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The 2nd Annual Pat Wachter Pro Bowl Contest

Intro

Saturday

( 1 2 3 ) Contest Results AOSSR and After-Party Sponsors Who is Pat Wachter?

Alabama Old School Skate Reunion, Spinosi Award and After-Party

� After the contest, the Alabama Old School Skate Reunion and after party kicked off. The Alabama Old School Skate Reunion (AOSSR) is in it's fifth year and was once again held in conjunction with the Pat Wachter contest since it draws most of the same people anyways. The ol' "two birds with one stone" idea. However, the AOSSR orgranizers said that this year's would be the last for a while. The purpose of a reunion is not really to do it every year. This made it an especially important one for many of us. As the awards were all given out, everyone split off to skate or grab a quick dinner before coming back later.

Keaton Earnst attempting the big stairs

Checking out the AOS banner

The VIP tent

Kevin Kowalski flies high...PADLESS!

Kevin Kowalski smith grinding at mach speed

Kevin Kowalski smacks a Lien-to-tail

the day comes to an end...let the party begin!

� Once everyone got back from their break for some skating, dinner, beverages in the VIP tent or what have you, it was time for the annual Andy Spinosi award. I have to backtrack a bit here and explain. This year's winner has been nominated every year, but somehow missed out winning each time. This year, however, a week prior to the contest, I get a phone call saying "You must make sure that Greg is at the contest.". I knew what was up...and I was stoked! Greg "Sig" Siegfried has been part of the Alabama skate scene from as far as I can remember (and I have been skating since 1986-ish). To me, he exemplifies the DIY spirit of skateboarding. When Greg wanted something to skate, he built it. Not just for himself, he built it for all to enjoy. I can not count how many quarter pipes, mini-ramps, ledges, jump ramps and even vert ramps and bowls this guy has built. In fact, he built the first ever wooden bowl in Alabama back in the early 1990's while I was at college in a town nearby. Even more recently, he was instrumental in getting approval and building a skate park in the small town of Ozark, Alabama. Not only that, but he built a steel-layered vert ramp in his back yard in Ozark that he openly allows anyone to come skate. Even all of this might not sound so great except for Sig is just an all around positive and likeable guy and great fun to skate with. How could he not win this year?!?!(haha) Like I said, all of Sig's close friends had already been hipped to the fact that he was winning, so when Tim Spinosi stepped up and started the announcment, we were all standing behind Sig snickering and trying to contain our excitement for him. Sig was completely oblivious. Tim began reading a personal letter from none other than Skip Engblom that congratulated Sig for winning this year's award. When Sig's name was called, his eyes got as big as saucers. It was great! Sig sheepishly wallked up and accepted the award. The actual award itself was special in it's own right. It was a piece of pool coping that had been dug out and saved from one of the Huntsville area's legendary backyard pools. It was a pretty sweet trophy, I must say. Pat Wachter explained the story of the pool to Sig as he handed over the award. The full story is actually written on the bottom of the award as well. Pretty friggin cool! Way to go, Sig! Congrats again.

the Spinosi Award

Tim Spinosi announces this year's award

Greg Siegfried totally unaware

Tim reads a letter from Skip Engblom congratulating Sig

A humble Greg Siegfried receives the Spinosi Award

Pat Wachter explains the significance of the coping block

Greg Siegfried with the Spinosi Award

� After the Spinosi award had been handed out, the party kicked up into high gear. In one area, the Thomas Function and the Jason Green Machine bands started playing. On the vert ramp, a big session got going that brought back together many skaters who had not seen each other in 10+ years. This was the first time I had seen, let alone skated with, Mark Pfiefer and Chris Zaborney since the old days at Underground skatepark in Huntsville around 1989. It was awesome! Sorry there aren't more photos of some of the great ripping from the night, but I was actually part of the vert ramp session and skating a lot of the time. Around 9 pm, many of us "old guys" had tired out from a full day of skating. A lot of the party had moved over the food and beverages. Tricia Parker was putting on a cool fire show and teaching others how to twirl the fire chains. I was wearing down fast and not looking forward to the 2 hour drive home. Eddings and I made the rounds to tell everyone thanks and good-bye and got on the road. After dropping Eddings off at his car and getting myself home, I hardly remember getting a much needed shower and my head hitting the pillow. It had been a great day and another fantastic Pat Wachter Bowl contest weekend. I can't wait till next year! See you there!