Skatespot: From Van to Slam and back Again

Calgary Slams

The circus rolled into Calgary last weekend. Slam, which moved from Vancouver to Cowtown, this year, hasn't weathered the move too well. Under new ownership  for the past 2 years, it's become more like a Rightguard ad and less like the homegrown contest that grew into a world-class event. Part of the of the problem is that it's no longer being managed by people who actually skate and have experience in the industry. Just the same it's always fun to see what unique course New LIne will come up with, and see your favourite locals skate with international pros. Last year's course was granite-enriched and pure-street-ish, this year more artifice with a mini-golf/cartoon flava - Peanuts doghouse, iced out gold-chain rail and an arcing Spiderman rail, plus a rolling My Humps ledge just for fun. Tech maestro Micky Pappa beat out Will Christafaro and some older and taller competition to win the Es Game of Skate. The comp overall was pretty fun, but not as many pros as in past years. Contest Results: 1. Greg Lutzka,  2. Chad Bartie, Australia;  VanCity's Ryan DeCenzo, Magnus Hanson and Nathan LaCoste, placed 3rd, 4th and 5th, 6th was Calgary's Ryan Oughton, 7. Dayne Brummet, 8. Sascha Daley, 9. Tony Trujillo, 10. Danny Fuenzalida; other good runs for Canucks were: 11. Scott DeCenzo, 12. Sheldon Meleshinski, 15. Chris Haslam, 16. Eric Mercier,  17. Jesse Langden, 19.Josh Evin (who also placed 10th in vert),  20.Greg Brewer,  21. Trevor Houlihan, 22. Josh Clark,  23. Micky Pappa and 25. Geoff Dermer, Vancouver. Men's Vert: 1. Rob Lorifice, 2. Sandro Dias, 3. Neal Hendrix. Girls' Street: 1. Lacey Baker,  2. Vanessa Torres,  3. Lauren Perkins. Canadian Kristen Zurwick came in 7th. Girls' Vert: 1. Karen Jones, 2. Holly Lyons, 3. Vanessa Torres  4. Amy Caron and Vancouver's Alison "Nugget" Matasi placed 5th.

East Infection

Spectrum's Prez Jim Barnum joined "East Coast Skate Militia" Richard Sarrazin, Steve Lange and Brent Jordan in skatepark and spot entrenched North Carolina's Outer Banks. Am Getting Paid goes down Sept. 23, 24 amd 25 at South-Parc skatepark in Montreal - check south-parc.com for more details. Bad news from Montreal - the Big O Pipe is in jeopardy. A soccer stadium is is plaaned for that site, which could mean the end of the Pipe's existence. Montreal skaters are organizing to try to save the classic spot: go to their website and sign their guest book to help Save the Big O pipe.

http://www.savethepipe.blogspot.com/

Back in the Van

The Underworld sponsored Fraser Heights Comp went down Aug 19. First place went to Ryan Decenzo, 2nd Dustin, Montie, 3rd Magnus Hanson. The Vancouver Skatepark Coalition voted in thier new Board. Congrats to Michelle Pezel (Prez), Jeff Chan (VP), Char Hunter (Treasurer) and Lee Ann Slade (Secretary). A main priority is getting Leeside built - soon and right. Check vspc.ca and antisocialshop.com for upcoming meetings. Summer End Skate Jam, put on by Underworld Skateshop is Sept. 3rd at the Downtown Plaza, with lots of cash prizes for best tricks. After party at Lucy Mae Browns. Coming up, the official opening of Quilchena Park is Sept. 9, with demos planned. Hope they fix the bad coping job before it goes down. Plus Matix and Supra's Greatful Shred Tour, with your shredologists: Marc Johnson, Daewon, McCrank, Biebel, Danny Garcia, Mikey Taylor, as well as Travis Stenger and Mike McDermott. Signing at Antisocial at 3pm Sept. 20, and The Source Skate Shop, Calgary, Sept. 24, 3 pm.Demo in Van at the Plaza (Georgia Viaduct) and Calgary at the Millenium Park; both demos at 5 pm.

D-Rock and Miss Kim

downspace@telus.net