Zaturdays: The SLS Pro Open is Foreign and Fantastico
Posted
on
on Friday, May 15, 2015
by Paul
Working under a harsh deadline for an article he was writing about the Kentucky Derby back in 1970, Hunter S. Thompson turned in what came to be known as the first piece of “Gonzo Journalism.” The story, called “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved,” consisted of Thompson’s drunken recollections of the weekend with himself, not the race, as the centerpiece. In a similar vein as in terms of the deadline and title, but not much else, for today's Zaturdays I give you this: The SLS Pro Open is Foreign and Fantastico. This whole thing started for Schaefer and me when we were hammering out the specifics of the partnership with Street League. Beyond the hype that was built around the Damn Am and the Tampa Am and Pro, Schaefer asked the big dogs at SLS, “What can we do to help with YOUR events?” Take this as a reminder that it really never does hurt to ask. Because here we are, six months later sipping Mojitos on the beach in Barcelona Spain, having been flown in to host the webcast of Saturday’s SLS Pro Open Qualifiers. Which reminds me, you need to head over to StreetLeague.com right now to make sure you don’t miss a minute of it. It might be live as we speak. Although we left home on Tuesday, if you take into account the long flight, the six hour time change, the four hour Spanish meals, the eternal search for the nearest Starbucks / Wi-Fi connection, and the inability to go ten feet [3 meters?] without bumping into someone you haven’t seen in years and need to catch up with, here it is four days later and I have yet to even get to my most urgent emails. Sorry if you’re waiting on a reply. So long story short, Dyrdek is trusting BS and myself with the kickoff to the entire 2015 SLS series and it’s kind of a big deal. We’ve got production meetings with show producers, powwows with the TV announcers [including Geoff Rowley and Felix, hey now!] piles of notes about SLS pros, history lessons, research assignments, call times, spreadsheets, talking points etc. Wish us luck because we’re not in Tampa anymore Toto. But Spain rules and no matter what happens during our stab at covering SLS for the interweb, we are stoked, and honored, and consider ourselves the luckiest dudes on the Iberia Peninsula. Barcelona was the skate mecca of the entire 2000s for a reason, and here we are right in the thick of it. And yes, the rumors are true, there are spots everywhere. I’ve seen so many legendary things to shred within pushing distance of our hotel that they could keep a person ocupado for a year, and while those ABDs might get you at MACBA, there are a thousand other spots that nobody has bothered to blow out because there’s another one across the street, and another one across the street, and so on. And did I mention the vibe of the city? It’s unparalleled in the world due in part to the Spanish approach to living, which includes sleeping till noon, eating dinner at 10:00pm, and stumbling back home around 5:00am. Not great for productivity but who needs productivity when you’re on the beach at a brand new perfect skatepark in glorious weather surrounded by beautiful people who are happy to be doing it up properly? Thanks for reading, but now if you don’t mind, I’ve got studying to do. Words and photos by Paul Zitzer, unless otherwise noted.
Peter Ramondetta
This spot is like a mile long, but only about 10 feet of it is skateable. Here we have Peter Ramondetta and Andrew Cannon obliging my tourist photo request.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Paul Zitzer
I landed a super sketchy frontside blunt and it only took an hour. Photo by Cannon.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Andrew Cannon
Chris Cole
Meanwhile, just outside the hotel, reality TV going down with Chris Cole (Plan B!) and Tom Asta (Santa Cruz!), two PA kids in a foreign land.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Manny Santiago
Moments after Brian tried to start some sort of an argument with Manny...in Spanish.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Chaz Ortiz
RB Umali, Steez Ortiz, and One Felix, aka the Cuban Papa Smurf.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
They’re not kidding when they say there’s stuff to skate everywhere in Barcelona, this is a sketchy photo of a cement bowl inside the Nevermind bar…or club…or discotec?
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Geoff Rowley
So my flash didn’t go off, but Cannon and Rowley do the tourist pose while reminiscing about Jamie Thomas ABDs on these marble benches.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Madars Apse
Back on the street course, Madars Apse blasts one off frontside for Berger and Wes.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Paul Zitzer
Felipe Gustavo
Felipe Gustavo... he got here thanks to Tampa. Just like us! Photo by Schaefer.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Brian Schaefer
Matt Berger
Berger, peace out. Photo by Schaefer.
Date:
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Brian Schaefer