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TAMPA TRIBUTE
In Memory of Sean Miller
STORY BY SALMAN AGAH PHOTOS BY BRYCE KANIGHTS
AS I THINK ABOUT IT, one of the many things I love about skateboard-
ing is the freedom to ride whenever and whatever I want. There is no prac-
tice, no conditioning, at least, not consciously. So at a contest, the beauty
of it all is this: We, as professionals, the top dogs, the elite of nothing.
but our own lives, get one, two, three minutes to share a part of our inner
selves. Some just so happen to share better than others, concerning the
circumstances. Some of us are driven by our hearts, some by reputation,
and some by money. But regardless, no matter what the motivation, the
dance that we do compares with nothing at all. Am I exaggerating? I think
not! What compares to the life-dance of one who is in control of every
body function voluntarily and involuntarily? If you don't know what I mean,
get on your board in San Francisco, shoot the hills, scare yourself to death,
and then tell me your heart is working involuntarily!
I live close to Shawn Mandoli, who is also a paid skater. We pretty much
grew up skating together everyday. When I arrived in Tampa, Shawn was
there and I was excited to see him. He's been going to school full-time,
and I've been consistently on the road. The next morning, after being
interrupted in my sleep by Kelly Bird, I woke up early and plugged into the
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In the finals it was first wall rebate, but after Tas Pappas (above) caught his
foot in the rafters he was allowed another chance and pulled this heartstopper
on the right. It started out as a kickflip mute but ended up nothing short of
insanity when he missed the grab once, then strangled it with both hands and
punked it in. Sluggo and crew (below) react accordingly to the miracle they
just witnessed. Some of the best skating of the weekend came from Moses
Itkonen. He ripped vert and tore the street course with a casual style that can't
be ignored-switch crooked (opposite top) on the wooden block. The roof of
any indoor park (far right) is probably where you will find Neal Hendrix. For
beyond driven, Mike Vallely (opposite middle) torques a lien air in the bowled
corner on his way to victory. Sheff and Jovontae (opposite bottom) mug it.
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Lamar
proverbs and the Book of virtues. Julien Stranger
and I went to get some juice and fruit. After the
fruit, Julien felt the need to balance out his nutri-
tion with an Egg McMuffin. We soon departed, to
meet again shortly at the park. Soon enough, we
were in, skating. It's always weird showing up to a
contest, seeing so many familiar faces. I see the
faces so much in magazines and videos, it is as if I
know them so intimately, though I don't. I love the
challenge, though, of friendship. If you've never
seen a practice session at a contest, boy oh boy,
they are hectic. It's like a different side of people
comes out. "Focus mode" is what I call it. I enjoy
it so much because I care so much that I'll let
you go ahead of me. I'm surprised we don't have
to get our noses pierced, you know, in the mid-
dle, so when we're skating, we could look like
mad charging bulls out there. Earlier I was
speaking of the freedom of being able to ride and
be free. Well, in Tampa, though we don't like to
admit it, there were some of us out there who still
had a bit of that old little league baseball in us.
Come on now, be honest.
I introduced myself to as many people as I can
recall, not knowing most of them were the East
Coast skaters. I met Matt Reason, Matt Pailes,
Ryan Hickey, the Lopez brothers, Fred Gall, Frank
Natiello and so many others. It was a trip meeting
Fred because I, as well as you, have seen him featured in Thrasher so much lately.
(Fred, I know I told you I thought you were taller, but I know you're only sixteen and
bound to grow more.) I also remember talking to Darryl Vaughn. I was happy to
meet him, also, because he has the same last name as my girlfriend. They're not
related, at least, not directly. Lovely people they are, those East Coasters, and that
includes me, too, being originally from Washington, DC.
The results you can look at on your own, but let me tell you that everyone of
you who has trucks and wheels under your feet are the true winners who have now
entered into the real world of life. Welcome aboard.
I remember I was playing billiards with Matt Pailes, and Ethan Fowler was riding.
I was so impressed to see this boy cruising that course like John Travolta strutting
the streets of Brooklyn in Saturday Night Fever. Brilliant, I tell you. It was over for me
right then, I saw the winner: Chris Senn! I think the Oklahoma City explosion was the
result from the thunder of his skating. I saw him jump off the vert ramp over a twen-
ty-foot channel, and when he landed this one attempt, he slid out on his butt, and
shot his board out. This is where the slow motion starts. I see this guy step over a
fence separating the pyramid from the judges table, and right when his foot came
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