The Superhick by Rob G. - 07/06/16

"Above all, rollerblading (sic.) competitions unite. Undoubtedly, this is the reason everyone likes to attend these events. Getting to see your friends, your favorites, and in my case, favorites that just happen to be friends. Getting that warm smile from Franco Cammayo, which in turn through some kind of osmosis gives me a burst of energy and confidence to floss my next trick. When God Fathers of Rollerblading such as B love, Tom Hyser, T.J. Weber, Andy Kruse, and Tracy White, dudes which /you/ looked up to when growing up, are now giving /you/ props. Seeing skaters like Jeff Stockwell, Eric Baily and Alex Broskow consistently blowing your mind as they seemingly float around the park with ease, rinsing every angle and transition in their path.



Watching Falon, Katie, Coa Coa and Chyna lacing all over the place as well with such elegance, something I have not seen in...well ever really. Grace on wheels, expressed through a female naturally is a great thing to see. Maturity in shape and form. I look forward too seeing these young ladies further mature, and mold tomorrows women of rollerblading. I believe there is something to be said about the influence of feminity in rollerblading, and also the lack thereof.

The Ben Weis show. Oh yes, the Ben Weis show. Do you know of the term "The Ben Weis show?" If not, then I'm sure you have an idea of what that term means now. Ben Lives for best tricks. Ben lives to pump YOU up. Get YOU excited. You know why? Because he in return gets excited, if not more than you do. His death tests bring a group of people together, cheering, clapping, and overall ecstatic to see another human being accomplish something. So much positive energy. This was a beautiful thing.



Rotating over 360 degrees to tricks being a standard. Wow. Let alone transfer after? Yes I am speaking of Brian Aragon (doing fakie 540 topsoul to transfer the rail), but as I say this, I realize I could have been speaking about almost anyone that was skating there, pro or not. People still love spinning and dancing on those rails and angles.Who's got the best dance you may ask? Could this be where switchups are going? Dance moves? Is it already there, and people just havn't named them yet? HA! Who is going to be the next Patrick Swayzee? Someone set up a poll for this question, please.
Chris Edwards front flipping over Wedge, in all of Wedge's glory. Chris Edwards' front flip in one way or another is why you are skating now. For me it was like watching a cross between 95’ NISS finals, and an out of control school bus. I later had the opportunity to finally T-dog out on Chris, and give him his much deserved, long awaited props for trying disaster frontside on the NISS rail, with no grooves, back before grooves were even in fashion.

And how about those warm up and in between heat sessions?! Aren't they the funnest! I sure think so. Anytime I can get to skate with a slew of friends I never get to see, at a skatepark I never get to skate, I will take advantage of any free space and time available. Most of you will agree that the before and after sessions usually go off the most. Every single time there was a pause in the contest, a mob of people would rush the park trying to get in as many tricks as tthey possibly could.



As for the finals, I did not see them. I was blading in the mini street course on the ledge, playing around with certain tricks, and doing no look jump to grinds staring Ben Weis dead in the eyes. I just wanted to skate. Sorry. I was told that I had needed to mention all the winners, but ya’ll saw you tube the next day (if not same day), and have known this information for some time now. I am also sure B-Mag will put it somewhere at the bottom.

Thank You Tom and Erin Hyser for putting these events together, and for everything both of you have contributed to this love which each and every one of us lives to express. Thanks to the Owner of the skatepark, for putting up with a bunch of kids who do whatever they want and always talk back. Tracy White for being a badass MC, and badass human being in general. B Love for doing fastslide cess slides, and T.J. for simply doing a cess slide at the comp.
And...always remember: “You” never lost it, you just forgot it. And just because you forgot it, doesn't mean you can't remember it. Practice makes perfect. Words are vehicles. I failed my first drivers test. ONE.

P.S. Please...somebody please...make a jam session tour…and invite me."

-Rob G

.

Tags: atlanta brian aragon jeff stockwell jon julio julian bah rob g superhick