Tampa Transfer. Camera: Michael Nevin
> On May 30th 1539, Hernando De Soto landed for the first time in the present day city of Tampa, Florida. He went ashore with a mighty flourish heralded by shining silver trumpets and brightly colored banners, his men carrying spears and dressed in brightly colored armor. What Hernando didn't realize was that almost 500 years later Tampa would again be taken over, this time by skateboarders.
> In January of 2000 the Skatepark of Tampa (otherwise known
as SPOT) held its annual amateur skateboard competition. Skateboarders
traveled from all corners of the globe for the chance of being
recognized as a top am. The event lasted five days (including
the practice days), the street course was continuously packed.
So many people were skating hard that it was difficult to say
who would do well once the competition rolled around.
> One thing to know when traveling to Tampa, bring a car. Tampa
has some things within walking distance but for the most part
Tampa is full of strip development. My friend Mike and I weren't
staying with anyone who owned a car and because of this had to
find a taxi to the park everyday. We heard story is about a place
called Your City, a street full of bars and clubs as far as the
eye could see . . . paradise. We never made it to Ybour due to
the car factor.
The competition finally rolled around, it started to become apparent
who would go down in SPOT history. The most used obstacles on
the course were the two tables (one was a pyramid) with square
rails running down them. In practice Alex (Train wreck) Gall ripped
with huge ollies over the table to 5-0 down the rail. Chris Cole
should have gotten skater of the contest with clean and tech tricks
like his big switch boardslides and hardflip late kickflip's.
Birdhouse's Mark Appleyard nollie heelflip noseslid the rail.
Tosh Townshed performed boardslides, k grinds and noseslides the
lenghth of the rail. NYC locals were also in the house, the Fiveboro
and Rookie teams destroyed the course (who says New York is all
about chilling). Aaron Suski of Fiveboro eventually took third
with tricks like ollies over the table to backside tailslide down
the rail. One skater that definitely deserves credit is nine year
old Ryan Sheckler who did too much to talk about but when it all
went down took 5th overall (that is out of 250 skaters, so look
out). Vermont native Jerry Tucker showed up to represent the Green
Mountain State in the vert and street (I think that he was the
only skater to do both). Colt Canyon got technical with kickflip
backside tailslides down the rail.
> The MC of the competition was none other than Clyde Singleton.
Clyde proclaimed himself the bling bling king (because when he
walks into a club all his gold chains go bling bling). He gave
fashion tips to the audience and sometimes to the skaters. Everyone
thought it was funny until they fell victim to Clyde's fashion
police. Many of the victims received a new article of clothing
out of pity. Halfway through the event I fell victim, "that's
one cheap ass camera" Clyde told me (thanks Clyde).
> When it came time for the awards the crowd filtered onto
the street course. Craving free product the crowd covered the
ramps like flies on a carcass. As the champagne was poured someone
took my brand new setup. Thanks to everyone at the park who tried
to find the guy who stole it. Much thanks to Colt Canyon from
Think Skateboards, who gave me his skate.
> As the plane took off from Tampa international airport I
thought about all the good skating that had gone done over the
past five days. Skaters were recognized, bones were broken and
new friends were made. Thanks to the crew at SPOT and especially
Mike Raphael of MI5 for letting me tag along.
entry01>the management >illusion >TAMPAAM >f.stop >SuperPipe? >Ed Templeton NYC >Beatbox >In Focus >the end
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