FIRE
IN THE
HOLE
QUIKSILVER BOWLRIDERS 2000
MARSEILLE, FRANCE
etnies
etnies
U KSILVER
QUIKSILV
SILV
Alex Chalmers: 5th
With the Zattoh Bros
State side, • Chal daddy went
to fuckin work, grabs
grinds, slides and
guessed it, Big guns,
This stale is pretty
Much 13 feet above
the ground.
6
you
AST YEAR I WAS INVITED TO BE A JUDGE FOR A CONTEST
that happens to be at one of my favorite parks; I happily agreed.
Unfamiliar with the name of Quiksilver Europe, I was excited
to see some Euro promoters chucking big cash into this type
of skating. I arrived and conferred with the other judges about
how we should run the contest. It was nailed down tight-or so I
thought. If a promoter puts on a contest in Europe, it is under-
stood that one of their own should win. After three days of burly
skating it was obvious that Wade Speyer was victorious.
Unfortunately for Quiksilver Europe, he does not ride for them.
Second was their rider Omar Hassan. I was made the scapegoat
for such a "mistake" and not allowed back this year as a judge.
So, with me out of the way, Omar was on track to victory..
Guess what? He won! Agreed, he did rip, but even he grabbed
the mike and said, "We all know who won this contest: John
Cardiel!" When Cards got called for sixth, the boos were
heard all the way to the beach. It's sad to see that even in
skateboarding, cash can pave the way to victory. But "skate-
board contests" are much like "student teachers," "art
school," and other self-negating phrases. How do any group
of skaters "judge" something that comes from your soul? The
skating gravy train can only go on for so long, and where will
these fringe dwellers be when skating dies again? We'll just
have to wait and see. I know where I'll be.
WORDS BY JAKE PHELPS PHOTOS BY LUKE OGDEN
Werdelade CLICHE
PREESTYLER Bifty
One
etnies
ultur'sk