58
MILWAUKEE'S
FINEST
Tipped-out frontsider, Zill Beaudion.
Photos by Ron Schneider
Liening out for the sizeable Summerfest crowd in Milwaukee is Randy Kallherr.
Brian Gomer' Istavenek, flashed-out and judo kicked.
Stepping out into the twilight, Greg Bahn.
SUMMERFEST RAMP CONTEST
July 5, 1986
by Dr. Filmstock
The populace of Milwaukee and
vicinity braces itself for 11 days of
free-flowing music, munch, brew
and betties during the Summerfest
Celebration, June 28 through July
6...Fun, fun, fun in the family tradi-
tion, but...what's that? "Like I was
on my way to the rock stage
to...hic...catch the Blasters when...
It's a bird...it's a plane...it's an
ark...Aw, shucks, it's only a
skateboard ramp," half-pipe that
is-20' wide, 16' flat, 10' transitions,
1' of vert. Set aspell. Watch 'em do
flips on it. The circus people hate the
ramp because people would rather
watch skate aerials than horses
stretching and farting. Later, they
'allegedly steal the P.A. "The
skating is great, but that music..
Saturday, June 28: Two skate-
boards lose their riders and fly into
the audience, bopping 2 members
thereof in the head and sending one
to the hospital. The skaters say that
spectators should pay attention. The
Summerfest officials say that the
ramp will be closed until a method
of audience-protection is devised
and implemented. I say that Satan
spelled backwards is Cheetos. A
local paper reports that the ramp,
"was promptly removed."
Wednesday, July 2: The ramp
sponsor, which shall remain name
less, due to a general lack of con-
cern for anything but the bottom line
(hint: refers to the utterances of fish)
has erected a safety net in
the blink of an eye (4 days!) and
skate demos resume. Skateboards
still fly into the spectators but the net.
puts the fear in their hearts. "like
what a headrush. That skateboard's
gonna land on me....hic...Like, I bet-
ter get outta the way..."
Saturday, July 5 Sweltering heat.
Huge crowds. Top local and mid-
west talent are outdoing themselves
after a week of practice on the ramp.
The spectators, comprised largely of
vertical virgins, are completely stok-
ed. People ask me how many beers
I've had and the answer is, "Why
do you ask, are you writing a book?"
At 7 p.m. there are two qualifying
rounds which narrow the field to 8
finalists. Skip through who did what
'cause who cares, 'cause you real-
ly had to be there, except that Brian
"Gomer" Istavanek's 6' judo airs
blew the minds of the crowd but
brought him in a close second
to Greg Bahn's fakie and varial in-
verts, not to mention everything
else
high.
Monday, July 14 The Summerfest
Ramp is a pile of hazardous plywood
and 2x4's. I am writing this article.
Mr. Wilson's Skateboards (note:
nothing to do with fish) is negotiating
with Summerfest for an NSA spon-
sored Pro-Am next summer. Be
there or someplace else.