PLYWOOD
PIRATES
In Chicago, where the NSA swept
through with a vert event on Sept.
27-28, the local urban street-itos
counteracted with a contest to
showcase their own talents. Held in
a downtown parking lot across the
street from Windward Sports, the
skaters let fly off of a series of street
ramps and other obstacles. An
unidentified skater launches off a
standard jumper while little Jesse
Newhaus gasses on the new Goday
model prize for winning his division.
Everyday we get one or more in the mail announcing a
backyard contest or street style event somewhere out in
skateland. Requests for products prizes are gladly ac-
comodated, however unless we go out and cover these
events or contact someone to snap pics for us we don't
always get coverage or results in return.
Many skate events are happening these days, utilizing
various formats and different plywood and street terrains.
Everything from full-bore killer halfpipes to the sketchiest
of street launch pads are the basis for neighborhood
events.
During the course of a very successful summer season
of skate-related travels we have managed to look in on
some of these events. Our observations confirm that what
is going down in the backyards and back alleys form the
backbone of skating. Here we present a sampling of these
contrasting contests and encourage more of the same.
with, however, just a few parting words of advice: Keep it
fresh and new.
KEVIN THATCHER
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Nestled amongst $350,000
split-level homes in Cuper-
tino, CA on Santa Clara
Valley's west side is the
Mush ramp. A local amateur
contest was organized by
Mark Waters at this prime
structure which is sur
rounded by huge oak trees
and poison oak. Some of
the local talent that showed
face and blazing perfor
mance included Norcal's
finest crop of sponsored
ams. Anytime you get guys
like Jeff Hedges, Stove
Douglas, Chris Lowe, John
(Livmo) Drummond, Joe
Spalero, John Fabriquer and
Jim Namba together you're
gonna see some raging. For
the record, Fab blazed first,
Namba (pictured left, fully-
boned frontside) ripped se-
cond and Joe Spo, nabbed
third from Ffej.
Recently returning to his home town
of Boise, Idaho, Pushead was pleas-
ed to find a heathly situation Involv
ing a loose assortment of street
ramps clustered together in a vacant
asphalt lot. A contest was scheduled
coincidently in conjunction with the
Pus' visit. Winning honors in the ex-
pert class want to Jeff Tulloch, pic-
tured cranking a rocket-type pop-off
and wrenching his board in the pit
area while galfriend Lana looks on.
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