COMPETITION
CLOSE-UP
At the end of a decade it is always a
good idea to look forward and
formulate a plan for the upcoming ten
years. We don't want to forget the
events of the recent past, however.
Here's a look back at some of
the "skater versus skater" action of
1989. As you know, skateboarding isn't
really what you would call a sport.
The participants aren't athletes (not in
the sweatsuit-wearing, iron-pumping
sense) and the contests, unlike
track meets or little league games, are
often just sanctioned excuses for ses-
sioning and partying with friends. Even
so, here are some official results.
gl
Huntsville, Alabama, Sept. 23, 1989
We arrived at Huntsville's Underground
Skatepark. In the foreground was a five-foot
mini-ramp with an escalator that ascended
to a six-foot platform. In the background was
the vert ramp. It was about ten high feet with
two one-foot extensions. No complaints here.
Friday was reserved for ramp practice in
the morning and early afternoon, with the
mini-ramp contest to follow. Highlights of the
prelims included Bucky Lasek's half-Cab-
to-back-truck-pivot-to-fakie. Chris Patras
showed unbelievable control all day; it was
obvious he'd be in contention for the top spot.
The man of the prelims was Barker Barrett.
Frontside sliders down the extension,
grapefruit grinds up the escalator and front-
side ollie palm airs brought Barker to the
forefront of the competition. As the skaters
geared up for the finals, Mother Nature
decided to ruin everything with a steady rain.
The torrent never let up, so the NSA was
forced to award the trophies to the top fifteen
prelim finishers. The top twelve would go on
to the national finals.
Rain wasn't a problem at the street con-
test on Saturday, since it was held inside the
Huntsville Armory. The format of this contest
was the same as the aborted mini-ramp
action-two preliminary runs, a cut to fifteen,
and two final runs. Standouts were: Mike
Kepper, Chris Pastras, Mike Daher, Tom
Taylor and Barker Barrett. The comeback-
of-the-day award went to Steve Teague, who
came into the contest as an alternate and
finished in the top twelve.
The vert contest took place on Sunday.
The hero of the prelims was Tom Boyle, who
contributed two bail-free runs. Highlights of
the finals included Brian Boyd's no-handed
blunts, Darren Mendito flailed half-indy gay
twists-to-Les twists on the nest wall. Buster
Far Left: Happy Huntsville Judges. Left: Eastern vert
champ Sean Miller bones an indy air. Above: A bit of
burlesque by Tom Boyle. Right: Brian Boyd hucks one.
Halterman flowed. Bucky Lasek was a crowd
favorite with McTwists, half-Cab alley-oop
feeble grinds and more. Tom Taylor finished
his third contest in three days with more
smooth lines. By the end of the day it was
evident that Sean Miller would win another
contest. In his lengthy final run we witnessed
wooly mammoths, a McTwist, standup grinds,
fakie hang-up reverts and more.
The contest ended, the rain came, and we
skipped town. Thanks go out to Underground
Skatepark and the NSA. Derek Rinaldi
VERT RAMP RESULTS
1. Sean Miller
2. Buster Halterman
3. Bucky Lasek
4. Brian Boyd
5. Tom Boyle
6. Darren Mendito
7. Tom Taylor
B. Troy Chasen
9. Mike Sparanzo
10. Jimmy O'Brien
11. DR. Bono
12. Jay Henry
NSA EASTERN REGIONALS