Contest Report: 5th Annual H-Town Showdown

Tags: contest report, h-town showdown, houston, texas

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Where can I possibly start about the H-Town Showdown this year? It had some of the craziest tricks, craziest situations, and craziest turn outs I have seen in the past years. It will definitely be burned into my brain for sometime.

Speaking of burned, the pre Showdown barbeque was just smoking. As I strolled on up block toward Danny's place I couldn't help but realize that it seems every year I have to park further and further away. I'm not sure if it's cause I get there later and later every year, or is it that the Houston cats do a great job of getting the word out. I can safely say its gotta be the food and family feel you get from being there. Its not just a place for you to meet up, eat up, and warm up. Danny and his family always go beyond outta there way to fill up a bunch of freeloaders such as myself with endless supplies of food and drinks. All to enjoy while basking in the long lost art of conversation, place a friendly wager on the days events, or par take in your own pre comp “rituals”. Either way you'll find yourself bathed in lather of good vibes and local tradition that seems to fill the air.

As Jose emerges from the house with clipboard in hand like an army sergeant ready to recruit and recruit he does. As people sign themselves up, what was just a simple prop rail warm up, quickly escalates to a full out session, and despite the fact that the comp hasn't even started, no one holds back. Particularly I noted be-mag favorite Brady Johnston, mostly cause he was amusing me with an arsenal of cab to AO tricks of which my favorite of course being the full cab AO Soyal. Not true spin, he did it like a G'. But the person to stand out the most at the prop rail sesh, actually doesn't' even stand out, he's 13 year old 4' 10” Mason' Richards who stung everyone into awe with his bag of tricks. Which included 450 royal, kind grind, and ao acid though my personal favorite was easily his 630 bs royal. And say what' you'd like about it being' on a prop rail but you give it a shot! Can you feel that? Wtf is it?? Its called excitement… its called being' juiced… its called living… its called getting our funeral precession style ass's to the next spot. (I heard it's a WET dream).

The first spot was arguably the best one to date! It was a loading dock that had angle iron on the edge, here’s the catch though, it was POURING down rain outside. I don’t just mean raining a little, I mean ruin your skates, need to change clothes raining. I was the first to say F.I.D. and roll in the rain, and it took a while to get everyone skating, but once it happened it was a blast. People were still doing ill tricks including true fishes and 270 bs backslide to top soul. It was 4 heats of non stop cats and dogs skating.

For the second spot the rain had pretty much chilled out, but the ground was still slick. It was an up, across, and down white handicap rail. This is where we started to get it poppin! No one went all the way up and across and then down due to lack of speed and wetness, but multiple switch-ups were done. Ian Freuchst did a clean royale to ao topacid, but Jason Howard laced a topsoul to switch fishbrain to 360 topsoul that got the whole crowd juiced. This spot still had 4 heats but with half as many people in each and everyone held it down.

How do I do the third spot justice? Maybe by saying that it is completely PSYCHO! It’s a drop rail that is super steep and maybe about 20 or 25 stairs. Only a few made it to skate this spot, but the crowd seemed to grow with each spot. The rail was in a shopping center and we took up almost all of the parking spots. The police even showed up and didn’t do anything because of the numbers! Some of the buckest tricks I’ve seen in a while went down. Transfers from the middle rail to the drop side…yikes! Best trick winner, Zack Gutweiler, took it with inspin 360 fs royale on the drop side. Third place winner, Matt Rankin, killed the middle rail with ao fish 360 out, and ao top soul. Second place winner, John Sullivan, did full cab true mizou, and then stepped his game up with a stall on the top support bar to royale down the drop side to transfer kindgrind!!!! First place winner, winner chicken dinner, Jason Howard was consistent all day murdering all spots. At the finals he pulled 360 soul, and an AMAZING soul transfer to savannah on the drop side!

This was easily the most fun I’ve had at a comp since last years Hoedown. The day ended with some good ol' times at a 2 keg after party at Jason Howard's place. Everyone needs to come out and support the Houston rolling scene at the next H-Town Showdown. Drive 2 miles, drive 2000 miles, just do it. You wont regret it!
PEACE,

-ROSSthaBOSS

A quick note from Danny Egan ...

I'd like to give a big thanks to Jose Gorbea and Jason Howard for all their support and work they put into making the event possible. Additional thanks to Chris Fleener, David Daniels, and Joseph Kurth for helping judge, and to all those who helped promote the comp. Last, but most of all, thanks to all those who showed up to skate or just watch. Either way, your support is greatly appreciated!

Again we had a whole crew of filmers and photographers to capture all of the days madness. The media crew consisted of Randy Edwards, Nate Lorensen, Steven Cox, Alex Crawford, Josh “Gogo” Castillo, Sky Wood, Jared Thomas, and Derek Putlak. I hope to have the “official” H-Town video edits done ASAP, but there has been a few hold-ups, sorry.

This year we had the most sponsors we have ever had, and man did they hook it up fat. Razors and Rollerblade both donated skates so all 3 winners rolled away with new kicks on their feet. Eulogy, quality urethane, generously sent out 10 sets of wheels and bearings for prizes and the product toss. Please support all the companies that helped make what started out as just a small Houston comp, into what is now Texas' biggest real street comp event. Much love and respect to ... 4x4, Able, Be-Mag, Connections Skate Shop, Denial, England, Eulogy, Fifty-50, Ground Control, Havok, Heat, Jug, Kizer, Night, One Mag, Razors, Remz, Rollerblade, Senate, Sic Apparel, Sifika, SixWonSix, Ucon, Undercover, USD, Valo, Vibralux, Vicious, and Xsjado.
Until next year ...
Steady rollin ...

Danny Egan

www.HtownShowdown.com
www.myspace.com/HtownShowdown

Pictures

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Contest Report: 5th Annual H-Town Showdown

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Comments

September 07th, 2007 @ 09:12 - by Chun dong-min

Props to Jason Howard for Burlness Steez! I havent really seen Jason since "7 days", so its good to see him getting some recognition. Good writing Ross! I would have liked to see a pic of Matts ao Fish on the middle rail.

September 06th, 2007 @ 13:03 - by douglife

texas

September 05th, 2007 @ 06:58 - by roche roche

Wow ,two skating pictures doesnt do that contest justice.
That was the best comp i have been to in a LONG time,
everyone needs to make it out next year if you havent ever been.

September 03rd, 2007 @ 18:10 - by cal cal

Jason Howard is damn good!
keep it up nukka!
black fabric kicks!

September 03rd, 2007 @ 17:03 - by SammyBebe

Not sure why more photos weren't used but you can peep over 30 photos on the H-Town Showdown myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/htownshowdown

You can also view a slideshow of the photos on Connections Skate Shop website.
http://www.connectionsskateshop.com

Again, I thank everyone that came out and showed their support. See you next year.
Danny Egan

September 03rd, 2007 @ 16:20 - by iloveminnesota