Phoenix Skateboards Fall Jam Coverage

25 November 2009 1,052 views 7 Comments

The Fall Jam, put on by Phoenix Skateboards and Optimistic Clothing Co. on Saturday the 21st, definitely earned its’ title this year. More than one-hundred skaters registered to compete in the contest under perfect weather conditions at Rio Vista skate park. Registrations were from 10am to 12 noon, and the park was filled with contestants flying in every direction. Skaters of all ages were singularly focused on dialing in their routines and snapping out some last minute contest-clinching tricks.

First up was the Seven and Under division and for the second weekend in a row six year-old Tyson Zane placed first, wowing the crowd with a plethora of tricks he can’t even spell. Joseph Johnson and Mark Simmons took second and third place respectively.

Just like last weekend, the girls came out and competed on a different piece of concrete with more transitions, and that’s exactly what Kora Grzyb took advantage of taking first place with tricks most guys have never attempted. Second place went to Chauntee with AZPX, one of the most “announcer heckled” riders in the competition, with third place going to Jessica Baily.

Shane Short, riding for SPUN Skateboards, captured the judges attention with his aerial assault over the concrete (or was it the buttery smooth smith grinds he laid down?) and took first place in the 8-11 age group. Second and third places went to Hayden Burns and Jake Young, two more riders that are making a mark on the Arizona skate scene. The field was thick with skilled riders…these kids were shredding the bowl just as well as the street. Big front side airs by Ry Storm along with some hand plants and big backside airs by Trey Wood, who the announcer exclaimed has the best possible name for a skater.

Daniel Kastich, riding for SPUN Skateboards, blasted and tweaked front side airs capturing first place in the 12 to 15 division. Deshawn Jordan took 2nd place and Tyler Faney followed things up with 3rd place. Completely overwhelmed with over 40 riders in this group, the attention spans of riders and judges alike were definitely tested here. The day was wearing on and it was getting later, but the riders were still bringing it just as strong as the contestants before them did. Yet another win for the SPUN Skateboards team…

The night closed with the 16 and older group killing the flat land tricks, smashing the 8-stair rail, boosting airs, and grinding everything in sight. Riders like Isaiah Johnson with DC and Cowtown, Rayce Davis (son of the heckling announcer) riding for AZPX skateboards, and Adrian Hernandez riding for SPUN Skateboards were among the shredding. Another rider packed division with long waits, these guys attacked the entire park leaving jaws hanging speechless and eyes wide.

Second runs for the riders were like grand finales of a Vegas magic show. Adrian Hernandez took 1st place by showing off his bag of tricks, accomplishing a first place victory over an extremely large and talented group of riders. Greg Dunagan killed it, placing second, and T.J. Rogers was awarded third place. Truth be told all of the riders killed it in one way or another. Congrats to the SPUN Skateboards crew for locking up FIRST PLACE in the top three divisions. It was a huge event and I’m already looking forward to next year!