Robert Brink - Writer

Tampa Pro 2002

July 13, 2005 | Skip To The Comments (0)

Tampa Pro 2002
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Skateboarding August 2002

By now you know the results of the Tampa Pro from the internet, and you'll see an abundance of footage in 411 soon, so why would I bother talking about the contest when I can tell you about Andrew Reynolds' mom tossing out stickers? Obviously, we all love skating unconditionally, but there's no need to rehash when I could reveal tons of more interesting tidbits about Tampa Pro.

Let's begin with “Sideshow” Tim O'Connor—“the quote machine,” or “the heckle master.” Partnering with myself, “the eavesdrop master,” we're thinking of starting our version of the National Enquirer—but only about skating. Upon noticing Justin Reynolds skating with a toothpick in his mouth, Tim exclaimed, “Damn, I'd be scared to impale my uvula!”
Everyone acknowledged Mr. Senn's crazed style—Tim was no exception: “He takes a bath in ginseng before his run. Either that or they must keep him in a cage before the contest, so when they let him out he goes wild.”

Out of admiration for his hero's outfits, Timmy admitted, “Mike Carroll always has good color combos.” Tim doesn't even exclude himself from heckling--much like any good artist, he's his own worst critic. “I can't help it,” he screamed to anyone listening, on why he always feebles to fakie on the flat bar instead of coming out straight. Entering the park early one morning, he told me, “Damn, how come right when I get here I have to shit? Watch my board, I'm going to do an air shit—you know, when you crouch down and float your ass above the dirty bowl?”

Mark Gonzalez made an appearance at the contest and was the only person wearing a helmet. Was it art? Was it fashion? Was it safety? The mystery continues. Rocky Norton skated with a bible in his pocket--no disrespect to the Lord, but at first glance I thought it was a big sponge. Patrick Melcher is a living leprechaun. Brian Schaefer is The Man, but repeatedly announced that riders like Koston and Getz, after missing only one trick in their runs, were “having a hard time out there.” No one was really sure what that was all about.

Some “during-run” skating that ticked my fancy--other than Eric Koston's and Andrew Reynold's entire runs--was Gershon's switch frontside feeble down the small rail; Billy Rohan's half-Cab noseslide to nollie heelflip out; Scott Johnston's half-Cab feeble grind across the pyramid flat rail; and Alex Moul's frontside willy grind to fakie, after which, Tim O'Connor shouted, “That was outrageous!” Which essentially sums up the entire week. Of course, this brief summary--much like Cliffs Notes—is not intended to be a substitute for the actual Tampa Pro experience—every skater should attend the Tampa Pro at least once in their lives.