I went to the Warriors of Wood contest in San Jose that Ryan Nyquist put on with the help of the local police (!!!) and many others... What resulted was a contest beyond people's expectations. Flips, 360s, whips, spins, and shit eating. At its best!

In between the dying batteries, getting lost in San Jose looking for our hotel, and Andrew breaking every chain ever sold, we found time to get some flicks. Here are the pictures and the video is still to come...



The contest went like this. Practice for a few hours. Practice more. More hours and hours of practice. Now have a pre-qualifying practice. Hey! Why don't we start competing? Okay!

Qualifiers went down and most of the top names got through with two young gun locals getting through but one destroying his shoulder and not being able to compete in the finals. Many riders expected to go on didn't make it due to trouble adjusting to the sheer size and danger of these wooden ramps. Props to those dudes though... now to the finals.



Pat Casey just made the cut (he's only like 15 or 16 dude) and had some trouble with the ramps, but put on a fair run. Though not placing well, he certainly made his name for future events...

A lot of pro riders were doing their thing in the finals, such as Alistair Whitton, Ryan Nyquist, Rob Darden, and Cameron White, and filled up the middle spots. Allan Cooke rode REALLY well but must have just missed the podium as he placed fourth.

Mike "Hucker" Clark took third place due to some slip ups but took first in every one's hearts as he whipped out the double backflip, amlost landing it but walking away safely. That trick is a real mindfreak ever since great rider and great friend Stephen Murray lost his career to the trick.

Anthony Napolitan took second place for his absolutely effortless style whilst doing triple whips backflip and 360 combinations. He is such a complete rider on ramps, it is ridiculous.

Taking first, and of course a well deserved first, was TJ Ellis who simply won the event. His runs were so complete, so perfectly linked, so smooth. Frontflips, backflips, 360s, opposite 360s. Throw in variations of tricks in between all of that on EVERY double and it's no wonder why he took top honors.



Anthony, who took second, would get his fame however, winning best trick with a 360 TRIPLE TAILWHIP. The funny thing is, he had about two other tricks that could have won the best trick contest as well... wow.

Thanks to Ryan Nyquist, the San Jose police, and all the team and sponsors behind putting on the event, making the ramps, making everything work. First annual Warriors of Wood... IN THE BOOKS. See you next year!