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The 5th Annual Pat Wachter Bowl Contest

Intro

Saturday

( 1 2 3 4 5 ) Contest Results Sponsors & Links Who is Pat Wachter?

Men's Advanced/Open Division

Next up was the Men�s Advanced/Open division which was really a catch all for the most advanced skaters�.sponsored, unsponsored or even pro. Visiting skaters Steven and Juan Pineiro from Florida and the Georgia contingent of rippers (Kaden Campbell, Austin Gordon and Austin Creasman) made it much like a repeat showdown from last year. Ohio skater, Nick Matalka, brought a bit of Duane Peters attitude and style. Alabama local, Johnathan Chico Pacheco delivered with his laid back style and unconventional bag of tricks. Codey Hudson showed up out of no where with some comfortable lip tricks and lines.
The competition was tight among the top spots. Although still only 12 years old and recently picked up by Bacon skateboards, Kaden Campbell appears to be growing into his skating much more than even last year. He skated with much more power and thought than I had seen in year�s past. Kaden worked the entire bowl and skated almost non-stop as he mixed in big airs with technical tricks (frontside 540!!!). He was up against a tough challenge from Steven Pineiro who recently turned pro for Embassy skateboards. With the help and support of his dad, Steven really came ready to win. He seemed to have every run mapped out way ahead of time and had an endless array of tricks using every part of the bowl. Once again, he threw in a McTwist into his run. Speaking of McTwist, Austin Gordon stepped it up this year. During the contest, he actually learned McTwist in the bowl. How so? He tried one�came close. Tried another�closer. Third one�landed and slid out in the flat. Then he nailed it on his fourth try. From there, he did another that was flawless. We aren�t talking those so-so, almost flat-spin McTwist. Nope. He did a proper straight up and down rotating McTwist with the board even boned out. The crowd went wild! Austin was now only the second skater to do a McTwist in that bowl (Steven Pineiro was first with his done during last year�s contest). Not to be out done, Juan Pineiro much like his brother worked the whole bowl with big airs and difficult lines. Watching Juan crack just about every air variation to tail is always a lot of fun! These four really seemed to pull away from the rest of the pack and were battling it out. Since they all travel and compete together quite a bit, this was a position I was sure they have been in before against each other. Who�s day would it be today?

everyone gathers for the big show

Kaden Campbell big air

Austin Gordon finds air space

Austin Gordon spins a McTwist

Steven Pineiro catches a backside heel flip

Steven Pineiro styles a frontside rock n' roll slide

Andy Birdwell and Tom Bagby watching the next generation

Juan Pineiro Saran Wraps

Juan Pineiro backside flip catch

Juan Pineiro finger flip Lien to tail

Nick Matalka rolls in

Johnny Chico Pachico goes big (photo by Ken Forsyth)

Kaden spins a frontside 540 (photo by Thomas Mcteer)

Kaden tweaked (photo by Thomas Mcteer)

Nick gets punk(photo by Ken Forsyth)

Steven Pineiro smacks a Madonna (photo by Thomas Mcteer)

Codey Hudson lipslides

jam mania....Kaden and Austin

Austin spins and LANDS the McTwist

Kaden goes big

Steven Pineiro frontside inverts

Nick channels some DP for his last run

Johnny Chico blunts in

Juan fingerflips an air

Steven goes HUGE frontside (photo by Thomas Mcteer)

Best Street Trick, Awards and wrap-up...

Jason Salillas kills in the Smarbad street contest

Austin Gordon gets one more PROPER McTwist in

Andy Birdwell and girlfriend Nicole await the awards

Florida skate legend Clint Deaton(photo by Ken Forsyth)

Jay Salillas and Emily McDuff

Zach Wight proud of his award for 2nd

Gonzo surprised with his first place win

Woody Trend gets congrats (photo by Ken Forsyth)

Don shows off his prize (photo by Thomas Mcteer)

Product toss madness (photo by Thomas Mcteer)

More sticker toss maddness (photo by Thomas Mcteer)

The last of the crowd hanging out in the VIP area (haha)

� After the main events had wrapped up and while the points were being tallied, Smarbad hosted a best tricks contest in the street area. It was a contest based on the best three tricks a skater could pull using the whole area. Shortly after, Pat Wachter emerged and announced the contest results. Prizes were handed out. Applause and thanks was given. With that, the fifth annual Pat Wachter Bowl contest was history. Another good one was on the books. Many people headed home after the long day. Some of us stayed to hang out a bit longer with old friends and new ones�a few more "safety meetings". (haha) Smarbad hosted one more spontaneous contest�highest ollie. About then, I was spent. I made my way around, said my good byes and headed home as I replayed the day�s events in my head and started thinking about next year�s contest.
Thanks to all who came out, thanks to the out-of-town skaters that made the trip over, thanks to the locals who stepped up, thanks to Bill Danforth for being a great judge and all around good guy, and thanks as always to Pat and the contest organizers for another year!