
preliminary band that featured Alejandro Escovedo of the
Ex-nuns' and ex 'Rank 'n File' member. They rocked a while
as the crowd transitioned from full-on skate contest to rock 'n
roll show. The entertainment was endless. Nonstop and
exciting. It was odd. It blended together so nicely. Newtron's
production was running like a fine Swiss, watch.
ON OF ONE
FT OF USINES
ENG GANED KATIONAL
Y FEW A SIXTH
SHOT