Surprise guests at Pier Park

Yesterday I had plans to meet up with an out-of-state friend of mine who was in town to skate some Portland area parks. I had assorted obligations for most of the day, but I definitely wanted to hook up for his last session at least. I got a text message that he was headed from Gabriel Glenhaven to Pier Park, so that’s where we were going to meet. A short while later I got the text message above. I have to be honest, my first thought was negative. I wanted to skate with my friend and not watch the Indy tour circus. That’s not a dig at Independent or their team, I just figured the park would be jam packed full of onlookers and there would be a heated session going on – meaning we’d have to stick to other parts of the park or go elsewhere if we wanted to actually skate. When MC showed up for the carpool and said he hoped the Indy team wanted to skate street… So how did it go? MC via email:

Any good shots? That was fun, much better than a Trifecta style blowout.

First of all, there were barely any spectators. It was weird and fun. The weather was muggy and there seemed to be a lot of pollen in the air. There was some amazing skating happening, but it wasn’t full-tilt all the time. It seemed like the Indy guys were working on a few specific lines for the photographers or for themselves, generally taking their time and at their leisure. The session was mellow in that sense. Locals of various talent levels took runs in between the heavies. Everyone was friendly and supportive. The tour had been there the previous night and enjoyed it enough to make a point of coming back the next. The tour was due in San Francisco the next evening. The tentative plan was to drive to Southern Oregon that night and possibly check out Matt’s private bowl before moving on to Fogtown.

Who was there? Lance Mountain, Jeff Grosso, Al Partanen, Sam Hitz (I think) and possibly other guys whose names I don’t know because I don’t have those magazine subscriptions. Hang on Lance Mountain? He rides Fury Trucks if I’m not mistaken. Also, The San Francisco date of the Indy tour is July 4th. So I don’t know what the occasion was, but the van had an enormous Indy cross logo on it. As we were walking up we just missed David Gravette trying to ollie from the small bowl into the 11 1/2 foot end of the big bowl. I guess he didn’t land it, but he didn’t eat shit either.

I’m going to break this down into two posts. Not because my shots are so great (cause they aren’t) but because… well you should know by now that I can’t edit myself. The horizontal pics can be enlarged.

Lance Mountain. He was doing this weird sweeper variation where he was actually planting his foot on the tile. I think he tried going to tail on them too. So what is that combination called, lien to tail sweeper? Leeper? You can see the rain spots on concrete.

Right after he landed this he slid out on the opposite wall and left a big smear. I think I heard someone call it a “Sweeper to Zamboni.”

Jeff Grosso tweaking pointing the frontside invert. I’m not sure if this one was a make or not.

Al Partanen

Another view of Grosso. Notice the empty park in the background.

Al Partanen

This is a (near) local. I heard this kid lives over the bridge in Vancouver. UPDATE: Local’s name – Taylor Ruiz

Here is is again. What’s your name? (Taylor Ruiz)

Jeff Grosso

Lance Mountain rock and roll board slide around the corner. This was his setup for the move in the first photo.

Possibly Sam Hitz?

Lance Mountain

Jeff Grosso

More pics tomorrow.