Robert Brink - Writer

Festivus: Johnny Romano Skate Jam for Make-A-Wish

March 3, 2010 | Skip To The Comments (0)

Festivus: Johnny Romano Skate Jam for Make-A-Wish
Words: Rob Brink
The Skateboard Mag, April 2010

If Johnny Romano were here and writing this article, he probably wouldn’t waste time coming up with a clever title or theme for it. He probably wouldn’t sit in front of a blank computer screen for days, toiling over how to write it from a unique perspective or give it a good “hook.” He probably wouldn’t worry about who the audience is and how to attempt to give them something they’ve never read before. He wouldn’t worry about if readers would make it through the entire article or not before flipping the page. In fact … he probably wouldn’t worry at all, because in skateboarding, at 11 years old—or any age for that matter—what’s really to worry about?

Instead, Johnny would most likely get right to the point and give you a recap of his experience at the 13th annual Make-A-Wish skate jam at Southside skatepark in Houston, Texas. He’d probably talk about how eager he was during the days leading up to the event, knowing that many of his favorite pros, supporters and friends from all over the country would be rolling into town and that he’d be able to skate around with them.

He’d probably tell you about all the autograph signings from Adio, Black Box, DLX, Sole Technology and World Industries, as well as seeing and meeting some of the biggest name pros in skateboarding. Guys like Andrew Reynolds, Ryan Sheckler, Dennis Busenitz, Steve Berra, Chris Cole, Sean Malto, Kenny Anderson and Jamie Thomas—all in one place to raise money and awareness— and all in the name of skateboarding.

He’d probably gush about the impromptu game of SKATE between Billy Marks and Cole. He’d probably tell you that Luis Tolentino won the overall Destroyer award, Ben Hatchell blew minds and won the bowl jam, James Hardy won the drop ledge jam and Chris Cole won the tech center jam. With that, he’d probably make extra mention of Chris Cole’s frontside 270 to frontside noseslide on the ledge, which, safe to say, no one’s ever seen done before.

Johnny would then probably mention Brian Schaefer and Ryan Clements sporting some steezy Stetsons, how he sunk Anthony Schultz’s girlfriend in the Spitfire dunk tank, collected lots of free stickers and shwag from all the sponsors and ate lots of hot dogs and Fritos. He’d also have lots of great things to say about the premieres of Slave’s Radio-Television and Zero’s Strange World videos.

To conclude, Johnny would thank everyone involved. South Side, South Shore, Make-A-Wish, SPoT, all the skate companies, pros ams, media, friends, family, spectators—everyone—for coming and uniting and helping and sharing a little bit of themselves for a greater good. And even if that greater good hadn’t been him at one time … Johnny would be supportive and thankful just the same … because that’s what real skateboarders do—they circle their wagons and look out of their own.

Results
Bowl
1. Ben Hatchell
2. Tony Cervantes
3. Raney Beres

Zumiez Ledge
1. James Hardy
2. Davis Torgerson
3. Andrew Pott

Tech Center
1. Chris Cole
2. Daniel Espinoza
3. Joey Brezinski

Destroyer Award
Luis Tolentino.