Jaks T.A. Memorial China Creek Skate Comp 2010

Ahhhh. Sept 11..... A very bad day for our American friends. On this day some years later it is sunny and the Vancouver Jaks Team hosts their annual skateboard competition. The first contest was 25 years ago and the prizes where probably some used skateboard equipment and a some beer. Today the prizes are plentiful and new. PD as usual comes with a good lot of Skull Skates and t-shirts for everyone. TopNotch skateboards from van also handed out a deck and stickers. The Victoria Jaks came with skate decks and stuff from Old Nicks, Coastline, Sitka, and HTO. So I say support these shops!
It's the usual reunion of old and new skatepunks from the Vancouver area. The skateboarding is getting hotter every year and with the building of more pools and bowls Vancouver skateboarding is devolving back to 70's style. The type of skating that would have made Don Carver JaK (R.I.P) proud. The beginners category had a total of 18 entrants and I watched the tiny grommets carve around tea cup and bath tub popping air and powersliding the park raw. Intermediate skaters showed just as much style and the advanced category slayed with some awesome airtime and the odd invert. Ferris Jak took to the mic and MC'd the show... in the early years there was no amplified microphone so old Ferris would have to yell out the contest wrecking his voice so his friends wouldn't have to listen to him for a few days. It was good to see Ferris back on the mic... he hasn't done it for a few years. Some old Jaks showed Mike Anus, Porridge, Roy, Carlos, Casual, Steve, Emon, Donut, Sid, Kevin, Chris, Jamie and of coarse Slutty to name a few but some where missing this year. The crowd is getting bigger every year and it's the usual group of punks and older punks with kids. Edmonton Div of Jaks, and some Teem Shitty even had a few in attendance! The contest went by quick and only one young dude got taken away in an ambulance.... broken ankle and he was handed the best wipeout prize as he was taken away in a stretcher. The contest ended with a commemorative model of the twin towers made out of empty beer cases with two airplanes stuck in the side burning in flames and skaters took turns airing over the flames. No police and the rain held off till the end.
As the rain started TA's Mom, Alice, rolled up in her van and fed everyone a good meal of banic and salmon. Just like our American friends mourning the loss of many Alice morns the loss of her son TA JaK. She fed us good and I recon it made her happy to see all of TA's Jak brothers.

Till next year - Ricky

JOHNNY WINTER in Victoria.... no smokey bar, no booze, no young girls, but lots of gray hairs sitting in a packed Alex Golden Hall. Johnny Winter played roadhouse jailhouse honky blues that kicked arse. I'm glad to say I saw Johnny Winter. I saw John Lee Hooker years ago at Harpos.... I figure i better see Johnny before he joins Hooker.I have to say even though Mr Winter is about 100 years old and getting from the floor to the stage chair seemed like tiring work to him... The moment he picked up his guitar he worked the thing raw without any hesitation. It was the longest and most amazing guitar solo I have experienced since the last time played a Yngwie Malmsteen record.

It was good to see this legend.... but the sound wasn't that great, the light's where shit, and crowd just sat there... I like music that moves the crowd into a dance.... Johnny Winter's live performance could do that but it didn't. This wasn't a Dayglo Show where the crowd go's wild to the music... this was the Legend Johnny Winter playin his guitar. It was worth it but it wasn't is what i'm trying to say.... -ricky JaK