Back To School Bash 2014 Recap
Posted on Monday, August 11, 2014 by
Words and photos by Aaron Austin
Video by Frank Branca
Welcome to the photo coverage of the 2014 Back to School Bash at the Skatepark of Tampa. We hope you picked up some stickers and mags, and more importantly that you enjoyed skating and hanging with friends before you head back to school.
The day started as it always does with Schaefer's favorite division, 8-and-under. This drop is over head high to a little guy like Danny Boyd here. That's a huge commitment for a 5-year-old to make! Way to go, Danny.
When she wasn't skating her runs, fan favorite Courtney Block filmed her fellow 8-and-under competitors. Thanks for representing for all the girls out there, Courtney, and we appreciate the SPoT love, Block family.
Wesley Box easily took first place in the 9 to 12 division by landing tricks in his jam like this smooth pressure flip down the stairs. Making Nate Sherwood proud at every contest, Wes. For real though, you annihilated it.
Mikey Sanchez had a sick 360 flip down the 7 stair during his jam in the 13 to 15 division. That division is really competitive, but Mikey still placed 5th.
8 and under winners from left to right: Xavier Schwarz, 4th; Danny Boyd, 3rd; Brody Harris, 1st; Silas Backus, 2nd; Enzo Calderazzo, 5th.
9 to 12 winners from left to right: Harry Fredlund, 4th; Mason Munar, 3rd; Wesley Box, 1st; Austin Hufnagel, 2nd; Jake Yanko, 5th.
13 to 15 winners from left to right: Mikey Sanchez, 5th; Juan Gaviria, 1st; Ke'andre Ruffin, 2nd; Kristoffer Clayton, 3rd; Meagan Guy, 4th.
Out in the courtyard, Matt Lindo warmed up for the 16 and up division by skating the new flatbar. Matt had a tweaked out frontside nosegrind while Christian Henry-Bissett looks on.
Gavin Thompson absolutely destroyed the 16 and up division. Gavin made this lofty hardflip over the pyramid in his jam and took first place.
I can remember when doing a kickflip backside lipslide during your run or jam meant that you were probably going to win the sponsored division at the park. It's crazy that even if you do, like Chris Roque did here in his jam, you end up in 3rd place in the 16 and up division. Still really awesome these days though, because that's how much skateboarding has progressed over the years, and it'll only keep getting gnarlier in the future.
The judges were enjoying themselves all day, even though it was brutally hot. I caught Derick Glancy and Manny Rodriguez having a laugh while Jereme Knibbs focused on the action out on the course.
The sponsored division at SPoT all ages contests is like a mini Tampa Am. Carl Feliciano made this buttery switch frontside flip in his jam, but didn't quite make the 5-man finals jam.
When I said it was hot, I meant it. Miles McKinney's shirt melted off as he blasted this massive frontside ollie from tranny to tranny.
This frontside feeble grind that Julian Lewis did across the bank-to-bank rail was really tweaked out. Julian landed some super hard tricks during practice, but couldn't put it together during his jam. Next time, Julian.
Jake Ilardi is a true all-terrain ripper. It's crazy to watch him do huge lien to tails like this, and then throw kickflip frontside bluntslides down the handrail in the same jam.
Haze Miller had incredible flow around the course during his jams and a serious boneless on the China bank. Haze took 5th place in the sponsored finals.
SPoT team rider Alejandro Burnell slashed frontside crailslides through the corner pocket and bashed off the walls into second place in the sponsored finals. Congrats buddy, you killed it.
Zion Wright did this backside overcrook in qualifiers, then made about a million other tricks in the finals to take first place in the sponsored division finals. We're glad that nasty injury isn't having any effects on you, Zion! Now get your pops Mustafa back to the park next time.
16 and up winners from left to right: David Kennedy, 5th; Leo Moreno, 4th; Gavin Thompson, 1st; Landon Swan, 2nd; Chris Roque, 3rd.
Sponsored finals winners from left to right: Josh Douglas, 3rd; Haze Miller, 5th; Zion Wright, 1st; Alejandro Burnell, 2nd; Ross Caruso, 4th.
Comments
Article Archive by Category
- All Ages Contests
- Anniversary Parties
- Art Shows
- Awards Ceremonies
- Boards for Bros
- Booze Cruise
- Celebrity Sightings
- Chill Cam Dumps
- Christmas
- Clash of the Crews
- Coastal Carnage
- Comedy
- Cons Triple C's
- Contest and Event Coverage
- Copenhagen Pro
- Course Construction
- Damn Am
- DC King of Series
- Demos at SPoT
- Digital Product Toss
- EOTM Parties
- Event Schedules and Details
- Franks for Nothing
- Go Skateboarding Day
- Heat Sheets and Skater Lists
- Industry Event Coverage
- Information About SPoT
- Make-A-Wish Contests
- Maloof Money Cup
- Nerdsday Thursday
- News and Press Releases
- Parties
- Product Watch
- Red Bull Events
- Road Trips
- Shoe Releases
- Shop Tours
- Skate Bid'niss
- Skate Missions
- SPoT Skate Shop Ybor
- Tampa Am
- Tampa Pro
- The Bricks
- Throwback Thursday
- Tourist Missions
- Toys for Tatas
- Trade Shows
- Vans Downtown Showdown
- Video Premieres
- Warped Tour
- Zaturdays
Shop
- Accessories
- Backpacks/ Bags
- Beanies
- Bearings
- Belts
- Complete Skateboards
- Decks and Boards
- DVD's
- Girls Gear
- Griptape
- Hardware
- Hats
- Headphones
- Jackets
- Jerseys
- Kids Shoes
- Long Sleeve Shirts
- Magazines/ Books
- Pads and Helmets
- Pants/ Jeans
- Sale/ Closeout
- Shoes
- Shorts
- Socks
- Stickers
- Sunglasses
- Sweaters/ Hoodies
- Tank Tops
- T Shirts
- Trucks
- Wallets
- Watches
- Wheels
- Woven/ Polo/ Knit Shirts