Its that time of year again..... ESPN X Games 15 will be held in Los Angeles at the Staples Center and the Home Dept Center, Thursday July 30th to Sunday Aug. 2nd. All the Usual Supects will be there: P-Rod, Sheckler, Bob Burnquist, Danny Way, Dave Mirra, Daniel Dhers, Garrett Reynolds, Mat Rebeaud, Travis Pastrana, Nate Adams and Robbie Maddison, just to name a few. This one is sure to be packed and explosive. Personally I can't wait to see Chaz Ortiz blow them away in street. At only 15 this kid RIPS but be sure the "old timers" aren't gonna give it all up without a fight and show that lil whippersnapper whats up. Besides all the action that will be happening over the course of the event, there is also X Fest which features Live Music, interactive parks, athlete appearances and Demos autograph signing sessions, and TONS of giveaways. Industry booths will also be there for a place to spend your dolla on surf, skate, BMX and MOTO gear.
But for me I am stoked to check out "Love and Guts" which is a skateboarder influenced Art Show, First Originating in '05 at the ASR trade Show in San Diego, with artists and athletes Steve Olson, Lance Mountain and Pat Ngoho . This movement features everything from graffiti to digital art, from paint to sculpture. Their purpose is to focus on what's current and to promote work that Is "too edgy" and "unconventional". SO not only can these guys Shred they have an artistic side too. SEXY! Be Sure and check that out Sat AUG.1st, you just might see any one of these guys.....Featuring work from
Steve Olson
Christian Hosoi
Steve Caballero
Bryce Kanights
Lance Mountain
Sasha Steinhorst
Aaron Murray
Chet Childress
Chris Pastras
Eric Dressen
Bart Saric
Rune Glifberg
Dean Tirkot
Omar Hassan
Chris Ortiz
Richard Villa III
Cesario Montano
Dave Hackett
Chris Miller
Pat Ngoho
C.R. Stecyk, III
Jay Adams

There was so much that made this year's Pro-Tec Pool Party so rad. For starters, Bucky Lasek (pictured above) finally won. He's a tranny legend, wait that sounds weird. A transition legend, if you're still don't follow, it pretty much means he's one of the best on vert ramps, bowls/pools, concrete parks and pretty much anything that requires using the ramp/bowl to maintain speed and hold a line.

That said, it should be a no-brainer that Lasek is one of the best at the Combi Bowl (the bowl skated in this contest), and has come so close to winning year after year. From the start it seemed this was his year. He just had everything, the technical coping tricks and standard grab airs, and the more progressive inverted stuff that no one can touch. It wasn't even a question of who won. He even hung out at the after-party until the end, and seemed so happy and grateful.

A second highlight of the contest, was seeing two guys that have made skateboarding what it is today, still skating and still killing it. I'm referring to Christian Hosoi and Steve Caballero, both are in their 40s, and probably skate better than you. Then, there's Chris Miller, who wasn't as big of a name as the other two when he was younger, but now is the man when it comes to "old guy skating". He won the Master's division this year for the fifth time.

When thinking of pool skating there's one word that comes to mind more than any other, and that's "gnarly." Big boards, big wheels, over-vert and hard slams make skating something that was intended to be swam in so intense. Speaking of intense, I think Rune Glifberg wins Gnar-Gnar Warrior of the weekend. He took a hard slam days before the comp that gave him a concussion. Word on the street was, he wasn't going to skate the Pool Party this year, a contest he has won three times. There's one thing everyone forgot, Gliberg's from Denmark, and he channeled his inner-viking and slayed his way to third place.

All and all the event went off, and that leaves us with the last bit of news that came out of this contest. There was a rumor going around that it would not be held at The Combi next year. Well, Steve Van Doren, the man in charge of Vans, announced that the Pro-Tec Pool Party will be at the Vans Skatepark at The Block in The Combi bowl next year.

Here's some photos that, just like the one at the top of Bucky, were all taken by MORINformed:


Christian Hosoi was all shakas after a 2nd place finish in the Master's division.


Omar Hasson and his friend, who didn't know you're supposed to look at the camera.


Dave Duncan, one of the founders of the comp and the Combi Bowl.


Danny Kass was there ready to see some daggers.


One of the best young all-around skaters out there, David Loy.


Rune and Bucky set to drop-in.


Geoff Rowley gives a couple of groms some pointers.


The 20th Anniversary cake for everyone's favorite skate shoe, the Vans Half Cab.

Bucky Lasek is the 2009 Pro-Tec Pool Party Champ, he finished ahead of Omar Hasson and Rune Glifberg, who did compete. It was rumored that Glifberg, a three-time event winner, would sit this year out due to a recent concussion. Well, Rune being the viking that he is skated anyway.

Chris Miller won the Master's division for the fifth time, and Julie Kindstrand won in the Ladies division. Stay tuned for full story and behind-the-scenes coverage. Van Doren gave me a few too many drink tickets at the after-party, I'm still shaking it off.

Pros
1. Bucky Lasek
2. Omar Hassan
3. Rune Glifberg
4. Pedro Barros
5. Bob Burnquist
6. Sergie Ventura
7. Josh Bordon
8. Josh Rodriguez

Masters
1. Chris Miller
2. Christian Hosoi
3. Nicky Guerrero
4. Steve Caballero
5. Steve Alba

Ladies
1. Julie Kindstrand
2. Lyn-Z-Adams Hawkins
3. Megan Brown

Because of the bowl jam at the Cholos pool there are pro skaters all over the North Shore. The other day while on a beer run to Foodland, which this time of year is usually full of pro surfers, I ran into skate legends: Omar Hasson, Christian Hasoi and John Cardiel. All in like a five-minute span, and they didn't come together. I took a shot of Omar, who was eating lunch.

Here's the surprise I promised you, the second Bowl Jam at Steve Cholos house. You may remember the one he had two years ago that was sponsored by Quiksilver and went huge. Well, this one was way more mellow, it was kind of a secret. Steve didn't want it to be such a huge event since it is his house and everything.

Even though it was on the DL, some serious gnarsters showed up, guys like Omar Hasson, Christian Hasoi and Kalani David all got their slay on. It wasn't a contest, no money, no judges. Just the boys, and some girls, letting loose to the cheers of their crew.

There was a grom session though, that was scored, but by the crowd. I will get to that in the next post because it deserves some recognition. Check ou the photo below of: Omar and a big air to fakie, who's says skaters don't get chicks, and the backyard.