2007 Battle of the Shops Report - Automatic skateboard magazine just sponsored a kick ass amateur event. It was a contest that consisted of 4 different skate obstacles and many local shops competing against each other via teams. The teams
Automatic skateboard magazine just sponsored a kick ass amateur event. It was a contest that consisted of 4 different skate obstacles and many local shops competing against each other via teams. The teams were made up of 4 riders and one alternate. A team manager told the organizers who would be skating. There was a thirty minute jam on each obstacle. Amazingly, it was a lot like the Downtown Showdown from last weekend. Although the battle of the shops has been around longer so maybe the Showdown was model after the battle. The world may never know.
Now you may think hmpf, amateurs, how rad could it be? Well, considering it took place in Vista, CA, in the middle of Southern California and there are a lot of sick ass ams, it is safe to say the skating was sick. Ams have such enthusiasm and good ams are always fun to watch. The event took place in the parking lot of Syndrome. You may know Syndrome better as some of the brands they make; FKD, Silver and a little team called Plan B. Wahoos provided the food and companies like Bones and stuff provided support. It should be noted that the parking lot at Syndrome is brushed cement; very grippy and very hard and un-forgiving. These kids are gnarly. There were four distinctly different obstacles; a tech fun box thing, a double set, a tranny thing, and a handrail. Awards were given out for each obstacle and overall. Teams were rated too. Money was given out, het these are ams. Everyone had fun.
Here is a noseslide to fakie on the tech feature. As throughout the event, skaters were coming at this thing from all angles. It was very hectic. Since these kids are practically pro, there were very few serious collisions all day
Andrew Sprigel K Grinds the whole tech kit for Willy’s workshop
The announcers Jeff King (rail wizards) and Ryan Clements (Skatepark of Tampa) watch the action with Willy Santos. Ryan Clements announced the Downtown Showdown last weekend in LA, he came out for the day from Florida to announce the battle of the shops and he will be back next weekend for the Damn AM – busy man
Jimmy Carlin on the double set. Jimmy has won this thing a few times in the past and the big news this year was that he only got second. The event was supposed to be about skating consistent. I think Jimmy was more consistent but what do I know. Jimmy did fade a little towards the end of the ½ hour jam. Speaking of which, these jumped down this thing so many times on thirty minutes and it was hot as hell
Joe Sherrif performs a switch heel flip. His bio says he is from Iran but lives in Vista now. His sponsors are Decade and Bin Laden, his hobbies are skateboarding and car bombing
Timmy Turner with a big spin for Surfride. The whole kit here was crooked but it was straight if you cocked your head a little bit
Kevin Romar with his best trick winning nollie big spin heelflip. Kevin not only won the best trick award but won the overall for the double set gap
Kevin Romar with a backside three
Jimmy Carlin
After the double set they moved to the tranny obstacle. Josh Mattson here warms up with a frontside rock on the sketchy ass narrow tranny obstacle set off to the side the main obstacle
Feeble to fakie under the WARM California sun
Richard Carvalho Flip to fakie on the main transition obstacle. You can see it did not have a smooth transition but a kink where it went to vert. The vert also had a plywood surface so it had that raw am feel, like anal with no condom
Jay Thorpe kickflips to kickturn on the vert. Jay won last year ot the year before or something
I don’t know who this is
Josh Mattson flips to indie on his way to winning the transition obstacle
Alec Beck did this metal transfer which surely helped him in getting second place
Fuck, I don’t know who this is either
Michael Prince salutes the trophy. The winning shop get to keep this deer in their shop for a year which lets all the customers know their shop kicks the most ass in So Cal
Terrell Robinson did not compete but he did take a few runs
Pat Duffy
Krooks
Mick
Chris Troy back smiths the rail. Chris was looking really strong but he snapped his board like 5 minutes into it. His team manager gave him a replacement board. Unfortunately the board was way too wide and Chris Troy’s day was pretty much over
Andrew Pott got 3rd place, trick like this fickflip to nose were looking like winners but the rail event was really tough with competition
Marquis Preston – shuv it to board to second place
“Chucky” Jones – Shuv it to 50/50
Trophy Girl with Clements
Andrew Pott
The crowd stuck around for the awards
Josh Mattson
Kevin Romar
Last years winner, team Pharmacy, got second this year but did not go down quietly
The winners - ZJ’s boarding house
Results:
Team 1 ZJ’s Boarding House $5,000 2 Pharmacy $ $1,000 3 Val Surf $500
