Monday, June 30

Skateboarding Hits the Vegas Strip

By Rob Brink
EXPN.com

Full Contest Results

The Boost Mobile Pro of Skateboarding at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas was one of the most anticipated skateboarding contests in eons. The event, which took place June 27-29, boasted the largest purse ever ($250,000), and was unlike any contest we've seen. Contestants in Street and Vert were handpicked by the Thrasher magazine staff and judged by fellow pro skaters. Thrasher even requested that no security guards be present in or around the course, due to the many infamous skater/security scuffles at similar events in the past.

Think about it: A skater-organized and run contest, all the best skaters on the planet (some, like Ethan Fowler, Heath Kirchart and Jim Greco, who never enter comps) Hard Rock Hotel and $250,000. Throw those ingredients into a blender and what you've got is a potentially insane event.

First prize in each division was $40 G's. That's more than some of these guys' parents make in a year. The last-place finishers took home $2,000 just for showing up and Boost Mobile paid airfare and hotel expenses for every invited athlete. Talk about royal rock-star treatment. But let's face it, skateboarders are the new rock stars.

Billy Marks really kickflips this high in order to frontside flip lipslide on everyone's favorite flat rail. Marks didn't make it out of the first heat of the Wildcard comp ... but not for lack of thrills.

Friday, June 27, 2003 was the first day of the event and provided spectators and athletes with a press conference, an open practice, the Wild Card competition and an evening-ending Linkin Park concert. Stay tuned for full event coverage, including exclusive photos, from days two and three.

Despite the Vegas heat, the skaters were ripping all day and into the night, preparing for the contest and getting their lines down. The course seemed to lack flow, so many of the skaters were sticking to the obstacles they felt most comfortable with. But the finals will change all that, because that's when everyone goes for the gusto.

A dozen skaters who weren't invited to the contest competed for a wildcard slot and a shot at the 40 grand. The wildcard event was held in a jam format with three or four entrants skating simultaneously for three minutes while pros like Koston, Folwer and Greco voted on a winner. After a little judging confusion (hey, they're only skateboarders, not rocket scientists), Tosh Townend was the man with the golden ticket. But that's not all you need to know.

Eric Koston, Matt Mumford and Darrell Stanton "behaving" at Friday's press conference.

The "press conference" before the wildcard comp was an embarrassing joke. No one can expect skateboarders to act in a proper, organized manner-especially at an event as large and corporate as this. At one point, Tony Trujillo grabbed the mic from Thrasher editor Jake Phelps and asked the press, "How many of you are skaters?" After counting the four or five raised hands, he continued: "Why are you here?" This was followed by the pros nihilistically flipping over the tables as they exited the area.

Next, the venue was prepared for the "more important" Linkin Park press conference where all members of the press were instructed to "take a seat, be quiet and turn off all cell phones."

When asked by a skate reporter, "What do you have to do with skateboarding and the Boost contest?" Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park replied, "We are looking forward to seeing Tony Hawk." Unfortunately, Tony retired from competition quite some time ago, and wasn't even listed on the event roster.

While trying to frontside boardslide the big rail, Darrell Stanton slipped out to a near face plant on the rail. As he hit the ground, his body snapped up in a fashion not unlike a fish out of water. It looked scary. Somehow, he got up unfazed.

Thirteen-year-old Ryan Sheckler, who bowed out after the first heat, bluntslides the flat rail.

Leo Romero made it to the final jam on a tweaked ankle -- seemingly invincible on his board, but limping once he stepped off.

Somehow, Pat Duffy, a veteran pro of at least 10 years was in the wildcard comp. All other entrants were either ams or recently turned pro. Weird.

Kevin "Spanky" Long is unusually stylish (on and off his board) for someone who has only been skating a few years. He must be an old soul. He's amazing now, but wait a few years … no one can do 360 kickflips (the body varial type) like Spanky.

Tosh decided to ollie the whole pyramid to frontside 5-0 grind and to tailslide down the hubba ledge in his runs.

Emcee Mic-E Reyes threatened the life of a few kids who snuck onto the course and tried to take runs incognito style.

The fashion awards for the day go to Ethan Fowler for wearing black leather cowboy boots (the pointy kind), Heath Kirchart for sporting a fresh Mohawk, and Jim Greco for his arm cast and Jackie-O sunglasses, black pants and sports jacket in the sweltering heat.