ON THE ROAD
PHOENIX RISING
Progress marches on toward the inevitable goal of a public
skatepark in Phoenix, Arizona. This spring, another $4000 was
added to the City kitty, bringing the total up to about $14,000 for
the completion of what the sages call, "A marvel of rainbow mag-
nificence-gorgeously, magnificently carved and burnished to the
glorious brilliancy of the sun." Indeed, a cement scene in Phoenix
would be a dream come true.
Park supporters Damon and Laura Alire, along with Daniel
Shircliff and their tireless comrades at arms, have worked long and
hard with the City of Phoenix to establish a place for skateboard-
ers amidst the dry desert's many grassy golf courses and man-
made lakes that sacrifice water to the sun daily for the sake of
sport. The only evaporation from a cement park would occur as
salty rivulets of sweat dissipated into the atmosphere from skaters
exploring the realms of their own abilities.
The latest installation in a string of benefits for the skater's cause
was a skateboard contest/free street jam/musical blow-out in the
middle of downtown Phoenix at a place once reserved for yuppi-
fied geekheads. The City even closed off First Avenue between
Washington and Jefferson as the contest site in an unprecedented
grant of skateboarding rights. Police officers who would usually
ticket sidewalk surfers for their use of public and private property
let everyone have their fun and stuck to keeping the peace.
Over 1500 members of the skater ilk hung in and about Patriot's
Square Park to celebrate a grass-roots effort coming from the kids.
First Avenue was awash with riders going ape on wooden banks,
jump ramps, pyramids and slider bars. Salman Agah, Tony Alva,
James Kelch, Kelly Bird, Rob Dyrdek, Drake Jones, Matt Reasons
and Jamie Thomas were seen barging at will with everyone else.
At one pm, the music began to pour from out of the band shell.
HB Inc, Tilt Wheel, Loonacy, The Hemlocks, Logical Nonsense and
JFA proceeded to throw down. The
ramp action continued long into the
night as the streetlights clicked on
and the locals kept rolling. With
$14,000 safe in City vaults, the trea-
sury is more than halfway to fulfilling
its goal of $25,000, which the City
will match, making $50,000 available
for the pouring of the sacred 'crete.
Bring it on. Results on page 100
go
A quartet of skaters (left) wait for a break between
heats so they can roll the course. Jamie Thomas (top)
flew like Clark Kent out of a Benihana phone booth.
Matt Field (below) floated backside heelflips for the
Phoenicians. A glance (below left) at the rough plans.
PURE CHILE
Way down in Southern New Mexico, at the
edge of Texas and Mexico, the land is blessed
with hot chiles and blazing ditches. Amongst
the scattered cacti and coyotes of the Mesilla
Valley, some of the finest concrete excava
tions this side of Albuquerque reside. The
town of Las Cruces has a long tradition of
skateboarding, and tribal elders like Arturo
Uribe and Tommy Yoder keep the vibe alive
with ditch/street contests and righteous ran-
chero keggers that have no equal.
This year's festivities brought in skaters
from Mexico, Colorado and Texas. Quarter-
pipes, launch ramps, rails and manual pads
were spread throughout the flatbottom of a
huge ditch and the resulting mayhem was a
wonder to behold. Styles of the new melded
with the ways of old as burlers pulling bert
reverts avoided tech dogs firing switchstance
heelflips. Attitudes were few and styles cross-pollinated into
a celebration of the pure act of skateboarding. Miguel O
took the title in the beginner division, while a shredder
named Enrique from Juarez, Mexico, who spoke no English,
went home with the intermediate crown. Meanwhile, Pablo
Martinez came on strong to snag the trophy out of the
hands of Dave from Durango, Colorado, in the heated bat-
tle of the finals. Capping off the ditch competition, a full
speed bank slalom anarchy jam was held down the spillway
with rocks acting as cones. The party that night saw nine
kegs and five bands, including Jack Killed Jill, The Hellcats,
Asid Rane, Addicts For The Automatic and JFA playing
under the stars as a dust devil whirlwind screamed in the
slam pit and the bonfire licked the sky. Let there be no
doubt: They like it hot in Las Cruces. Props out to Peter
from El Paso Skate City, Edna Orona and Ernest Herrera for
all the good food and fine prizes.
-Don Ramone
THIRD ANNUAL PURO CHILE SKATEFEST '94
LAS CRUCES, NUEVO MEXICO
MARCH 19, 1994
Beginners
Intermediate
Advanced
Bank Slalom
1. Miguel O
1. Enrique
1. Pablo M
1. Dave
2. Charlie M
2. Dave
3. Adam D
-Peter Kim
3. Chris
3. Tommy B
2. Brian
3. Beaver
The big wall of the ditch saw plenty of action (top left) as skaters converged to savor the flavor of sun
and burritos. When it came to the bank slalom, there was no stopping Dave (top right) from Durango.
The expressions on the winners' faces (above) said it all. Plans for the next day included a mandatory
session at the Ramada pool in old El Paso. Tommy Yoder (below) worked the sidewalls with style.
ge
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