86 THRASHER
Clockwise from above: Jovontae 360° flips over the gap. Addison looks to land a
180° ollie during the heated locals-only demo sesh. Little Joe busted with atti-
tude but backed it up with his skating. Tae-tae and the paddle girls.
The US Territory of Guam is one of more than 2,100 islands in
the region known as Micronesia in the North Pacific.
Approximately 30 miles long and 9 miles wide with a population
of nearly 150,000, Guam has taken some heavy hits over the
years, surviving two world wars and recently having a Korean Air
747 jetliner slam into the island.
By the time our crew made landfall at the Westin Hotel in
Tumon Bay, demo ramps were being dragged out onto the side-
200 skaters showed up to
Drehobl started off the demo by tail ollieing from the railing of
the 6-foot halfpipe, then continued to blow everyone's mind
throughout the remains of the day. The usual demo chaos ensued
with anybody who had a skateboard under their feet invited to
participate. A locals-only session boiled over the gap between
two ramps during the hottest part of the day with island rippers
BJ Rodriguez, Victor Vida, Greg Cruz, Addison Moyer, Julio Lubas,
Frank Flores, and Little Joe providing the thrills and spills. Kale
aired out everywhere, getting kids to help push the ramps around
to make sinister gaps. Jovontae served 360' flips at will and
mixed it up with all the skaters during the locals-only session.
skate, maybe ten times the Greg Carroll slid tail and kept the sticker tossing and product
amount we had expected.
walk in front of the brand new Planet Hollywood on Marine Blvd.
Shattering our notions of an unspoiled tropical paradise were
Prada, Versace, and Gucci boutiques lining the boulevard on the
way to the Friday afternoon demo. Greg
and Jovontae dove right in, elbow-to-
elbow shopping with foursomes of
Japanese tourist girls buying duty-free
$400 shoes. Jovontae came out with a
fresh pair of lime green Pumas to match
his ensemble. Dan, Kale, and I tried for
more earthly pursuits found in the strip
clubs and shooting ranges.
At the demo, Dan and Kale proceeded
to terrorize the mall steps and gaps in
front of Planet Hollywood, then flew
back and forth over a harsh spine ramp
situated between two wood wedges. The
demo spread across the street to a pole
jam in front of the 7-11, while cars were
whipping through at 40 mph on the
boulevard. There was one accident
caused by rubbernecks, but the scariest
moment was when Greg's board rolled
slowly off the curb, got nicked by a
hauling taxi, flew twenty feet straight up, and landed without
clocking anyone. Luckily, his board was not injured.
Saturday was spent getting into the real Guam, taking a cruise
around the southern half of the island. Mistress Stacie had given
us a walkie talkie so we could keep in touch, but probably regret-
ted the move after Jovontae's streetwise descriptions of the lush
jungle and tropical sunset began jamming all frequencies.
Everywhere we stopped we were presented with gifts (such as
foam beer can coolers from Eddie at Eddie's Cove to cover our
open containers) and invited to return.
On Sunday, throngs of locals gathered at the beach park at Apra
Harbor where the skate ramps were being re-assembled for the
Generation Next Festival. They came from the villages near and far,
from islands throughout the Micronesian archipelago. They surfed
and they paddled and came by water and air. But mostly they came
by urethane; for when it was all over, 200 skaters showed up to
skate, maybe ten times the amount we had expected.
giveaways fueled with ammo. Rene Matthyssen lives on the island
and showed up to skate the evening session.
In the harbor channel, paddlers piloted outriggers of ancient
design, while modern jet skiers flew past exchanging waves. Did
someone say waves? A healthy swell supported a strong local
contingency at the harbor mouth, ripping a powerful left. Many
of the heavier dudes had scar tissue across their backs and shoul-
ders from taking it to the reef.
Around the festival, the locals did not treat us like kings,
nor tourist kooks; they treated us like family, sharing with us
whatever they had. We all had the best time and managed to
relax and chill, even in the tropical heat, with or without
sleep! The Guamanians party hearty, like one big family and
all were welcome.
Big heartfelt thank-yous to Stacie, Tony Susuico,
Genevieve, Nancy, Addison, Shane and Cheyne, Army Rick
Mackey, Betty, Eli, Clarice, Rene Matthyssen and his girls,
Westin House, Eduardo, TJ and the G girls, Planet Hollywood,
the cops (never even saw one!), Girl and Chocolate, Think,
Volcom, Deluxe, the Governor and First Lady, all the boys
and girls, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, cousins, bruthas,
brethrens and sistrens, and most of all, every one of the
skaters, right down to the littlest mini shred; for, without
them, there is nothing. -KT
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