Well, the Damn Am 2009 season wrapped up yesterday at the Volcom compound in Costa Mesa, CA, and once again a bunch kids made me never want to skate again. Every year it just seems like the kids are getting better and better; they're just so damn consistent. I think it's because they're not half drunk like the older guys.

As always The Skatepark of Tampa, or SPOT, crew set up a rad course, and were funny as hell on the mic all weekend. I love there announcing steez' they'll make fun of what you're wearing, what tricks you're doing, where your from, what race you are, etc., but they'll be the first to give you props when you do something sick. And like every year the contest had a Halloween theme. This year the SPOT guys dressed like white trash, and believe me they have enough muses being from Tampa and all. It was pretty classic seeing Vern, a black guy, transform into white trash. It reminded me of when Dave Chappelle is the newscaster on the Chappelle Show, and just looks like he got antiqued or something. Anyway, the contest and all the events of the weekend went off. There were a few surprises, like Clint Walker coming out of nowhere and winning the Best Trick and finishing 2nd overall. And by "nowhere" I mean Oklahoma.

It's great what Volcom and SPOT are doing for skateboarding. A worldwide contest series with no entry fees, and a Championship contest where all the top Ams from around the world get together and compare what they have. This is what helps skateboarding move forward, no media stunts where some guy jumps the Grand Canyon. Let's hope they keep up the good work in 2010.

Here's the top 10 finshers:

1. Luan Oliveira
2. Clint Walker
3. Tommy Werner
4. Felipe Gustavo
5. Brodie Penrod
6. Tommy Knuth
7. Louie Lopez
8. Chase Webb
9. Felipe Ortiz
10. CJ Dixon