For the sixth year the Pro-Tec Pool Party has come and gone at the Kombi bowl in the Vans Skatepark at the Block at Orange, and for the second time Bucky Lasek brought home first place in the Pro division. In what is possibly bigger news, for the first time in the history of the contest Chris Miller did not win the Masters division. His five year streak came to an end when skate legend, Steve Caballero, bowled his way to victory.

For the few years of this contest Rune Glifberg and Chris Miller had been dominant with Glifberg winning three, and Chris Miller winning five, but that all changed on a sunny Saturday at a mall in Southern California. Caballero was able to tap into what made him one of the best skateboarders of the 80s, and in the process ended Miller's streak.

In the Pro division everyone knew the winner was going to be one of three guys: Bucky Laksek, Rune Glifberg or Omar Hassan. The later two being your quintessential pool skater, relying on "the way your supposed to skate a pool," and that's where Lasek steps in. He is the reigning Dew Tour Vert Champion, and has brought a new twist to the world of bowls. He links all the inverted spins that have become a necessity in the world of vert into flawless pool runs. He throws down the tech stuff that gets the old guys pumped, then goes huge to get the crowd pumped. That's what he did on Saturday, which climaxed when he did a gay twist from pool to pool, which sounds weird but believe me, it was heavy. Here's list of the full results:

Full Results:

Masters
1. Steve Caballero (San Jose, CA) $13,000
2. Chris Miller (Del Mar, CA) $7,000
3. Lance Mountain (Alhambra, CA) $4,000

Pros
1. Bucky Lasek (Baltimore, MD)$30,000
2. Rune Glifberg (Copenhagen, DEN)$18,000
3. Omar Hassan (Costa Mesa, CA) $10,000






Here's some photos from the day:



Rune gets his Madonna on.

The most prestigious pool contest in skateboarding, the Pro-Tec Pool Party, is back again this Saturday at the Kombi bowl at the Vans skatepark in Orange, CA. When it comes to skating concrete transition anyone who is, or who ever has been someone, will be there this weekend. From the legends who compete in the Masters division, to the current big names who will skate in the Pro division, and even to the ladies who compete in the Girls division.

In the Masters the big question is, can Chris Miller win again? The guy has won it all five years the contest has gone down. He has just such a smooth style that is about as good as it gets when it comes to the skaters who have been in it for the long haul. Don't think just because he wins every year he has no competition, pool legends like: Christian Hosoi, Steve Caballero and Lance Mountain have given him a run for his money, and certainly will again this year.

The question in the Pro division is, can Rune Glifberg get back to his winning ways in this contest? When it comes to skating a pool, many call Glifberg the best, and he's walked away with first place at this contest three times. The only two who have been able to best him are Bucky Lasek and Omar Hassan. Lasek who had skated amazingly at The Pool Party for years, but just always seemed one step behind Glifberg was finally able to take first last year. Although, that does bring up another question. Rune Glifberg had suffered a concussion a few days before the contest in 09', and didn't seem to be all there during his heats. That said, will Lasek be able to finish ahead of a healthy Glifberg? Also, Bob Burnquist will be looming, and new transition sensation and 2009 Maloof Money Cup Vert champion, Alex Perelson. We'll see what happens on Saturday, to watch live click here. Here's a list of the heats and a video to hold you over:

MASTERS HEAT #1:
Chris Miller (2009 Champion)
Steve Steadham
Christian Hosoi
Tony Mag
Mike Smith
Mike Barnes
Mark Partain

MASTERS HEAT #2:
Lance Mountain
Mike McGill
Jeff Grosso
Lester Kasai
Dave Reul
Lonnie Hiramoto

lerroMASTERS HEAT #3:
Steve Alba
Josh Nelson
Nicky Guerrero
Ken Fillion
Mike Rogers
Eric Nash
Dave Duncan

MASTERS HEAT #4:
Pat Ngoho
Duane Peters
Ben Schroeder
Mark Red Scott
Brian Pennington
Eddie Reategui


PRO HEAT #1:
Bruno Passos
Tim Johnson
Lincoln Ueda
Josh Rodriguez
Pedro Barros
Zack Miller
Bob Burnquist

PRO HEAT #2:
Jimmy the Greek
Rob Lorifice
Matt Boyster
Evandro Menezes
Ben Raybourne
Nolan Munroe
Grant Taylor

PRO HEAT #3:
Nathan Beck
Tyler Mumma
Bucky Lasek (2009 Champion)
Rune Glifberg
Jackson Pilz
Bennett Harada
Omar Hassan

PRO HEAT #4:
Darren Navarette
Darin Jenkins
Alex Perelson
Sky Siljeg
Josh Borden
Sergie Ventura
Michael Brookman

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.