george crosland photo blog

The US Open of surfing is the largest surf contest in the USA. They also have skateboarding as a sideshow. This was the 10th year of the Soul Bowl. Street skaters may not be into it and that’s fine but these are the dudes, or some of em that helped buld skateboarding to what it is today. Paul Rodriguez would not be winning $100,000 if these guys did not put it on the line for say $500 for first place like 30 years ago. it’s always fun to watch these guys skate and the US Open is worth a stop if you are in town. Thanks for stopping by

Steve Alba won the very first bowl contest in Spring Valley, CA, thirty years ago. Will you still be skating in 30 years or “moved on”

Sandro Dias made a 900 two weeks ago at the Maloof money cup and he snaked some runs during the legends jam to do this body jar

Upland local Mike Barnes

What the hell? It’s John Schultes, John had the good fortune of being a vert rider for H-street right when vert died. So this guy was actually Eric Kostons team mate then

Facts about Tony Mag here; he moved from Sweden to chase the American dream and never looked back, he rips, he cut the tips of a few fingers off, he is rich from his involvement with Osiris
He is well over 40, he won the soul bowl for maybe the 10th time in a row

Josh Nelson never really got the credit he deserved in skateboarding

Corona was a sponsor and of course with beer goes bikini wearing girls. With Budweiser being bought by Stella Artois Corona is like the most AMerican major beer now

The vendor village from the pier

The Beach at 10 am on Saturday

The waves at 10 am on Saturday

You know I don’t really hang out with chicks like this, I am sure they are very nice. I would rather hang out wit the girls that skated in the women’s bowl contest but seeing as the girls went on Friday and I was at work I am giving you the next best thing - some pervy shots. I don’t actually know one model, stripper, teenage chick or porn star and my girlfriend is a very nice nurse

Dane Gudaskas in the surf event, it is the US Open of Surfing

Some serious hot older women action

Ladies and gentleman, the Fuel TV apes, Pamela Jones and an announcer

Thought the kiddies may want a closer look at Pamela Jones

Sorry, it had to be done…

…at least I had the courtesy to ask for a photo. A Rockstar sandwich

Mike Mcgill is 43, did a McTwist today, a trick he invented in Sweden in 1984 and un-veiled to the public at Del Mar and changed the world forever. STILL, not many skaters can do a 540

Tony Mag managed to not dislocate his shoulder for a while (he did twice at the Pro Tec Pool Party), Tony did a five, a heel flip frontside and just tore shiit up into 1st place

Before Tony Hawk Steve Caballero was the one to beat, in like 1979, 1980 and 1981. Steve has long show model in existence and ripped to second place

I went to the Soul Bowl mostly to get a photo of Duane Peters and I got one of him doing an Indy Air - one of many of his tricks that he invented. I went to a bar tonight and everyone had like a sleeve tattoo and freshly pressed skate outfits that have probably neve rolled on the dirt asphalt. Back in the day tattoos were for like Hells Angels and sailors, now everybody that looks like a skater has a tatoo trying to look like a skater - totally gay. Unless of course you are Duane Peters, that guy deserves like every tatoo, he is the real deal, ripping hard at 47 years olds. For all you posers with a sleeve tatto0 and you don’t skate or ride motorcycles and just sit around do do nothing - you will not be as punk as Duane Peters ever

“I don’t care if Mike McGill has a Wal Mart sticker on hia helmet, I got his back” - Dave Duncan, McGill is doing an invert to tail. You could pay $80 for the latest DC Shoe or go to Wal Mart and throw down like $20 for one of McGills shoes. One of these days I am going to buy some and try em

Bowl over view

Henry Guiterez slammed in the prelims and chose to ride on into the finals, now that is punk rock. I stole this photo from Concrete Disciples, Ray ZImmerman is a super good photographer so there you go

Womens Results
1 Mimi Knoop

Legends
1 tony Mag
2 Cab
3 Mcgill
4 DP

Pros
I was not there but I heard probably Omar or Sandro Dias won