Hanging Out At Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam

Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 by Rob

November 17, 2002
By Rob Meronek

Most times when we end up at the St. Pete Times Forum (formerly the Ice Palace) in Tampa, it’s because we somehow hooked up tickets to whatever mainstream show like Kiss or one of today’s teenie-bop bands. It always ends up being a super good time no matter who the group is. This time, it felt strange going to the St. Pete Times Forum because it was a skateboarding event. Looks like Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam Tour can fill stadiums better than hockey and baseball games, at least in this town.

Our night started out two hours before the show for the special time they allow the press to do interviews and stuff. Afro Jim hooked up some press passes so I took my wife Soomi along and her cousin Rosa. Turns out anyone could have wandered in there for the press deal. Remember that for next year. Just show up at the back entrance and kind of lurk around and eventually they’ll round everyone up and bring the group upstairs. Once you’re there, the St. Pete Times Forum staff brings around a person from the tour to each press group.

The first guy they brought over was some motorcross dude. The motocross thing is sick, but other than that, who cares about meeting them. We tried to pretend we were into it while Jim gave him an interview but didn’t really record it. Next came the rest of the crew – Sergie Ventura, Lincoln Ueda, Andy MacDonald, Tony Hawk, and others. Even Mike Frazier, who wasn’t on the tour, was wandering around the press meeting. Rosa and Soomi had the full star struck effect because we hung out with the guys from Good Charlotte for a while messing around posing MTV interview shots and stuff. The band guys didn’t seem to mind having two hot Asian chicks as their first groupies of the night.

After that, we hung out with a crew that was seriously about 30 deep. Brian Schaefer had a fistful of backstage passes and tickets he was passing out. After an hour of $6 beers at the bar down there, we headed into the show and watched what was an amazing synchronization of motocross, bmx, and skateboarding. To add to the circus effect as kind of a joke I guess, these dudes dressed as clowns on unicycles and balancing on balls would come out to the vert ramp flat bottom during the intermissions. Click here to see another video clip of the vert session/synchronized swimming deal.

At first it seems kind of gay how coordinated it is, but if you think about it, that’s pretty much their only choice. Most of the crowd seemed to be parents, nice young ladies (I keep getting older, but they stay the same age), and people who don’t skate. You can’t sell them tickets to watch a plain old skateboarding session. That element they add to it by making it all coordinated provides some pretty good entertainment for both the skate and non-skate crowd. On his very first run, I saw Bucky make that gay twist heel flip with not too much crowd reaction. I guess I was in the bathroom while Tony Hawk pulled another 900. Rick Thorne’s a little struggling on the mic, but at least he gave our section a reason to cheer when he pointed out that Bucky was wearing a SPoT shirt. Hell yeah!

After the show we got to stalk the Hawk and get photos, autographs, handshakes, etc. They called that the "Meet and Greet Session." There were hundreds of people in there that paid $100 for the meet and greet privilege! We just barged our way to the front of the line and ended up hanging out with the band and skaters before breaking out, going to eat, and then heading home. Thanks to whoever was responsible for hooking up the full Skatepark of Tampa staff with tickets. I know Marty Ramos from Kona was responsible for a good portion of them. Also, Kristine from Fresh and Clean Media allowed us to front like we were a legit news crew. Thanks again.

Rob