Post #439178 by TabooDan on Tue, Mar 10, 2009 9:39 PM

I should have posted this already but I just keep putting it off so now I am making some time. I don't think Reido posted about this so I will throw it on here.

I figured I would also get this posted because as I was doing posts for the Zombie Hideaway, some people were quite interested in the skateboard collection that was on the wall in some of the photos. Since a few of you were interested, I figured I would tell you about this project we did. Maybe a few of you who aren't into skateboarding might like to see something a little different.

The summer before last, I got a email from a friend who used to photograph for a skateboard magazine called "Concrete Powder" back in the day. He did lot's of stuff with the local scene and knew all the pro skaters and just about everyone else.

He wanted to know if we would do a Trophy or Award for this event that was happening which he was apart of. He told me the Trophy would be for a Skateboarding competition that was happening here in Vancouver that he was helping to organize. ARE YOU FRICKIN KIDDING ME??????

Two of my favorite things in the world did a full on collision right in front of me!! My mind started racing with ideas. I knew we had to do this!! All my other plans quickly changed as we only had about two weeks to do it and I still wasn't sure what to do. Turns out it was actually for the 2007 World Freestyle Skateboarding Championships which was being held here in Vancouver, Canada. This Trophy would be the main prize for the Champion of the competition. Cool!!

I knew it had to be something original but still had to look like a Trophy and still be Tikified! I figured I would keep it looking pretty close to an actual Trophy as I thought this would be a good look. We could have just done a carving, threw it on a wood base, put a plaque on it and call it a Trophy but I wanted it to be different.

I decided to build it like you would see a regular trophy. I wanted a lower base with the two columns coming up supporting another section and then a mount of some sort on the top. Maybe a tiki or skateboarder.
After I started to play around with the construction, I quickly decided I would get my partner, Reido, to carve a Tiki which I would mount to the first, lower section of the trophy. His direction from me was to have a Tiki holding a skateboard with carved details from one side only. That way I could mount the Tiki right on the lower section. That was all I needed to tell him and he took it from there! Reido did an awesome carving based roughly on a Coco Joe piece but his own style. I think it came out pretty nice!

Check it out:

For the top piece, I went with a handmade skateboard wheel. I used an old Kryptonic skateboard wheel as a guide and then cut and sanded a piece of cedar to look like a real wheel. I even drilled a hole like the real wheel and inserted a Swiss Bearing and nut and bolt as well!

Here's a closer shot of Reido's cool carving:

Sorry about the flash! The plaque I had done in a 70's style font and it reads: WFSA FREESTYLE CHAMPION 2007

Here's the Trophy on one of the judge's table with some of the other awards:

There were quite a few professional and amateur skateboarders from all over the world like the United States, Sweden, Germany, Norway, Japan, England, Canada and a few others. It truly was an exciting thing to be apart of and to do something for skateboarding and for these guys that are still committed to it after all these years and for the new skaters coming in was something really special. One of my more personally rewarding things I have done with our business. After all, skateboarding really got me into this Tiki thing anyway!

Speaking of old decks you skateboard lovers, my jaw dropped when I saw this reissue Kevin Harris freestyle board in the beautiful red finish:

One of my favorite freestyle boards that ever came out!!

Here's a couple shots of the skating for you lovers out there!!
Here is the one and only Kevin Harris doing a ONE wheel 180, 360, 540, 720 spin! He kept going and going!!

Here's a cool shot of the States own Lynn Cooper going to town on two, not one, skateboard!:

I am kicking myself for not remembering his name, but this guy from Brazil was pretty damn good too! Here he is doing a one legged nose manual:

Believe me, the photos don't do these guys justice at all, but these skaters were awesome and what a bunch of really nice and down to earth people!
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SKATEBOARDER!!

Here's two shot's of the award presentation with the Trophy:

Kevin Harris takes it home!! I thought that was pretty cool as he was always one of my favorite freestyle skaters!! And hey, having a local boy win it was pretty cool! I was also a little worried about shipping this guy out to Japan or Europe somewhere!!

Here's a group photo of the WFSA's 2007 participants:

I thought I would throw in this last shot cause I thought it was funny. This is Mrs.Harris carrying around the Trophy like it was an old suitcase!!:

After the contest, Kevin told me that he was totally stoked on winning the Trophy and that it was going to go front and center with all his other awards! He also said that it was one of his favorite that he has one over his twenty five years of skating!! I thought that was pretty cool.

Thanks for looking and I hope maybe this brought back a few memories for some of you old rippers out there!!!

Later skater!!
TabooDan

[ Edited by: TabooDan 2009-03-12 15:11 ]