The first éS Game of SKATE in Poland was held at the Main Market Square in Cracow (one of the biggest markets in Europe) on July 23, 2006. With temps rising to 35 degrees celsius, the day was really hot. At starting time, there were more than 100 entrants from all over the country and more than 200 spectators.
Torrevieja, Alicante is a European vacation resort on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. What better place to hang out with pals and enjoy a friendly éS Game of SKATE? The event was held at the Ozone Shopping Center at rush hour while a bunch of tourists milled around all the restaurants, movie theaters and even a disco. Perfect!
Thank goodness the éS Game of SKATE in Dubai, United Arab Emirates was held indoors this time, because it was scorching hot outside. It was at least 47 degrees celsius + humidity. We hosted the event on July 20, 2006 in Dubai’s only indoor air-conditioned skatepark, Rampworks. The day started off at around 10:00 a.m. with everyone busting out their flatground tricks. After a few hours of practicing, the guys were ready to compete against each other and show-off.
The éS Game Of SKATE 2006 Canadian Finals took place on Friday, August 25, 2006 during Slam City Jam at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We flew out the winners of the previous Canadian games, and they went head-to-head with 40 others.
And the winner is...Alex Mizurov!
The third annual Boost Mobile + éS Game of SKATE Amateur World Championships and 2006 Finals went down on Saturday, September 9, 2006 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Action Sports Retailer trade show in San Diego, California.
Presented by Boost Mobile.
After about two weeks at home after the éS Game of SKATE Tour, we were all itchin’ to get back in the van and hit the road, and when Las Vegas is the destination, it’s always a little sweeter than most other places. So, we arrived on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 and checked into the Mandalay Bay, allegedly the home of the best pool in Vegas. Well, we took a swim to avoid the 100-degree heat, and although the wave pool was fun, give me the Hard Rock any day.
Presented by Boost Mobile.
The éS Game of SKATE we held in Baton Rouge on Sunday, July 23, 2006 was the first time we’ve done an event in Louisiana. It was also the last stop on our tour, and the hottest day we’d had yet—close to 100 degrees with 98 percent humidity. Our hosts at Rukus put together a great event. It was a Sunday, so we could take over the parking lot of their center, and we pulled up to a huge crowd and tons of skaters.
Presented by Boost Mobile.
As the éS Game of SKATE has grown, we’ve realized that it’s tough to go everywhere we want to. Each year, we have plans to go to Seattle, for instance, but we’ve never made it North of San Jose, California, despite our plans. Some places just don’t fit into the neat, easy-to-fit tour schedule that we try to make. Well, after Fayetteville, it was great to be able to fit Faith, in Birmingham, Alabama, into the plan for our day off on Saturday, July 22, 2006. It worked out perfectly, actually, as Birmingham is halfway between Fayetteville and Baton Rouge, our last stop on the tour.
Presented by Boost Mobile.
For the éS Game of SKATE in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Friday, July 21, 2006, our partner was Duh! Skateshop and Skatepark, and in keeping with the tradition of Southern hospitality, our hosts were very gracious. Upon arriving and setting up, we were greeted cordially by 72 amped-up and sweaty skaters. Another Southern tradition is the sweaty indoor skatepark, and Duh! kept that one very much alive!
Presented by Boost Mobile.
As we rolled into Virginia Beach, Virginia on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 for the éS Game of SKATE, I warned the crew in the van that the set-up might be a little wacky, and also told them I’d spoken with a couple of the local skaters who had assured me it would be fine. I was referring to the masonite that was going to be used as the skating surface.