SPoT 2015-2016 Course Rebuild Photos

Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2015 by Chris

Photos: Frank Branca
Words: Chris Preston

Here we go with another Pro Course Demo / Rebuild to switch it up for Am and Pro. Most of us have no idea what it's going to look like until it's finished. This is Jay Hammond, who has been heading up construction on the new course for the past few years. I bet he knows...

Looks like they took out the QP to rail-bank-thing and now it's going to flat. Is that an extension??

Every year we see some new faces with hand tools working on the course. Don't know this dude's name, but thanks for pitching in.

Don't forget to follow us @SPoTTampa.

We've got a GoPro set up so when it's all over, you get to see a rad time-lapse video of the whole thing.

More shots of the progress so far...

Relics from Ams and Pros past... We've dialed down the sticker branding a little since the old days.

Brian

Schaefer always straps on a belt and gets in the mix. I bet he knows what the completed course will look like...

That's Allen Russell and Allen Russell's brother-from-another-mother, Gene Rosman. You might see him out in Ybor occasionally.

Jay and Sterling putting in work on this QP / Hip addition.

Derick

Meanwhile, the shop's getting some renovations of its own... You always gotta have that one guy that points while everyone else does the work. It's construction 101.

Overview of the course so far...

Austin

Austin Gage of SPoT Maintenance takes a break from drilling to catch a quick session out in the courtyard.

Wesley

Did I mention there's FREE SKATING until we finish the Pro Course?? Wes Box taking advantage of the new (temporary) courtyard obstacles.

This setup won't last long, so come take advantage.

Kristoffer

...Kris Clayton is.

More shots inside. Looks like they're revamping the pyramid / rail / ledge obstacle that hosts all the Best Trick contests.

I wonder if the hip and stairs are staying where they are?

Allen

Who's got this gap??

That's long-time SPoT homie, Aaron Burkett showing off his power tool skills.

Alex

Don't forget: the concrete course, courtyard and kid course are still skateable and FREE right now. Dirt Weasel knows what's up...FS air. Stay tuned for more updates as the work continues.

Allen

Back again for another update on the Pro Course construction. Things are moving right along and this thing should be finished any day now. That's Allen and Gene putting the beard power into full effect.

I don't think that hole Sterling is in will be part of the new course, but you never know...

Brian

Schaefer and Big Russ always thinking, making changes, talking it out...or deciding what to have for lunch.

Wait...what's going on in the Kid Course? We'll get back to that in a minute.

Looks like the stairs are getting an upgrade after all.

Skating is limited right now, but it's also FREE until we finish up all the work. These dudes taking advantage of the new benches around the park.

Cole

SPoT Lifer Cole Jordan getting down on our concrete course, which is about the only thing NOT under construction right now. Thanks to homie on the left repping our shirt.

Free skating, free skating, free skating.

Andy

In a matter of weeks, these hallways will be filled with people from all over the world during our 22nd Annual Tampa Am contest. Andy Johnson bills and ships your online orders and still has time for kickflips in between.

Another overview of the progress.

Dylan

DMFP in the house... have you seen the griptape art he does? We sell it.

Ok, back to the Kid Course... looks like after a solid year, we are bringing back a proper mini-ramp to the mix. I can't wait to skate this thing!

Eric

Eric McKenney takes a time out to get loose out in the courtyard. Skate Every Damn Thing.

Back to the Pro Course...you can see how fast these dudes are getting it done.

This just went up this morning... a nice little speed bump between QPs. There's one on the other side too.

That hubba!

That's it for now. Next time we check in, it'll be a little less of a mess and more of a course. Stay tuned...

After a few weeks of hard work and planning, the new course is finally finished. It's crazy how many people have been here shredding already since completion. This angle is where you will be standing up in the bleachers area when you're watching Tampa Am November 12-15. Let's take a look around...

The new centerpiece / Best Trick obstacle.

New mini-wallie section added to the roll-in.

Hubba hubba.

Brian

The man with the plan... "Best course to date".

Follow / Like / Subscribe / Tag us in your SPoT footage and you might see your clips on our Instagram.

Speedbumps.

Here's the view the judges will be seeing during Tampa Am.

Josh

Meanwhile, out in the courtyard, Josh Knight is prepping the site for the Converse Concrete Jam / Transworld Door Gap Best Trick contest Saturday, November 14 after Tampa Am Qualifiers are over. Full details on that are here.

The Kid Course got an upgrade too, but you'll have to be here in person to see that one...

Jett

UPDATED: These guys wasting no time breaking this course in...

Nick

The Noel twins are here, which means double ripping. That's Nick with a front blunt down the new hubba. Is he the evil one? I can never remember...

Jagger

Who better to break in the new course than your Tampa Am 2014 winner, Jagger Eaton? Looks like he's trying to go for two years in a row and get a shot into SLS Pro Open.