NASCAR Country, you gotta love it. Every car I see has a NASCAR number on its back window. Number #3 and #8 seem to dominate. Last year in N.C. we got rained on and had to move indoors to a roller rink with little rails, wedge ramps and a phat gap jump over a NASCAR. It was like a circus show or something, but at least we got to skate! This year the temps were in the low 90's with 80% humidity and 5,000 spectators on hand to witness some ridiculous skating and bike riding. Before you head out to North Carolina to find your own skating scene follow these tips from your bro Brad J:

1) Make sure the girl you're talking is 16 or over because legal age of consent in N.C. is 16.

2) Learn to say "ya'all" a lot.

3) Keep sun block on your neck so it doesn't turn red.

4) Put a NASCAR number in your back window.

5) Watch out for 5-0, the laws are tough on everything.

Mike V. Was ripping the park all day to the crowd's delight. Here he is dropping back in after grinding the fun box.

The dudes got there around 3pm; D.J. Sequoia had the crowd rocking. Shea Nyquist, brother of Ryan, was the visiting pro on this stop. Shea got things going early for people. Here is a run down of the crew: Eric Koston, Kerry Getz, Alex Chalmers, Riley Hawk, Jesse Fritsch, Jason Ellis, Bucky Lasek, Kevin Staab, Mike V., Tony Hawk, Mike Escamilla and North Carolina's very own Dave (the Miracle Man) Mirra. That sounds like a video game line up!

Eric Koston and Tony on the vert ramp... Does Tony have a new doubles partner for the X Games?

The guys wasted no time in destroying the park course. Getz was busting double kicks on the pyramid while Koston was throwing down big backside 180 flips. Dave Mirra, N.C. Loc, was having is way with 360 tail whips and a couple of decade airs. Mike V. amazed the crowd with his sub box attack. People were chanting Mike V. all day long. He was relentless, all this in-frickin sane skating and he was injured to boot! Chalmers was also tearing things up with his super stylee moves. Riley Hawk is now working on 360 grabs over fun boxes, and he is only 9, that's pretty scary! Another successful park course demo was in da books.

Hometown hero Dave Mirra gets busy with a decade air for the crowd.

The vert ramp however needed some work; it had 2-year-old weathered Skatelite on it. The flat bottom was pretty wavy. But no matter what kind of condition the wood was in everybody was still on fire! Kevin Staab has been working on his 540 for a little while now, and it would be on this day that Kevin finally stuck the 5! Big props go to the Staabmiester. Jesse Fritsch pulled a switch heel, Jesse was not a big fan of the ramp. Tony laid down one of his infamous throwback runs complete with his patented foot plant impossible. Tony also threw in a varial 5 for good measure.

Jason Ellis bomb drops the vert ramp from the guard rail.

Bucky did an impossible tail grab to nose fakie, I get tongue-tied just talking about it. Koston, yes I said Koston, did a doubles run with Tony on vert. Could Tony have a new doubles partner for the X Games? Jason Ellis sportin' a new tattoo on his back that says "Determination" was putting together flawless runs time after time. He was trying this trick that really doesn't even have name for it yet. I guess you would call it like an upside down kick flip helicopter mctwist or something to that nature. Jason Ellis is doing some ridiculous skating on this tour!

This Tour is off the hook! I can't wait to see it on ESPN 2 starting July 29th. You better not miss a show. We have now skated Houston, Kona and North Carolina, next stop Louisville Kentucky (Home of the first Mullet) at a brand spanking new cement park. I hear it is as sick as the Millennium Park in Calgary only without the cold temps.

Quote of the day for Stop #3 comes from DAve Mirra:

"This is a killer park course."

L8er

Brad J

   Send to a friend  | Submit your photo or video  | Top Rated Photos