The Tampa Pro is the best contest in skateboarding. Period. A contest put on by skateboarders, for skateboarders and supported by skateboarders. This aien't no Dew Tour, or X Games, it's the real thing. You know that Emerica slogan, "This is Skateboarding," well that is what this contest is. It's pretty much a who's who of core skateboarding, and that's what makes it so great.

This is the fifteenth year of the event and it has grown so much, but at the same time has kept to its roots. Past winners include: Andrew Reynolds, Eric Koston,Tony Trujillo and Dennis Busenitz to name a few. Lutzka won last year for the second time, and he along with Reynolds and Koston are only ones to do so.

Everyone's going to be there, so this comp is sure to go off. Mike Mo Calpadi, fresh off his victory at The Battle at the Berrics is a definite threat, and so's P Rod who won The Maloof. Then's there's The Lutzka, who will for sure be in the comp and will try to make it three.


Reynolds won't be there. He's at SXSW in rock star mode. Photo: MORINformed.


One of the three two-time winners, Eric Koston. Photo: MORINformed.


The Lutzka shows you how many times he has won Tampa. Photo: MORINformed.

Here's the schedule of events:

Thursday, March 19th
- Czar
- Post Soviett Thursday with Gatorface, Monikers, New Bruises,&Rational; Anthem
- 1420 East 7th Avenue, Ybor City
- Free entry for all
- Doors 8pm
- 18&Up;
- $1 Mickey's

Friday, March, 20th
- 9am - Doors Open
- Tickets are $5&available; at Skatepark of Tampa the day of
- Open Pro Street‖ Practice all day
- 11am - 12pm - Pro Only Vert Practice
- 12pm - Team Manager/Industry VIP Street Contest
- 3pm - Am Vert Contest
- Two, 45-second runs, best counts
- Top 10 advance to Finals
- Finals
- Three, 45-second runs, best counts
- 6pm - 7pm - Pro Only Vert Practice
- 10pm - Doors Close

Friday Night
- Czar
- 1420 East 7th Avenue, Ybor City
- Free with Plastic Skatepark Wristband
- Girls free with any Skatepark Wristband
- Doors 10pm
- 18&Up;

Saturday, March 21st
- 9am - Doors Open
- Tickets are $15&available; at Skatepark of Tampa&skateparkoftampa;.com
- 9am - 11am - Pro Only Vert Practice
- 11am - Pro Vert Contest
- 12-minute jams with five skaters each
- One intro run
- Top six advance to Finals
- Finals
- 20-minute jam
- One intro run
- Street Qualifiers Immediately Following
- Three skaters per heat (four if necessary)
- One, one-minute intro run
- Counts for 25% of score
- Three-minute jam (four if four skaters)
- Counts for 75% of score
- Top 24 advance to Semi-Finals to join previous Pro winners
- Top two Golden Tickets go straight to Finals
- 8pm - Doors Close

Saturday Night
- Ghostface&Raekwon; @ The RITZ Ybor
- Skatepark of Tampa&Nike; SB Present Tampa Pro Contest Party w/ Ghostface&Raekwon;
- Special Guests - The BASIQS, DJ Sandman,&DJ; Mega
- The RITZ Ybor, 1503 East 7th Avenue, Ybor City, 813-621-6793
- All Ages
- Tickets - $15
- Doors 8pm
- Available here and at Ticket Master

Sunday, March 22nd
- 9am - Doors Open
- Tickets are $15&available; at Skatepark of Tampa&skateparkoftampa;.com
- 12pm - Pro Street Semi-Finals
- Three skaters per heat
- One, one-minute intro run
- Counts for 25% of score
- Three-minute jam
- Counts for 75% of score
- Top 10 advance to Finals to join Golden Ticket winners
- Moat Race
- Pro Street Finals
- Format same as Semi-Finals, but four-minute jam instead of three
- Silver Trucks Best Trick on Tech Center
- Giant Product Toss
- 6pm (approx.) - Awards
- Gatorade's Labor of Love Award
- $2,500 and a year's supply of Gatorade
- The Fan Favorite Award Presented by The Skateboard Mag
- Doors Close

Sunday Night
- 8pm - Contest After-Party at Rock N Sports Bar
- Upstairs Centro Ybor
- 2 for 1 drafts
- 10% off food ALL WEEK with Skatepark plastic wristband
-Neal Hendrix Photo Show in the Snack Bar all weekend
-Don' t Drink & Drive - Cab Numbers - 813-964-8000 - 813-229-1888
- After-After-Party - Reservoir Bar
- 1518 East 7th Avenue/Ybor City
- $1.50 Tall Boy PBR ALL WEEK with plastic Skatepark wristband