615
DOWN IN
JACKSONVILLE
Dallas shred star at Philips could usually be found in positions such as this frontside booster throughout the week. Newtron photo
1984 SUNDEK PRO-AM SKATEBOARD
CHALLENGE MAY 4-6, 1984
KONA USA, JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
WHAT'S UP DOC?
In most cases, when there is a Pro event
scheduled, there are some basic coordi-
nates to work with, like daily schedules of
events, practice times, prize money
breakdowns, etc. In this case, all anybody
knew was that there would be a Pro/Am
skateboard challenge held at the infamous
Kona Skatepark facility in Jacksonville,
Florida, on May 4, 5 and 6, 1984. Not to be
confused with the Kona/Variflex Pro/Am.
This event was being underwritten by
Sundeck Sportswear and administered by
one Colin (Doc) Couture of Aggrosports Inc.
Events were to include Pro halfpipe and
freestyle with a guaranteed purse of
$2,000 smackers. Amateurs would be
competing in the pool, banked slalom,
halfpipe and freestyle categories. Phone
work in the weeks prior to the event
revealed that, yes, most of the top pros and
ams were psyched and ready for this
contest and were making plans to be there.
Travel agents had been notified, plane
reservations were being made, vehicles
were being tuned for overland travel by
hardcore skate contingencies from Texas,
Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, New
Jersey, D.C., New York, the Carolinas, and
of course the home state of Florida.
This trip actually popped into focus while
I was nodding over an OJ in the Atlanta
terminal late Wednesday night, or maybe it
was early Thursday morning. My traveling
cohort, Fausto, and I had just flopped into
a couple of seats after a four-hour red-eye
flight from S.F., and were awaiting the daily
commuter over to Jax. Through a fuzzy,
half-dozing haze, I sensed more than
sighted the approach of two slovenly,
slouchy figures dragging skateboards
down the corridor towards us.
Beauregard's air to fakies were nothing short of sick
and insane. Newtron photo
I had actually decided that it was just
a figment of my dreamlike drowse when I
double-checked the one cat wearing
leopard skin creepers and blinding pink
socks and realized it was John Lucero.
Plowing along next to him in the de rigeur
beat up pair of Van's was Alan Losi. After
exchanging horror stories and commentary
concerning our airlift out of California, we
proceeded to board the connector flight to
Jacksonville along with the rest of the
briefcase-toting three-piecers.
THE ART OF SWEATING GRACEFULLY
Upon touchdown at the Jax airport (I
don't know if that's the exact name but
everything is named Jax in Jacksonville).
the first thing I noticed was the tractors out
mowing the thick jungle green lawn in
between the cement runways. After
luggage claim we stepped out into the
Florida atmosphere for our first taste of the
air we would be breathing for the next four
days. Losi commented first: "It's like
everybody just urinated all at once or
something.
Lucero dropped onto a board, creepers,
socks, red crop-top and all, and slapped
around on some giant parking blocks in
front of the terminal while all passersby
gawked on. It's amazing the attention a
few curb grinds will get you. Just then Mr.
V zipped up in a rental Renault, a Japanese
made in America, French job.
We blasted the freeway to the park with
the knobs on the air conditioner cranked
way past vertical for maximum effect. Air
conditioning is an important part of the
lifestyle in Florida. At the park we encoun-
tered a determined Mark Rogowski, Jeff
Phillips and a few others mopping the night.
sweat off of the Kona halfpipe in prepara-
tion for a few early morning licks. Other
than that, nothing happening, a motel room
was in order so we cruised up the road.
When we found Jeff Newton's Thrasher
tour trailer parked in the rear of the fabled
King's Inn Motor Lodge, we knew we were
at the right spot. We pilled into a room,
reved up the air and flopped for a few
hours until the park opened.
and staying on. The Texas tower, Craig
Johnson, although victimized by some
virus, was nonetheless shredding hard
power lines. Another power skater who
has been coming on strong, Monty Nolder,
was dominating the ramp with some
abusive airs. Neil Blender seemed to be
playing the laidback role, relaxing in the
pro shop for the most part, but coming out
for a few volleys on the ramp late in the
day. Neil upped the odds with some
booster airs and stalled plants. Chris Miller
was floating rather lightly above the ramp,
looking comfortable with his pro status.
Caballero without question was giving
everybody something to shoot for, making
difficult tricks look easy. Al Losi was lipping
it heavily and doing various vaerial vari-
ations. Mike McGill was showing every
trick in the book with several solid lines in
the ramp.
Most of Thursday was spent in heated
practice sessions on the ramp as riders
became more aware of who was showing
up and ripping. Both amateur and pro
skaters were trading drop-ins. Snake
sessions were in evidence. A sampling of
the best included: Christian Hosol, blasting
his small frame into some giant airs and, as
always, keeping the chatter going from up
on the rollout deck; Jeff Phillips, strong and
fresh from daily practice on the Clown and
Blue ramps of Dallas; "Gator" looked
smooth and confident after a big win at the
Olympic opener at Del Mar; Micke Alba
was skating his act together while coach
Fausto barked out commands rampside,
"Higher, more air"; Billy Beauregard was
gaining some respect early on with bio
antics that few were even attempting; team
partier John Gibson was adapting easily
and using every inch of ramp surface to his
advantage; Tony Hawk stepped in and
began grabbing and flipping his board into
impossible, pretzel-like contortions; Kevin
Staab, who must have skated non-stop
throughout the week, was looking sharp
Other skaters showing up on their way
or already present and raging included:
Tom Groholski, looking tough. Locals
Marty Ramos, Buck Smith and Randy
Barfield were all on and blazing. Reggie
Barnes and longtime skate partner Don
Lloyd were down from North Carolina
working freestyle routines. Reggie's
competition in the Pro bracket, Jason
Catalano from San Diego, and the
ever-raging Tim Scroggs were also tuning
up their footwork.
Dallas diehards Dan Wilkes, Gerald
Burris and Allen Guimond were skating.
crazy while team manager Jeff Newton
was rounding up the wagons out in the
parking lot, the likes of which held such
notables as T.K. and the Atlanta boys,
piled in the Thrasher panel truck; Dana
Buck and Lindsay Kuhn from the swamps
of Ole Miss; and Annandaler Pat Clarke
in a giant American-made tank that PC
had obviously scammed from somewhere.
At one point I strolled out of the pro shop
to find Paul Schmitt standing next to his red
VW team bus holding the sliding side door
which had fallen off the vehicle.
Fast plants helped Nell Blender into the jam after a chin slap
almost put him out. K. Thatcher photo