Damn Am Select Series Chicago 2015: Semi Finals, Finals, and Best Trick Photos
Posted
on
on Monday, June 15, 2015
by Chris
Deep Dish, The Chicago Style Damn Am
There was one major storyline going into the third stop of the Damn Am Select Series that went down in Chicago over the weekend, and it’s what we at SPoT have been referring to as the “Battle for Damn Am of the Year,” like some WWF Main Event type of thing. Dashawn “The Destroyer” Jordan and Yoshi “Bolts” Tanenbaum, each with a 2015 win in his pocket, would be going at it in the Windy City to see who would take the lead. Other, more minor storylines included the fact that this was the first time the Damn Am would take place in Chicago, which isn’t surprising when you consider how much skateboarding overlooks Chicago in general, even though it’s one of the biggest, raddest, and most skateable cities in America. On a side note, when you show up at Grant Skatepark, with its central downtown location right off Lake Michigan, if you’re not blown away by how great the place is then you are probably not a skateboarder. Sorry. The City in general was going OFF when we showed up. Concerts in the park, NHL finals, Spring Time. If you live in a place where winter is an actual thing you can appreciate the locals’ excitement about getting out of the house and hitting the streets. Unfortunately the last story of the weekend was the weather. The forecast looked like this: Rain. Rain. Rain. More rain. Etc. Fortunately Mother Nature must have a kid who skates, because she decided to chill and let us get through the contest with just enough sunshine to dry the course up in time for dudes to kill it. The Midwest skaters weren’t phased, David Dixon and Tony Christopher from Detroit, Cole Wayka from Wisconsin, Henry Gartland from Minnesota and a grip of shredders from the greater Chicago area. Things in the Finals worth mentioning: Marcus Sarsycki was the only Chi-Town local to make it in. With butter style and tricks like the front blunt big spin out down the handrail (which he did in Best Trick), he could have won if he’d stayed on a few more moves. Dashawn Jordan and Alex Midler, who qualified in first and second, both skated great in the Finals but not great enough to win. Midler made the trick of the contest though with a backside 270 kickflip to lipslide on the A-frame. And finally, the aforementioned Yoshi Tanenbaum wasn’t even IN the finals, due to a few too many bails in the Semi-Finals, which left us thinking, “Well looks like Dashawn will definitely be grabbing the lead for Damn Am of the Year then.” And we’re not haters but we kind of forgot all about Micky Papa’s chances. Because while it’s true that he always rips and that he placed 2nd at Tampa Am last year and 2nd in LA in May, he ALWAYS places 2nd and doesn’t ever actually win. In fact, looking at his results over the past few years you’ll find like 10 top two finishes, no wins. Always the bridesmaid… But DAMN if Micky didn’t come out on his first run in the Finals and kickflip into every crook, 50-50, and back tail, and put such a hurting on the course that there was absolutely no question that he won it. I think he might have been the only person at Grant who was surprised that he did. Curse broken and congratulations (!) Micky. Sorry we overlooked you. The next stop of the Damn Am Select Series will be popping off at the Volcom TF in Costa Mesa, CA August 7 -9, and after his breakthough in Chicago, Micky just might do it again. @paulzitzer
Markus Jalaber
David Dixon and Markus Jalaber ponder life and what is to come on the final day of Damn Am Chicago.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Sean Davis
Sean Davis Tre Flips a very miniature pyramid corner.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
SWAG!
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Lotty Doddy we like to partay!
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Sky Wells
Sky Wells goes up to Sweep the deck until he realizes.. There isn't one.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Hey gurl, I got some Visine in the car if you wanna borrow some.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Marcos Montoya
Finals without Marcos Montoya would be like a S'mores without the Marshmallow.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
My boy Clayton Gabor has quite the sitting stance, also I'm pretty sure that dude on his right wants to kick my ass.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
David Dixon
This might or might not be a bail shot. You know... it’s really none of your business.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Uncle Sam Bellipanni
Skatepark of Tampa's finest: Uncle Sam and Wesley Box.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Cole Wayka
Cole Wayka lofts his way into a Switch Tail.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Conner Smallwood
Conner Smallwood goes for the angry emoji face or maybe those are mutton chops.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Justin Drysen
Marble Ledges in a park is key, Justin Drysen takes advantage with a Nollie One-Eighty Switch Crook.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Spot/Yeah Collab!?
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Gage Boyle
Why stall where you can fly? Gage Boyle abides.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
A big thanks to Erica from Nike for helping us plan this out, here she is going full on skater girl.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
She can even rock that JC Penny catalog look too, if need be.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Dashawn Jordan
This is what a still of a Lazer Heel looks like, I dunno mannnnnn. Either way Dawshawn Jordan is a force to be reckoned with.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Christian Dufrene
Christian Dufrene got 3rd place. Hell yea lil playa!!
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Alex Midler
Alex Midler always makes me take his photo. He was on this Nosegrind like foreverrrrrrr. It's like dude, hurry up already!
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Micky Papa
Micky Papa Nollie Flip Back Grinds The Hubba.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Nike's Erica and Lisa both won trophies just for showing up and being themselves.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Tyler Hunger
I'm pretty sure this is Tyler Hunger doing a Frontside Feeble Grind.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
These two guys get the best trick contest started with some two board hi-jinks.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Tony Christopher
Tony "side project" Christopher buffs his tail to perfection with a skidder down the hubba.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Yoshi Tanenbaum
Yoshi Tanenbaum Backside Three Flipped aka the Blizzard Flip down the set via best trick contest causing him to obtain the 3rd place spot in that category.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Micky Papa
Micky Papa got 2nd place in Best Trick with KF Backtail Biggie down the Hubba; check the edit to see all the footage of these hot moves.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Dashawn Jordan
Even after being snaked about a hundred times, Dashawn Jordan rifled off trick after trick throughout the Best Trick Contest, getting him first in the category. This 360 Flip 50/50 was just the tip of the iceberg.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Markus Jalaber
It was after the buzzer and the photo is shitty, but Markus Jalaber's Backside 180 Flip Nosegrind was off the hook!
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Good things come to those wait.
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones
Micky Papa
Christian Dufrene 3rd place!! Alex Midler 2nd place!! and finally for once Micky Papa 1st place!! Congratulations!!!
Date:
June 15, 2015
Photographer: Bart Jones