2007 Volcom Wild in The Parks Championships Results - Check out all the pics! - The 1st annual Wild in the Parks Championships flew off the handle at the Skatepark of Austin in Austin, Texas on Saturday, September 22, 2007!
2007 Volcom Wild in The Parks Championships Results
The 1st annual Wild in the Parks Championships flew off the handle at the Skatepark of Austin in Austin, Texas on Saturday, September 22, 2007!
The event featured the winners from all of the North American tour stops and was an incredible testament to just how insane amateurs are these days! It was great to see rippers from around the continent all at one place at one time. Of course, the event also included $15,000 in cash, an obscene amount of prizes and a live webcast on Volcom.com!
The 14 & under division got the party started and these pintsize wonders know how to throw it down. It can be a little frustrating (but inspirational) to see kids younger than the amount of time you have put into the skating possess 10 times the skills you can ever hope to! These heavy hitters have earned it though. The amount of determination, discipline, and focus that these mini shreds displayed was impressive to say the least. The progression of skateboarding doesn't look like it’s slowing down after watching the show that these mini men put on. Among others, shreds like Alex Pellegrino and Ryan “RTD2” Thompson were dropping technical hammers that humbled their elders in the realm of skateboarding. Everyone in attendance was on their feet and screaming as these put on a show that won’t soon be forgotten. All in all, the 14 & under division threw down a good old-fashioned display of shock and awe! Hats off to all the rippers in the 14 & under division. No doubt we will be seeing and hearing from you again in the future!
The insanity was in full force by the time the 15 & over division got underway! Gapping to rail- BAM. Boosting way beyond the pyramid-BAM. Nose blunt down the hubba- BAM. Hardflip back 180- BAM. Swinging the hammers with full force, this group of madmen brought their A game! Rippers such as Nathan Hammond, Joey Kirkendall, Michael Beuhler and Devin Cain got it done technically while maniacs like Quiton Hall and Tyler McCluskey threw down some huge old-school trickery on their way to the podium! It was a furry of tricks leaving the judges bewildered and the crowd yelling for more. It was a battle to place and it came down to only a few points that separated these individuals on the podium. In the end, it was the home state hero, Nathan Hammond that claimed 1st! Damn it was close!
And now we move on to the Open division.... The heat was on at the skate park of Austin but after the show that this group of individuals put on, the place was on FIRE! The furry of trickery was so devastating and furious that all the victims could do was to watch and wait while heat and thickening atmosphere engulfed them. You could hear everyone in the park suck in their breath in the midst of the Cody McIntire demo and then erupt with applause at the mind bogglers that went down! The level that this group displayed was a huge dose of where skateboarding is at today. It was insane to bear witness to what these "ams" are capable of throwing down! As the finals heat escalated, bodies skidded across the park leaving trails of sweat as the hammers continued to drop. After all was said and done, it was another Texas hero, Cody McIntire that walked away with number one. His noille madness and flawless execution earned him $2250.00 and tons of respect. Witnesses to the event were treated to a healthy dose of how hungry kids can be and a great taste of what skateboarding is capable of!
A massive thanks to Yann and Jame Curtis, Neil Maris and the entire Skatepark of Austin crew. All their hard work and sacrifices were a big part of what made the Championships such a fun time for everyone! Thanks also to Jeff and Kati Hammett for all their hard work and support. Thanks also to Mike Sieben, Jake Smith and Darrell Stanton for judging and Robert Casanova for tabulating. Thanks to Jordan Adler and his Wahoo’s Fish Taco posse for dishing up a tasty dinner for everyone. Last but not least, thanks to all the brands that supported with product over the course of the 2007 WITP tour: Thrasher, Powell, Slap, the Skateboard Mag, Bones, Blind, Digital Skateboarding, Skateboarder Mag, Spitfire, Blind, Birdhouse, Flip, Zoo York, Nike SB, DVS, Circa, Vans, Independent and Plan B.
