AIRWALK
SOPHISTO
CLOTHING
down on the ramp, you've got to picture this in your mind as if it's out of a Stephen King
novel, that board clipped his skin right off. Ooohh! That boy's face went sour. Enough
fairy tales, right? No! I'm the storyteller! Rudy nollie noseslid the box in the middle of the
course so fluidly, going very fast, tool Rudy Johnson and Ray Barbee remind me of
each other out there. To me, anyway. Their disposition is one of such joy, and how pleas
ant it is to watch them. If we could hook up electronic enjoyment meters to everyone in
there who was skating. I think those two
would tie for first.
I always like to see all of the Girl team
hanging out enjoying themselves and
the contest. And I bet that you missed
Fabian Alomar frontside kickflipping up
the box. Beautiful! And you know their
team is great. Joey was throwing down
flips on the bank to fakie. "Real men
do it to fakiel" If you don't know these
guys, they are from Los Angeles. And
Eric Pupecki is on their team also; they
are Menace. I think Frank from Zoo York
of New York could be like Ray and Rudy,
too. There were also a lot of "one more
times." That's when someone is trying to
go big, and they mess up, but the peo-
ple want to see them make it, so they
clap, stomp their feet, and yell, "One
more time!" And whistle too. I don't
think anyone made a "one more time"
at this contest. Danny Way could do
backside tailslides the wrong way. The D
Way and Max Schaaf were hanging up
in the rafters higher than I have ever
When Chris Senn (opposite top left) looks for
lines, anything is possible. Starting his run on
the vert ramp and jumping to the street course,
Senn had the crowd screaming for more. Big
daddy Caine Gayle (opposite top right) all
over the backside 180' flip. When Danny Way
(above) skates, everyone watches. This roof
scraping 540' proves that the man is back in
action. Jeremy Wray's 360° flip (right) is bad
ass. Jason Ellis (left) don't give a fuck. Chet
Thomas (opposite middle right) got burned but
still managed to switch 360° frontside every
time. Tom Boyle (opposite middle left) shows
how hot it got. Bottom photos, from opposite
left: Brian Schaefer was in control and every-
one knew it. Greg Carroll, Neal Hendrix and
John Montesi discuss the big picture. Chris
Gentry and his girlfriend Ricoh. Jimmy Marcus
and Monty Nolder share a few belly laughs
with the ladies. Vallely, Riley and Tony Hawk.
The concession stand girls always had a smile.
58 THRASHER
59