UpFront
Russian Sessions
The cold war is over. Suddenly the great
American eagle and the Russian bear are no longer at
each other's throats. Many countries are turning their
three exotic pieces at their disposal. The
place of training was situated in a suburb of
St. Petersburg at the mountain skiing
attention towards mounting problems in their own center of the Krasvy Ontyobr plant. First CИ
cribs instead of worrying about who's going to blow
up the world first.
As far as skateboarding is concerned, there have
never been any barriers. Now more than ever, US and
Western European skaters can help the skaters in the
Eastern regions develop their own scenes. Not that
they don't have them already. The skaters of Eastern
Europe could teach any snot-nosed American youth
about appreciation of skating, because they perform
on the worst equipment in the world. Russian skate
technology is a bit dated. Trucks are often handmade,
boards are flat and shaped like freestyle decks and
the main disciplines are slalom and freestyle.
Western influence and a flood of products are now
pouring into the Soviet scene, setting the stage for a
major East-West meet when Saratov hosts the Open
Russian Skateboard Championships on August 20-23,
1992, at Sportcentre Fantastic. The following is a look
at Russia by Igor Golishnikov and Jurly Fomin.
SARATOV IS OPEN NOW
According to the daily newspaper, Izvestya (February
12, 1992), the Russian government accepted the offer to
exclude the cities of Kiev, Saratov and Cheliabinsk from
the list of the places forbidden for foreign citizen's visits. A
week later, the US ambassador's assistant arrived to
Saratov with a special mission. The last chains of total
tarianism were cast off. On this occasion, Fantastic center
had a special festive event at the town youth house.
SKATERS ON SARATOV CIRCUS ARENA
From November 20 until December 10, 1991, the per-
formances of the well-known circus skating company of
Anatoly Kalinin took place. A friendly meeting between
Kalinin's company and skaters from Fantastic took place
where the circus actors demonstrated acrobatics on
skateboards. The circus actor's decks were made out of
daraluminium, their trucks hand-made. The circus equip
ment of the company consists of two start ramps with
changeable height, a steep "roll-over" and street ramps.
ST. PETERSBURG SNOWBOARDING
Through the winter of 1991-1992, skaters of "Peter"
made themselves familiar with snowboards. They had
ПЕПСИ В ПЕЛси
18 T
impression was as though you had been
nailed to the asphalt and their first attempts
ended with falls. They used skate protec-
tion to prevent injuries. As soon as they
had coped with straight descents, the folks
got a desire to fly, but one can hardly fly
without the skill to slow down. The quality
of the falls was determined by the distance
between a body and a flown away cap.
UNION CUP COMPETITION
On September 7th and 8th, 1991, Sara-
tov turned into the skateboard capital of the
country that previously had been called the
Alexey Sukhorukov
smokes a blunt of
the Union Cup
Dueling women
slalomers (below
rush the gats
USSR. The rumor about skateboard wonders gathered an
elite team and the total number of guests and participants
at the Union Cup was more than one hundred and thirty.
Most of the competition was devoted to slalom, and the
winner among men became thirty-four-year-old Anatoly
Matsukievitch from St. Pete, who won both slaloms.
Among the girls, Katya Krylova from St. Petersburg
was the quickest. The first in parallel slalom was Elena
Sinolalova from St. Petersburg. Competitions among
women were characterized by a violent rivalry between.
the slalom school of Saratov, St. Pete and Kharkov.
Competitions in streetstyle became a central event of
the Union Cup. Eighteen skaters took part in these com-
petitions. It was a real progress compared to the starts of
last years, when only ten skaters took part in streetstyle
and four of them were from Czechoslovakia. The first
result in streetstyle had Alexey Sukhorukov from Sara-
tov. A few points separated, Yuris Goncharov, a strong
streetstyler from Liepaya, Latvia, from the leader. The third
result had Martinsha Vindzeneksa from Grobine, Latvia
Only one point less had Karlis Tsalinitys from Riga.
Among top ten were such skaters from Latvia as:
Berzniks Yanis from Grobinja, Ghints Zommers, Grinis
Yanis and Kolendorf Olaf from Riga, Nikolay Yem-
elyanchilk from SP and a young but already experienced
Sergey Tyamkov from Saratov
Contests in streetstyle showed that even the winners
make many mistakes. Some of the skaters demonstrated
even more skills during training than in
the course of the competitions them-
selves. They made efforts to show more
complicated, although not yet worked-
up, elements. As a result-failures.
All this proves that the experience of
participation in competitions among the
majority of streetstylers is not yet large.
And one more thing is skaters from
Latvia dominate in streetstyle. We can
easily foresee that next year the number
of participants in streetstyle will be even
more, and their skill will grow.
The contest in freestyle had once
again proved the domination of the so-
called "Moscow school." Four from the
top ten were Muscovites
Lowdown
Alexey Sukhorukov
A skater from Saratov, Alexey was one of the best in free
and streetstyle at the 1991 USSR competitions
Shortly, about yourself.
I am eighteen, bom in Lazatov, finished school, now a
student of Lazatov University physical faculty
When and how have you started to go in for skating?
In the yard of my house, by chance
Who were your trainers?
At first my brother and friends, then Yuziy Fonein (Roller
Sports Centre, Fantastic), now I train by myself.
What kind of skateboarding do you like?
Streetstyle, freestyle and ramp.
How much time do you spend on training?
Less than is necessary. In the summer, ten hours per
week, in the winter it's much less.
What is your favorite music?
I'm fond of Depeche Mode
What competitions in this country impressed you?
In 1991, Leaks-Petersberg. I skated there a lot and was
all the time with skaters.
What competitions abroad impressed you?
Czechoslovakia, 1989, Bino (Euroskate).
What countries have you been to, taking part in
contests?
Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Italy.
Your best achievement in sports?
First place in streetstyle, 1991 Saratov, Open Union Cup
Second place in freestyle in the same contest. Third place
in streetstyle, 1990, Saratov, Open Cup of Volga
What is your favorite trick?
Ollie, slide
How will skateboarding develop in this country?
For long and painfully
Who is your favorite world skateboarding star?
Tony Hawk and Christian Hosoi
Who is your sponsor now?
Pepsi Cola and Roller Sports Center Fantastic.
Your advice to beginners?
To use their head more chen
Powercet
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