Skatepark of Tampa What's Up

Tampa Pro and Vert Am Heads

Rob — 3/12/2010 12:10:00 PM

More of the faces stopping by here at Tampa Pro check-in are on the SPoT Facebook Page. The babies are mostly from the Tampa Am Vert Contest also going on tomorrow morning at 10am. There is some off the charts skating going down right now.

What Regular Ass People Say About Us

Rob — 3/12/2010 10:54:00 AM

Here's a bit of a roundup from the regular ass citizens talking about our little skateboard shindig this weekend. At a local Tampa blog, they called us "cats" like when your parents use the word groovy to try to bro down. At our local news your dad reads, they took a photo from our site and turned it into a classic newspaper photo with the missing coping focusing on someone "getting air." Also, the Tampa Bay Times says, "Bad news, stoner-metal fans." Torche have dropped out. Finally, check some quotes from the Bubba the Love Sponge show this morning on the Quotes Page. Thanks for the coverage!

Pack Up Your Leopard Prints

Rob — 3/12/2010 9:34:00 AM

The editor of Frontside Grind Magazine has made the call: The Tampa Am Vert Contest is rescheduled to tomorrow (Saturday) at 10am.

Punkrockstars

Rob — 3/12/2010 7:18:00 AM

As you can see on the SPoT Facebook page, Schaefer was hanging out with forgetters last night. They're part of the lineup tonight at the Tampa Pro 2010 Party tonight at Ritz in Ybor. Tickets are still available at SPoT and Ticketmaster. Word on the street is that a musician in Torche is injured so they're not playing. It also looks like there might be enough tickets left where you can get them at the door. See you in line.

Slightly Awkward Race Relations at Tampa Pro

Rob — 3/11/2010 6:55:00 PM

It's been a long day at registration and check-in up here at the front desk in the Shop. Clements and I are both trying to do our regular day to day jobs as pro after pro walks in with photographers, team managers, and general lurk out homies. Today Aquil Brathwaite rolls up and I'm like, "What's up Keelan?" Ah crap, sorry man. Minutes later, this dude from Brazil with Niggli as his middle name checked in. Kenny Hughes was nearby and said, "Yeah, that's funny. If you're white." Oh well, you can get a small sample of the heads to stopped by today while we were in the Shop. Doors open up at 9am tomorrow. See you here.

I Stand Corrected

Rob — 3/11/2010 6:07:00 PM

"Nollie frontfoot flips make me want to puke." That's a quote from myself on the site in the past. Well, P-Rod is out there doing nollie backside 180 front foot flips and they're looking beautiful. It's not a knee-jerk electric shock looking convulsion - it's a flick like a real backside flip:

Everyone else, stop the nollie front foot flipping. Also out there, we have Luis Tolentino and his snaps. Larry Perkins better bring the cat legs.

We're Classy?

Rob — 3/11/2010 12:28:00 PM

Adam Salo over at those four capital letters (P, N, E, and S not necessarily in that order) wrote a great story that includes the history of Tampa Pro, a video interview with last year's winner Greg Lutzka done by Cap'n Crunch, discussions about why Tampa Pro is different than other contests, and more. Check it:

Coupon Clippers

Rob — 3/11/2010 11:50:00 AM

If you were on the site yesterday, you may have noticed the coupon code message across the top of the site where the code TAMPAPRO10 got you 20% off your order. There were only 100 coupons available which disappeared pretty fast as you could see the count dwindle as the day went on. We'll be doing another promotion similar to that after the Pro so keep your eyes open if you're looking to get some new gear.

Tampa Pro in the Digital Domain

Rob — 3/11/2010 10:25:00 AM

Let's do a quick social networking check-in. There's a lot going on about Tampa Pro out there on Facebook, Twitter, and more. First, the #TampaPro hashtag on Twitter is already getting shouts from everyone from Mike York to Felix. Use it in your tweets and it could get read during the live webcast on Sunday.

Next we have Jason Rothmeyer on Facebook giving us his picks for the win this year:

Also on Facebook, I just posted A Few Random Photos from the Days Prior to Tampa Pro. This one below is my favorite. It's a classic vert move in classic vert gear: leopard print pads. This basically adds another 10 years that I will beat this joke into the ground over and over.

See you here and if you can't make it to Tampa Pro, see you on the internet.

Chris Cole. Tony Hawk. Larry Perkins?

Rob — 3/11/2010 9:30:00 AM

Tony Hawk confirms LP has the new world record high ollie at 50 inches and Chris Cole steps up to LP's game of SKATE challenge in this interview at Shred or Die. LP's shoe drops this Sunday at 11am.

You Didn't Know the Big Ass Fan Had a Security Camera

Rob — 3/10/2010 7:21:00 PM

Although there was no photographic evidence of the etnies team actually being in the building during that one day we called "Session with the etnies team," some forensic evidence has started to trickle in. Stalker Steve sent in a photo of what he claims to be the etnies team doing an autograph signing. Yep, all you have to do is assume that the backs of all their heads that he shot are the people on the team. Well, we all learned from assumptions already, so that's not going to work. I managed to check the amazing security cameras we have placed all throughout the Park for the final piece of evidence to confirm we are not liars. I turned the footage over to Filmer Joe where he applied his editing work and now we have this video that proves our case: The etnies team was at SPoT, thank you very much.

A Few Reminders About Tampa Pro

Rob — 3/10/2010 2:10:00 PM

There is no BMX on Wednesday or Sunday night.
There are no regular skate sessions on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Boards will not be allowed in unless you're in the Contest.
Tickets for Friday are $5 and sold in the Shop. Tickets for Saturday (Qualifiers) and Sunday (Finals and Best Trick) are $15.
Saturday night / Sunday morning at 2am, the clocks go forward an hour. Don't show up at what you thought was noon but is really 1pm on Sunday. Things get going at noon in the Park and on the live webcast.
Get the rest of the details on Tampa Pro here.
Sean Malto and P-Rod are out there right now killing it while the Park is pretty empty.
Torey Pudwill is on Plan B. Huh? Wow.

If You Actually Recognize This Graphic, You Should Get the Cover of Frontside Grind Magazine

Rob — 3/10/2010 8:58:00 AM

The "Tampa Tribute" Art Show is in the Snack Bar the entire time during Tampa Pro. Local artists have done work as a tribute to some of the most amazing skate artists, most of which are from a time when graphics in skateboarding were actually memorable. This Sims Screamer graphic was just dropped off and will be part of the show.

For Some Reason, People Don't Want the Cover of My Mag

Rob — 3/9/2010 10:40:00 PM

After a few photos on the street course with Paul Rodriguez, I put on my editor hat and went back to the bowl to find victims for more Frontside Grind Magazine covers. Here are two more issues I know you've been waiting for: An Evening with Frontside Grind Magazine.

Hawt Sk8r Bois Wanted

Rob — 3/9/2010 10:38:00 PM

Tampa Pro is this weekend and the full details are here. Of particular interest to some more than others is this comment that just came through on that page with a higher than average age limit than I expected:

Photographic Evidence That Proves He Was Here

Rob — 3/9/2010 10:05:00 PM

Here are a few photos from tonight's Evening with P-Rod. He came, ripped, hung out, high fived, and played games of SKATE with anyone who was down. Thanks so much, P-Rod.

An Evening With P-Rod Tuesday Night

Rob — 3/8/2010 7:30:00 PM

Tuesday this week is no normal Tuesday at SPoT. P-Rod will be here at 5pm skating and hanging out. He's one of the nicest pros you will ever meet so walk up, high five him, introduce yourself, and join in on the session with us. See you here tomorrow night and if you want to get a photo on the site, hit me up.

What's That Rule About Making Assumptions Again?

Rob — 3/8/2010 5:55:00 PM

On Saturday when the etnies Session began, I handed my stuff off to Stalker Steve for a few hours to give him a chance at shooting with some higher end equipment that makes it very easy to do my job. Unfortunately, he neglected to point the lens at anyone from the etnies team. When he gave the camera back to me and I saw nearly 1,000 shots fired, I assumed he had plenty. Oh well, here are the usable shots from Stalker that were on my camera when I got home: The etnies Team Was Here, I Swear.

Double Kickflips

Rob — 3/7/2010 11:05:00 AM

Photos from the etnies session yesterday are coming up on Monday morning. For now, check out double Bledsoe flips:

What Would LP Say to Birdman?

Rob — 3/4/2010 3:24:00 PM

Looks like Larry Perkins and his come up are getting more legit than ever now that he's rolling with Chris Cole and Tony Hawk. Watch for his interview next week on Shred or Die. Was that Jereme Rogers he was dialing? Here's a preview: