Love
CAPITOLA CLASSIC
STREETSTYLE RESULTS
1. Steve Caballero
2. Tommy Guerrero-AM
3. Steve Olson
4. Bill Ruff
5. Christian Hosoi
6. Garry Davis
7. Joe Arabia-AM
8. Micke Alba
9. Keith Meek
10. Craig Johnson
One, two, three... Caballero takes street to the vertical,
never lost. I throw my silver case onto the flat
bed of the truck used for the announcer area,
unclick the two chrome locks, open the lid, pull
out my camera, and slap on my 200mm lens
for a nice compressed look.
At the top of the hill I watch Craig Johnson
as he pulls off some interesting wall plants
(handplant on top of the ramp, take feet off,
step up wall, revert in: Sounds easy, eh?) and
other cool stylish moves as he makes his way
to the bottom of the course. I click off a roll of
various skaters and some crowd stuff, then
decide for a drink to quench the now blazing
sun. I grab a couple of 7-ups and mill around
talking with Olson and his woman. Myself and
girl finished our "never had it never will's and
go back to the action. I switch lenses to a wide
angle and opt for up-close type angles near
the bottom wailing wall, a ramp steep in
nature, mainly used during the contest as a
fly-off and death jump. Micke Alba was flying
down the course throwing in burly slides and
power moves that would place him in good
Tommy Guerrero hurts bio and
standings. He even wired a Bryce Kanights
maneuver known as a "nose picker." Micke
would slowly approach the curb at the top of
the hill and place his front axle on the curb and
pivot the tail of the board around about 60°
(front truck spacewalk grind?). One of those
freestyle joins vert maneuvers, thus giving us:
STREETSTYLE. I made my way back to my
camera case to load up on more plus-X, and
make sure it didn't walk off again. Up the hill I
noticed the likes of Neil Blender doing wall
walks, footplants, and really taking the street
ramps to the limit. Some thought only Ruff and
Cab could contort enough to pull inverts on
the 2nd ramp, which had a 4' radius transition
on one side, with a rollout on top and a 45°
surface on the other end. Neil would launch
his body into all types of picture perfect hand
plants, As usual, Christian Hosoi was
scoring massive airs off the top ramp and
really bumming the beach types with his
fishnet stockings (complete with his kneepads
over them) and stirred the crowd to loud
Dave Crabb, nosewheelle.
woots, howls, and cheers, as he would blaze
his "aggropath" down the hill. I surveyed the
crowd and decided things were getting
cramped and stale where I was at. I grabbed
some film and crossed the street to get some
more lower ramp shots. I saw Mofo watching
the action thru his C.H.P. approved interceptor
mirrored sunglasses. I ask him what he did
the night before, knowing he had stayed at
Roskopp's pad. Usual stories of graphic
partying, followed by skate and slam
sessions. At this time in our discussion a
skater whizzed past my position only to reveal
himself as Dennis Martinez. He's riding again
in competition and still had a lot of interesting
and stylish moves. He would cruise up the
wailing wall (at the bottom of the course), and
pull multiple kick-flips onto the pavement. He
also had the footwork down, walkovers, walk
the dog, and (rarely seen in these days of
vertical) pirouettes. The mid-day crowd was
really building along the course and every
type was seen, not being seen, but hoping
Garry Davis, flyaway.
Olson wheelles style.
someone would see them not wanting to be
part of the scene. Others simply acted like
human beings and avoided the whole thing.
The course/coarse officials of the day did
routine that made long board believers of
more than a few. He's been skating for himself
for the last few years but he's a blazing
veteran that can pull it off at anytime or place.
Steve Caballero once again did the no-mis-
take bio run for a final display of the hottest
skater performance that day. Bill Ruff had no
problem placing high throughout the contest
and adding minor tweaks to his wailing wall
airs that almost looked like a mid-air drift, then
straight again. Hosoi didn't let the audience
down with his painfully high air and speed
lines to boot. The contest ended and the
mandatory sticker throw highlighted by a
Hosoi fishstik being lunged into the 'death-
bash' of frenzied skaters. Whoever caught that
board for keeps worked hard at getting it. The
day had gone well and smiles were seen and
laughter was heard.
but a few. Tommy skates with such ease and
style it makes anyone think skating is easy to
learn and even easier to take a back foot off
here or blast a 4 % fast plant off the ramp at
the top. Yeah right, that's all you gotta do, ride
perfect and blaze. I heard the Editor's voice
announce the next rider as Steve Olson.
Steve was riding a 3 foot yardstick with rocker
on the course and powering it like a board of
a smaller nature. He was also the only rider of
the contest to do nose wheelies with any sort
of authority and also G-turns and kick flips
variations to keep things rolling. By this time in
the contest the street, which was usually
blocked with tourists jammed in their cars,
was instead lined with spectators being
bedazzled and amazed by the skating. All in
all, in the final round, mind boggling runs were
featured by Tommy Guerrero proving again
that his amateur status is destined for pro
ranks soon. His booster variations were
confusing yet stylishly mind-blowing. Steve
Olson's last run was yet another flawless
Christian Hosol takes flight. Keith Meek, spectator grind.
their part in issuing "I'm not going to tell you
again, STAY BACK BEHIND THE CURB!" to
the very disquieting, threatening 9 year old
skate rats who were just trying to see what the
hell was going on. It reminded me of why I
never went to skateparks. Meanwhile Kev
kept the audience roused with his in-depth
narration to guide the non-skate public in what
was happening contest and move wise. Street
Scott even decided to push his luck and add
in on the commentary as he has cameo'ed for
various bands requesting 2 lead singers before.
Oh, and he had beer too. Scott had some
"rock 'n' bop" maneuver that set his runs apart
from other skaters. Street Scott invents
versions of tricks like no other. Another 'city
boy shredder,' Tommy Guerrero was pulling
every trick imaginable. Bizarre varial
hazzards and fast plants just to name
Capitola had hosted its first street-style
Contest with few problems but a great turnout.
If you missed it this year, don't be lame, check
it out in '85.
Matt Etheridge