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Tampa Am Vert Finals

Tampa Am Vert Finals 2010 - watch more skate, snow, surf, and moto videos

BusStop goes to Tampa Pro 2010

This year, my trip to Tampa was a no frills, just go for the contest kind of trip. I got down to Tampa on Saturday afternoon around 4 or 5, so unfortunately I missed seeing some people skate that I wish I hadn't missed, including Jacksonvillians Chris Kendall, Neal Mims, and Mike Peterson. Still, I did get to catch some good stuff, even if I didn't get a perfect spot for photos due to my tardiness. At least I got to see dudes like Jake Duncombe killing the course. Also rad to see in attendance - A good portion of the old Shorty's crew, including Peter Smolik, Brandon Turner, and Sam Baptista. After the prelims were done, I stuck around and got to see Dennis Busenitz and Kenny Anderson shredding the park well after the last runs. I don't know what the hell Busenitz eats to get his energy, but I want some of that.

Dennis Busenitz, 270 on the hip

Omar Salazar, backside tailslide on the wallride

David Gonzales

Paul Rodriguez on his way to the win

Luan Oliveira - He won Tampa Am 2 years and a row, and almost won Tampa Pro this year.

Saturday night I headed down to Ybor for a bit. First thing I did was hit up the Columbia Restaurant with my lady upon recommendation by Justin Riner. This place was seriously the best place I've eaten in a good while. (If you live in Jacksonville, you are in luck, because there is another location not too far away in St. Augustine.) After that we were off to hang out with the Board City crew and white Nate at the Czar bar. It was an alright time, but I wasn't really feeling the music. I was stoked to run into Rob Meronek and bought him a shot of god knows what. I think it was peppermint cough syrup. After that we headed out to the Reservoir bar to watch women get paddled on the ass and to read gay magazines. Well, just kidding about that last part. But they do have a good selection of them by the door if you are so inclined. It's a rad bar and great for skateboarder types, so stop by next time you are in Ybor.

Tyrone Olson, Bill Weiss

Fabrizio, Kevin Taylor, and Gershon Mosely

Adam Dyet and Photographer, zineographer Steve Ayers

Brandon Turner and Peter Smolik represented Skate Mafia while Jake Brown told me "It's Clobberin' Time".

Sheckler had some sick tricks but I didn't really see him put a big run together. Here, he did a perfect backside flip across the pyramid, and came back and did a perfect frontside flip.

The sunday finals were amazing as usual, though I was bummed to see that Jacksonville homie Mike Peterson missed the cut by getting 11th place in the prelims. In addition to P-Rod's perfect runs, I was stoked to see one of my faves, Peter Ramondetta ripping the course a new one. Torey Pudwill had some solid tricks, including a nice looking backside lipslide to tail across the box and some nice long slides on the CCS hubba ledge. Luan Oliveira had some impressive tricks, including HUGE flip tricks over the hip. When all was said and done in the the street run contest, Paul Rodriguez came out on top, with perfect runs and some sick switch tricks all over the park.

The Best trick contest was sick, but chaotic as hell with people coming from both ways to throw down on the tech center. Matt Miller took the win, he did a backside noseblunt slide AND a frontside one across the whole length of the high marble ledge. Dude was hauling ass when he did it, too.

Matt Miller's winning trick

Justin Brock and Eric Koston

Busenitz, frontside flip.

Ryan Clements and Jeff Pang Speaking at the Podium.

Fan Favorite Award: Peter Ramondetta

Thanks for Showing Up: Neal Mims. Nice to meet you, homie!

Top 3, Keegan Sauder, Paul Rodriguez, and Nyjah Huston.

In closing, I'd like to thank Ryan Clements, Brian Schaefer and the Skatepark of Tampa for having me, and all the skaters who supported the contest by showing up. It was a rad time. Oh, and thanks to Mike Peterson for the interview. See you all next year!

Final Results

1. 1. Paul Rodriguez – $20,000
2. 2. Nyjah Huston – $15,000
3. 3. Keegan Sauder – $10,000
4. 4. Peter Ramondetta – $5000
5. 5. Ryan Sheckler – $4000
6. 6. Torey Pudwill – $3000
7. 7. Luan Oliveira – $2000
8. 8. Danny Fuenzalida – $1500
9. 9. Greg Lutzka – $1000
10. 10. Chaz Ortiz – $1000
11. 11. Dennis Busenitz – $1000
12. 12. John Rattray – $1000

Best Trick

1. 1. Matt Miller – Backside noseblunt slide – $3000
2. 2. Torey Pudwill – Front feeble up the a rail, shove it out – $2000
3. 3. Seirra Fellers – Nose manual nollie flip out – $1000

Media Coverage from Tampa Pro 2010

From CCS:

CCS On The Spot Tampa Pro Finals 2010 Coverage from Joe Krolick on Vimeo.

On Shred or Die:

Tampa Pro Finals 2010 - watch more skate, snow, surf, and moto videos

Check back for my own coverage.

Some links to get you Hyped on Tampa Pro

Mike Peterson Stokes the guys at Tampa Bay Online

BusStop's Coverage of Tampa Pro 2009

Lutzka Talks Tampa Pro @ ESPN

Nick Dompierre's run @ Tampa Pro 2009

Nick Dompierre @ Tampa Pro 2009 - Filmed by Chris Jolly from Norm Stovall on Vimeo.

...and the official flyer.

Tampa Pro 2010 Presented by Nike SB - Official Trailer

Tampa Pro 2010 Trailer from Colin Clark on Vimeo.

Trailer from Colin Clark on Vimeo, Via SkateparkofTampa.com

Don't forget to check out our coverage from last years event at the Skatepark of Tampa here.

Tampa Pro 2010 Presented by Nike SB

You can get all the info about Tampa Pro 2010 at the Skatepark of Tampa's website Here.

Click Flyer to Enlarge

Boards for Bros 2009 in Tampa

Skatepark of Tampa has a pretty great thing going on for Christmas. Each year, they put together a truckload of complete skateboards and drive around low income neighborhoods giving out boards to any kid who wants one. It's inspirational, for sure. See more at the SPoT website here.

BusStop Homie Ryan Clements on Free Lunch

FREE LUNCH WITH RYAN CLEMENTS - watch more skate, snow, surf, and moto videos

BusStop Goes to Tampa Pro - Part 3: Sunday

Sunday morning was a mess. On Saturday night, we all got in from the show at various hours of lateness, and all celebrated the night a little more than your average person would have. We had a good time. The show was insane, hanging out with bros and pros alike at the Resevoir Bar really took me back to the old days, when I would frequent the Art Bar in Riverside and see everyone I know having a good time. I really have to hand it to the guys at the SPoT for knowing how to throw a party. And I also have to hand it to Chris Jolly for looking so good in those teal girl shorts. And Rob Meronek for that White suit. I bet if I had a kit like that, I would have girls all over me, too.


Since Saturday morning, everyone in the group wanted to go skate. Something about watching people skateboard for 2 days straight might do that to you. We made plans to go to the Bro Bowl, but slept through them, so we ended up going right to the park from the hotel. I found a way to wake myself up promptly at 10:30, right before checkout time at 11. Waking up everyone else, however, was another beast of a task entirely. I didn't mind though, but since I had to play the responsible adult on the trip, I made it my task to deal with the lovely room service people at Day's Inn. I had finally met the one person on staff who spoke english, but unfortunately it wasn't the english I wanted to hear. "You have to get out." I still have chills from that lady's voice. (I mean, I think it was a lady's voice.) I can't hold it against her for having a shitty attitude, because if you've ever been to a hotel near the park around pro contest time, you'd know - employees of those places usually have a ton of shit to clean up afterward.


Yo dog, I heard you like Tampa Pro, so I installed a TV in your Tampa Pro so you can watch Tampa Pro while you chill with your friends at Tampa Pro.

We made a quick stop for breakfast, and we got to the park sometime around 12 or so. It wasn't long after that when I heard about Antwuon Dixon getting the permaban from the park. I'm not sure what happened to warrant the boot, but it did remind me of last year, when Nate Johnson was telling me how stoked he was to be locked up with Antwuon Dixon, and be bailed out and back at the park the next day thanks to Jake Schrickling. Memories!

Lookin' good, Jolly.

So back to the contest. Once I got my Gatorade from a hot mom and wolfed down my beans and rice in a Pepsi cup, I headed back on to the course so I could shoot some more photos. I got a good spot in the corner and stayed there for a bit, but Adam Dyet killed it - totally blew it out by vomiting all over someone's shirt that was right by my feet. That's rock and roll for you right there. You'd better believe he earned that spot on the Skatepark of Tampa Party Team.

At this point, finding a spot to stand and watch was nearly impossible, and finding a good photo spot was hard too. I pretty much had to keep my eye out for when a filmer or a photographer left his spot, or a skateboarder or two dropped in at a key location. I finally saw an opening above the long quarter with the embedded hip, so I awkwardly ran across the course with my dorky photo bag and scurried up the ramp like a kid sneaking in for an autograph.

I stayed at this spot for a good while. While I was there, I saw Nick Dompierre K-grind to fakie over the hip, Ed Selego grinding it fakie, and Mike Peterson ollied the whole damn thing. Later on, he tried to kickflip it. I also saw Gershon Mosely skating the corner by this thing, which was cool - I haven't seen or heard from him in a good while.


This one is super big because it's Matt Beach and he's one of my favorites.


Nick Dompierre did this over that hip thing to fakie. This one is real big cuz he has a dope hat that I want. Want one like his? You have to go to Solstice Skateshop in Massachusetts. Get me one while you are there. Thanks.


Eric Koston, 5-0 to fakie around the corner.


Kyle Berard. You rip, homie. I think this is a switch smith grind.


YES, I did have my camera on the right setting. It's just that John Rattray was going so goddamn fast it looks blurry here.


People come to skate Tampa Pro from all kinds of exotic locations. Milton Martinez is from Mar del Plata Argentina and likes to grab melons. And me, I'm from Jacksonville and I like to grab melons.

Come to think of it, tons of dudes came out of the woodwork this year. Karl Watson was there skating (hope you feel better homie), Pete Ramondetta was there,(sooo gnarly) pretty much the whole Girl/Chocolate team, even crazy old Matt Field showed up to do handstands, give hugs, and skate out of the park in the middle of his run.

Unfortunately, we had to cut our trip short, as some of us had jobs the next day, some of us had court dates, and some of us just wanted to go skate before we got home. I was bummed, but leaving early gave us the chance to finally hit up the Bro Bowl in downtown Tampa. Although we missed the finals, I had a great time anyway, and I really want to say thanks to they people at the park for an awesome event. Clements, you hooked me up big time, and you saved our crewmate from having to sit on the deck and stare at the moat all day. Schaefer, thanks for everything, your park and your employees are all cool as hell. Including the Wizard. Most importantly, I want to thank everyone who was part of the trip. Even though I stressed, got nervous, and drove badly on the final stretch of the trip, I had a great time. I'm still sore from the trip a week later, but that's OK - its a reminder of a rad trip.

Before I go, here are some images of the Bro Bowl in Downtown Tampa near the PJs. We didn't come here to shoot, we just came to unwind and have a good time before we left. I was glad to finally skate here. I was even more glad that I was able to run to my rental van and drive off before the nastiest tow truck driver I'd ever heard of carted it off.




I heard they were going to get rid of this place a few years back. I'm glad they didn't. http://savethebrobowl.com/

Tampa Pro! Where's my writeup?!?

I had the opportunity to go to Tampa Pro this year, and I had a hell of a time. Thanks to Ryan of the Skatepark of Tampa, I was really able to enjoy it, though I didn't get to thank him personally which I regret. Anywho, those who were looking for my writeup in EU may have noticed...It never showed up. Don't worry, there will be some good stuff heading to the print zine that unfortunately didn't make it to the paper. You all know the results already, but don't worry, good stuff is coming. "Like what?" You may be asking. I'll give you a hint: Nate Johnson, police officers, and alcohol.