Monday, March 27

B3 Blades

By Zack Podell

ESPN's B3, and the ASA Pro Tour had an explosive opening for the new millenium. The inline Street and Vert competitions ended in tight scoring, with a 6-point difference between first and third place. In Vert, 1999 X Games Champion Eito Yasutoko had an amazing second run to secure the win. He overtook younger Brother Takeshi, and Cesar Mora.

Michael Bennett flatspin 540 and a hole in his hand.

Eito threw flat spin 540's and 720's both ways, and balanced out his runs with a nice array of coping tricks. Takeshi had equally impressive runs, taking control of first place by the end of run #1, only to lose it to his older brother's last minute heroics. Cesar had two strong runs, landing 1080's, and huge airs, but his lack of coping tricks kept him from winning.

With the Absence of Taig Khris, Matt Salerno, Shane Yost, and a host of other top level Vert Skaters, the decision was made to cut out the prelims, allowing all of the skaters to compete in the finals. So with only 13 men, and 4 women, we got a much better opportunity to see how the new women's format will work.

The new format has the women competing with the men. The women get ranked in with the men, and also get ranked separately. For instance, Fabiola Da Silva took 1st in Women's Vert, and ended up 7th overall in the men's. Therefore, she received much deserved points and prizes, for both standings. Fabiolas skating was strong as usual this weekend, sweeping top honors in both Vert and Street.

In other Vert news, Michael Bennett has had bad luck with West Coast events in the last year. In Ontario, Ca last June, Michael was severely injured when an ESPN cameraman's cables got away from him. It seems that the cables somehow got wrapped around Michael's skates, causing him to do a face plant, while attempting to drop in. He ended up with a busted chin, a few broken fingers, and a concussion. Needless to say, he had to be dragged to the hospital, because he didn't want to stop skating. This weekend, it seems Michael took a screw from the vert ramp into his right hand. He needed about 7 stitches to sew it up, but rumor has it that he never went to the hospital.

Street award winners: Jeremy, Brian, and Aaron.

Rookie Carl Hills, 1999 ASA Amateur Vert Champion, took 8th place in his first ever pro vert competition, and Mike Budnik skated two strong runs to take 5th place. Shawn Robertson, known as an amazing street skater, skated the Vert Competition, and dazzled the crowd with some huge flat-spin variations. Unfortunately, he wasnt able to put a solid run together. Look for him to do some amazing things in Vert this year.

In the Women's Street Competition, Fabiola took the top honors in a close battle with Kelly Matthews. Kelly and Fabiola had near flawless runs, and both made good use of the drop rail. Neda Gane rounded out the top three.

Vert award winners , Eito (1) , Takeshi (2) , Cesar (3)

In Men's Street, Aaron Feinberg won a controversial victory over Jeremy Pennacchini. In a close ending, Aaron, Jeremy, and Brian Shima pulled out some amazing tricks, to make it a 5 1/2 point gap from 1st to 3rd places. Jeremy had a strong 1st run, opening with a zero spin back flip on the launch box, a true spin porn star on the drop rail, a negative miszou, and a forward negative mistrial. Aaron had fairly clean runs, with a sick zero spin makio on the drop rail, and a transfer to fahrvergnugen, on the start rail. Brian Shima skated brilliantly again this weekend, a week after capturing 1st place at the Real Ride Competition in Las Vegas, NV.

Fabiola - Top Soul in the vert competion.

Jeremy Pennacchini, again showed why he won the most improved skater in street last year at the ASA Awards Banquet. Unfortunately, without any major sponsors, (not for long I presume) Jeremy paid his own way out to Havasu. He drove all the way from Rhode Island, hoping to have a solid showing at this event. I guess he accomplished what he was hoping for, and then some.

In other Street news, Dominic Sagona is as progressive as ever, (see photo) pulling a royale up the rail, to true spin top soul down the rail. Robert Lievanos was skating well, even with his hand still injured, but the surprise of the competition was Daniel Hendershot. Daniel came from virtual extinction to snag a 7th place finish, his highest competition finish in years. Mike Budnik has continued his strong, consistent skating, by taking 4th place. Mike placed in the top 5 in both Vert and Street this weekend, showing us once again why he deserves consideration as the best all around skater in our sport.

The thing that makes this competition unique is that it occurred during Spring Break, at a renowned party city. There were parties going at all hours, and there was always something to do. With the beautiful weather, good parties, and great skating, Lake Havasu was a great location to open the season. It provided a great atmosphere for everyone to catch up with one another, and launch headlong into spring and a new year of skating.