The original skate shoe just released a mini commercial of their team tearing apart the streets. This is a mini preview to a full length film we hope they release very soon, it's long overdue.

The Vans Pro team is stacked with the likes of Geoff Rowley, Tony Trujillo, Dustin Dollin, Anthony Van Engelen, Johnny Layton, Ray Barbee, and John Cardiel.

The 6th annual Vans Downtown Showdown went down as usual at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA Saturday night. The teams participating in the obstacle building were Black Label, Pretzel Grip, Zero and Foundation.

The performer of the contest was without a doubt recently turned Chocolate pro, Vincent Alvarez, who was his usual tornado of fast skating destruction. Other standouts included legends Chris Cole and Omar Hassan. Cole even put in an extra effort in Foundation's "F'd Up Stair Set," which he wasn't slotted to skate, but because of an injury to Jamie Tancowny re-checked and saved the day for Zero.

The overall winning team was Pretzel Grip a controversial combination of members of the Girl, Chocolate and Anti-Hero teams. A bit questionable as far as "fair," goes, but who doesn't want to see Tony Trujillo, Vincent Alvarez, Chris Pfanner and Mike Carroll skate.

Nick Merlino tre flip. Photo: Zimmerman via Vans

Here are the full results:

Black Label's "Off the Wagon"
1. Chris Cole (Zero) - $2,500
2. Chris Pfanner (Pretzel Grip/Anti-Hero) - $1,500
3. Nick Merlino (Foundation) - $1,000

Pretzel Grip's "Time Trials Classic"
1. Omar Hassan (Black Label) - $2,500
2. Steven Reeves (Powell Peralta) - $1,500
3. Nolan Munroe (Powell Peralta) - $1,000

Zero's "Blood Bath"
1. Vincent Alvarez (Pretzel Grip/Chocolate) - $2,500
2. Guillaume Mocqui (Element) - $1,500
3. Tony Trujillo (Pretzel Grip/Anti-Hero) - $1,000

Foundation's "F'd Up Stair Set"
1. Nick Merlino (Foundation) - $2,500
2. Garrett Hill (Zero) - $1,500
3. Chris Cole (Zero) - $1,000

Top Am Performance Nick Merlino (Foundation) - $5,000

Top Pro Performance Vincent Alvarez (Pretzel Grip/Chocolate) - $5,000

Overall Team Winner Pretzel Grip (Girl/Anti-Hero) ($30,000), Zero 2nd ($15,000), Powell Peralta 3rd ($5,000)

Transition. www.dictionary.com defines the word as; movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another. Pour some cement all over that definition and you have the Skate Park division of X Games 16. It has only been held twice making it a relatively new division to the games, but one of the more popular skate events, especially amongst actual skateboarders.

On this course it's all about choosing a line, going fast, grinding coping, and clearing: hips, gaps and flats. The name of the game is speed, and the ability to keep that speed for as long as possible, and hit as many obstacles as you can along the way is the plan of attack. A cross between pool and street skating this discipline attracts a diverse group of skateboarders. You have your straight up pool guys like Rune Glifberg and Omar Hassan. You have your vert guys like Bucky Lasek and Andy MacDonald. Finally, you have your all-around guys like David Gravette and Jake Duncombe. The later being skaters who film street sections for their sponsors, but have pool and other types of transition skating mixed in.

The first year of Park was held was on an all wood course during X Games 14. Then, last year at X Games 15 it took place on combination wood and concrete course. Now, this year at X Games 16 an all-concrete course has been constructed complete with a glass wall-ride extension. It is like one of those perfect concrete parks they have up in Oregon, maybe just a little mellower. There's a very doable gap in the middle, and it should be interesting to see what types of variations go down over that. During practice Gravette already cleared the gap, and then a hip to transition.

The skaters to look for in this competition are of course two-time winner, Rune Glifberg, and transition legend, Omar Hassan. There are also guys like Tony Trujillo, Chad Bartie, John Rattray, Sammy Baca , Gravette, Duncombe and Alex Olson who excel in cement parks.

As far as contestants go, there are three interesting little side notes. First, the youngsters, as in 14 year-old, Curren Caples, and 15 year-old, Pedro Barros. They're both young, but they both can skate a line. Barros already qualified for the Big Air main event, and Curren's been flying all over the place in practice. Second, how is two time Pro Tec Pool winner, Lasek, going to do. This is the first year he has entered this event, and he has been proving latey he may just be the best pool skater in the world, along with being one of the best vert skaters. Third, Ryan Sheckler? Yup, The Sheck is slated to skate this division, he may be a Street guy, but he's another one who's no slouch when it comes holding a line in the cement. His brother Shane is a very good tranny skater, and may have given him some pointers in a training session or two.

The Park Final will be Sunday August 1 from 7 PM to 11PM on ESPN2.

Rune Glifberg at last year's event. Photo: Harry How via Getty Images.

Below is some footage of Glifberg warming up on last year's course:

The Skate Park of Tampa's own Brian Schaeffer caught up with the concrete killer, Tony Trujillo, over in Europe recently. Check out a little video interview:

The San Francisco park destroyer known as Tony Trujillo, or simply TNT, now is a Fourstar General of skate facility destruction. That's right, Corporal Frosty has requited Mr. Trujillo to be part of the Fourstar clothing tribe. It seems those Beauty and the Beast tours have been good for business relationship creation.