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| Jay Adams Benefit 2.04.06 |
| BLKPRJKT |
Painterly expression by Joe Wood.
Skateboarding is, for better or for worse, a community. More often than not, for the better. This community is not made up of overpaid egomaniacal miscreants who drive hummers and flash mad bling. It is not a community that collectively eats it's own or turns it's back on it's members who come upon bad fortune. Skateboarding is a unique realm in which racial divides fade, widely varied expressions are not only tolerated but applauded, and the one common link we all share overrides our differences. The generational grievances are few, the energy is high, and the history is rich.
Alisha Adams, all smiles with Debbie Zenter, one of the night's organizers and big benefactors.
Now assume for a moment that you have inserted yourself into a multifaceted event structure designed primarily as a benefit to aid the family of one of skateboarding's legendary figures who has recently come upon hard times. Not only are you about to bear witness to the depth of the community's character and willingness to assist one of it's own. In addition to the mission of good will, a Death Race of epic proportions, a most heated bowl session, a few skater-based bands and DJ's belting out the soundtrack for the evening, and everyone from legendary characters to micro grommets skateboarding and having a blast. Any skateboarding event will have the same air of fun and intensity, but the range and scale of events like this are generally unmatched. If I was asked to detail each and every facet of the event, I could fill a small sketchbook. Instead, I present to you a few key points to the evening, and because you are part of this community you should have little trouble filling in the blanks.
DJ Cesar on the wheels of steel, keeping the effects hot and heavy.
Who'llgimmefivedoihearfivegimmetententenwho'llgimmefifteenfifteenandtwentyfivetothemaninthebackdoihearthrityfivethirty fiveonehundredonehundredonefiftynowonefifty...MC Arab the auctioneer.
Arab is all about presentation and documentation. Here are three gems with added value that he donated for the cause.
Christian Hosoi. Christian is arguably one of the best ever. Unmatched style, a pump that all but he can only dream about, and powers that remain mysterious to even the most investigative individuals. He was blessed, perhaps from birth with a raw natural ability and agility. Christian has also been blessed in another way in the not so distant past, and he took a few moments to share and offer this blessing to all in attendance. Whether you walk his path or not, there could be no doubt about his heartfelt sincerity and positivity, a thing that is all too rare in the world. In addition to winning the Death Race by an unmistakable margin, Christian tore up the bowl and reminded everyone of his incredible flow and power... as if such things can ever be forgotten.
Christian and the theory of effortless flight using zero point energy.
Christian and Lance in a moment of collective stoke.
The Death Race. A ruined hip kept me on the sidelines of this one. It's probably just as well as I am relatively new to these races and would have gotten smoked. The competition was fierce, and relative unknowns, as well as seasoned veterans all gave each other a serious run for the cash. The difference between 2nd and 10th place was six tenths of a second. Tight enough for you?
here are the top ten:
1. Christian Hosoi 26.45
2. Jesse Parker 27.16
3. Andrew Mercado 27.23
4. Tony Mag 27.27
5. Brad Edwards 27.45
6. Jeff Budro 27.54
7. Pat Ngoho 27.72
8. Billy Green 27.75
9. Tim Oates 27.77
10. Brian Patch 27.79
Some standout performances outside of the top ten included: Wrex Cook's amazing variable door traverses including inverts, airs, and disasters. Mark Partain going about mach 12 and drifting to fakie over the final wall ride cone. Bennett Harada hauling ass and styling as only he can. Hackett earning his second purple heart in the annals of Skatelab Death Race history, in addition to a purple nut. The Hack Man's run was looking like at least a top 3 time until a wood-induced mishap tossed him into a flat bar divider at full speed, and sent him to the ice chest. That's just one reason why it's called a Death Race. Heal up fast Dave!
Jeff Budro taking the airborne line over the first wall cone and keeping his speed together rightly.
Pretty much the crowd favorite, Wrex Cook wasn't satisfied with "just getting over" the cone. Along with Inverts and airs he hucks the backside disaster up there without so much as slowing down. Watch Out Doorks!!! Get it? Door-ks?
The Market is the man. Andrew Mercado positively screaming through the course with a blood alcohol level of point whatever, on his way to hard fought 3rd place.
Jesse Parker rides a stretch sled. He also goes flat out no matter what. Haul-Ass lapped nosegrab grind over the precarious first cone in hot pursuit of 2nd place.
Christian Hosoi. Dig the low pivotal overdrive and poised stance that put him out in front for good after the first heat...did he just mellow out and take a victory lap? No way. He charged the course equally hard in his final run to leave no doubts about his 1st place finish.
L-R as if you couldn't guess: Andrew Mercado, Christian Hosoi, Jesse Parker, and Arab guarding the results sheet with an iron fist.
The bowl session. This raged on from the early afternoon until Todd finally had to shut the lights off, late in the evening. Skatelab events often provide some of the most diverse bowl sessions and the mix was as varied as the records in DJ Cesar's arsenal. Hackett floated above the hip, Christian burned the birch and clocked some serious air time, Skreech unleashed his own unorthodox brand of madness on everyone's psyche, and Jake Piasecki threw down a heavy barrage of everything despite taking a few big slams. Mark Partain showed us that he hasn't just been sleeping over in the islands, Tuma flowed, StereoStevo brought forth the local linework, and Patch looked as if he hasn't been injured and down for a good portion of the last year.
Dave Hackett got in some linework between practice heats for the Death Race. He charged hard before getting taxed by a vicious street obstacle.
This is a real backside boneless.
Brian Patch took the last Death Race at Skatelab with ease. Coming in a solid tenth wasn't too shabby considering the overall time spreads and the fact that the man has had to overcome some serious surgical obstacles. This method is just one small example of proof that Patch is back.
Jake Piasecki, Madonna. Jake was one of the key dominators during the bowl chaos and killed it.
Bennett Harada. How is it that a guy who skates so fast and furiously looks so incredibly serene and relaxed in still photos? The answer is simple, young grasshopper. Skateboarding to Bennett is a meditation, not a struggle.
For anyone who witnessed his skating that night, you saw what Skreech was attempting over in that deep end area. Because that was sheer lunacy, and remains undocumented as of press time, we bring you this lien to tail, possibly reverted, instead.
People and things. To list all of the luminaries who attended would be an entire article unto itself. By virtue of being there, everyone is worthy of mention, but in the interest of drawing a line somewhere I'll just name some names. Das Skipperboy rolled in with armloads of contributions, a highly covert TA ghosted through, Mountain stayed low-key, bowlriding legend Brad Bowman raced, Olson was pure Olson, Cunningham wrecked shop, Jesse Martinez ripped, Chuck Hults donated a sweet maple vitrine and deck, Richard Sanchez dropped brilliantly brushed art into the auction fray, Arab wore 17 hats and ran the event smoothly on all levels as well as offering up a few documented decks of the masters, and a large contingent of legendary outcasts, pros past and present, and venice/dogtown OG's circulated amongst the crowds. A massive pile of raffle-able items were provided by several benefactors, and the one of a kind art decks for the silent or not so silent auction blew minds.
L-R: Lucero, Ngoho, French, and Roth contributions
L-R: Sanchez, Hults, and Olson contributions.
L-R: Blackass, Saric, and Daggers contributions.
A few miscellaneous highlights. Flash photography was banned during the race due to it's interfering with the high-tech timing devices. A fully-padded up inliner was turned away at the front door after being informed that this event had been on the Skatelab website for 2+ weeks and he should have been forewarned. A secret beer garden was prominently hidden at the rear of the facility where one could witness the legendary Rick Blackhart holding court and calling a spade a spade as only he can. The mobile Sector 9 bar/bus/smokehouse was in full operational mode. Tykes were getting their fair share of runs in during the snake sessions in the bowl. Greenwood enlisting the help of OG Eddie to rope the early Venice/Dogtown practitioners into the blinding interview penalty box lights for a few choice words. DJ Cesar rocking the house at full tilt in preparation for Salba and Powerflex5 and Aaron Murray with Fists Of Fury to do their live sets. Pockets being emptied to score choice items while supporting the cause. Skatelab Todd being extremely cool to everyone as he always is.
Salba and Powerflex 5, casually belting out the licks.
Girls boogie down to Fingers Murray and Fists of Fury. Junior pit crew, recognize!
Pat Ngoho, Nor-Cal legend Rick Blackhart, and Steve Olson. That's a Tunnel team mesh jersey muthafucka!!! "Where's my fuckin' check???"
The end of the night. We said our farewells and followed Ngoho off into the night after securing an invite to a highly secret permission pool party in the depths of Venice. After crawling through accident traffic on the 405 and a much needed food stop at a taco truck where crackheads thought we were undercover police officers, we rolled into something right out of a Hollywood production, dozens of police units, riot gear-wearing officers, the ghetto bird circling with the night sun fired up, and revelers wandering the streets. As we made our abrupt entry and exit, I overheard one of the former party's attendees shout "This is how we do it in Venice!" That pretty much sums up the evening, balls to the wall, all or nothing, one for all, all for one, and down for the cause.
Epilogue and Thanks. To ALL involved, and especially including in no immediate order. Todd at Skatelab, Debbie and Mark Zenter of Z-Sports, Arab, Hackett and Black Leather Racing, Tony Mag and Osiris, Skaterbuilt DavO, Matt French, Chuck Hults, Richard Sanchez, John Lucero, Pat Ngoho, Skip Engblom, Rick Blackhart, Steve Olson, Salba, DJ Cesar, Khiro Bob, Juice mag, Deathbox, Chicken and Pocket Pistols, and everyone else who helped out, from organizing and donating gear to paying admission and showing up. Somewhere upwards of 15,000 dollars was raised in support of the Jay Adams family.
Now that's what I call a community.
For more photos check the gallery:
-BLKPRJKT / PHOTOS MRZ |
Monday 06th 2006f February 2006 14:53
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