trouble, scamming for comps to clubs and backstage
pass at shows, dogging birds, betting on the Melbourne
cup and the Australian Grand Prix, laying about in motel
rooms, languishing in Italian restaurants (they say the
Australian food is getting better), and, of course, skating
the plethora of public punk ramps and vertical arks that
are provided by the generous councils and townships
throughout the land.
On the Friday before the big event, early arrivals
deplaned in Sydney for a preliminary qualifying event
at Fairfield leisure center which features badminton
courts, Olympic-sized pool and vertical-sized skate
ramp. Recently completed under cover of a roof is a
multi-lipped and leveled, triple-spined mini-ramp that
was a hit among many. The big buzz going around as
we arrived at the ramp site was not only that there was
a contest for Aussie skaters trying to make the cut into
the following week's finals, but that the entire Alva posse
had spent the previous evening partying with David
Bowie and his band. Tin Machine at an intimate
nightspot called Moby Dicks. This was confirmed by
head judge, Duncan who looked no worse from the wear.
Back on the ramp, the top five skaters from Australia
and New Zealand in this event would join the top five
OZ/NZ skaters that were automatically included from last
year's Riot. That would be Tony Hallam, Gregor Rankine,
Lee Ralph, Jason Ellis and Andrew Morrison. After a
straight ahead-round of qualifying and ten-man sub-jam,
the final jam session took place and showcased a bevy
of talent coming up from down under. Joining the parade
Miller's
iller's 360° ollies
and backwards 50/50-to-boardslides raked
everyone over the coals,
LITL 'S
BLACH
Clockwise from Left: Chris Miller shooting for the roof in a frontside nose-
bone manner. Inverted and contorted, Jeff Kendall, tuck-knee layback air.
Laying back on "the wrist," Phillips was back in action after a Tahitian
treat. Bod Boyle launches to front truck grind with sketchy rear foot.