The man himself,Fro Dog deck an' all
After taking a picture of the Santos he skated off.We stood and stared at the stickers he'd given us,then we realised he had skated off in the direction of the South Bank.We instantly got on our boards and skated like crazy after him.He didn't go to the South bank but instead to the infamous under-bridge-stair-gap.Here we got shirts,bags,shoes,decks and hats signed.Then Santos pointed to a bald dude in all black and said "Thats Chad Bartie",we turned round and he ollied the stair gap.Now that was good.He tryed it about four times for the camera with much swearing before he busted it again.The gap must have been a meter & half to two meters,yet he snapped it and landed so smooth.Unfortunitly this guy ollies like lubed lightening and the photos were blurred and too late.
Chad puts on his cap and takes time to sign stuff before he rolls away with the rest of the team
Next we watch the other team members bust some shit over the gap.It was wicked.Then we notice that dude with the Lasek deck.And we think,who would skate someone else's deck,they'd just skate a team deck.So we ask one of the team members who he is.He answers "Bucky Lasek".Lasek,the vert rider,on the Bird House and Billabong team.Lasek,the one off THPS 1&2.You don't get that every day.So,me and Dave's cousin Lee shuffle over nervously,camera in my sweaty,shakey hands.We both shake his hand,Lee stands next to him and I take the photo,he signs my incredibly loud blue shirt and we both walk away in awe of what just happened.
Lee, Bucky Lasek and his Bird House deck.Hell knows what gesture Lasek is making,but...it's kinda tempting to do it on a regular basis.
Then they did skate off to South Bank and without thinking we got on our boards and followed.WHen we reached South Bank there was quite a gathering.They'd got a toaster rack and layed down the south bank seven,they all tryed some shit down it.I'd noticed this dude before,he was doing a bit of filming so I mistook him for a camera dude.No,it was Daniel Haney,skates for Arcade boards and Venture Trucks.Skates up ollies,boardslides the whole rack,comes off smooth.Skates up ollies,feebles the whole rack,comes off smooth.And so on.He was amazing,techinal,grinds,smoothness.Later he signed my incredibly loud blue shirt on the opposite side from Bucky.Later,a bit up the river at a stair set,he sat and talked to us,giving us a insight into american skating and sponsered life in general.Last week at UBI UK(more next month)we met this guy again where he won himself 2o quid after pulling a blunt all the way down this rail,we congratulated him after and he politly let me take a portrait photo.I was so nervous I put my finger over the flash by accident.Jesus,I hope it comes out alright!
Daniel Haney ripping up the toaster rack,doing what he does best,grinds'n'slides
And that,dear readers was one of the best days I've had in the six months(roughly) I've been skating.Damnit,I can't wait till we next take a trip down there! -Dann G