I put the receiver back and decide that
skating scene is going to get even bigger
soon. You see, Angelo has decided to
organize a Bones Brigade demo tour in Italy
and he wants me to be the guide.
A week later I am on my way to Action Now
Skatepark, Angelo's headquarters. It is early
September and about eighty percent of the
tour schedule is planned. I have drawn the
plans for the necessary wooden structures
and sent them to the shop managers. They
will take care of the rest of the demo details.
The tour will traverse northern Italy, bounc-
ing from one side of the boot to the other.
Tommy Guerrero and Mike Vallely will arrive
in the land of spaghetti three days before the
tour begins, accompanied by cameraman
Jon Malvino.
September 13th, 1988, 12:00 p.m. I'm in
the Milano Malpensa airport. No sign of the
two skaters. I do a couple of curb tricks out-
side in front of some astonished business-
men, then I hear the announcement: the
plane has landed. After some more grinds,
I roll to the meeting point where I immediately
notice a guy sitting on a Thrasher bag. Mike
Vallely says "Hi" as Tommy walks back from
the change office. We hit the road. Our
destination is Angelo's park, our base.
As we drive, I notice the boys' faces turn
gloomy. Deep silence rules the van. I guess
they're not used to the Italian driving style
andpassing on two lane roads isn't their idea
of a great time. We arrive at Angelo's in time
for lunch-the biggest thing in Italian lifestyle.
September 15th. We have traveled south
to Genova on the sea to enjoy some skating
in the sun. This afternoon we skate in a local
seashore spot called Punta Vagno. The
homeboys are stoked.
September 16th. We continue skating
Genova. The morning session at the horse-
shoe-shaped metal benches is only a warm
up. After some food, we skate on the roof of
a sewer purifier. Next we hit all the obstacles
along the steep entrance, then head to the
roller rink for flatland madness.
September 17th. Today is the first demo.
We have to travel a couple of hours further
south where the Viareggio skaters are
waiting. We make a back door entrance to
the demo spot and discover a sweet mini-
ramp and lots of obstacles. As you would ex-
pect, the whole place is filled with multi-
colored skaters. The boys grab their sticks
and fly into the skate arena. After the first mo-
ment of "what the hell"' surprise, the Italians
all stop to watch the American ripsters.
Acoustic response immediately follows the
highest tricks. It's Italy's first pro demo. The
crowd is freaking on Tommy's wicked Smith
grinds and ollies. Mike bum rushes with
Miller flips, 360 lien airs, ollie flips to rock and
rolls and more. Angelo is on the mike, hard
,style, pushing the crowd. The boys pull huge
ollies off the 1 meter jump ramp, with many
hand grab variations. The kids are spell-
bound by tricks they have never even thought
about before. A midnight pizza session and
bed comes next.
September 18th. We drive to the east
seashore. Today's demo is going to be held.
on an indoor basketball court covered with
wood. "Hey, this little car can't hold ninety
miles per hour, dude. It's going to melt
down." Jon Malvino is having a bad moment.
Angelo goes ahead with the riders and Jon
jumps into my car. The miles are flowing fast.
As we arrive in Ravenna, we realize that Mr.
Donati, the organizer, did a great ad job. A
crowd of more than 1,200 paying spectators.
is waiting for the pros. "The best scene, good
ramps," is the general consensus. The pros
enjoy the demo, the crowd and the large plat-
formed quarter-pipe.
September 19th. We spend the morning
shopping at old Ravenna road. A young guy
points at us from a window and screams to
a friend, "Quello e Tommy Guerrero!"
"We got to go, men. We have to be on the
Opening Spread: Pure
style on the sewer purifier
roof: Tommy and Mike
check it all out: skate-
comp poster child.
Opposite Page: Smith
slide in Livorno Plaza by
Signore Guerrera.
Sequence: Mike parks an
auto-ollie axle stall in the
RHO ditch. Spread: A
segment of the meander
ing cement fun-chute.