Skating with the Big Boyz.

(If my pictures look odd in this post,  they are. Just don't ask why-that's another story for another time)

The boys got news back in March that a Pro Skateboarding tour was coming to Nashville in June. From that moment  the countdown was on. My skater punks were doing all they could to keep themselves occupied just to make it to this particular day. They wanted to see the big boys, the professionals, the X-Games gold medal winners.. basically the skate board industry's biggest icons. But if I'm really being honest, want they really wanted to do was just to skate with them. That is all they really wanted.  To skate. With the big boys.

So I devised a game plan.

I decided to pack lots of food and cold drinks, get there 2 hours early and park as close as possible to the event for convenience. Being that it was taking place at our local mall's parking lot I figured we could just walk back and forth to the car to eat and refresh. It was good plan. It worked. We parked directly beside the pro's luxury RV's. Bonus!

 

My next step in being there early was to talk to the event staff. I wanted to know if the vert ramp would be open to the public, if kids would be able to skate it and also where the autograph signing's would be.

It was a dang big ramp.

Sorry.

 

The event staff was very friendly but informed me that unless you were a sponsored skater or a member of a skate team you could not skate the vert ramp.

Crap!

Sorry.

I knew this would not work for the Chandler boys. They came to skate. So my wheels started turning. No pun intended. Seriously.

We quickly spotted our beloved 6th Ave Skatepark tent. The place where Mo won his first competition here. And we hung out and chatted about the fun we were about to experience. My wheels were still turning.

 

And before we know it, this guy walked around the corner put his arm around the kids shoulders and started taking skating with them. Not a single one of the kids could speak. You think I'm kidding.

This by the way would be Mr. Tony Alva. For those of you who do not know who he is he would be the main dude responsible for actually creating skateboarding. Well that's what I think. Just about. If Tony Hawk is the legend then Tony Alva is the icon. Tony Alva is skateboarding. You know the whole Lords of Dog Town movie? Well here's your guy. 

 

He talked to the boys then asked them if they wanted to skate with him. Still unable to speak I spoke for them.  I said "Mr. Alva they would love that. And do you mind if they get a picture with you"    "Sure " he said.   He told us he would return with his skateboard later. 

My wheels were still turning.

He signed a few things and then the people started to file in. One item being Austin's helmet. I think the thing needs to go in a glass case. Just sayin.

 

He talked a bit more.

 

Then he took off to skate.

My wheels were really turning then. Smoking at that point.

Next thing I knew an event staff member came and got several members of the 6th Avenue skate team to skate the ramp before the pros took it for the demo. Even included one of Morgan's buddy's Jacob pictured above with them. But they did not take my boys.

Morgan (nearly in tears) said "Mom I have to get over there and skate the ramp!"

Me being the crazy, nutcase mom I am raised my hand above the oodles of people and said to one of the workers "Excuse me but these boys here were suppose to go with that group that just went to  skate the ramp and they forgot us" He said "Well then come to the front here sign a waiver and get over there"!  

We were in!

And that was all she wrote.

Goodbye.

I'm kidding. What happened next will no doubt stay in their minds for the rest of their lives.

They got to skate the Rockstar vert ramp with the pros. And skate they did.

This would be Morgan. He's skating with.....

Tony.

 

And with Bucky Lasek. Who has won ten X-Games medals. Six were golds. And he currently has the highest score in X-Games skateboarding Vert history.

You can see why here. Holy Mackeral! Bucky even had to wait for Morgan to get out of his way several times before doing a run. How's that for hysterical?

Bucky and the boys ramp side. He's a cool guy. 

We also enjoyed the talents of  and skated with Mr. Christian Hosoi.

Who the boys also got a pic with.

Also  the great Steve Caballero

Mike Frazier

Who is also long time good friend's (since they were 15yrs old) with our local skateboard shop owner and ex pro Donny Myhre. Here they are talking.

 

Also there were skateboard great Omar Hussan

 

Whom we also got a pic with.

And female pro skater Cara Beth Burnside. Who hold's more than sixteen titles including X-game wins. She's brave. I am not.

Austin also skated. But he was more interested in hanging ramp side with the pros. Who gets to do that?

 

Morgan even rolled back a board or two to the big guys when one went astray.

Rolling one back to Frazier here below. But he helped many others. I'm 100 percent sure they were all very appreciative of his help.

There are so many other stories to tell of this day. To many for one post.

I will tell more. They are extremely funny.

Best part of the day for me was when Morgan said upon arriving home nine hours later. "Mom I never really want this day to end"

That was music to a (tired, sunburned, deaf -from the loud band music) mothers ears.

More stories to come.

Over and out.

The (crazy but so very glad that I am) Sideline Mom.

Comments

[Charlie]

Very cool, dudes. I used to go to skate tours religiously, but in the past few years I haven't hit too many. You two are off to a good start at being featured in these tours one day; keep at it and you'll have people flocking to see you!