Festivus: Manny Mania
Festivus: Manny Mania
By Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag November 2007
If interplanetary beings, or even regular ol' human beings who don't know about skateboarding for that matter, were to watch a contest based solely on manuals, they more than likely wouldn't be too impressed. A switch stance frontside flip up a Euro gap, to manual, to one footed ollie out down another Euro gap (Ã la Creager), although difficult as hell, isn't exactly fathomable for the average citizen. In fact, it probably almost looks like a mistake or something. And it certainly doesn't embody the "Ooooohhh, Aaahhhhh, Wow" factor of say, a 20-stair or a halfpipe or that God forsaken Mega Ramp thing.
Truthfully though, on-the-level skateboarders know manual tricks are the most technically difficult type of skateboarding. And the fact that only the real heads know this, rather than the outside world of infiltrators and onlookers, kinda makes it our little secret. And that's what's so damn cool about skateboarding—the little secrets we keep from the masses.
When Red Bull and Joey Brezinski planned this traveling manual contest series called Manny Mania, with a custom course and everything, they weren't worried that Mainstream USA understood it as much as they wanted a fun and unique event. And the finals held under the Manhattan Bridge at Coleman Park in New York City were all that and a bag of chips.
Within the current avant-garde of skateboarding, only a select few can step to the manual in a way that commands attention and respect. Sometimes, too, on a given day, manuals just don't click for us—the equilibrium is way off kilter. You've all been there. Add in the pressure of having to do lots of difficult manuals in a 12-minute jam format through qualifiers, semi-finals and finals in the hot sun against the best wheelie masters in the world and you've got yourself a challenge.
Dennis Busenitz combined uncanny speed with difficult tricks—even the appropriate bit of sketchy to make things exciting. Kenny Anderson was just smooooooooth. Joey Brezinski, as always had the unique combos and new tricks. Brandon Biebel did the hardest tricks on the highest box. And somehow he charged through them despite loss of balance or speed. Its remarkable to watch.
But it was Mr. Ronnie Creager who ended up victorious for his manual mastery. And rightfully so. He displayed a huge bag of tricks, rifled off one after the other with the nonchalance that only he can muster.
Its refreshing and fun to see different types of skateboarding on display like this, and different types skateboarders celebrated for the areas in which they shine. Props to all the dudes in Manny Mania for ripping hard and hats off to so much of the actual industry for showing up in NYC and making the weekend a blast. Kinda makes you wonder why we aren't all in NY together more often? Hmmm, there's an idea.
Oh yeah, and someone get Daewon at next year's contest… please?
(0) responses to: Festivus: Manny Mania
Leave your comment