|
|
 |
|
|
Skateboarding
|
|
|
|
2001 Skater of the Year Thrasher Party
|
|
|
|
By Gonzalo "Minotauro" Seminario
|
|
|
|
Arto Saari - Crooked grind on an 18 stair handrail
|
|
|
|
My arm, my arm……….you're breaking my fucking arm!!!! Fucking pigs………That' s how the "2001 Thrasher Sk8er of The Year Party" welcomes us….
The party, which took
place on December 8th, 2001, at the Filmore Theater-San Francisco (organized by Thrasher Magazine) promised a mixture of cool music, skateboarding paraphernalia, and the "gentita": of the
pro-skateboarding scene ….Henry Santos, Bastien, Corey, Geoff Rowley….
|
|
|
|
The voting system for electing the Sk8er of the year was via e-mail to Thrasher magazine, being the one with the highest added final punctuation the 2001 sk8ers of the year.
|
|
|
|
Well, after some negotiation (….want some "Peruvian Weed?") she let us enter the theater (camera in hand). Inside the Filmore we found a complete different "Fauna": sk8ers, junkies, MTV
stars, and of course Jake (T-ed)
|
|
|
|
creator, and Chief Editor of Thrasher Mag.
As I'm drinking my beer, Jason "Wee Man" Acuna walks in front on me (the real star of the Jackass MTV show). Hey Jason
how tall are you? 4'7"…..What's your favorite food?……Mexican!"…"Un saludo for Peruboarding"….he yells …….MTV rules man!….I replied, and that's the end of our conversation.
|
|
|
|
|
In the meanwhile Nerveagent, and the Briefs are the ones injecting some energy to the party. The "pogo" gets stronger, with Jake leading the crowd. The 7 feet you must clear
to land over the crowd (including fence) is no kids-play, I'm thinking as I stepped aside. On the exact moment somebody face-lands on the bare floor "I can fly man!…, I can fly!!!!" he mumbles as the
paramedics take him out, with half of his head washed on blood.
|
|
|
|
|
|
As I'm taking my notes, and capturing some of the "pogo" action getting crazier, I realized that a small crowd is surrounding somebody in the corner… As I approach, I can recognize the
tall, slim silhouette of Arto Saari, the 2001 Thrasher Sk8er of the Year.
As people are fighting the get an autograph from him, I take some picts. I'll have to say, that Arto is perhaps one of the simplest
relaxed, yet totally cool, pro skater I've ever met. He was happy to sign autographs, been photographed with his fans, and talking to anybody willing to, although the mixture of his strong Finnish accent and
hardcore alcohol made it pretty difficult to articulate an interview at that moment.
|
|
|
|
over 7'tall/5'wide gaps, all of this with the smooth but aggressive great style that characterizes Arto's " USTED SI QUE SABE TIO"….somebody cries off the totally
euphoric crowd!…….. As a short reference, Arto decided to move into Huntington Beach to pursue a Skateboarding career in USA, although he was kicking some serious ass on his native Finland (he just
turned 20 last year).
|
|
|
|
|
|
After the kick-ass footage, Geoff Rowley (2000 sk8er of the year), Bastien, Jake and the complete "Sobe Adrenalin Nurses" are the ones in charge of giving the grand prize to Arto (well
1,000 bucks isn't bad, uh?). "I'm happy to be here…thank you" he calmly tells the crowd, at the same time "The Nurses" are applying some "therapeutic" massages to Arto. Perhaps the check wasn't the "real prize", but
most important being recognized as the 2001 sk8er of the year by the fans……..way to go ARTO!
|
|
|
Jake takes the stage, and the awarding
ceremony starts. First he shows a part of Arto's footage of the E/s video. Men, I saw some photos of Arto's tricks but seeing the "real thing" is a totally different experience. A collection of
tricks such as Nollies to Backside(and Frontside) Disasters, crooked nosegrinds, Backside noseslides, flip to boardslides over 15 stairs handrails!! where only the beginning. Big 180
backside kickflip over 4-base-3 stairs, crooked "LONG" nosegrind over Horseshoe bench, switched kickflips 
