Damn Am Japan 2022: Practice Photos Article at Skatepark of Tampa

DJ

It's always a good time when DJ Wade is tagging along. Smiles all around!

Obligatory Murakami City Skatepark photo

The Murakami City Skatepark is an olympic training facility. They're got everything here from rock climbing to tight rope walking. How long could you balance on this thing?

If you don't have the balance you can hop on over to something a little more up to your speed.

Sena

Sena kicking off practice with a heelflip front lip. That's right. A heelflip into a front lipslide.

Taiga

Taiga Nagia warms up with a casual front blunt.

Taiga

Followed by a cab back overcrook. Is that what that is called? Is the internet going to be pissed at me for calling it that?

Daiki

We've got kids from all over Japan showing up. There's our good friend Daiki up on the deck!

Derick

Don't be fooled. Glancy stole all of that Yen out of the registration bag! Maybe if you toss him a few Yen he will take a better head shot photo of you.

Uncle Sam

Drop by and see Sam, Toshi, and Glancy to get registered for the contest. These guys will make it painless!

Niko

The best part about Japan's scene is that there are a ton of women skaters - and they're all REALLY good. Here's Niko Sugimoto front lipping down the handrail with ease.

Daiki

There he is. Two time Damn Am winner Daiki Ikeda! Kickflip front blunt on lock.

Ichika

Ichika is one of the youngest kids at the contest - weighing in at 10 years old! This kickflip backlip was first try.

Ichika

Believe it or not, this is after catching a backside flip. Joetaro has them DIALED. It's absolutely insane to see.

Kai

One of my favorite photos of the day. Nollie backside flip from Kai Suematsu

DJ

Glancy, Akio, and DJ Wade holding it down at the DJ table.

Chris

Chris Blake made it out to Japan with us. He'll be one of our judges for the contest alongside Glancy and our new homie Rob!

Aimu

Front crook up the rail from Aimu Yamazuki

Families and fans camping out in the stands watching all the insane skateboarding going down!

Kairi

Kairi hops in the mix and throws a first try flick back tail down the hubba. Not sure I need to mention that it was first try because pretty much every single photo I shot during practice was of a trick being done first try.

Yui

Yui Harada kickflip front board with ease

Derick

Our boy Glancy just couldn't sit still at registration. No warm up crook up the rail.

Always have to include one artsy photo in my blog posts. Tre flip silhouette shot.

Sena

Sena Watanabe owns the heelflip in every variation. Back heel down the set.

Toa

This is the moment a kickflip was caught right before going into a noseblunt. What are these kids eating out here in Japan!?

Daisuke

Two of Japan's finest helped us make Damn Am happen at Murakami Skatepark. Daisuke Hayakawa (left) is the Japanese Olympic coach and Akio Honma (right) is the owner of Insant which is the largest skate shop in Japan!

Seto

Seto Kitano throws a front feeble down the handrail during Women's Practice. Excited to see how the Women's Qualifiers plays out!

Seto

Seto can front feeble really well. As pictured above.

Aoi

Aoi Ishimaru back board into the bank. It's really hard to take a photo that does this rail justice. You're flying at this thing and going into practice traffic.