NEBRASKA M.A.R.S. CONTEST
The 1987 M.A.R.S. (Midwest Amateur Ramp Series) got off to a good
start on Rich Flowerday's metal ramp in Lincoln, Nebraska. On Friday
Mike Speranzo, Matt Campora and Jeff Scholl arrived and immediately
began to start fights. One of their loud-mouth acts ended when a 6' 5"
drunken local beat up a hotel roomful of people. The skating began
Saturday and the crowd got so excited the police had to ask them to
disperse. Subsequent incidents landed three people in jail. After the
commotion, the skating resumed. The level of skating reached such
high levels that I will not try to describe it. Check out the results:
SPONSORED
1. Matt Campora
2. Mike Speranzo
3. Jeff Scholl
4. Bernie McGihn
5. Bill Miller
6. Jimmy Counce
7. Jim Ramer
8. Brendon McGinn
UNSPONSORED
1. Greg Bahn
2. Randy Beer
3. Pete De Anthony
4. Mike Renfrow
5. Rich Flowerday
6. Kevin Wilkins
7. Greg Arnold
8. Jake Balfour
DONNER SKI RANCH STREETSTYLE
by Michael Blanchard
There has been considerable sar-
castic comment in Sacramento of
late concerning streetstyle contests
and why the courses don't resemble
anything found on the street.
In an effort to come up with some-
thing new, the boys at Go Skate
organized a streetstyle contest at -
Donner Ski Ranch, Donner Summit,
CA, with a different format. The con-
test was divided into curb-style and
technical jump ramp. The curb-style
was limited to objects found in the
street (sort of). This included a plat-
form with banked sides of varying
pitch, curbs, pipes, tires and a wall
with a transition ramp.
Contestants in the jump ramp con-
test had to hit three ramps in a row.
Some skaters flew off the ramps in
the generally accepted manner while
others (malcontents, no doubt) used
them as small quarter-pipes. The
advanced ams ran through their runs
followed by the sponsored ams. After
the smoke cleared, Rick Riffle stood
at the front, followed by J.J. Rogers,
Jim Wochepranga, Ken Leiserson,
Cody, Slo, Mark Tomelloso, Dave
Lynch, and Matt Black.
With a newly paved parking lot,
Donner Ski Ranch provided a
mass of skaters plenty of
ground to rip and rage upon.
Above: Ricky Barnes skated
with a flurry of hell-raising
stunts. Here he dorks a beav
air over a curb configuration.
Right: An unknown competitor
takes an ollie to nosepick upon
a large rubber obstable.
The sponsored am contest came
down to a battle of two styles, the foot-
work of Ray Barbee and the surf-
oriented power-style of Mark Partain.
In the end, Ray took it, followed by
Mark, Ricky Barnes, Mike Yousefer,
Mike Prusanko, Robert Torres, Troy
Kooper, and Mike Tuttle.
The object in the jump ramp event
was to hit all three ramps. From the
start, one skater flew out above the
rest. Mike Youssefer flew and flew.
Although some skaters were more
stylish, none could match Mike in
height, speed or distance.
Top five in advanced jump ramp:
Jason Turner, Andy Oliveria, Robert
Rodriguez, Jason Sanchez and Ron
Potter. Top five spo ams: Mike Yous-
sefer, Mike Prusenko, Jeremy Allyn,
Ray Barbee and Ron Cameron.
The results of the two contests
were added together to give an
overall ranking, and Ray Barbee took
home a nice snowboard for his ef
forts. The folks at Donner Ski Ranch
put up the funds to make the ramps
and other objects and were very
pleased with the outcome. Look for
more contests in the future.
SUMMER
LODGE
ENTRANCE
(WRAP UP)
BENICIA GETS A SKATEPARK
by Michael Blanchard
Two weeks ago the efforts of
Benicia, California, skaters paid off.
After a year of paperwork and city
council meetings, an amphitheater
was built in Willow Glen park. What
does this have to do with skating you
ask? This amphitheater is designed
to be skated on.
The amphitheater was conceived
and designed by local skater Sam
O'Rourke. Sam's mother, Mayor
Marilyn O'Rourke, helped push the
project through the red tape and
lawyers. The project was also sup-
ported by the local Raley's store, as
the store's owners say it as a way of
getting people to stop skating in their
parking lot.
The park is called an amphitheater
because it is insured as such. This
eliminates the need for the city to
carry the large amount of insurance
that would be required for a skate
park. When completed, the park will
also function as a venue for bands
and theater groups.
The amphitheater is built in a
parking lot with a curb around the
edge. It features two banks (one with
a curve and one double-sided) and
a platform with banks on three sides.
BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA STREETSTYLE COMPETITION Mary
Six years of hassles resulted in a
token coup for skaters in Blythe,
California, the weekend of July 4.
Blythe, located near the Colorado
River. Summer temperatures can
reach extremes in excess of 118:
Pavement and cement exceed envi-
ronmental temperatures by as much
as 30 degrees, putting hard slam
ming sessioners at greater risk by
inflicting blisters and cauterized
abrasions.
Blythe banned skating in its busi-
ness district and skaters say the
boundaries are not clearly defined.
One tandem-wheeler was told by a
law enforcement type to kick up his
lumber and walk when he cruised
within two blocks of the sacred terri-
tory. Although the strictly enforced
FUN SUN AM
100% 7
ALL
PAT
5
WI
10:00
SPA
会場: つつじヶ丘公園 北側自転車置場
スケートショップまで
Skating is raging in northern Japan. This contest took
place in Sendai City, about 2½ hours north of Tokyo,
via train. Local talent and a team from Hachinohe City
competed. Their message: Rage Hard.
ordinance cites specific boundries by
which sessions are prohibited, it fails
to provide an area where skating is
legal. Fines of $50 have been levied
on those skating in "safe" areas out-
side the elusive boundaries.
Six years ago Garth Pyeatt and
three friends, all keen streetstylers,
made an appointment with Blythe's
city manager. With Pyeatt as spokes
man, they asked the stern town of
ficial to consider a request to allocate
or even match funding, for construc-
tion of a city-owned skatepark. The
concept died at that initial meeting.
Garth's actions inspired a new
generation of skaters in Blythe. A real
pied piper story except Garth says he
hasn't influenced them, the system
has. "They can't even skate to
school," he said. "Their boards are
taken away from them if they're
caught in the parking lot. "Tickets,
he said, are given enroute by watch-
ful police.
A local newspaper revealed that
little tidbit along with plans Pyeatt
had of approaching the city council
with an appeal to rescind the ordi-
nance or to at least restructure it. He
planned to ask for greater access to
city streets.
Within six weeks skaters were busy
building ramps and coordinating
their first legal skateboarding compe-
tition. The community services
department of Blythe's school district
agreed to allow the limited event. The
district's maintenance department
provided wood for the ramps and
rules were agreed upon. The event
was to feature three areas of competi
tion; the standard beginning, inter-
Dear THRASHER...
by Suffle
mediate and advanced.
Reeking of legitimacy, the July 4,
competition took place on a concrete
basketball court in 105 weather.
Ramps and curbstones had been
reverently put in place by the skaters
early that morning before the sun
beat down on the unshaded area.
In the advance class of 60-second
streetstyle, Lance Cyr was top
finisher with Cody martin following.
Brian "Bean" Maynard and Chad
Shupp finished third and fourth
respectively.
Mike Cyr took top honors in the in-
termediate class, sweated by Scott
Green who was one point short of a
tie. Mike Hamilton took third place
and Jerry Copeland claimed fourth.
Greg Judd was seen as the win-
ner of the beginning class with
Danny Gonzales finishing second
and Jake Padilla taking third.
Seasoned skaters Jeff Rockmore,
Steve Raborn, Keith Eddy and Danny
Cierly acted as judges.
As though acting upon que, the
minute the competition ended, the
microphone was taken from the an-
nouncer, music was stopped.
canopies were disassembled and the
crowd was told to leave. In no more
than six minutes, six year's work was
ended. If the skaters appeared
ungrateful, there was probably good
reason. In only two short hours, the
bad press of six weeks prior was
deleted from the public mind. A later
newspaper report would tell of an in-
terest by community services to
make the exibition an annual event.
The skaters gagged, barfed and
choked on the bone they were thrown.
First of all on behalf of Curtis and all the skaters who
competed, THANKS!!! for the prizes at the County Glen ditch
in Leander, TX. It was a great contest.
RESULTS: 1st went to James Rodriquez who did such moves
as 360° bonelesses, thread the needle and every other trick
imaginable. He was really smooth. 2nd went to Glen Hunter,
he did some massive ollies off the launch. 3rd went to Jon
Kelly who was doin' some killer handplants, lip tricks and
ollies. Everybody had a great time thanks to you.