Robert Brink - Writer

Festivus: Lord of the Lines '08

April 2, 2008 | Skip To The Comments (2)

Festivus: Lord of the Lines '08
By Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag May 2008

Does anyone want to read contest articles anymore? I mean, really… it's kinda like having your friends tell you about this awesome time they had at a spot or some party or whatever, but you weren't there. You really don't care to be reminded about the great time and great skateboarding you were unfortunate enough to miss and you pretend to listen, but really your head is off elsewhere, wishing your homey would shut the fuck up.

Or … contrary to that, perhaps people like reading about contests sometimes because they couldn't, in a million years, ever be there. Maybe they live across the country—or world, for that matter. Maybe they like to be filled in on all the happenings and yearn to live vicariously through the perspective of the mag. Maybe their friend or teammate or favorite pro skated in it. Maybe they work for the company who hosted it or sponsored it. Maybe, just maybe, they are skate nerds and will read anything and everything they can about skateboarding. And that's probably the main reason this article exists right now.

In that case, we should cut the shit and start telling you about Matix's second annual Lord of the Lines contest, held at ASR in San Diego in January of '08.

Technical blocksmith wizardry was abundant from the likes of Enrique Lorenzo, Jack Curtin, Danny Montoya, Malcom Watson, Jereme Rogers, Billy Marks, Benny Fairfax, Dyson Ramones, JB Gillet, Kurtis Colamonico and more. Most people weren't surprised to see Joey Brezinski in the finals, as he got second place to Ronnie Creager last year, but am, Torey Pudwill and Bobby Worrest were probably two people most wouldn't have guessed to make it. Not that dudes aren't great, it's just, well when was the last time you saw Bobby in a contest? And Torey is an am in a mostly-pro contest. Ah, the element of surprise—making life exciting.

Tre flip noseslides, frontside flip tailslides, kickflip back noseblunts, nollie flip crooked grinds, bigspins in and out of noseslides, flip in flip out mannys and nosemannys galore and on and on… the finalists were all worthy of a Lord of the Lines crown, but Torey ended up with the sword, the staff, the crown, the 10 grand check and the glory.

To Matix's/SPoTlight's credit, Lord of the Lines is a fun and unique contest… that doesn't take a whole day or weekend to commence. Its relatable, as the average skater watching most likely has access to a ledge and can do or go learn the tricks he's seeing in front of him. You see some atypical dudes, who might not enter park contests, skating in it. Did I mention it's short? Yeah, it's only like an hour or two and it breaks up the mundane borefest that is the ASR tradeshow.

Plus, while you are watching and some random industry dude is trying to network you, you can just be like "Shut up dude, I'm watching the contest."

Lord of the Lines Final Results

1. Torey Pudwill: $10,000
2. Bobby Worrest: $3,000
3. Joey Brezinski: $2,000