Left: in the heart
of Surfer's Paradise,
the Waikiki-like strip
of highrise hotels and
perfect rights along the
coast of Queensland,
our travellers came
across an abandoned pool
overhanging the beach
break at Burleigh Heads.
Mark Gonzales clings tight.
Right: Allen Losi was re-
turning to Australia for his
second tour of duty and kept
the crowds fired up wherever
he showed. Blazing backside
during happy hour in
downtown Sydney. Below: If
the itinerary was at times
hectic, the skate sessions
were for the most part casual
and fun. Tony Hawk extends a
grind before comrades Losi,
Gator, Lee Ralph, Gonz and
Phillips at Torquay.
the hotel, we tooled back out to the ramp and partied with Daniel and
Andrew. Daniel got bold and boasted that he could hop on and ride one
of the horses out in the field.
12:30 pm
Through the mist and tall grass we could just make out a cartwheeling
figure flying off the back of a horse at full gallop. The crew busted up.
Monday April 21st, 12:00 Noon
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1-WE MADE IT!" After getting lost en route once again,
Christian, Rob, Losi, Phillips and I arrived at Atlantis on a chanting count-
down right at the appointed hour of high noon. Peter Hill was warming
up the crowd with introductions of Roskopp, Tony Hawk, Lance, Lee Ralph,
Gonzales and Steadham (sometimes pronounced Steedham over here).
The crowd was already way pumped and the sun already way hot. Within
minutes the whole roster of touring skaters were performing at high caliber.
The Atlantis is considered the best in Queensland and by the end of the
first demo session it was obvious the skaters liked it. The crowd was way
more vocal than we'd seen thus far and more yelling and screaming between
big moves made for a party-like atmosphere. In between sessions the skaters
retired to the shelter of Dan and Andy's farmhouse. Lee Ralph picked up
guitar and strummed while Christ and Gator broke into song.
a
After the demo a product toss ensued, then a band set up. Gator picked
up a guitar and Steadham slapped the skins for a rousing version of "Louie,
Louie." A dog-pile of punkers began rolling around on the dusty sod when
Gator broke into a Germs cover.
4:00 pm
After a swim session down the road at a huge indoor community pool,
complete with platform diving, everyone was packed off to the airport for
a two-hour hop to Sydney.
8:00 pm Sydney
Already the favorite Aussie city before we had left the airport, we piled
gear and skaters into two Commodores-for-hire and (Continued on page 101)
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