TORONTO
Story and photos by Bryce Kanights
Thursday May 28th, 3:40 p.m. I touch down
in Toronto at Pearson Airport for a quick
jaunt through customs. No problems. I take
a seat on an airport shuttle to Toronto's sub-
way system on the west end of town.
4:32 p.m. It's hot and humid. The com-
muters on the subway train are sweating like
pigs. It smells like one big knee pad in here.
It's a good thing I only have to stay on this
train for three more stops.
4:50 p.m. As I come out of Dufferin Station,
I spot a small group of skaters and ask them
the way to the Exhibition Center. They figure
out what I'm up to and take a bus ride with
me to the center. Of course they ask me to
flow stickers in return.
5:30 p.m. I finally check in at the skate site
and secure a wristband for unlimited access
to the arena. I drag my bags and weary body
to the ramp site in the center of the
Skatewave Arena. Joe Bowers greets me
with a warm handshake, and flows informa-
tion on the skate, party and hotel scene. He
mentions that Gator has been arrested
downtown due to a scuffle with a hooker and
her pimp earlier in the day. I'm sure he was
just an innocent bystander. The next tidbit
of news Joe reveals is that the Ramada
Hotel (where the majority of the skaters are
residing) is booked throughout the entire
weekend. *?!@, I was planning on getting
a room there. Joe then offers me floorspace
in the room he is sharing with Beau Brown.
6:24 p.m. I cruise around, checking out the
layout of the Skatewave Arena. There are
thirty or so booths located throughout the
building consisting of displays by local
shops, clothing manufacturers, Swatch
wear, Airwalk shoes, and a historical booth
devoted to skating. Inside this booth are vin-
tage Alva skates, old slalom boards, a
motoboard, the first production snowboard
(Lonnie Toft) and assorted newspaper clip-
pings and photographs. An impressive
presentation, but barely skimming the sur-
face of skate history. A surfboard company's
booth features a mechanical bull type set-
up with a surfboard attached to it. Many
customers pay to learn the fine art of ram-
shackling and spectators and future
customers laugh outloud as they fall off.
In the corner of the arena, a fenced off
area is designated for the professional
freestylers. The surface is quite slippery due
to smooth, polished concrete. There are a
number of parking blocks, two launch
ramps, a banked wall, and another launch
facing a vertical wall constructed for the pros
who wish to street skate. This stuff is fun.
A nod goes to Victor Starr for a fine job of
construction.
58
7:00 p.m.-Professional ramp practice and
lots of ripping involved. Mike Vallely is
observed tearing it up on the competition
ramp with airwalks to fakie, crossbones and
alley-oop lien to tails.
10:15 p.m. The Skatewave Arena closes for
the night. I squeeze into a rental car with
Joe, Beau, Dave Crabb and Britt Parrott.
11:00 p.m. We find ourselves on Toronto's
main cruising strip (Younge St.) in search
a happening nightclub. Some doorman
at a "beaver club" denies us access due
of
to varying degrees of improper attire, i.e.
black t-shirts, tennis shoes, no gold.
necklaces, etc. We heckle him and get on
our way. We end up at a nearby club, throw
a few ales down our necks and chat until
closing time.
2:08 a.m. In front of our hotel the Hell Tour
# 2 remnants, Steve Rocco and Mike Vallely,
have got the Polaroid cameras out and are
trying to gather some prostitutes together
for a group shot. Steve is stoked on his
photography results, however, things begin
to get ugly. We leave Steve and Mike with
matters in their own hands.
Friday May 29th, 10:30 a.m. Our waitress,
Helga the sea hag, rudely takes our orders
with the look of daggers in her eyes. Britt
Parrott quote: "I wish I wasn't hungry."
11:30 a.m.-arrive at the Skatewave Arena.
I kick back, take a couple of photos and talk
to a few shop owners. I then go to skate the
launch ramps and curbs for a couple of
hours.
3:13 p.m.-pro ramp practice. It seems that
more of the pros are into lip tricks nowadays.
It's about time. Towards the end of the after-
noon Ken Park is seen attempting 540°s.
His determination is definitely there, he
comes close but never successfully lands
one.
9:04 p.m. I decide to kick back for a while
and then cruise downtown Toronto in search
skatespots, food, gifts and other
unmentionable items.
of
11:30 p.m. Beau, Miss M and I go out to a
sushi bar downtown. This establishment
features a sing-along stage setting where
brave customers sing out their favorite:
tunes. The three of us commence power-
ing beverages while alternately heckling
and cheering nervous impromptu enter-
tainers. Somehow, after a couple of rounds
and looking over a songlist of over 200
listings, I find myself onstage along with
Miss M straining my vocal chords to the tune
of "Great Balls of Fire." Beau cheers us on
from our bottle-cluttered table. I was
sweatin' bullets.
Saturday May 30th, 10:30 a.m. I arrive at
the Skatewave Arena during the final ▸
Top to Bottom: Reggie Barnes reflects on a
360° shove-it.
Fenced-in skate fanatics.
Jim McCall, handstand wheelle power stroke.
Flirting with the lip, Dan
Wilkes locks his front axle
upon re-entry from a
frontside tuck-knee.