Jul 16, 2007
Kona's 30th Anniversary Weekend Highlight Video!

Kona Skatepark has officially clocked in 30 years of operation (holy crap!) and had one hell of a skate jam to celebrate that feat with. Here's what Marty Ramos (the owner of Kona Skatepark) had to say about the event:

Summertime in Florida is known for heat, rain and unbearable humidity. But this didn't stop the 3,000 plus skateboarding fans that showed up for Kona Skatepark's 30th birthday party.

The day started with a throwback event from the 70's, Banked Slalom racing down the infamous snake run. Kelly Lynn (the guy that invented the Layback air) went faster than everyone winning $1,000 and a case of heat stroke. Veteran vert pro's like Sergie Ventura and Steve Steadham made it fun to watch as they weaved their way through the course trying to keep up with the core slalom heads.

Next up was Tombstone Best Trick. Everyone got warmed up and then cooled down by one of Florida's typical rainstorms. Tons of lightning and rain drops the size of marshmallows filled the skatepark, and as quickly as it came, it left. Water was removed, the concrete was dried and over 2,000 spectators crammed themselves around Kona's bowl to watch the carnage. A unique combination of vert dogs and street heads attacked the 18' tall wall from every side and angle. Mike Peterson Back Disastered and doubled up with simultaneous Backside Boneless' with Buck Smith. Speaking of Buck, the dude did more tricks on that wall in 30 minutes than we've seen in the entire 30 years it's been there. Local Kona pro Joe Marrara looked comfortable on top of 6 feet of vertical while slapping Back Smiths and Frontside Nose Picks. But in the end it was Benji Galloway that stole the show with Invert to Fakies and Frontside Inverts while wearing flip-flops. His efforts earned him $1,000 and a classic 70's style trophy.

Next up was the reason over 3,000 screaming skateboarding fans were crammed into the 30-year-old skatepark . . . Tony Hawk. It was really cool watching Tombstone Best trick with Hawk over one shoulder and Christian Hosoi judging the event off to the left. Mike Mcgill and Alan Gelfand were chillin' in the background while the press was interviewing Sergie Ventura. It was an all-star cast of skateboarding's past, present and future and it was time for the vert demo. As Hawk and Sergie tore it up, rookies like Adam Taylor and Morgan Burgess were doing well keeping up. McGill skated like he hadn't missed a beat and even spun a 540 McTwist. The crowd was nuts, a virtual sea of heads lined up throughout every possible spot in the skatepark.

Then to top it off, Ray Barbee and Chuck Treece end the evening with a special musical jam and a full set from McRad. That's right! McRad played right after McGill did a McTwist. After all of that it was time to McGo!

God Bless and thanks for an unbelievable 30 years!

- Marty Ramos

Click on the pic below to check out the video (It's a pretty big video, so please be patient)!
Thanks to Jim Grosser, Beau Crum, and Marcus Gause for the video!

Click on any of the flyers below to go to Kona Skatepark's website!