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The 1st Annual Pat Wachter Pro Bowl Contest

Intro

Saturday

( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Results After-Party )

Sunday

( 1 2 3 4 )

Men's "Ring the Bell", longest grind and highest air

Benji pulls a huge stalefish for the highest air

�� After a two hour break for lunch (Full Moon Bar-b-que again! Yum!!!) and to let the sun go down a bit, Dave Duncan cranked things back up with the Mens Pro group. Since these are the guys that typically draw everyone out to see the show, Dave had more contests for them and of course, more ways to make some cash. Once again, everyone walked away with some money which was the least we could do to show our appreciation for those that came to the contest from all over the country. As expected, there was some ripping skating thrown down. Each time Benji would do something crazy, Jimmy the Greek would do something crazier and in a more difficult spot in the bowl. Each time Dave Reaul would go big, Skreech would try to go bigger on the same trick. Steve Reeves, Johnny Turgeson and Donovan Rice would make insane triples runs (and quadruples when Skreech jumped in) where everyone just expected some huge pile up that never did come. The energy around the bowl was amazing. As usual, the structured contest runs were all yesterday while today was just everyone going for it huge. In the end, I believe Johnny took the most money on the "Ring the Bell" fun when, like Duncan, he was one of the few to hit all 7 bells in one run while hitting a bell on each turn (7 bells in 7 walls). Of course, for the mens' pro group, the bells were placed in much harder to hit spots. Benji won the highest air and even got some money for a super long rock and roll slide. The longest grind seemed a toss up between Benji and Jimmy the Greek who were battling on the longest frontside 5-0 while Dave Reul was doing 10-12 block frontside 50-50s with Skreech close on his heels.

Dave Reul sends a bell flying with a Layback air

The locals gather for the big show

Johnny the bell ringer

Donovan moments before a bell goes flying

Skreech hits a bell with a styled out backside smith

Johnny tailslide to bell sling

Benji kicks off the highest air with a high floating ollie

Jimmy the Greek SWITCH frontside tweaked

Dave Reul hucks a nice frontside air

The Greek lofs a huge frontside air

Another style out frontside air by Reul

Donovan sits a Gilla Monster one top of the big bell

Jimmy the Greek shows off a rare frontside rocket air

Benji takes out a bell with a bluntslide 180

Johnny had the smoothest Lien airs by far

Dave Reul travels several blocks on a frontside 50-50

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Dave Duncan, Skreech and Brian Kelly
(photo by RIDE Skateboards/ Dave Duncan)

�� After the men's events wrapped up around 5pm, the day pretty much ended with another open session in the bowl. There was no big bang or last hurrah. The 1st annual Pat Wachter Pro Bowl contest came to a peaceful end. Overall, the contest was AWESOME! To bring a contest of that size to Alabama and put everything together in such a short time on a shoestring budget, Brian and Pat pulled off an amazing feat. Even I had my doubts (and fears) like many other locals, but I will say that Brian proved us all wrong in many respects. It was not without glitches, but those will be the "lessons learned" list for next year....and yes, per the mayor of Alabaster, there will definately be a contest next year! In fact, the mayor reportedly told Brian and Pat that the city would be putting at least $10,000 into the pot for prizes. Now that's stepping up! In addition, the mayor spoke at length with Dave Duncan and Sasha Steinhorst to get their thoughts and ideas on expanding the park further. I will not speak for them, but I think Brian and Pat accomplished exactly what they set out to do which is to highlight the skate park, show the city what is possible and positive there, and most importantly, make other surrounding communities see just what a skate park can do for them and hopefully kickstart some new skate park construction in our area. Again, a very big thanks to Brian kelly of Ride Skateboards skate shop and Pat Wachter as well as all of the sponsors. I am already looking forward to next year.

See you at the second annual Pat Wachter Pro Bowl contest !!!