Paul Rodriguez skates away with first place at the Tampa Pro 2010 Street contest. All the results and Paul’s winning run on video.

Top 12 riders results

1. Paul Rodriguez
2. Nyjah Huston
3. Keegan Sauder
4. Peter Ramondetta
5. Ryan Sheckler
6. Torey Pudwill
7. Luan Oliveira
8. Danny Fuenzalida
9. Greg Lutzka
10. Chaz Ortiz
11. Dennis Busenitz
12. John Rattray

You want to be there? Win 2 tickets for all of the action? Nothing easier than that: simply send a mail with your complete name and complete address with the subject “I want tickets” to the following email address by December 3rd, 2009 – 12 o’clock noon GMT: freestuff@europeskate.com

Rounding the year 2009 up is one of the biggest events in Germany taking place in Berlin, Germany on December 6th at the Berliner Velodrom – the T-Mobile Extreme Playgrounds. It is the final of the 2009 World Cup Of Skateboarding World Tour in both street and vert competitions and the list of top skaters from around the world is more than mad (Axel Cruysberghs, Rodolfo Ramos, Alex Mizurov, Adam Dyet, Chris Haslam, Bastien Salabanzi, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Sam Beckett, Jürgen Horrwarth, Alex Perelson, Danny Mayer and loads more!)

On top of the skating there’s the BMX street and vert competitions which are more than fun to watch and the bands which will get the crowd dancing for sure this year (German killer band Deichkind, Blumentopf from Munich and the Puppetmastaz).

And if you don’t win you can get tickets at all German ticket agencies and on www.t-mobile-playgrounds.de

The German COS Street Cup Finals for 2009 took place a couple of weeks ago at the Skaters Palace in Münster, Germany and for the third time in a row Yannick Schall took home the win and was crowned German Champion 2009. Louis Taubert took second and Christian Krause out of Münster took third place.

To see what the German skaters can really do, sit back and watch the video – we could of course discuss the music but I have better things to do!

Here are all of the the prelimary results leading up to the finals at the Adidas Skateboard Clash 2009 in berlin, Germany this weekend (May 22 – 24, 2009). Check back later for the finals and watch some of the crazy action in the video courtesy of Mpora!

Qualification Street

1. Simon Stricker
2. Andre Gerlich
3. Oliver Braun
4. Ricardo Paterno
5. Michael von Fintel, Eric Groß, Lem Villemin
7. Christoph Weiß
8. Radek Houska
9. Octavio Trindade
10. Alex Denkiewicz
11. Kuba Baczkowski
12. Ilja Roßbander
13. Patrick Wenz
14. Thomas Meinel
15. Michele Danze

Elimination Street

1. Ricardo Paterno
2. Michael von Fintel
3. Thomas Weber
4. Axel Cruysberghs, Phil Zwijsen
6. Jan Tomsovsky
7. Yannick Schall
8. Michi Mackrodt
9. Dennis Busenitz
10. Lennie Burmeister
11. Helder Lima, Lukas Danek
13. Mack McKelton
14. Simon Stricker
15. Ruben Rodrigues
16. Phillip Schuster
17. Collin McLean
18. Vladik Scholz
19. Dennis Klüssendorf
20. Bas Janssen
21. Bastien Salabanzi
22. Octavio Trindade
23. Maxime Genin
24. Maksim Kruglov
25. Misha Poponin, Eric Groß, Octavio Barrera
28. Jürgen Horrwarth
29. Alex Mizurov
30. Ruben Gamito
31. Thomas Meinel
32. Leander Geelhoed
33. Louis Taubert, Glenn Michelfelder
35. Koffe Hallgren
36. Sascha Ewest

Elimination Bowl

1. Jürgen Horrwarth
2. Anders Tellen
3. Julian Dykmans
4. Seb Daurel
5. Martin Jurasek
6. Jan Tomsovsky

With the majority of skateboarders around the world not having access to vert ramps or even skateparks in their home towns, it’s quite obvious for me that the number of new top vert skaters is going to be a lot less than what we see happening in the street with incredibly talented skaters popping up everywhere.

Some calls have been heard lately that vert skating is fading out, all of the pros are getting older and barely any new blood is showing us that a new generation is coming. Well, that isn’t all true and there still are quite a few talented vert skaters out there. One of them has been showing his skills worldwide and at the young age of 14, he can already put his talent to the test against the top amateurs and pros skaters anywhere.

Who are we talking about? Pedro Barros. Just watching him skate makes me grin because he’s already well on his way to being one of THE top skaters in the next years to come. And what is even better: he took the time to send a bunch of pictures and answer are interview questions. Read up about what Pedro has to say and if you can see him live, do it!

To get this interview started, tell us who you are, where do you come from, which teams you skate for.

Pedro Barros, I come from Rio Tavares, it is a suburb of Florianopolis – an island in the south of Brazil. People know it as a Rio Tavares Mother Fucker R.T.M.F. I ride for Drop Dead, Volcom, Red Bull, Vans, Indy, Evoke, Type-S, Khiro and R.T.M.F.

When did you get started with skateboarding?

Actually since I know myself as a person I have been skateboarding. My dad said that I skate since I was one year old, but I can’t remember.

You belong to the new generation of top (vert) skaters that are pushing the limits. How does it feel to be one of those skaters other skaters look up to at such a young age?

I don’t like much of the idea to be target as a vert skater because I do skate much more bowls then vert, but I love vert too and I love to be in contests with all the guys I know around the world. About the feeling of being a top pro, for me it doesn’t matter if I am the top or not, it’s only good because you get invited to go to some contests in America.

Where do you like to have skate sessions? Any special spots/parks/ramps in the world which you really like?

Rio Tavares Mother Fucker is my favorite ever. I have the Hi Adventure Bowl where I skate, my back yard vert ramp and the new bowl all in the same area. I love to skate with friends anywhere. In California I like the Combi Pool, Chickens pool, Runs Pool and Bobs house. In Brazil I like also the vert in the Roca bowl and Swell.

Which skaters do you like to session with? Do you have any skaters you think are just great?

My local boys here are who I skate with most of the time. Rodolfo Ramos, Wagner Ramos, Leo Kakinho, Mureta, Mad, Kosake and others. Besides these guys normally when I travel I love to be skating with Lincoln Ueda, Nilton Neves, Bob Burnquist, Danny Way, Jimmy (california local guy), Jordan Price – there are many that it’s hard to remember all of them. Jake Phelps (Thrasher Magazine) is fun to be around, he always makes me do something different.

How did you get started with riding the Mega-Ramps? Can you describe the feeling you get riding down the big ramp, jumping the space between the ramps and then blasting out on the big halfpipe? It must be mad!

Bob is the Guy. He showed me the way to do it, he permitted me to do it. I’m glad because it is the most scary shit of my life!!!! I always think that I can die on that shit, but when I finish the session I feel great! (Europeskate comment: Good to hear that the skaters that actually have the guts to skate this monster of a ramp are impressed by it as well!!)

So what is your favorite trick (any terrain)? And are you working on learning something new?

540s are my favorite, but I want to do them all. Every trick is sick.

Do you feel any pressure skating at such at high level, traveling and skating for sponsors?

Not at all. For me it is all like playing a game. It is always fun. My dad is the one getting more pressure, he is the one dealing with the sponsors and the traveling shit. All I do is have fun.

As so many videos are out there and many being released, will we be seeing you in any new videos coming out soon?

I don’t know. I do a lot of things here in Brazil, but out there in America where the most videos are, I didn’t have time yet to be on one of these.

Do you have any favorite skate video parts that you like to watch?

Any think with Runnie (Rune Glifberg) and Bob is crazy to watch.

Tell us how a typical day in the life of Pedro Barros looks like!

hehhehehehhee, surf in the morning, school in the afternoon, skate after skate and be around my friends and family every single day.

What are your plans for the rest of 2009?

Pro Tec Pool Party, Europe, Maloof Money Cup, X Games and some of these big contests that we have here in Brazil.

That’s a wrap. Big big thank you to Pedro Barros and his dad Andre for this interview. Keep it up Pedro, it’s just great to see so much talent and style on a board. All the best for the future and we really hope to meet up some time soon in Europe!

The adidas skateboard clash is rolling into the fifth round. On May 23rd and 24th skateboard europe will meet up in the “skatehalle berlin” to enjoy the unique and relaxed atmosphere of this extraordinary contest. For 2009 we are awaiting a top notch field of professional skateboarders Europe and overseas, such as Dennis Busenitz (US) and the wild Russian Connection from Schützi (IOU Ramps).

Right in time, the whole street course will be redesigned by german skate-pro Jan Kliewer. So be prepared for more street-flavoured sessions and some obstacles which have never been seen before.
The street contest will be „invitational only“ for 60 riders. But there are still 15 lucky guys who will have the chance to participate, by winning the pre-qualifications on saturday morning. 20 Riders will compete jam-style in The “Death or Glory Bowl Jam”, with 3 riders per run.

There will be a total prize money of 9.000€ to win.

Registration for pre-qualification and bowljam is now opened @: clash@skatehalle-berlin.de
Saturday night will cool everybody down with an awesome after show party and the premiere of the new adidas video „Diagonal”.

Timetable:
Saturday Pre- Qualification Street Elimination Street Death or Glory Bowl Jam Premiere adidas “Diagonal” Aftershowparty Cassiopeia
Sunday Semi Final Street Best Trick Session Street Final Street
Admission: 2 Day Ticket 12,-€ / red. 8,-€ Day Ticket 8,- € / red. 5,-€
Rider Fee: Pre-Quali: 20,-€, Bowl and Street: 30,-€
All Info @ http://www.skatehalle-berlin.de
Contact: daniel@skatehalle-berlin.de
Skatehalle-Berlin, Revaler Str.99, 10245 Berlin, Germany

Round 8 – finally! For weeks we are looking forward for this week and first of all for this trick. Skippy sets up for Emerica: NOLLIE KICKFLIP ONE FOOT LANDED – you´ll learn to love or to hate it. To reach the next round you have to roll out this trick for min. three board lengths on the front foot till it is controled. The week prize is a Emerica Package consisting shoes, tee and cap. Good Luck!

A couple of weeks ago I got in contact with the guys behind Jart Skateboards, mostly being a bit curious about what is going on with Mr Bastien Salabanzi, a personality in skateboarding with incredible board control and an array of tricks in his pocket that most of us will never even get close to in a lifetime. Lucky for me (or us…) Bastien took some time to answer a few of my questions, first asking and congratulating him in the same question about his new-born child:

Hi Bastien and thanks for taking the time for these questions. As you’ve probably already been asked many times about your childhood, growing up in France etc. I’ll stick with what is going on today and maybe just a bit of your past if that is okay with you. And of course, congratulations to your new born child. Is it a boy or a girl?

It’s a boy, his name is Lao. He’s amazing.

After the split-up with Flip and Etnies you seemed to leave the major skateboard scene for a while only to come back in very impressive form (let’s mention Copenhagen 2007) I can’t help to be curious? What were you up to in the time before coming back? Practicing secretly?

Well not really, I was in Paris with my familly taking some time off. I wasn’t skating much at the time.

Bastien Salabanzi – Flip BackNoseblunt / Photo:Thibault LeNours

Let’s make sure we have our facts right: which sponsors do you ride for currently?

Currently I ride for JART Skateboards, Hawaii Surf Skateshop and Alis.

How did the sponsorship with Jart Sakteboards get started?

I went to the factory in Spain to meet all the guys, not only the riders but all the members in JART. Everybody is motivated to do things right so that’s how it got started for me.

How do feel about the skateboard industry today? Being a pro skater, it does help to pay the rent when you sponsored. Are there sponsor deals/companies which you just would not deal with even if they offered some crazy amount of money?

Of course , if you’re not stoked or you’re not into the company which you ride for it will affect you and your skating no matter how much they pay you.

Bastien goes bionic / Photo: Vincent Perraud

You have just been in LA with other Jart team riders, unluckily you injured yourself (get well quick). How was the trip up till then and what spots were you skating?

It was cool going back to LA, all the guys were excited to be there. A cool dude named Tim showed us some really good spots that I never knew of, so every new spot was something special and that everybody wanted to skate you know. It was a lot of fun men.

Your confidence is what really shines when you skate contests or just generally skate. Do you feel encouraged to try new tricks with a crowd watching ? I’m refering to the Globe Metz contest earlier this year. your skating was just insane!

Not exactly, you know when you have a session with 10 other riders down at a spot and the vibe is cool it motivates you. Everybody’s trying their best trick in a good spirit it’s all about fun you know pushing ourself.

Do you have any favorite tricks or spots at the moment ? Any tricks you are working on?

One of my favorite tricks is fakie flip fakie manual, the feel is one of the best to me. I am practicing my sw flip and other sw flip trick these days.

Music has always made a huge impression on skateboarding and these days the ‘typical’ skater can be seen with headphones on during a session. What music influences you? What do you listen to?

Ho men? It goes from Otis Redding, Herbie Hancock, Mavin Gaye, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Gang Starr, Talib Kweli, Common, there are too many I like a lot of different style.

Life isn’t of course is not just about skateboards. What else do you like to do in your spare time?

Most of time I’m with my son and when he gives me the time I grab my guitar, I love playing.

Which skaters do you think are really influencing skating the most or will be in the near future (other than yourself !)?

It’s hard to say there is a lot of skaters that inspire other riders out there, skaters like Marc Gonzales, Kareem, Koston, Penny, Marc Johnson or Mariano – all those rider did influence or still influence skating today. So many more tough.

Switch Heel B/s 5-0 / Photo: Thibault LeNours

To wrap this up, how’s the future look for you? Any big plans for this year? Know where we will be able to see you skate?

This year is very special being a dad. It is something very important and will stay my priority this year but I want skate as much as possible, travel and do all the things that I used to. I am trying to take things as they come without pressure and I love it.

A big thanks to Bastien for sharing his thoughts with us. Watch out for this guy, he really can skate! Try out this video from this year if for some strange reason you haven’t seen him skate before!

And yet again the contest dates start flowing back in here and this time it’s in the same corner of Spain, in Bilbao on June 28th for the so called “Skatexpression 2008″. Take a look at the schedule and if you want more info in Spanish, check out the Skatexpression 2008 website.

12:00 Final BBK Skate Eskola Tour
16:00 Mini-ramp contest
19:00 Street contest
21:00 Skateboard video festival
22:00 DJ’s and concerts

Here’s some of the action from last year’s event!

And here’s where to go:

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