When I think of New York, I think of rats the size of dogs, no parking, rude taxi drivers, the mafia and the words "Yo, Joey". During my first night in the Big Apple, I experienced all of the above. I even watched a mafia movie. We pulled up in front of the hotel just before 10 pm only to find no parking and a taxi guy yelling at us because we were in his way. Across the street, I saw some hefty rats tipping over some garbage cans. I couldn't believe every preconceived notion I ever had about NYC was coming true, except the "Yo, Joey" part. I approached the doorman only to see the name Joey on his name badge. I couldn't resist and I blurted out, "Yo Joey, which way to the elevator?" Joey quickly responded back "why you breakin' my balls over here, can't you see I'm talking to someone else?" Ah yes, now I knew I was in New York City.
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| Workers attacked the park with big Squiggies and towels. |
The outdoor demo was scheduled for 4pm. The only problem was that it was still raining at 2pm. Everybody was scrambling to find an alternate plan in case the rain wouldn't let up. This was beginning to look like the same problem we had in Calgary. Could this be our first demo cancelled due to rain? What are you crazy? I kept telling everyone that Tony has got some friends in pretty high places. Low and behold the rain stopped! Skatepark workers attacked the park with big squiggies and towels, and by 3:50pm, the park was 97% dry. If there is a god, he must be a skater because it is pretty uncanny how 2 out of the last 3 demos were being threatened by rain that cleared up minutes before the demos began! I'm a So Cal guy and it is hard to get used to rain in the summertime, so this was something new for me.
The demo took place on Pier 62-Chelsea Piers. It was at a place called Extreme Park, there's that word "extreme" again - it's so 90's! This place had a huge street course with fun boxes, a handrail, a punk wall, a couple of mini ramps and, of course, a vert ramp. The line up for this NYC stop consisted of Bucky Lasek, Eric Koston, Steve Caballero, Steve Berra, Kris Markovitch, Mike Vallely, Colin McKay, The Birdman, Mat Hoffman and BMX destroyers Rick Thorne and Mike Escamilla. How lucky am I? I get to hang with the best skaters and BMX riders in the world and skate the best parks in the world. I know most of you would kill for this job, too bad I'm not retiring any time soon. After the demo, Tony let me take a couple of runs on the soon-to-be-released Pro Skater 3. At one point Tony cheered me on when I pulled a 540 judo on the game. I can't tell you anything about Pro Skater 3 because it's top secret! I guess you will just have to save your money and buy it for yourself come November, or ask Mom and Dad to kick you down one come this X-mas, but that's another story. Lets get back to the skating.
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| Mike V with another death drop. |
Mike Vallely is a ruler! Terminator Mike was busting some pretty big airwalks off the fun box and he even found a fence to hurl himself off of. The drop that Mike V pulled off this time was way thick. It must have been one of the biggest and sickest death drops to date on The Tour. Steve Berra was pulling off big 50-50's down the handrail. Skater of the Year and X Games gold medalist Eric Koston was manualing all over the place, in some cases doing kickflips to manual. Kris Markovitch went on an old school invert tear, with a little coaching from skateboard legend Kevin Staab. Tony was doing Rodeos and 360 flips on the street course. Tony doesn't consider himself a street skater but yet he can bust 360 flips and other street tricks better than most. Cab was pulling big noseslides down one of the fun box ledges. "Rooftop" Escamilla was doing 360's over the punk wall with a quick tire touch and Rick Thorne was doing backflips and 540's on vert. Bucky and Colin were both skating hurt. Bucky fractured his wrist in Jersey and Colin separated his shoulder. You would think that would keep them from skating, right? Not on your life! Both guys were still destroying it. Colin busted a fakie to fakie 540 tail grab, and Bucky was going for a nollie kickflip tailslide also on vert, did I mention they were hurt? Another demo off the Richter scale. Next stop Woodward Skate Camp in Pennsylvania, which is probably one of the best skate facilities in the U.S.A, if not the world!
Related Photos:
Hawk Tour: NJ/NY Gallery
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