Announcements

School’s Out Jam: Saturday, June 08, 2013
Look to SPOT for Details Tampa Skate Park School’s Out Contest.

Twenty five years ago, skaters like Christian Hosoi transitioned from vert to street and demod their love of it on the beaches of California. Today street skating is in full swing and took wheeled action sports by storm at the 20th Annual Tampa Pro Skate Contest. After Street League showcased pro street skaters on television a few years ago, its been a steady climb upward and its safe to say street skating is here to stay. The Tampa Pro proved that with their 20th anniversary of the Tampa Pro. The thunder of this event took the skating world by storm by inviting pros from across the globe. It was a true, Whos Who of Skateboarding!

Celebrity contestants Nyjah Huston, Shane ONeil, Shawn Malto, Chaz Ortiz, Eric Kosten, Paul Rodriguez, Nick Dompierre, Austyn Gillette, and Nick Merlino. Florida locals Evan Smith of Orlando and Manny Santiago of Jupiter FL along with so many other skaters, are to thank for those burned images in our brains from this past event.This years champ is not new to fame, but an unlikely winner this year as Luan Oliveira took gold.

So how did S.P.O.T. pull it off? I have no idea, but my experiences in sports tell me a few things which made them a most likely candidate for being the most recognizable and most well-respected venue for professional street skateboarding. The most interesting fact for us at FLSK8.com, a Florida skateboard contest finder, was that Tampa Sk8 Park did it with precision and class and its something every contest should try to emulate.

Tampa brought skateboarding legends in and that brought the older generation who helped make skateboarding what it is today. Christian Hosoi and Rich Grasso are two that come to mind that entertained the parents all day on the vert ramp when they couldnt sit in the jam packed event any longer. Grassos hand plant rocks for a man his size (and age!) And with the Hosoias air skills, you should be traveling with every sk8 venue in the world.

Professional skaters were active in not only skating, but embracing the crowd and their fans. When Nyjah, Chaz and Malto take time to pose for photos and sign autographs ALL WEEKEND LONG, that is unexpected. These guys and all the others who were standing ready to promote their name and their brands they represented are obviously doing it right and understand what is necessary to promote the sport to the level of infinity.

Sponsors were brought in to exhibit and were a great extension to the success of the weekend. Nike SB (would be crazy to discontinue the brand), Gatorade, Grind for Life, Coffee Spot, Red Bull girls, Zumiez water, Skateboarder Magazine, (if we forgot anyone contact us to be included).

The decision to broadcast the event live on the web, and use commentators to point out the performances of each of the board riders. Sure the microphone at the event captured the essence of the pros as they moved through the course but the polished look and sounds of the sound booth helped the broadcast to perfection. Closed circuit tvs were everywhere and everyone who didn’t have a view inside the event could easily pull up a chair and watch from a cooler place. (I hope this event lands on television all summer long and any television producer should be smart and grab it before another network does.)

Tampa brought in the big guns. The local news of Chanel 13 got the event aired on television which brought more hype for Sundays sold-out show, and last a two day appearance by Lil Wayne at the skate park had schools of kids running to catch a glimpse of their favorite pop star, and the photos on Facebook, and tweets were maddening bringing a social climax for the Internet world of skaters worldwide.

Prizes, giveaways and food and drinks were amazing and supplied by event sponsors. (Go to Tampa Pros website for all the details on this). But the real reason the event was a success was the hospitality donned by the personnel at the park. Rob M. ran around and helped so many like us, who he didnt even know (and probably still doesnt), Alex at the front gate, and Keith whom I met outside the Bricks of Ybor Saturday night party.

The only thing missing was a kiddie night skating session on the weekend so the adults could kill it in Ybor with their crowd favorite skaters. Maybe next year?

Until then my friends, Ollie Rages on!

(p.s. dont kill me for any inaccuracies, Im just a Dad who likes to watch skateboarding!)

 

 

JACKSON SPRINGS A new skate park is about to break ground in Tampa and its not a redo of an existing park. This one is being built in Jackson Springs, FL and it is being constructed by Team Pain, a skate park designer who is known for incredible concrete walls of paradise for shredders to test skill levels from the boyz-to-men!

Recently the team skate park rider met with town kids who wanted to voice their opinions about what type of skate park they would like to see in their hometown at the Jackson Springs Teen Center, 8620 Jackson Springs Road, Tampa, FL, 33615. In case you couldn’t make the meeting, we’ve included their mailing address so you can write them to tell them all about your visions for the rails, hubs, half pipes, and monster pool ideas.

Sicken them with your mad architectural skills and let them have it.!

Tampa Pro is a testament to the fact that the worlds best skaters love skating for them. We all love Street League, but the thunder of the Tampa Pro this year took the skating world by storm.

The event drew skaters from across the globe; they came from everywhere in the world. It was a true, a Whos Who of Skateboarding! Infamous contestants Nyjah Huston, Shane ONeil, Shawn Malto, Chaz Ortiz, Eric Kosten were crowd favorites, and well-known to the television watching skateboard community. But this years winner was Luan Oliveira, a well performing star who is sure to make waves this upcoming year.

The action was jam packed, and its safe to say skating is here to stay!

Visit Tampa Skate Park for all the info, they deserve it.

I would like to thank Rob M, Alex, and Keith for an incredible event and their hospitality.

Whats Up with the Skater in a chicken costume though?

 

Me, I got to snap a foto with one still-crazy Christian Hosoi.

We just got the inside scoop that April is action packed for skate contests in the Sunshine State Skateboarding.Get your game face on and make it happen! Be sure to compete in the following skateboarding competitions:

• April 5th mini ramp contest @ Undercover skate shop Ft Pierce, Fl 7-9pm all ages $3bucks entry fee. This skate contest is a low key event for fun for everyone!
• April 12-14th DamnAm Atlanta Hazard County Skate Park, McDonough GA – invite only, live webcast.
• April 14th All ages annual Satellite Beach Skate Park contest. 11am $15 entry, This is an older concrete park with concrete ledges, hips and across and down rail. It is run by some local homies!
• April 20th – Element make it count contest @ Kona skatepark “Free to enter with a can food item that will be donated to local food bank. Age divisions are 13 & under and 14 & up.
• This competition is formatted with a best trick jam on a few obstacles in their course. Best overall skater will be selected from all jams. 14 & up winner gets a paid trip to the finals out at the YMCA Element camp and the winner there gets to skate at the Berrics with the Element team.
• April 27th “Spring Roll all ages contest at Tampa Skate Park; hosted by Lakai. The Lakai team will be on hand to skate with everyone. $20 entry in advance so get registered early!
• May 1st “GSZ advanced team tryouts at 6pm.