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Sic Apparel Magic City Showdown edit

Here's an edit from Kevin Little at Sic Apparel from Magic City Showdown. He didn't make it to the last spot, but I'll get some photos up from it tomorrow or the next day. Enjoy!

Also, check out Sic Apparel by clicking the banner up top and buy some of their bad ass clothes. James and I copped some shirts while in Birmingham and are reppin them all over Atlanta.

Magic City Showdown

Was absolutely amazing. I really can't think of anything else to say about it. The spots started off at this mellow handicap-ish rail behind a library on 40th and 9th south, I think. It was pretty chill and started off the event well. Kids were killing it.

The second spot was this weird bank to rail think that no one really skated once they noticed the chest-high drop rail. The drop being like... 12 feet ish? David Sizemore did a ridiculous fish brain 180 down. Then, Brian Freeman did probably the most beautiful 360 over the down rail gap. It was nuts.

The third spot was this bank rail that looked like it used to belong to a loading dock. You could either grind up the rail, or launch the gap. Joey Chase decided to get sick as fuck, get some car speed, and do both. Fucking phenomenal.

The fourth spot was insane. It was this huge double kink rail in Highland Park, with the most gnarly landing I've ever seen. Also, Joey Chase said it was fast... which means it was insanely fast. Scott Wells showed everyone up and did a tru mizou down the whole thing. Cody Sanders was doing a sick hurricane 360 top soul on it, but the kink was throwing him of, but sick none the less.

The last spot was this homemade gap rail that went down a grass gap, and then at the bottom the rail hung off the edge of this concrete drop. You were basically forced to disaster it, also, because the beginning of the rail was set a little ways away from the run up. David Sizemore got stupid and tru 540 top torque souled it. No. Shit.

Everyone skated so hard and did so well ALL DAY. Here are the results I remember:

1st: David Sizemore
2nd: Joey Chase (by ONE point!)
3rd: Frankie

They went down to 10th place, but I just don't remember. We have a few pics from the 4th and 5th spots that I'll go through and post later!

Afterwards, James and I went to get something to eat at Al's (oh, sweet, sweet Al's). Went and skated the flat rail at the last spot a bit, then went to Charles's for the after party. We met a ton of great fucking people and made some new friends that I can't wait to skate with at some point. Then, James and I went back to our hotel room, changed, and went to a few bars, and there was my downfall.

All in all, great fucking trip. I can't wait for next year's Magic City Showdown! Next up, Hoedown (hopefully), Ho Ho Ho, and Bittercold Showdown!

Superhick edit...

Here's an edit from Seth at Rolling Revival! SICK!

Superhick 2008 results

So, here are the results for the comp.

Pro/Am Comp:

1st: Chris Haffey
2nd: Franky Morales
3rd: David Sizmore
Big Air: Chris Haffey
Best Line: Andrew Jacuzzi
Best Torque: Jeff Stockwell
Best Trick: Franky Morales


Masters:

1st: Tracy White
2nd: Tom Hyser
3rd: Chris Edwards


Open:

1st: Justin Berry
2nd: Casey Wilson
3rd: Carson Starnes


SuperChick:

1st: Chynna Weierstall
2nd: Coco Sanchez
3rd: Becci Wallace


Old Man(25+):

1st: Craig Parsons
2nd: Anthony Timmons
3rd: John Kelson


Grommet:

1st: Shawn Martin
2nd: Reed Huston
3rd: Patrick Anderson

It was an absolutely ridiculous weekend, and I really can't wait for it next year.

I haven't decided if I'm going to make an edit of the footage I have or not. I can be a pretty big tard sometimes, and completely forgot to charge my camera batteries. So, we get there, and one battery is dead. No biggie, I have a backup that is "full." So, I start filming, and get through the Open Comp, i think. Then... disaster, the battery drains to zero, most likely from the heat. So, I put the camera up and just enjoy skating and watching the comps. I check it one more time before the Pro/Am starts... and i have 45 mintues of battery again...? So, we go inside and I bust it out and start filming the qualifier. Then... disaster, part 2! It drops to zero again. So, we try filming on James's digital camera, but that didn't really cut it. So, yeah. We'll see what I can get.

Superhick 2008 is over...

And i can't wait for next year. I didn't make it to last night's events, but tonight's were AMAZING. a full update with results and possibly some video to follow. For now, it's time for bed.

Superhick 2008

Superhick is this weekend, June 6th and 7th, in Newnan, GA at The Factory Skatepark. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm pretty stoked about it. It's going to be my first ever skate comp. Which is weird, considering how long I've been skating. But yeah, I'm taking my video and digital camera, so hopefully a few days afterwards, I'll have an edit and some pictures up.

Pictures and video

Here are a few pictures and videos from skating yesterday at DeShong.

Micheal - soul


Josh - top soul


Josh - royale


James - Soul


James - royale


Chris - back torque



Josh - flat to down royale


Josh - back royale

Pictures coming.

Got some pictures while at DeShong Park today. A couple videos, too. I'll upload them either later tonight or tomorrow sometime. Also, when James gets it back, he's going to review Clip 4.

Duncan Creek Park/Skatepark review

So, for those of you who don't know, a new park just opened up in in Gwinnett County on Thursday(May 22nd). It's called Duncan Creek Park. With a total of 88.5 +/- acres of land, it's a pretty huge place. It has a football complex, 2 lighted full-court basketball courts, 2 half-court lighted basketball courses, a 15,000 sq. ft. playground with a huge pavillion, 2 sand volleyball areas and, the focus of this review, a 20,000 sq. ft. all concrete skatepark located right next to the basketball courts.


Now, I've been waiting for this park to open for a few months now, ever since I found out about it's construction. Then, Friday at Woodward, I heard that it had opened. So, Saturday, James and I hopped in the truck and headed out.

Now, for those of you who live closer to Downtown, like James and me, it's a bit of a trek. It's two exits past Mall of Georgia off of the Hamilton Mill Pkwy exit. But, in my opinion it was well worth it. Or, at least it will be.

First off, it's free. Always a plus! Secondly, there are no pad requirements. Not good, not bad. I suggest you still at least wear a helmet, as concrete is bad for your dome. Third... it's LIGHTED! I've yet to find a fun park in the Atlanta area that was lighted. The lights don't shut off until 11pm, too. So if you're like us, and can't make it out until after work, you still have plenty of time to skate.

Now, the actual park. The four bowls that you see when you first walk into the park are setup very nicely. The first one is HUGE, too. the deep has got to be 10ish feet, with the shallow being around 7. You could literally transfer from one to two, two to three, three to four. It's very nice. I had never skated a bowl before in my life, and would really like to get used to it, because it looks like a ton of fun.

When you walk up to the park, if you look to your right there's a little run area set up that leads down to the street-like area of the park. The first set is a 5-set, I think, with a hubba on your right, and a rail on your left, and the next part is a mirror, but i think it's a 7-set. The hubbas are very nice, with a great angle, and about knee high. The rails are around the same height, but there's a problem with them. The bottom of the rail is only about 6 inches off the ground, so the ground comes up to you REAL quick. But, they're still nice and smooth and not too steep.

In the middle and furthest part of the park, there are some slight slant rails that are almost like handicap rails, but with a slight incline, the middle rail is flat, and the one on the far side is round. Both are about knee high. When you come off the flat rail, about 8 feet away is a small little ledge, between ankle and knee high and maybe 8 feet long. A nice little area to set-up some fun runs.

In the farthest part of the park, there is a bowl/bank area with vert walls, gap ledges, and transfers. I didn't get to skate this too much, because all BMX guys were tearing it up.

The street area has a 10-star with a handrail a little above knee height. Pretty gnarly. Brandon was DESTROYING this rail every chance he got with fakie back backslides, back fast slides, and all sorts of crazy. There's also a small four stair with two hubbas on either side and a small rail in the middle. When you come down the stairs, directly in front of you is a smooth little curve/elbow that's about two feet high. To the right of these stairs is a block gap, and a kinked ledge/bank that leads over to a sweet little curve ledge. Be careful, though, if you come at the curve ledge, you have to pass the bottom of the 10-stair. Also, between the top of the 10 and 4-stair, there's this really long, knee-high-ish ledge that I didn't get to skate because there were people sitting on it.

Also, right by the park there is a bathroom building that doesn't look like it's quite finished yet. It looks like it has a concession stand, too, which will hopefully be open at least some of the time when skating.

All in all, a very fun park. My only gripes are that there is a fence around each grassed area, and some of the fence is very close to ledges/rails, and they have these flat spike...things at the top. Nothing that could impale you, but it would probably ruin your day. But, they're suppose to cover those. Also, it's a new park, so it was VERY crowded. And not everyone was skating. It was just idiots walking around getting in the way. And I'm not even kidding. I was skating up to a rail more than once and had some random person not paying attention walk right in front of me. Hopefully soon, the hype will die down, and they'll put some signs up letting everyone know to watch the hell out. Also, it's outdoors, so wear some sunblock if you plan on going in the daytime, because there's no cover, either. But, it is right down the street from quite a few fast food places.

So, if you have the time, it's definitely worth the trip.

Duncan Creek Park/Skatepark
3700 Braselton Highway (SR124 at Pine Road)
Dacula, GA 30019 (map)
Size: 20,000 sq. ft.
Type: Four Bowls and street plaza
Materials: Concrete
Price: Free
Pads?: None required
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Hours: ??-11pm (lighted)
Overall: 8 out of 10.

New Atlanta Rollerblading blog

So, here's the first post. I know Josh Waggoner started a blog like this just before his death, and I thought it was such a great idea, I wanted to continue it. And just so you know, I didn't know Josh, but anytime someone in the rollerblading scene dies, it's always tragic. And, everything I've heard about Josh has been nothing but amazing, and I wish nothing but the best to his family.

What do I hope to accomplish with this blog? Well, I want to keep everyone updated on news on skating in Atlanta, as well as some DVD reviews, new park/skate reviews, etc. But first, I think a you should know a few things about me.

My name is also Josh. I'm 26 years old and have lived in Atlanta for about 6 years now. I started rollerblading when i was 16/17. I quit when I was around 19 for no real reason that I can think of. Recently, a friend of mine, Tony, got out of the Air Force, and moved to Atlanta. He wanted to start skating again, so he my friend James and I bought new skates (James, Tony, and I used to skate together in high school), and shortly after, so did Tony, and we all started skating again. So, I haven't really been part of the Atlanta area scene for too long, but it's a scene I've quickly become passionate about. Everyone, literally, I have met skating has been nothing but super nice to myself and my friends, and we've quickly made a ton of new friends. Also, growing up in the small towns of Ozark and Enterprise, Alabama, we didn't have too many places to skate, and Atlanta is just exploding with spots and parks. It's absolutely amazing.

So, that's about it. James and I will be posting to the blog as often as possible with whatever we can find that pertains to rollerblading. The first will be a review of Duncan Creek Park, which I went to for the first time yesterday. Also, James and I will be going to Superhick on June 6th, and will have tons of picture and hopefully some video.

So, keep reading. And any ideas you have for the site, feel free to let me know!

Peace,
Josh