SPoT Road Trip to Texas
Posted
on
on Saturday, November 15, 2014
by Chris
It’s that time of year again, where the Skatepark of Tampa crew loads up the van and travels to Southside Skatepark in Houston for the annual Make-A-Wish skate jam. This year, twelve Skatepark of Tampa team riders and employees headed to Texas for this awesome benefit. We left Tampa at 4:30 am and made our way to our first stop in New Orleans, Louisiana. We stopped and skate at Parisite Skatepark, a hidden gem DIY park not too far from downtown NOLA. The park was perfect, and the crew was stoked to be able to skate a park that was so much fun. Shout out to the Parisite locals for the hospitality! After a mellow night in New Orleans, we took off to Houston the next morning. We arrived with just enough time for the crew to skate Southside for a few hours before the contest the next day, where top ams, pros, and locals alike got buck on their boards. After the contest, Southside premiered their 20 Year anniversary video that had the entire park going nuts…definitely something worth watching. Later on that night, the crew went through Downtown Houston to check out the nightlife before heading back to Tampa the next day. We found Molly’s Pub for a few drinks and some karaoke and had a great time. The next day, we packed our things and piled back into the van, this time, taking team rider, Alejandro Burnell along for the ride. Beautiful Mountain Skate Plaza was our last skate stop before driving home, and damn was it a good park. There was something for everyone to skate, and the crew was stacking clips left and right with new tricks they’d learned and doubles runs. If you’re ever in the area, I recommend checking it out. From there, we drove to Biloxi, Mississippi, the traditional last-night-on-the-road’s resting place. While most of us got some rest, a few of the squad tried their luck at the casino. The next morning was another early one. For the final time that weekend, the team loaded up, and by 5:30 am we were on the road and headed back to Tampa. Later that afternoon, we finally made it. These events and road trips are always a blast, and it is an honor to be a part them. A big thanks to Southside Skatepark for having us and for hosting the Texas Skate Jam! We’ll see you next year. - Alex Bibiloni Video by Jean-Luc Vida Words and photos by Marino Nicastro.
Marino Nicastro
The SPoT Team and employees loaded up the van early before sunrise to head towards Southside Skatepark in Houston, Texas to host the 18th annual Make a Wish Texas Skate Jam. We were going to meet up with Brian Schaefer, Paul Zitzer and Alejandro Burnell who all flew down there. We planned to hit a park on the way there and back while getting a lot of great footage but weren’t ready for what was ahead of us.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Eric McKenney
Eric McKenney held it down the whole time as the driver and van commander, keeping us all in line and making sure we got where we needed to be on time. We had a long drive ahead of us as we planned on stopping at a DIY park first in New Orleans.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Dylan Perry
It was a pretty packed van, but everyone found a way to make themselves comfortable. The hijinx got worse as the trip went on.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Marino Nicastro
We made it to Parasite Skatepark in New Orleans after a 12 hour drive. It got dark not long after we got there but lucky it was lit up well.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Yonis Molina
Yonis went to the rails first with this Front Blunt.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Derick Wynn
Derick Wynn has one of the best No Complies I’ve seen.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Jack Loktu
Jack even got himself some clips. No Comply Tail Slide.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Robby Kirkland
Robby was killing it - Kickflip Front Board.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Alex Bibiloni
Alex got up the extension for this Back Tail.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Derick Wynn
That Texas Plant though! Only proper as we were heading there. We wrapped things up, stayed a night in New Orleans on Bourbon Street and headed out for Texas the next day.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Alejandro Burnell
The next day, we headed straight to Houston, Texas to get in our own session at Southside before the contest the following day. Alejandro Burnell was there already, Smith Tailgrabbing around the corner of the bowl.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Alejandro Burnell
He also has a really good Fast Plant.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
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Cody McEntire
Texas local, Cody McEntire was there skating. Switch Flip Front Crook. He told me that he had just learned these, you’d never guess because he did it down the handrail in the Best Trick contest the next day. Check that out in our other edit here.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Yonis Molina
Yonis Molina with a textbook Fakie Flip down the set!
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
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Uncle Sam Bellipanni
We headed back to Southside Skatepark the next day to host the Make a Wish Texas Skate Jam, where you can catch all the footage in our contest edit from the day before.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Ben Raybourn
Ben Raybourn spent most of his time in the bowl jam upside down.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Jack Olson
Jack Olson blew minds by kickflipping into every trick in best trick. Kickflip Nose grind.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Denis Frain
The Texas Skate Jam was a success, so we loaded up the van and decided to make a pit stop at a newly built skate plaza in Beaumont, Texas. We met some locals who were super hyped we showed up and are fans of SPoTLife.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Denis Frain
The Texas Skate Jam was a success, so we decided to make a pit stop at a newly built skate plaza in Beaumont Texas. We met some locals who were super hyped we showed up and are fans of SPoTLife.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Alejandro Burnell
Front Crail Slide by Alejandro on the tall wall.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Eric McKenney
Eric McKenney finally got to skate after working all weekend. Front nose blunt on the quarter.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Dylan Perry
DMFP - Front Nose Blunt on the handrail.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Uncle Sam Bellipanni
Uncle Sam - Front Feeble...first try. Trust me.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Denis Frain
Denis Frain will Smith Grind anything.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Marino Nicastro
I saw a Wallride to Fakie possibility, and if you know me I just had to do it. Thanks to Yonis for the multitasking. Photo cred- Dylan Perry.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Dylan Perry
Dylan Perry
Dylan then Wallied the hell out of that garbage can.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro
Eric McKenney
Eric shut down the session with this Tre Flip over the rail. After that, it was time to head back home. Thanks to Southside Skatepark for having us and to everyone who made this trip a success.
Date:
November 15, 2014
Photographer: Marino Nicastro