A-Town Stomp
Thank god for friends who document rollerblading like Trace Taylor, who sent us photos, and Uncle Blake who sent some words about the event.
This past weekend I traveled to Atlanta for the inaugural A-Town Stomp. The A-town stomp is a new street contest hosted by the infamous Starnes brothers, and held under the “A Chosen Few” series. I initially intended to compete in the event. However after forcing myself to skate the unattractive handi rails that made up spot #1, I was left bowing out w/ a minor ankle sprain. This actually turned out well because I was now able to cover the event and let you know how it all went down.
As I mentioned, I didn’t plan to cover the event and Trace didn’t plan to take any shots either. So we have no coverage of spot #1 because we old heads wanted nothing to do with a high handi rail. However, spot #1 turned out more eventful than anticipated. The young bucks threw down a variety of switch-ups, and transfers. Gumby pulled off what I thought was the highlight of the handi portion with a top soul transfer to ao soul. Cody Porsche was able to get creative and found a high, unorthodox square gate that he top souled, and fishbrained. The same gate was then swung around, and Gumby worked in another transfer by doing a royale up the handi to backslide on the gate.
After the handi rail portion, a bonus spot was added. A stair rail that looked straight out of a Mad Max movie. The rail was about 20 stairs, down a caged hallway with an extremely low ceiling. You had to sit your tricks just to get down the rail, and there was no bail out option on the way down. Steven Tat, after maiming the handi rails, had several tricks for the Mad Max rail. My personal favorite was his steezy, motionless frontside. He had to hold it UFO style to get under the low ceiling. This was actually one of my favorite tricks of the day, and possibly one of the coolest frontsides I’ve ever seen.
Now that you’re pretty much up to speed on what we missed at Spot #1, and it was off to spot #2. Trace had missed some good captures at the first spot. He decided from here on out he wasn’t going to let anything out of the sight of his lens. Before he had a chance to set up, Gumby had already brought out his battle ax.
-As the crowd arrived the start of the session at spot #2 began. This is Gumby in the midst of a line. He ledge rolled the first set to forward air over the 16 stair onto a shitty patch of sidewalk, and in between the 2 parked cars. Before most of the crowd even arrived he was able to film a fastslide down the 16 stair, and through the parked cars. I believe he also smashed his face on one of the attempts.
“Gumby is fucking savage!” Kevin Dowling
After Gumby hacked up the competition, it was time to give the rest of the competitors a chance to catch up. So the crowd lined up to block the second set of stairs to keep the skaters from tumbling down them, and a nice little rail session went down.
-Of course Gumby wasn’t done yet. Here are a few of the many tricks he put down on this rail. Pictured is an AO acid, and ao top soul.
-At this point, David Sizemore wanted to get in the mix. I don’t believe he was actually competing but being the true professional he is, took the opportunity to represent his game. David laced several impressive tricks down this rail with ease. This tru top soyale was his first trick of the day.
-I don’t know what this building is but this guy was uneasy with 30 skaters flying down the stairs. Brian Starnes smoothed things over to buy us a little more time before the cops arrived, which they never did.
-Cody had a strong showing at this spot too. Pictured is one of his 270 back nugen variations. This included 270 back nugen to 270 out, to royale, and to kind grind. He also put down another one of my favorite tricks of the day with a top soul to ledge roll and back to soul on the same rail.
-The hurricane top acid attempt shown here by Steven towards the end of the session. I don’t think he was able to land it in time but this just goes to show the level of tricks that were going down. He also laced a full cab back royale prior to this, and few other tricks that have slipped my mind.
-The crowd was then off to the final spot. From what I was told by John Kelso the final spot was, “an old school spot with a twist.” An old school spot it was. The ATL “Big 4,” was the attempted location of the IMYTA that was held some years back. Now the new generation would have a chance to finish what was never started from that contest. While everyone waited for the “twist,” some of the competitors took advantage of the big 4 gap, with some impressive aerial maneuvers.
-Gumby did several fakie back flips until he nailed this one with a perfect mute grab. He also did a few spins over the table, and a 360 onto the table 180 off which was flat out nuts.
-David had done a number of different airs including a forward 720, and this switch 540.
-Steven also took advantage attempting a 900. He had to have landed several other airs, I just don’t remember
-Gumby, and Jamie Olmstead waiting for the “twist”
-The “twist” arrives, and the session was back on.
-While others warmed up with a back royale, Steven warms with a tru savy, and then follows it up with a 270 back unity.
-Quintin Lamb decided it was time his presence be noticed with this fakie outspin sweaty. I think it should be noted that Quintin skates twice as fast as everyone else. Soon after landing this he landed a 360 fishy. Mach speed, and steeze is the name of Q’s game.
-Fresh off of his win from the Boot, Bangers, and Burgers session; Mike Harper had strong showing all day. Here you see him with a full cab tru mizu, full cab out
-The South is full of raw talent, and these 2 pics are prime examples. Carson Starnes taking time from his hosting duties to bust this gusty toe roll 180 out, and Dustin Spangler w/ a tru top soul on the grind.
-Right before the box was re-adjusted for its final setting Steve laced a sweaty on the curve 360 out, and then did it again spinning 360 out the other way.
-This last and final setting of the box saw some of the day’s biggest bangers, and hardest falls. Just before stomping a topsoul 720 out, and what could arguably be the best trick of the day, a topsoul 900 out, Steven got it started with this 180 over the box.
-Mike Harper got in one last hammer with this full cab back royale to rewind 360 off
-Quintin wasn’t done either. Here is his 180 to zero stale off the box. He topped his day off with a fakie 360 on the box to fakie 360 off the box, again with the immaculate signature style.
I wish I could say that the contest ended in epic fashion w/ Steven’s top soul 900 out. However, it’s hard to stop a contest when the competitive juices are flowing. Gumby took one last attempt at a back fast slide, fakie out. Unfortunately he came up short clipping the bench and falling hard about 8 feet to his back. It looked bad enough to end anyone’s career but “Gumby is a fucking savage!” As he laid there moaning in pain, he mumbled something about a broken back and everyone was expecting the worst. I whispered to my fiancé that, “Gumby has a way of over dramatizing his condition after falls, and he’ll probably be doing back flips off of balconies later (not to take away from the severity of the fall or pain he must’ve been in).” Soon after that he crawled to his feet, and skated rigidly around the corner for some alone time. The contest was now done.
However, the event wasn’t over. The Starnes made plans for an all ages after party at a local pizza joint. When I arrived, the back patio was completely full of nothing but skaters. While everyone waited for the judges to delegate their decision we crushed some pizza and the older heads were downing some much needed liquid refreshment. Nothing beats a cold beer after a hard day of skating, or in our case watching skating.
After a long anticipated wait, the results were in. I’ll be honest, I hate 1st place ties in contest but I wouldn’t have been bent out of shape one bit if Gumby, and Steven tied. However, the judges saw it another way, and gave Gumby the win, Cody P 2nd, and Steven Tat 3rd. My honorable mentions go to Daniel Henderson, Mike Harper, Phillip Deal, and Dustin Spangler for busting it out all day, and at every spot.
The A-Town Stomp was nothing short of a great event. Even with very short notice the ATL scene can still represent big by showing up in full force. The Starnes put together one of the best street contests I’ve witnessed in some years and I can’t wait to attend next year. Events like these have been sprouting like wild fire in the ATL scene. The end of this month they are having a park contest at Progressive skate park. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it but if you want to be a part of the festivities you should go and check it out.
-Blake Taylor-
