L
DH
TULL
constructed a fine array of launch ramps,
slideable curbs, boxes, banks and hand rails.
It was about this time that the pro street
buccaneers began showing up. Christian
sailed ollies over still flailing hammers and
knocked over a gallon of white wash in the
process. Chris Baucom slide 'n rolled each
new piece of PVC as it was laid down. Nolder
launched off the vertical flat wall. Eric "The
Red" Dressen practiced with a peg leg.
Roskopp bummed a knee after a surly ramp
launch. Someone said this might be the first
street contest to feature a McTwist. Hawk tried
one. More swarthy dogs shifted into town in
twos and threes. Lucero, Grigley, Grabke, Kopp
and Kendall were on board. There was BK,
Tommy G, Reategui and GSD. Rocco, Vallely
and Gonz were hoisting a UCLA flag while
Cook and Thomas flew the Jolly Roger.
Throughout Friday night skaters were drop-
ping anchor and checking into various inns
and roadhouses about town. Watering holes,
grog houses and eateries were staked out.
The Chart House and the Pirate House were
raided repeatedly. A mean session at the
Savannah Blues bar left many heavy-headed.
well past dawn.
Before the rooster's call could announce
the sun, many had rolled out of their bunks
and made their way slowly to the arena. Early
riser Ken McGuire was already flying high
as the lights warmed up to full power, illumi-
nating the unique indoor street set-up. A lot
has been said about street course design and
62
the tendency to feature too many jump ramps
and quarter-pipes. This course featured these
and more. There was a replica of a driveway
(complete with slappy-able PVC curbs), a fifty-
foot slide 'n roll rail, a 6' transition to 20' of
vertical cement and two box-like structures
with walls, ramps and railings attached. A Pon-
tiac Ventura junker that V-man bought for $75
from a local wrecker was towed in. McGuire
rode for an hour before anybody else showed,
and didn't have any complaints.
By high noon the floor was alive with skaters,
shooting, flying and sliding across the floor.
Thirty odd contenders were ready to draw their
favorite blades and do battle by the time the
lobby doors opened to the hordes. Skate
nomads and street fans from the surrounding
colonies gathered to witness the melee.
Throughout five heats of six skaters each,
the qualifying battle proceeded with two one-
and-a-half minute runs apiece. Most charged
in off the long, steep roll-in ramp and barreled
across the floor of the arena before hitting
either of several launches.
When the qualifying was over, several stood
out above the rest.
Heat one saw Jesse Martinez power hack-
ing his way through the course. Gonz sailed
switchstance airs off the small launches. Per
Welinder's varial airs looked good. And Cook
tried a 50/50 axle drop from the railing.
Heat Two-Jeff Kendall showed his usual
magic, Vallely popped a backwards rolling
fakie ollie to tail and Christian didn't miss a
down precariously close to the edge.
shot, going high up on the vert and edging
Heat Three-Tony Hawk pulled giant front-
side air off the vert. Guerrero slashed and
burned wicked frontside wall rides and high
poppers over the Ventura. Dressen got loose,
and BK spun a 540° Bertleman on the big
bank.
Heat Four-Lance Mountain thrusted high
frontside whip-backs off the vertical, and De-
main stayed on top of his wildly bucking board.
Heat Five-McGuire had the moves but
ran out of steam. Caballero fucked it up
Above: Steve Caballero finger-drags a
compressed frontside on the big wall.
Inset: Tommy G. offers a "give 'em hell"
handshake to teammate Steve
Opposite Page: Frozen in various stages of the
streetstyle game are (clockwise): Jesse Martinez,
Jeff Kendall, and Sam Cunningham.