Manchester MEN Arena
21st-23rd October 2005
So, the world’s largest event finally hit the UK and landed in Manchester. It seemed to come out of the blue without much notice but it did not stop people from taking their kids and filling the place out to witness some of the best skating you will see anywhere.
Chris Gentry was pipped at the post by Pierre Luc Gagnon who hucked out a monster run in the finals to take $30,000 home on a night when Sandro Dias could not compete 100% due to an injured shoulder. So the much sought after 900′ was just a number on pieces of paper in the crowd instead of a reality which was a shame as we all wanted to see one go down in front of us. Rune Glifberg was killing it but could not take out PLG’s monster final run and hang in there on the night but did get a cheque for 4th place. Andy Macdonald who was on top of his game until the final run came in 3rd. The vert skating overall was huge. Anthony Furlong has some incredible skills and one of the best madonna to tails in the business. Tas Pappas with massive 540’s, Lincoln Ueda killed it, (check his late flip out on the video on this page) and Chris Gentry won the bling award on the night for sure and got 2nd…
The street course was built for rollerbladers, BMX riders and skaters mixing large trannies with ledges, banks, rails and roll ins. UK rider Ross McGouran managed a 3rd place spot for $10,000 with Daniel Viera in 2nd and Wagner Ramos taking the main prize. Greg Lutzka could have rinsed it if he had used the entire course but managed 5th behind Chris Dobstaff on the night. Lutzka’s skills on the ledges are incredible…one by one he laid hammers down in the warm ups…it was a treat to watch.
Some of the best skating was recorded for you to see on this page, feel free to download it by right clicking the file and save as onto your desktop and visit www.lgactionsports.com for all info on future events.
Etnies proudly welcomes its newest rider and Black Label pro, Kyle Leeper, to the etnies Skate team. Kyle has kept himself plenty busy skating and traveling with the team for the last couple months on tours, demos, shooting photos, filming etc.
Tony Hawk arrived in London to skate at Bay 66 skate park and promote his new Tony Hawk game coming out on Activision. He was joined by Pete King, Mark Munson and Aussie rider Jake Brown on the vert ramp in the midst of hundreds of excited kids. Hawk has recently visited 3 European countries on this tour with London. Congrats to Mr Hawk as he is set to marry his wife Erin in Fiji in January..
When the American Element team dropped their video, I was less than blown away- with the utter exception of Brent Atchley- so when I heard Element Europe were next to drop a video, my emotions were mixed to say the least… Would they over do it on the ecological front? Would it resemble an above average Puzzle video? Would the best skater have an unpronounceable name..?
Sheltered, the 4th local skate video from Hastings and Bexhill features a group of friends who’ve tried to escape the sheltered towns they live in by traveling to many locations around the world from London to Tokyo and has just premiered in Hastings. The South East scene hasn’t featured much in the skateboard press but it exists and is thriving all the time with skaters such as Luke Dench and Joe Sandland pushing it to the next level. The previous video ‘no skateboarding’ got a fairly good review in Sidewalk Magazine but Sheltered will blow that one away with better editing, an all British soundtrack and consistent skateboarding.
Ah! The battle of the stances continues… The Etnies Goofy Vs. Regular contest has just finished and the rebel forces fought well securing a revengeful victory for the Goofy footers. Dave Swift led his right foot forward gang of plank pirates (Koston, Cannon, Appleyard and Rodriguez) to victory over Jake Phelps’ left foot forward losers (Senn, Salabanzi, Cole and Sheckler).
I sense a few 20 to 30-somethings are about to bust their load when they find out what Blind is about to release… The Double Set DVD box which includes What If?, Video Days, Time and Henry’s Pack of Lies and all the Blind sections from the old World Industries videos i.e. 20 Shot Sequence, Trilogy, Rodney Vs, Daewon Round 1 & 2!!!
As any self respecting amateur knows, there are moments in your career-building lives where the different paths you take aren’t always as amazing as the contract makes them out to be. Often kids will find themselves balancing precariously on the whim of Team Managers managerial skills and distribution company politics. London based ripper Lucien Clarke is no stranger to these types of situations. But today he can shrug it all of and put it back to experience because Element Europe have taken the 6 foot 5 yoot under their wing and applied his talent to the flow team roster. I think this the time when the competition gets a little harder… Nollie flip 14 stairs second try anyone? 
The fourth annual Snickers Day in the City DVD is now available to pick up at your local UK skate shop featuring Ross McGouran, Danny Beal, Tom Watts, Chris Ault and Ben Grove to name a few. Meanwhile, those behind the lens count Guido, Rich Holland, Kevin Parrott and Adam Gendle. The comp was won by Brendan Ryall, Tom Knox and the crew and beat Dan Cates and the Death Team dedicating their part to the Peckham posse of ‘Only Fools and Horses”. Go get the DVD this week, it’s a must have and it’s free…