runs of the Canadian amateur ramp com-
petition. Most of these guys have good tricks
and variations in their runs. Colin Ruloff
beats the competition with smooth and con-
sistent runs. It's hard to believe that's he's
only been skating vertical for a year.
1:15 p.m. A pro freestyle demo takes to the
floor with Kevin Harris, Shane Rouse, Pierre
Andre, Mark Lake, Denny Riordan, Greg
Smith, Steve Rocco and Reggie Barnes
heading the bill. These stylists rip and flip
it up before a large crowd of spectators,
then, afterwards simultaneously perform
shove-its, wheelies, ollies, handstands,
360°s and fantastic footwork.
3:00 p.m. The pro competitors are now get-
ting their lines dialed and ripping harder
than yesterday. I spectate, shoot off a dozen
rolls of film and lounge rampside. During
one of Tony Hawk's early runs, the crowd
of spectators chants "Twist, twist, twist."
Tony continues to complete his line of ever-
consistent moves without throwing out a
McTwist for the masses. He steps onto the
ramp deck and gets booed by the crowd sur-
rounding the ramp. Tony shakes his head
in disbelief. These people are too lame to
realize that Tony pulled off practically every
trick possible in practice except for the
McTwist. Tony doesn't have to prove himself
to anyone, especially a crowd of grommets
who can't appreciate such diversified tricks.
7:30 p.m. Dinner at a local eatery raises the
question: Why is it that Toronto restaurants
prepare such terrible food?
8:50 p.m. I fill the bathtub in our room with
ice to keep chilled. Soon we make phone
calls to various skaters to join us for a pop
or two. The party begins, our room is get-
ting trashy and many soldiers are being con-
sumed. Among those in attendance: Eddie
Elguera, Dave Crabb, Britt Parrott, Joel
Johnson, Micke Alba and Joe Lopes with
five young nubile females at his heels. Joe
quotes: "You thought I wouldn't." Later, Joe
decides to go up on the roof. He is overhead.
mentioning something about hide-n-seek.
2:00 a.m. I decide to take an elevator tour
of the hotel. Floors ten and seventeen both
look like wastelands and warzones. The
halls are littered with trash, bottles are
strewn everywhere. It looks as if the
residents of the tenth floor had a hallway
sticker pasting event. Do you think their
homes could look like this? I doubt it.
Sunday May 31st, 8:55 a.m. I rise to the
putrid smell of Beau Brown's wake-up call.
9:38 a.m. Beau, Joe, Britt, Dave and I join
Eddie Elguera and Gary Sanderson for
breakfast at a small coffee shop next door.
Across from our table we overhear an ▸
Top: Always a fiesty competitor, Tom Groholski still
handles a delicate egg with care. Left: Joe Johnson
cleared for landing on a narrow strip of PVC after a
channel switch-over. Right: John Gibson points out
the difficulties an Indy nosepicker.
Facing Page: Controlled concentration carries Tony
Hawk through a reverse re-entry from a half-Cab
spin. Inset: Joe Lopes steadies the shakes and
congratulates Tony on another pro cleaning.
61