Tom Koesel, hip
channel hand hop.
SHUT UP AND SKATE RAMP JAM
SKATEPARK OF HOUSTON, TX.
NOVEMBER 9, 1985
1. Ken Fillion
2. Curtis Hyatt
AMATEUR
99%
Micke Alba.
Am Jam. Let's give all these sponsored ams a big hand. Tommy
Koesel showing that these guys are right behind the pros. You just
saw 20 minutes of the best amateur skating you're gonna see for a
while."
This crew of hot locals probably could have gone another twenty
I thought as I announced all pros to report to the lip for practice. A
lunch break was in order which consisted of a round of pizza for our
administrative crew. A couple of announcements included an
invitation to party at the aforementioned #'s video lounge to
watch the contest from the dance floor. Plush!, we'll be there. But
first the amateur awards had to be announced. Tommy Koesel
ended it in sixth bettered by Todd Prince 5th, Rob Mertz 4th, Troy
Chasen 3rd, Curtis Hyatt ripping to 2nd, and taking Texas state Am
honors was Ken Fillion in 1st. All received gift certificates for
products of their choice at Harmony.
50
A very democratic pro rider's meeting was held, determining a 3
heat qualifying round of 2 forty second runs with staggered
practice leading to an 8 man showdown jam of 30 minutes.
Despite heavy shredding through qualifying the cut had to go to
eight. Tom Groholski's frontside ollies to grind over the channel
weren't enough. Micke's high airs mixed with a few bails. Eddie
Reategui repeatedly assaulted with blunt stalls to 180° airs back in,
denied. Losi's rude Japan airs and general power skating tactics
were only a half a point away from making the final cut, he settled
for ninth. Billy Ruff was behind Al in 10th, just shy with McTwist
attempts and 540" Miller flips. Behind him was Kevin Staab with
some outstanding vertical footwork. Gibson was a little tired in
qualifying and Blender skated with a borrowed Alva from one of the
Godoy brothers who were also out of the contest along with Dan
Wilkes, Joe Johnson, Gator and others.
Of the eight skaters chosen to rule the ramp for the next 30
minutes five were pulling McTwists cleanly. Magnusson, Mountain,
McGill, Hosoi and Hawk were joined by Craig Johnson, Steve
Caballero and Lester.
Picking up the action only minutes into the jam. Tony Hawk;
already twisting on his fourth maneuver from drop-in. The Kasai air
machine was in full power at six feet and climbing. Lance was
jabbing sadplants to extremes. Five minutes later McGill was
pulling ollies to frontside truck hang while Christ was into crashing
body jars from high backside oops. Johnson was doing thrusters
off the channel edge. Ten minutes into the jam Magnusson showed
the ollie-alley oop over channel. Tony continued to amaze with a
540° air landing in a grind. Hosoi was coming out of his Mc Twist
with speed to spare while Johnson was grabbing truck on lein air.
At the half way point Lester was going for 540 airs. Mountain bailed
from 8 ft. over lip. Tony Magnusson was McTwisting across the
channel. Cab slammed but recovered to stay in. With ten minutes.
left, Christian McTwisted over the 6 foot mark, Johnson popped
another thruster and grabbed the nose to pull it back into the ramp.
Caballero missed a mute air attempt that could have been 9 feet
over coping. Lester fakie ollied, grabbing the tail, with one foot
flailing and pulled it off. Lance took a rebate on a miscue and
blazed. By the time the skaters were poised for their last runs the
frenzied crowd was hoarse from vocal abuse. Tony Hawk's final
3. Rob Mertz
4. Todd Prince
5. Tommy Koesel
1. Tony Hawk
2. Christian Hosoi
3. Tony Magnusson
4. Mike McGill
5. Lance Mountain
6. Lester Kasai
7. Craig Johnson
8. Steve Caballero
PRO
show did further damage as he pulled an alley oop McTwist
followed by a sweeper where he pivoted his board 360° around his
foot to tail and finished it off with a 720° aerial. The crowd went
nuts. Lester air walked backside and frontside to mass approval.
Caballero signed off with a Unit. Lance blew minds with full speed
backside air that travelled from one edge of the ramp to the other
then pulled a finger flip sweeper before he finished with a last Twist,
landing on his tail at the bottom of the transition. Mike McGill went
upside down on an Indy air that was too high. On the final run of the
contest Christ knew he had to get sick as he started with high
backside floaters but a giant McTwist failed him at the buzzer and
that was it.
The Houston version of the Shut Up and Skate event had
definitely been a rousing success and the energy carried into a
lengthy sticker and product riot. When it was all over I called out the
order of the finish to loud cheers as the skaters accepted their hard
fought paychecks.
Unstoppable Tony Hawk claimed first place dues barely edging
out Christian Hosoi. Tony Magnusson deserved third followed by
Lance Mountain 4th and Mike McGill in fifth.
Later that night at the skate disco show I laughed with Lance as
we watched him bailing about the ramp on the large video screen. I
realized that wherever professional skating ends up from here, to
these guys skateboarding will always mean one thing. Fun. Now
Shut up and Skate!
SIDE BY SIDE
STYLE
FREE
THRASHER
MAGAZINE
Get it while it's HOT! 1 year subscription $10.00
Canada $18.00, Foreign $25.00
Make check or money order payable to:
THRASHER Magazine
P.O. Box 884570 San Francisco, CA 941888-4570.
Name
Address
City
Age
On
(please print)
Zip
State
Total enclosed S
To the first 100 subscribers!
Clip SIDE RECORDS